A sports bet is a wager on a specific outcome of a game or event. It’s one of the most popular ways to bet on sports and can provide a great way to add excitement to a regular viewing experience. The most common bets are moneylines, spreads and parlays. But there are also player and team prop bets that allow you to place a bet on something less concrete, like how many total points a certain player will score in a game.

Value betting is a technique that can help you increase your profits when placing bets on sports. This involves calculating the true probability of an event occurring and comparing it to the odds offered by the bookmaker. By identifying these opportunities, you can make a more profitable bet and win more long-term.

When it comes to making over/under bets, remember the old saying: “It’s never under until it’s over.” Oftentimes, you can win an over/under bet even if the game isn’t finished, such as when the teams are tied at halftime.

Another way to make more money when betting on sports is through futures bets, which are bets that will be decided in the future. These bets are generally more lucrative than straight bets, because they offer higher odds and can lead to larger payouts.