Betting on sporting events has long since been a favorite pastime for many enthusiastic sports fans. Its popularity has increased ten-fold since the introduction of online sportsbooks, and many of the top online casino sites will now offer a wide choice of online games plus an action-packed sports betting platform with competitive odds.
Getting Started
You don’t need to be a sports betting aficionado to get started, but it will help if you can grasp the basics early on. This includes the variety of bet types available and understanding how the sports odds work. It’s better to begin cautiously with lower wagers and gradually increase your bets over time as your confidence and understanding grow.
Bet Types
- Moneylines: perfect beginner bets. Just wager on who you think will be the winner
- Parlays: A bet which requires multiple selections, all of which must win
- Totals: Also known as ‘over/under’ bets, a wager placed on the total number, for example, the number of goals/points scored
- Props: A bet for a specific outcome, for example, the first player to score a point
- Point Spreads: A wager placed on how many points a team will win or lose by
- Teasers: A type of parlay bet where you can adjust the point spread for a game
- Futures: A wager placed on an event that is yet to happen, for example, the winner of the Tennis French Open
Odds
Each time you make a wager, the sportsbook will offer you odds that will impact the amount you stand to win. The higher the odds, the more you could win. Odds will also reflect the potential outcome, so the lower the odds, the more likely an outcome is expected.
Odds can be expressed in three general formats: fractional, moneyline, or decimal. You will see these displayed as either a positive or negative number. For instance, odds of +200 mean a $100 bet could return $200 in winnings + $100 (initial stake). Odds of -200 mean you need to stake $200 to receive $100 in winnings + $200 (initial stake). Even money wagers are shown as +100.
Reputable Sports Betting Platforms
There are numerous sports betting platforms available, so deciding which one to register with can prove challenging. However, most importantly, you need to choose a site that is licensed and regulated by a trusted gaming authority, such as the Malta Gaming Authority.
Top online sportsbooks will typically offer generous bonuses, free bets, competitive odds, a wide choice of sports markets, and odds boosts. You will discover multiple payment options, optimized mobile platforms, encrypted transactions, and live sports betting.
Responsible Gambling
Reputable online sportsbooks will offer their players a wide range of protection tools in order to promote responsible gambling. These tools can include deposit limits, wager and loss limits, reality checks, time-outs, and enforced self-exclusion. As a new player, you’re advised to take advantage of these measures to help control your spending and manage your bankroll effectively.