A lot of people dream about betting on sports for a living but it’s not easy. The most important thing is to treat it like a form of entertainment and not as a way to get rich quick. That means doing your homework, following expert advice and sticking to a budget. It’s also important to know when to stop. Losing a bet when it looked like a sure winner is a terrible feeling and can lead to chasing your losses with larger wagers.
Betting on sports involves a wide variety of options, with each one offering different odds and payouts. The odds are based on the probability of something happening, meaning that a bet with a higher chance of winning will pay out more than a bet with a lower chance.
Straight bets are the most common type of wager. They’re basically just bets on a team or individual to win. The chances of winning a straight bet are determined by the odds on that team and will either be plus or minus. Pluses mean that the team is a favorite and minuses mean that the team is a underdog.
Over/Under bets are based on whether a game will have more (Over) or less (Under) total runs/goals/points than the number posted by the sportsbook. For example, a game between the Rams and Seahawks might have a total of 42.5 points. If you think the game will be a defensive slugfest, you’d place an Over bet.