Sports betting turns spectators into stakeholders in sporting events by allowing them to place bets on the outcome of games. These bets can cover everything from time-honored sports such as football and basketball to emerging sensations like eSports. Regardless of the sport, sports bets always carry inherent statistical risks.

While it may seem impossible to make a living betting on sports, there are ways to boost your chances of winning by learning the best betting strategies and applying them to your bets. These strategies include paying reduced vig, finding better lines and finding value. They also require a good understanding of the game’s rules and an ability to make objective decisions.

A straight bet is the most common form of sports wagering and involves placing a bet on a single outcome. This can be a specific team, an over/under on the total points scored in a game, or a prop bet that’s not related to any specific aspect of the game such as how many songs Usher will sing at halftime or who will win a particular fight.

To improve your chances of winning, focus on a few sports that you know well from a rules perspective and keep up with news about players and coaches. Also, open a separate bank account that’s solely for betting. This will help you avoid going into debt and increase your winning chances by keeping track of your bets in a standard spreadsheet.