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The Ultimate NFL Betting Guide

Matt Speakman By Matt Speakman,
Betting Expert at online-gambling.com
Matt Speakman Matt Speakman Betting Expert at online-gambling.com

A die-hard fan of the Patriots, Matt Speakman is an expert on everything related to sports betting and DFS sites. Over the years, he has proven a valuable asset for our team at online-gambling.com. You can find Speakman's professional tips and tricks in any of his many articles on the website.

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Last updated: October 25, 2023

In the US, the NFL is one of the biggest sources of entertainment out there, both for regular viewers who love coming together to watch a game, as well as for bettors who want a piece of the action. Whether you are a new NFL bettor or have more experience, this article will outline the process of NFL sports betting.

Your ultimate NFL betting guide for 2023.

In our NFL betting guide, we’ll answer your burning questions about betting on the top teams in football today. We’ll cover legality, online sportsbook security, sign-up bonuses and more. If you’re interested in fantasy sports betting sites you can also learn more on our site. Use the navigation below to skip ahead to sections you want to cover, or read straight on through for all the details.

NFL Sports Betting Tips: Getting Started

The good thing about betting on NFL games is that it is not much different from any other sports betting you will encounter. If you have experience with sports books already, the process will be fairly similar and straightforward. However, there are a few elements that are unique to betting on football games, which we are happy to cover within our NFL sports betting tips.

To start, in order to bet you’ll need to be over the legal age (at least 21 years old) and in a legal betting state. Then you’ll need to find an online sportsbook that is reputable and that hopefully has some great bonus offers! Once you have identified a site you like, here are the steps you would take to place a bet:

  • 1. Create an account by proving your identity with ID.
  • 2. Make your first deposit and redeem any sign-up bonuses that are available, like deposit matches or free bets.
  • 3. Go to the NFL betting page within your online sportsbook so you can view all of the specific matches available to bet on and more.
  • 4. Add to your bet slip by clicking on the odds of a match or other outcome you want to bet on.
  • 5. Select your wager amount. Check that it fulfills your wager requirements or the amount offered for a bonus free bet, if applicable.
  • 6. Continue betting on other selections or wait to see the outcome of your bet(s).
  • 7. Withdraw your winnings or continue using them within your bankroll on new bets.

Strategy and Performance

Before you place your bets, you will probably take an additional step of researching your teams and players. There are various betting strategies out there for the NFL, and you can look at ample data in order to analyze team performance, too.

One of the most common questions that comes up about NFL betting is where you can bet, since every US state has different laws on sports betting. At the time of writing, you can use our NFL betting tips by placing bets in the following states:

  • Arizona
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • District of Columbia
  • Iowa
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kansas
  • Louisiana
  • Massachusetts
  • Maryland
  • Michigan
  • Mississippi
  • New Jersey
  • Nevada
  • New York
  • Ohio
  • Pennsylvania
  • Tennessee
  • Virginia
  • West Virginia
  • Wyoming

Many other states have online sportsbook legislation pending so check back for updates. Others have legalized sports betting but not as many NFL sports betting offerings at the moment due to it being relatively new.

NFL Betting Tips: Where to Place Your Bets

The next essential part of our NFL betting guide is to explain where to bet if you are in a state where it is legal. There are many brick-and-mortar and online betting options across the US, so it can be difficult to assess which sportsbooks are worth trusting your money with! Let’s look at some of the top things you should ask when you are checking online sports books and getting ready to apply our NFL sports betting tips.

  • Is the sportsbook adequately licensed to operate in my state?
  • Is the site secure and trustworthy? Does it have authentic reviews from other players?
  • Does the sportsbook have customer service available in case you run into any technical issues?
  • Does the site offer access to NFL betting and any other sports you want to bet on?
  • Can you deposit and payout with the banking methods you wish you use?
  • Are payouts swift and easy?
  • What kind of bonus offers are available?
  • What are the wagering requirements for taking advantage of bonus offers?
  • Are there any other perks available like loyalty programs for returning bettors?

Investigating these kinds of questions will help you ensure your money is safe in the hands of the sportsbook. Checking available bonuses also means you will be getting the absolute best available deal when you are ready to finally place a bet using our NFL betting tips. Another option is to check out the best fantasy sports betting sites if you don’t think you’re ready to bet on NFL games yet.

Types of NFL Bets Available

Once you get into NFL betting, you will find quite a few options available to you. There are different bets to choose from, not only in terms of odds and wager sizes. These include parlays, teasers, futures and more. We explain below in our NFL betting guide what each bet type means and how you can participate in them.

Parlays and Same Game Parlay

Aside from standard market bets, it is very popular to bet on so-called parlays or same game parlays. A parlay occurs when a bettor chooses different betting selections together under one bet, creating an overall set of odds that may be different from the individual match selections on their own.

This gives the bettor a bit more control over their bet spread. Not only this, but it generates odds that would create a substantial win for the player if they win each part of the bet. In a parlay, the win only occurs if each part is satisfied, so they can be challenging to achieve. A same game parlay is quite similar, only each selection is within the same match. This can include both player props – bets on individual players’ performance – and money lines – bets on the outcome of the match itself.

Teasers

Teasers are similar to parlays in that they are bets made up of multiple selections or spreads. The difference between a teaser and a parlay is that the teaser odds are more favorable, so they will not pay out as much on a bet as a parlay which is less likely to occur. Teasers actually allow the point spread to be lowered, so a win is more likely. Again, all parts of a teaser have to be successful in order for the bettor to win.

Futures

Futures are a fun approach to betting because they rely on knowledge and intuition of longer term outcomes. Rather than just betting on a single match, they are about predicting awards, team totals and Super Bowl matchups – but far in advance. Though they require patience, they can be enormously satisfying for bettors and can present solid odds.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’re covered a great deal of information about NFL betting, but you may still have additional questions about making bets on this fantastic league. Check our FAQ for the most common questions we receive from readers and use the links to find out more within our article.

1. What is a money line?

A money line is considered a standard bet on which team will win in a single matchup. When assessing the odds on money lines, you can see that the team favorite is marked with a (-) minus symbol next to their odds calculation, whereas the underdog team is marked by a (+) plus. You can read the odds to see how much you would need to bet in order to win a corresponding amount. There are also more alternative ways to bet on NFL like teasers, futures and parlay bets.

2. What are point spreads?

In point spread betting, the bettor picks not only which team will win or lose but also by how many points. The team must stay within a range in order for the bet to come good. Bettors might use a teaser in order to change the point spreads for better odds, though lower payouts overall.

3. How does betting on game totals work?

NFL bettors can also enjoy betting on game totals, which is the number of points a team will have at the end of a match, rather than only on the money line. This is a straightforward and easy bet since it only requires the bettor to select a point value and whether the team should go over and under it. Fans of this betting may also enjoy betting on long-term outcomes with futures.

4. How can I keep up with NFL betting trends?

One of the best ways to prep for betting in the NFL is to follow trends. For example, you can keep track of how a team is performing against others throughout the season. There is also a lot of information out there analyzing a team’s expected performance against anothers, down to player matchups. Other data analyzes home game advantage and indoor or outdoor advantage.

5. What is the best NFL betting strategy?

There is much debate between sports betting enthusiasts about strategy, but the most simple piece of advice we can give is to bet with logic rather than feelings. You might love and support a team but you must analyze a matchup objectively and use the data available to you when betting in order to receive positive outcomes for your bankroll. Do the research and you’ll be well on your way to NFL sports betting.

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