If you want to find out more about lacrosse in particular, or just like to find new online sports betting options, we’ll take you through what you need to know about lacrosse betting and more about the sport in general. So, grab your virtual elbow pads and helmet, and let’s get to grips with lacrosse!
More about lacrosse
The modern versions of the game that are available at online sports betting websites are quite different from original forms of lacrosse. Played first by Native American communities, one version formed part of a ceremonial ritual, and each team had as many as 100 to 1,000 men in an area that spread over several miles. Contests could be played from early morning to sundown, and could go on for two or three days!
These days, lacrosse is played by two opposing teams on a rectangular field with net goals at either end. In the men’s sport, there are 10 players per team, while women’s teams have 12 players. Each player carries a long lacrosse stick (also called a crosse,) which has a net at the end of it with which they can catch, pass or drive the lacrosse ball. Body contact is allowed in the men’s game, so athletes are protected by helmets with a wire face mask, shoulder and hip pads, and protective gloves. Since the women’s game is not a contact sport, only eye protection is required.
The aim of lacrosse is to score points by throwing the ball into the opposing team’s goal. This is done by passing the ball from player to player using the crosse. Players are also allowed to carry the ball in their crosse while moving within the area allowed by the position they hold in the team (defenders, midfielders, or attackers.) While the ball is in motion, players are allowed to knock it out of an opponents’ crosse. They are also allowed, within a certain area, to block the progress of their opposing number. While none of the players is allowed to touch the ball with their hands during play, the goalkeepers, positioned at either end of the field, are allowed to deflect any attempt at a goal using their hands.
There are four versions of lacrosse, each with its own equipment, fields, and rules: field lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, box lacrosse, and intercrosse. The game is played mainly in the US and Canada, although it has also started to gain a following in Australia, Europe, and Asia.
Before you place your first bet
While there are many aspects of lacrosse that are out of anyone’s control (the weather or player injuries, for example,) you’ll get more enjoyment from sports betting by ticking a handful of boxes before you place your first bet.
- Get to know lacrosse. Like most things in life, the more you understand, the better your decisions will be. You’ll also get more enjoyment out of watching the game and getting to grips with the odds and sports betting lines.
- Find a great sportsbook. You can do this by doing a bit of research online. Look out for trustworthy websites with good reviews, and those that offer the best payouts and betting odds.
- Choose an event to bet on. The four main championships are the Men’s World Lacrosse Championship (WLC,) World Lacrosse Women’s World Championship (WLWWC; formerly known as the Women’s Lacrosse World Cup,) men’s/women’s Under-19 World Lacrosse Championships, and World Indoor Lacrosse Championship (WILC.)
- Manage your bankroll. Decide what you’re going to spend on wagers, and stick to that amount. While watching sports can be an emotional rollercoaster ride, use your head when deciding how to place your sports bets, not your heart.
Common types of bets
The following are some of the typical bets you can make on lacrosse.
Straight bets
This is the most common type of wager in sports betting. It involves the setting of a betting line (also called a point spread,) which allows you to bet on the favorite for more points or bet on the underdog for fewer points. The way it works is that the favorite must win by more than the point spread for the bettor to cash in. The underdog must win, or must lose by less than the point spread to win the bet. In the case of a tie, no money is lost or won.
Total line bets
When it comes to total line bets, a number is set for the combined final score of both teams, and bettors wager on the eventual score either remaining below that of the total, or exceeding the set number. For example, if the “over/under” is set at 52 for Team A vs Team B in a Championship Game, bettors can wager on the total points in the game going over or under 52. If Team A wins 35-24 (a total of 59 points), thereby putting the game over the total, anyone who wagered on the over will win their bet, and anyone on the under will lose.
Moneyline bets
This is the betting type used most often in lacrosse sports betting. The bettor chooses a team to win without any point spread. The risk involved in this bet is the amount you have to wager to pick the favorite as opposed to the amount you stand to make if you pick the underdog. In other words, you’re more likely to win when betting on a favorite but stand to win less money; whereas if you bet on the underdog, you’ll less likely win, but you’ll walk away with more money if you do.
How to read the odds
Always aim for the most favorable odds when betting on lacrosse. First off, there are three types of sports betting odds: American odds, fractional odds, and decimal point odds. The starting value is always 100.
American odds are what you stand to make on a $100 bet, shown as a whole number. For example, the betting odds that Team X wins a match as a favorite is +150. Team Y is second-favorite at +200, and Team Z is third-favorite at +300. So, if Team X wins, the $100 wager would pay out $150. Whereas, if Team Y wins, the bettor would get $200, and $300 if Team Z wins.
Fractional odds and decimal odds are pretty much the same thing, except they’re displayed in a different format. So, the fractional odds for Team X would be posted as 3/2, while the odds for Team Y would be listed as 2/1, and 3/1 for Team Z. Similarly, decimal odds would be 1.50 for Team X, 2.0 for Team Y, and 3.0 for Team Z.
Place your first bet
Now you’ve got a good idea of what lacrosse is all about, you’ve gone ahead and picked your sportsbook, signed up to lacrosse betting, and claimed your welcome bonus. Now it’s as easy as selecting a competition, then placing your bet. Start with a “moneyliner” (the simple bet that allows you to wager on the team you believe will win a match.) If you’re right about it, you should get a notification that informs you of your successful bet!
Ready to place your sports bet with Borgata Online?
At Borgata Online, we offer lacrosse sports betting lines, as well as an onlinesportsbook that has a variety of leagues across many other sports for you to bet on. No matter how you like to gamble, you’re sure to find many ways to flex your betting muscles when you register at Borgata Online.