Whether you’re new to sports betting or are looking to improve your winning streak, the key to consistent profits is discipline. That means sticking to a budget and not running after bad losses by increasing your stakes. It’s also important to keep track of your wagers in a spreadsheet, as this can help you identify problem areas at a glance.
Betting on sports has never been more popular than it is right now, especially after legalization propelled it into the mainstream of American culture and led to an industry that will see more than $13 billion bet legally this year. The good news for sports fans is that gambling on their favorite teams and events has always been fun.
Bets can be placed on the winner of a game (moneyline), how many points a team will win or lose by, and a variety of other specific outcomes. Often, oddsmakers set totals that predict the combined amount of runs, goals, points and other categories in a given game, such as the Rams-Seahawks matchup that has an over/under of 42.5. By betting on the over, you’re anticipating a defensive slugfest that will end with more than 42.5 points.
Props, or proposition bets, are a unique way to add excitement and a vested interest in the outcome of a game. These wagers don’t offer the same protection as spread bets, but they can still be profitable if you understand how to price them. For example, a prop may be priced incorrectly because of public sentiment on a particular player or situation. For instance, a team’s fan base might be overestimating their ability to score goals during a given game.