Basic Introduction to Sports Betting
How to read the board
Whether you are in Las Vegas or using your online sportsbook, it's important to know what all of the numbers mean. So here is a quick run down on a typical example:
| Philadelphia 76ers | -4 -110 | -210 | Over 205.5 |
| Toronto Raptors | +4 -110 | +175 | Under 205.5 |
So there are a few different bets here. First, the point spread. If you look next to the 76ers you will first see a box that says "-4 -110". This is the point spread. This means that if you take Philadelphia to win with the point spread, Philly must win by more than 4 points. Essentially, they are "spotting" the Raptors 4 points. The -110 means that you need to bet $110 to win $100 or $11 to win $10. -110 is the standard line on point spread bets. If you want to bet on the Raptors, you can bet $110 and win $100 if the Raptors win OR lose by less than 4 points. If the Raptors lose by 4, it's a push.
Second is the money line. This is the -210 number next to Philly. If you think the 76ers will win but do not want to give up 4 points, you can take the money line. Now you are betting on Philly to win without the 4 points spread, but you will need to bet more to win the same $100. In this case, you need to bet $210 to win $100. The opposite is true when the money line is positive. If you think the Raptors will win straight up, you can bet $100 to win $175.
Finally the total. In this bet, you are wagering whether or not the total combined score of BOTH teams is greater than or less than 205.5. The standard line for total bets if it is not listed is -110.
Another bet is called a parlay. A parley is just a combination of other bets into a single wager. For example, I could bet on Philly with the point spread, and combine this with a bet on the Washington Wizards with the point spread. This bet would have a higher payoff, but BOTH have to be correct in order to receive anything. Most sportsbook allow for 2-way, 3-way, 4-way, etc, etc, parlays. It's a way to make a big payoff with a small bet, but it's a lot riskier.