When it comes to betting on sports, there is no guarantee that you will win every time. But if you follow a few basic rules, you can increase your odds of winning and decrease the likelihood of losing.
First, it is important to understand the sports you are betting on. This means researching the team and player stats. Watching a few games will also help you learn the game nuances. This will be particularly helpful for betting on spreads. The spread is a number that handicaps one team and favors another. It is usually in increments of a half point (although some have whole-point increments). For example, Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles (-5.5) is a point spread. If you take the Cowboys, you’re betting on the underdog. If you take the Eagles, you’re making a “lay” bet.
Secondly, it’s important to know the limits of your bankroll. It’s not uncommon to see bettors who wager more than they can afford to lose. This can quickly turn into a losing streak. The best way to avoid this is to set a budget and stick with it.
Always remember that a plus sign (+) indicates the underdog and a minus sign (-) indicates the favorite. Our brains are trained to think of these as positive and negative, but in sports betting, they mean the opposite. Moreover, always keep track of your bets on a spreadsheet to see which bets are losing and which ones are winning.