Sports betting is the act of placing a wager on an outcome of a sporting event or game. Oddsmakers set the odds based on the probability of an outcome occurring, with lower risk bets offering less money while higher risk bets offer greater rewards.
The key to successful sports betting is finding a strategy that works for you and sticking with it. Everyone has a different style of betting, for example, some like to bet on every NFL game each week while others identify busy MLB weekends or nights of NBA or NHL action and focus on those games. It is also important to remember that you are gambling, and losses are inevitable.
It is a good idea to open a specific bank account for sports betting, and only bet with that amount. This will help you stay focused and avoid the temptation to chase a winning bet with bigger and bigger bets in an attempt to recover your losses.
Another thing to keep in mind is that even bets with a high chance of winning can lose. This is known as going on tilt, and it can lead to bad decisions that will cost you money. Try to avoid this by having a betting schedule and routine, and only bet when you are sober.
A half bet refers to a total for the first or second half of a game. It can be either over/under or a spread bet, and is influenced by a variety of factors such as injuries and weather.