Types of Sports Betting

sports betting

Sports betting is a form of gambling that involves placing a wager on the outcome of a sports event. The goal is to win additional money, typically based on the odds provided by a bookmaker. While there are many types of wagers available, the majority of bets have only two possible outcomes – you either win or lose your bet.

While making money as a sports bettor isn’t impossible, it requires a lot of discipline and research. You should also know your limits and not be afraid to take a loss now and then. But don’t let a bad run derail your long-term goals. Stick to your plan and practice bankroll management, and you’ll eventually make money as a sports bettor.

Over/Under (O/U) bets are a popular type of bet that involves predicting the total score of a game. The ‘Over’ side of the line will be higher than the ‘Under’, and the winner will be the team that covers the spread. Over/Under lines are often shown in increments of half-a-point (.5), even though most sporting events don’t have a half-point scoring system, to eliminate the possibility of ties and pushes.

Futures bets are a fun way to wager on games that will happen in the future. These bets can be placed on any number of things, from how long the national anthem will last to what song the halftime performer will sing first. A lot of sports books have a ‘Futures’ section that includes a variety of these bets.