In the U.S., more than a third of the population bets on at least one sporting event every year. © 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc.Sports betting combines America's national pastime (sports) with its national passion (gambling).

Runline – Baseball has a point spread of -1.5 for the favorite and +1.5 for the underdog. Push – When neither team covers the spread (the actual margin of victory lands exactly on the spread), no one wins the bet and all wagers are refunded. For example, it can be the first team or the first player to score in a game.

Proposition Bets (prop) – A bet on anything that is not directly tied to the outcome of the game. Puckline – Hockey has a point spread of -1.5 for the favorite and +1.5 for the underdog. A favorite must win by a number higher than the point spread to cover, while an underdog can cover by losing by a number less than the spread or by winning the game outright. Point Spread – The margin of victory set by oddsmakers to attract action on both the favorite and the underdog. Pick’em – A game with no favorite or underdog as both sides are listed at -110 on the moneyline. If any of the games lose, the entire wager loses. The more games, the higher the risk but the greater the payout. In order for a parlay to win, each game must win or at least push (tie). Parlay– A a bet that combines multiple games for a higher payout. How to read and calculate sports betting odds Over – The combined score of two teams is more than what the sportsbook set the total at. Off the Board – A game bettors can no longer wager on, usually because it has already started. Oddsmaker (Linemaker) – Someone who sets the opening line on a game. No Action – A game that is no longer taking bets and all wagers are refunded. Moneyline Bet – A bet that is contingent on whether a team will win or lose the game outright. Lock – A wager that is considered to be a sure thing by the bettor that placed it. Limit – The maximum amount a player is allowed to wager on a single bet. Juice – A commission books win on each bet.

This is widely referred to as ‘ live betting‘. In-game wagers – Bets made after a game has started. Hedging – Betting the opposite of a previous bet to guarantee a win and profit in some capacity. Handicapping – Researching sports statistics to pick winners. Handle – The total amount of money wagered on a game. What is a parlay? Examples and how to make a parlay bet on sportsįuture Bets – A bet on events that will settle further in the future, like who will win a division or who will win a championship before or during the regular season.

Betting on football games for dummies