How to Read Sports Odds and Betting Lines

1. Online Sports Betting For Dummies For Dummies
2. Online Sports Betting For Dummies
3. Online Sports Betting For Dummies Money
4. Sports Betting For Beginners

Interested in online gambling, but don’t want to do something too complicated? Try sports betting! Sports betting is considered by many to be the easiest form of gambling to get started with. When betting on sports, your goal is essentially to predict the outcome of a sports event and wager money according to what you think is going to happen. How to Bet Sports Online. This section gives a brief overview of how to bet sports online at the aforementioned sportsbooks – a quick step by step beginners guide to betting online: GT Bets: The homepage of the sportsbook lists the most popular sports in the center and then on the left is a sidebar listing the sports by category. NFL Betting Strategy Course 101. Gambling has become one of the most popular sports activities among all fans throughout the country, and with states beginning to pass measures to legalize sports gambling, it is only going to become more popular with time. Dummies has always stood for taking on complex concepts and making them easy to understand. Dummies helps everyone be more knowledgeable and confident in applying what they know. Whether it’s to pass that big test, qualify for that big promotion or even master that cooking technique; people who rely on dummies, rely on it to learn the.

I’ve titled this Sports Betting For Dummies. It’s a tutorial for those who want to start betting on sports or those who want to gain a better understanding of some of the terminology and theory behind it. We’ve all been in the position of learning something new, so please don’t be embarrassed if you don’t grasp these concepts. Instead, contact me via the form at the bottom of this page, and I’ll help you in any way I can.

You want to put a few coins on this weekend’s games, or perhaps you just want to be able to decode all of that jibberish you see in the sports section every week. How do you read those sports odds, and what does over/under, minus/plus, giving points, taking points mean?

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

I will painlessly explain all of the mysteries of sports betting 101 aka “Sports Betting for Dummies.” First of all, you have nothing to be ashamed of, you have taken the first and most important step of all – learning! Why waste money on a game that you don’t fully understand? You shouldn’t! That is why you are here now, to learn how it works and how to win!

Topic #1 The Point Spread and Totals

Okay, you look at the games for Sunday and you see the betting lines displayed something similar to;

San Francisco -5 vs. St. Louis 41

You may look at that and be intimidated and feel helpless, but I’m going to decode this little bugger for you. This is the betting line – not the odds. The odds are what you are to be paid (covered later).

Whenever you see a team with a (-) negative number next to them, (-5 in this case), it means that team is favored to win by that number of points.

The number after the matchup (41) is the projected total points to be scored by both teams added together. There are two options here. A player can choose to bet on the matchup, either San Fran -5 points or St. Louis +5 points.

For the player who wagers on San Francisco -5, San Fran must win by more than 5 points for this to be a winning bet. For the player who wagers on St. Louis +5, they must either win the game or lose by less than 5 points for this to be a winning bet. If the outcome falls on the number, the bet is declared a “Push” and your original stake amount gets refunded.

See, that wasn’t too difficult, was it?

Sometimes you will see the points displayed as half numbers like San Fran -5.5. If you bet on San Fran, and they win by 6, you win the bet. If they win by 5 or less, you lose. Clear? If not, submit your question in the form at the bottom of the page and ask me. I’m here to help.

Okay, so the other betting option available to you is the total or ‘Over/Under.’ You can choose to bet that the total points between the two teams will either be greater (OVER) or less than (UNDER) the projected total. Again, if you bet either way and the game ends up being 20-21, for a total of 41 points, then you will receive a refund of your wager amount.

Topic # 2 The Moneyline or Straight-Up wager

This is where you simply wager on which team will win the game outright, no point spreads, no BS…just the straight up winner. Although this may appear to be easier, you will pay for it as the odds (payout) will reflect the lack of a point spread. If you wager on a favorite, then you will win less than with a point spread, but if you wager on the underdog…and win…you will receive and even greater win amount based on the higher risk taken.

Topic # 3 How to Read Sports Betting Odds

Okay, so you have made your selection, now what? How much do I bet, and how much will I win? Standard questions, and great questions for new sports bettors to ask! There are three ways that you will typically see odds displayed, as a fraction 2/1 (or 2 to 1), as a decimal 2.00, or “American Style Betting Odds” +100.

For reading the fraction odds, I strongly recommend converting them to a decimal. This will make figuring out your potential win much much easier! To do this, just like in 2nd grade, you take the first number and divide it by the second. So if your odds read 7/4, you simply divide (7) by (4), which equals 1.75. That is the decimal form odds, now you simply multiply (1.75) by whatever your wager amount is to figure out your potential profit. In this case, if you were to risk $100, then your potential win would be $175 profit if you are correct! Also, you will receive your initial bet amount of $100 as well, for a total of $275 in your hand.

Now for American Style Sports Odds. Typically, when you are betting on the point spread, as in topic #1 above, the odds are displayed or implied to be (-110), which is known as American Style odds. The American Style odds format is based on $100. When the number, is displayed as a negative number (-110), it indicates how much money you must risk to realize a profit of $100. In our scenario, you must wager $110 to win $100 profit. If you do, you will receive $210 when you cash in…the winning amount PLUS your initial wager amount.

When you see the number displayed as a positive number such as (+150), it indicates how much money you will profit if you RISK $100. So, if you wager $100 on a team that pays (+150), and you win, you will receive $250. That is the $150 that you won, plus your $100 original stake returned.

Topic #4 Now What?

Now that you have the basics down, there is only one thing left to discuss – where to bet that is safe. I strongly recommend that you start by wagering on only one pick per day. You don’t want to spread yourself too thin and have your hand in every match available. If you bet that way, you will surely get nickel and dimed out of your bankroll. Spend time studying the teams and choose your best selection available. Decide on a budget of how much you are willing to risk. Now you need a reputable online sportsbook (online sports betting site) to do business.

There are millions of sites out there, but only a handful that will treat you right. I deal with a few main sites in my personal online sports betting,Bovada, BetOnline, and MyBookie.

Check these sites out and see which one fits you best. Maybe you will take advantage of the bonuses at those sites and then decide which one you want to continue to use. I prefer to use multiple sites, so I have a selection of lines to choose from to get the best available payout! Whether you want to bet $1 or $500, any of these sites will work just fine for you and pay you quickly when you win. If you want more details and options, just go to the sportsbook reviews and ratings page.

I hope that I have answered some of the nagging questions about sports betting and how it works. Feel free to use the form below to contact me directly with any question you may have. I’m here to help you understand and win! Good luck!

Also, be sure to check out my free sports picks!

Before May 14, 2018, all sports betting outside of the state of Nevada had been illegal. The explosion of betting markets since then has been nothing short of remarkable.

Americans love to gamble. In 2016, we spent over 100 billion dollars on all types of gambling, from horse races to nickel slots. The online betting market handles billions of dollars on a monthly basis.

Although this is all exciting and we want in, it can be easy to get lost with all the terms getting thrown around. Read ahead for our crash course in understanding sports betting and how to get started.

Our Fascination With Sports Betting

The next time someone tries to give you an attitude about your betting, politely remind them that you are simply taking part in an ancient tradition.

That’s right. We know the Ancient Greeks were betting on sports and other competitions more than 2,000 years ago. Later, the Romans were placing bets on gladiator fights.

Over the years, different rulers have tried to make it illegal. Others realized that if you can’t beat them you should join and created legal gambling institutions.

From Underground to Mainstream

Sports betting continued to thrive across the world. Betting on horse races became very popular in England and moved to the United States.

There was a certain posh about going to the tracks. It was something that brought communities together and provided lots of entertainment.

Of course, there was no shortage of people trying to profit off of it.

The Emergence of Bookies

Bookmakers or bookies as most people call them, accept bets and pays them off. During different periods of history, bookmaking has been banned in various countries.

Depending on the place, bookies can work out in the open. They are a common site at casinos and horse tracks.

However, there was a time when they had to operate in the shadows to avoid trouble with the law and the IRS. Otherwise, Americans often placed bets through bookies overseas in places like the Caribbean and Costa Rica, where they could operate legally.

Understanding Sports Betting

If you have been around people talking about sports betting, you’ve certainly heard a bunch of funny words getting thrown around that may have gone over your head.

Sports betting has its own culture and, with that, comes its own language.

Here are some important terms to get you started.

Dog

Short for the underdog, the dog is the team or player that is less likely to win. However, that doesn’t mean they always lose.

Betting on the dog sets you up to win big if you can correctly predict an upset.

Who doesn’t love a great underdog story?

Odds On Favorite

This is basically the opposite of the dog. The favorite is the team that projected to win. Generally speaking, betting on the favorite is safer but the cashout is smaller.

Some people always bet on the favorite regardless. However, the favorite isn’t guaranteed to win so don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Point Spread

This is an important concept called spread betting. You simply pick a winner of a certain game but keeping in mind that the underdog will have a certain advantage.

For example, if New York has a spread of +6.0 points over the underdogs, Miami, then they have to win by at least 6 points in order for those who pick them to win the bet. If you think New York will win but only by 3 points, then you should actually pick Miami given the point spread.

Parlay

A parlay is when you bet on two or more consecutive games. In a three-team parlay, for example, all three teams that you selected must win.

This is an extremely exciting way to play. Imagine the excitement as your teams keep winning and you get ever closer to hitting that big score.

Over/Under

You can bet on more than the outcome of a game in terms of winning or losing. You can also try to guess the total combined score of both teams.

You can be on whether the combined score will be greater and or less than a certain number.

For example, if the over/under for football game is 25 and you pick ‘under’. You are hoping that it is a relatively low scoring game, without worry about who wins.

How To Get Involved

It’s never too late to get involved with sports betting. Since it has become legalized, there are tons of options in the sports betting market depending on what suits you.

You can hit an online betting market if you’re the type who prefers staying at home. Gone are the days when it was necessary to meet up with your friendly neighborhood bookie at Waffle House to place your bets and get paid.

Don’t feel pressured to make big bets on things you don’t really understand. Take your time with some smaller bets to get a feel for how it works.

How Much Many Can I Make?

Truly, there is no limit to how much money you can make off sports betting. However, you need to bet more to make more.

In large part, it depends on your bankroll and how much you willing to bet. However, there are plenty of people who make a living on sports betting. However, always remember that you shouldn’t bet more than you can afford to lose.

Some people do it for fun and some people make hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Becoming a Bookie

Online Sports Betting For Dummies For Dummies

It doesn’t stop there. You can become a bookie and help others place bets. No, you don’t have to be a wiseguy or wear a trench coat.

The fact is, becoming a bookmaker is a surefire way to make money. The more people you bring in, the more you get paid regardless of the outcomes of their bets.

Check out this article to learn you can become a bookmaker. Work on your own time and as much or as little as you want.

Getting the Most out of Sports Betting

Sports betting adds a massive degree of emotion and excitement to any competition, even if its division III college volleyball.

Online Sports Betting For Dummies

And of course, there is a lot of money to be made. However, understanding sports betting is crucial in order to get the most out of it.

Keep researching and practicing your new hobby. The money is good and the time is right. Start your bookie business today, with the best pay per head software, www.AcePerHead.com.

3 Good Books About Starting Out

When you start out better, you should dive into some books for strategies and more. It’ll help you in the long run. We’ve gathered our favorite titles together.

In 2019, sports bettors wagered $150 billion in 2019, according to Morningstar. That figure is set to surge in the future as more states legalize gambling and establish sportsbooks.

But the world of sports betting has its own lingo that people can find intimidating. Also, although most people are betting for entertainment, no one wants to waste their money on something they don’t fully understand.

However, there are many books out there that can help shed some light on sports betting. If you are a novice, these books will help you gain invaluable basic knowledge. And if you have the experience, these titles could help fine-tune your betting prowess.

In the following article, we’ll suggest three excellent books on sports betting that will not only educate but entertain.

1) ‘Sharp Sports Betting’ Leads Our Books

This book is considered by many as the “Bettor’s Bible.” The book is authored by Stanford Wong, a pioneer in gambling publications. The first work he authored, “Professional Blackjack,” is also considered a classic.

Wong’s legendary prowess on the blackjack tables and his gambling knowledge has allowed him to create a lucrative cottage industry.

Wong, born in Georgia in 1943, was fascinated by games as a child. In several interviews, Wong took to blackjack and counting cards after reading Ed Thorpe’s “Beat the Dealer.” He was so successful at the game that legend has it that at age 21, he was able to start putting himself through school with his winnings.

“Sharp Sports Betting” came about after Wong realized that there were no credible books on the topic out there. His book stays away from evaluating teams and players and sticks to the math involved to win at sports betting.

Wong covers the basics in clear language: money lines, spreads, parlays, and teasers. He also spends a good amount of time exploring Poisson distribution — or the probability of X-number of events happening in a fixed interval. The charts and statistical analysis Wong offers is a must-read.

2) ‘Fixed-Odds Sports Betting’

Joseph Buchdal is a bettor extraordinaire with a passion for sportsbook and soccer, or football as they call in his home in the United Kingdom. He’s a contributor to advise sites and has written several other betting books.

Buchdal’s book “fixed-Odds Sports Betting” is considered one of the best books about gambling. It holds wit and wisdom for the newbie and the experienced bettor alike. He emphasizes the practice of value betting, where you need to isolate that thing that is likely to happen, but oddsmakers are not favoring it to happen.

He tells how to isolate factors to maximize value betting strategies and hopefully come out ahead over time in his book.

3) ‘The Signal and the Noise’

If you want a good read on predicting events, including sports, but would enjoy a wider focus, an excellent choice is Nate Silver’s “The Signal and the Noise.” Silver is best known for his political predictions and his blog FiveThirtyEight.com.

Online Sports Betting For Dummies Money

Silver developed his forecasting prowess by calculating reams of baseball statistics over long airplane flights. His Pecota system was then successfully used to predict the first Obama election in all 50 states.

Sports Betting For Beginners

His clear, explanatory writing illuminates many mathematical, political, and cultural touchstones, which gives the reader a larger sense of the forecasting world.

Get In the Game

While we picked three books to get your sports betting reading list started, there are hundreds of titles to choose from. Wong’s pioneering idea to explore the world of betting in ways that make sense to the novice and hardened better alike has sparked a major industry of sports betting publications.

With all that is out there to read, you are sure to find a book that suits your interests.

Want to learn more about our betting services and software? Contact us today at (800) 909-5193.