How to Bet: Sports Betting Guides for Beginners

How Does Sports Betting Work?

Sports betting is a form of gambling where you wager your cash against a said event with the view of winning a particular amount of cash should your prediction be correct. When wagering, the bookmaker will provide you with the odds or expected probabilities of the event happening, which determines the amount of cash that you are likely to win.

The outcome that marches your prediction is called a market. You may bet on a winning team, goals, scorers, differences in goals and so forth. Each of these markets has specific odds, which may vary throughout the pre-match and in-play betting sections of the sportsbook.

Here is an example: in a game between England and Germany, you may predict that England will beat Germany and wager on the winner market or you may predict that Germany will not lose by more than two goals and bet on the handicap market.

Once the outcome matches with the prediction, you get the amount that the bookmaker indicated when you were making a sports bet and the bet is said to have been settled. Otherwise, you lose the entire amount you wagered if the result is different.

How to bet on Sports: Fundamentals you should know

Before you place a bet there are various things that you should understand about betting. They are the basic procedures and principles that you should follow to increase your chances of a win. Understanding each helps you make other decisions accurately and increase your chances of landing a winning bet.

Understanding odds

As explained earlier, betting odds present the price of the event should you win. Events that have a higher chance of happening have lower odds. Here is an example; if England is playing with Germany and the hosts are likely to win, you may find the odds as follows

• England to win at 1.52
• Germany to win at 2.54

The odds are presented in three formats, namely, fractional odds (British), decimal odds (European) and Moneyline odds (American). Many betting sites allow you to change from one format to another.

How bookmakers work

Bookmakers are companies that populate and manage the sportsbooks so that you have games and markets to bet on. They use software tools and a database to calculate the odds of one team beating the other. The variables that they use may change before and during the game.

Bookmakers are also looking for games worldwide to add to their sportsbooks. This offers players a wide choice of sporting activities to bet on.

Available types of bets

Various types of bets depend on the sport you are betting on. Here are the popular ones.

• Winner markets/1×2 markets: You choose the winner
• Double chances: This allows you to choose two outcomes to lower the risk
• Handicap: This market gives one side a handicap or a head start to improve odds where one opponent has a huge advantage.
• Totals: This market enables you to determine the best scorer, over and under, and total scores, among others.

You may have over two dozen markets, depending on your game.

Betting Terminology

Various betting terms describe several aspects of sports betting. You have to know them so that you can make informed decisions and pick the most accurate market depending on the prediction you make. Most bookmakers explain many of the betting jargon. Some popular terminology includes BTTS (both teams to score), ante-post, betting exchange, places and pony. Do not bet on terminology you do not understand.

How to place a bet

To place a bet, you must be at least 18 and have an account with a bookmaker. You should also have deposited some cash into your betting account. Here are the rest of the procedures.

1. Log into your account
2. Check the games you would like to bet on and zero into the specific market
3. Click on the market to select
4. Determine the amount to bet
5. Finish off by placing the bet

After placing the bet, the bookmaker will notify you that your bet was successful

How much to bet

The bet amount you pick depends on the amount you want to win from your betting activities. However, remember that you should bet with amounts you are willing to lose. You should also check the expected profit and determine if it is worth the risk. Many bookmakers allow you to bet with as low as $1 per selection.

Betting guides per sport

Each sport you find at your favourite bookmaker has specific procedures that you may not apply to other categories. It is important that you learn about each game you wish to bet on and its specific betting procedure. This ensures that you do not make silly mistakes when placing your bet.

We provide betting information and online betting guides specific to the game that you wish to bet on the site. You just need to visit the specific page and read about the game you would like to bet on but check the relevant subheadings.

Tips and strategies for beginner sports bettors

Here are a few strategies you can apply when betting. Determine whether to go for favourites or underdogs: The favourites is the side expected to win. Check if the favourites have a higher chance or go for double chance and other non-win markets.

Spreads: with spreads, you can bet on the margin of victory. If your team wins by the said margin, you win. If you lose by a point, you may get your bet amount back.

Consider in-play betting. If you are not sure of a team’s performance, you may view it play for a few minutes before picking your market.

Choose only reputable bookmakers

There are hundreds of bookmakers out there where you can bet. However, they are not all equal. Some are rogue, and others do not have wide coverage of events. Otherwise, there are several that offer wide coverage and other quality services.

Go for legalised sports betting sites that promote responsible gambling and accept players from your jurisdiction so that it is easy to transact and verify your account. Besides, check if the bookmaker has positive reviews from customers who have used the platform. It is also good to check the game’s coverage and the kind of markets available too.

Search for the best odds

As said earlier, odds determine the amount of money that you are likely to win from betting on a specific game. A good betting strategy is to always look for markets that provide the highest odds for your selection. You will find that a prediction can fit in more than one market, compare the risks between the two markets and pick one that has higher odds and still has a chance that the event will happen.

In the same breath, look for odd-boosting promotions from your favourite bookmaker to increase your earning potential without increasing your stake.

Bet on sports you are familiar with

Pick games that you are familiar with. This helps you make the right analysis, increasing the chances that you will win money with your bet. If you do not know how fouls, scores, and points are made, as well as how to determine the position of one team in relation to the other, there is a chance you will make a blind bet with a high chance of a loss. There are several resources on the internet where you can learn about various sports before you risk your cash on them.

Manage your bankroll

Your bankroll is the amount that you have set aside for betting. You should always bet on the amount that you are willing to lose so that you do not end up affecting your financial standing. Once you set the amount you wish to bet with over a period, spread it across various bets to lower risk and increase the opportunities of a win.

Be strict on your bankroll and avoid betting with more than you set, even if you are enjoying a winning streak. It takes a single bet to wipe out your winnings.

Know when to bet and when to stop

Betting is quite addictive. If you are not careful, you are likely to lose all your cash in gambling. You can save yourself from losing your cash by knowing when to stop. For example, if you have been having a losing streak, you may stop betting altogether for some time to allow for good evaluation.

On the other hand, if you make a significant win, it is good to take a break so that you are mentally prepared the next time you place a bet. Likewise, if you find a game that has great odds and markets and is easy to predict, you may consider placing a bet.

Finding the Best Online Bookmakers

Here’s how to find the best online bookmakers

Determine What You Want

Are you looking for a platform for a single bet, or would you like to be betting regularly? Are you interested in a particular tournament, or can you bet across various sports? Knowing what you need from the very start can help you narrow it down to specific sites.

Create a Dealbreaker

List down the items that should not be lacking in the bookmakers that you choose. For example, if you intend to use a specific payment method such as PayPal, pick those platforms with the method and choose one amongst them using any other criterion.

Read the Reviews

Read what others have said about the sportsbook. Does it have issues settling bets? How are the payouts from the platform? What is customer service? While you may not find a site without a few complaints, pick one with overwhelmingly positive reviews.

Test the Website

Make a few low bets on your choice sportsbook (if you are not claiming the highest welcome bonus) and see how it goes. If you enjoy the service, you can continue betting on the platform. Otherwise, you may have to look for another one using the same criterion.

Conclusion

Sports betting is both a form of entertainment and a great way to make some cash. However, there are several risks you should be aware of before you start betting so that you do not lose your cash.

If you are new to betting, be sure to learn the basics of sports betting and a few commonly used terminologies in the industry so that you are able to navigate. All gambler should also analyse their predictions accordingly and manage their bankroll meticulously.