Sports betting seems simple on the surface—you pick a team to win, put some money down, and collect your winnings. But peer beneath that veneer, and you’ll discover a complex world filled with dozens of unique wagers. Understanding these bets is key to betting smart and managing your bankroll.
This article will explain the most common sports wager types at Pame Stoixima Online so you can step onto the betting stage with confidence. We’ll cover moneylines, spreads, totals, props, futures, and more while highlighting key terms and strategies. Let’s get started!
Moneyline Wagers
The most straightforward sports bet is the moneyline wager (ML). With moneylines, you simply select a team to win a game outright. MLB moneylines look something like this:
New York Yankees -150
Boston Red Sox +130
The negative and positive signs indicate which team is favored to win and by how much. Negative odds mean that the team is expected to win, while positive odds signify an underdog. The number shows how much you would need to bet to win $100. So using the example above:
- You would need to bet $150 on the Yankees to collect $100 in profit if they win
- A $100 wager on the +130 Red Sox would return $130 if they pull off an upset
Because favorites have to win by margins greater than expected, moneyline bets on underdogs can provide tremendous value. Just don’t forget the cardinal rule—the stronger the favorite, the smaller the payout.
Point Spreads
Point spreads (or just “spreads”) level the playing field by giving the underdog a hypothetical lead to start the game. Spreads include a number with a minus sign for favorites and a plus sign for dogs:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers -7.5
Green Bay Packers +7.5
Here, the sportsbook sets the Bucs as 7.5-point favorites. That means if you bet Tampa Bay, they would need to win by 8+ points for you to cash the ticket. A 7-point win would be a “push” that returns your wager.
If you take the Packers +7.5, they can lose by up to 7 points or win outright, and you still get paid. However, the more points they’re getting, the smaller the potential payout.
Totals
Also called over/unders, totals focus on the combined points scored by both teams. Sportsbooks predict the final score and you simply wager whether teams will eclipse that number or fall short.
Here’s what an NBA total could look like:
Los Angeles Lakers vs Los Angeles Clippers
Over/Under: 220
You would bet whether you think the two teams will combine to score more than or less than 220 points. This wager type removes the game winner from the equation and focuses solely on offensive output.
Sportsbooks usually set totals right around the average combined score to attract equal action on both sides. The magic number is designed to generate profits from the built-in vig.
Player and Team Props
Propositions (or props) let you bet on outcomes other than the final score. Individual player props predict statistical benchmarks for specific athletes. Some examples:
- Russell Wilson passing yards: Over/Under 255.5
- Christian McCaffrey rushing touchdowns: Over/Under 1.5
You can also find props on team performance including how many touchdowns, first downs, or rushing yards they might record. These are more granular bets that rely on historical stats and matchups.
Props open up countless betting possibilities and allow you to mitigate losses by hedging other wagers. Just know that books limit the action on props to protect themselves from sharp bettors.
Futures
Want to look ahead to the next season? Future odds let you bet on championship winners, win totals, division champs, and more ways before games tip off.
Here are some features you might run across:
2023 Super Bowl
Kansas City Chiefs: +600
Philadelphia Eagles: +900
2023 AL MVP
Aaron Judge: +350
Mike Trout: +500
Futures provide terrific value since you’re betting on events months or years in advance. However, you’ll need to lock up your money until wagers resolve.
Exotic Wagers
Once you move past standard bets like ML and spreads into things like parlays and teasers, you’ve entered the world of exotic wagers. These types come in endless forms, but at their core, they bundle together two or more sides.
Some exotic examples:
- Parlay – Combine multiple picks into a single wager where all legs must hit for a payout
- Teaser – Buy points to increase spread margins or totals lines for lower odds
- Round robin – Craft smaller parlays from a larger mix of picks
Exotics bring bigger risk but also amplify potential winnings. Building these wagers takes serious handicapping skills, however.
Know Your Bet Types
With so many wagers to choose from, the betting menu can seem overwhelming at first. But by learning the fundamentals, you’ll be able to find value and capitalize on unique opportunities. Don’t be afraid to branch out from moneylines to experiment with other bet types.
Just remember—regardless of what exotic combo you concoct, sports betting requires patience and bankroll management. Resist chasing losses with bigger bets. Instead stick to your strategy, do your homework on matchups, and let the wins come naturally.
This overview should provide a solid base for understanding betting essentials. But there’s no substitute for experience. Start small, get some skin in the game, and you’ll quickly get a feel for these wagers. Before you know it, you’ll be speaking sports betting fluently and making smart picks.