Whether you're a beginner or looking to enhance your betting strategy, our comprehensive sports betting guide covers everything you need to know.
Sports betting is the activity of predicting sports results and placing wagers on the outcome. The frequency of sports bet upon varies by culture, with the vast majority of bets being placed on football (soccer), American football, basketball, baseball, hockey, mixed martial arts, and boxing at both the amateur and professional levels.
Sportsbooks (or bookmakers) are entities that accept bets from individual sports bettors. They set odds for events and pay out winnings on successful bets while collecting on losing ones. Sportsbooks make money by adding a profit margin to the odds they offer, known as the "vig" or "juice."
By comparing odds from multiple sportsbooks on SportsbookGuys.com, you can find the best value for your bets.
The legality of sports betting varies by region. In the United States, following the Supreme Court's 2018 decision to strike down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), individual states have the authority to legalize sports betting.
Always ensure you're betting with legal, licensed sportsbooks in jurisdictions where sports betting is permitted.
There are three main formats for presenting odds:
American odds are presented as either positive or negative numbers:
Decimal odds represent the total return on a 1 unit stake, including the stake itself. For example, decimal odds of 2.50 mean a $100 bet would return $250 total ($150 profit plus your original $100 stake).
Common in the UK, fractional odds show the profit relative to the stake. For example, fractional odds of 3/1 (or "three-to-one") mean a $100 bet would return $300 profit plus your original $100 stake.
On SportsbookGuys.com, you can switch between these formats to view odds in your preferred style.
Odds can be converted to implied probability, which represents the likelihood of a certain outcome according to the bookmaker. Understanding implied probability helps you identify value bets when your assessment of an outcome's likelihood differs from the bookmaker's.
The simplest form of betting where you pick which team or player will win. The odds reflect the perceived likelihood of each outcome.
Example: In an NBA game between the Lakers and Celtics, the Lakers might be offered at -150 and the Celtics at +130. This means the Lakers are favorites, and you would need to bet $150 to win $100 on them, while a $100 bet on the Celtics would return $130 if they win.
The point spread is a handicap assigned to a favorite team to level the betting field. The favorite must win by more than the spread, while the underdog can lose by less than the spread or win outright.
Example: If the Lakers are -5.5 against the Celtics, they need to win by at least 6 points for a Lakers spread bet to win. If the Celtics lose by 5 or fewer points (or win), a Celtics spread bet would win.
A bet on whether the combined score of both teams will be over or under a predetermined number.
Example: If the total for Lakers vs. Celtics is set at 220.5, you bet on whether the combined score will be 221+ (over) or 220 or less (under).
A parlay combines multiple bets into one wager. All selections must win for the parlay to pay out. The potential payout is higher than placing each bet individually, but the risk is also greater.
Example: A 3-team parlay might include the Lakers -5.5, Bucks -3.5, and Warriors +2.5. All three teams must cover their spreads for the parlay to win.
Similar to parlays, but you get to adjust the point spread in your favor on all selections. The tradeoff is reduced odds compared to a standard parlay.
Proposition bets are wagers on specific events within a game not directly tied to the final outcome. These can include player performances, game events, or other statistical outcomes.
Example: LeBron James to score over/under 28.5 points, or whether there will be a field goal in the first 5 minutes of a football game.
Bets on outcomes that will be determined in the future, typically at the end of a season or tournament.
Example: Betting on the winner of the NBA Championship before or during the season.
Placing bets after a game has started, with odds that change as the game progresses. This allows you to react to the flow of the game and potentially find value as situations develop.
Value betting involves finding odds that are higher than they should be based on your assessment of the actual probability of an outcome. The key concept is that you're not necessarily picking winners, but rather identifying situations where the offered odds represent good value.
Example: If you believe a team has a 50% chance of winning, but they're offered at odds of +120 (implied probability of 45.5%), this represents potential value.
Comparing odds across multiple sportsbooks to find the best price for your bet. Even small differences in odds can significantly impact your long-term profitability.
This is where SportsbookGuys.com provides the most value, by aggregating odds from multiple sportsbooks so you can quickly identify the best available prices.
Analyzing factors beyond basic statistics that might impact performance, such as:
Employing data-driven approaches to identify betting opportunities:
Taking positions opposite to the majority of recreational bettors, based on the theory that casual bettors often overvalue favorites and popular teams, creating value on the other side.
Placing bets on all possible outcomes of an event across multiple sportsbooks when the odds allow for a guaranteed profit regardless of the result. These opportunities are rare but can be highly profitable when identified.
Use our Arbitrage Finder tool to detect these opportunities automatically.
Your bankroll is the amount of money you've set aside specifically for betting. This should be money you can afford to lose without affecting your daily life or financial well-being.
Proper bet sizing is crucial for long-term success. Common approaches include:
Wagering the same amount on every bet, typically 1-5% of your total bankroll. This is a conservative approach that helps protect your bankroll from variance.
A mathematical formula that determines the optimal bet size based on your perceived edge. The basic formula is:
Bet Size = (bp - q) / b
Where:
Many bettors use a "fractional Kelly" approach (e.g., half Kelly) to reduce variance.
Adjusting your bet size based on your confidence in each wager, while still keeping within overall bankroll management principles.
Keeping detailed records of all your bets is essential for evaluating your performance and refining your strategies. Track the following information for each bet:
Establish clear boundaries for your betting activity:
Many sportsbooks offer tools to help enforce these limits.
Be aware of these potential indicators of unhealthy gambling behavior:
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction, help is available:
Explore more betting resources on SportsbookGuys.com: