A parlay means a bigger payout — but only if you win them all. Even for the most seasoned handicappers, point spread betting can be a tough nut to crack. Beyond making the right call on which side will cover, you also have to factor the vig into the equation. To beat the juice at odds of -110 on a long-term basis, you would need to win at a clip of 52.4% or better.

  • One of the major ways in which the game is favorable toward the house is the vigorish, which has plenty of other names, like the vig or the juice.
  • To figure out 7/2, we’ll use the same number as above.
  • It’s important to know how to calculate these to increase your wins and cut down on losses.
  • This plays a massive role in hockey moneyline betting and makes any game winnable for either side, especially with a hot goalie.

In reality, the break-even number is 52.4% when betting the standard -110 odds for point spreads and totals. If you are connecting on a higher percentage than that, you’re making money. It might feel like a small difference, but in the long run, it is highly profitable for the sportsbooks. The handicapping and odds information found on SportsBettingDime.com is strictly for entertainment purposes. Furthermore, the unique odds we produce in select news articles are also for amusement, and are not available to be wagered on.

The odds of 6/4 are equal to 1.5 units for every one unit. Once you know what it equals out to, you’ll be able to calculate using the method above. Read more about ufabet here. Decimal odds are most commonly in Europe, Australia, and Canada. They are the easiest to understand and are relatively straightforward. They are usually just one number that goes to two decimal spaces. A bet on the combined total number of points at the end of the whole game.

ST BET HELPS YOU PROCESS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DATA POINTS WITH MINIMAL WORK, HELPING YOU MAKE SMARTER BETS, EASIER.

Still, both are very popular bets regardless of the specific sport. Betting without accounting for the juice can be the difference between winning and losing. Smart bettors understand that value derives not only from the number of the spread but the vigorish being taken by the bookmaker. Betting on elections and other political events is no more difficult than betting on a football game. Picking winners, however, can be considerably more challenging. Some election campaigns are clear-cut from beginning to end, which can make it fairly easy to predict the successful candidate. Take a look at our Politics guide for more detailed notes on this topic.

Positive numbers are for underdogs and show how much a $100 wager will earn. See the football point spreads section above for a more detailed explanation of spread bets, which is essentially the same as run line betting. Plus, you can place futures bets on who will win each conference and ultimately, the NBA Championship at odds that adjust throughout the playoffs. Odds adjust as the season and the playoffs continue; they work based on the same principle as basic moneyline bets. Futures bets are booked at moneyline odds but usually are much bigger than most single-game moneyline odds. Michigan sportsbooks will adjust the odds on each team based on probability as the season continues. The first step beyond the basic single-game and parlay football betting wagers are football futures.

Take, for example, the Chicago Bears (+5) and the Green Bay Packers (-5) are playing each other this Sunday. The Bears are less likely to win, so 5 points are added to their final score. So instead of betting $10 each on three games, you can make one $10 wager that will pay out more of all three teams win.

A Beginners Guide to Sports Betting

You will need to decide whether you want a sportsbook with a lot of people, or a more quiet one. Remember, Vegas is a very popular destination, so you will not be able to free yourself from everyone. However, there are some more expensive sportsbooks which offer more private rooms with people in them. If you do not like gambling online, Nevada is the only state in the country where sports gambling is legal. If you are planning a trip to Vegas, you will need to find a casino that has a sportsbook. These can usually be found in phone books or online with full descriptions.

How to Calculate Odds

Decimal odds (aka “European” odds, “digital” odds, or “continental” odds) are popular in continental Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The favorites and underdogs can be spotted instantaneously by looking at the numbers. When calculating the implied probability of fractional odds, you’ll use the calculation below. In fights where the scheduled number of rounds changes, all wagers will stand unless the rounds for specific wagers get cancelled.

It might take a little practice, but you’ll eventually get it. This means that the team you’re betting on has a 38.5% chance of winning.

You see that Houston is favored at home and the moneyline is -175 for them to win or +150 for them to lose. With the 1/ST BET app, you can put short-sighted decisions and indecision in the rear-view mirror. The beauty and simplicity is that you don’t need to decide which is important; the app and history instantly determine that. The information here was all put together by a crack team of serious betting experts who also happen to work as professional journalists. Our writers come from all over the world, and their words have been published on every continent. Between them, they have written tens of millions of words on betting, gaming and related topics. We’re talking newspaper columns, magazine articles, home study courses and books, as well as plenty of online content.

How to place a sports bet