Sports betting has become more popular than ever since the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, allowing states to open up sportsbooks. This can be a great thing for fans, but it also means that newcomers to the world of sports betting may be faced with a lexicon of terms and phrases that seem intimidating. To help make things a little easier, we’ve put together a glossary of some of the most commonly used terms in sports betting.
Spread — This refers to a betting option that is designed to even the playing field between two teams. When a team covers the spread, they win the bet. This can be a fun way to add an additional element of competition to a game, as well as provide some extra incentive for the underdog to compete hard against the favorite.
Over/Under — These bets refer to the total number of points scored in a particular game. The Over is higher when there are more points scored, and the Under is lower when there are fewer points scored. The odds on these bets are set by sportsbooks based on their assessment of the chances that an event will occur.
Moneyline — This bet type is the simplest to understand. The team or player that is favored to win the game will be listed as such, while the underdog will have a negative number next to them. The higher the number, the closer the bet is to hitting. A bet on a moneyline will pay out if the team wins the game, regardless of how many points they win by.
Teaser bet — This is a type of parlay that lets you combine a moneyline and a spread bet on the same game. This can be a good way to increase your chances of winning, but it’s important to keep in mind that the higher the risk involved in the teaser, the lower the payout will be.
Parlay — A bet that combines a moneyline and a spread bet to increase your chances of winning. You can place a parlay on any sport, league or event, but it is especially useful for football games. Parlays can be risky, so it’s important to stick to your bankroll and only place a few parlays per game.
Sports betting is the activity of placing wagers on the results of sporting events, including motor racing and e-sports. A person who places a bet on these events is called a bettor, punter or gambler. A sportsbook that accepts bets is known as a bookmaker, sportsbook or betting agency. A bettor can choose to place a bet on a single event or a range of events, including futures bets. The potential payout is always shown on a bet slip, and this amount includes the money wagered. This information is often displayed on the screen of a computer or mobile device, but it can also be found printed on paper at a physical location.