Guide to sports betting markets

Online betting is not only convenient but it also offers plenty of sports betting options you can take advantage of. These include a variety of markets that allow you to place bets on different aspects of a sporting event.

The specific markets available vary depending on the sport and the bookmaker, but there are common ones you will find on most betting sites:

Moneyline or match result

Moneyline sports betting is one of the most simple wagers you can place on bookmakers like the stake sportwetten site. It’s all about betting on which team or player will win a certain game or match.

Point spread or handicap

Point spread betting requires you not only to guess which team will win but also the margin of victory, adding excitement and strategy to your betting experience. The sportsbook or bookmaker assigns a point spread or ‘line’ to each game.

It shows how much the favoured team is expected to win while the underdog is given a certain number of points to start the game with. For example, Team A is given odds of -6.5 while Team B has +6.5.

In this case, Team A is the favourite and they are expected to win the game by 6.5 points or more. If you bet on Team A, they must win by at least 7 points for your bet to be successful. On the other hand, Team B is the underdog, and they can lose the game by up to 6 points and your bet on them will still win.

Over/under or totals

You predict whether the total combined score of a sports match will be higher (over) or lower (under) than the number set by the sportsbook. The site sets a number, called the ‘total’ or ‘over/under’ line which shows how many points both teams are likely to score in the game.

Parlays

With parlay bets, you combine multiple wagers into a single bet. There are different odds for each bet in the spread. To find the overall odds or possible payout of a parlay, you multiply the odds for each selection.

This means the more bets you put into your parlay, the bigger the payout can be. If even one of your picks loses, the entire parlay bet loses.

Winning tips when betting on sports markets

Although winning your bets is not guaranteed, you can still enhance your chances of winning with these tips:
Research → Learn as much as you can about the teams, players and the match you want to bet on. Consider the team's recent achievements, injuries, and head-to-head records to make informed decisions.

Set a budget → Always set a budget before you start betting. This will help you track your wagers and avoid overspending.

Look for the best odds → Compare odds from different bookmakers to find the best value for your bets. Even small differences in odds can add up over time.

Don’t bet based on emotion → When sports betting, detach from your feelings. Betting based on personal tastes or fandom clouds your judgment. Instead, follow a betting strategy that is based on facts and research.

For a secure and worthwhile sports betting experience, only wager at licensed sites with good reputations like the stake sportwetten site. Consider betting using crypto for seamless and faster transactions.