| Sports betting has been a big part of sports since the | | | | illicit bookmakers, commonly known as bookies or on |
| dawn of sports themselves. The attraction of betting | | | | the Internet. |
| on sports is hard to overcome for some, and others, | | | | Online bookmakers generally operate outside of the |
| don't even see the point in it! | | | | United States. Some online bookmakers do not accept |
| In the United States, the Professional... | | | | wagers from the United States thought, due to |
| Sports betting has been a big part of sports since the | | | | unresolved legal questions. |
| dawn of sports themselves. The attraction of betting | | | | The bookmaker makes a living by charging a |
| on sports is hard to overcome for some, and others, | | | | commission, or a vigorish. The bookmaker does this by |
| don't even see the point in it! | | | | guaranteeing that the odds for both outcomes of the |
| In the United States, the Professional and Amateur | | | | sport come slightly less to breaking even. Alternative |
| Sports Protection Act of 1992 makes it illegal to | | | | Bets include: |
| operate a betting, gambling or wagering scheme in | | | | Future wagers — are long-term bets made, e.g. |
| most of the States that make up the United States. | | | | a bet that a certain Major League Baseball team will |
| The States that are exempt are Delaware, Nevada, | | | | will the World Series. |
| Montana and Oregon. However, although these four | | | | Head to head - These bets are placed when |
| states allow gambling, only Nevada and Delaware | | | | competing for one or two sportsmen to out beat |
| allow sport betting. | | | | another. |
| Sport betting generally increases people's interest in | | | | Parlays - A parlay involves multiple bets, and if won, |
| sports, although some people fear that sports gambling | | | | the bettor would win a much larger payout. |
| threatens the integrity of sport. | | | | Proposition bets — These are specific bets, like |
| The sports betting odds are presented either in | | | | guessing the number of runs in a baseball game. |
| decimal odds, fractional odds or moneyline odds. | | | | Teasers - A teaser allows the bettor to combine his |
| Decimal odds are favored in Canada, Australia and | | | | bets on two or more different games. Arbitrage |
| continental Europe. Fractional odds are favored by | | | | Betting - Arbitrage betting is a betting technique that |
| bookmakers in the United Kingdom, and Moneyline | | | | can land some high payouts. It is most common on |
| odds are favored in the United States. | | | | Internet gambling. Because of how lines move quickly |
| Some people make a decent living out of sports | | | | during sporting events, this type of sport betting is |
| betting by utilizing information on the sports they are | | | | possible. Theoretically, a small profit of 1-3% is possible |
| betting on. | | | | when a person bets one way at a shop and the |
| Sport betting is most commonly done through a | | | | opposite way at a second shop. |
| bookmaker, legal sports bookmakers exist in many | | | | This technique can be quite confusing, for more |
| places, but in areas where sports betting is illegal, | | | | information on this, please check out the 'Sports |
| bettors usually make their sports wagers with either | | | | Betting' link. |