Sports betting involves placing a wager on an outcome of a sports game. It’s similar to other forms of gambling, such as card games and roulette.
Betting on a team to win a game is the most basic form of sports betting. However, there are other ways to bet on a game that can help increase your profits.
Spread bets are an excellent way to increase your profits. These are based on the oddsmakers’ perception of how much stronger one team is than the other.
These bets are more complicated than moneyline or parlays, but they can be a great addition to any sports bettor’s portfolio.
Oddsmakers typically use a point spread to even out the odds of two evenly-matched teams. This can be done by shifting the lines slightly if they’re able to attract equal action on both sides of the bet.
Arbitrage is another great tool for sports bettors to use. It can be a very profitable strategy for most sized bankrolls, but it requires some extra time to research and find opportunities.
Before you start placing bets, consider your risk tolerance. A good rule of thumb is to risk only 1% to 5% of your bankroll per play, and never bet more than you can afford to lose.