How to Bet on Sports
Single (Straight Wager)
Historically, a straight wager is a moneyline bet on which side will win a game. These days any single bet on any outcome is often considered a straight wager. This could include a single bet on a point spread, totals, prop or futures outcome. Straight wagers are available for practically all sports betting and are the easiest way to bet on sports.
Learn how to place a Straight Bet at BetUS.
Point Spreads
Point spreads even the playing field between two unevenly matched teams. In this Sports Betting Guide, you will learn that when you bet on a point spread, the favorite must win by more points than the spread number; the underdog must not lose by more than the spread number. The point spread will be the same number for both teams and will be negative for the favorite and positive for the underdog.
Learn how to place a Point Spread Wager.
Moneyline
A moneyline wager is a straight wager on the winner of a game. According to the Sports Betting Guide Moneylines are also attached to other wagers to indicate the payout amount of that wager. A negative moneyline means you have to wager that much to win $100, while a positive moneyline means you win that amount for a wager of $100. Favorites will always have a negative moneyline, underdogs a positive one.
Learn how to bet the Moneyline.
Totals
Totals wagers, also known as Over/Under wagers, are bets on the total amount of points scored in an event. You may bet on the combined score of both teams or the total score for just one team. Totals can be for a whole game or a set period of play within a game. The book sets a number and you wager whether the total points will end up being Over or Under that amount.
Learn how to place an Over/Under Wager.
Parlay
A parlay bet, as noted in this sports setting guide is a wager with more than one event combined on the same ticket, where every outcome must be correct for the wager to win. Any loss in any event on a parlay will render the entire parlay wager a loss. A push will reduce the wager by one event. Due to this increased risk, parlays pay out far higher than a series of straight wagers on the same events.
Learn how to place a Parlay at BetUS.
If Bet
If-Bets link a series of single wagers together, in a set order of events that is irrelevant of chronological time, where each wager in the order is only placed if the previous leg is graded as a win (or a push, if chosen). As each leg is dependent on the previous leg being a winner, you may choose to add the winnings from each leg to the next event’s risk amount, thus increasing your winnings.
Learn how to place an If Bet at BetUS.
Action Reverse
An Action Reverse is a combination of 2-8 events, where every possible two-team combination is made into an If-Bet, both ways. For an Action Reverse, you enter a wager amount. When both teams are underdogs, the risk amount will equal your wager amount. If either team is a favorite, the risk amount will equal the amount required to win your wager amount.
Learn how to place an Action Reverse Bet.
Round Robin
A Round Robin is a wager made up of a series of equal-size parlays. You choose between 3-15 events and then you choose how many events you want in the parlays. The Round Robin will consist of every possible parlay combination of that number of events, or “ways,” available within the amount of overall events you choose.
Learn how to place Round Robin Bet.
Teaser
A Teaser wager, according to this sports betting guide, is a combination of 2-15 point spread and/or Totals events. It works just like a parlay except you move, or tease, the points by a set number in your favor in exchange for a smaller payout. They are easier to win, but they pay less. Teasers can only be made on football and basketball games, but both sports cannot be on the same ticket.
Learn how to place a Teaser Bet.
Futures Bet
Betting on futures in any sport can sometimes be the most exciting wager you might place all year. If you’ve ever said, “I think Team X will win the Super Bowl” or “Team X is winning it all this year!”, you have exercised the decision-making process of futures betting.
Learn how to place a Futures Bet.
How Do Betting Odds Work
American Odds are the standard format for sports betting odds in the United States – catering to American sports bettors. These odds are extremely easy to understand and are most commonly recalled or remembered as moneyline betting odds. While American odds are just one way to display your odds, many sportsbooks will offer decimal odds and fractional odds that can be toggled based on your personal preference.
Learn how American, Decimal & Fractional Odds work.
Prop Bets
Prop betting is a light-hearted, fun way to bet on sports without having to pick a winner or rely too heavily on the winning team. You don’t even need to be an avid sports fan or professional handicapper to bet on sports by using prop betting. That’s not to say the professionals don’t dabble in prop betting, they absolutely do! We just want to make sure that beginners or those who have not bet on sports before understand that it’s quite easy to bet on props.
Click here to learn more about Prop Bets
How Does the Bet Slip Work?
The bet slip is where you collect your wagers and where you can compile bets to create parlays, teasers, and other special betting types. You can select the games you’d like to bet on and choose whether you’d like to wager on each individually or if you want to group them together to increase the odds and chance you might have a larger payout.
Click here to learn more about BetUs Bet Slip
How Does Live Betting Work?
Live or in-play betting allows you to make bets when the game is being played. In-game betting refers to any wager made between the first and final plays of the game. Live betting on sports is exploding in popularity, and we are providing a brief explanation and breakdown to get you up to speed.
First things first, what is online live betting on sports?
Click here to learn more about Live Betting