Sports betting has become a mainstream part of sports culture since the anti-gambling stigma faded away, and it’s now legal in many states (with Iowa being among them). Millions of Americans now place wagers on teams and events, but many new bettors have little to no experience.
It’s easy to find value betting on sports if you know how to do it. The key is understanding that you should bet based on the probability of a team winning or event occurring, then examining that probability in relation to the odds being offered by sportsbooks. This is the only way to have consistent financial success in sports betting over the long haul.
The other key to finding value is studying player or team stats that have a high correlation to the outcome of a game or event. Identifying these types of statistics can be difficult in today’s 24/7 media cycle, but there are plenty of great sports stats websites that break down the data into a format that’s easier to read.
Another popular type of bet is a prop, which can be any bet that doesn’t relate to the final result of a game or event. These bets can often have a high profit potential, but they also carry much higher risks than standard point spreads or moneylines. An example of a prop would be betting on how many total strikeouts a pitcher will throw in a game (over or under the number). The most common sports props are centered around the performance of specific players.