Those of us associated with sports betting frequently probably realize that in truth, there was never really any “start” point when people began betting on sports. It seems pretty natural to place some sort of wager whenever there is a contest between two different sides, whether or not it is a competition between individuals or between two different teams.

In reality, you will discover records to show that as long as there have been matches between people, on any side, you will find individuals who want to add some excitement to the competition through wagering. From the gladiatorial contests in ancient Rome to foot races on North America’s Great Plains, all cultures have put bets involving money or goods once they are watching a competition.

Today, remember, sports betting is much more sophisticated than those ancient wagers. All around the world, bookmakers both big and small follow several unique systems which permit them to make money off of people’s penchant for punting. Whether we are speaking about professional or amateur leagues, you can bet that you’ll be able to find someone ready to take your wager.

You need to recognize that the story of sports betting is simply as much about these “middle men” than it really is about the sport one is betting on. Bookies set up their odds based on very complex mathematical formulas, which enable them to to ascertain how also they can make money off of people’s bets. They don’t want too much “action” (money wagered) on one side or use Cuhk another, to avoid losing their profit. Consequently, they have thought up ways to encourage people to bet on each side.

One of those ways is to offer higher payouts should the team receiving less bets win. Individuals who take the “underdogs” stand to win a whole lot additional money per dollar bet than those who take the favorites.

Similarly, the point spread is used to encourage betting on both sides associated with any given match. Both methods allow the sports books to come out of each match with some money.

The story of sports betting involves not only book makers, but in addition the law. You may be familiar with the popular image of the bookie; a thug who takes money and can behave violently when not paid. Conversely, there are various legal, above board sports books today who are legally sanctioned to take sports bets. In North America, all of these books run out of Las Vegas.

In other areas of the world, sports betting is legal but can also be highly regulated. Governments, and sports bodies also, desire to protect the honest competitive nature of sports. With the sheer sum of money being bet on the outcome of games, it may be tempting for players to forget about competition in favor of a bribe or other type of payout. The history of most sports contains stories of players throwing games as a way to receive money from a bookmaker. Laws such as the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act attempt to prevent this from happening by prohibiting sports betting in certain cases and places.

Keep in mind, the next chapter in the story of sports betting may make such efforts moot. Today, sports books are among those businesses that have capitalized on the opportunities available online. Bettors in North America no longer need to make the trip to Vegas as a way to put some cash down on their favorite team; instead, the capability to wager is simply a click of the mouse away.

Not simply will be more people able to wager on sports over the Internet, the total amount of information available increases the chances of making good bets in a way which has never been seen before. Remember, the information also implies that books are able to compensate, though the opportunities for making some serious money (at some risk) are still out there.

It’s safe to claim that betting on sports is something that has happened throughout human history, and an issue that shall happen as long as you will discover competitions between people. Today, the web has taken the story of sports betting to the next level; the end of that chapter has yet to be written!