Best Betting Sites » Betting School

Your Guide to Top Sports Betting Strategies 2025 – Learn Smart Sports Betting Strategies, Odds & Tips That Give You the Edge

New to sports betting or a seasoned pro? Whatever your level, betting guides can help to enhance your sports betting experience, highlighting the numerous betting markets available.

We’ll cover some of the most important concepts you need to grasp, if you’re serious about sports betting. If you have just landed in the sports betting world, don’t miss the opportunity to learn how to bet with a welcome bonus and explore all the odds and tips to boost your sports betting strategies. Find out the most popular types of sports bets, the Pros and Cons of a betting strategy and become a World Champion in your own right.

Our Brand of the Month!
Stake - Exclusive offer here Exclusive offer here

 

Stake
4.6/5
Stake Review
200% up to 167200₹
T&Cs and 18+ apply
Bet now
Roobet
4.6/5
Roobet Review
Get 20% cashback and a 420₹ free bet
T&Cs and 18+ apply
Bet now
BC.GAME
4.6/5
BC.GAME Review
100% up to $1000
T&Cs and 18+ apply
Bet now

Learn Betting with a Welcome Bonus

As stated earlier, a welcome bonus is the ideal way to receive a bit extra value for your money when you place your first wager. Making it one of the best sports betting strategies for adding value to your sportsbook experience. However, for the average player the long list of different welcome bonuses can become a nightmare to sift through and understand. This betting guide will help you to outline it all for you. Take a look in the table below:

Welcome Bonus TypeDescription
Deposit Match BonusA bonus where the sportsbook matches a percentage of your first deposit up to a certain amount. For example, a 100% deposit match up to $500 means you receive an additional $500 in Bonus Cash.
No Deposit BonusA bonus offered without the need to make a deposit. Typically involves smaller bonus amounts between $5 and $20.
Free Bet BonusA promotion that provides bonus bet credits after an initial qualifying bet has settled. For example, place a $10 bet and get $50 in bonus bet credits.
Cashback BonusA bonus where the sportsbook will refund a certain percentage of your losses for a specific period of time. For example, 10% cashback on losses for the first week e.g., if you lose $100 you will receive $10 cashback.
Enhanced OddsActs as an Odds Boost for specific events or markets. For example, bet $30 and receive enhanced odds of 3.0 for the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl.

Don't miss our selected bookies

Stake
1.
4.6/5
200% up to 167200₹
Bitcoin
Litecoin
Ethereum
Curacao
Bet now
T&Cs and 18+ apply
Roobet
2.
4.6/5
Get 20% cashback and a 420₹ free bet
Credit Card
Bitcoin
Ethereum
Curacao
Bet now
T&Cs and 18+ apply
BC.GAME
3.
4.6/5
100% up to $1000
Bitcoin
Ethereum
Dogecoin
Curacao
Bet now
T&Cs and 18+ apply
Parimatch
4.
4.5/5
150% up to 20000₹
UPI
Neteller
Skrill
Gibraltar
Bet now
T&Cs and 18+ apply
Vave
5.
4.5/5
100% up to 1₿
Apple Pay
Google Pay
Visa
Curacao
Bet now
T&Cs and 18+ apply

Types of Sports Bets to use for your Sports Betting Strategies

What Are the Different Bet Types

Sports betting offers several ways to bet. Sports bettors with the appropriate knowledge can bet more responsibly. This guide to types of betting only scratches the surface, as it is very long. Therefore, we examine the most popular ones under the microscope, delving into each one.

Asian Handicap

Once you’ve had it explained, the Asian Handicap meaning is actually very simple. Imagine you’re at a soccer game, you can use Asian Handicap betting to give a selected team a virtual handicap over the other. Half-point betting with this type of bet also eliminates the possibility of a draw.

Let’s look at an example. Inter Miami are heavily favored over L.A. Galaxy in their next match. The Asian Handicap may give L.A. Galaxy a +1.5 goal advantage, so you’d be able to take this bet and if L.A. Galaxy do lose the match but by only one goal, your bet will still be a winner, thanks to the handicap applied.

In Play Betting

In Play betting explained simply means placing bets as the action unfolds. It’s all about hopping into a game midway through, cheering on your chosen team, and keeping your eyes peeled for wagering opportunities. The great thing about in play sports betting strategies is you get to see potential bets unravel in your head as the game progresses. Like riding a roller coaster, you never know what’s around the corner.

As you watch, you might identify a potential bet to make based on how the game has been playing out. Maybe the Chiefs are losing to the New England Patriots by a small margin, but the Chiefs have been the better team overall, so you could place a bet on them to win, based on what you can see happening right in front of your eyes.

Parlay Bets

The Parlay bet is like ordering a combo meal at your favorite diner, where you bundle up your bets into one delicious package. These bets allow you to pick multiple selections (known as ‘legs’) and combine them into one single bet. Picture this - you could be betting on the New York Giants winning against their arch rivals, coupled with LeBron dropping a triple-double in his next NBA game. You can add a huge amount of individual legs to this bet at most sportsbooks, but beware, if you lose one single leg then your entire parlay bet is lost, making it one of the riskier sports betting strategies.

Point spread Bet

A Point spread is a bet made at the margin of a victory in a game. This kind of bet is very popular in football and basketball. The most perceived stronger team, the favourite, can win by a certain points/runs/goals to cash a bet. The less favourite or underdog can instead lose with fewer points or win. Now figure this - the underdog receives the plus number (+3), while the favourite receives the minus number (-3). If Team A is favoured by three points over Team B, they must win by a margin of more than three points, or "cover." Team B can either win the game by a margin of one or two points, but no more, and they "cover."

Moneylines Bet

This is the simplest sports betting type. In a moneyline bet, you just wager on which team will win the match. Since there is no points spread in this wager, you will only win if the team you select wins the game, hands down. Picture this - you could win $250 if you wager $100, and the odds are +150. A negative odds, on the other hand, shows how much you must bet to win $100. A -200 odds indicates that you need to wager at least $200 to win $100, making your total $300.

Prop Bets

A proposition bet, known also as a prop bet or side bet, is a bet that involves the occurrence or non-occurrence during a game of an event, that does not directly affect the outcome of the game. Typical instances include wagering on a player's point total or whether a player would score the first touchdown in an NFL game.

Teaser Bets

A teaser bet is a kind of parlay bet in sports betting where a bettor can alter the game's point spread. A teaser wager is popular in football and basketball. In other words, as a multi-team wager, the bettor can select as few as two teams or as many as 15 teams in certain situations. To improve the point spread, the bettor will receive points that he can use to add or subtract from the teams selected."

Futures bets

Many novice bettors start betting on sports with a future bet, where, an event, series, or prize will conclude in the future. The outcome of a futures wager is not for the day the wager is placed, but rather for an event or season that will happen in the future.

Round Robin Bets

A round robin bet is a sequence of concurrent parlays on the same ticket. Betting a round-robin would divide, e.g. five teams into smaller parlays, rather than forming a five-team parlay, where one loss would result in the ticket losing. Imagine this - if you wager $10 on each of the five possible parlays within the round robin, the total bet will be $50. Round robin betting allows for some margin for error.

The Fundamental Keys of Sports Betting

Sports betting is full of misconceptions, and for newly bettors it is hard to distinguish the myths from the facts. To debunk misconceptions about making money with sports betting, the first rule is to keep in mind that sports are unpredictable. And so can be your profits in betting on a long-term. There are many variables.

The best team is not always the one that wins. Unforeseen are always behind the corner: injuries, bad weather or even tactics, individual performance of players, or refereeing can always affect a result at the last minute. Losses are possible and any bettor, new or pro, must be aware of it.
When a loss occurs, it’s just wrong to continue, hoping that a win will come. Rather, improve your betting strategy.

Whether you are new or an advanced pro to sport betting strategy, it’s crucial to understand the most popular terminology used. Here below, you will find a more detailed list of what an odd is, the formats, and the most popular terms to let you be aware and start betting safer and more responsibly.

Accumulator

It is a bet on four or more selections which are combined into a single wager. Here you can collect a return only when all parts win.

Bet slip

It is a document where the placed bet and its details are recorded.

Bookmaker

It refers to a person who takes bets, calculates odds and pays out winnings.

Cash out

This refers to settling out a bet before the outcome is known. This means that you can get your money back on your bet when the event is still on or if the event is not over.

Flag bet

It is a combination of 23 individual bets made up of 4 selections. The flag bet required to find out just one winner to collect a return from this bet.

Hook

It is commonly called ‘the hook’ and it stands for a half-point. This term is used to describe a non-whole number spread's final half point. An example: for a team that is 3.5 points down, the final 0.5 points are referred to as "the hook.

Jackpot

This term is used when bettors must accurately predict the winners of multiple races or events, in order to win a sizable prize pool.

Odds

In sports betting, odds determine the payouts for two different results - the amount that whoever bets wins if an event happens, and the amount if it doesn't. There are three kinds of odds: decimal, fractional and American odds. Odds are betting lines set by a bookmaker on various events. Typically, odds are expressed by a + or a - symbol, followed by a number. This example will help. The amount that a bettor could win if they bet $100 is indicated by +200. The player would get a total payoff of $300 ($200 profit + $100 original stake) if the wager was successful.

Opening line

Often called the "opening odds" or "initial line", it is the first odds that sportsbooks publish for a particular match or event.

Push

In sports betting, it is a bet where your wager is reimbursed when it lands on the precise number that the bookmaker has offered.

Sportsbook

This is a place where gamblers may place bets on different sporting events.

Stake

The amount of money that a bettor puts at risk when placing a bet. In other words, a stake refers to the sum of money bet on a specific result.

Tips About Sports Betting Strategies

Every strong betting strategy should include three key pillars to support a player: psychological discipline, educated decision-making, and risk management. When the stakes are high, each of these elements is crucial in helping gamblers maintain composure and objectivity. Below, you find a concise summary of the main terms referred to in a sports betting strategy.

Value betting

A value betting provides an advantage for any player against the bookmakers, by identifying odds that are greater than they should be.

Compare odds

You must understand how to compare betting odds before you begin placing sports bets. Players need to know this information to locate the optimal odds for a certain wager and maximise their earnings.

Hedge betting

The act of putting extra wagers on the opposite outcome of your initial stake is known as hedging in sports betting.

Live betting

Also known as ‘in-play betting’, this type of betting strategy gives gamblers a chance to benefit from live odds by watching anything from the Super Bowl to the US Open of tennis.

Money management

By using money management techniques, you can reduce your risk of losing your winnings while increasing your chances of winning again. These strategies for managing your bankroll are quite effective and essential for successful gamblers.

How to Research Sports Bets?

Research is essential, in any sports betting strategy. You should deep-dig into any details, like data analytics, news, team or players performance and injuries, previous outcomes, locations, and weather. A strategic mindset is crucial before placing your first sports bet.

Refer only to reputable sportsbooks and verified online sources of information. Promoting safe and responsible gambling is a must to mitigate your risks and enhance your gaming experience.

Pros and Cons of following a Betting Strategy

When you learn how to bet using a formulated strategy and put it into action, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. But there are undoubtedly some super-important benefits you gain from this knowledge, including the ability to stay disciplined and structured in your approach to sports betting. Helping to improve your risk management, while also providing a better understanding of various betting markets.

Here’s a shortlist of the pros and cons associated with following a betting strategy:

Betting School
  • Disciplined and structured approach to betting
  • Improved bankroll management
  • Better understanding of betting markets
  • Better risk management
  • Over-confidence in the betting strategy

How to Place your First Sports Bet

So, you’ve decided to take a leap of faith and try your hand with your first sports bet. The most important tip this betting school will provide, albeit a very basic one, is knowing how and where to place your first sports bet.

Alright, first things first - you’ll need to pick a sportsbook to use. This can easily be over-complicated, so don’t stress too heavily on the details. Some of the factors you’ll want to keep an eye out for include the sports available, types of bets you can place, deposit limits, payment options and the promotions on offer.

Still too complex? We have thousands of sportsbook reviews for you to read here at Sports Gambler. Follow these steps to place your first sports bet:

  1. Pick out a sport you want to bet on
  2. Once you’ve picked one out, go ahead and follow the registration process
  3. Enter your details
  4. Verify your account
  5. Make a deposit. At this stage be sure to opt in for any welcome bonus available - an awesome strategy to bolster your account when starting out at a new sportsbook.
  6. Find a betting market that suits you
  7. Set the stakes for your chosen bet
  8. Now the odds are fixed and you’re ready to let it unfold.

Fixed odds are the odds that remain ‘fixed’ at the time of placing your bet. Essentially locking your potential winnings in place.
And for all those who’ve been living under a rock, here is the latest of what a Fixed odds meaning is.

Final Thoughts on this Betting School Guide

Alright, fellow bettors! You’ve now mastered the basics of placing your first sports bet, armed with knowledge from picking the right sportsbook to grabbing those sweet welcome bonuses, and using different bet types like a pro. Make full use of the wide variety of different sports betting strategies from this guide, including parlay bets, in-play betting, the Asian Handicap and many more that you’ll find here in our Sports Gambler betting school section.

So, next time you’re eyeing that matchup, go ahead, place that bet and let the games begin! You’re now fully-equipped with the knowledge and wisdom you need to implement an effective betting strategy.

The best online betting bonuses in 2025

Stake
1.
4.6/5
200% up to 167200₹
Bitcoin
Litecoin
Ethereum
Curacao
Bet now
T&Cs and 18+ apply
Roobet
2.
4.6/5
Get 20% cashback and a 420₹ free bet
Credit Card
Bitcoin
Ethereum
Curacao
Bet now
T&Cs and 18+ apply
BC.GAME
3.
4.6/5
100% up to $1000
Bitcoin
Ethereum
Dogecoin
Curacao
Bet now
T&Cs and 18+ apply
Parimatch
4.
4.5/5
150% up to 20000₹
UPI
Neteller
Skrill
Gibraltar
Bet now
T&Cs and 18+ apply
Vave
5.
4.5/5
100% up to 1₿
Apple Pay
Google Pay
Visa
Curacao
Bet now
T&Cs and 18+ apply

Betting Guide FAQs

🤔 What are Betting Exchanges?

Imagine a bustling marketplace where sports fans become traders, swapping bets like stocks! That’s the basis of betting exchanges explained. Here you can bet for or against outcomes, setting your own odds or matching others. It's like eBay for betting, where you can buy and sell bets as the action unfolds. An interesting betting strategy to adopt if you have the nerve for it!

🏦 What Strategies can be used to Effectively Manage my Bankroll?

When it comes to bankroll management, it’s all about being acutely aware of the risks of irresponsible gaming and building self-discipline. These are two core sports betting strategies that need to be implemented in your betting style. However, additional tools such as the Kelly Criterion Calculator can provide a strategic underpinning for allocating your bankroll to bets.

❓ How to Cash out an Active Bet?

Cashing out a bet is a newer betting strategy that punters are finding beneficial. It means you don’t need to wait until your bet is settled to take some of the winnings. You’re able to cash out mid-way through the game or event for a smaller payout, which means you will be offered a lower amount than the value of actually leaving the bet to run, so it might not be worthwhile in some situations.

Our Brand of the Month!
Stake - Exclusive offer here Exclusive offer here
Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
Stake
4.6/5
Roobet
4.6/5
BC.GAME
4.6/5
Parimatch
Parimatch
Parimatch Review
4.5/5
Vave
4.5/5
Stake
Stake Promo
200% up to 167200₹
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Roobet
Roobet Promo
Get 20% cashback and a 420₹ free bet
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
BC.GAME
BC.GAME Promo
100% up to $1000
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Parimatch
Parimatch Promo
150% up to 20000₹
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Vave
Vave Promo
100% up to 1₿
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Our Brand of the Month!
Stake - Exclusive offer here Exclusive offer here
Close
Already leaving? Have a look at these fantastic offers!
Stake
Stake Promo
200% up to 167200₹
T&Cs and 18+ apply
Code:
Open Stake
Get Bonus
Roobet
Roobet Promo
Get 20% cashback and a 420₹ free bet
T&Cs and 18+ apply
Code:
Open Roobet
Get Bonus
BC.GAME
BC.GAME Promo
100% up to $1000
T&Cs and 18+ apply
Code:
Open BC.GAME
Get Bonus
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Visit Site