Sports betting is a popular form of gambling that can be profitable, especially when you learn the rules and strategies. But before you place your bets, know these tips: 1. Always gamble responsibly and never wager more than you can afford to lose. 2. Keep track of your bets using a standard spreadsheet (it works well) so you can easily monitor your net wins and losses. 3. Only bet on sports you understand and with which you have a familiarity, or at least a familiarity with the players involved.
4. Don’t be afraid to make a futures bet, which is a wager on something that will occur in the future. These bets generally offer higher odds than a straight bet on who will win a game. They can be on a team to win the World Series, for example; or on a player to win a golf tournament.
5. Don’t bet on bad numbers. A good rule of thumb is to always check out the number at several different sportsbooks before placing your bets. If the sportsbook has a number that’s too high for your liking, resist the temptation to bet on it and shop around until you find a better one.
6. Beware of markets that focus on luck rather than skill. These are usually called “prop” bets and include things like how many total points will be scored in a game or how many rushing yards a player will have.