When first starting out in sports betting, the type of bets and the amount of selections you can make may seem intimidating.But don’t let that discourage you! In this article, we will go over all you need to know to make the best sports bets.
Which are the best bets to make?
Bet types are the arrangement of the selections you’ve added to your betslip. They can range from having just one selection in your betslip, as a single bet, to multiple bets with specific rules and outcomes. While most betting sites will offer all types, some may not. Let’s have a look at the type of bets you can make:
- Singles – This is your bog standard one selection bet. It can’t get simpler than this and is rightfully the most popular bet type.
- Accumulators (Parlay bets) – Instead of adding multiple single bets in your bet slip, an accumulator groups two or more selections to create doubles, trebles, fourfolds, …eight-folds and so on. It uses the payout of the first selection played as the stake for the next one until all selections win or one loses. Therefore all the individual odds are multiplied together for the total payout. This means that all selections must win for you to receive any returns. While this has the potential to be very profitable, the risks are much higher.
- Systems (also known as combinations) – These combine the above as separate selections independent of each other. Therefore not all selections need to win for you to receive a payout. The idea is to split your stake between several bet types rather than risking it all on one. This way, if one set loses, you can still turn a profit if another one wins.
As you add selections to your bet slip, the options of how you can arrange them will become available. This makes it easy to set up large system bets. Each type of bet, if used correctly and at the right time, can reap significant returns.
The right selections for the best bets
Bet selections are what you add to your betslip before choosing the type of bet you wish to make. The selections you have available to choose from depend on the sport you’re betting on. There are too many to list them all, so let’s look at the most popular ones:
- Win/Moneyline – The most popular bet you’ll come across. Most of the time this is a 2-way bet where you select the team or person to win the particular game or event. However, in sports where a draw is possible, such as soccer, the selection can be a 3-way bet.
- Over/Under – In this case you bet on the outcome of the entire game, quarter, half, or period, to be above or below a certain number of points or goals. You can also apply this to a single team or player.
- Outright – This is one of the hardest selections to win decent money. You’re betting on the overall winner of a tournament or season. You can make a safe bet on the favourite player or team with few returns. On the other hand if you bet on the underdog you can make some big bucks.
- Handicaps – There are multiple selections that fall under handicap betting. The whole point is to make the event as even as possible by giving the weaker party an advantage or the stronger a disadvantage. They are most commonly played as 2-way bets. This means that the weaker team must either win the event, tie it, or lose within the handicap margin. Alternatively, the stronger team must win the event with an amount equal to or larger than the handicap margin.
- European handicaps – Similarly, these handicaps come in the form of 3-way bets, where a draw (with the added handicap) can also be an outcome.
- Asian handicaps (lines) – These allow you to split your stake between multiple possibilities, giving you more opportunities to win and so you do not lose your entire stake.
- Specials – These bets depend on both the sport itself and the sports betting site. With a wide selection to choose from, you can bet on very specific outcomes, like who will score the first goal, to most assists, etc… The risks with these bets can be quite high, but so can the payouts, especially when played as a parlay bet.
- In-Play (Live betting) – Possibly the most exciting form of sports betting. This involves placing bets on an event that is happening right there and then. The odds constantly change depending on how the event is going, so it’s vital to be quick and decisive when making such bets. Live betting is great for punters who want to see quick turnarounds.
Making the best bets in sports betting
Before making any bets the first step is to become familiar with the sport or event you intend to bet on. Depending on blind luck is bound to result in a loss, and nobody wants to lose. Understanding the sport and doing your research on the teams or players taking part is key to making the best bets and achieving profitable returns.
Keep in mind that betting operators don’t like it when you constantly win, especially if you’re winning bets on niche events. They can restrict the max winnings and stakes you can make on a bet. Stick to the sports that you genuinely love, follow and understand. There’s no denying that placing a bet will not only make the sport you love all that more intense but, if you’re smart and lucky, you can land a few bucks on the side.
Now that you know what the best bets are, do you know how to place them? Find out how right here at BCFM! [link to article – Placing Bets]
