Simple Betting Games

Can you even have a Super Bowl party if you don't have Super Bowl betting games? The short answer is no. The longer answer is definitely not.

The dot game is a way to keep track of all the action Iike a bookie in Vegas. These may be simple and obvious, such as points or dollars won for birdie, eagle, longest drive, sand saves, or closest to the pin. Red Keno is a classic betting game that is popular because of its simplicity. The main task of the player who makes a bet on this game is to choose from 1 to 8 numbers out of 80 possible. If any of the chosen numbers draw - the player wins, if not - he loses.

Keeping it simple makes it fun for the entire group and that's why I always recommend the Show Parlay. Nobody in the group needs to be an expert to participate. Here is how it works: all participants (2. Looking for a few great football betting games to play at your football party? Search no further! Here are 3 easy games you can play while you are watching the big game: The Football Pool This is standard. Add prop bets for how long the game. In this bet, you have the least chance of winning by betting on the underdog. The exception is when the underdog is very close in skill with the team favored to win. The win bet is relatively easy to analyze beforehand in sports like basketball and American football. It is the most difficult to analyze before a game.

If you are struggling to come up with ideas, The Action Network is here to help. I've been playing Super Bowl party betting games for years, and I'd like to share some of my favorites.

Before we get to the list, remember: Communication is key. Make sure to inform your guests in advance about what betting games you will offer (and the stakes) at your party, so that they will arrive prepared. Nobody wants to spot anybody cash for these activities.

Square Pool

This is the most famous Super Bowl betting game, and it's one most of you have probably played at a party. If you haven't, you just need a poster board, a magic marker, a ruler, and basic math skills.

Pro Tip: Buy two poster boards just in case you struggle in that last department. I've seen some botched boards in my day. Also, someone will inevitably write their name in too many squares. More on that to come.

Once you have those four things, draw 11 equal squares across the top of the board and 10 more down the left side (eleven including the already completed square in the left corner). Next, draw a 10X10 grid of squares inside of the row and column of squares you just created.

Now, divide 100 by the number of participants to determine how many squares each person gets. Once you have that number, each participant will write their name in that amount of random squares.

Pro Tip: Make sure you wait as long as possible to ensure everyone who wants in can play.

If you can't divide 100 equally, create a house square and make up your own rule for those squares. We like to carry it over if those numbers hit before the end of the game, and give it to the party host if they hit at the end. You can also offer to sell those additional squares to increase the pot. In the example below, 10 people bought into the pool, which means each writes their name in 10 random boxes.

After you have all of the names filled in, put the numbers 0 through 9 on small pieces of paper into a hat. Have someone pick them out one by one. Write those numbers as they are picked across the top squares in order. Repeat for the squares down the left side of the board. Finally, split the first square in the top left corner with each team's name.

The rules of the game are simple. If the Patriots win the game 24-20, STUCK would win the pot, since his name is in the square that coincides with the Patriots (4) down the side and the Eagles (0) on top. You can choose to split the pot by quarter, half or just do winner takes all at the end. I hope you avoid the 9!

Prop Pool

You need to have a skill-based Super Bowl betting game where the person who gets the most questions right wins the pot. As a result, I like to assign the highest buy-in to this game, but know your audience. You can create your own questions, such as…

Also, mix it up with entertainment and sports if you have a bigger crowd. Or if you don't want to go through the trouble of creating your own prop pool, then just use our printable sheet.

Pro Tip: I have found using 20-25 questions with varying point values works best. Picking the MVP deserves a higher reward than guessing heads or tails, but it's up to you.

Pass the Cup

This is the easiest of them all. The rules are simple:

We like to divide this up into quarters to increase the excitement. The person holding the cup at the end of the first and third quarter takes a small amount out. The person at the end of each half gets a bigger payout. Divide it up however you see fit, but be prepared for the late half, meaningless Hail Mary interception cup switch.

Pro Tip: You can also use a football instead of a cup. However, watch out for your token drunk friend who is losing all of his bets.

If you want to make the game even more interesting, you can add a rule that every player must hold on to the cup (or ball) at all times when in possession. If someone gets caught putting it down, the cup changes hands. Finally, if someone passes out (or 'falls asleep') while holding the cup, make them watch the rest of the game outside through a window.

MVP Hat Draw

For those who still need more party action, you can also do an MVP draw. Just write down all of the best players' names on little pieces of paper, put them in a hat, and draw. The person who draws the MVP wins the pot, which keeps the game interesting even in the event of a blowout.

Pro Tip: Have everyone draw 2-3 names. You never know when a Dexter Jackson might surprisingly win MVP.

Having said that, I hope you pick Tom Brady, the only player in NFL history to win four Super Bowl MVPs. Overall, quarterbacks have won the award in 28 (55%) of 51 Super Bowls. But don't lose hope if you pick a non-quarterback. A Dallas linebacker won in a losing effort in Super Bowl 5. And if things play out like they did in 1978 when two Cowboys defensive lineman won it in the only Super Bowl to have co-MVPs, then I guess everyone gets their money back. Although, I'd think of a more creative way to decide a winner, such as beer pong or poker.

LCR

You will need to keep the action going during the never-ending halftime show. After making your play on any second half action, break out the LCR dice. If you have never played before, then go buy a set from the store or order here. Just make sure you tell everyone in advance to bring plenty of dollar bills.

Pro Tip: Get extra dollar bills. Multiple people will inevitably not bring them, so be prepared to change people out.

The extended halftime show will be over before you even know it.

More Super Bowl 52 betting content from The Action Network

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There are quite a few different kinds of sports bets. They can also be confusing. One reason for confusion is that different sportsbooks might use different terminology for the same bet. Another, more common reason for confusion is how the odds or the betting line is listed in the sportsbook. The last reason for confusion might be because the odds or the line change as the sportsbook sees how the public is betting.

The sportsbooks' profit comes from a straight commission on each winning bet so they try to keep the odds or the online sports betting line as close to even as possible.

Each sport lends itself to some bets well and poorly to other bets.

Here are the major bets you'll see at Intertops and other sportsbooks.

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Win or Moneyline

This is by far the most straightforward sports bet of all. It asks the simplest of questions: Who will win the game? In this bet, you have the least chance of winning by betting on the underdog. The exception is when the underdog is very close in skill with the team favored to win.

The win bet is relatively easy to analyze beforehand in sports like basketball and American football. It is the most difficult to analyze before a game in baseball. The nature of baseball is that the better team wins no more than 60% of its games and some top teams win as few as 55% of their games. In basketball and American football, teams might win 80% of their games. So, in baseball, you can place a win bet and receive fairly good odds while in basketball or football, the odds will be very daunting. In those sports we recommend betting on the spread or on the over/under bets, explained below.

Spread

The reason this bet works so well in American football is because teams score so many points. The lesser of two teams may lose the game but if they play just well enough on offense or defense they will 'cover the spread' and if you bet on the underdog to do so, you'll win that bet even though the team lost the game.

The spread is a very difficult bet to win in soccer, ice hockey, or baseball because teams so often win or lose by a single point, goal, or run but is an excellent betting vehicle in basketball and American football.

Over/Under

This bet is on the expected accumulation of points in a game. Let's say you want to bet on a game in basketball. You might bet on the spread where the winning team might win by ten or more points but you might also want to bet on the cumulative point total. In basketball, it may come down to how well the teams will play in the fourth quarter. If they play poor defense because the game is out of reach for one team, the over bet will likely win. If the game is closely fought, defense becomes paramount towards the end of the game and the under might win.

Soccer, ice hockey, and baseball are the worst sports to bet either on the spread or the over/under. Regarding the spread, these sports are well-known for games decided by one point. If you bet against the ephemeral spread, you might win the bet but the payout will be very meager as the sportsbook makes the odds reflective of the likely outcome.

All spread bets on favorites lose in one point games because the spread has to be at least two to win. These sports are also difficult for over/under bets because so many games end up 1-0 or 2-1. You can bet the under and win but as in the spread bet, the sportsbook has set the odds to such a degree that you win very little for the size of your bet. In soccer, a 0-0 tie is not at all uncommon and in those cases the over bet loses dramatically.

Proposition Bets

These are not bets about the outcome of the game; they are about the outcome of possibly the next few seconds or minutes of a game. There are an infinite number of proposition bets you could make. No sportsbook could possibly offer all of them.

A few examples of proposition bets are:

• Will either team score in the fiftieth minute? You can substitute any minute for the fiftieth. Clearly, there are innumerable such bets.
• Will LeBron James score a triple double?
• Will the batsman swing at the next pitch?

Sportsbooks may offer a few proposition bets. Expekt casino bonus. These are fun to make but are very difficult to win with any regularity.

Futures Bets

These are better called purely long range prediction bets. Who will win the cricket test match; who will win the World Cup; who will be nominated by the political parties in the next election; who will win the tennis, golf, or chess tournament?

The odds on these bets may be very long. They are very speculative bets indeed. Some bettors like them simply because of the odds, but the longer the odds the less likely the bet will win.

Parlays

There are various types of parlays but the principle is the same in all of them: you win by winning a combination of bets, by choosing a string of winners. The more bets you need to win, the higher the payout. In some countries there is a football parlay involving as many as 15 matches. Whoever wins this bet, wins millions of dollars.

Smaller parlays may involve two or three games. Large parlays are similar in nature and payout size to lotteries. The payouts are higher, commensurate with the risk, and skill in predicting the outcomes.

How the Bets are Listed

Now, we must explain the esoteric language of bets. Let's say you want to bet on a soccer game. The sportsbook list the odds as possibly +120 on the underdog and -140 on the favorite. If you place $100 on the underdog and your bet wins, you win $120. You have to risk $140 on the favorite to have a chance to win $100.

In bets like spread and over/under there are two numbers. The first is the anticipated spread or accumulation of points and the second is the actual betting line. The principle is the same as described above.

In a spread bet, the underdog gets + a given number of points and the favorite gets – points. The two points are not the same; the sportsbooks profit from the difference in the two spreads.

The differences reflect the desire of the sportsbook to get the same amount bet on both possible outcomes. Then, the sportsbook profits on its commission and has to pay out almost the same as it took in besides the commission.

Simple Golf Betting Games

It's a bit counterintuitive at first to think that the 'minus' is the line on the favorite and the 'plus' is the line on the underdog. But, with experience, you will become more comfortable with all of these terms.

Simple Betting Site

Take it Slowly

For that reason and because there are far more sports and games that sportsbooks accept bets on, we always say that especially newer sports bettors should go slow at first.

It takes time to spread one's wings and become expert enough in the many sports to make calculated and reasoned bets on more than one of them.