Throughout history, sports and betting have gone hand-in-hand. People aiming to make money from betting on sporting events began appearing around the 19th century, and while a series of gambling-related scandals would dampen things somewhat (such as the 1919 World Series game-fixing), there has always been a segment of the population seeking to profit from sport.
Legal sports betting isn’t as homogenous as it might seem – the different states’ approaches are based on their own unique circumstances and often involve multiple stakeholders, including state lotteries, casinos/tribal casinos, lawmakers, professional leagues, sportsbook operators, and vendors. Nevertheless, regulated markets are generally safe, and sportsbooks are constantly improving their odds of success thanks to technological advancements and fierce competition for market share.
The best way to make money from sports betting is to find and place positive EV bets. To do this, you should use sports betting software that helps you find the best lines and odds and uncover arbitrage opportunities. This kind of tool will also help you track your profits and losses and improve your betting strategy.
Another great way to make money sports betting is by placing over/under bets. These bets focus on the total number of points, goals, and other statistics a team will score in a game. For example, if the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks play to a score of over 42.5 points, you will win your over bet. But remember that the popular saying “It’s never over until it’s over” applies to betting on totals, too.