Beginners to sports betting might find the sheer number of different betting markets daunting, while those of us a little more experienced will already have a good grasp of different types of bets. Whatever the case, at some point we’ll all have sought an answer to this question of what’s the easiest way to win with a sports bet.
The reality is that unless we have some form of inside information, we’ll all experience the highs and lows of winners and losers.
There is a simple market that offers a good chance of winning with well-educated bets, though, and that’s to restrict betting to the moneyline or fixed odds win bets.

The moneyline bet, often called an “outright winner” or “head-to-head” bet, involves selecting the team or individual to win a match or event. It is the simplest type of wager, focusing only on the final result without considering point spreads or scores or getting involved in predicting accumulators.
Now we know the easiest sports betting market to win, let’s consider why that is and see if there are alternative bets in other betting markets that might be equally straightforward for winning chances.
In the rest of this article, we can explore the various options available, focusing on those that present the lowest barrier to entry and the highest chances of a positive outcome. We’ll look at a range of betting options from basic to advanced, to position ourselves with the necessary information to make the most informed choices with our bets.
What do we mean by ‘the easiest betting market?’
The “easiest betting market” describes a wager type or outcome with a high probability of success and low prediction difficulty.
These markets require minimal analysis and are straightforward, offering a beginner-friendly environment without complex statistical modeling.
While not guaranteeing wins, they provide higher success rates and simpler decision-making.
What parts do favorites and underdogs play in the easiest markets?
When we’re assessing betting markets, it’s vital to understand the terms “favorites” and “underdogs”.
Favorites are the team or individual that are generally seen as having the highest probability of winning, and therefore the most likely outcome will be in their favour. They often have lower payout odds due to their perceived likelihood of winning.
On the other hand, underdogs are considered less likely to win and therefore have higher payout odds.
Understanding the difference between the two will help you better understand a wider array of sports bets. But you can see that this gives an immediate opportunity in straightforward A vs B bets to decide if the favorite is strong or not and, hence, gives us a bet with above-average winning prospects.
Alternative easy bets
While the moneyline is the easiest betting market for wins, alternatives do also give valid opportunities.
Over/Under Betting (Totals): Predicting the Score
Another relatively straightforward betting market for those less familiar with sports wagering is over/under betting, commonly referred to as “totals betting”.
This type of wager involves predicting whether the combined score of a sporting event will be above or below a specified number set by the sportsbook. For example, if a basketball game total is set at 210.5 points, you are wagering on whether the combined final score will be over 210.5 or under that value.
Hence, you do not need to predict which team wins, only the cumulative score of all teams.
This market tends to center on statistical trends, scoring patterns, and a broad understanding of a particular sport rather than team-specific data. Therefore, it allows for a straightforward wagering option based on broader outcomes, making it a popular selection for many casual bettors.
Point spread betting
While slightly more complex than the moneyline or totals bets, the point spread provides another way to bet on sports.
This approach introduces a handicap where the favored team has to win by a specific margin and the underdog has to lose by less than the spread to “cover” the spread, or win outright.
Point spread betting is also known as “handicap wagering” and “line betting” and serves to balance the odds between two unequal teams, offering a way to make a game featuring a clear favorite more exciting and interesting.
While not as simple as moneylines, point spread betting is still considered a relatively straightforward concept for new bettors and provides more opportunities to find a value bet than the more basic moneyline.
The Role of Probability in Betting
All sports betting is based on probability, or the likelihood of an event occurring. Odds represent these probabilities and the potential payouts.
As a beginner bettor, understanding how odds reflect the underlying probability of an event can help inform your choices and allow you to recognize when a bookmaker’s perception of probability is lower or higher than what you expect.
Betting Strategies to Consider
Whether we focus on simple markets or other types of markets where some complexity is introduced, strategy will always be a foundational aspect of betting activity. You must employ a plan or a system that will improve your chances of winning.
For beginner bettors, developing a sound betting strategy is important, involving a range of considerations including disciplined wagering, bankroll management, and detailed research. As you progress, you can explore different approaches and concepts, such as:
- Value Betting: Identifying situations where the implied probability of a bet is lower than your own assessment of it.
- Arbitrage Betting: Taking advantage of different bookmakers having different odds on the same event, which allows you to bet on all potential outcomes and guarantee a win. Arbitrage is often referred to as sure betting.
Conclusion: The easiest betting markets are…
While no bet is guaranteed to be successful the moneyline and over/under markets offer the simplest entry points for beginner bettors. These markets require less specialized knowledge and mathematical predictive modeling.
By starting with the simplest markets and building your knowledge, you can increase your chances of long-term success in the world of sports wagering. As you gain experience, you can explore more complex betting strategies and other betting markets.
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