How to bet on sports

Time needed: 10 minutes

How to bet on sports and understand different types of betting

1. Find a good and reputable sportsbook

   The first thing you need to know is where to go and how to place a sports bet. Most will probably start with an online sportsbook where you can place bets on various games. Some notable ones include BETMGM or PointsBET. People who like fantasy sports can look into Fanduel and Draftkings for their sportsbooks which tie into their fantasy leagues. Learn more about the pros and cons of each site to find the one that is right for you. When looking, consider their terms, payouts and what sports and teams they have available.

2. Find a local sportsbook

   If for whatever reason you don’t feel comfortable using an online sportsbook then consider using a local sportsbook. When choosing this path make sure that they’re someone that you can trust; maybe they’re someone that you already know or have a good reputation as a sportsbook. A good option could be to check a local sports bar, there’s potentially a sportsbook there that works with customers. A sportsbook will collect money for bets from multiple people and then payout after the game is over. Remember though that the smaller group can mean less potential money than at an online sports book. Once again, it can’t be stated enough to make sure that this person is reputable.

3. Consider Casinos

   Another option if you don’t like online gambling is a casino with a sportsbook. Depending on which state you live in gambling might be illegal but if possible you could consider taking a trip to somewhere where it’s legal. Doing this also gets around the question of how to bet on sports online legally, which can also be dependent on local laws. A physical sportsbook has the advantage of you being able to choose how active the location is. If you want a smaller crowd simply go to a smaller casino and vice versa for a larger one. In the list of Sweepstakes casinos you can find start of a little easier. Learn how to gamble online for the best results at our dedicated guide.

4. Points Spread

   First consider betting on points spread where you bet not just on that a team will win or lose but how much they win or lose by. For example, let’s say the odds going into a game are Yankees (-2) and Twins (+2). By betting for the Yankees to cover the spread you’re not just saying they’ll win but that they win by at least two runs, if they win by one you lose. Betting over the spread is great for matchups where there is seemingly little chance of one team winning. You can still bet on the underdog and have a chance at winning if they simply do better than expected. The downside is you care less about the result of the game than you do the score.

5. Money Spread

   The simplest option is the money spread or who will outright win the game regardless of the score. This option is better if you think the point spread is too narrow, just place a bet on whom you think will win and get a payout based on that.

6. Over/Under

   The over/under bet looks at what the total score will be of the two teams combined. Who wins doesn’t actually matter. All that matters is whether the total points scored are higher or lower than the betting number. For reference, if the Tampa Bay Lightning and the New York Rangers play and the over/under is 6 you bet on whether the two teams combine for six goals. It doesn’t matter if the Lightning score 7 and the Rangers score 0 that’s still a win for the over just as much if the score was 4-3.
   This kind of betting is more concerned with knowledge of the teams and how they score than on which team is better. If you know both teams are high offense teams you might want to go with the over. If they’re more defense-orientated or not good on offense consider the under.