In recent years, sports betting has undergone an extreme makeover. The days of brick-and-mortar bookies monopolizing the sports betting scene are behind us. Rapid technological advancements over the last 20 years have seen the rise of mobile technology, allowing for more convenience and accessibility. Mobile betting means that it has never been easier to wager on your favorite sports, you simply open up your smartphone or tablet and with a few taps you can place bets on hundreds of sports and markets. This has become even easier with the legalization of sports betting rolled out around the US ever since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 was judicially overturned by the supreme court in 2018. The previous act essentially outlawed betting in all states except Nevada, whereas the new ruling allowed states to legalize and enforce their own gambling laws.
Since then we have seen more than half of US states introduce some form of legal sports betting. The NFL is the most popular sport to bet on among US bettors with the NBA, NHL and horse racing also proving extremely popular.
For those who are perhaps new and would like to further understand how to bet on horse racing, look no further. Here is a guide to mobile betting.
One of the most crucial steps is choosing your operator. It is important to stay safe when wagering your money and as such you need a reputable operator with a valid license from a recognized gaming authority in the state they operate. Banners of said licenses will always be displayed on the app, with operators like Draftkings being licensed by the DGE.
When you have chosen your operator, it is time to download the app. Most all operators offer dedicated mobile apps for Apple and Android devises. You can download them from the app store or google play store as well as directly from the operators website.
From then, registering and verifying your age and identity is relatively straightforward. Provide accurate information of yourself (date of birth, address etc.), create an account with a secure password and complete verification steps (usually a form of photo identification). This helps prevent fraudulent activity, thus protecting you as a customer.
With your app downloaded and account set up and verified you are now ready to fund your account. Most apps offer multiple methods to deposit with the most popular being debit cards, bank transfers and e-wallets. There are usually minimum deposit amounts, typically around $5.
Understanding the Betting Basics:
Before you place your bet however, familiarize yourself with the markets and odds. You can usually find way more markets when betting via apps than you can in brick and mortar stores. If you are more familiar with the latter, make sure you know the ins and outs of what you are wagering on so you can do so in confidence.
Odds are laid out with + and – numbers. Odds that are plus money indicate how much you would win from a $100 bet while minus odds inform you how much you would need to wager to win $100. For example, a $100 bet on +300 would win you $300 plus your stake.
You should also explore different bet types. Singles are popular but mobile betting now allows for same game parlays as well as normal parlays and teasers.
Essential Mobile Betting Tips
Set yourself a budget and stick to it. Betting should always be seen as entertainment, something to add an extra layer of excitement to sport. It is not a quick money spinner and you should not chase losses. Pick a realistic budget that you can afford to lose and don’t wager more than that.
Research your bets before you place them. We as sports fans can sometimes go with our hearts over our heads and this can often cost us when betting. Analyze statistics, form, trends and player reports before you wager to allow yourself to bet with confidence rather than blind hope.
If you are new to mobile betting, it may be smart to start with smaller bets until you find your feet. Once you are more confident with the markets, odds, research etc. then you can start slowly increasing your stakes when the opportunity arises. However, as with our first point, always make sure you are only betting what you can afford to lose.
Finally, when signing up for betting operators you will often see new customer offers and bonuses. Take advantage of these when possible. They can often allow you risk free bets, deposit matches, free bets and more. This can give you an edge when starting out ad allow you to bet more freely than you will be able to once you are budgeting yourself. Always read the terms and conditions before opting in.
