Millions of sports fans think that betting on their favorite teams must be easy, but there’s no such thing as a sure thing. Even the most successful “expert” bettors lose more than half of their wagers every year, after accounting for the vig (the casino’s commission). However, you can improve your chances of winning by using good money management and doing research.
There are many different ways to bet on sports, but the most common is on a game’s winner or by predicting the margin of victory. This bet type is called a “moneyline” or “single-team bet.” You can also place multiple bets on the same game to form a parlay, which pays out if all of your picks win. Parlays are riskier than individual bets, and they pay out less often than single-team wagers.
Another popular type of bet is on the over/under (or total) for a game. These odds are adjusted throughout the course of a game based on how the action is unfolding, and they can be a great way to make money on low-risk wagers. A popular saying is, “It’s never over until it’s over.”
North Carolina passed its first law regulating sports betting this week, paving the way for online betting to start in early 2024. Gov. Roy Cooper supports the bill, which will allow sportsbooks to accept bets from anyone in the state who’s 21 or older. The legislature is also considering allowing mobile sports betting.