If you want to learn how to bet on sports, one of the first things you need to know are the types of bets you can make. Some bets are simple: whoever wins the game, is the winning wager. Some, however, are a bit more complicated than that. And if you have a great sportsbook, you also have more wagering options you can make during the actual sporting event.
Types of Bets in Sports Betting
First, is the Totals and Over/Under Bets. These are technically the same type, the term just changes based on where you are located. This is one of the simplest wagers in sports betting, and a favorite for beginners. Basically, a sportsbook will give you a total of the score made by both teams in a sporting event. Your bet, will be based on if you think the actual score will go over, or under the amount specified.
Next, is handicap betting, or a spread, or a point spread wager. Again, they all mean the same, it just depends on what country you are from. This bet is made based on by how many points you think a specific team can win the game. So even if the team you picked wins the game, they have to win by the specified number of points, or else your bet will lose.
You also have Futures, or Outright Bets. This is a long-term bet, since you will place a bet on the outcome of a particular tournament, or season of a sports league. This may be a bit tough for beginners, but the payouts for these bets can be really good if you get it right.
More Bets
There are prop bets too, which are the odds and ends of betting. The types of bets can be about who scores first in a game, or which player scores first. There are also Parlays, which are a bit more complicated. Parlays are actually a series of picks that will make up a single wager made. For example, in a horse race, you will pick winners for 6 races. If any of those picks are wrong, then you lose. Meaning, all picks have to be right for you to win a parlay bet. The high risk does mean a high payout, but this is something for more experiences bettors to make.
