Betting on sports is a tradition going back centuries, so it’s no surprise that after the internet was invented, online sports betting followed shortly afterward. Online sports betting is a booming worldwide market, although the only legal option for most Americans is a Sweepstakes Sportsbook.
The different types of online sweepstake sports bets
Sports betting is one of the most popular types of gambling in the world, and as such there are a lot of different kinds of bets you can make. These are just a select few of the available online sports bets:
- Over/under: a bet on a total number of points or other quantitative factors.
- Spreads: a bet on by how many points the favorite will win.
- Parlays: a collection of bets bundled together.
- Money line: simply picking the winner of a game.
How to get started betting at a Sweepstakes Sportsbook
Sweepstakes Sportsbooks are a legal way to bet on sports online in the US, and it’s a simple process to sign up and begin betting.
Choose which Sweepstakes Sportsbook to join
The biggest operator of sweepstakes sports betting in the US is Fliff, with the widest range of games covered and betting markets. Check out our reviews page to see which Sweepstakes Casino you want to join.
Register to the site and receive free coins
When you create an account, you will receive a welcome bonus. This typically consists of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. The former have no monetary value, but Sweeps Coins are worth $1 each. You can use both to bet on sports.
Purchase more coins or use bonuses to get more
You can get additional Sweeps Coins for free via promotions, requests, or with a purchase of additional Gold Coins.
Make your picks and win real money prizes
If you have placed your bets with Sweeps Coins, then any winnings will be paid in Sweeps Coins and these can be exchanged for cash prizes at a rate of $1 per Sweeps Coin.
Sweepstakes Sportsbooks: legality and rules in the USA
Sweepstakes Sportsbooks operate under sweepstakes rules, which means that no purchase is necessary to take part. However, you can still win real money making legal online sports bets at a Sweepstakes Sportsbook. The only exception is the state of Washington, where sweepstakes are prohibited.
Tips for winning at online Sweepstakes Sportsbooks
Part of the reason that sports betting is so popular is that it is a form of gambling where, over the long run, a player can actually beat the house. They need to be very good and work hard to do it, but it can be done. However, you do need to follow some tips.
Manage your bankroll
You can’t win if you don’t have a bankroll with which to bet. It’s important to predetermine exactly how much of your bankroll you are willing to risk on any one bet, and it should be a smaller percentage if the bet has longer odds.
Do your research
Sportsbooks have dozens and dozens of specialists analyzing games and teams in order to offer odds that they believe will make them a profit. If you want to beat the house at sports betting, you need to beat them at their own game and know the sport inside and out.
Don’t bet against your own team
No matter how bad they are, don’t. Because honestly, who wants to place a bet that they’re secretly hoping will lose?
Can I play Sweepstakes Sportsbooks for free?
Because of the laws under which Sweepstakes Sportsbooks operate, you can play for free. New players will receive free coins, and you can use bonuses and promotions to earn Sweeps Coins that are redeemable for cash.
Online Sweepstakes Sportsbook terms every player should know
You’re pretty close to being able to start placing bets at a Sweepstakes Sportsbook. Before you get going, though, it’s time to get familiar with a few terms and expressions that you might hear.
Parlay
A parlay is a group of bets with combined odds, wherein every bet must win in order to collect a (usually sizeable) return. There are various kinds of parlays depending on the number of picks selected.
Evens
If the bookmaker has set the odds at +100 this is said to be “even money” or evens. It means that the bookmaker believes that there is an exactly 50% chance of the event occurring.
Spread
Also known as a handicap, the points spread is the margin of victory by which the bookmaker predicts the favorite will win. To win a spread bet, a backed favorite must win by more (or a backed loser lose by less) than the points spread.
Hedging
A hedge refers to a bet placed in direct opposition to a previous bet, in order to guarantee some kind of return and to not lose entirely.
Lock
If something is called a lock to win, it means it is a very heavy favorite. The odds on these are usually very short.
What is the difference between Sweepstakes Sportsbooks and real money online sportsbooks?
Sweepstakes Sportsbooks can operate legally in the US because of sweepstakes laws. Because you do not bet real money and you can take part for free, Sweepstakes Sportsbooks are legal in every US state except for Washington state.