Sports betting is a legal activity in most states, but it can be confusing for first-time bettors. The good news is that there are several tools available to help you understand and make sense of the betting market.
Odds Explained
The odds that appear on a sportsbook bet slip are displayed in three different formats: American, decimal, and fractional. Depending on your preferences, you can choose one or all of these odds formats to place your bets. It is important to know the differences between these types of odds before you place your bets so that you can be sure to make the right choice.
Moneyline (Spread): This format is most common in baseball and hockey, but can be used in other sports as well. In this format, teams are listed as favorites and underdogs based on their corresponding money line odds. These odds can be a great way to get started in sports betting, as they indicate how much you’ll win or lose if you wager on the favorite or underdog.
Point Spread: This is another type of odds that you’ll see on a sportsbook bet slip. It shows how much the favorite or underdog has to win if they are to cover the spread and thus win the game. The advantage of this format is that it can provide a more accurate picture of the expected outcome than a money line.
Live In-Game Betting:
If you bet on a sports game live, the odds can change dramatically as the game progresses. These changes are typically made by the bookies themselves or by the computerized systems that they use to set odds. They also change quickly as they adjust to real-time data and the action that’s occurring on the field.
Bankroll Management:
As a beginner, it is important to start with a bankroll that you can afford to lose. This is a starting amount that you can place on each bet to give yourself a cushion for any bad days. It is also a good idea to set your unit size as this will help you stay consistent and limit your risk. This means you should bet around 1% to 5% of your bankroll on each play.
Props and Team Totals:
These bets are very popular for many big games, as they allow you to wager on outcomes beyond the game winner or score. They also have the potential to offer big payouts if the bet is won.
Mandated Usage of “Official League Data”:
This data can be very helpful for bettors, as it allows you to make more informed decisions about your bets and gives you a better understanding of the games. This type of data can be purchased or mandated for use at a sportsbook and is typically used in conjunction with the spread and money line odds.
In some sports, such as basketball and football, leagues are trying to use this data in a way that will increase their revenues from legal sports betting. However, this has been a contentious issue in some states, and it is still not legal in all places. Some states have imposed laws that force sportsbooks to use this type of data, while others have taken a softer approach and suggested its usage but without aggressively campaigning for it.