Simply put, a teaser bet is a variation on the parlay bet and is used to reduce risk to the better by offering a chance to wager on point spreads and game totals. The totals are therefore "teased" to give the person betting a better chance of winning, but at lower odds. Teaser bets are most ofen offered on football and basketball games only.

Teaser bets may seem a little complicated at first, but the best thing to do is break them down into individual smaller bets, and then look at it as one whole bet, like a parlay. For example, let's suppose the Ravens are playing the 49ers. The teaser bet allows the player to wager on the spread and/or point total, so we'll first use the point spread for our matchup:

Step 1 - The Spread - Player selects Ravens to win at +11.0 points, which means the Red Skins must either beat the Raiders, or not lose by more than 11 points.

Onto step two - The Total, this is where the player choose the game's total points (which is the final combo of points scored by both teams) to be at forty or less.

So for this wager to win, the Ravens have to win the game, or just not lose by more than eleven points, PLUS the total scored in the match must be forty or less. Thus far, this is sounding and looking just like a parly, however now is when we add the teaser part in which increased the bettor's chance of winning, but usually means a lower payout.

Part Three - Teaser points, here the player is offered seven, eight, or nine point teasers on the wager. The bettor chooses an eight point teaser which means that eight points are added to the point spread from step one. This means eleven plus eight equals nineteen point spread, and eight points are then added to the total score from step two: forty plus 8 equals forty-eight point total or less.

Ideally, it is always best to think of teaser bets in smaller parts. Base your betting decisions on each seperate part. However, remember that adding points to the point total and spread will give you a much greater chance of winning but you will always get a smaller payout. Therefore a teaser bet changes a parly bet into a wager with more options and better odds for you.

You may ask yourself, well when is it a good idea to use a teaser bet? If you want a safer wager than a parlay, a teaser is a good second. Teaser points allow you to have a higher tolerance for risk, but this also means that you get paid less of you win. In some situations, teaser bets are a better choice since you might still end up as a winner, even if you would have lost the game had you placed a regular parlay wager.

When choosing a sportsbook, check through all of their betting options to find the teaser bets. They might be listed under a different section than regular wagers. I truly believe that teaser bets are a fun and exciting way to give your bets some adjustability with greater safety assurance that also gives you a better chance of winning.

Rich Allen is an expert in Sports Betting Tips and has worked for Las Vegas and Atlantic City books. His Sports Betting Professor Systems have sold over 250,000 units and cover all major sports including horse racing. Download a FREE copy of The Sports Betting Insider's Guide at: http://richallensports.com/sports-betting-tips