So, your husband, partner, or boyfriend’s eyes are glued to the TV. His fantasy league app is getting more attention than your latest promotion, and every weekend sounds like ESPN updates, wild cheers, or iPhones hitting the ground with force. You could sigh, roll your eyes, and let him ride solo in his sports-fueled frenzy.
Or… you could cash in. Literally.
Welcome to Girl’s Night Out: Make Your Own Sugar, Be Your Own Daddy, your new playbook for stepping into the sports betting arena in heels or boots, with high standards and just enough sass to shake up any boys’ club. Think of this as the champagne-fueled crash course you never knew you needed. Learn the lingo, flex the brainpower you know you have, and maybe even steal the show.
First, What Is Sports Betting?
Sports betting is exactly what it sounds like: placing money on the outcome of a game, a play, or a moment within a game. Unlike your ex, sports are somewhat predictable-ish. And with the right knowledge, you can turn your “just hanging out” into “just cashed out.”
There are three basic bet types to know:
Moneyline – You are betting on who wins. Period. Think of it like calling who’s getting the final rose on The Bachelor.
Spread – You are betting on how much a team will win or lose by. It is the “I bet the Cubs win by at least 2 runs kind of bet.” If the spread is 2, they need to win by more than 2 runs for you to cover and cash.
Over/Under (aka Totals) – Betting whether the total score will be over or under a number set by oddsmakers. Basically, “I don’t care who wins. I just want more (Over) or less (Under) points, baby.”
Power Stats to Drop on Your Guy and Where to Begin!
There are several sports betting apps out there with FanDuel and DraftKings being two of the hottest. These two have 40% of all US downloads and $100B (yes, billion!) dollars wagered as of January 1, 2025. BetMGM, CaesarsSportsBook, and ESPN Bet round out the Top 5, and combined do not equal the downloads and money exchanged of FanDuel and DraftKings.
Hot Tip 1: Before downloading any of the apps, make sure your state is included. Not all apps have gaming licenses in every state.
Hot Tip 2: Look for one that matches your initial deposit. Yes, this is essentially the gateway drug of online sports betting. There is no free lunch, girl, no matter what he tells you. Free money comes with the data that you will lose it back to the house along with your own initial deposit.
Hot Tip 3: A little knowledge and discipline go a long way. You can have fun learning how to bet sports and strengthen your relationship with your guy at the same time.
Betting on Baseball: Hit It Outta the Park, Sister!
MLB is like the tall, quiet guy with strong abs and stats. It is not always flashy, but when it hits, oh it hits.
Easy Starter Bets:
Moneyline: Pick the winner. If the Cubs are playing the Mets and you bet Cubs moneyline, you win if the Cubs win. No drama, no point spreads.
Over/Under (Total Runs): Will both teams together score more than, say, 9.5 runs? You don’t need to care who wins. You are just watching the scoreboard climb.
First 5 Innings: Want to dip your toes without committing to a full 9 innings? Bet on who leads after 5 innings. It is the speed-dating version of baseball betting.
Talk Like a Pro Tip: Next time your boyfriend says, “I think the Yankees have this one locked,” casually say, “Cool, but what’s the run line?” Then sip your drink and smile like you just dropped a hot stock tip.
Betting on Golf: Fore… the Money!
Golf betting is the sneaky-good choice for beginners. It is all about patience, pacing, and potential big payouts. Plus, let’s be real. The outfits are iconic, and it is fun to pretend, or even better to know, what a “fade” is.
Basic Bets to Try:
Outright Winner: You pick a player to win the whole tournament. The odds are juicy. A ten dollar bet on a plus 2500 golfer (like a long shot you believe in) could net 250 dollars if she wins. Hello, bottomless brunch money.
Top 10 or Top 5 Finish: Safer than the full win. You are betting your player will finish among the top. Easier to hit and still solid returns.
Head-to-Head Matchups: Your guy vs. another guy. You don’t care if they win the tournament. You just want your guy to outplay their guy. This is the golf equivalent of “Who wore it better?”
Hot Girl Golf Take: “Scottie Scheffler looks dialed in off the tee, but his putting’s been shaky. I like Xander in a Top 5 finish this week.”
Translation: You just became that girl. Watch heads turn and smile. Cool indifference is sexy.
Know the Odds, Work the Juice
Odds can be confusing, but here’s a crash course:
+150 means bet 100 dollars to win 150.
-110 means bet 110 dollars to win 100.
Positive odds = underdogs. Negative odds = favorites. Betting an underdog is like dating a musician. It is risky, but thrilling if they hit it big.
The “juice” (aka the vig) is the house cut. You will often see something like -110 on both sides of a bet. That extra ten dollars is the sportsbook’s way of saying, “Thanks for playing.” So yes, they always win. But now? So can you.
Parlays: The Vegas Walk of Fame (or Shame)
Want to bet multiple outcomes for a bigger payout? That’s a parlay. Parlays are a way to increase possible winnings, but they are also harder to win because all “legs” of the parlay must come in.
For example, you could bet that:
- The Cubs win (moneyline)
- Total runs over 9
- Pete Crow-Armstrong hits one home run
Each of those three bets is a “leg” of the parlay. You can bet as many legs as the app will allow, and each leg raises the stakes and potential winnings because the more legs, the less likely the parlay will cash in.
If you were to bet that exact parlay today (Saturday, July 19, 2025), odds would be +750, meaning if you bet ten dollars, you would win seventy-five.
But beware: If one leg loses, you lose it all. Think of it like trying to text three exes in one night and expecting no drama.
We say: Start with singles, build your bankroll, then flirt with parlays when you are feeling lucky.
Final Thoughts for a Girl’s Night Out
You can fake it until you make it if you know some of the lingo. And you don’t have to love sports to love winning. You just need a little knowledge, a little confidence to start and build on over time, and maybe a cute spreadsheet.
Next time your guy starts talking about ERAs or betting the over on Sunday Night Baseball, slide in with:
“Yeah, I took the over too. I liked the weather and that bullpen’s trash. Anyway, I’m up forty bucks today. What about you?”
Boom. Mic drop. You’re making your own sugar.
Stay tuned for next week’s topic: “Trash Talk 101: Sweet Nothings That’ll Boost His Parlay Too.”
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