Sports Betting for Dummies: The Beginners Guide Playing and Winning

Sports Betting for Dummies: The Beginners Guide Playing and Winning

Is all your sports knowledge going to waste? Looking for a way to win big on sports gambling? Welcome to your no-nonsense guide to sports betting for dummies.

Sports betting is the most popular form of gambling among people ages 14-22. 65% of American adults have placed at least 1 sports bet in the last year. But were they successful?

Like with all gambling, sports betting has risks. It’s common for unlikely things to happen — there’s no such thing as a sure bet. But it is possible to make educated bets that have good odds.

Read on for a “sports betting for dummies” guide so you can start understanding sports betting and earn money.

Bet On Sports You Know

The first rule when you are new to sports bets is to start with sports that you understand.

There’s a big difference in horse race betting vs football betting so just stick to what you are familiar with.

If you want to try your hand at online sportsbooks, you’ll see a ton of different wager options and it can be enticing to place many wagers.

It’s in your best interest to get a good handle on sports betting with one sport you know well. Once you grasp the ins and outs of sports bets, you can expand to other sports.

Understanding Odds

When you are new, understanding odds can be the most difficult part when you bet on any sports.

Basically, odds are how likely something is to occur. Let’s say a player is shooting a free throw and the odds are 1 in 20. This means that for every time he or she shoots a free throw, they will make one.

The odds of a game is what determines how much you’d earn if your wager wins. If you bet $5 and earn $5 that’s one to one. It’s rare that your bet will be paid one to one.

The less likely something is, the more you will get paid if you bet on that and win. If something is very likely, you will get paid less.

Place Your Bet

Now that you are getting a grasp on sports betting for beginners, you can try your hand at placing a bet. There are 4 places you can make bets. They are bookmaking shops, casino sportsbooks, online bookmakers, and telephone betting services.

Keep Records

Whether sports betting is a hobby or your main source of income, you need to keep records to help you succeed.

Keeping records lets you know how much money you’ve got. The number of bets you’ve already placed will let you know if you have the cash flow to make new bets.

Next, you need to start analyzing your bets. This will give you important information about what you can do differently in the future. It also shows you what you are doing right.

Once you see the good and bad in your betting history, you can make changes to get better outcomes.

Bet Smart

The most important sports rule is to know your limit. Emotions can run high when you’re in the action. Set your dollar limit ahead of time and stick to it.

Avoid placing bets when you are impaired or under the side effects of a few beers. You need a cool head for making rational decisions.

Bottom Line on Sports Betting for Dummies

Thanks for reading this guide on sports betting for dummies. If you bet on sports you know, understand your odds, keep and evaluate your records and know your limits, you will be able to be successful in sports betting.

Next, check out these 10 expert betting tips to win more football bets.

Geoff Lambert

Geoff has been playing fantasy football since 1996 and covering it professionally since 2015. In addition to being the founder of GoingFor2.com and The Armchair Fantasy Show, Geoff has contributed to FantasyPros, FantasyLife, and the now-defunct RotoWriters, while also appearing on a multitude of fantasy podcasts. Geoff's favorite professional teams are the 49ers, the Pelicans and the Nationals.

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