Sports betting can be a lot of fun, but it can also be confusing if you do not know all the lingo. While it is far from rocket science, it can get a little complex at times because of the jargon that is being used, with some of the terms and wording used likely to seem a little foreign if you are not used to the gambling industry.
Nonetheless, there is no need to fear as in this blog post, we will decode some of the most common sports betting terms so that you can hit the ground running the next time you place a bet. With that in mind, we would highly recommend that you continue to read on, as each of the terms picked out are going to be those that are almost guaranteed to be seen when wagering on your favorite sports!
The Spread
The spread is the number of points assigned to the favorite team in a given matchup. In order for the favorite team to cover the spread, they must win by more than the number of points assigned to them. For example, if one team is favored by 7 points against their opponents, then they must win by 8 or more points in order for bettors who took them to cover the spread and win. Likewise, if you bet on the other team, they can lose by 6 points and you would still end up a winner because the spread has been covered.
The Moneyline
The moneyline is a type of bet where you simply pick who you think will win the game outright, regardless of the point spread. Moneyline bets usually favor teams that are expected to lose in a given matchup because there is more risk involved. For example, if Team A is -200 on the moneyline against Team B (meaning you would have to bet $200 to win $100), then Team A is favored to win whereas Team B is considered an underdog. Conversely, if Team B was +180 on the moneyline (meaning a $100 bet would net you $180), then they would be considered the underdog. In this scenario, a winning bet on either team would return profit.
Live betting
Live betting is one of the most popular forms of betting online nowadays, as it allows you to bet on a sporting event after it has already started. This can make for some very exciting moments, as the outcome of your bet is far from determined and you will have to sweat it out until the final whistle blows. That being said, live betting can be a little more complicated than pre-game betting because the odds are constantly changing as the game progresses. This means that you will have to be very quick on your feet and make sure that you are aware of all the latest developments in order to make a successful bet.
Over/Under Betting
Over/under betting is a popular form of proposition betting where people will bet on whether a certain total will be under or over the one that has been set. For example, if the over/under for a basketball game is set at 180 points and you bet the over, then both teams in the game must combine to score 181 or more points for you to win your bet. If they only score 180 combined points or less, then you lose your bet regardless of which team wins the game.
Parlays
A parlay bet is when you combine two or more bets into one larger wager in hopes of receiving greater payouts. For example, let’s say you wanted to bet on three different NFL games and thought all three favorites would win outright. You could make three separate moneyline bets and hope that all three come through, or you could parlay all three into one larger wager. If all three teams do indeed win their respective games, then you would receive greater payouts than if you had made three separate bets—but keep in mind that parlays are riskier because all of your bets must hit in order for you to cash out.
Conclusion
Now that you know some of the most common sports betting terms, hopefully you feel more prepared to put some money down on your favorite team! Just remember to always gamble responsibly, and make sure to remain as safe as possible.