Until recently, sports betting was a legal activity only in a few states. However, in December of 2018, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, or PASPA, is unconstitutional and that state governments may decide on their own sports betting policies. This decision has allowed sportsbooks to begin operating legally in the United States. In addition to the state-level legislation, sportsbooks can operate online and mobile platforms.
There are two main types of bets in sports betting. The first is a straight bet, or a moneyline bet. A moneyline is a wager on a team’s total score. A team with a moneyline is favored. The moneyline pays the bettor if the team wins. If the team loses, the bettor “lays” the money.
Another type of bet is a spread bet, also known as a point spread. A spread is a margin of points that a favored team must win by in order to “cover the spread.” A typical spread is between 11 and 10 points.
A third type of bet is a “prop,” or proposition bet. A prop is not a standard moneyline or point spread. Instead, a prop is a bet that involves a specific outcome. Prop bets are most often linked to major sporting events. They can range from the length of the national anthem to the first song played at halftime. Generally, the odds are higher for props than for other types of bets.
The most common sports bet is a moneyline bet, which is a wager on a team’s win. If the team wins, the bettor receives the moneyline, if the team loses, the bettor loses the moneyline, and if the team is tied, the bettor receives the spread.
Another common type of bet is a total, or a betting total. A betting total is a prediction of the combined total of two teams. In a game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks, the total is 43 points. If the Los Angeles Rams win, the bettor receives $10, and if the Seattle Seahawks win, the bettor receives $20.
The other most common type of bet is an over or under bet. An over bettor wants the combined total to be higher than the other team’s total. An under bettor wants the combined total to be lower than the other team’s total. The odds of a bet on an under or under is lower than for a bet on a total, because the total is only possible when the game is still in progress. The odds for an under or under bet can be as high as -110.
In addition to these two types of bets, there are many others. Some sportsbooks offer bets on horse racing, greyhound racing, and even reality show contests. These types of bets are not legally accepted in all states, but they can be found in online sportsbooks. A third type of bet is a parlay, which is a wager that combines several outcomes into one bet.