What is Sports Betting?
Sports betting is exactly what it says: placing bets on sports. But it’s also so much more. It’s all about putting your sports knowledge to the test and experiencing the thrill of watching your predictions unfold in real-time.
At its core, sports betting involves predicting the outcome of a sporting event and placing a wager on that prediction. If your prediction is correct, you win a payout based on the odds set by the bookmaker. It’s a simple concept, but the real fun comes from the mix of strategy, research, and a bit of luck.
For some, sports betting is straightforward. They give their best guess and take the results as they come. For others, it involves the latest stats, and following team performances to make informed bets.
When talking about the basics of sports betting, you’re going to come across a few terms that are important to know:
- Bettors: People who place wagers on the outcomes of sporting events (that’s you!)
- Bookmakers: Licensed entities that set the odds, accept bets, and pay out winnings
- Sportsbooks: Platforms or venues (either online or physical) where bettors can place their wagers
How Sports Betting Works in South Africa
Sports betting in South Africa is much like anywhere else in the world - with some added local passion, of course.
You need to find a reputable sportsbook, like Vpbet, that offers a wide range of betting options and competitive odds.
Sports betting in South Africa isn’t just limited to regional leagues and competitions - you can still bet on international games and sports. As long as you know how to bet on sports online, you’re not limited by geography.
What are the Different Types of Sports Bets?
Any sports lover knows that win, lose, and draw aren’t the only ways a game can be defined. Sports betting is much the same, with a variety of ways to bet. Knowing the difference can make all the difference.
1. Match Winner (Moneyline)
Great for beginners trying to figure out how sports betting works, Match Winner is also known as a Moneyline bet, and is the most straightforward option. Decide which team you think will win and place your bet, that’s it. If your chosen team or player wins, so do you!
2. Point Spread
This option is where you put your insights and niche knowledge to the test because you’ll be betting on the margin of victory. The bookmaker sets the margin (the spread) that the favourite must win by for bets on them to pay out.
For example, if the spread is -3.5, the favourite needs to win by 4 points or more. If you bet on the underdog, they need to win outright or lose by less than the spread for you to win.
3. Over / Under (Totals)
Are you confident in your score predictions for a game? Go for the Over / Under (also known as the Totals) bet. This bet involves predicting whether the total number of points, goals, or runs scored in a game will be over or under a specified number set by the bookmaker.
For example, if the total is set at 2 goals, you bet on whether the final score will be more or less than that.
4. Parlay (Accumulator or Acca)
The Parlay bet is high risk but high reward because it combines multiple bets into one. To win, all your selections must be correct. While this bet is riskier, the potential payout is much higher than individual bets, since the odds of each selection multiply together.
5. Prop Bets (Specials)
Prop Bets focus on specific events within a game, rather than the outcome. For example, you might bet on which player will score first, how many corners there will be, or even how long the national anthem will last before a match. These bets add extra fun and variety to the betting experience.
