Sports betting has exploded in popularity in recent years as anti-gambling sentiment faded and legalized gambling became more commonplace. As a result, millions of new sports bettors are attempting to navigate this complex industry for the first time.
While it’s possible to make money betting on sports, winning consistently isn’t easy. The best bettors are disciplined, do their research and take advice from those who know. They also understand that there are no sure things when it comes to betting, and they never bet more than they can afford to lose.
Point spreads are used to even the playing field between two teams or athletes, and they are calculated using a number of factors. These include past matchups, weather conditions, player and team performance and more. The oddsmakers then use these calculations to create odds for a given game or event. When a bet is placed on a point spread, the team that covers the line wins.
Over/Under bets are another type of wager that focus on totals. These bets predict whether a specific game will have more (over) or less (under) total points, runs, goals and other metrics than the oddsmakers have posted.
A key to success with over/unders is to shop the lines. Sportsbooks are competing for your business, and the odds will change from one operator to the next. This is why it’s important to check out our Promotions Page regularly and to be on the lookout for odds boosts, risk-free bets, and other special offers.