A sportsbook offers dozens of betting options. Some offer more than a hundred markets, and some allow you to make dozens of different wagers on any particular sporting event. A simple example is whether to bet on the Los Angeles Lakers to beat the Memphis Grizzlies. You could also place a bet on player props. Listed below are four popular types of bets that you can make with a sportsbook.
Profit Boosts
There are many different types of profit boosts offered by sportsbooks. These boosts are usually tied to the odds of certain events occurring. For example, a book may boost odds of a specific event if a player scores first, or if a team scores over 5.5 runs. In addition, a book may boost odds on two player props parlayed together, such as a Houston Astros to score first and over 5.5 team runs. Profit boosts on game props are also common, with some sportsbooks giving a higher value on parlays containing two or three legs.
Listed Pitcher bets
If you’re considering placing Listed Pitcher bets on baseball games, make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into. Many sportsbooks set their lines based on starting pitchers, and if you bet on a team that doesn’t have a strong starting pitcher, you’ll get back everything you’ve bet. For example, the Seattle Mariners could be slight favorites because Felix Hernandez is one of the best pitchers in baseball. But if you bet on a game that has Seattle’s starting pitcher, you’ll receive your money back if the Mariners win.
Expected Value
There are several factors to consider when evaluating a sportsbook. The first is the expected value. The expected value of a game depends on the odds and the spread of the betting line. When the odds are low, sportsbooks will lower them. When they are high, they will widen their spreads. The higher the expected value, the higher the chance of winning the game. However, the odds can also affect the amount of money you can expect to lose.
Contrarian bets
Contrarian bets are betting against the underdog and against the public’s favorite. For instance, you might bet against the New England Patriots in a football game. But the sportsbook might have a better line for the opposite team. In other words, you might bet on the opposing team. This is known as “betting against the public.” You can also use a sports betting robot to help you place advanced bets on sports games.
Live Betting
The NBA is one of the most popular sports to bet on online, and its postseason creates a lot of buzz for live betting at sportsbooks. When May rolls around, NBA playoffs are usually chalk, but that’s about to change with the new NBA Play-In Tournament. Currently, two-thirds of the league’s 30 teams will make the postseason, and only two or three teams have a legitimate chance of winning it all.