Sports betting is any bet that involves the outcome of a sporting event. This can be a wager on the winner of a game, the total number of goals, points or runs two teams score in a game, or an individual athlete’s statistical performance.
Betting odds are the odds set by sportsbooks that reflect what their models and betting markets believe a team or athlete will do in a given game. Usually, you will find odds on both sides of the spread (favored and underdog) and totals for each team.
Odds are also referred to as the moneyline. These bets are available on all sports but are mainly used when betting on lower-scoring games.
The moneyline is based on the team’s win-probability, which means that a favorite will have to lose more than the underdog to cover the bet. This is called “juice” and is one way that sportsbooks maintain their edge over bettors.
Futures bets are a type of sports betting that offers a long-term horizon, generally measured in weeks or months. They typically include wagers on a team to win the Super Bowl in the upcoming season and pay off only after the event has concluded.
When making a sports bet, it is important to consider the size of your bankroll and risk only what you can afford to lose. A good rule of thumb is to only risk 1% to 5% of your bankroll per bet (the bankroll is the starting amount you have available to wager).