Betting on sports is a fun and profitable hobby for many people. It’s been around for centuries, but has recently enjoyed a resurgence in popularity thanks to the legalization of online betting.

The basics

There are several different types of sports wagers, but the most common is a straight bet. These are simple bets that win or lose, and you can bet on any team to win a specific game.

Totals

You can bet on how many total points, runs, or goals two teams will score in a given game. These bets are called “Over” or “Under.”

Spread bets

Point spreads are a popular type of wager in which oddsmakers set a handicap between two sides. The favorite is expected to cover the spread, while the underdog is expected to lose by a certain number of points.

Futures bets

Futures bets are a great way to make some extra money in sports betting. These bets involve predicting how teams will perform in the future.

Arbitrage

Arbitrage betting is a form of sports betting that involves placing bets with different sportsbooks at the same time. This is a way for you to make small guaranteed profits on a game, but it does require a lot of research and time.

If you’re new to sports betting, you’ll want to start with a small bankroll and only risk 1% to 5% of that on each bet. This will ensure that you have a solid bankroll when you’re ready to place bigger bets.