Imagine sitting at a sportsbook and hearing a bettor exclaim, “I’m up 5 units this week!” If you’re new to sports betting, you might wonder what on earth a “unit” means. Don’t worry – you’re not alone. In sports betting, “unit” is one of the most important terms to understand, and it has nothing to… Read More »
Have you ever watched a game and wished you could place a bet after it started? That’s exactly what in-play or live betting lets you do. Live betting is a fast-paced, interactive way to wager on sports in real time. Instead of locking in all your bets before kickoff or tip-off, you can jump into… Read More »
Have you ever opened your sportsbook app, ready to place a wager, only to find a game missing or “locked” with no odds listed? This scenario can be confusing, especially for newer bettors. In sports betting lingo, that game is “off the board.” In simple terms, “off the board” means the sportsbook has taken a… Read More »
Have you ever been looking over the betting board and noticed some odd matchups listed way at the bottom, or with funny rotation numbers you didn’t recognize? These are the “extra” and “added” games in sports betting. In college football and college basketball, extra/added games refer to matchups that aren’t part of the regular rotation… Read More »
Ever wonder what it’s like to bet on sports for a living? From the outside, it might sound like a dream job – watching games all day and cashing big tickets. In reality, life as a professional sports bettor is challenging, disciplined, and yes, even stressful. In fact, only a tiny percentage of bettors (roughly… Read More »
Line shopping in sports betting means comparing the odds and lines at different sportsbooks to find the most favorable ones before placing your bet. Think of it like shopping for a new TV or car – you wouldn’t buy the first one you see without checking prices elsewhere. Similarly, you shouldn’t settle for the first… Read More »
If you’ve ever looked at a betting line and seen something like “Total 47.5 (O/U)”, you’ve encountered a total bet. Also known as an over/under, a total is a wager on the combined score of both teams in a game. Instead of picking a winner or covering a point spread, you’re betting on whether the… Read More »
Sportsbooks are full of flashy wagers promising big payouts – parlays, long-shot props, huge futures odds, and more. As a bettor, it’s easy to get tempted by those “lottery ticket” bets or wagers that seem like sure things. However, many of these enticing bets are what experienced gamblers dub “sucker bets.” In simple terms, a… Read More »
Imagine walking into a Las Vegas sportsbook and seeing one bettor casually place more money on a single game than most people wager in a year. That big spender is what insiders call a high roller, or in gambling slang, a “whale.” In simple terms, a whale is a sports bettor who wagers extremely large… Read More »
Imagine your favorite NFL team has lost five games in a row. You tell yourself, “They’re due for a win next week.” After all, they can’t keep losing forever, right? Or maybe you’ve flipped a coin and gotten tails five times straight – it feels like the next flip has to come up heads. This… Read More »
If you’re new to sports betting, you’ve probably heard people talk about “the spread” or “covering the spread.” The point spread is one of the most popular bet types in football and basketball, especially in the NFL, college football, and NBA. In simple terms, the point spread is a number set by sportsbooks that represents… Read More »
Sports betting has plenty of tricky strategies, and one that seasoned bettors love to talk about is “middling.” Hitting a middle means threading the needle with your bets – it’s hard to do, but when it works, it can lead to huge payouts. In fact, some of the biggest betting wins ever have come from… Read More »
Ever had a bet look like a sure winner, only to get nervous as the game isn’t over yet? Or maybe your team is falling behind and you’re wishing you could salvage something instead of losing it all. Cash out is the feature that makes this possible. In simple terms, a cash out lets you… Read More »
Learn About Types of Props Examples How Lines Are Set Tips to Win If you’ve been around sports betting, you’ve probably heard the term “prop bet” thrown around. Proposition bets (prop bets) are wagers on specific events or statistics within a game that aren’t directly tied to the final outcome or score. In other words,… Read More »
Learn About Exotic Examples Differences v Traditional Tips to Win Ever thought about betting on something as crazy as the length of the national anthem at the Super Bowl? Or maybe you’ve strung together a five-leg parlay hoping to hit the jackpot. If so, you’ve already dabbled in the world of exotic bets without even… Read More »
Imagine this: It’s NFL Sunday and you’ve got two games you know are winners. You consider a parlay, but you hesitate – one loss and that parlay is toast. You recall that time your early game flopped, yet the late game covered easily, leaving money on the table. If only there were a way to… Read More »
The Computer Group was a legendary sports betting syndicate active in the early 1980s that pioneered the use of computer analytics to beat the bookies. Co-founded around 1980 by Dr. Ivan Mindlin (an orthopedic surgeon-turned-gambler) and Michael Kent (a mathematician and computer expert), the group grew into the first national network of sports bettors –… Read More »
A “sharp” (aka wiseguy) is a highly skilled, seasoned sports bettor who bets professionally with a long-term winning record. Unlike the typical casual bettor (often called a “square”), a sharp treats sports betting like an investment rather than entertainment. These bettors are often respected – even feared – by bookmakers because they consistently find an… Read More »
Expected Value (EV) in sports betting is a way to measure the average outcome of a wager if you could replay it many times. In plain English, EV tells you whether a bet is likely to win or lose money in the long run. Every betting line carries an implied probability (the sportsbook’s view of… Read More »
Sports betting syndicates, also known simply as betting groups, are essentially teams of bettors pooling their money, information, and strategies to beat the bookmakers. Instead of betting solo, syndicate members join forces to gain advantages that individual gamblers often can’t achieve on their own. The concept might sound like something out of a heist movie,… Read More »
Sports betting has plenty of quirky wager types, and one you might encounter is the “if bet.” Don’t let the name confuse you – it’s not you being wishy-washy with your bet (“I’ll bet if I feel like it”). In betting terms, an if bet is a special multi-part wager that only continues if your… Read More »
In sports betting lingo, “chalk” refers to the favorite – usually the team or athlete expected to win. In many cases, chalk implies a heavy favorite, not just a slight edge. If you hear someone say “I’m taking the chalk,” it means they’re betting on the favored side. By extension, a “chalk player” is a… Read More »
The Martingale betting system is a classic gambling strategy where you double your bet after each loss until you eventually win. The idea is simple: by continuously doubling a losing wager, the first win would recover all previous losses plus earn a profit equal to the original stake. For example, you might bet $10 and… Read More »
Ever find yourself eyeing the odds for next year’s champion months in advance? That’s the thrill of futures bets. In sports betting, a futures bet is simply a wager on a long-term outcome that won’t be decided until down the road – usually at season’s end. Unlike a regular game bet that’s settled in a… Read More »
Alternate lines are simply different point spreads or totals offered by a sportsbook that deviate from the standard line. In other words, you’re not stuck with the one spread or over/under the book initially set – you can choose a “softer” or “harder” line, and the odds will adjust accordingly. It’s a way to control… Read More »
Picture this: You bet on a heavy favorite, and they’ve been cruising with a comfortable lead all game. Your wager looks like an easy win – until the final moments. The underdog scores a meaningless last-second touchdown, and suddenly your “sure thing” bet doesn’t cover the spread. That gut-punch moment is what bettors call the… Read More »
If you’ve bet on sports for a while, you probably have a bad beat story (or a dozen). Imagine this: your team is comfortably ahead, your bet looks all but guaranteed, and you’re already thinking about how to spend the winnings. Then, in the final seconds, something ridiculous happens – a meaningless touchdown, a miracle… Read More »
In sports betting, a “beard” isn’t facial hair – it’s a slang term for a secret stand-in. A beard is a person who places bets for someone else to conceal the identity of the true bettor. In other words, the beard is a frontman (or frontwoman) making wagers so the real high-roller stays in the… Read More »
If you’ve been around sports betting circles for a bit, you’ve probably heard someone mention closing line value, or CLV. It might sound like jargon, but it’s actually a simple concept that can tell you a lot about the quality of your bets. In a nutshell, closing line value is a way to measure whether… Read More »
In sports betting lingo, volume and handle are two sides of the action – the number of bets vs. the amount of money. Betting volume refers to the number of individual bets placed on a game or outcome, while handle refers to the total sum of money wagered. You can think of volume as the… Read More »
In sports betting, to “have action” on a game means you’ve placed a bet on it. It’s a casual way bettors say they have money on the line or a monetary interest in a game’s outcome. For example, if your friend asks “Do you have any action on tonight’s game?”, they’re asking if you’ve bet… Read More »
Ever wondered if you’re really up or down on your sports bets? In sports betting, success isn’t just about making the right picks — it’s about maintaining detailed records of every wager. Keeping an accurate betting log might sound tedious, but it’s a game-changer for anyone serious about improving their betting performance. By tracking your… Read More »
If you’ve ever felt like sports betting is a rollercoaster, you’re not alone. One week you’re on fire, the next week you can’t hit a single bet. This wild inconsistency is variance – the natural ups and downs inherent in sports betting results. In simple terms, variance is what causes those hot streaks when everything… Read More »
Learn About Why Do Most Lose Sharps Who Wins How to Improve Sports betting draws in millions with the dream of beating the odds, but the reality can be harsh. So, what percentage of sports bettors actually turn a profit long-term? In short, only a very small minority – often cited around 3-5% – are… Read More »
In sports betting, most of us expect clear winners and losers. But what happens if there’s a tie for first or a tie for a key finishing position? This is where dead heat rules come into play. A dead heat in betting refers to a scenario where two or more competitors are tied for a… Read More »
If you’ve ever scanned betting odds and seen an option for “The Field,” you might wonder what the heck that means. Don’t worry – it’s not referring to an actual playing field. In sports betting, “the field” refers to a wager on all the competitors in an event that are not listed by name. In… Read More »
New to the sports betting scene or just need a refresher on the lingo? We’ve got you covered. Below is a comprehensive A-to-Z glossary of sports betting terms – from the basics every newbie should know to the advanced jargon used by seasoned sharps. If you’re scratching your head at any point spread or prop… Read More »
Sports betting is a blast – the thrill of a winning pick and the excitement of the game can be addicting. But without a responsible approach, a fun hobby can quickly turn sour. It’s easy to get carried away betting every game in sight or staking more than you should. A lack of discipline is… Read More »
When the oddsmakers post their opening lines, it’s officially open season for bettors to drive the action. Spreads and totals will shift as the sportsbooks start taking on bets, and these moves can be triggered by a variety of reasons: sharp action, new information (like injuries), or simply an influx of public money that forces… Read More »
Welcome to the most advanced sports betting hedge calculator available today. Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or just starting, our tool is here to help you minimize risks and ensure you always get the best possible return on your wagers. Built with cutting-edge algorithms and a user-friendly interface, it’s the ultimate companion for smarter arbitrage… Read More »
One of the common misconceptions amateur bettors have is that they need to hit 60% to 70% of their bets to show a big profit. While it’s within reason to hit that high of a percentage over a short period of time, it’s not a sustainable rate over the long run. The question you should… Read More »
The state of Oregon legalized sports betting in late August of 2019. The first sportsbook operation to accept bets was the Chinook Winds Casino Resort, which is located in Lincoln City. Note that Oregon was one of the few states that had some form of legal sports betting prior to the repeal of the PASPA… Read More »
When the Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort took its first sports bet on July 1, 2019, Arkansas officially became the eighth state outside of Nevada to do so. Arkansas was just the second state in the south portion of the country to open its doors to the sports betting industry, joining neighboring state Mississippi, which was… Read More »
While the state of New Mexico has not officially legalized sports betting, there are sportsbooks in the state that residents can legally go to and place a bet. This is possible because of an agreement that tribal casinos have with the state. Due to the fact that sports betting wasn’t listed as a negotiable item,… Read More »
The state of Rhode Island opened its doors to the sports betting industry in late November of 2018. At the time Rhode Island was just the seventh state outside of Nevada to make it legal. Joining Delaware, New Jersey, West Virginia and Pennsylvania as states along the east coast to make the jump. The first… Read More »
The state of Iowa legalized sports betting in August of 2019, just in time for the start of football season. WWII vet Joseph Reynolds made the inaugural first wagers at Lakeside Hotel and Casino. Reynolds was spot on with his wagers. He put $20 on the Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Bowl LIV and… Read More »
Pennsylvania opened its doors to the sports betting industry in November of 2018, becoming the sixth state outside of Nevada to provide legal sportsbooks in its major casinos and resorts. The first wager was played at the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Grantville. That was the first of many sportsbooks to get… Read More »
In late August of 2018, West Virginia became the fifth state (fourth outside of Nevada) to legalize sports betting. The first wager in the Panhandle State was taken at the Hollywood Casino. At the time this was not only a big deal for those that lived in the state, but also those in surrounding states.… Read More »
The state of Mississippi was one of the first outside of Nevada to make sports betting legal. In fact, only Delaware and New Jersey were quicker to open their doors to this massive money-making industry. Mississippi accepted wagers for the first time on August 1, 2018 at the Beau Rivage Casino in Biloxi and Gold… Read More »
The state of Delaware legalized sports betting on June 5, 2018, becoming the first state to do so outside of the state of Nevada. They just narrowly beat out New Jersey, which opened their doors to the industry on June 14, 2018. Not a big surprise to see Delaware as one of the first states… Read More »
The state of New York legalized sports betting in the summer (July) of 2019. The first official wager was placed at Rivers Casino, with mayor Gary McCarthy placing the first bet. New York joins several other states on the east coast that have made sports betting legal. Two nearby states, New Jersey and Delaware, were… Read More »
The state of New Jersey played a massive role in getting sports betting legalized outside of Nevada. It was only fitting given how attractive gambling already was in the state with the high volume of casinos that littered the boardwalk in Atlantic City. While Delaware was technically the first to take bets outside of Nevada,… Read More »
It wasn’t that long ago that in order to place a wager on sporting event in the state of Nevada, you had to physically go to a casino to place each bet. While this wasn’t a big deal for those visiting Sin City, you can imagine the inconvenience it would cause for locals. Tourists are… Read More »
What does reverse line movement mean, and is it a profitable strategy to wager on games? This is a popular question that we get from inexperienced bettors. This article will try to break down the basics of what it is, and if it’s a tool that can help you add profits to your bankroll. Reverse line… Read More »
New to sports betting or need a quick refresher on money lines and how they work? It’s the most basic bet you can make. You are simply placing a wager on which team/player will win a specific game or match. It’s one of the three basic ways to bet on sports. The other two are… Read More »
One of the popular sports handicapping subjects that I come across with a lot of new clients is in regards to bankroll. The most popular being how much money do I need to start betting on sports and how do I manage it? If this is something you are interested in, keep reading. First things… Read More »
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