When you bet on sports, you’re betting on a certain outcome of a game. This includes predicting the results of a contest between two teams, and it can also extend to reality show competitions and political elections. There are several types of bets available, and you should shop around before you make a wager. Some examples include money line bets, spread bets, total bets, and parlays. You may also find teasers.

Money line bets are bets that require a team to win the game outright. A bookmaker sets a total number of points that a team must score to win the game. If the team fails to reach that total, the bet is a push. Most sports books offer a refund on the bet if a push occurs. However, there are a few that count it as a loss. The amount you get back is based on the money you bet.

Half bets apply only to the first or second half of a game. They can be placed on both sides of the game, but they’re more common in American football and hockey. To place a half bet, select the sport, the number of games, and the half of the game. If you place a half bet on the over, you’ll receive a payout if the game goes over the amount that you bet. On the other hand, if you choose to bet on the under, you’ll earn a payout if the game goes under the number that you bet on.

Total bets are the most common type of bets. If you choose to bet on a total, you must bet on the total score between the two teams. It’s important to remember that the more money you bet, the smaller your odds will be. Therefore, it’s best to bet on underdogs. This can mean you’re going to take a larger risk, but the chance of winning is usually higher. Often, the underdog is a rookie or is facing a serious opponent.

You can place a spread bet, a teaser, a player prop, or a half bet. These can help you find a better payout and give you more winnings if your bets all win. But, because they involve more than one bet, they are more difficult to hit. Also, you’ll need to bet more than the amount of money you are willing to lose.

One of the more interesting types of bets is the player prop. This type of bet is a bit different from other bets because it’s usually statistical in nature. For example, you can bet on whether a particular player will score the first touchdown of a game. Props can be complicated, so it’s a good idea to know how to calculate implied probabilities to reduce your risks and increase your wins.

In-play sports betting is another type of bet. This involves placing bets during the game itself. Sportsbooks will take data from the game, such as the number of yellow cards that a team receives in the first half, and calculate a number of points for each team. Those numbers are then used to set the spread.