Sports betting is basically making a prediction and putting your money where your mouth is.
Think about it: you’re watching Miami Heat vs. Los Angeles Lakers. You say, “The Heat’s got this.” Boom—you’ve just made a bet (minus the actual cash).
It’s not just guessing, though. There’s a little strategy, a dash of research, and okay—maybe a sprinkle of luck. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the basics so you can bet smarter, stress less, and actually enjoy the ride.
What is Sports Betting?
Sports betting means placing a bet on the outcome of a sporting event—anything from basketball and football to esports and even non-sports events these days. Your winnings depend on the odds and how much you wager.
Are there Types of Events?
You bet there are types of events!
- Pre-match – you bet on an event before it starts.
- Live/In-Play – you wager as the action unfolds.
- Full Time – predict the final score after regular time.
- Half Time – call the result at halftime.
How Does it Work?
For sports betting to work, you need to have:
- Punters/Bettors – that’s you, the one betting.
- Sportsbook (SB) – the company or platform (like S5 Casino) that takes the bets from punters.
- Bookmaker/Bookie/Trader – the person or system that sets the odds of a particular event based on their analysis.
Odds? What’s that?
Aha! A newbie indeed. Odds show how likely something is to happen and how much you could win. If your pick wins, you get your stake back plus winnings based on those odds. If not, you lose your stake.
For example, you placed ₱500 at odds of 2.0, and you win ₱1,000 (₱500 profit + your ₱500 stake back).
If your pick loses, you lose your stake.
However, there are several ways to present odds:
- Decimal odds (2.50) – Common in Europe and Asia. Multiply stake × odds to get payout.
- Fractional odds (3/2) – Popular in the UK. Shows profit relative to stake.
- American odds (+150 / -200) – Used in the US. Positive numbers show profit from ₱100; negative numbers show how much you need to bet to win ₱100.
Most Common Types of Sports Bets
There are plenty of sports bets. Since we’re just starting, we’ll just tackle the six (6) common sports bet types:
- Moneyline – The simplest of them all. You just pick which team or player will win the match. Point spreads don’t matter.
- Singles – One outcome, one bet—perfect for newbies.
- Point Spread – bet on how big or small the win margin will be. Favorites must win by more than the spread. Underdogs, on the other hand, must win or lose by less or win outright.
- Over/Under – Betting if the total points scored is higher (over) or lower (under) than a set number.
- Live/In-Play – Bets are placed during the match, with the odds changing as the game unfolds.
- Parlay – Combine multiple bets into one wager for a potentially bigger win.
Know Your Markets!
These betting markets are the categories or results within a sport or event that you can bet on. Don’t mistake them as sports bet types!
Moneyline
Otherwise known as “Match Result.” This market is as simple as it gets: betting on who wins.
Point Spread
Referred to as “Handicap,” this market lets you wager on the victory margin. Just like its bet type counterpart, the favorite must have a score that’s more than the spread. The underdog, meanwhile, must win or lose by less than the spread.
Over/Under
Known as “Totals,” it’s where you guess the combination of the total points scored by both teams will be over or under a specific number.
Live Betting
Otherwise known as “In-Play Betting,” this market allows you to place wagers during an event. Odds fluctuate based on what is happening in real-time, so you better keep your eyes peeled to the game.
Favorite
The team or player that is expected to win the event.
Underdog
The team or player that is believed to have a lower probability of winning.
1X2
Also referred to as “Three-Way,” it’s a market where you have three choices: 1, X, and 2. In other words, “1” is the home team, “X” is for draw, and “2” is for the away team.
5 Popular Sports to Wager
- Basketball – Fast-paced, high-scoring. It’s a sport filled with opportunities for Moneylines, spreads, and totals.
- Football/Soccer – It’s the world’s most popular sport with billions of fans globally. Plus, it has a vast betting market!
- Tennis – Betting markets are year-round, with frequent tournaments for non-stop action (and betting opportunities).
- Esports – It’s a rapidly growing industry with a digital format for a fresh live betting experience.
- Boxing/MMA – High drama with relatively infrequent but major showcase events that draw large audiences.
Betting Strategies? We Got You!
When betting on sports, don’t rely on luck! What you need is to approach it with a strategy:
- Start small – Break your bankroll into small units. Don’t blow it all on one game.
- Stick to one sport – Focusing on one sport lets you spot good bets.
- Learn odds and bet types – Become the master of the basics like moneyline, point spread, and totals before exploring advanced bets.
- Avoid parlays (for now) – You’re still a beginner. Stick with singles first until you’ve accumulated experience.
- Bet with data – You don’t need to follow your guts! Check stats, injuries, and trends before placing a wager.
- Stay patient and disciplined – Losses? Don’t chase them! Keep your bets consistent and focus on long-term growth.
- Learn from your past bets – Track your wins, losses, and reasoning, so you can learn and improve your strategy-making.
You’re Now Equipped! Go to S5 Casino and Bet
Now that you’ve learned the basics of sports betting, it’s time to test your newfound knowledge! Head to S5 Casino and apply what you’ve learned!
