Sports Betting 101

sports betting

As an entertainment industry, sports betting has grown to become one of the fastest growing, and in May of 2018, the United States legalized sports gambling. However, even casual fans and sports aficionados may not understand some aspects of the process. To help you make the most of your sports betting experience, here are a few things you should know. This article will cover the basics of In-play betting, Futures bets, and Halftime bets.

In-play betting

An examination of the social characteristics of sports betting participants found that in-play gamblers were more likely to be employed, highly educated, and from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. They also tended to be younger and more female. The study also found that in-play gamblers reported gambling on four additional forms of gambling during the past four weeks. These findings are important in formulating policy and interventions to increase well-being and minimize potential harms.

Futures bets

Futures bets in sports betting are wagers on the outcome of a specific event. While championship bets pay out shortly after the winner is announced, over/under season win totals may not be settled until the regular season has ended. Futures bets on the Super Bowl winner, NBA Finals winner, and March Madness basketball champion are all common examples of these types of bets. Futures bets are increasingly popular with casual bettors and attract more wagers every year.

Props bets

A prop bet is a type of side bet in sports betting. It opens up additional wagering opportunities on a game and can include a number of factors, including team-based events, the total margin of victory, and individual player performance. The odds of a prop happening are usually higher than those of a straight bet. However, if the odds are too low to make a profit, you can still place a bet on a prop.

Halftime bets

If you’ve ever placed a bet during a halftime, you know that it can be highly profitable. While halftime bets are most commonly placed in basketball and football games, they can be made on just about any sports event. As long as the game is still ongoing, halftime bets are worth placing. Similarly, the bookies’ odds are not always accurate, so you may want to try hedging, which involves placing two competing bets on the same event and hoping for a different outcome. Hedging is worth considering if you missed out on great odds before the game or after the game, or if you are in a situation where you can’t stand losing a lot.

Parlay cards

Parlay cards for sports betting are used by professional sportsbook operations to determine a winning wager. They also use handicappers and design payout structures. Individual sports bettors do not have to print their own parlay cards, but can get the necessary information from their bookie. Subscription-based sites make parlay cards easy to create, and even the most nerdy spreadsheet guru can create one – it’s up to you.