Sports betting has become a major part of the sports landscape. It has also become a big business for states. As more states introduce and implement legal sports betting, it’s important to understand the different types of bets.
A straight bet is the most basic type of sports wager, and it involves placing a bet on the outcome of a single game or event. Generally, a straight bet has better odds than point spreads, and it’s an excellent way to maximize your potential winnings while keeping your risk low.
Over/under bets are a great way to make a wager on the total number of points, goals, or runs scored in a particular game. They’re based on the idea that oddsmakers will release a total that is either too high or too low. In order to win a bet on an over/under, you must predict that the two teams will combine for more (over) or less (under) than the total amount posted by the oddsmakers.
Unlike other markets, prop bets don’t have anything to do with the actual results of a game or event. Instead, they focus on a player or event that doesn’t show up in the box score. A common example is the over/under on the number of touchdown passes in a game. There are many more examples, though, and each one has its own unique set of odds. The most important thing to remember when making prop bets is that they’re not easy money. Even the best “experts” only get less than 60% of their bets correct.
