About 18% of Americans are betting on the NFL season this year. Sports betting is growing as more states make it legal to bet on sports.
If you’re new to sports betting, you’re definitely not alone. You want to place bets on your favorite sports, but there’s a lot of information to learn.
Don’t worry because we’ve got you covered. Read this guide to sports betting that’s perfect for beginner sports bettors.
Why Do You Want to Try Sports Betting?
The first thing to consider is why you want to try sports betting. You want to make sure that it’s right for you before you spend money on it.
There are a couple of approaches to sports betting. Beginner bettors look at sports betting as a quick way to make a buck. Some look at it as a solution to their financial problems.
That’s the worst thing you can do with sports betting. You’re going to lose and put yourself in more financial trouble.
The alternative is to treat sports betting as entertainment. It’s great when you win, but you’ll be just fine if you lose.
Set Aside Your Bankroll
The best sports betting advice tells you to keep a sports betting bankroll. This is your budget. Some bettors set aside a certain amount of money each month and make a deposit.
When that money runs out, you can’t make a deposit until next month. It’s a disciplined way to manage your bankroll, but it prevents you from spending your rent money on sports betting.
Learn the Sports Betting Lingo
Sports betting has its own terminology that you have to learn before you start betting. These terms are mostly found in team sports, such as basketball, football, baseball, soccer, and hockey.
The favorite is the team that’s most likely to win. You’ll see a minus sign with a number next to the team.
The underdog is the team that’s likely to lose. They’ll have a plus sign next to the betting odds.
A pick is when sportsbooks have even odds on the team to win. It’s up to you to pick the winner and loser of the match.
The money line is a straight bet with odds attached. The favorite will look something like this: Jacksonville Jaguars (-250) at New York Jets (+300)
The Jaguars are the favorite in this example. You’d have to bet $250 to win $100 on the game. If you bet on the Jets, you’d win $300 if you bet $100.
The point spread is used as a way to make it harder to pick a winner. The point spread is points are given to the underdog in a matchup.
You’ll see it listed like this: New York Giants (+3.5) at Green Bay Packers (-3.5). In this example, Green Bay has to win by at least 3.5 points to beat the spread.
Futures bets are bets that predict future results. A futures bet is betting on the college football national championship at the beginning of the season.
You can bet on who’s going to win the Premier League or Stanley Cup as well.
Soccer Bets
Soccer bets are a little different than other team sports. That’s because you have Home-Draw-Away bets.
It’s a very simple bet. Pick whether the home team wins, the away team wins, or they draw.
Since they’re simple bets, you can up the challenge by betting on the result of multiple games at once.
Other Sports Betting Features
Formula One is becoming popular in the United States thanks to the Netflix series Drive to Survive. Did you know that you can bet on Formula One races as well?
You can place bets during the entire race weekend. Place bets on the qualifying order or the driver to take pole position.
Place bets on the race itself. Pick the team that picks up the most points, the winning driver, or the drivers to finish on the podium.
Some sportsbooks offer in-race betting, where you can make your picks in the middle of the race. This makes the race exciting, especially once you understand tire strategies and race drivers.
Futures bets are popular in Formula One. There are two trophies that drivers fight for every year. The World Championship goes to the driver who finishes with the most points at the end of the season.
The other trophy is the Constructor’s Championship, which goes to the top team for the year.
How to Find a Sports Betting Site
How can you make sure you’re placing sports bets at reputable establishments? Start by looking at online reviews of sports betting sites.
If you’re new to sports betting, click here to access a trusted betting site that offers comprehensive guides and reliable odds. It’s a good idea to use a reputable site to remove any doubts about the security of your money in their systems, not only that but using a trusted platform will typically grant you access to special offers and favourable odds on all manner of sports games. Regardless of the platform you choose in the end, it’s essential to look online as their reviews, as well as the betting platforms accreditation so you know they operate legally. Check to see if they’re registered to operate in your country or state. They’ll have to comply with local laws in order to show they take customer security seriously.
You can also check the odds and do a sports betting odds comparison. You’ll see which sports betting site gives you the best odds before you place your bet.
See if the sports betting site offers deposit bonuses or free bets. They often will match your deposit up to a certain amount.
Do Sports Betting Research
It’s essential to start sports betting by researching the odds. You’re betting on the probability of something happening, not who has the best uniforms.
The more research and information you can gather, the better. Look at industry news for the latest results. Also, look at player statistics and see if anyone can step up and be a difference-maker in the match.
Sports Betting Advice for Beginners
If you’re a beginner sports bettor, you can get overwhelmed before you place your first bet. These sports betting tips show you how to get started.
Know why you want to bet on sports and learn the terminology. That sports betting advice is invaluable and will prevent you from making big betting mistakes.
Did you enjoy learning about sports betting? You’ll enjoy the other entertainment articles on this site. Check them out today!
