Introduction To Wagering

In a gaming scenario, the term “wagering” refers to the act of risking money against a gaming organisation, or someone else for that matter, on the basis of a future event occurring. The term is attached to a myriad of activities which range from politics and games to events and competitions. It may seem intriguing to include politics in this context, but in the modern world, people will dispute almost any and every outcome, including the next president of a country. Gaming companies are in the business of allowing people to put their money where their mouth is, by creating the opportunity to make money by correctly predicting future outcomes.

Sports wagering represents the bulk of most betting companies annual revenue. Six of the most popular games in the world, Soccer, American Football, Formula One (F1), Basketball, Baseball and Cricket, each have sports franchises with valuations in the region of a billion dollars. These teams are home to the best players in each discipline and attract millions of fans globally. On every match day, fans will taunt each other over whose team is more superior than the other. A variety of factors such as team performances, the passion for the game, and extensive knowledge of the match rules influence the fan’s betting patterns.

Getting Started with Sports Betting

Firstly, sports betting can be as easy as deciding which team will win, draw, or lose. A competitive match is between two teams at any given time. Racing competitions have multiple entrants, usually three or more. It is no wonder games from disciplines such as Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, Cricket, American Football, Rugby, and Baseball makes sports betting the easiest form of gambling. Between team A and B, all a gambler has to do is to pick the winner, or determine if the spoils will be shared by selecting a draw as the outcome. It is a simple form of wagering known as Fixed Odds Betting.

As a gamer combines their wagering patterns with an extensive understanding of the game, they graduate into advanced forms of betting. Here, additional factors are considered, such as the totals of the scores, denoted as over or under a particular points/score threshold. Handicap bets give a pre-match advantage to the weaker team, by awarding points/scores before the match, to even the competition. It is wise to consider that these forms of betting require a substantial level of knowledge to accurately achieve a consistent degree of success. Then again, the events are uncertain, and therefore, all the knowledge in the world can still lose a bet that seems a sure one.

What Is Fixed Odds Betting?

Fixed Odds Betting is the most basic form of sports wagering. It involves two teams playing against each other for a win. The majority of the betting markets also allow for a draw. This means that at the end of the regulated time, if there is a tie, then the payout will be made to those who wagered on this as the outright outcome. It is, therefore, important to make only one selection per match as per the stipulated rules of Fixed Odds Betting. In the event that a gambler wants to predict the outcome of more than one game, for instance, team A vs. team B, and team C vs. team D, they can place a multi-bet. A multi-bet is where in match one, the pick is team B to win, and in match two, it is a draw. The wagering rules then allow the odds for the selected events to be combined with a single bet amount.

The Different Types Of Sports Wager

In sports wagering, Fixed Odds Betting is considered a primary betting format. Pundits will caution against overreliance on it because of the slim options it offers, however, it is good for beginners. Because of uncertainty levels, it is always wise to spread the bets to cushion against losses. Gaming platforms always offer tips in addition to responsible gaming advice.

Learning the various types of wagering hinges on an understanding of the rules of the relevant discipline. For instance, the Totals (over/under) bet relies on the scoreline. Understanding the rules of Basketball, for instance, will allow you to make a bet in line with such a high-scoring sport. A Totals bet that predicts the score to go over 50 points is unreasonable in a low scoring game such as Soccer. A world cup game only averages a maximum of 2.78 goals, as per the official statistics provided by the governing body FIFA. Instead of placing a three-way bet with low odds, you can boost earnings by taking greater odds. Other forms of wagering are Outrights/Futures, where the winner of a tournament is predicted in advance. Specials or Proposition bets predict aspects of the game. These may or may not have an influence on the outcome, such as the first player to score, or the number of cautions issued in the match. An Accumulator or Parlays bet, is the multi-bet that combines more than one Fixed Odds bet. It does not necessarily limit the gambler to selecting a three-way bet (win-draw-lose) in each match selection. In match one, a player can choose the winner and in match two, they can pick an Outright/Future Bet.

What Are The Different Types Of Sports Betting?

There are various forms of sports wagering which incorporate the traditional form of Fixed Odds Betting. The only twist to these forms of betting are the rules imposed on them which make them each work differently. Betting today also includes many new forms of wagers, made possible by the rise of technology.

Among the most popular forms of sports wagering in this digital age is the In-play or Live betting feature. It is an almost revolutionary type of betting that allows gamblers to wager as the game is still ongoing. Various casinos offer their players an option to stream the match live and thereby, make bets based on the live statistics. These types of bets open up numerous opportunities, including placing different types of wagers, such as the Totals (Over/Under), Parlays/Accumulator, and Propositions bets. These can even include the number of cautions in a particular half of the game. The outcome reflects almost instantly on the betting account. Other forms of wagering include Exchange betting, which utilises Fixed Odds, only there is no bookmaker. Instead, there are two bettors, one taking up the role of bookmaker and the other backing a selection. The odds are determined and a wager is made. Payout depends on who gets it right, compelling the other to pay up. A Pari-mutuel bet involves the gamblers placing their odds in a pool. Payouts are determined by the outcome, whereby all players who backed the winning result split the amount as a percentage of the original stake. It is, however, more popular in horse race betting.

How To Bet With A Bookmaker

Betting with bookmakers is a simple process of selecting the wagering odds and placing a bet. Before this, it is important to choose a payment option which allows for both cash deposits and withdrawals. There are many bookmakers available online and each will have different rules and procedures attached to the entire wagering process. Additionally, there are various types of bookmakers, classified in their primary mode of operation. It is, therefore, important to do a little research.

The most traditional type of bookmakers is Betting Bureaus or Bookmaking shops. They are retail, physical, walk-in stores under the bookmaker’s brand. Players do not necessarily need to be registered with the bookmaker to indulge in the wagering process, so they are popular for large events. Payment methods are usually cash and debit/credit cards, after which a slip with the wager is issued. After the outcome, it is cashed-in like a bank cheque.

Casino Sportsbooks are similar to Betting Bureaus, only they are housed inside casinos. These telephone-based bookmakers were more prominent before the internet age took over both online banking and wagering. Players would make phone calls and place the wager by verbally relaying instructions. Credit/Debit cards are then used for the payment. It has since been replaced by gamers making financial transactions via online forms of money transfer. Betting apps are then used to confirm financial transactions and place bets.

Why Bookmakers Make Money

Bookmakers make money from losing bets, and in some instances, fees levied on the financial transactions or commissions on bets. Once a player makes a bet and the outcome goes against the prediction, they lose a particular sum of money. The bookmakers then use these amounts to pay winning bets. The wagering odds are pre-determined and they change before the event begins. They are also regularly updated such that they are always giving the casino or bookmaker an edge.