The legalization of sports betting in 2018 opened the floodgates to a whole new level of gambling. But to make it successful, bettors must learn to avoid making decisions based on emotions and stick to their betting strategy. It’s not just about picking winners and losers, it’s about assessing the odds of each bet to find value. It is also important to know your bet types and how they work. Using and developing betting strategies that fit your risk tolerance and style will help you master the sport of sports betting far more easily.

When assessing the odds of a bet, it’s vital to remember that the higher the number, the more likely the team or player is to win. However, it’s important to note that a team or player may be favored despite having a lower number because of things like recent performance and head-to-head results. A team or player’s odds may be adjusted depending on injury and weather conditions, among other factors.

Over/Under odds are a way for bettors to predict the total number of points scored in a game. If you bet the “over,” you’ll win if the game has more than the total odds number, and if the game ends with less than that number, the wager will push (return all stakes).

Many people fail to adhere to this rule because they become emotionally attached to their bets and lose sight of their betting strategy. This is a mistake that can be made in any form of gambling, but it’s especially common with sports betting. You may hear someone walking out of a sportsbook muttering about how they can’t believe the Yankees lost to the Twins. But it’s a 162-game season, and they’re bound to lose 60 of them.