There are plenty of people who dream about betting on sports for a living, but the reality is that most people lose more than they win. But if you bet smartly, understand the math, and stick to a plan, you can be one of the lucky ones who makes it big in the gambling industry.

The Basics

To bet on a sports game, simply click on the sport you wish to wager on, then all available games and ways to bet will appear. Clicking on any line will send it to your bet slip, which will prompt you for the amount of money you want to wager and display the potential payout if you win. Most bets are placed on individual teams or outcomes, but there are also spread and totals bets. A spread bet is a way for the oddsmaker to make an uneven game more balanced by adding points to the underdog team’s chances of winning and subtracting points from the favorite team’s chances.

A totals bet (also known as over/under) revolves around how many combined points two teams will score in a given game. The over/under number is set by the sportsbook and can be a fun way to add more excitement to a game, although the higher the total the lower your chances of winning.

It’s important to keep your emotions in check and never bet more than you’re willing to lose. This is best achieved by establishing a bankroll and sticking to it. This will prevent you from chasing bad bets or trying to double your money by placing more than one bet at a time.