Straight Bets

The most common form of betting in sports betting is the straight/side bet. When placing this bet, the bettor picks which team they think will win the game. There are certain variations depending on the sport being played and whether the teams are evenly matched or not.

Although the basic bet is placed on which team will win the game, certain games, such as football or basketball will usually incorporate a point spread into the bet. Straight bets are won either by tying or pushing the expected outcome or by covering the point spread when placing the bet.

The pick (PK) straight bet is placed when there is no apparent underdog or favorite. Those betting the PK straight bet are simply choosing which side will win, as explained above.

It is also possible to place a straight money line bet. When placing this bet, there is no spread that needs to be covered. Players simply place their wagers on whomever they think will win the sporting event. Favorites and underdogs are not taken into account. However, those that bet on the favorite will have to place a higher bet to win less than those who place their bets on the underdog. Betting on the underdog, while it may come with a higher risk, will require a smaller bet for a larger possible win.

A straight bet placed on the game total is a bet in which the bettor bets on the outcome of the entire game for both teams combined. The bettor bets on whether the combined score of both teams will be higher or lower than a specified number.