This guide is aimed primarily at people who have never bet on sports before, and know very little about what’s involved. It contains all the information needed to get started, with everything explained in a manner that’s very easy to follow. Even those who already have some experience of betting on sports may find the guide useful, as it’s very comprehensive with a lot of helpful advice.
There are a few different parts to this guide. The first part features a number of articles that are all about the basics of sports betting. These cover topics such as the mechanics of sports betting, how to place wagers, and the roles of probability and odds. The next part contains some advice for when you first start betting, and includes some useful resources for beginners. There’s a glossary of sports betting terms, and an FAQ. Finally, there’s a collection of articles explaining all about the various types of bets and the different forms of betting.
- My dad was a big time sports better. We are 49ers fans and I forget which game is was on a Sunday but we won but he was still so mad. He explained to me that they didn't cover the spread so he lost a lot of money. I then paid attention to the spreads of all games from then on. Didn't get into betting until 2016 NBA finals GSW vs Cle.
- A more straightforward way for finance to get into betting is by providing the back-end technology. Exchange operator Nasdaq Inc. Has made a handful of sports betting deals around the globe.
Everything that’s included in this beginner’s guide to sports betting is listed below. If you’re a complete novice then we’d recommend reading through everything in order, but you can skip to anything that is of particular interest if you prefer. Also on this page is some additional information about some other sports betting sections on our website. These are useful if you want to expand your knowledge and improve your betting skills, and there’s some advice for betting online as well.
Jan 28, 2021 Sports betting narrowly passed in spring 2019. Bill Lee let it become law without signing it due to his opposition to more gambling in a state without casinos. After the law took effect that summer, the lottery was tasked with coming up with rules and vetting operators and others looking to get into Tennessee’s industry.
Sports Betting Explained: The Basics
Benefits of Sports Betting
Sports betting is one of the more popular forms of gambling, because it offers a few advantages over many of the alternatives. In this article we look at its benefits when compared to playing casino games or playing poker, and also some of the other reasons why you might want to try betting on sports.
Mechanics of Sports Betting
Before you should even consider risking your own money, you should really understand the basic mechanics of how sports betting works. This article will teach you exactly what you need to know in order to start betting your money, including the three main components that make up a sports wager.
How to Place Sports Bets
Once you know how sports betting works, you can then think about placing some bets. In this article we explain what’s involved in the process, and the various methods you can use. Telephone betting, bookmaker shops, casino sportsbooks, and online gambling sites are all covered.
Understanding Odds
Odds are an integral part of sports betting, so you really need to understand them. This article does exactly that by explaining what they are and how they work, as well as also looking at their different formats. There is a guide to the math involved in calculating potential payouts when figuring out your returns.
How Bookmakers Make Money
Bookmakers don’t just make money by accident. They use specific techniques to ensure that they (usually at least) make a profit from every betting market that they offer. You need to be aware of these techniques, as they are the reason why bookmakers have the advantage over their customers.
Probability and Value
The concept of value and how it relates to probability is vital knowledge if you are to stand any chance of success when betting on sports. This article explains what you need to know in detail, and will give you a fundamental understanding of what it takes to identify good betting opportunities.
Tips, Advice and Useful Resources
The next two articles contain tips for what to do, and what not to do, when you first start betting. You should follow the advice featured in these articles from the moment you start betting. It will help you get into good habits, and greatly improve your chances of making money in the long run.
Top Tips for Beginners
There is little point in trying to become an expert on sports betting as soon as you start out. It can be hard enough trying to understand how everything works. As a beginner, it’s important to focus primarily on just the basics. There are a few simple tips that are worth following though, and we’ve listed them all in this article.
MORE Mistakes to Avoid
It’s natural to make mistakes as a beginner to sports betting, and you shouldn’t worry too much if you do. They are part of the learning process. With that being said, there are a few common mistakes that are actually relatively easy to avoid. This article provides some advice on how not to fall into the same traps that so many beginners do.
We’ve also provided two additional resources which contain very useful information for beginners.
Sports Betting FAQ
There are several questions that we hear all the time from sports betting beginners looking for advice on getting started. We’ve compiled a list of the most common ones, and provided detailed answers to them in our FAQ. The following are some examples of the questions we answer.
- What Is The Best Sport To Bet On?
- What Is A Value Bet?
- How Much Should I Stake?
- Should I Pay For Tips
The answers to these questions, and more, can all be found on the following page.
Sports Betting Glossary
There are times when it can feel like sports betting has its own language, and this can make things very confusing for a beginner. Our comprehensive glossary can clear up any confusion, as it explains all the jargon and technical terms you are likely to encounter when betting on sports.
It’s not necessary to learn all the words and phrases contained in this glossary at this stage, but you might want to bookmark it to refer to any time you come across a term you don’t understand.
Types of Bets and Different Forms of Betting
Types of Bets
The following articles will teach you all about the different wagers you can place on sports events. You probably won’t want to use all of these when you first start betting, but it’s still advisable to understand all the available options and how they work.
The first of these articles contains a brief overview of each type of bet, and you should read this one as a minimum. The rest of the articles explain each bet in more detail, with working examples. You can read them now, or refer to them at a later date when you are ready to start experimenting with different wagers.
Moneyline/Win Bets
Totals & Over/Under Bets
Point Spread/Handicap Bets
Futures/Outright Bets
Prop Bets/Specials
Accumulators & Multiples
Parlays
Teasers
Pleasers
If Bets & Reverse Bets
Permutation Betting
Forms of Betting
There are a few alternative forms of sports betting that provide different ways to bet on sports events. We advise familiarizing yourself with these, even if you don’t have any plans to get involved with them right now. It’s always useful to consider other ways of making money from your sports knowledge
Fantasy Sports Betting
Before You Start: Information You Should Know
Sports Betting is FUN
For some reason, a lot of people seem to think that betting on sports makes watching them less enjoyable. This is perhaps because they are under the impression that it means taking things too seriously, and worrying about things like statistics and form rather than simply relaxing and watching a game.
Let us assure you that this is nonsense. You certainly can choose to take your betting seriously, and it may affect the way that you watch sports events, but it really doesn’t take the fun out of things. It’s quite the opposite in fact. In our view at least, placing wagers on events makes watching them even more enjoyable. It adds to the excitement, as it means there’s always something or someone to cheer for.
It’s not essential to learn all about the strategy involved in sports betting, and indeed the vast majority of people who bet don’t. They simply enjoy putting their sports knowledge to the test, and giving themselves the opportunity to win some money. We do recommend learning at least the basics of what to do, but they are all that’s needed if you just want to have some fun and place the occasional wagers on your favorite sports.
Sports Betting Involves RISK
As fun as sports betting can be, it’s important to recognize the fact that it does involve risk. It doesn’t matter how much you know about sports, you’re never going to be able to predict the outcome of events with 100% accuracy. Even if you mostly back big favorites, there’s still going to be the occasional upset where things don’t turn out as expected.
Risk is a part of any form of gambling, so don’t let this put you off betting on sports. It’s just that you need to be prepared for the possibility of losing money. Most people do lose money overall, and there’s a good chance that you will too. This is why you must gamble responsibly. You should set a budget to bet with, and only ever use money that you can afford to lose.
The Bookmakers CAN Be Beaten
Even though most people lose money through sports betting, this doesn’t mean that you have to. The bookmakers do have an advantage because they set the odds, but their advantage is not impossible to overcome. It’s not like playing casino games where there is a house edge that cannot be beaten. There’s still some luck involved of course, but there is no reason at all why you can’t take from the bookmakers if you know what you’re doing.
Getting Into Sports Betting Tips
If you plan on taking your betting seriously, and are aiming to make consistent profits, then you need to go a step or two further than just understanding the basics. Success takes hard work and commitment, and there’s a lot to learn, but with enough knowledge and the right approach you can be a winner. The following two sections of our sports betting guide can help you to achieve your goals.
Sports Betting Online
The information in this beginner’s guide is all relevant regardless of how you actually choose to place your bets. The advice it contains applies regardless of whether you bet over the phone, in a bookmakers shop, or with a casino sportsbook. Seeing as the most popular way to bet these days is over the internet, however, we’ve also produced a section dedicated to betting online. Check out our page that discusses both methods.
This section covers each of the following topics, and also includes a step by step guide to joining a sports betting site and placing wagers.
- Advantages of Betting Online
- Choosing Where to Bet
- Getting Started with Online Sports Betting
- Bonuses & Rewards
- Using Multiple Sites
Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, we also recommend the top sports betting sites in several different categories. We’ll help you to find the very best sites that are the most suitable for any personal preferences or requirements you may have. Each one of our recommendations is reliable and trustworthy, so you can be sure of a safe betting experience.
If you like unscripted drama, boy do I have a concept to sell you. It's called sports, and every single facet of it is must-watch television. In today's world, the rate at which we consume breaking news in the sporting world is breathtaking. The rate at which we process, analyze and form thoughts on sporting events or players is next to none. If you enjoy doing all of that and want even more, I suggest you try getting involved in sports betting. Now, before you start worrying about needing to go into the shady room at the back of your local pub, I must tell you that only happens in movies. But you don't live in Las Vegas? Well, today's technology allows us to make bets from our computer or mobile device from anywhere in the world. It's really quite simple and extremely safe to do.
If your interest is still piqued and you would like to get into the world of sports betting, let me walk you through a few important steps on how to get started and what to do or look for.
Choosing a Sportsbook(s)
First things first - you need a place to make your wagers at. If you live in Las Vegas and can physically get to a brick-and-mortar Casino to make a wager then you are all set. If you are like me and reside outside of Sin City, then you must create an account with one of the many online sportsbooks currently in market. For starters, the online sports betting industry has been thriving for the last handful of years and is only getting bigger and better. Before you create an account, I would recommend sifting through the list of Doc's sportsbook bonus guide and find one that fits your needs. Some sportsbooks offer reduced juice (5Dimes), while some offer an extensive list of in-game options and teaser options.
Some sportsbooks have a small minimum deposit requirement, but all of them offer a plethora of deposit methods. Once again, make sure to do your homework on a sportsbook before you sign up so that you are completely comfortable and understand their services.
Starting a Bankroll
Now that you've decided which sportsbooks you will create an account at, you must make your first deposit. Whether you plan on placing wagers sporadically for fun or with any sort of seriousness to turn a profit, you must be clear about your bankroll. It is vital that you separate your betting money from your normal money. This will help you keep track of whether you are actually winning or losing. However, more importantly, it will help you to avoid financial problems and avoid using money allocated for bills or groceries to fund this hobby. The more safeguards you have in place in terms of the bankroll, the better off you will be and the more enjoyable it will be.
Getting Into Sports Betting Games
Understanding the Odds
Sports Betting Websites
I understand the overwhelming feeling of looking at the odds board or hearing new lingo and not knowing what any of it means. I was new to the betting scene once before. If you are having trouble understanding the lingo, our Glossary will help you understand what every word/phrase in the industry means. In the meantime, some of the most important things to understand in the betting industry are the betting odds. There are a slew of different betting options, but the odds and prices you bet on are what will make your break your bankroll. You should understand the difference between a -115 line and a -105 line on all point spread bets. With a -115 line, you must wager $115 to win $100. With a -105 line, you will wager $105 to win a $100. While the $10 savings may not seem like a big deal at the time, trust me, it adds up over the long run. Something else to consider when trying to understand the odds is the parlay payouts. While parlays are generally sucker-bets, you want to be able to get full value if you do happen to hit one. Do your research and find out what kind of odds each sportsbook gives out on two-, three-, four-, 10- or even 12-team parlays.
Have a Game Plan
Looking at the betting board is essentially like being a kid in a candy store. There are so many amazingly good-looking options to choose from, and you want to pick a little from each shelf. In sports betting, that's the quickest way to go broke. My suggestion to you would be to pick one sport you enjoy the most or know the most about and stick to that sport. Doesn't matter if that's the NHL or MLB. The minute you start placing wagers on sports you know nothing about like WNBA or Tennis or the French Basketball League is the minute your bankroll goes from full to empty. Sticking to one sport will help you improve your betting habits and allow you to focus in and find league quirks, profitable betting situations, solid ATS teams, and everything in between. The more you know, the better educated your wager will be.
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