Sports betting involves placing a wager on the outcome of a sporting event. Whether you’re looking to make money betting on the Super Bowl or your local basketball game, it is important to remember that sports gambling comes with risks and should only be done responsibly. The most common type of bet is the straight bet, which involves wagering on either a team or an individual player to win a game. Straight bets are typically offered at higher odds than point spreads.
Over/Under: Also known as totals, Over/Under bets allow you to place a wager on the combined number of anything in a game—points, goals, rebounds, wins, saves, hits, rounds, birdies, or aces, depending on the sport. When the total ends up over a sportsbook’s predetermined number, you win an Over bet; conversely, when the total finishes under the number, you lose an Over/Under bet.
Lines: Also referred to as point spreads, line bets are designed to give bettors an edge over the bookmakers. They are often set before an event and may fluctuate over time, depending on how much action a particular team or player receives. For example, if one sportsbook has the Cavs at -8 and another has them at -6.5, a sharp bettor will shop around to find the best number.
Props: Short for proposition bets, props are any type of bet that isn’t a standard point spread, moneyline or total. These bets are often available year-round and offer a variety of payout options, from single-game props to long-term futures wagers (i.e., betting on a particular NFL team to win the Super Bowl).