Understand the Betting Markets

Understanding the betting markets is crucial for effective betting. Whether you’re experienced or just starting, knowing which market to bet in can greatly impact your results. Let’s look at the main categories of markets and their uses, especially for betting on popular Australian sports like AFL and NRL.

Head-to-Head Betting

The most common bet is head-to-head. You bet on which team will win the match. For example, if Brisbane Lions play Sydney Swans in an AFL game, you’re betting on the winner. The odds show how likely a team is to win. Favorites have lower odds, while underdogs can offer higher payouts if they win.

Tip: When betting head-to-head, look for matches where the underdog has a realistic chance of winning, as this is where value can be found.

Point Spread Betting

Point spread betting is a strategic approach. The sportsbook gives one team a points advantage and the other a handicap to level the field. You bet on a team to “cover the spread”. For example, if Richmond is favored against Geelong, the line might be -15.5 for Richmond. This means Richmond must win by 16 or more points for you to win your bet. If you bet on Geelong with a +15.5 line, they can lose by 15 or fewer (or win) and you’ll still win your bet.

Tip: Point spread betting is great when a game is expected to be close, but you feel confident one team will outperform the expectations.

Over/Under Betting

In totals betting, you don’t bet on who wins. You bet on the total points scored in a match. The bookmaker sets a total number of points, and you bet if the actual score will be higher or lower than that. For example, in a rugby league match between two teams, the bookmaker might set the over/under at 45.5 points. You bet on whether the combined score of both teams will be more or less than that number.

Tip: Over/under betting is ideal when you have insight into the offensive and defensive strengths of the teams rather than who might win the match.

Futures Betting

You can place bets on things that will happen in the future. This is called futures betting. For example, you can bet on who will win the AFL Grand Final or the NRL Premiership. The odds are usually higher for futures betting because it’s harder to predict the winner. But if you do your research and pick a team that’s playing well early in the season, you could win big!

Tip: Futures betting is best for those who follow a sport closely and can identify rising stars or teams that are hitting their stride.