Sport Betting For Dummies

If you like unscripted drama, boy do I have a concept to sell you. It's called sports, and every single facet of it is must-watch television. In today's world, the rate at which we consume breaking news in the sporting world is breathtaking. The rate at which we process, analyze and form thoughts on sporting events or players is next to none. If you enjoy doing all of that and want even more, I suggest you try getting involved in sports betting. Now, before you start worrying about needing to go into the shady room at the back of your local pub, I must tell you that only happens in movies. But you don't live in Las Vegas? Well, today's technology allows us to make bets from our computer or mobile device from anywhere in the world. It's really quite simple and extremely safe to do.

If your interest is still piqued and you would like to get into the world of sports betting, let me walk you through a few important steps on how to get started and what to do or look for.

Choosing a Sportsbook(s)

First things first - you need a place to make your wagers at. If you live in Las Vegas and can physically get to a brick-and-mortar Casino to make a wager then you are all set. If you are like me and reside outside of Sin City, then you must create an account with one of the many online sportsbooks currently in market. For starters, the online sports betting industry has been thriving for the last handful of years and is only getting bigger and better. Before you create an account, I would recommend sifting through the list of Doc's sportsbook bonus guide and find one that fits your needs. Some sportsbooks offer reduced juice (5Dimes), while some offer an extensive list of in-game options and teaser options.

  1. Sports betting is considered by many to be the easiest form of gambling to get started with. When betting on sports, your goal is essentially to predict the outcome of a sports event and wager money according to what you think is going to happen. When you’re right, you win money. And when you’re wrong, you lose money.
  2. Online Sports Betting Sites. Using an online sports betting site is far and away the best way to bet on football, or any sport for that matter. It’s the most convenient and accessible option, and there are several other advantages too. Best of all, it’s legal in the United States. There are some laws against online gambling in the US.
  3. I’ve titled this Sports Betting For Dummies. It’s a tutorial for those who want to start betting on sports or those who want to gain a better understanding of some of the terminology and theory behind it.
  4. Cash-Out Sports Betting for Dummies Many sportsbooks offer their customers the chance to ‘cash-out’ before the event has finished and their sports wager has been settled. The cash-out feature is a way for a bettor to lock-in profit from their sports wager, or minimize their losses.

Sports betting is considered by many to be the easiest form of gambling to get started with. When betting on sports, your goal is essentially to predict the outcome of a sports event and wager money according to what you think is going to happen. When you’re right, you win money. And when you’re wrong, you lose money.

Some sportsbooks have a small minimum deposit requirement, but all of them offer a plethora of deposit methods. Once again, make sure to do your homework on a sportsbook before you sign up so that you are completely comfortable and understand their services.

Starting a Bankroll

Now that you've decided which sportsbooks you will create an account at, you must make your first deposit. Whether you plan on placing wagers sporadically for fun or with any sort of seriousness to turn a profit, you must be clear about your bankroll. It is vital that you separate your betting money from your normal money. This will help you keep track of whether you are actually winning or losing. However, more importantly, it will help you to avoid financial problems and avoid using money allocated for bills or groceries to fund this hobby. The more safeguards you have in place in terms of the bankroll, the better off you will be and the more enjoyable it will be.

Understanding the Odds

I understand the overwhelming feeling of looking at the odds board or hearing new lingo and not knowing what any of it means. I was new to the betting scene once before. If you are having trouble understanding the lingo, our Glossary will help you understand what every word/phrase in the industry means. In the meantime, some of the most important things to understand in the betting industry are the betting odds. There are a slew of different betting options, but the odds and prices you bet on are what will make your break your bankroll. You should understand the difference between a -115 line and a -105 line on all point spread bets. With a -115 line, you must wager $115 to win $100. With a -105 line, you will wager $105 to win a $100. While the $10 savings may not seem like a big deal at the time, trust me, it adds up over the long run. Something else to consider when trying to understand the odds is the parlay payouts. While parlays are generally sucker-bets, you want to be able to get full value if you do happen to hit one. Do your research and find out what kind of odds each sportsbook gives out on two-, three-, four-, 10- or even 12-team parlays.

Have a Game Plan

Looking at the betting board is essentially like being a kid in a candy store. There are so many amazingly good-looking options to choose from, and you want to pick a little from each shelf. In sports betting, that's the quickest way to go broke. My suggestion to you would be to pick one sport you enjoy the most or know the most about and stick to that sport. Doesn't matter if that's the NHL or MLB. The minute you start placing wagers on sports you know nothing about like WNBA or Tennis or the French Basketball League is the minute your bankroll goes from full to empty. Sticking to one sport will help you improve your betting habits and allow you to focus in and find league quirks, profitable betting situations, solid ATS teams, and everything in between. The more you know, the better educated your wager will be.

Doc's Sports is offering $60 worth of member's picks absolutely free - no obligation, no sales people - you don't even have to enter credit card information. You can use this $60 credit any way you please for any handicapper and any sport on Doc's Sports list of expert sports handicappers. Get $60 worth of premium members' picks free .

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Betting

Sports Betting 101 For Dummies

Many sports fans think they will automatically find success with sports betting. But applying your sports knowledge to the betting line is not as easy as it looks.

If you’re one of those fans on the sidelines, itching to get in and put your money where your mouth is, you might want to read this article first.

Here are three essential things to know if you’re just getting started and want to get off on the right foot. Welcome to sports betting for dummies.

Understand the Betting Lines

The first step for sports betting dummies is to understand the betting lines.

Sure, you know the sport of basketball inside-out and always know what’s happening in the NFL. In general, you have a good feel of who will win on a given night. However, betting on those same games requires a different type of knowledge that forces you to think hard about odds and probabilities.

It might seem obvious that the Los Angeles Lakers should crush their opponent tonight. But is that a smart bet if you must risk $100 to win $10?

Betting the point spread is harder than picking straight up winners. It’s more of a toss-up to predict whether the Lakers would win this game by 10.5 points.

Understanding how to read odds and interpret the betting line is the first step for sports betting dummies. You should be able to explain the meaning of -110, -5.5, +10.5 or an over-under of 215.5.

After all, you need to know what you’re betting on.

Stick to What You Know

The next thing you’ll want to do is stick to what you know.

How To Understand Sports Betting

When you log into your sportsbook account, you’ll find a whole host of betting lines from basketball to football to hockey to baseball to much more. You’ll be able to bet on everything you can think of, from the Oscars to horse racing to the Little League World Series.

Sport betting for dummies free

It’s one heck of a glorious buffet, but you want to be careful what you ingest.

Sport Betting For Dummies

Ideally, you’ll start with what you know. If you’ve been a lifelong UFC fan and know the fighters, how they matchup, and where to research the bouts, it makes sense to bet the UFC to begin.

The last thing you want to do is get distracted by sports you know nothing about. Don’t start throwing money around just hoping and praying you win. Some bettors get bored on a weeknight, turn on the TV to see what’s on ESPN and place a bet simply because a game is on. Don’t be one of them.

Once you’ve made a little bit of a profit on sports you’re familiar with and have a good feel for how betting works, it’s time to branch out to other sports and replicate the strategies that work best for you.

Manage Your Money

Solid bankroll management is one of the biggest factors that separates winning bettors from losing ones.

When you get into sports betting, you have to lay out a basic money management strategy to manage your bankroll. You can’t simply fly by the seat of your pants.

Say you start with a $1,000 deposit and lose $300 on an early NFL game, then double-up at $600 on an afternoon game, and then place various live in-game bets of $25, $100, and $200. You’re all over the place. With no rhyme or reason to your betting pattern, you’re likely to lose in the long run.

Now let’s say that you start off with $1,000 and have three levels of bets based on betting units: $100, $200 and $300, which is reserved for games that you’re most certain of. Having a plan and structure in place to bet based on the value each game presents is a much safer approach over the long run.

The best guides suggest betting between 1% and 5% of your bankroll on each game. If you’ve started out with $1,000, that means you’re betting between $10 and $50 per game.

The reasoning is quite simple. You need to be able to withstand losing streaks and survive in the long run. For example, if your bankroll is $1,000 and you’re betting $200 per game, you’re going to get cleaned out if you lose a handful of bets in a row or go 2-7 over a stretch of nine games.

Develop a simple strategy to manage your money and stick to that structure.

Now You Know

Now that you’ve read through this article, you’re no longer a sports betting dummy.

Sport Betting For Dummies Download

With at least have a grasp of the basics, it’s a good time to consider some of the other topics in our sports betting 101 guides. From there, the next step is to go open a sportsbook account, which is free to do, and start to get a feel for the betting lines.

Sports Betting For Dummies Pdf