If you like unscripted drama, boy do I have a concept to sell you. It's called sports, and every single facet of it is must-watch television. In today's world, the rate at which we consume breaking news in the sporting world is breathtaking. The rate at which we process, analyze and form thoughts on sporting events or players is next to none. If you enjoy doing all of that and want even more, I suggest you try getting involved in sports betting. Now, before you start worrying about needing to go into the shady room at the back of your local pub, I must tell you that only happens in movies. But you don't live in Las Vegas? Well, today's technology allows us to make bets from our computer or mobile device from anywhere in the world. It's really quite simple and extremely safe to do.

If your interest is still piqued and you would like to get into the world of sports betting, let me walk you through a few important steps on how to get started and what to do or look for.

If you’ve decided it’s time to dip your toes into world of sports betting, here’s an idea of what you're getting into. Is there an age limit? You must be 21 years old to participate in. Sports betting isn’t illegal, however, the transfer of money between banks for the facilitation of online bets is where the laws start to get complicated. Let us preface, we are not lawyers, but it appears as if the United States federal law concerning online betting operations targets the financial institutions who move money to and from.

• Jan 20, 2021 If you’ve decided it’s time to dip your toes into world of sports betting, here’s an idea of what you're getting into. Is there an age limit? You must be 21 years old to participate in.
• It will help you get into good habits, and greatly improve your chances of making money in the long run. Top Tips for Beginners There is little point in trying to become an expert on sports betting as soon as you start out.
• My dad was a big time sports better. We are 49ers fans and I forget which game is was on a Sunday but we won but he was still so mad. He explained to me that they didn't cover the spread so he lost a lot of money. I then paid attention to the spreads of all games from then on. Didn't get into betting.

Choosing a Sportsbook(s)

First things first - you need a place to make your wagers at. If you live in Las Vegas and can physically get to a brick-and-mortar Casino to make a wager then you are all set. If you are like me and reside outside of Sin City, then you must create an account with one of the many online sportsbooks currently in market. For starters, the online sports betting industry has been thriving for the last handful of years and is only getting bigger and better. Before you create an account, I would recommend sifting through the list of Doc's sportsbook bonus guide and find one that fits your needs. Some sportsbooks offer reduced juice (5Dimes), while some offer an extensive list of in-game options and teaser options.

Some sportsbooks have a small minimum deposit requirement, but all of them offer a plethora of deposit methods. Once again, make sure to do your homework on a sportsbook before you sign up so that you are completely comfortable and understand their services.

Starting a Bankroll

Now that you've decided which sportsbooks you will create an account at, you must make your first deposit. Whether you plan on placing wagers sporadically for fun or with any sort of seriousness to turn a profit, you must be clear about your bankroll. It is vital that you separate your betting money from your normal money. This will help you keep track of whether you are actually winning or losing. However, more importantly, it will help you to avoid financial problems and avoid using money allocated for bills or groceries to fund this hobby. The more safeguards you have in place in terms of the bankroll, the better off you will be and the more enjoyable it will be.

Understanding the Odds

I understand the overwhelming feeling of looking at the odds board or hearing new lingo and not knowing what any of it means. I was new to the betting scene once before. If you are having trouble understanding the lingo, our Glossary will help you understand what every word/phrase in the industry means. In the meantime, some of the most important things to understand in the betting industry are the betting odds. There are a slew of different betting options, but the odds and prices you bet on are what will make your break your bankroll. You should understand the difference between a -115 line and a -105 line on all point spread bets. With a -115 line, you must wager $115 to win $100. With a -105 line, you will wager $105 to win a $100. While the $10 savings may not seem like a big deal at the time, trust me, it adds up over the long run. Something else to consider when trying to understand the odds is the parlay payouts. While parlays are generally sucker-bets, you want to be able to get full value if you do happen to hit one. Do your research and find out what kind of odds each sportsbook gives out on two-, three-, four-, 10- or even 12-team parlays.

Have a Game Plan

Looking at the betting board is essentially like being a kid in a candy store. There are so many amazingly good-looking options to choose from, and you want to pick a little from each shelf. In sports betting, that's the quickest way to go broke. My suggestion to you would be to pick one sport you enjoy the most or know the most about and stick to that sport. Doesn't matter if that's the NHL or MLB. The minute you start placing wagers on sports you know nothing about like WNBA or Tennis or the French Basketball League is the minute your bankroll goes from full to empty. Sticking to one sport will help you improve your betting habits and allow you to focus in and find league quirks, profitable betting situations, solid ATS teams, and everything in between. The more you know, the better educated your wager will be.

Doc's Sports is offering $60 worth of member's picks absolutely free - no obligation, no sales people - you don't even have to enter credit card information. You can use this $60 credit any way you please for any handicapper and any sport on Doc's Sports list of expert sports handicappers. Get $60 worth of premium members' picks free .

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When you first get into sports betting, all of the types of wagers and other terminology can be overwhelming. This guide walks through just that. You can learn about how the different bets work, common lingo used, and how odds work.

Before we dive in, you should know that a spread or line is the number of points a team is favored to win or lose by. We will mention these terms throughout the guide so it will help to have an idea of what they mean. See the Straight bets bullet below to get a better idea of how these work.

Odds are typically presented as plus a number (+200) or minus a number (-200). These numbers reflect how much you would win if you placed a $100 bet.

So, if you placed a $100 bet at +200 odds, you would profit $200 if you win (collecting $300 in total including the original amount wagered). If you placed a $100 bet at -200 odds, you would profit $50 (collecting $150 total including the original amount wagered).

An easy way to think of odds is simply to divide the plus or minus amount by 100. Instead of having +200 odds, for example, you would know the odds are 2 to 1 (2/1). As another example, if you were given +1000 odds, that would also mean 10/1 odds, or you winning $10 for every $1 you bet.

More unlikely bets will have plus odds (ex: +150) while more likely bets will have minus odds (ex: -150).

Straight bets. This is the most common type of bet. You pick a team plus the spread in either direction. For example, if you bet the Eagles -7.5 points (the spread or line), they have to win by at least 8 points for you to win your bet. If you bet the Eagles +7.5, they must win or lose by 7 or less for you to win. If you bet on the Eagles -7 and they win by 7, then the bet would push and you would just get the amount of money you bet back.

Total bets. This is the second-most common type of bet. Often referred to as the Over/Under, you are guessing if the final score will be higher or lower than the total points number. If you bet the Eagles/Cowboys to go over 44.5, for example, then the combined score of both teams must be at least 45 for you to win. If you choose the under, the final score must be 44 or less for you to win.

Moneyline bets. Often abbreviated ML, with this type of bet you simply choose who will win the game. So if you choose the Eagles ML, they only have to win for you to win your bet. You will get worse odds if you choose the favorite to win as compared to the underdog.

Parlays. If you want to bet on multiple games in a single wager, you’ll have to put in a parlay. To win, all of the individual bets within the wager must be successful. If a single game loses, the entire parlay loses. In exchange for betting on all of the games together, you get better odds as compared to if you bet all of the games individually. Learn more about the parlay cards offered throughout Delaware here.

Teasers. These wagers take the normal spreads or total point lines and shift the lines between 5 to 7 points in your favor in exchange for worse odds. So, if the Eagles line is normally at -7.5, the teaser line may be Eagles -0.5—meaning they only have to win by a single point as opposed to 8 points for you to win.

Reverse teasers. These wagers are just like teasers expect in the opposite direction. So instead of the spread or total moving 5 to 7 points in your favor, they move against your favor.

Head-to-head bets. With a head-to-head bet, you simply choose who will do better between two different players. These bets are common in sports where there are many competing players—such as golf or racing—but are sometimes available in team sports as well. For example, you may be able to choose which of two basketball players will score more points or which quarterback will throw more touchdowns.

Futures. A future bet is just what it sounds like; a bet placed on the outcome of a game in the distant future as opposed to the upcoming week or weeks. An example would be betting on who will win the Super Bowl during the NFL regular season or even before the season starts.

Prop bets. Prop bets are more obscure bets usually involving a single part of a game. Examples include the total rushing or passing yards or a player, how many field goals will be kicked, how many strikeouts a pitcher will throw, or how many times the Super Bowl broadcast will show Roger Goodell.

Action. You have “action” on a game when you have placed a bet on it. You may say, for example, “I have action on the Eagles game tomorrow.”

Against the spread (ATS). Another name for a straight bet when you choose a team with the spread (ex: Eagles -7.5). You may also see team’s records presented ATS. For example, if the Eagles covered 5 of their 7 games, their ATS record would be 5-2.

Alternate lines. Lines that are different than the normal line set. For example, if the Eagles are -7.5, any other line you take (-5, -1, +5, etc.) would be considered alternate lines. If you choose a line that moves the line against your favor (ex. -5.5 in the given example) you will receive better odds, and vice-versa if you move the odds in your favor.

Backdoor cover. When a team covers the spread at the very end of the game—usually when one team is already winning by many points. For example, if the Eagles are -15 and are up by 21 points late in the 4th quarter and the Cowboys score a touchdown with a minute left to go down by 14, that would be a backdoor cover.

Book. A place or person who accepts bets.

Buying points. This is similar to an alternate line, but specifically refers to when you move the line in your favor in exchange for worse odds (hence buying points).

Cover. If a team covers the spread in a straight bet. For example, if the Eagles are -7.5 and win by 10, you could say they covered the spread.

Closing line. The final line (or spread) when a game begins. Lines typically come out a week or two before a game starts and may shift many times up until the game begins. Whatever the line is at at kickoff, first pitch, tip off, etc. is the closing line.

Handicapper. Someone who predicts the result of a game. Handicappers often set their own lines for games in order to look for advantages in what the books are offering.

Hook. The extra 0.5 points added to a line. For example, if the Eagles are -7.5, you may say they are favored by 7 and the hook.

Juice. Also called the vig/vigorish, this is what the book “charges” in order to take your bet. The standard juice is 10%. The juice is reflected in the odds. So instead of you getting +200 odds (or 2 to 1) on a game, you would only get +180 odds (1.8 to 1).

Key numbers. Numbers in sports that are important for betting because they reflect common margins of victory. For example, 3 and 7 are key numbers in football.

Getting Into Sports Betting Parlay

Live betting. Bets that are placed while the game is going on.

Off the board. When a bet is no longer offered.

Getting Into Sports Betting Stocks

Opening line. The line or spread for a game when it first comes out. Experienced betters will often look for advantages in opening lines as these will typically move between the time the opening line comes out and when the game starts.

Over/Under. The two sides you can choose when betting a Total. An Over means you think the total points scored will be higher than the Total and vice-versa for the Under.

Pick ’em. When there line if below 1 points in either direction, meaning you only have to choose who will win the game. For example, if the Eagles are -0.5 or +0.5, the game would be considered a pick ’em.

Getting Into Sports Betting Games

Push. When a game finishes exactly on the line you bet. For example, if the Eagles are -7 and win by exact 7, the bet would be a push.

Reverse line movement. When the majority of the bets placed are on a single side (the favorite, underdog, Over, or Under), but the line is moving in the opposite direction. As an example, if 80% of the bets are on the Eagles -7.5, but the line moves to the Eagles -6.5, this would be considered reverse line movement. This typically indicates that “sharp” money (see below) is on the opposite side of what the majority of betters thing.

Sharp. A professional or experienced better. Sharp betters typically place larger bets that may influence line movement more than “average Joes” betting smaller amounts.

Sports Betting Stocks

Square. An inexperienced better. The opposite of a sharp.

Straight up. Taking a side without the spread. Also known as a moneyline bet.

Unit. The standard amount a better usually places, regardless of how much it is. People will often use units as a way to explain how confident they are in a bet. For example, if you place 2 units on a bet and 0.5 units on another game, it usually means you are much more confident in the first bet.

Vig/vigorish. Also called the juice, this is what the book charges to take bets. The standard vig is 10%. The vig is reflected in the odds. So instead of you getting +200 odds (or 2 to 1) on a game, you would only get +180 odds (1.8 to 1).

Sports Betting Odds

If you are interested in betting in Delaware, you can learn more about your options by checking out the following resources: