Bet types explained
Most sportsbooks build their markets from a small set of bet types. Knowing them makes bonus terms, which are written in these words, much easier to read.
- Moneyline (match winner): you pick who wins. In sports with a draw, such as football, a three-way market adds the draw as a third outcome.
- Spread or handicap: the favourite must win by more than a set margin, or the underdog must lose by less than it, or win.
- Totals (over/under): you bet on whether the combined score or count lands above or below a line.
- Parlay (accumulator): several selections combined into one bet. Every leg must win, so the payout multiplies but so does the risk.
- Props and futures: bets on individual player performance, or on outcomes decided later such as a season winner.
- In-play (live) betting: wagers placed while the match is running, at odds that update continuously.
Reading odds and the bookmaker margin
Odds convert to an implied probability. In decimal odds, divide 1 by the price: 2.00 implies 50%, 1.91 implies about 52.4%. In American odds, +150 and -150 are the same idea in a different format.
A fair two-way market would have implied probabilities summing to 100%. Bookmakers price in a margin, so they sum to more. Take a market priced 1.91 on both sides: each implies 52.4%, together 104.7%, so the bookmaker is building in roughly a 4.7% margin. Comparing the same market across operators shows who is charging less, and that gap compounds over many bets. Paying in crypto changes how you fund the account, not the odds you are offered.
Sportsbook bonus terms to read
Sportsbook offers are usually deposit matches, free bets, or risk-free bets, and each has its own catch. A free bet typically returns the winnings but not the stake. A risk-free bet refunds a losing first bet, often as a free bet rather than cash. Deposit matches carry a rollover, and for sports it is normally counted on bet stakes, not winnings.
- Minimum odds: many offers only count bets at or above a stated price.
- Rollover: the multiple of the bonus or deposit that you must bet before withdrawing.
- Eligible markets: some offers exclude certain sports, bet types or in-play bets.
- Time limit: how long you have to use the bonus and to meet the rollover.
- Maximum payout: some free bets cap the winnings you can keep.
Esports and crypto-specific points
Many crypto sportsbooks list esports alongside traditional sports, with markets on match winners, map winners and totals. Coverage and limits are often thinner than for major sports, so check the limits on the market you want. Crypto deposits are quick to fund and withdrawals depend on the operator's processing, so check the stated withdrawal times. As with any crypto balance, the value of what you hold can move against your local currency while your account is funded, so consider a stablecoin if you only want to bet.
Legality and responsible betting
Betting law varies by country and sometimes by region, and an operator accepting your sign-up does not make betting there lawful for you. Check the rules where you live before depositing, and see our page for operators accepting USA players if that applies. Stake only what you can afford to lose, avoid chasing losses, and use the limits and self-exclusion tools available.