Understanding Bets

How To Understand Placing Sports Bets

📌 Understanding different types of bets is essential for maximizing your success in sports betting. This guide covers the key bet types, how they work, and what to watch for when placing them.

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1️⃣ Placing Bets: The Basics

✅ 1a. Winners Market / Moneyline

✔️ The simplest bet type—you are betting on the outright winner of the match/game. ✔️ Listed as "Winner" or "Moneyline" on sportsbooks.

💡 Example: Betting on the Dallas Mavericks to win outright against the Lakers.

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✅ 1b. Handicaps

📌 Handicap bets adjust the final score by adding or subtracting points.

🗺️ Map/Match Handicap (Esports Example: -1.5 / +1.5)

✔️ In a Best of 3 (Bo3) match:

• -1.5 Handicap: The team must win 2-0 for the bet to win.

• +1.5 Handicap: The team must win at least one map to cover.

💡 Example: Betting on Team A -1.5 in a Best of 3 means they must win 2-0.

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🏀 Score Handicap (Example: -6 / +6)

✔️ Points are adjusted before grading the bet. ✔️ + Handicap: Adds points to a team’s final score. ✔️ - Handicap: Subtracts points from a team’s final score.

💡 Example:

• You bet Mavericks +6.

• The final score is Mavs 60 – Lakers 65.

• Adjusted score: (60 + 6) = 66 – 65 → Bet wins.

✔️ Outside of esports, handicaps typically apply to total points. ✔️ Simply add or subtract the given number to determine if the bet wins.

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✅ 1c. Multi/Parlay Bets

📌 A parlay (also called "multi" or "combo") combines multiple bets into one, increasing potential payouts.

✔️ Click multiple games to combine bets into one ticket. ✔️ All bets must win for the parlay to cash. ✔️ Higher risk but much larger potential payouts.

💡 Example:

• Bet on Mavericks ML, Celtics -5.5, and Warriors Over 220.5 in a parlay.

• If all three hit, your winnings are multiplied.

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✅ 1d. Live Bets

📌 Live betting allows you to place bets during an ongoing match.

✔️ Do not place a live bet if it’s been more than 5 minutes since it was posted and the odds have increased. ✔️ If the odds drop below the listed odds, you can still place the bet at the same risk level.

💡 Example: A bet is posted at +150 odds, but after 5 minutes, it's +175—do not bet. If it's +140, you can bet at the same risk level.

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🚀 Final Thoughts: Mastering Betting Strategies

✔️ Moneyline is the simplest bet—just pick the winner. ✔️ Handicaps adjust the score to even the playing field. ✔️ Parlays increase payouts but require multiple bets to hit. ✔️ Live bets require fast execution—watch for odds changes.

💰 Follow these strategies to improve your success rate and maximize profits! 🚀