It has never been easier to bet sports online. Although each sport has its own rules and intricacies, the basics of placing a bet on any match or game are the same.

 

Most fixed odds systems on the Internet view sports fixtures such as rugby or baseball as binary, meaning that there are only two outcomes: Team X will either win or lose. In soccer, however, bookmakers often treat the possibility of a draw as a third outcome. This is because fewer goals are scored in football, especially when opposing teams are equally skilled.

 

Odds can be presented in different ways, using fractions, decimals or percentages. Basically, they all tell you the probability of a particular outcome and how many units you need to risk in order to get a certain return. For example: if the odds that the Springboks will win against All Blacks are listed as 2/11, you must bet $11 to get a $2 return.

 

The money line is the standard way of placing bets at fixed odds on American football, basketball and soccer. This form of handicapping designates the team expected to win with a minus sign (-) and the underdogs with a plus symbol (+). Below is a hypothetical money line:

Team A + 220

Team B – 190

This info tells us that Team A are the underdogs. Because the odds are against them, you stand to win more if they triumph: you will get a $220 return on every $100 bet. Team B, on the other hand, are the favourites and so you need to wager $190 for every $100 return.

 

Spread betting, also known as a point spread places a handicap on the stronger team. This makes it is equally profitable to back both sides. For example, if the spread between two basketball teams is 15, the favourites must win by 16 points or more in order for its backers to cash in. If you back the underdogs, though, you will win your bets either if they beat their opponents or if the favoured team wins by less than 15 points.