Sports betting is a form of gambling that involves placing money behind an outcome of your choice. It is a popular pastime for many fans who are looking to turn their knowledge of a team or player into some extra cash. It’s also an opportunity for those who are not gamblers to get in on the action of a game with something more than self-respect at stake.

There’s a belief that sports betting can be mastered, similar to how people study poker or the stock market. The theory is that a knowledge of the game and the players can give you an edge over the bookmakers, but this is not always true. Using public betting percentages, social media and sports forums, it’s possible to gauge sentiment and see how odds are shifting.

The key to making a profit is consistency. If you can make consistent bets that result in a positive return, then you can control your bankroll and plan what to do with your profits. Bets that are made based on emotions or are chased after a big win are much more likely to lose than those that are based on logic.

The most common type of bet is a straight wager. This is a bet on a single outcome, such as a team beating another team. A more complex form of a straight bet is the Over/Under total, which is a wager on the total number of points, goals or runs scored during a game. The Over/Under total is often in increments of a half point (.5) to avoid the possibility of a tie, but most sportsbooks refund all bets on pushes.