Online Gambling HistoryOnline betting has been around since the 1990s. Many countries now grant licenses to online casinos, although the United States currently does not allow online gaming within its borders. However, the World Trade Organization ruled against the United States in a dispute with Antigua regarding international online betting. Online betting is now a multi-million dollar industry, and its prevalence has spread rapidly with the growth of the Internet.
Sports
With betting options available on numerous sports, there is something for everyone. Check out the betting options for:
- NFL – the biggest sports betting season kicks off in August!
- NBA – the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks await the tip-off of a new season this Fall.
- MLB – baseball fans are in the midst of the six-month season.
- Soccer – with soccer games ongoing all over the world, soccer betting is always available!
- Horse Racing
- NASCAR and Formula One
- Boxing and UFC/MMA
How to Bet on Sports:
Bookmakers offer many different and fun ways to bet on sports, some of which are more complicated than others. However, if you’re new to sports betting and want to get a better idea of how it all works, here is a list of the basic types of sports bets used by bookmakers.
Straight Bet
Placing a Straight Bet, also known as “sides” or “pick a team,” means choosing which team will win any given sporting event. One team is typically favored over another by the point spread, and is indicated by a (-) sign before the odds, while the underdog is denoted by a plus sign (+) followed by the spread amount.
Over/Under (O/U) Totals
An Over-Under Total Bet is a competitive wager that pits the player against the Sportsbook. You can bet on whether you think the combined score or total points scored by both teams will be over or under what the house’s oddsmaker predicts.
Online Sportsbooks that offer Over/Under Total bets usually have very good oddsmakers that are careful to mitigate all game stats and facts when considering what the final result will be. For example, if the Sportsbook has a Total of 42 for a particular game and you think that the final score will be less than 42, you would bet on the Under. But if you believe that the combined score at the end of the game will exceed 42, then you would bet on the Over.
Parlay
A Parlay is a bet on two or more sporting events, in which you can combine different sports, point spreads, and money lines. All your wagers must win, or at least tie, in order for you to win a Parlay bet. If you place a four-team parlay, going 3-1 is no different than going 0-4.
A winning Parlay bet will pay many times more than the initial wager. However, it is also risky since the odds of predicting multiple outcomes in one bet are exponentially stacked against the bettor.
Poker/Casino
In online poker rooms, players can participate in a number of games, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven-card stud, among others. Players in these rooms play competitively, as the “house” earns its money through rake and tournament fees.
Blackjack
Blackjack is perhaps the most widely-played casino game. The strategy of the game consists of pitting the player’s cards against the cards of the dealer, striving for a total value not to exceed the value of 21.
There is always something big going on in the world of online betting, so don’t miss out!
Get involved in online gambling!
