Sportsbet is a website and app that allows Aussies to place wagers on…well, pretty much anything. This includes major sporting events like horse races and cricket matches, but also reality show contests, TV plotlines, and even the outcome of a random coin toss or lottery drawing.

The easiest bet to make is a straight bet, which simply involves picking the team that will win a game. These bets are usually priced at 1:1 odds, so you’ll need to risk $11 in order to win $10. Other bet types include the spread and the totals. The spread is the margin of points in which the favored team must win by to cover the bet, while the total is the sum of all expected scores (goals, runs and so on).

In general, it’s difficult to turn a profit betting on sports, just like it’s difficult to turn a profit trading stocks. But if you’re smart and patient, you can make money over the long haul.

Before placing a bet, always shop around for the best odds. Look at contrasting sportsbooks’ odds, deposit and withdrawal options, bonuses, and promotions. Also, be sure to read user reviews—but don’t take them as gospel; what one person considers a negative may not bother you at all. And, remember to keep track of your bets (a standard spreadsheet works just fine) so you can measure your net wins and losses. That will help you to make informed decisions about the amount of bets to place and when to stop.