Sports betting is certainly a challenging type of betting-and gambling, and besides its seeming lack of strategy and absolute reliance on knowledge of the event, the truth is, good sports betting actually relies on a great deal of strategy which is required to win. (Sports betting systems). The most important tactics include a close analysis of the information upon which a sound judgment is to be based and after which the bet should be placed. A winning strategy takes a few salient factors into account which are:

1. The bid amount

2. The kind of bet

3. The odds on offer

Sportsbooks in the US and Bookmakers in UK are entities that accept and take sports bets. The bets can be placed by betting on the end result of several sporting events like Baseball, Snooker, Basketball, Hockey, Soccer, Football, Tennis and hundreds of athletics. Two of the most basic definitions in sports betting are: a sportsbook is the one who accepts the sports bet. An oddsmaker is the one who sets the odds of the bet.

Betting the Odds

Before placing a bet, first you must select the type of bet and the amount you will wager. This usually depends upon the odds that are being offered. Before you place the bet, you must carefully crutinize the range of available odds.

For the bet to be worthwile, the odds should be in a ratio of at least 2:1. Remember to take into account the factor of the total amount being given by way of commission to the sports-book. This should ideally be a small percentage of the total value of the odds.

Below is a list of the most commonly known kinds of bets:

1. Single or Straight Bet: This is the basic form of betting and allows you to the option of betting at given odds, upon a winner.

2. Point Spread: By betting this type of bet, you can bet on one of two selections that have been equated through the allocation of suitable points. In the Point Spread, the number of allocated points are shown with a + sign for the favorable side and a – sign for the underdog. In order that the better wins, when the favored team must win by more than the Point Spread. On the flip side, if a bet has been placed on the underdog, that team has to lose by less than the Point Spread for the better to win.

3. Buy Points: This involves moving the Point Spread positively, by paying a price.

4. The Moneyline: This type of bet is simply on who will win. It establishes the odds for each side but is the opposite of the Point Spread, with a – sign standing for the favorite and the + sign for the underdog.

5. Total Bet: This is similar to point spread bets, only in that the better bets on the total points scored.

6. Over/ Under: This bet takes into consideration the number of points scored by the teams in any game will be beyond/ over OR below/ under the total set by the oddsmaker.

7. Parlay of Accumulator: This type of bet is betting on multiple sporting events in the hope that a big payoff will be made if all win. The picks are made in relation to the point spread. If just one event does not win or draw, the better loses the entire bet. This type of bet can generate huge amounts of money, in the event of a win.

8. Teaser: A teaser is similar to a parlay, however it has the option of adding or taking off points from one or more than one Spread bets. The odds depend upon the number of points the spread is moved as well as upon the number of teams that are combined to form the teaser.

9. Futures: This type of bet is on who will win the championship in the event that there are more than two possible teams to bet on. Substantial variations between sportbooks exist in house edge on futures.

10. Buying Half a Point: In this type of bet, the straight bet player has the option of moving the point spread half point to his advantage. The most appropriate time to buy a half point is when one team is favored by 2.5, 3, 6.5 or 7 in football. This is primarily due to the fact that several games end in a 3 or 7 point difference. The extra half point may end up turning a loss to a draw or a draw to a win.

Of all these types of bets, three types of bets are prominent and must be used for the simple reason that they are simple themselves, are easy to win and have a good chance of winning. These bets are the Straight bet, the Doubles and the Future.

Some betting tips that will help push you toward a big win are:

1. Always make an intelligent analysis of the odds and the offer of the bet.

2. For the simple bet, stick to the Straight bet because it is non-complicated and has good winning prospects.

3. Keep your selections limited. Also try to limit the influence of bias in your betting. In other words, if you are a fan of a team try to limit the effect of that favoritism when betting.

4. One of the highest paying bets is the ‘Future’ bet but only if you know a lot about the sport being played and about the players.

5. By making sure your betting is systematic and analytical, you will improve your judging ability.

6. Contain the urge to rebet with all your winnings immediately. If you do not follow the standard rule of 50%, at least put some of your winnings back into your pocket.

7. Make sure your sportsbook is a member of a known Gambling Association, makes a quick payment and is easily accessible. Read in between the lines, about matters pertaining to disputes.

8. Train yourself to look for value odds – you will master this art soon, with time and practice.

9. If you are trying to decide between two choices seeming equivalent, trust your judgment and not that of those who have bet before you. In doing so, choose a selection with a little higher risk so as to hike up the winnings.

10. Bet on games and leagues where the sportsbook’s commission is the least. This is often in the sport or sports with which that sportsbook does most of its business, and is likely the most efficient in that area.