A teaser bet is a type of parlay in sports betting where you adjust the point spread or total for each game in your favor, in exchange for lower odds. You’re ‘buying points’ to make each leg easier to win — but the overall payout is reduced accordingly. How a teaser works In American football,…
A dead heat in betting occurs when two or more participants tie for a position in a race or event. Bookmakers apply a dead heat rule that divides your winnings proportionally — you’re treated as if you only placed a fraction of your stake on the winner. How the dead heat rule works If two…
A handicap bet adjusts the effective starting score of one competitor to create a more balanced market between a strong favorite and a weaker opponent. The favorite receives a negative handicap (a head start for their opponent); the underdog receives a positive handicap. How handicaps work In football, if Team A is a strong favorite,…
Bonus abuse is the practice of exploiting casino promotions in ways that go beyond the casino’s intended purpose — for example, creating multiple accounts to claim the same welcome bonus, or using coordinated play to guarantee positive returns from promotions. What casinos consider abuse Registering multiple accounts under different names or details to claim the…
An over/under bet (also called a totals bet) is a wager on whether a specified statistical total will be higher or lower than a number set by the bookmaker. In sports betting, the most common total is the combined score of both teams in a match. How over/under betting works The bookmaker sets a total…
Hedging a bet means placing a secondary wager on the opposite outcome to your original bet, reducing your risk of a total loss. It trades some potential profit for security — you lock in a guaranteed return regardless of the final outcome. Example of hedging You bet £20 on Team A to win a tournament…
Arbitrage betting (arbing) involves placing bets on all possible outcomes of an event across different bookmakers where the combined odds guarantee a profit regardless of the result. It exploits temporary pricing discrepancies between bookmakers. How arbing works Two bookmakers price a tennis match differently: Bookmaker A offers 2.10 on Player 1; Bookmaker B offers 2.10…
The Kelly Criterion is a mathematical formula for determining the optimal fraction of your bankroll to bet based on your estimated edge and the bet’s odds. It maximizes the long-run growth rate of your bankroll without risking ruin. The Kelly formula Kelly percentage = (bp – q) / b, where b is the decimal odds…
A sharp bettor (or simply ‘a sharp’) is a sophisticated, professional-level sports bettor who consistently bets with a mathematical or informational edge. Sharps are respected by bookmakers as accurate predictors of outcomes and their bets are monitored closely. How sharps differ from recreational bettors Recreational bettors (‘squares’) bet based on fandom, gut feeling, or widely…
A unit is a standardized measure of bet size used in sports betting to make comparisons between bettors meaningful. Instead of talking about dollar amounts (which vary by bankroll), bettors discuss performance in units — a 1-unit bet is a base stake that represents the same relative risk regardless of actual bankroll size. How units…
A moneyline bet is a straightforward wager on which team or player will win a contest outright. There’s no spread or handicap involved — you simply pick the winner. Moneyline betting is the most common format in US sports betting. Reading moneyline odds In American format, a negative moneyline (e.g., -150) shows how much you…
A non-sticky bonus (also called a cashable bonus) is a bonus where the bonus funds can be withdrawn after wagering requirements are met — unlike a sticky bonus where only winnings are withdrawable. Non-sticky bonuses generally offer better value for the player. Example of a non-sticky bonus Receive a £100 non-sticky bonus. Wager it through…