Betting For Dummies

1. Betting For Dummies Book
2. Sports Betting For Beginners

If you're new to football betting and keen to get involved
then you've just come to exactly the right place. On this page
we will teach you all the basics of betting on football, and
make sure that you are on the right track from the moment you
place your first wager. If you feel like you're ready to dive right in, here are the top football betting sites we recommend:

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In our opinion this is one of the most useful beginner's
guides to football betting you'll find anywhere on the internet.
It covers everything you need to get started, and yet you don't
need to worry about getting overwhelmed with detail as we keep
our explanations as simple as possible.

For those who are only really interested in wagering for a
bit of fun, you'll be ready to go as soon as you've finished
reading this page. For those of you with ambitions of making
long term profits, we also point you towards a wide range of
additional information and advice that will help you to achieve
such goals. We're not promising that we'll make you an instant
expert, but we'll certainly give you the chance to become one.

If you're simply just looking to bet on football games right now we have
listed our top recommendations for online betting sites below. These
are sites that we have found to be trustworthy with our money and
offer football bettors true value.

We recommend reading through this whole page from start to
finish, but we've listed the various topics we cover below if
you'd prefer to skip straight to something specific.

How to Bet on Football: Page Contents

Before You Start: Recommended Reading

If you're already familiar with how sports betting works, and
know a thing or two about football, then please feel free to
skip this section. If, however, you're completely new to sports
betting and/or not much of a football fan, then there are a few
things you should learn before you start placing bets on
football games.

Firstly you really need to understand the basics of what
sports betting is all about, and what's involved with placing
wagers. These basics are relatively straightforward, so
thankfully it doesn't take long to get up to speed. It's
definitely advisable to familiarize yourself with them though.
Our beginner's guide to sports betting is the perfect resource
for this. Here's a selection of some of the topics it covers.

In addition to knowing the basics of betting, you should also
know at least the basics of football too. It's likely that most
people reading this are big sports fans, and fully understand
it, but that's not necessarily the case for all our readers. We
like to cater for everyone, so we've written the following two
articles explaining all about the game at both professional and
college level.

Different Types of Football Bets

One of the first things you should understand about betting
on football is the fact that there are several different types
of wagers that can be placed. You won't necessarily use all the
different types, depending on what strategies you employ, but
it's still advisable to learn at least a little about each one.

Below we look at the two most popular types of wagers, some
of the other commonly used options, and the various options for
wagering on multiple games with a single bet.

The Most Popular Types of Football Bets

There are two types of football bets that are used far more
than any other. Many people who bet on football place only the
following wagers.

• Point Spreads
• Totals

Some readers will already know all about these and how they
work, but we'll explain a little about them for those that
don't.

Point Spreads

A point spread is effectively a handicap that's used to
create a 50/50 wagering proposition. For example, a bookmaker
may offer the following point spread on a football match between
the San Diego Chargers and the Indianapolis Colts.

What this spread means is that, for the purposes of wagering,
the Chargers will have 3.5 points deducted from their final
score. For a bet on them to be successful, they would therefore
have to win by four points or more. The Colts, on the other
hand, will have 3.5 points added to their final score. A bet on
them would be successful if they won the game, or lost by 3
points or less.

You can read more about point spreads on the following page.

Totals

Totals are just as easy to understand. With these, the
bookmaker posts an expected total for the amount of points
scored by both sides. On the previously mentioned match between
the Chargers and the Colts, for example, they might set the
total at 48.50. You then have to decide whether to bet on the
over or the under.

A wager on the over will win if the combined score from the
two teams is 49 or over (e.g. Chargers 29, Colts 24). A wager on
the under will win if the combined score from the two teams is
48 or less (e.g. Chargers 19, Colts 17).

We explain totals in more detail on the following page.

Before we go onto explain some of the other types of wagers
you can place, there's some very important information that we
need to mention.

The basic principle of point spreads and totals is that you
have roughly a 50% chance of winning, so technically a 'fair'
return on these types of wagers should be equal to the amount
staked. However, they are usually priced up by bookmakers at
odds of -110 (1.91 in decimal odds format, 10/11 in fractional
odds format), which means for every $110 staked you stand to win
$100. You don't have to stake as much as $110 of course, but the
point is that a successful wager will only return 90% of the
amount staked (plus the initial stake of course).

This is because bookmakers are in business to make a profit,
so they effectively charge a commission for taking wagers. This
commission is known as the vig, short for vigorish, and it's one
of the ways that bookmakers stay profitable. They don't charge
it just for points spreads and totals either, as it's built into
the odds for every wager that they offer.

If you have any ambitions of being a
successful bettor, we strongly recommend reading our article
explaining vig and how bookmakers make money.

Other Common Football Bets

In addition to point spreads and totals, there are three
other types of bets that are commonly used for wagering on
football. These are as follows.

• Moneylines
• Props
• Futures

We'll now provide a brief overview of each of these, and
point you towards some additional information on each one too.

Moneylines

A moneyline wager is very simple. It involves simply backing
a team to win a match, with no point spread involved. The odds
for moneyline wagers are based on each team's relative chance of
winning. For example, the moneyline on a game between the San
Diego Chargers and the Indianapolis Colts might look like this.

The Chargers are the favorites here, and the odds of -175
mean that a stake of $175 is required to win $100. To put it
another way, every $1.75 staked stands to win $1 if the Chargers
win. Initial stakes are returned too of course.

The Colts are the underdogs, so backing them means the
potential for higher payouts relative to the amount staked. The
odds of +155 mean that every $1 staked stands to win $1.55 if
the Colts win (i.e. a $100 wager stands to win $155 if the Colts
win). Again, initial stakes are also returned.

For more information on moneylines, and the strategy involved
in placing them, please see the following article.

Props

Props, short for propositions, are wagers on outcomes that
are decided during a football game, but are not necessarily
directly linked to the final result. Some examples include the
following.

• The first team to score.
• The distance of the longest touchdown.
• The total passing yards of a quarterback.
• The number of field goals kicked.

These are just a very small selection of some props. Many
bookmakers offer dozens of different options, particularly on
high profile matches. Props are generally considered a fun type
of bet rather than a way to make money, but it is possible to
make consistent profits from them. We explain more about props
on the following page, where we also offer some strategy advice.

Futures

Futures are wagers on how teams, or individual players, will
fare over the course of an entire season. A wager on a team to
win the Super Bowl, placed at the start of the season, would be
considered a future. So would a wager on a team to be the
National Football Conference champions, or a wager on a player
to win the Most Valuable Player award.

There isn't a lot more to explain about futures, and there
isn't really much in the way of specific strategy for them
either. We do go into a bit more detail on them on the following
page though.

Betting on Multiple Football Games

A lot of people like to bet on multiple games at once, as
this can provide the potential for big payouts. It's not
something we particularly advise beginners to get involved with,
but it doesn't hurt to understand the options available. The
main ones are as follows.

• Parlays
• Teasers
• Pleasers

Let's take a quick look at what these are all about.

Parlays

A parlay basically combines several different wagers into
one. For example, a parlay could be made up of five point spread
wagers on five separate games. The payout for such a wager could
be very attractive, but only if ALL the wagers were correct.
Just one wrong pick would mean the whole wager failing. That's
why these are considered quite risky. They're a bit more complex
than the previous wagers mentioned, but we won't go into any
more detail here. We do on the following page though.

Teasers & Pleasers

Teasers and pleasers are essentially types of parlays that
use modified point spreads or totals. With teasers, the spreads
or totals are moved in the bettor's favor. With pleasers, they
are moved in the bookmaker's favor. There's plenty more to
explain about these wagers, which we do on the following pages.

Where to Place Your Football Bets

Now that you know about the different wagers you can place on
football, the next step is actually placing them. The question
you're probably asking now is 'how and where can I do this?'
There are a few options, which we list below, but please be
aware that not all of these are available in all parts of the
world.

• Casino Sportsbooks
• Bookmaking Shops
• Telephone Betting
• Online Sports Betting Sites

Casino Sportsbooks

Many casinos around the world contain a sportsbook. They
usually feature several big screen TVs showing any live sports
action currently taking place, and computerized odds boards
displaying all the latest odds. There are typically cashier
windows where you can place your wagers with a real person, but
some books have interactive machines instead. Either way, these
are great places to place some bets and watch the games at the
same time. The problem for Americans, though, is that they are
only legal in Nevada. There are plenty of sportsbooks in Las
Vegas casinos, but not in other parts of the country.

Bookmaking Shops

Bookmaking shops are mostly like sportsbooks, they're just
not inside a casino. They also generally have lots of TVs
showing sports, and a counter where wagers are placed. These
shops can be found in many countries around the world, but
they're not legal in the United States.

Telephone Betting

A lot of bookmakers offer telephone betting services, and
they are usually very straightforward to use. It's a simple
matter of calling the relevant number, telling the operator you
reach which wagers you want to place, confirming the odds, and
then providing your credit card details. Some bookmakers take
other payment methods too, and some even offer credit lines to
select customers.

This is another option that's not available to Americans. Not
legally at least, as the Federal Wire Act of 1961 made telephone
betting illegal. You might be getting disheartened by now if you
live in the US, and wondering exactly how you're ever going to
place any wagers. Don't worry though, as we have one more option
to tell you about.

Betting For Dummies Book

Online Sports Betting Sites

Using an online sports betting site is far and away the best
way to bet on football, or any sport for that matter. It's the
most convenient and accessible option, and there are several
other advantages too. Best of all, it's legal in the United
States. There are some laws against online gambling in the US,
but these mostly apply to companies and individuals providing
gambling services. There's no law that states it's illegal to
use a gambling site of any kind, so Americans are at liberty to
place football bets online if they so choose. We've written the
following page explaining things in more detail for those
interested, or you can just keep reading for a quick guide to
getting started online.

Using Online Betting Sites

Using sports betting sites to bet on football online is
relatively straightforward. It's super easy to open accounts at
most sites, and the majority of them are very user-friendly.
Finding and placing wagers generally takes no time at all, and
can be done from the comfort of your own home with just a
computer and internet access. You can even use most sites from a
smartphone or tablet these days.

Please make sure that you use the right sites though. Most
places are pretty good, but there are some that are best
avoided. It's vital that you use a safe and trustworthy option,
and you also want to use somewhere that is suitable for
football. We suggest taking a look at the following sites.

Our Top Ranked Football Betting Sites:

Before May 14, 2018, all sports betting outside of the state of Nevada had been illegal. The explosion of betting markets since then has been nothing short of remarkable.

Americans love to gamble. In 2016, we spent over 100 billion dollars on all types of gambling, from horse races to nickel slots. The online betting market handles billions of dollars on a monthly basis.

Although this is all exciting and we want in, it can be easy to get lost with all the terms getting thrown around. Read ahead for our crash course in understanding sports betting and how to get started.

Our Fascination With Sports Betting

The next time someone tries to give you an attitude about your betting, politely remind them that you are simply taking part in an ancient tradition.

That's right. We know the Ancient Greeks were betting on sports and other competitions more than 2,000 years ago. Later, the Romans were placing bets on gladiator fights.

Over the years, different rulers have tried to make it illegal. Others realized that if you can't beat them you should join and created legal gambling institutions.

From Underground to Mainstream

Sports betting continued to thrive across the world. Betting on horse races became very popular in England and moved to the United States.

There was a certain posh about going to the tracks. It was something that brought communities together and provided lots of entertainment.

Of course, there was no shortage of people trying to profit off of it.

The Emergence of Bookies

Bookmakers or bookies as most people call them, accept bets and pays them off. During different periods of history, bookmaking has been banned in various countries.

Depending on the place, bookies can work out in the open. They are a common site at casinos and horse tracks.

However, there was a time when they had to operate in the shadows to avoid trouble with the law and the IRS. Otherwise, Americans often placed bets through bookies overseas in places like the Caribbean and Costa Rica, where they could operate legally.

Understanding Sports Betting

If you have been around people talking about sports betting, you've certainly heard a bunch of funny words getting thrown around that may have gone over your head.

Sports betting has its own culture and, with that, comes its own language.

Here are some important terms to get you started.

Dog

Short for the underdog, the dog is the team or player that is less likely to win. However, that doesn't mean they always lose.

Betting on the dog sets you up to win big if you can correctly predict an upset.

Who doesn't love a great underdog story?

Odds On Favorite

This is basically the opposite of the dog. The favorite is the team that projected to win. Generally speaking, betting on the favorite is safer but the cashout is smaller.

Some people always bet on the favorite regardless. However, the favorite isn't guaranteed to win so don't say we didn't warn you.

Point Spread

This is an important concept called spread betting. You simply pick a winner of a certain game but keeping in mind that the underdog will have a certain advantage.

For example, if New York has a spread of +6.0 points over the underdogs, Miami, then they have to win by at least 6 points in order for those who pick them to win the bet. If you think New York will win but only by 3 points, then you should actually pick Miami given the point spread.

Parlay

A parlay is when you bet on two or more consecutive games. In a three-team parlay, for example, all three teams that you selected must win.

This is an extremely exciting way to play. Imagine the excitement as your teams keep winning and you get ever closer to hitting that big score.

Over/Under

You can bet on more than the outcome of a game in terms of winning or losing. You can also try to guess the total combined score of both teams.

You can be on whether the combined score will be greater and or less than a certain number.

For example, if the over/under for football game is 25 and you pick ‘under'. You are hoping that it is a relatively low scoring game, without worry about who wins.

How To Get Involved

It's never too late to get involved with sports betting. Since it has become legalized, there are tons of options in the sports betting market depending on what suits you.

You can hit an online betting market if you're the type who prefers staying at home. Gone are the days when it was necessary to meet up with your friendly neighborhood bookie at Waffle House to place your bets and get paid.

Don't feel pressured to make big bets on things you don't really understand. Take your time with some smaller bets to get a feel for how it works.

How Much Many Can I Make?

Truly, there is no limit to how much money you can make off sports betting. However, you need to bet more to make more.

In large part, it depends on your bankroll and how much you willing to bet. However, there are plenty of people who make a living on sports betting. However, always remember that you shouldn't bet more than you can afford to lose.

Some people do it for fun and some people make hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Becoming a Bookie

It doesn't stop there. You can become a bookie and help others place bets. No, you don't have to be a wiseguy or wear a trench coat.

The fact is, becoming a bookmaker is a surefire way to make money. The more people you bring in, the more you get paid regardless of the outcomes of their bets.

Check out this article to learn you can become a bookmaker. Work on your own time and as much or as little as you want.

Getting the Most out of Sports Betting

Sports betting adds a massive degree of emotion and excitement to any competition, even if its division III college volleyball.

And of course, there is a lot of money to be made. However, understanding sports betting is crucial in order to get the most out of it.

Keep researching and practicing your new hobby. The money is good and the time is right. Start your bookie business today, with the best pay per head software, www.AcePerHead.com.

3 Good Books About Starting Out

When you start out better, you should dive into some books for strategies and more. It'll help you in the long run. We've gathered our favorite titles together.

Sports Betting For Beginners

In 2019, sports bettors wagered $150 billion in 2019, according to Morningstar. That figure is set to surge in the future as more states legalize gambling and establish sportsbooks.

But the world of sports betting has its own lingo that people can find intimidating. Also, although most people are betting for entertainment, no one wants to waste their money on something they don't fully understand.

However, there are many books out there that can help shed some light on sports betting. If you are a novice, these books will help you gain invaluable basic knowledge. And if you have the experience, these titles could help fine-tune your betting prowess.

In the following article, we'll suggest three excellent books on sports betting that will not only educate but entertain.

1) ‘Sharp Sports Betting' Leads Our Books

This book is considered by many as the 'Bettor's Bible.' The book is authored by Stanford Wong, a pioneer in gambling publications. The first work he authored, 'Professional Blackjack,' is also considered a classic.

Wong's legendary prowess on the blackjack tables and his gambling knowledge has allowed him to create a lucrative cottage industry.

Wong, born in Georgia in 1943, was fascinated by games as a child. In several interviews, Wong took to blackjack and counting cards after reading Ed Thorpe's 'Beat the Dealer.' He was so successful at the game that legend has it that at age 21, he was able to start putting himself through school with his winnings.

'Sharp Sports Betting' came about after Wong realized that there were no credible books on the topic out there. His book stays away from evaluating teams and players and sticks to the math involved to win at sports betting.

Wong covers the basics in clear language: money lines, spreads, parlays, and teasers. He also spends a good amount of time exploring Poisson distribution — or the probability of X-number of events happening in a fixed interval. The charts and statistical analysis Wong offers is a must-read.

2) ‘Fixed-Odds Sports Betting'

Joseph Buchdal is a bettor extraordinaire with a passion for sportsbook and soccer, or football as they call in his home in the United Kingdom. He's a contributor to advise sites and has written several other betting books.

Buchdal's book 'fixed-Odds Sports Betting' is considered one of the best books about gambling. It holds wit and wisdom for the newbie and the experienced bettor alike. He emphasizes the practice of value betting, where you need to isolate that thing that is likely to happen, but oddsmakers are not favoring it to happen.

He tells how to isolate factors to maximize value betting strategies and hopefully come out ahead over time in his book.

3) ‘The Signal and the Noise'

If you want a good read on predicting events, including sports, but would enjoy a wider focus, an excellent choice is Nate Silver's 'The Signal and the Noise.' Silver is best known for his political predictions and his blog FiveThirtyEight.com.

Silver developed his forecasting prowess by calculating reams of baseball statistics over long airplane flights. His Pecota system was then successfully used to predict the first Obama election in all 50 states.

His clear, explanatory writing illuminates many mathematical, political, and cultural touchstones, which gives the reader a larger sense of the forecasting world.

Get In the Game

While we picked three books to get your sports betting reading list started, there are hundreds of titles to choose from. Wong's pioneering idea to explore the world of betting in ways that make sense to the novice and hardened better alike has sparked a major industry of sports betting publications.

With all that is out there to read, you are sure to find a book that suits your interests.

Want to learn more about our betting services and software? Contact us today at (800) 909-5193.