How to Get Started in Sports Betting
While it’s not impossible to make money sports betting, it does require a great deal of research and discipline. There are many articles out there touting the success of sports bettors turning $5 into $100K with a parlay, but that kind of profit is rare and requires a large amount of risk.
Getting started with sports betting can be overwhelming. There are so many different bet types, odds, and rules to remember. It can be confusing and frustrating, but it’s important to keep in mind that you must start small and build your wagers gradually. This will prevent you from losing too much money early on and will help you stay profitable long-term.
The basics of sports betting revolve around predicting an event’s outcome and risking money on that prediction. Sportsbooks set odds on events based on their probability of occurring, and bettors can place bets on either side of the line, with the sportsbook essentially taking the opposite position.
Straight bets are the most basic form of a bet and involve placing a single wager on a particular event or team. The majority of people who place bets on sports are fans to begin with, and many have a specific team, college or professional squad they follow closely. Odds are displayed as plus or minus, with a plus sign indicating the underdog and a minus sign indicating the favorite. For example, a bet on Scherzer’s strikeout total against the Reds would have over/under odds of 7.5/7.5.