Sports betting can be a complex endeavor, so going into it with a plan will make you more prepared for any outcome. Luckily, sportsbooks and the internet have great resources to help you bet safely with knowledge. Everyone was a beginner once, so these resources are targeted towards people who don’t have any experience betting on sports.
Looking to bet on some holiday sports action? Take a look at our favorite resources for beginner bettors below!
Find Some How-To Guides
If you are completely new to betting or even just new to sports betting, finding some easy to understand how-to guides will help you learn quickly. An informed bettor has the best chance of getting a good return, and once you learn the basics it’s really easy to catch onto betting on sports games.
Here are some great places to start:
How to Place Bets:
How Odds Work:
There are also a lot of guides that can help you bet on specific sports. If you know you want to specifically bet on the NFL, or tennis, or which ever sport you like best, there are some great guides to help you understand how betting for that particular sport is unique.
Here are some guides for specific sports betting:
- How to Bet on NBA
- How to Bet on NFL
- How to Bet on Professional Tennis
- How to Bet on MLB
- How to Bet on NHL
- How to Bet on MMA
From there, you’ll know the ins and outs of the sport you’d like to bet on and can get started!
Picking the Right SportsBook
There are so many different places to bet on sports these days. The transition to online betting has made it incredibly accessible to anyone with a smartphone – which is everyone. With so many options out there, take some time to pick which sportsbook works best for your needs.
Different books have different sports and leagues available, and some have a wider range of odds. For example, if college sports are your jam, some sportsbooks have limited options for odds when it comes to college sports. So, make sure the sports you want to bet on are there before signing up!
Here are some reviews of popular sportsbooks:
Learn the Rules in Your State
Every state has different rules and regulations regarding sports betting. Sports betting is legal in 30 states, but some have more rules – for example, you can’t bet on your mobile phone in some places.
Check out the rules where you live before getting started:
Check out more state by state guides in our Learn Betting section.
Take Advantage of Bonuses and Promotions
Sportsbooks give out a TON of bonuses and promotions to first-timers. Make sure to browse some of the promotions before placing your first bet, so you don’t miss out. A lot of these specials are only for your first wagers, so if you start without applying them, you won’t be able to go back and use them!
Get Some Tips and Tricks
Once you learn the basics you can get into tips and tricks of betting! There are so many different ways to bet on sports – pre-game wagers, futures, live in-game betting, and more. The possibilities are endless.
You can experiment with a few different kinds of betting before settling on how you like to do it, and where you find the most success.
Below are some resources for a few different kinds of betting:
- Live Betting 101
- Tips for Beginners
- Navigating Parlays
- Beyond the Score: Enjoying Betting Even If You’re Not a Fan
Learn Your Betting Safety
One of the most important things when learning about betting is learning betting safety. It’s important to take a look at your sportsbook’s responsible gaming tips, make a plan going into your bets, and make sure you are betting in a way that stays fun.
Sportsbooks have a ton of different resources for betting safety. Some involve setting a wager limit, and the app/website will not allow you to go over the budget you’ve set for yourself. There are also things like time limits to reduce/control how much time you spend on sportsbooks. You can even put a limit on how much you’re allowed to wager on individual odds to help reduce and limit spending.
These resources can really help you ensure betting stays a fun, low-risk activity.
