Sports betting have truly come of age. At one time, the only way to place sports bets was through illicit channels. Then, casinos started to offer legal sports betting. In time, online casinos emerged and this has allowed sports betting to be accessible to all who are interested in it. In fact, the sheer variety of sports betting is down right jaw dropping. There are online casinos which take bets for baseball, football, hockey, boxing, NASCAR, world cup soccer and pretty much every sport under the sun.
But, please do not assume that every bet is a straight bet. That is, if you bet on the Packers in a game against the Cowboys and the Packers win you may still lose. This is not because sports betting are a rip-off. It is because sports betting centers on odds and odds are designed to keep the game's outcomes less predictable and make financially backing wagers worthwhile for a casino.
For example, the Packers may be the favorites to win so they are handicapped with -4 odds. That is, they must win the game by four points in order for someone betting on them to collect. If they only win by 3, then the better loses. (This is known as a spread) That's the way the gaming system is set up. Keep in mind, different sports have significantly different odds systems. As such, it is critical to have a basic understanding of odds and spread prior to becoming involved with sports betting. It is not, however, complicated to learn and with a little time even a novice will be up to speed. Perhaps they will even be on their way to fame and fortune as well!