I love watching my favorite teams compete night in, night out. It’s appointment viewing on my living room television screen and the best possible background noise to dinner. And yet, few would argue that every game has the same intensity that makes it so great. Sometimes, it’s 5-1 in the fifth inning or 23-7 entering the fourth quarter. Perhaps an NBA superstar is having a load management day. There’s a gap of intensity to fill, and the oft-advertised world of sports betting is an ample solution.
However, I waited way too long to get in on the action. Why? I don’t like losing and I hate being wrong. Why was the favorite, the Philadelphia Eagles, listed with a moneyline of -170 when the spread was at -110? Was it worth it to take the Knicks at +140 odds to win? American odds like these confused me, and I missed out on the fun because I was intimidated.
An adequate odds calculator would have helped me grasp the world of sports betting sooner. A good betting odds calculator allows bettors to input the lines they are considering and the amount they are willing to bet. From there, it displays the line in American, decimal, and fractional odds, while showing the implied probability and potential winnings, too.
This is invaluable to new bettors looking to educate themselves on otherwise confusing lines and how realistic their bets are. The implied probability included in the Bet Basics sports betting calculator allows bettors to evaluate their bets before they make them.
Parlays, defined as two or more bets combined for a more lucrative reward if each bet hits, are a fun alternative to typical straight bets. For example, betting on the Orlando Magic to win (+130), Franz Wagmer to score more than 18.5 points (-120), and Markelle Fultz to surpass 6.5 assists (+104) should net +760 odds, but a sportsbook may list it at +574, winning $186 less on a $100 bet. We can use a parlay odds calculator to find this difference. Instead, it may be more worthwhile to mitigate risk and bet each individually, which would win $317.33 if all $100 bets were successful.
Previewing multiple lines, or Legs, with a parlay odds calculator is another exciting feature that allows beginner and veteran bettors alike to gauge if a parlay is worth it, rather than placing wagers individually.