Sports Betting Basics

betting

There are many different types of bets to choose from, but the most common is the spread bet. The point spread is the amount by which the favored team must win an event to “cover the spread,” which is typically 11 to 10 points. A bet of $11 for $10 will yield a total payout of $21, while a bet of $100 will yield a total payout of $1,000. If you want to bet the over/under on Julian Edelman, for example, you should place a bet of $110. However, these types of bets are rarely as accurate as the spread and carry lower limits than other sports betting options.

The spread is the amount that sports books believe a team will win by. The underdog is always the better option, but there are some important things to consider. The Patriots are the underdog and must beat the Broncos by 3 points or more to win. You can bet on either team, so long as you understand the spread. If you’re not sure, you can look at the totals for both teams and then make a decision based on the odds.

The odds on different outcomes of a single bet are presented in different formats. In continental Europe, Canada, and Australia, these odds are presented in decimal form. The European format is a ratio of the amount won to the stake. UK bookmakers use a fractional odds format, which is a proportion of the amount won to the stake. For example, 1/1 is an even bet. If you bet 100, the odds are 1/1.