Whether you enjoy the NFL, NBA, MLB or soccer, the thrill of a little profitable side action continues to be the best part of sports. Several online gambling sites offer real money sports betting for an additional layer of entertainment for all the major sports, all year long. From explaining what a moneyline bet is to simple tips for sports betting beginners, this guide is the perfect introduction to real money sports betting.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
This is the most common real money sports betting odds format found online. It’s the (+) / (-) odds shows in the examples above.
The (+) before a number indicates that team is the underdog.
The (-) before a number indicates that team is the favorite.
If a team is (+300), you risk 100 € and that team wins, your bet slip cashes 300 € and recoups the 100 € wager.
If a team is (-300), you risk 300 € and that team wins, your bet slip cashes 100 € and recoups the 300 € wager.
This odds format isn’t as common for real money sports bettors but does pop up occasionally.
If the Lakers’ decimal odds are 1.15 to win a game and you bet 100 € on the Lakers, your ticket would earn the original 100 € bet back plus 15 € in profit if they win the game.
Fractional odds are very common in horse race betting. At 5/1, you’re looking at 5-to-1, at 10/1, you’re looking at 10-to-1. So, if you bet $100 on a horse with fractional odds of 10/1 and it wins, you would get your 100 € original bet back along with 1000 € (10x 100 €) in profit.
If you’re new to real money sports betting, be on the lookout for online sportsbook bonuses. Typically, when you first sign up for a new account, real money sports betting books will offer first-time deposit bonuses or promotions and occasionally your first real money sports bet is covered by the sportsbook. In other cases, if you reload your account wallet, sportsbooks will reward you with additional funds and bonuses.
The best advice for an inexperienced sports bettor is to pay attention to your bankroll. Bankroll management is the key to enjoying sports betting from season to season. If needed, set a budget before each season and stick to it.
Be sure to do your research and avoid betting with emotion. Sure, you may love your Boston Red Sox, but don’t let your fanhood cloud your judgement before placing a bet. There is a chance you may be biased with information and that can cost you in the long run.
Bet on what you know. If you don’t follow the NHL or NBA, don’t bet on that sport blindly. If you haven’t missed an NFL Sunday in five years, you may want to focus your bankroll in that market and capitalize on skewed odds.
The first step to real money sports betting is to find a sportsbook. We’ve listed a number of the most popular and trusted sites at the top of this page, and you can read our online sportsbook reviews as well.
Yes, sports odds do change. Following the open, odds may change due to injury, a player returning from injury, weather conditions, depth chart changes, and even suspensions or personal matter absence.
While the term “easiest” is all relative, the best answer to what sports is the easiest to bet may be the one you follow the closest and know best. At the end of the day, the easiest sports bet type to make is a moneyline bet where you simply pick the winner.
Sportsbooks are where you place your bets and those who set odds at sportsbook sites are called bookmakers, or bookies.