Page 8 - Jackpot Magazine South ~ March, 2023

PLAY TO WIN
Sports Betting 101: Time to get in the game
“Good teams win; great teams cover.”
— Anonymous
Wow, did you see that game a few Sundays ago? You know, the big game where that one team won and the other team in that other color uniform didn’t? Yeah, I’m just going on. I didn’t watch the game. Football, wasn’t it? And then you had to hear everyone talk incessantly about all of the betting action.
And next is basketball with that March Craziness (that doesn’t sound right), followed by baseball and... well, you get the picture. Sports is big casino business.
The good news is you don’t have to be fanatical about sports to bet on games. There are user-friendly betting kiosks and full-service sportsbooks everywhere. And while there is a lot more to sports betting than just picking who will win the game, learning the ropes is not complicated. Here are some of the types of bets available:
• Straight Bets — An individual wager on a game (football, baseball, basketball, etc.) or event (auto race, boxing, MMA) will be determined by a point
spread, a money line or a
point total.
• Money Line Bet — A wager where odds are expressed in terms of money. When a team is listed with a minus (-) the player lays that amount to win $100; when listed with a plus (+) the player wins that amount for every $100 wagered.
• Point Spread Bet — A wager where a team or participant must win by a certain number of points determined by the oddsmaker to create a wager that will attract betting action on both sides. The point margin is the number of points by which the
favored team must win to “cover the spread.” Most point spread bets carry oddsof-110.
• Total Bet (over/
under) —A wager based on the combined number of points scored by both teams at the end of the game or event, including any overtime. Most total bets carry odds of -110.
• Parlay Bets — A wager that combines more than one single bet, often across multiple games. All selections must win to collect. The more teams bet in a parlay, the higher the payout odds.
• Future Bets — A wager made on a game or event that is taking place in the future. For example, a bettor might place a future bet during pre-season for a team to win a championship event.
• In-Game Wagers — Wagers placed on a game after the game has started. Odds will often be adjusted to reflect play or conditions.
• Proposition Bet — Also referred to as a prop, novelty or side bet, a proposition bet may involve something that does not necessarily affect the outcome of the game or event. For example, a book might post a prop bet for which team will score the first touchdown in a football game. Another might be whether the first score will be a touchdown or a field
goal.
There are also common sports wagering terms. Some of these will be familiar to a lot of sports fans who follow teams, watch sports programs and read sports publications. Understanding a few of the terms being thrown around by the “Sharps”
will help one better understand how the gameisplayed.
• Cover — The bettingresultonapoint- spread wager. For a favorite to cover, it must win by more than the spread; an underdog covers by winning outright or
losing by less than the spread.
• Handle — The total amount of money
wagered by all customers on a game or event.
• Limit — The maximum amount accepted on a single wager.
• Line — The odds posted for a game or event. Odds may change from the opening line to account for the amount of wagers placed on an event.
• Longshot — A team or individual generally thought to be unlikely to win.
• Underdog — The team least likely to win.
• Favorite — The expected straight-up winner in a game or event.
• Pick ’em — A game or event with no favorite or underdog. The point spread does not come into play.
• Point Spread — The number of points oddsmakers will post on a game in order to attract betting action on both teams. Generally, the objective is to split the betting action.
• Push — When the result of a game or event ends exactly on the listed point spread or finishes in a draw. All wagers are then refunded.
• Sharp — A professional, sophisticated sports bettor.
• Square — A casual gambler who doesn’t use sophisticated reasoning or extensive knowledge to make a wager.
Do you have a question on the best way to play to win? Or, do you have your own pet peeve you want to share? Email jackpotmagazine@gmail.com.
Play To Win Again
The Best of... Series
8 JACKPOT! MAGAZINE • March 2023
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