In Colonial America wagers were bet on cock fights, horse races, and even hand-to-hand brawls. This was done sometimes as a form of recreation and sometimes as a means of profiting. Anytime a sport was played someone was willing to place a bet. Wagers seem to be a part of American Culture.

Wagering, or betting, as it is now called has only gained in popularity over time. Betting is upwards of $50 billion industry a year. It has been estimated that one in every four Americans bets on a sporting event at least once a year. That same group places bets on a regular basis.

With such a staggering portion of the population involved there is no doubt that betting is here to stay. Obviously this must be an enjoyable activity. Research has shown that betting is enjoyed not only by professionals, but by the middle class as well as the guy off the street. Betting seems to be one of the rare things that knows no boundaries, and it permeates every facet of society.

Perhaps there are other reasons for its popularity. In today's world the economy is unsteady. People are forced to look for non-traditional ways to save, build and invest money. In the past betting on sports was just that; placing a wager based on a hunch. But nowadays sports wagering has truly become sports investing.

Systems have been developed to help one determine when and how to place a wager that will result in a sound investment. This can be a strategy to slowly build your financial wealth.

Since most of us were introduced to sports at an early age we are comfortable with the games and terminology used in sports. This adds to the ease of understanding the strategies behind sports investing. Before understanding the systems and strategies it is necessary to become familiar with the jargon used. Basic terms are listed below:

Action - This refers to the betting activity.

Handicap - In order to level the betting field one team is given a points advantage (a handicap)

Handle - Total amount of money wagered on bets.

Book or Sportsbook - This is an establishment that takes bets. A person that takes bets is a bookie.

Juice - Percentage of all bets taken by the bookie as profit.

Believe it or not, the key to success in sports investing is only partially about how much is known about sports and wagering. A major component is intelligent money management. It is necessary to find an approach that will meet your goals as a sports investor. That will determine how you invest, for how long, and how much you will profit along the way.