Sportsbook Betting (The Smart Way)
If you're a sports fan, then there's no better way to unwind and have some fun on game day by live betting on your favorite college basketball, NBA, MLB, or football game. Depending on the city you live in, you might already be doing this with your neighborhood bookie.
Although it's technically illegal to bet with an unregistered bookmaker in the United States, many people still do it anyway. That being said, there's always the small chance that it could come back and bite you on the back end. For example, if the bookie gets arrested with your funds in-hand, you can bet your last dollar that you won't get it back.
Due to COVID lockdowns and increased attention given to illegal gambling rings by the Fed, online betting has seen a huge surge over the course of the past year. Betting sites that offer sportsbook betting are seeing new users sign up more than they ever have in the past.
If you're new to the online gambling scene and you want to start betting, here's some basic information and tips to help you be more successful and help you even the odds.
What You Need To Know About Online Sportsbooks
Unlike your average bookmaker, most internet casino sites operate overseas in countries with loose gambling and sports betting laws. The laws typically don't require them to ban users from certain countries, so pretty much any American can visit the site and create a free account.
Whether bettors want to wager $1,000 on an NBA game or they just want to put $100 down simple college basketball game, they'll be able to choose between low-stakes (low risk) and high-stakes (high-risk) wagering options.
The higher the amount you wager, the bigger the payout... and the more you could lose if you don't play your hand the right way.
One of the cool things about these online casino sites is that some of them will offer lines of credit to select users to use towards their bets. Once you develop a reputation for winning and you can show that you're constantly making a deposit into your account, you'll establish a level of trust with the casino site and be able to leverage it to your advantage.
What Is The Best Online Sports Betting Site?
The most popular online sports betting site is probably DraftKings. However, depending on which state you live in, you may or may not be able to create an account and start wagering on matches. This is why it's usually a good idea to stick with an offshore casino site. No matter where you live in the world, you'll be able to legally place your wagers on any game or horse racing match you come across!
Online Sportsbook Betting - Betting Wisely
As we promised, here are some great tips to help you play smarter, get a higher payout, and have more fun while betting on the next big game day.
Understand How "Favorites" Work
Most sportsbooks will display a "+" or "-" sign accompanied by a number next to each team. This indicates the spread by which the team will need to win or lose by in order for the match to be considered a win or a loss. This is where the sites really make their money though.
When you bet on a sports match, you're not just taking a 50-50 chance, you're betting on the slightly smaller possibility of the team winning or losing by a certain amount. These terms are why the house will always win.
Just because a team is the "favorite" doesn't always mean that it's the right one to bet on. For example, if you see a "-5" by the favorite team's name, it means they'll need to win by at least 5 points or more in order to win. If they win by 4 points, you'll still lose the bet.
Try Betting With Bitcoin
Most gambling sites will actually give you a bonus if you make a large deposit on your account using Bitcoin or other forms of cryptocurrency. That means that you'll have a bit of extra credits to make your first few wagers with, which can really help you out if you're just getting started.
Take Advantage Of Promotions
Just like betting with crypto, some sportsbooks will offer promotions that you can take advantage of and earn some extra winnings. This typically happens during the beginning of a season or if they're trying to encourage more votes on a slow game that's coming up. It's not usually a huge bonus, but you could stand to earn an extra 5-10% on a good bet.
Bet On The Players, Not The Team
One of the biggest mistakes that first-timers make is that they only bet on the team and forget all about the players. This is all well and good, but what if the team's star quarterback or point guard is out of the game due to an injury or suspension? Without key players, the "favorite" team could easily lose.
As long as you do your due diligence, research the match, and understand what's going on, though, you shouldn't have any problems making smart bets. Of course, you can't win every bet, but with these tips, you should stand a higher chance of evening out the odds.
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