Sports betting is becoming a common pastime for fans of all stripes, and online sportsbooks have made it even easier for people to place wagers from anywhere. New Jersey became the first state to legalize sports betting in 2021, and more states are expected to follow suit soon.

When making a bet on a sporting event, it is important to understand how the odds are set and what they mean for your wager. These odds, which are set by the bookmakers, tell you how much you’ll profit from winning a bet and also indicate the implied probability of various outcomes.

Whether you’re betting on individual games, accumulator bets, or props, the key is to find the value and make smart choices. A good way to start is by tracking the odds for each game, as these can change significantly based on public opinion and the overall betting market. This will help you identify potential values and bets that could yield a high payout.

In addition to looking at the odds, it is also essential to look at the moneylines for each game. These are the bets that show how much you would win if you placed a bet on each team’s final score. The higher the number, the more likely it is that you will win a bet on a specific outcome.

Another way to bet on a sporting event is to place a futures bet. These are bets that will be settled in the future and can be on anything from a team to win the World Series to a golfer winning the Masters. Unlike straight bets, futures bets offer much higher odds and therefore, bigger payouts.

One of the most important aspects of sports betting is managing your bankroll. This is especially true for beginners, as it’s easy to lose more than you win. A good rule of thumb is to only risk 1% to 5% of your total bankroll on any given wager. This means that if you have a $100 bankroll, you should only bet up to $5 per game.

Keeping in mind that more people lose than win, it’s important to have a sports betting strategy and stick with it. This includes knowing how much to bet, what type of bets to make, and when to place them. A good starting point is to research different teams and their past performance, and then determine how much you’re willing to bet on each game.

Another factor to consider is the sportsbook’s reputation for quick payments and customer service. These are things that can be difficult to quantify, but they’re important when selecting a site. The best sportsbooks will offer a combination of these factors to ensure that bettors can make the most of their experience. Lastly, be sure to check out the sportsbook’s mobile app interface, which should be intuitive and user-friendly. This can have a big impact on the overall experience. In Iowa, DraftKings and PointsBet are currently the only two sportsbooks that have an app available.