Top 6 Types of Bets You Can Make in Online Sportsbooks

The world of sports betting is vast, with different types of wagers available for almost every sport imaginable. This can be confusing and intimidating to new sports bettors, but it doesn’t have to be. The key is starting with the basics and gradually working your way up. You don’t need to know everything about sports to be successful, but you must understand the different types of bets available and how they work. In this article, we’ll break down the top 6 bets you can make when you bet on sports.

Full-Time Result (1×2)

This is the most basic type of bet and one that can be made on any sport. You simply pick which team or individual you think will win the match outright. For example, football betting would have three possible outcomes: a win for Team A, a win for Team B, or a draw. In other sports, like tennis, there can only be two outcomes (a win for Player A or a win for Player B), so the odds will be slightly different.

For example, let’s say you want to bet on the outcome of a football match between Liverpool and Chelsea. If you think Liverpool will win, you would bet on the 1×2 market with odds of 2.00. If Chelsea wins, you would lose your stake.

There is also the option to choose a tie, which would pay out at much higher odds (usually around 3.00 or more), but this is generally not recommended as it is very difficult to predict a tie in most sports.

Total (Over/Under)

This is a bet on whether the total number of goals, points, or another specified statistic will be over or under a certain amount. For example, in an Over/Under 2.5 Goals market in soccer, you would be betting on whether there will be 3 or more goals scored in the match (over 2.5) or 2 or fewer goals scored (under 2.5).

The odds for this type of bet are usually around 1.90 for both the over and under sides since it is relatively evenly balanced. However, if one side is seen as much stronger than the other, then the odds will be skewed accordingly.

Also, it’s important to note that in some markets, the line may be given as a whole number (e.g., Over 200, Under 200) instead of with decimal points (e.g., Over 200.5, Under 199.5). In this case, if the final score is exactly on the line (e.g., 201 points in a basketball game), then all bets on that market will be void, and your stake returned to you

Handicap

A handicap is where the sportsbook gives one team or individual a virtual head start (or disadvantage) to even out the odds. For example, if Manchester United is playing against Sunderland and you think Man Utd will win comfortably, you might bet on them with a -1 goal handicap meaning they would need to win by 2 or more goals for your wager to be successful.

Similarly, if you thought Sunderland had no chance of winning but could avoid a heavy defeat, you might bet on them with a +2 goal handicap, meaning they could lose by up to 1 goal, and your bet would still be successful. The odds on handicaps vary depending on the virtual advantage/disadvantage size, but they usually range from 1.50 to 2.00.

Correct Score

This is a bet on the match’s final score, and it can be quite difficult to predict correctly. The odds are usually around 5.00 or higher but can be as high as 10.00 or more if it is a close match with multiple possible outcomes.

For example, let’s say you want to bet on the correct score of the Liverpool vs Chelsea match we mentioned earlier. Some possible correct score bets might be 2-1 to Liverpool (odds of 8.00), 1-0 to Chelsea (odds of 9.00), or 0-0 (a draw, odds of 11.00). As you can see, the odds increase when the prediction is more specific.

Half time/Full Time (HT/FT)

This is a bet on the result at half time and then again at full time. For example, you could bet that Team A will win at half time but lose the match in the end or that there will be a tie at half time, and team A will win the match.

As you can imagine, this type is quite difficult to predict, so the odds are usually high (around 4.00 or more). This way, you will have the chance to win a lot of money if you correctly predict an unlikely outcome, but you will also lose your stake more often than with other types.

First Goal Scorer

As the name suggests, this is a bet on which the player will score the match’s first goal. This can be done in football and other sports where multiple goals are scored (e.g., hockey, rugby).

The odds vary depending on who the favorite is to score first. For example, if Robert Lewandowski is playing for Barcelona against Leganes, then he would be a heavy favorite to score first, and his odds could be as low as 1.50. On the other hand, if two relatively unknown players are starting for their respective teams, then their First Goal Scorer odds might both be around 10.00 or higher since it’s much harder to predict who will get that all-important opening goal.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the most popular types of bets available in online sportsbooks. In the beginning, it is advisable to stick to simpler bets like 1×2 and Over/Under as you get used to how sports betting works. As you become more familiar with it, you’ll likely come across other types of bets as well. But for now, these should give you a good foundation to start with. So, pick a sport, find a market that you’re comfortable with, and good luck!