GET PAID TO WATCH SPORTS An intro to sports betting.

By Jeremy Cogswell

Sports betting is the activity of predicting sports results and placing a wager on the outcome. It is legal in thirty-one states, including Washington, where it is only legal on tribal lands. Gambling is technically legal at 18 in Washington, but most casinos require you to be 21 due to the fact that they serve alcohol. Nonetheless, sports betting is an exciting industry. “I love sports betting because I can make money watching sports,” said avid participant Henry Smidt. Smidt has found success in sports betting and has shared some of his tips. We also explain some basic concepts.

One of the most confusing parts about sports betting to beginners is reading odds. Odds can either start with a “+” or a “-” sign. A plus sign before any number means that a bet of $100 will pay out that value. A minus sign means you need to bet that much to win $100. For example, the team favored to win a game could be -185 while the underdog is +165. The odds will never add up to zero, since the sportsbooks need to profit. This house edge is what makes it difficult to consistently make money in sports betting, as you need to win 55% of even bets in order to break even.

Types Of Bets

Moneyline (ML): This bet is simply choosing the winner of the game, and is one of the most popular ways to bet. Odds will vary.

Spread: The spread attempts to equalize the playing field by giving the underdog a certain amount of points. The underdog will have plus points and the favorite will have minus. For example, Seahawks +6.5 means the Seahawks can lose by six or less points or win and you will hit your bet.