If you’re a sports nut, you’ve probably heard of Over/Under betting, a type of wager where you place a bet on totals rather than individual plays. Over/Under bets are popular, and can be made on ongoing games. For example, you can place a bet that says the Seahawks-Rams game will be Over 42.5 points at halftime. Another fun option for sports bettors is futures betting. These bets are based on events that will occur in the future.
Parlays
You’ve probably heard of parlays in sports betting, aka an accumulator, a combo bet, or a multiple bet. Parlays are betting strategies that combine multiple individual bets into one. This betting strategy is especially useful if you want to win more than one game.
Teasers
Teasers are similar to parlays but come with more flexibility. You can adjust the pointspread and totals in teasers to increase your payout. Teasers can also be made using more than one team. The more teams you include, the higher your payout will be, but the risk is higher than a straight up bet. For this reason, teasers are not for all bettors.
Futures betting
Futures betting on sports is a great way to wager on the future outcome of a given sporting event. Unlike straight bets, which are usually based on the outcome of a specific game, futures bets are based on a future date. For example, if a team is expected to win the NFC West, the futures odds for that team will be the shortest. Conversely, if a team is a long shot, the odds will be much higher, because the oddsmakers perceive the team as having a high chance of losing. Futures odds will vary depending on the type of sport, and the betting site that you are using.
Point spreads
If you like to bet on high-scoring sports, point spreads can make your sports betting experience much more lucrative. This type of betting helps bookmakers balance their books by rewarding bettors who place bets on both sides of a game. As a result, many sportsbooks offer point spread odds to lure new punters. This article explains the basics of point spread betting and why it can be a lucrative option.
Legality
The Supreme Court recently opened the door to legal sports betting, which was once illegal in most states. In its landmark decision in Murphy v. NCAA, the Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) that has prevented sports betting in most states but Nevada since 1992. The decision also opened the door to states legalizing sports betting, with Delaware becoming the first outside of Nevada to do so.
Scandals surrounding sports betting
There are many scandals surrounding sports betting, including match-fixing, which is when a person tries to alter a sporting event’s outcome to increase his or her chances of winning a bet. This may involve ordering a player to miss a shot or telling a referee to call more fouls against a team. The practice has been linked to criminal gangs, degenerate gamblers, and even the mafia. However, today, more countries have legalized sports betting, and authorities are taking steps to prevent such scandals. They have implemented stricter penalties for match-fixing, and sports leagues have instituted commissions to supervise betting activities. They have also implemented bet-monitoring software to catch suspicious activity.