How To Bet On Sports At A Casino
Are you trying to decide between gambling on sports or playing casino games for real money?
- How To Bet On Sports At A Casino Play
- How To Bet On Sports At A Casino Game
- How To Bet On Sports At A Casino Wins
- How To Bet On Sports At A Casino Slot Machines
- How To Bet On Sports At Casinos
- Las Vegas Casino Sportsbook Online
This post offers some pros and cons for both sports betting and casino gambling for you to consider.
Bets can be placed at the betting counter with a Sports Lounge Ticket Writer during Sports Lounge operating hours. You may also place a bet at one of our self-service kiosks 24 hours a day. To bet on basketball, tell the ticket writer the bet number of the team you wish to bet, with the point spread, and the amount you wish to wager. The payout, unless stated otherwise, is figured at odds of.
A lot of your decision making when it comes to something like this has to do with your personal preferences, but it’s also important to make educated decisions.
If you don’t understand how casino games work and how sports betting work, you can’t make an educated decision about which activity you prefer.
And, of course, you might decide you’re down for both. Sports betting and casino gambling aren’t mutually exclusive activities.
Casino Games All Come with a Built-In House Edge
When you play a casino game in any casino, the casino makes money.
But how?
And it varies from game to game.
When you place a bet, you have specific odds of winning that bet. You also have payout odds for that bet. These 2 numbers are almost never the same in a casino game.
For example, you might place a bet on black at the roulette table. You might think you’re getting even odds to win that even-money payout, but you’re not.
That’s because there are 38 numbers on the roulette wheel, and only 18 of them are black.
The odds of winning are 20 to 18, or 10 to 9.
Since the casino pays this bet off at even money, in the long run, they’ll win an average of 5.26% of every bet you place.
Some games have a higher house edge, and other games have a lower house edge, but all real money casino games involve a clear mathematical advantage for the casino.
Sports Betting Also Has a Built-In Edge for the Bookmaker
The oddsmakers set the lines for sporting events in such a way that you have an even probability of winning your bet. The point-spread is what determines this.
For example, if the Cowboys are playing the Redskins, and the Redskins are a 7 point favorite, they need to win by 8 points or more if a bet on them is going to pay out.
The Cowboys can lose the game, but if they lose by fewer than 7 points, a bet on the Cowboys still wins.
The oddsmakers are VERY good at determining what kind of point spread will result in a 50% probability for either side winning.
But the bookmakers require you to risk $110 to win $100. If you win $100 half the time and lose $110 half the time, you’ll eventually lose all your money.
This difference in the amount you’re risking and the amount you stand to win is called the “vig,” which is short for “vigorish.”
Some bookmakers charge more or less vig than that. You might find a bookmaker who only wants you to risk $105 to win $100. Another might want you to risk $120 to win $100.
This means that you must win more than 50% of the time to just break even.
But if you win a high enough percentage of bets, you can have a long-term profit.
The average sports bettor, though, just like the average casino gambler, faces a mathematical disadvantage.
Savvy Casino Gamblers Can Get an Edge Over the Casino
The first step in getting a mathematical edge as a casino gambler is choosing a game where a mathematical edge is possible. Most casino games don’t present that opportunity, but a couple of games do.
An example of a game where you can get an edge is blackjack.
But just playing with perfect basic strategy won’t get you a mathematical edge in blackjack. The best you can hope for is a house edge
To get an edge at blackjack requires you to use some kind of strategy that will get you an edge. For most blackjack players, this means learning how to count cards.
Video poker offers some games with paytables that are so good that an expert player can get a small edge over the casino – as long as they combine that strategy with the rebates and comps that accrue from being a member of the slots club.
How To Bet On Sports At A Casino Play
Games like slot machines and roulette, though, offer no means of getting an edge.
Savvy Sports Bettors Can Also Get an Edge Mathematically
The great thing about being a sports bettor is that you’re not required to bet on every game. You can pick and choose which games you want to bet on.
You see, even though the oddsmakers are really good at setting the point spreads, they’re not always right.
In fact, sometimes they’ll set the lines in such a way that they don’t offer a 50% probability just to generate more action on the other side of a game.
They do that by getting 50% of the bettors’ money on each side of the game and relying on the vig to guarantee their profit.
But professional sports betting is a tricky thing for various reasons.
How To Bet On Sports At A Casino Game
What Are Your Goals When Gambling?
If your goal is to make as much money as possible, a quality sports betting strategy offers bigger opportunities to make large profits without a lot of risk.
This doesn’t mean there’s no risk.
Bookmakers will limit the amount of action they accept from a gambler if they identify that gambler as a “sharp” – someone who can pick winners more than 50% of the time and generate consistent profits over time.
Some bookmakers will even refuse your action.
There are ways around this. Some sports bettors bring so much action to the table that they use runners to place bets on their behalf.
Also, you need to be good enough to win a high percentage of the time.
If you can win 55% to 60% of your sports bets, you can get rich from betting at online sportsbooks – and you can do so relatively quickly.
On the other hand, if you don’t like sports, or if you’re satisfied with smaller winning amounts, being an advantage gambler or card counter might be a more appropriate choice for you.
For one thing, counting cards isn’t as easy as it sounds.
Doing so without getting caught by the casino is harder still.
What About Recreational Gamblers?
If you’re just gambling for the pure joy of it, you should choose the gambling activity you enjoy more.
Some people love to shoot craps.
Others love to have money riding on the football game.
Your job, as a savvy gambler, is to choose the activity you’re going to enjoy more.
How do you do that?
First, if you’re not a sports fan, you probably won’t start enjoying sports betting more just because you have money in action. You might, but you probably won’t.
How To Bet On Sports At A Casino Wins
If you do enjoy watching sports, though, try putting some money on a game or two and see how you feel about it.
Did it increase your enjoyment of watching the game?
If so, did it increase your enjoyment of the game enough to make it worth doing on a regular basis?
The other thing to do is try the various online casinos to try the different games available and gauge how much fun you’re having playing them. This will help you gauge your interest in a particular casino game or not.
Give the roulette wheel a spin. Roll the dice at the craps table. Learn basic strategy and play some blackjack.
Every gambler I know has his favorite game.
But you won’t know until you try the different games.
3 Things to Avoid Regardless of What Kind of Real Money Gambling You’re Doing
I don’t judge gamblers or their predilections, but I do suggest avoiding 3 things:
Don’t Play Slot Machines
Real money slots are so expensive for the average gambler that I suggest avoiding them altogether. You’d have to enjoy the slots far more than the average gambler to make slots worth your while. If you like gambling machines, stick with video poker. You’ll lose less money in the long run and have just as much fun.
Don’t Gamble on Anything You Don’t Understand
No matter what, as a gambler, your job is to make educated decisions. This means avoiding bets on activities you don’t completely understand. Don’t bet on sports that make no sense to you. Don’t play casino games if you don’t understand the games.
How To Bet On Sports At A Casino Slot Machines
You’ll lose too much money, and you won’t have as much fun.
Don’t Gamble at All If You Have a Gambling Problem
How do you know if you have a gambling problem?
Do some serious thinking about whether you’re enjoying the activity.
If you’re not having fun, you shouldn’t be gambling at all.
The only reason people participate in gambling they don’t enjoy is because they have a compulsion.
That kind of compulsion will ruin your life if you’re not careful.
I’d like to spare you that, and you should love yourself to avoid that fate, too.
Conclusion
Is it better to gamble on sports or play casino games?
How To Bet On Sports At Casinos
Spend some time thinking about your goals and preferences and decide based on that.
Show of hands if you’ve ever wagered a cheeky ten bucks, bragging rights, or round of drinks on a game down at the bar. Don’t worry, no judgment. If you have, like many others, you have engaged in a mild form of sports betting. However, that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Read on to find out more.
More than a 50/50 Game of Chance, Less than a Sure Thing
Without a doubt, you’ve heard commentators rattle off an impressive array of statistics about players and teams that compete against each other. It’s a testament to the fact that there is an element of probability to sports, however, no outcome is a sure thing and no game is completely evenly-matched from the onset.
Part of the allure of sports betting is that there is no guarantee of the outcome of a game. Whether it’s incredible displays of athleticism, mastery of the game, triumphs of the human spirit or the determination of an underdog to win, almost anything can happen. Very rarely are two teams equally matched and even when they are, there is a multitude of different factors that can still turn the tide of the game. It’s for this very reason why sports and sports betting continues to be an exciting past time.
Sports Betting Explained
Sports betting is a form of gambling in which you try to predict the outcome of a match or tournament and then wager your money accordingly. The money you wager is commonly referred to as a bet. The objective and goal are to win additional money. Generally speaking, there are only two possible outcomes. This is traditional fixed odds sports betting where the odds are agreed when the wager is placed. You win when your prediction is correct and lose when your prediction is wrong. Easier said than done, but we promise it’s fun! Speaking of odds, let’s briefly look at a few terms you should make yourself familiar with such as:
- Sportsbook or bookmaker – These are terms used to refer to a company that provides sports betting services.
- Selection – This simply refers to what you are betting on. For example, in a game of Lakers vs Warriors, if you were to bet on the Lakers to win your selection would be “Lakers to win”.
- Stake – This refers to the amount being paid to your respective booker for a wager.
- Odds – This states how much your bookmaker will pay in relation to the stake you make and is often influenced by how likely the selection is.
- Payout – This is the one you’ve been waiting for. It’s the amount your bookmaker must pay you when your selection is correct.
Other types of betting
There are a variety of betting types. All of them are a variation of traditional fixed odds betting with the exception of spread betting. They include:
- Live betting
Wagers are placed at fixed odds and can be placed during events as opposed to being placed before an event has started.
- Pari-mutuel betting
Used primarily for horse racing, pari-mutuel eliminates the need for a sportsbook or odds. Each bettor pays their stake into a pool and bettors who make the correct selection then receive a share of this pool.
- Exchange betting
Betting here takes place without a sportsbook and the two parties involved are bettors. One bettor is backing their selection while the other is laying it and offering fixed odds on it. If the backer is correct then the layer pays them out accordingly. If the layer is correct they receive the stake.
- Esports Betting
Esports betting is almost identical to traditional fixed odds betting. The only real distinction is that wagers are placed on competitive video gaming instead of a sport.
Spread betting is the true exception to traditional fixed odds betting because you wager your bets and pay-offs will vary by how accurate your prediction was.
Why bet on sports?
If you’ve ever experienced the excitement of game preview predictions or the smugness of having your predictions come to fruition, then online sports betting might just be for you. Not only is it incredibly entertaining and satisfying to be right, but you will also get money for your display of infinite wisdom (or luck). Here is a list of the sports you can typically bet on when you visit a sports betting site:
- Auto Racing
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Boxing
- Football
- Golf
- Hockey
- Horse Racing
Getting the Ball Rolling: How to bet on sports online
Choose One of the Best Sports Betting Sites
The popularity of sports betting has given rise to a plethora of betting sites. You want to make sure you find, at least, one of the best sports betting sites available that also meets your specific needs and requirements. To ensure that this is the case, make sure your chosen site gives you positive answers to the following questions:
- Is the site reputable and has it received good reviews?
- Are all your preferred sports available to bet on?
- Do the upper and lower limits of deposits/stakes work for your bankroll?
- Do they have a mobile app for sports betting?
- Are the bonuses and rewards attractive?
- Do they offer competitive odds and lines?
- Is live betting available?
Open an account
This is probably the easiest step in the whole process. Simply locate the registration button on the homepage of your chosen site, and follow the on-screen instructions to open your account.
Las Vegas Casino Sportsbook Online
Make a Deposit
Once your account has been opened, you will be mere fingertips away from online betting. Deposit some funds using a payment method that suits you. When making this initial deposit be sure to check if your chosen sportsbook offers a bonus. Apparently, all the best sportsbooks online do but that might just be bias speaking.
Start betting
Once your account is up and fully funded you’ll be ready to start betting online. In most cases, navigating around sports betting sites is simple with lists of different sports usually being made readily available. Pick your preference, then choose your betting market with your preferred odds. Enter the value of your stake and make your bet.
Be in the know
By this, we mean always be aware of the rules, odds, and lines at play so you don’t get caught unaware. Take the time to find the best option for your wagers. With regards to rules, they rarely vary but it’s always best to have no doubts about what could happen to the wager you placed in any given outcome. The more information you have, the better your decision-making will be. It will also pave the way for a bigger return, smarter decisions, potential promotions, and bonuses.
Helpful Hints and Tips to Remember
Before you rush off to register for sports bets online be sure to remember these hints and tips:
- Always start with the sports you enjoy.
- Have a set budget and keep to it.
- Be ambitious but also practical. Don’t stake too much on a wager.
- Learn different strategies and determine what works for you.
- Experiment with different types of wagers.
- Enjoy the experience!
Dotting Your Is and Crossing Your Ts
Online betting is still very much in its infancy which also means that it’s not yet available to everyone at all times. That is why it is important to check whether you are engaging in legal sports betting on registered sports betting websites or reputable sportsbooks. Sports betting in the USA is only permitted in states with legal sports betting.
Game on: Get in on Sports Betting Today
Sports betting is a front-row seat to the greatest drama and suspense show that life has to offer. If you have a knack for predicting sports results, or simply want a dependable sportsbook that will allow you to apply your sporting knowledge in a secure space for real money, register online with BetMGM today.
Online sports betting is available via the BetMGM app (except for horse racing) or from your computer. Sports betting house rules are available on BetMGM NJ sports and the app.
Register today for NJ sports betting and start placing bets on your favorite sports teams.