Sports betting is a type of gambling wherein you place a wager on an outcome of a game. It’s similar to other forms of gambling, such as card games and roulette, except you bet on a specific team or player.

When you place a bet on a sport, it’s important to understand the odds. These odds are used to determine how much you’ll win if your bet wins or loses. They’re also useful in determining which bets are the most likely to pay out.

The odds are the first thing you’ll see when placing a sports bet, and they lay the table for all the other components of the bet. They can be expressed in American odds, fractional odds or decimal odds.

A team with positive odds is considered to be the favorite, while a team with negative odds is considered to be the underdog. The favorite has to win the game by more than the underdog in order for the bet to pay out.

Betting on the Over/Under line is another popular way to bet on a game. These odds are calculated by dividing the total number of points scored by both teams in the game by the line set by the oddsmaker.

In some cases, the odds may also factor in team history or recent injuries. For example, a depleted defensive backfield can reduce the favorite’s chances of winning.

Point spreads are the most common type of sports bet, and they’re a great way to increase payouts on favorites and reduce your risk of losing if an underdog wins. These types of bets can be made at online and brick-and-mortar sportsbooks.

These bets are typically placed on the outcome of a single game, but they’re also available for multiple games within the same event. The odds for this type of bet vary from bookmaker to bookmaker, so it’s a good idea to shop around before making your bets.

Many sports bettors also place futures bets. These are bets on a team or player that will win a championship, an award or some other significant result in the future. The payouts for these bets are typically lower than regular money line bets, but they can be worth it if you’re confident in your pick.

You can find futures bets on just about any sporting event, including major league baseball and football. These bets generally have long-term horizons, meaning they’re not paid out until the end of the season or a certain period.

When you’re looking for a great place to place your sports bets, consider ZenSports. We’re the only mobile peer-to-peer sports betting marketplace, and our escrow system is in place to protect your betting interests.

We’ll also make it easy to dispute any outcomes, so you can rest assured that your bet is safe. We’ll hold 5% of your bet in escrow to prevent Takers from disputing the outcome, and if you win a dispute, we’ll reimburse you with half of the escrow fee.