Asian Handicap betting has quickly become one of the most popular football betting markets. Although there are plenty of Asian handicap bets placed on every game, many bettors don’t understand how the Asian handicap market works. To help you out, Bet UK have created a guide on Asian Handicap betting.

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What is Asian Handicap Betting?

Asian Handicap betting is popular on games that might have a clear favourite, as it requires a team to score more than one goal and can lead to better odds. Asian handicaps will give a team a theoretical goal advantage or disadvantage. For example, a -1 handicap for a team will essentially mean they start on -1 goals. This means they need to win by 2 clear goals for the results to come in. On the other hand, a +1 handicap gives a team a 1 goal head start. For the bet to lose, they would need to lose by 2 clear goals.

Asian handicaps differ from traditional handicap markets because punters can get their money back if their result is a draw. For example, if a bet is placed on England to win with a -0.5 handicap, and England only win by 1 goal, the result will effectively be a draw. Rather than the bet losing, the stake will be returned. This is only possible on Asian handicap markets that offer whole numbers. Some markets offer half goals, -0.5 for example.

Asian Handicaps that offer half a goal handicaps work very similarly to normal Asian handicaps, but will not return any money if the bet results in a draw. For example, a bet on Swansea City to win with a -0.5 handicap can only win or lose. If Swansea wins by 2 clear goals, then the bet will result as a win. If Swansea only wins by 1 goal, the handicap score will be a draw, meaning the bet has lost.

Finally, there are quarter goal Asian handicap markets. Markets can also be offered with -0.25 goal and -0.75 goal Asian handicaps. For both markets, your stake will be split in half between 2 different bets. For -0.25, half your stake will be placed on -0.5 Asian handicap, with the other half being placed on 0 handicaps. For -0.75, half your stake will be placed on -0.5 Asian handicap, with the other half being placed on -1. This means that you can essentially cover 2 different Asian handicap markets at once. If you only win half your bet, then you will still get some returns, with the other half losing.

Asian Handicap Betting Strategy

Asian Handicaps can provide some of the best value in sports betting overall. They can help turn a completely one-sided affair into a competitive match, whilst also providing some incredible betting value

When looking for your next handicap bet, you’ll want to pick out a game where you expect there to be a heavy favourite. For example, in the FA Cup, when a Premier League side is drawn against a lower league side, the handicap betting markets are always worth checking out. If Manchester City were drawn against a side like Macclesfield, we can expect Man City to dominate, potentially winning by 5 or more goals. Therefore a handicap of around -3 or -4, would provide great value for the match, as long as you are confident that City would dominate.

It’s not just blowout games where handicap betting can come in handy, however. Closely matched games can also provide great value. For example, a mid-table clash between Everton and Burnley could go either way, with both teams likely priced just above evens at around 21/20. But if you think Everton are in good form and can dominate against Burnley, then even a -1 handicap could see your price rise to as high as 4/1.

Asian Handicap Betting Examples

Placing a bet on England -2 against Germany

For this bet to win, England needs to win by 3 clear goals. If England only wins by 2 goals, then your stake will be refunded as the match finished as a draw including handicaps. If England only wins the game by 1, draw or lose the game, then the bet will be lost.

Placing a bet on England -1.5 against Germany

For this bet to win, England needs to win by 2 clear goals. If England fails to win by at least 2 clear goals, then the bet will result in a loss. The stake cannot be refunded on a half goal Asian handicap.

Placing a bet on England -0.75 against Germany

If England wins by 2 clear goals, then the full bet will win. If England only wins by 1, then half of the bet will be returned as a win, with the other half resulting as a loss. If England draws or lose, then the whole bet will result in a loss.

Bet UK's Betting Guides are here to help you out with some of our more complicated sports betting markets, ensuring that you have the best possible experience at Bet UK.

Asian Handicap FAQs

How Does Handicap Betting Work in Football?

Football is the sport where Handicap betting is most common. In simple terms, handicap betting in football adds an imaginary goal advantage, or disadvantage, to a side. This means a side could start with -1 goals, essentially making the score -1-0 at kick-off. For your bet to win, that team will need to win by 2 goals to overcome their handicap.

What Does Handicap Draw Mean?

A Handicap Draw works very similarly to the traditional handicap betting markets. A team will still be hindered with a hypothetical goal handicap, but rather than needing them to win, they just need to level the scores. For example, if you bet -1 draw on England against Germany, a 1-0 England win would result in a handicap 0-0 draw.

Is Point Spread The Same As Handicap?

Point Spread and Handicap Betting are two names for the same concept in betting. Both markets offer a theoretical advantage or disadvantage to a side, which they will need to overcome to win. The main difference between the two is the sport that they are commonly found in. Point Spread is more popular in American sports, such as basketball and American football. Handicap betting, however, is more popular in sports such as football, rugby and hockey.

Which Sports Have Handicap Betting?

Handicap betting can be found in almost any point based sport. Football, rugby and hockey all feature handicap betting on the outright score of a game. For tennis, you may find handicap markets for the number of sets a player will win. Although handicap is a common term in golf overall, handicap betting is traditionally not available. You may also find the term Point Spread in sports like basketball and American football. This is essentially the same concept but just uses a different term in America.

Head to Bet UK's online betting markets where you can get the latest Asian Handicap betting markets, in events such as the Premier League, Champions League, Bundesliga and more. At Bet UK's sports betting blog, we will be bringing you the latest Premier League betting tips, as well as odds and previews for the biggest sporting events throughout the world.

More Betting Pages

• Football Betting
• Italian Serie A
• Spanish La Liga
• Both Teams to Score Tips
• Europa League Betting Tips
• FA Cup Betting Tips

Bet builders have come a long way since they launched across the best UK sportsbooks a few years ago and these days there’s barely a sporting fixture going that isn’t compatible with building your own bet.

Whether you bet on football, tennis, NFL or any other sport, the fact that bet builders exist means you’re in total control of what you wager on.

But if you’re unfamiliar with a bet builder then you might, understandably, be a bit uncertain of how to get the most from this wagering structure.

Well, here’s where we can help. In this guide, we will take you through why you should place a bet builder, and offer a number of bet building tips.

You’ll learn how bet builders work, how to place a bet builder and understand the difference between them and accumulators. Once you’ve read through it, you’ll be able to enter the Bet UK sportsbook with more confidence and choose your personalised wagers that suit you!

How to create a bet builder

• Step One: Select your fixture
• Step Two: Make your selection
• Step Three: Review your selection
• Step Four: Place your bet

How to create a bet builder: Step One - Select your fixture

If you're looking to place a bet builder, you'll likely know what games you're going to be looking to bet on. For example, if you're looking to bet on the early kick-off of the Premier League weekend, you'll find this at the top of the Premier League sportsbook.

How to create a bet builder: Step Two - Make your selection

Once you've selected the game you wish to bet on, you then should review the betting markets and see what you would like to add to your bet builder. For our example, Brighton & Hove Albion Manchester United, we'll be focusing on two markets.

How to create a bet builder: Step Three - Review your selection

Once you've placed your bets, you'll have all your betting markets available in one place. So, in our example, we have Brighton to win and over 2.5 goals. You'll be able to see the total odds and payouts based on your stake.

How to create a bet builder: Step Four - Place your bet

Once you've reviewed your options, the last thing to do is place the bet, click the 'place bet' button to confirm your bet.

How does a bet builder work?

Bet builders work by combining a series of interconnected bets on one sporting event into a single bigger wager. In doing so, bet builders enhance your odds and therefore grow your potential profits.

They are considered one of the most important bet structures in the online sports betting community because of their malleability, which means every punter gets to bet on the exact outcome they wish.

Let’s use a football game between England and Netherlands as the example of a bet builder in action, as this is football where this wager is most commonly used. A fan may choose to bet on England to win but also want to wager on the total goals scored, a player being shown a yellow card and there being a goal scored in the first 15 minutes.

Our fan could bet on these incidents individually or combine them in a wider wager. This combination is where the bet builder comes in. Doing this enhances the fan’s odds as each outcome needs to win in order to fulfil the overall bet.

Bet builder vs accumulator explained

You might think a bet builder is the same as an accumulator – and yes, they are quite similar. However, the difference between a bet builder and an acca is that the builder is focused on one event, and the acca over a number of events.

The reason for this difference is down to the event itself. With a bet builder your sportsbook recognises when you’ve made two incompatible choices. For example: England to beat Netherlands and England not to score. This is impossible, and the bet builder will recognise this and prevent you from placing the bet.

An acca is a series of unrelated events combined into one mega wager. So, for example, it could be England to beat Netherlands, France to beat Germany and Spain to beat Sweden in a three-fold acca.

An acca spans multiple games; a bet builder is a bet on multiple events within the same game.

How bet builder odds are calculated

The other big difference between bet builders and accumulators is how odds are calculated. Whereas in accas the individual odds are simply multiplied together to create the overall price, with bet builders the sportsbook will determine the eventual odds.

That’s because in a bet builder one event on your betslip affects another. Betting on England to beat Netherlands, score +2.5 goals and keep a clean sheet are interconnected bets. And so the odds are calculated to reflect this.

Accumulator odds aren’t affected in the same way because each leg of an acca is unconnected to the rest, which means one outcome doesn’t affect the likelihood of another outcome happening.

Bookmakers use algorithms to work out the likelihood of bet builders winning, and set their recalculated odds accordingly. The best way to work out your bet builder odds is to build it in the Bet UK betslip and check out the price there.

Are bet builders good value?

This is a question many football betting fans ask because bet builders have lower odds than accumulators. However, they are still better value than placing individual wagers on a single match because bet builders are the only way to combine bets on said event.

Remember, bookmakers have to factor in numerous variables when setting their bet builder odds. The bet builder rules mean one goal affects not only the course of the match but also the likelihood of many other markets, such as over/unders, handicaps and goalscorer betting. Likewise, a red card can send the algorithm spinning, and bookmakers need to factor this in when setting their pre-match bet builder prices.

Best sports to use bet builders

Bet builders can be applied to practically every sport but by far the most popular is football. That’s because, on the whole, sports betting fans in the UK are very well clued up on their football knowledge – and this means there is a demand for structures such as bet builders.

Bet builders can be used on other sports such as NFL and rugby but the algorithm with football is so precise that this has become the go-to sport for these sorts of wagers.

Best bet builder tips

When building a bet for the first time it’s worth considering how one leg of your wager might affect another. For example, if you’re banking on England to beat Netherlands, then also betting on the Dutch to score +3.5 goals is perhaps a little farfetched. This sort of combination will naturally increase your odds – but is it actually going to materialise?

So, when online betting and bet building you need to consider the end result, and many fans work backwards from here. If you think England will win but via a slender margin, and the game will feature its fair share of bad challenges, then you need to build a bet that complements these outcomes.

A good example is this:

England win England score +1.5 goals +4.5 yellow cards in the match England keep clean sheet

In this example, England can win 2-0 or more and you win your bet, so long as those fouls come in hard and the Dutch fail to score.

A bad example is this:

• England win
• 1.5 goals
• Netherlands +5.5 shots

In this example, England would have to win 1-0 in order for you to win your bet, but you’ve also banked on the Dutch missing a spate of chances. Is this bet really worth the risk, instead of just backing the Three Lions to win 1-0?

How to place a bet builder

Placing a bet builder is easy. All you need to do is find the match or sporting event you want to wager on, and click on the ‘bet builder’ tab at the top of the listing. If there isn’t a ‘bet builder’ tab then you can still add multiple selections in your bet slip.

What the bet builder tab does is cut out any impossible bets once you’ve made your first choices. So, once you back England to win, you can’t also add a 0-0 result to your betslip. And, if you bet on Netherlands not to score, you can’t then include a Dutch player from the first goalscorer market.

Once you’ve structured your bet, simply enter your desired stake in the betslip, check your risk and potential payout, and hit Place Bet to complete the process.

Bet builder FAQs

If you’re still stuck on how bet builders work or the best way to create a bet, here are some quick tips from our FAQs section…

What is a bet builder?

A bet builder is a section of the Bet UK sportsbook where you can make your own bet by adding multiple wagers from the same match into one big bet.

How can I build a bet?

You can build a bet by clicking the ‘bet builder’ tab on your chosen sporting event and then clicking the numerous odds to craft your desired wager.

Does a bet builder work on live sports?

Yes. You can use the bet builder on live sports and in-play events. However, be aware that the odds are constantly changing and some options may fall off the bet builder in the event of a goal, red card, etc.

Can I cash out a bet builder?

Yes. Like most sports bets you can cash out whenever you like.

How do I know my bet builder odds?

You can see your bet builder odds in the betslip once you have made your selections. You can also enter your stake in the betslip to display how much profit you stand to make.

Is bet builder better than acca?

It depends. If you want to bet on one sporting event then the bet builder is your ideal structure. Accas are used for combining wagers on multiple events into one mega bet, and these odds are usually larger because each leg of the bet cannot affect another.

Booking points when betting on football is one of the more intricate wagers you can encounter in the Bet UK sportsbook. It enables punters to bet on a game without needing to be invested in one team winning or losing, and so the bet type is perfect if you reckon there’s a chance it will be a dirty encounter.

In this guide, we’ll take you through the idea of booking points, why the bet option exists, and what value yellow cards and red cards have when betting. You’ll then be able to bet on football with more confidence the next time you’re in the Bet UK sportsbook!

What are booking points?

Booking points are a betting metric used in sportsbooks that give punters the chance to wager on how dirty or clean a game is. The general idea is that the dirtier the game, the more yellow and red cards will be shown. The points system gives greater weight to red cards than yellow cards, so you can place bets on how many points are accumulated in a game.

Yellow cards are valued at 10 points, while red cards are valued at 25 points. So, if someone is shown a straight red for a lunge in the Merseyside derby, that’s 25 points added to the total. The question you'll often be asked is how many booking points will there be in a game, or will player A get a yellow card.

As a bettor, you can wager on the total number of points accumulated in a game. Most players tend to hover around the 30 to 50 mark, because the average bookings in a Premier League game is 3.8. Of course, a red card dramatically increases the points, but these are rarer. With this in mind, you'll find greater odds in the booking points market for a red card than a yellow card but football cards betting provides fantastic opportunities, particularly when looking at in-play bets for a football match.

How to calculate booking points when betting

It’s important to think about the full 90 minutes when betting on booking points. After all, if you think a game between Manchester City and Crystal Palace will be a routine victory for City, then it’s unlikely to get dirty towards the end of the clash and the number of cards in the game should be low. You might, therefore, choose to bet under a specific number of booking points.

Likewise, betting on the North London derby will probably require some thought as to how many bookings and red cards there will be, for games like this you'll be able to find card betting tips to support booking points markets as many believe these clashes provide some of the best value in football betting. You’ll probably wager quite highly here, considering there’s been 5.9 yellows per NLD in the past decade, and a red card every three encounters.

Now, it’s also important to note that a straight red is worth 25 points, but two yellow cards is worth 35 booking points (not 20). Is your chosen game likely to produce a straight red, or is it more probable that someone will be dismissed for multiple offences?

Betting on yellow cards

You can also bet on yellow cards in the Bet UK sportsbook – both as a game total and for individual players. Each market featuring card betting has an option to wager above or below a specific number. For example, you might wager +4.5 yellow cards in a game between Birmingham City and Cardiff City. Likewise, you might wager -1.5 yellows in a dead-rubber encounter at the end of the season against Montrose and Alloa.

Bet UK allows punters to bet on player cards during big games too. Our odds are set before the teamsheets are announced, and react as any other bet type does once the XIs are known. For example, you could bet on a Brighton centre-back to get booked when facing Manchester City, knowing they’re in for a long afternoon. Or you might bet on a Celtic midfielder to get the first booking of the day in the Old Firm. Betting on cards, can be particularly fruitful in rivalry matches, such as when betting on the Old Firm derby in the Scottish Premiership, as these fixtures are as fierce as it gets but nobody wants to get a red card, so many teams accumulate a number of cards across the team.

Betting on red cards

You can also bet on red cards here at Bet UK. Red card betting is great fun when you know there’s going to be a spicy match – but actually many players earn big profits here when wagering on supposedly tame games that spill over.

There’s always the possibility of a nasty challenge coming in, and red card betting requires some research. For example, it’s worth looking at the weather and the pitch conditions, to see if late, lunging challenges may be a problem. You should also look at the recent disciplinary records between the two teams in action – if one team picks up numerous bookings per game then perhaps tonight they’ll see red.

Red card betting of course carries higher odds than yellow, but remains a lucrative pursuit for shrewd punters. If you're looking for a straight red card, you'll likely avoid booking points betting and look at other booking betting markets, as they'll provide better value for what you're looking for.

Bet on bookings via mobile

Enhance your football betting experience by downloading the Bet UK app, and access the booking markets in the palm of your hand! Experience the complete Bet UK sportsbook, and get started with incredible bonuses.

With the Bet UK app, you'll find all the booking bets available on the website that cover every game in the Premier League, Champions League, Championship and other top competitions. This means you’ll never miss a booking or red card! 

Booking Points Betting FAQs

What are the values of card betting?

Yellow cards are worth 10 points, and red cards worth 25 points. When you bet on booking points it’s always worth remembering, too, that a player who picks up two yellows gets 35 points overall (not 20).

Can I bet on bookings?

Yes. You can bet on bookings in football games here at Bet UK. Either you can bet on booking points, wager on total cards shown in a match, or bet on a specific player to be shown a yellow

When should I bet on bookings?

It’s always worth waiting until the lineups have been announced before betting on bookings in football. After all, you don’t want to wager on a lot of booking points, only to see the dirtiest players on either side have been rested or benched!

Can I bet on bookings in the NLD?

Yes. Betting on bookings in the north London derby is probably a smart wager, considering there’s an average 5.9 yellows in games between Arsenal and Tottenham.

What booking points markets are available?

Typically, most players already know about yellow card and red card betting markets as cards betting is a gigantic part of the bet builder functionality that is widely popular in modern-day football betting. However, other booking points markets can provide fantastic value as well, betting on cards doesn't stop at individual players, you can bet on the specific number of cards in football matches, which team will end the game with the most booking points, the total booking points at the end of the game and much more! So if you're looking at the best betting market for bookings betting, don't just stop at yellow or red cards, look deeper into the sportsbook options available at BetUK and see what options we have for betting.

Both Teams To Score is a bet type that you may have heard plenty about. The BTTS markets are always popular with football fans in particular because it encourages the support of goals – and that, after all, is what football’s all about!

But if you’re new to sports betting or aren’t sure whether to place a BTTS bet, this particular market can feel a bit confusing.

Well, Bet UK is here to help with the ultimate Both Teams To Score Guide.

This guide will take you through the basics of a BTTS bet, how it works and how to place a sports bet. You’ll also discover which sports are more applicable to Both Teams To Score than others, and how you can use stats to maximise your chances of winning big profits.

By the end of it you’ll have a good knowledge of what is a BTTS bet, and why it’s so popular!

What does BTTS mean in betting

Both Teams To Score (BTTS) is a bet type where you back both teams competing in the same game to score at least one goal or point each. It is most commonly used in football games, where punters wager on both the home and away team scoring.

A BTTS bet will look something like this:

As the odds here indicate, there is more likelihood of this game featuring goals for both teams than not.

How profitable BTTS bets are is up for debate. Between the 2016/17 and 2020/21 seasons, both teams scored in just over 50% of all Premier League matches. In the EFL Championship that figure was >51%.

This means that the BTTS bet on high-level English games usually has a 50/50 chance of winning, and that’s often reflected in the odds.

How BTTS works

BTTS is a straightforward wager. You can either bet Yes on both teams to score in a chosen game, or No. The fact that only two options are available makes it an attractive bet for punters who want to avoid the Match Odds market, where there are three possible results (home win, draw, away win).

Usually the BTTS odds reflect the disparity in quality between the two teams in question. If Yes is priced at 7/1 and No at 1/3, it’s probably because the bookmakers believe one team will definitely not concede.

The reason BTTS bets are so popular is because they last an entire game. This is unlike other bets that can abruptly end midway through a game, such as First Team To Score or First Touchdown betting.

The BTTS market runs until full time, which means even if a football team is winning 4-0, there’s always a chance of the opposition scoring and you nailing your bet.

Contrast this to betting on a team to win. Should they fall 3-0 down by halftime, your bet is effectively ruined before the game has even finished. With BTTS, the chance to turn a profit lasts from the first until the last whistle.

How BTTS varies in different sports

BTTS is a common market for low-scoring sports such as football and hockey. However, this bet type can vary with other, high-scoring sports. In this instance often the BTTS market is focused on a specific period of the game – for example, the first quarter of an American football game.

Here are three sports where Both Teams To Score apply to different timeframes…

Football – In football the BTTS market is almost as popular as the win and correct score markets. This is partially because football fans are accustomed to watching games even when they’re not supporting a particular team. Because of this, they prefer to wager on an event that will last the full 90 minutes – and BTTS does just that. BTTS betting is a mainstay of football betting and is a great way to build up funds with smaller odds.

Ice hockey – There are, on average, more goals scored in ice hockey games than football games. So the BBTS market splits into periods 1, 2 and 3. You can therefore wager on both teams scoring over a specific period, rather than the entire game (which most bookmakers wouldn’t offer as the odds would be miniscule). BTTS may be less popular in Ice Hockey Betting but it certain represents a good option!

NFL – Like in ice hockey, the BTTS markets in the NFL are split into periods. There are four quarters in American football and quite often the odds for BTTS in the first period are wider than against. It therefore becomes a popular wager to bank on both teams getting points on the board early on. BTTS betting in NFL tends to turn into more of an over/under betting situation but with two low-scoring teams anything can happen.

It’s worth noting too that many individual sports such as tennis, darts and snooker don’t feature BTTS. This is because the scoring mechanisms used in these sports makes it practically impossible to avoid points being awarded to both sides.

Why BTTS bets are popular

The popularity of Both Teams To Score bets comes down to the attitude of your average sports bettor. Most of us follow specific teams but also love watching sport, whether it be football, NFL, hockey or whatever happens to be on TV!

BTTS is a great way of betting on the game without needing to back a specific team, and instead, bank on a fun viewing experience. After all, scoring is what sport is all about.

Some bettors will also bet against the BTTS on specific games. This is popular because there are more chances to win than backing a particular team to win to nil, over another.

Both Teams to Score Tips

When it comes to BTTS tips look no further than a sport you know well. There’s no point wagering on NFL games if you don’t follow American football, for example, as this will prevent you from making the smartest choice possible.

In this instance let’s stick with football (soccer) and explore some betting tips that work for experienced players.

When considering a BTTS bet, players will often look at:

• Head to head record
• Evenness of the teams
• Form guides
• Injury lists and suspensions

Let’s now take a look at these tips to place a BTTS bet in detail…

Head-to-head record

Checking out the recent head-to-head record between two teams is an ideal place to start, especially when these teams have had managers and systems in place over a number of years.

Take, for example, Liverpool and Manchester City. In a seven-game period between 2019 and 2021, both teams scored in six of their meetings. That suggests their next encounter will witness goals at both ends.

Evenness of the teams

This metric can be used when considering whether to back against BTTS. If the teams are hugely uneven – say City are playing Lincoln at home in the FA Cup – then it’s likely the hosts will keep a clean sheet. Many punters wager against BTTS in these sorts of games.

Form guides

This can be a great resource for determining if a team will score or concede. Teams can hit purple patches as well as go through miserable periods, and the form guide will give you a good idea of how lethal a team is going forward, and how stable they are at the back.

Injury lists and suspensions

This is a less-used resource but incredibly important. Injuries and suspensions to key players can dramatically impact on a team’s performance, especially in the lower divisions. If a team’s top scorer is out injured and their No 1 goalkeeper suspended, betting against BTTS in their next game could prove profitable.

BTTS accas

One of the other top tips to place a BTTS bet is to add it onto other wagers. Creating accumulator bets is easy to do and can greatly boost your potential winnings by increasing your odds.

All you have to do is select a number of wagers in the sportsbook and your bet slip will add them to a wider ‘acca’. If all these individual bets win, you win the wider wager and bigger profits.

Many players will often stick money on a first goalscorer or the yellow cards markets in football, and then attach a BTTS wager. This is because the BTTS carries less risk than many other bet types, and can plump up mundane odds from other markets into something more worthwhile.

Other players will conduct an accumulator based purely on Both Teams To Score wagers. This is often a popular bet to stake a few pence on, with the chance of winning hundreds of pounds off the back of a tiny stake.

Try BTTS betting today

Now you know more about the BTTS meaning and how it works, it’s time to put your newfound knowledge into action. Here at BetUK, all our football games feature Both Teams To Score markets, as to our NFL and ice hockey fixtures.

Most people that look to place a BTTS bet, look to do so by using an accumulator. If you're looking to place one, check out the BetUK Acca club where you can get profit boosts on your accumulators.

But before jumping straight into a wager, first take a look at the odds and do your research by looking at form guides, injury lists, etc. From here you’ll be able to make a smart choice as to whether your chosen fixture will feature goals or points for both teams.

If you're looking for betting tips for BTTS check out our blog!

Decimal Betting Odds

Decimal betting odds have been around for decades and are now the most popular type of odds available to UK punters. Over the years more and more sports betting fans have gravitated towards decimal odds due to their convenience and ease of use.

These days the best sportsbooks – like Bet UK – carry decimal odds as well as fractional and American. But if you’ve never bet with decimal odds before you might not know how they work. In this guide we’ll take you through the intricacies of decimal odds betting, where the concept came from, and how to read decimal odds.

What are decimal betting odds?

Decimal odds are a form of betting odds that show punters the likelihood they have of winning a bet, based on how much they’ll get back in total from a £1 stake. They usually look something like this…

Here, you can see that the shortest odds are for the black to be the first coloured ball potted in a game of snooker (after a red, of course). That’s because black has the smallest decimal odds, while the pink, brown and yellow all have far greater odds.

How decimal betting odds work

Decimal odds may look complicated but they’re actually very easy to understand. That’s because you can work out your return from a winning bet simply by looking at the number. All you need to do is multiply the odds by your stake, and that’s your return.

So, for example, you bet £1 on Manchester City to beat Milan at odds of 3.00. This means you’ll get £3 back in your account if City win. Bet £10 and you’ll get £30 back, etc.

Here’s the maths for decimal odds: £1 bet at 3.00 odds = £2 profit + £1 stake back = £3 return.

Of course, if you don’t want to do the maths, then you can always click on your chosen odds in the Bet UK sportsbook, enter your proposed stake in the pop-up bet slip, and check your potential return before hitting Place Bet!

History of decimal betting odds

Decimal betting odds have only been around for a few decades, and slipped under the radar until the advent of online sports betting. Before that, bookmakers would use fractional betting odds to set prices on sports events like horse racing and football. Fractional betting odds were fine back then, because betting jargon was more commonplace. Bookmakers also rarely set complicated prices, so you could wager on a team to win the FA Cup final at odds of 2/1 or 3/1, rather than 8/11 or 7/15.

The emergence of online sports betting gave bookmakers the chance to be even more detailed with their odds, because you could easily calculate payouts via a computer. But the odds were still a little confusing to a fresh generation of sports bettors.

Decimal odds were therefore promoted. The decimal figures meant bookmakers could be far more detailed, and bettors could compare odds more easily. Now, when you see odds of 6.30, you know a £1 bet gets you £6.30 back. There’s very little maths to contend with.

Difference between decimal, fractional and American odds

Sports betting odds, no matter the type, all aim to show bettors the likelihood of an event occurring. The shorter the odds, the more likely the outcome will happen, and so your payout is smaller. Likewise, the longer the odds, the less likely an outcome will happen, so your payout is bigger.

Here’s a brief breakdown of how decimal odds are different to fractional and American styles:

Decimal Odds

Decimal odds are most commonly used in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, and are the popular choice at Bet UK. They represent the total payout (winnings plus original stake) for each unit staked.

To calculate the potential winnings of decimal odds, simply multiply the odds by the stake. For example, if the decimal odds are 2.00 and you bet £10, you would receive £20 (£10 x 2.00) in total, which includes your original stake of £10 and £10 in profit.

Decimal odds are considered easy to understand and use, making them the popular choice for those in the Bet UK community.

Fractional Odds

By contrast, fractional odds are a little more complicated. They represent the potential profit relative to your stake. Fractional odds are expressed as a fraction, such as 5/1 or 2/1.

Now, it’s time to remember those GCSE maths lessons. To calculate your potential winnings, divide the numerator (top number) by the denominator (bottom number) and multiply by your stake.

For example, with odds of 5/1 and a £10 stake, you would win £50 (£10 x 5) plus your original stake of £10, totaling £60. Fractional odds are considered traditional in the UK, but can be more challenging for some bettors to understand compared to decimal odds.

American Odds

You’ll see American odds most commonly in the United States, although UK bookmakers do offer them as a choice. They are expressed as either positive or negative numbers, and of course they’re supersized over in America.

Positive odds numbers indicate the amount of profit you would win on a £100 stake (not a £1 stake), while negative numbers show how much you need to stake to win £100. For example, if the odds are +300, a £100 bet would yield £300 in winnings. If the odds are -300, you would need to bet £300 to win £100.

Decimal Odds FAQs

Does Bet UK use decimal odds?

Yes. Bet UK use decimal odds for all our sports betting markets, including football, cricket, horse racing and NFL. You can change the odds type in your settings when you open a Bet UK account.

Can I switch between decimal odds and fractional odds?

Yes. At Bet UK you can choose your odds type and switch between decimal and fractional.

Double Chance Betting Guide

A Double Chance bet may not be the first thing you think of when looking to wager on sports. You might be focused on other markets like win/draw/lose, first goalscorers, live betting or even outrights. Sometimes we forget that Double Chance even exists as a bet option – but it’s something that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Whether you’re in a football fan, like to wager on darts, horse racing or even test cricket, the Double Chance bet and its various sister forms is a great way to improve your chances of winning back profit. Because of the low odds often associated with the double chance betting market, many people place accumulators when looking at this market. If you're looking to place an accumulator on double chance markets, check out the BetUK acca club where you can gain profit boosts on your acca.

In this Double Chance betting guide we’ll take you through the meaning of the bet type, in which sports it is used, and the best ways to deploy it. You’ll also learn the differences between Double Chance, Each Way bets, Draw No Bet, and Dead Heats.

What is Double Chance in betting?

Double Chance betting is a type of wager you can place on sports where there are three match outcomes: Home Win (1), Draw (X) and Away Win (2). The idea of the Double Chance bet is to back two of the three outcomes, and therefore improve your chances of winning.

Here’s a Double Chance bet example: Alloa are playing Falkirk in Scotland, and you want to bet on Alloa not to lose. You can’t bet on a Falkirk win, because what happens if it’s a draw? The answer is to bet on Alloa/Draw (1X) on the Double Chance. As the example shows, the odds are shorter at 1.67, but you have a better chance to win! This bet type covers two of the three possible match result outcomes.

How the double chance bet works

The Double Chance bet works by covering two of the three match outcomes in sports where draws are possible. It’s therefore perfect for football betting because draws happen so regularly.

With a Double Chance bet you’ll wager on one of the following three outcomes:

• Home Win/Draw (1X)
• Draw/Away Win (X2)
• Home Win/Away Win (12)

The beauty of the Double Chance bet is that you can wager on either team to win, and avoid a draw. This is great if, for example, you’re betting on a big derby such as the Old Firm, where draws are less common and both teams are incentivised to go for the victory.

One of the important things to note about the Double Chance betting type is how the odds work. Because you’re backing two of the three possible outcomes in a game, your odds will be shorter than if you, for example, just bet on the home team to win, or for the game to be a draw.

Sports with Double Chance bets

The main sport for double chance bets is, of course, football. This makes sense because football has a fairly even balance between home wins, draws and away wins. But that doesn’t mean it’s the only sport with the double chance. Here are just a few that you might find in the Bet UK sportsbook soon…

Football – Around one-quarter of all Premier League games end in a draw. This means the Double Chance is a viable option when placing wagers on football. After all, if you want to bet against a team but aren’t confident they’ll lose, it’s the ideal bet type!

Darts – Some darts tournaments facilitate draws if there is a league format. The Premier League of Darts used to allow 6-6 draws, which meant you could place a wager on the Double Chance. Keep an eye out for upcoming darts contests for Double Chance options.

Ice Hockey – Another sport with draws as a viable format, ice hockey betting odds carry Double Chance markets in case there’s a tie within regular time. You can also bet on teams to win or lose including overtime.

Handball – Some handball leagues allow draws rather than pushing into overtime, and therefore the Double Chance becomes an option here too.

Double Chance betting is a great way to get used to a new sport or league, without risking as much with your wager. You have a better chance of nailing a winning bet – especially if you bet on the heavy favourite not to lose – but there remains enough risk to make the wager worthwhile. 

Other bet types like Double Chance

The principle of Double Chance betting is that you have two chances to win, because your bet covers two of three possible outcomes. But there are other bets used in different sports that cover multiple outcomes too – they’re just not called a Double Chance. Below are some of the different types of bet that are similar to Double Chance, which are used in other sports…

Each Way – An Each Way bet is used in horse racing and greyhounds. Your bet is split in half, with the first half wagering on your pick to Win, and the second half wagering on it to Place. It means if your horse doesn’t win but does place in the top three, four or perhaps even five, then you still earn some money back.

Draw No Bet – Boxing at Bet UK carries a Draw No Bet market that accounts for the unlikely event where a bout ends in a draw. If this happens, you get your stake back from any wagers on the win market. The same happens in most Test cricket matches, such as The Ashes.

Dead Heat – Draws are uncommon in rugby, so Bet UK uses a ‘dead heat’ rule that means your odds are divided in two if there is a draw. You still win your bet, but the payout is smaller.

Double Chance Live Betting

You can bet on the Double Chance during live football games via Bet UK’s in-play odds. It’s important to remember that these odds fluctuate in response to events on the pitch. So, if you’re betting on England/Draw in a match against Lithuania, and they’re already 2-0 up, don’t be surprised if the live Double Chance odds are incredibly slim for 1X.

The Double Chance can, however, be a great bet option if the underdog scores early. Competitions where this is most likely include:

FA Cup – The tournament with the biggest cup upsets

EFL Cup – Lower-ranked teams can upset under-strength Premier League opponents

International Friendlies – There’s always the chance of an upset in a meaningless friendly

Pre-season friendlies – Likewise, a pre-season friendly can provide bettors with plenty of options to bet on upsets via the Double Chance markets

Double Chance FAQS

What does Double Chance mean in betting?

Double Chance in betting gives players the option to bet on two of three match outcomes: Home Win/Draw, Away Win/Draw, or Home Win/Away Win. Your chances of winning your bet are increased, but your odds are decreased.

How do I bet Double Chance

You can bet Double Chance at Bet UK by signing up for an account and heading to our sportsbook. All our football odds have Double Chance bet options. Simply click on the Double Chance outcome you want to back, enter your stake in the bet slip, and hit ‘Place Bet’.

Is Double Chance only in football?

No. The Double Chance bet is most popular in football because there are three viable outcomes to any game: Home Win, Draw, Away Win. But you can also find Double Chance wagers in ice hockey, darts and handball.

Fractional Betting Odds

Fractional betting odds have a long-standing history in the UK, and continue to be a popular choice among punters here at Bet UK. And while more and more sports bettors choose decimal odds, there’s no denying that fractional odds are where the spirit of sportsbooks truly lies.

Nowadays, top sportsbooks like us here at Bet UK feature fractional odds alongside decimal and American options. However, if you're new to betting with fractional odds, understanding how they work might be challenging. After all, they do require some good mental maths to figure out!

In this guide, we'll delve into the nuances of fractional odds betting, explore its origins, and explain how to interpret fractional odds.

What are fractional betting odds?

Fractional odds are a type of betting odds that aim to display the chances of you winning a wager. They are set out in a fraction, with a numerator (upper number) and a denominator (lower number). The idea is that the upper number is the profit you would get back from a bet, if you wagered the bottom number (your stake).

The higher the upper number, the bigger your potential profit, and therefore the less likely your bet is to win.

How Fractional odds differ to Decimal Odds

Fractional odds are more complicated than decimal or American odds but that doesn’t mean they’re impossible to figure out. Most people use the Bet UK bet slip to calculate their potential profit, rather than crunching the numbers in their head. Thankfully, though, the majority of fractional odds are easy to understand. So, here’s how they work:

With fractional odds, you work out your profit by dividing the top number by the bottom number. For example, you bet £1 on Bournemouth to beat Brighton at odds of 5/1. This means you’ll get £5 back as profit if Bournemouth win, plus your £1 stake. Bet £10 and you’ll get £50 in profit, etc.

Here’s the maths for fractional odds: £1 bet at 5/1 odds = 5 x £1 (+ your stake) = £6 return.

Remember, the Bet UK bet slip can save you time by doing the maths for you. Simply click on the odds you’re thinking of backing, and enter your proposed stake into the bet slip. You’ll see how much you could win instantly, before hitting Place Bet.

History of fractional betting odds

The history of fractional odds is closely tied to the evolution of bookmaking and the gambling industry in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Bookmakers began drawing up odds on horse racing more than 200 years ago, and the best way to do this was using fractions.

This may feel weird today, especially when decimal odds are easier to understand. But two centuries ago the currency in both the UK and Ireland was split into fractions, and people had a better sense of how they worked.

The first bookmakers began to emerge in the UK during the 18th century, primarily for horse racing events. As bookmakers created odds for these events, they used fractions to represent the probability of a particular outcome. One hundred years later and sports betting was now a big industry, fractional odds became the standard method for representing odds in UK bookmaking, partly due to their familiarity and the traditional nature of UK betting culture.

Bookmakers at racecourses became experts at fractional odds, and could swiftly change their odds to reflect movements in the market. This dexterity remains to this day, even though they now use electronic boards.

Fractional odds began to decline in the late 1990s when online sports betting emerged as a rival to betting shops. Players began to use decimal odds instead, as these require little prior knowledge or maths skills to work out potential profits. Most bookmakers now use both fractional and decimal odds, but it’s fair to say the historic odds format is less popular than the new kid on the block.

Difference between decimal, fractional and American odds

Fractional odds are the oldest form of betting odds that we still use in the 21st century. And while many sports betting fans prefer decimal odds, there’s no denying there’s something spiritual about seeing fractions listed out on a racecard.

Here’s a breakdown of how fractional odds are different to decimal and American types:

Fractional Odds

Fractional odds represent your possible profit (or positive odds) in relation to your stake. They are presented as a fraction, such as 6/1 or 2/1. To calculate potential winnings, divide the numerator (upper number) by the denominator (lower number) and multiply your stake.

Here’s an example: You bet on the Mavericks to beat the Heat at odds of 5/1 and a £10 stake. If the Mavericks win, you’ll get back £50 (£10 x 5) as well as your original stake of £10, totalling £60. While fractional odds are considered traditional in the UK, some bettors find them more challenging to calculate than decimal odds.

Decimal Odds

Decimal odds are the new boys on the block and have helped make online sports betting more popular. They signify the total return (both winnings and your original stake) for each unit wagered. To determine potential winnings, simply multiply the decimal odds by your stake.

For instance, if the decimal odds are 4.00 and you bet £10, you would receive a total of £40 (£10 x 4.00). This consists of your original £10 stake and £30 in winnings. The ease of understanding and using decimal odds make them a preferred choice for many bettors.

American Odds

American odds aren’t really used anywhere but in the United States. They are expressed as either positive or negative numbers. Positive odds show the amount of profit you would earn on a £100 stake. Negative odds show the amount you need to stake to win £100.

Here’s an example of American odds in action. You bet £100 at odds of +300 and get £300 in winnings. Easy, right? Conversely, if the odds are -300, you would need to bet £300 just to win £100.

Don't want to stick with the fractional odds format? You can convert fractional odds into decimal or American in the settings menu of your sportsbook. Alternatively, if you've already placed your bet, you can use our betting calculator to see how the odds compare in the decimal or American format.

Fractional Odds FAQs

Does Bet UK use fractional odds?

Yes. Bet UK use fractional odds in our sportsbook. This means you can bet with fractional odds on sports like cricket, football, horse racing and NFL. You can change the odds type in your settings when you open a Bet UK account.

Can I switch between fractional odds and decimal odds?

Yes. At Bet UK you can choose your odds type and switch between fractional and decimal. Converting fractional odds couldn't be easier, to convert odds, simply head to the settings menu at the bottom of your sportsbook and click the 'odds format' section to change your format.

Starting Price Betting Guide - How to bet on SP

Horse racing betting fans love a bit of jargon. Whether it’s antepost, bumper, Rule 4s, or odds-on, it's understandable if you don't know the ins and outs of this sport. After all, horse racing betting is more than 200 years old, and no-one teaches you how to ‘speak racing’.

But here at Bet UK we reckon you deserve to know the basics. In our latest guide we’ll show you the SP meaning horse racing punters need to be aware of before placing bets. Discover why SP exists, and what the point of it is for online bettors!

What does SP mean in horse racing?

SP in horse racing means ‘Starting Price’ and is a term that refers to the odds given to a horse when it begins its race. The SP is important because it shows the chances each horse has of winning said race in the moments before they set off.

Now, the point of SP is to give bettors an option to wager on a horse at whatever its final price is, rather than wagering on it beforehand. The option is: bet on the SP, or at a fixed price now.

The benefit of betting on the SP is that the odds might change in your favour between now and the start of the race. If this happens, you get a better price! Of course, the risk is that the odds change the other way and you get a shorter price – and therefore a smaller potential return. But that’s the risk you take with the SP.

How to bet on SP

You can bet on SP in the Bet UK sportsbook across all horse races, every day of the year. As you can see, a Bet UK racecard shows plenty of details of each horse running in the race. This includes the silks, number, name, jockey and form of the horse. The odds are also clearly visible in the left of the two columns.

That right-hand column is the SP button. You won’t see a number here as we won’t know the exact odds until the race starts. To make an SP horse racing wager, simply click on the button and enter your stake into the bet slip as normal. You won’t know your potential payout until the race begins.

Tips for using Starting Price odds

Now we know what SP means in betting, it’s time to look at it in practice. The starting price isn’t for everyone but it can prove useful if you’re a particular type of punter. Of course, the big advantage of SP in horse racing is that you can potentially increase your odds, and therefore profit potential, simply by being patient.

But it’s worth considering your options before placing a bet. Here are some simple tips when weighing up the Starting Price option…

Monitor Market Movements: Keep an eye on the betting market of your chosen race. The Bet UK live odds move all the time, and react to bets being placed one way or another. If you see the odds on a horse widening throughout the day, it might be worth taking the SP as it could be higher by the time the race starts.

Consider the Field Size: Larger fields tend to have more fluctuations in odds as there are more horses and therefore more uncertainty. One big bet on a horse can upturn the whole market. In these cases, SP betting can sometimes provide better odds.

Check The Going: Weather and course conditions can change quickly, influencing a horse's chances. If there are unpredictable weather conditions, betting SP could be a safer option as the odds should reflect these last-minute changes.

Use Early Prices Wisely: If you find an early price that you think offers good value, it can be worth taking it rather than risk the odds shortening later. However, if you think the odds might drift (increase), it could be worth taking the SP.

Research: Always make sure you do your research on the horse, jockey and trainer before placing a bet. It can help to know if a horse often defies expectations, or if a jockey or trainer tends to perform well on race day.

Why SP exists in sports betting

SP in horse racing has been around for centuries and it’s also used in other sports too. It originally existed so bookmakers could offer their punters something other than the fixed odds they had on a race. The punter could take a chance that the Starting Price would be better than the fixed odds.

These days the SP is used less by bettors because promotions such as “best odds guaranteed” have reduced the need for it. If bettors can trigger this promo then they’ll get the best odds on the horse, whether it’s a price from three days before the race, or three minutes.

Still, the bet type is an option for some even to this day – and here at Bet UK we’re happy to keep the odds available to our punters!

SP Betting FAQs

What is SP in horse racing?

SP in horse racing means Starting Price and is the odds you get when a race begins. The SP can be higher or lower than the fixed price, and is seen as an option to improve your payout potential.

How do I bet SP?

You can place an SP bet at Bet UK by hitting the button alongside your chosen horse. From here, enter your stake and hit Place Bet. You won’t know the odds or your payout potential until the race begins.

Will the starting price change in horse racing?

Possibly, yes. The point of the SP bet is to wager on the starting price being different (better) than the fixed odds. As a bettor, you want the SP to offer improved odds, otherwise there’s no point making the bet.

What does SP mean when betting?

SP in betting means the starting price of your chosen bet at the moment the race or sporting event begins.

Ante Post betting, also known as futures betting, is well known with regards to horse racing betting. Horse racing betting often offers odds on big races long before they actually take place, allowing you to potentially get better odds and bigger returns.

What is Ante Post betting?

Ante Post betting is when you place a bet on a horse race before the race card is confirmed and the race actually takes place. For example, the Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup is a popular Ante Post race, as it is one of the biggest races of the horse racing calendar. In the run up to the race, there might be a wide selection of horses that are speculated to be entered into the race. Until the racecard is officially confirmed, any bet placed on the race will effectively be classed as Ante Post.

There are also some risks with Ante Post betting however. As the racecards are not yet confirmed, there is a chance that your selection might not even race. So although you might get increased odds on a sure favourite, there is a chance that your horse has no chance of winning. With Ante Post betting, any bet that is placed and then does not run, will be resulted in a loss. This means that no refunds will be issued and the stake will be lost.

Ante Post betting also applies to more betting markets than just horse racing. There are also other sports that feature ante post betting, including football betting. For example, a bet on the outright winner of the Premier League would be an ante post bet, as it will not be settled until the end of the season. These kind of ante post bets provide less risk however, as the team you bet on is guaranteed to take part in the Premier League season.

Ante Post Betting Example

• The Cheltenham Gold Cup is raced every March at Cheltenham racecourse, but markets for the race are typically open all year round. In anticipation of the race, you decide to place a bet on Horse A in January.
• As the race draws closer, the race card is confirmed. Horse A has instead been entered into another race and will not be taking part in the Gold Cup.
• With Horse A entering into another race, your bet will be resulted in a loss. Unless there is a special ‘No Runner No Bet’ offer, a horse not running will always result in a loss with no stake being returned. If there is ‘No Runner No Bet’ offer, then the stake will be returned.
• If Horse A does run, then the bet will be settled as normal. The bet will also avoid any Rule 4 declarations, meaning that your chances of winning will be increased, but your payout will remain the same.

Head back to our Bet UK Betting Guides for more information on our huge selection of betting markets.

Bet UK's online betting has the latest Ante Post betting on the biggest racing festivals, including the 2025 Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot. Bet UK's sports betting blog covers the latest sporting news from all major events, including the latest odds, tips and previews.

If you enjoy betting on sports such as football, rugby, basketball or cricket, you may come across a type of bet known as an over/under. This market can make for an interesting alternative to betting on a match outcome, bringing a range of other factors into play.

In this article, we are going to give you the lowdown on over/under bets. What is an over/under bet? How does it work? And how should you calculate potential winnings? We will answer these questions, giving you examples of how over/under betting applies in various sports and highlighting key considerations, you should make when placing an over/under bet. Read on!

What Is Over/Under Betting?

An over/under bet - sometimes referred to as a totals bet - is usually based on the total score in a sporting contest, that is, the combined score of both teams or competitors. To make an over/under bet, you will select if the total number of points (or another applicable scoring measurement such as goals, runs or games) will be over or under a set amount.

How Does An Over/Under Bet Work?

Let's look more closely at how an over/under bet works. To recap, an over/under bet requires the punter to correctly predict the total score of both teams or competitors in a sporting contest in order to win the bet. The choice is simple - will the combined score be higher or lower than a set number?

We can take Premier League betting as an example. The Manchester United vs Newcastle United match may have a total set at 2.5 goals for the over/under bet. But exactly what does over or under 2.5 goals mean? This means that as a bettor, you will decide if you think the match's final score will be over or under 2.5 goals in total.

If the game finishes with a result such as 2-1 or 3-0 to one of the teams, the outcome will be classed as 'over', as there were three goals scored. The same also goes for any scorelines which involve more than three goals. If the match ends 2-0 to either team, 1-1, or with a scoreline with even fewer goals, the outcome will be classed as 'under', as two or fewer goals were scored.

You would typically see the odds in the following format:

2.5 OVER 8/11

2.5 UNDER 6/5

This means that according to the odds, it is more probable that there will be over 2.5 goals, so the over is favourite, as the contest is expected to be a fairly high scoring one. Using the same example, let's move on to how you can calculate potential winnings from an over/under bet.

How To Calculate Winnings From An Over/Under Bet

Using our example of a football match with over/under bets of 2.5 goals:

2.5 OVER 8/11

2.5 UNDER 6/5

Calculating your winnings for an over/under bet is the same as other standard wagers on a single outcome. If you were to bet £10 on the over, and the total amount of goals in the Manchester United vs Sheffield United game was three or more goals, you could expect winnings of £17.27. Your profits would be £7.27, so with your £10 stake returned, the total would come to £17.27.

The same basic betting principles apply to the under bet. If there were two or fewer goals in the match, your under bet at 6/5 would win back £22. That's because a winning £10 wager at 6/5 would return £12 in profits, which is added to your £10 stake if you win the bet.

If you are unsure exactly how betting odds work, we've explained betting odds here in more detail.

How Do Over/Under Bets Apply In Different Sports?

It isn't just football betting which allows you to place over/under wagers. It is possible to apply the same over/under principle for other games, in which are placed on whether the combined score will be over a set total. For example, in rugby union betting, you might bet on over/under 42.5 points. In basketball, the set total for an over/under bet might be 237.5. In ice hockey, the set total for an over/under bet could be 5.5. As you can see, over/under bets for different sports are typically set around what would be a reasonable or likely score for that sport, with longer odds applied to less likely total scorelines.

Different Uses Of Over/Under Bets

It isn't always the combined points total that is used for over/under betting. With some sports, another metric is used for an over-under bet. Let's take a closer look at these variations:

Cricket - Rather than predict over or under a combined total of runs, in cricket betting, an over/under bet usually focuses on player-related outcomes. One of the most common is if a player will score over or under a certain amount of runs. For example, a bet may involve selecting whether England batsman Joe Root will score over or under 47.5 runs in a Test innings against India.

Another common application of over/under betting in cricket is the number of wickets a bowler will take in an innings. For example, will England bowler James Anderson take over or under 3.5 wickets in an innings?

Then there is live betting, which opens up other possibilities for over/under betting in the form of 'brackets', particularly in limited-overs matches. Here it's possible to bet on factors such as whether there will be over or under a total of runs within a set portion of the team's innings; 5 or 10 overs, for example.

Tennis - When it comes to betting on tennis, an over/under bet tends to be placed on the number of games in a match. Let's say that Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have a three-set match scheduled. The over/under bet could be set at 22.5 games. If you were to bet under 22.5 games, this suggests that you think the match will be fairly one-sided and will end in no more than 22 games.

If you were to select the over, this indicates you think that the match could be a closer contest, lasting for a minimum of 23 games for you to win.

Combat sports - In boxing or mixed martial arts (MMA), a match might be set for three, five, ten or 12 rounds, but that doesn't mean it won't finish before the end due to a knockout or submission. In combat sports, the over/under typically relates to the number of rounds that will be completed.

Let's say Tyson Fury is due to fight Anthony Joshua for the world heavyweight championship in a 12 round contest. Boxing betting markets may offer a set total of 9.5 rounds for the over/under bet. That means if you think the fight will go at least as long as the end of the tenth round, you would select over. Whereas if you think there is likely to be a stoppage - with either combatant forcing a KO or technical KO, or another type of stoppage ordered by the referee - before the end of the tenth round, you would choose under.

Remember that this market is usually applied to the number of rounds completed, so if the fight was stopped during the tenth round, this would still count as under 9.5 rounds, as the round had not been completed.

Extra Time And Overtime In Over/Under Bets

What happens in sports matches that occasionally run into extra time or overtime, such as in football knockout competitions or some American sports? In these cases, the extra time period usually still counts as part of the over/under bet. Taking a bet on basketball as an example - if you had bet on over 237.5 points, and the game goes into overtime, you might be highly confident that your bet would win, if it hadn't already, given the additional time period. Conversely, if you had a bet on under 237.5 points in the match, it seems more likely that you would lose the bet if the contest went into overtime. So when it comes to the role of overtime or extra time in over/under bets, it is most often the friend of those who have picked the over, rather than the under!

What Is The Best Strategy For An Over/Under Bet?

For some, over/under wagers are the ideal sports betting option for entertainment when watching a match as a neutral. If you don't like either side and are reluctant to back them, the over/under offers the opportunity to bet on the flow of the game rather than the outcome.

This means it can be possible to benefit from the flexibility of an over/under bet, which offers an alternative to choosing the outcome. For example, if you are having trouble picking who will win from two evenly matched teams but are sure it will be a tight contest with very few points or goals scored, the over/under gives you the chance to back this belief.

To this end, you can derive useful pointers for an over/under bet by looking at two teams' attacking and defensive records. In football, if two evenly matched teams are known for leaking goals but have no problem putting the ball in the back of the net, this may suggest the over is far more likely. But remember, the odds would typically reflect the teams' track records so the over would be priced at shorter odds.

When assessing how high scoring a match will be, you can also factor in weather conditions and look at the respective coaches' usual strategies for this type of game.

In most cases, the odds will increase with higher over bets. If we look at football betting as an example, the odds for a game to finish with over 3.5 goals will usually be longer than for a game to finish with over 0.5 goals. This is because there is a greater likelihood that at least one goal will be scored during the course of the game than four goals. Equally, odds may be shorter or longer depending on factors such as how well matched the teams are in both attacking and defending abilities. For this reason, using a one size fits all approach such as a 0.5 goals betting strategy, where a bet is placed on at least one goal being scored in every game, is usually flawed as any profits made can be wiped out with a single 0-0 draw.

The over/under is a great example of how sports betting isn't always about who wins. It can also be about predicting what will transpire during the course of a game. As with all betting, it's important to remember not to bet more than you can afford to lose. Even if a match or game seems certain to go a particular way, anything can and often does happen in the world of professional sports.

Rule 4 is a common feature of horse racing betting. It can occur on any race and will have an effect on all bets that have already been placed.

What is Rule 4?

Rule 4 comes into effect when a horse pulls out of a race, after bets have already been placed on the race. With less competition now in the race, the markets have to be adjusted to reflect that. If you have already placed your bets, then you will notice a change in your potential payout. This is because there is now less horses in the race, increasing the chances of your horse winning, effectively shortening the odds of the horses that are left in the race. The amount that your payout is affected by will depend on the price of the horse that pulls out. The actual amount is determined by the amount of every pound of your potential payout. Check the table below for the amount that will be deducted:

Odds - Deduction (From every £1)

When does Rule 4 take place?

Rule 4 might not be entirely noticeable until the race has finished and your horse racing bet has been paid out. Initially, if any deductions have taken place, your payout will still be shown as unaffected. Even though you won’t notice any deductions straight away, you can still check the betting markets to ensure that no horses have pulled out of the race that you have bet on.

Rule 4 Example

• You’ve placed a bet on the 1:50 at Cheltenham. You have bet on Horse A, at odds of 4/1, with 6 different runners taking part in the race. An hour before the race is due to start, Horse B with a starting price of 5/2 pulls out of the race.
• The race now only has 5 runners, with one of the favourites pulling out of the race. This increases the chances of Horse A, as well as all other runners, winning the race. As soon as Horse B pulling out has been officially confirmed, Bet UK will start to work on applying a Rule 4 deduction to your bet on Horse A.
• With Rule 4 now applied, the potential payout of your bet on Horse A is now decreased. Horse B’s price was 5/2, meaning that 25p out of every £1 of your original payout will be deducted from any winnings.

Bet UK's Betting Guides help you understand some of our betting markets to help you have the best experience while you bet.

Bet UK's online betting feature offers horse racing betting on all horse racing meets throughout Britain and Ireland including the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot. Our sports betting blog brings you the latest previews, odds and tips for all major sports throughout the year.

For as long as there have been sports, there has been sports betting. Placing a wager on competitors and teams adds to the involvement and entertainment that a sporting contest provides, and also of course offers the opportunity to win money.

With the plethora of online sports betting markets at our fingertips, there has never been a better time to wager on sports. Convenience and choice are at an all-time high, but in order to equip yourself with the best chance of success, you need to know the basics.

Anything can and often does happen in the world of professional sports. And for this reason alone, there’s no such thing as a guaranteed win. However, before you head straight into placing bets, it’s wise to first understand a little more about what sports betting is, how to place bets, and the main types of bets you can place.

If you're checking out this blog ahead of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, be sure to check out our Cheltenham Betting Offers

What Is Sports Betting?

Sports betting refers to placing a bet, also known as a wager, on an outcome in a sporting event. It can be done either on-site, such as at a racecourse or football stadium, in a bookmaker's shop, also known as a 'bookies', but perhaps the most popular way to place sports bets in modern times is online, either on a mobile, tablet or PC.

Why do people bet? That will depend on the person, or 'punter' as sports bettors are commonly known. Some might be recreational gamblers who enjoy wagering on sports for pure entertainment, along with the chance to win money, using gut feelings to decide which bets to place. Whereas others may take sports betting more seriously, using long term strategies and conducting detailed research into form to help find what they consider to be good value picks.

Whatever your betting style, it’s important to remember not to bet more than you can afford to lose regardless of how certain you are of an outcome. At its heart, betting on sports is a form of entertainment that can enhance your enjoyment of events as they unfold.

How To Place Online Bets On Sports

Let's start right from the very beginning. How do you place a sports bet?

When you want to place a bet online, you first need to register an account. At Bet UK you can do this simply by clicking the ‘Join’ button at the top of the page. Once you have provided the necessary information, opened your account and added some funds, you will be ready to place a bet. It’s also worth taking a look at the online betting offers available to help you get started.

When betting online, you would usually navigate to the event you want to bet on. This can be done by first picking the sport you want to bet on from the menu. There are a wide range of sports available to bet on. Football betting and horse racing betting are some of the most popular, along other choices such as golf betting and tennis betting.

Once you’ve found the sport you want to bet on, you can then see a list of events, some of which may be ongoing, which is known as in-play live betting, and others that could be scheduled for the future.

If you simply want to bet on the winner of a contest - a tennis or football match, for example, you may find the odds - that is, what you stand to win if the bet is successful - next to each competitor or team. Clicking on these odds can allow you to add the bet to your virtual betting slip. Want more betting options? Clicking on the match or tournament name will usually bring up a selection of other bet types (markets).

If that's all clear, let's move on to understanding odds.

How To Understand Sports Betting Odds

Sports betting revolves around odds. Odds tell you what you stand to win if your bet is successful. With odds, we can assess which bets offer the most value, depending on our own opinion of what the outcome of a sporting contest will be.

Odds come in fractional, decimal or moneyline form. In the UK, they are typically shown as fractions. Let's take a look at an example. Here are the fractional odds 3/1, shown in all three forms:

• Fractional - 3/1
• Decimal - 4.0
• Moneyline - 300

We will concentrate on fractional odds in this guide, but if you ever want to convert odds from one form to another, use one of the many odds converters which are available as free tools online.

So how should you read odds? The number on the right of the fraction represents your stake, and the number on the left shows what you stand to win if your bet is successful. We can use the same example of 3/1. If you bet £10 on Fulham to beat Liverpool at Anfield in a Premier League football match at odds of 3/1, and the Cottagers beat the Reds, your bet would be successful and you would win £30, as well as receive your stake back.

But odds don't only show us what we stand to win if our bet is successful. They also provide a way to assess value in the price (another name for odds) that the bookmaker has attached to an outcome. That's because odds represent 'implied probability'. This means they reflect the probability of an outcome in the eyes of the bookmakers. You can compare this implied probability to your own assessment of the probability of an outcome.

We won't complicate things too much at this stage, but there is a simple equation to work out the implied probability. First, you need to convert your fractional odds into decimal, which can be done easily using an online tool. Let's say Queens Park Rangers were 5/2 to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers in an FA Cup football match. Fractional odds of 5/2 translate into decimal odds of 3.5. Now we apply these odds to the equation for working out implied probability:

(1 divided by the decimal odds (3.5), x 100)

This comes to 28.5, which means the implied probability in the bookmaker's odds is that QPR have a 28.5 percent chance of beating Wolves. Do you think that QPR have a bigger chance of winning than the odds suggest? If so, QPR to win could be a good bet to take.

If you’d like to learn more about sports betting odds, you can do so here.

Types Of Sports Betting

Now we will move on to the different types of bets you can make on sports. The kind of market - that is, the form of bets - you will see will vary according to the particular sport. Here we will touch on some of the most common bets, and mention which sports they apply to:

Outright Winner

Quite simply, this type of bet requires you to pick the winner of a sporting tournament or match. You would typically see this type of bet available for tournaments in which there can be only one winner - from football's Champions League to tennis's Wimbledon and Golf's US Masters.

You can also bet on the winner of a match. In many sports - such as American team sports like Baseball, Basketball and American football, and individual sports like Formula One, Golf and Tennis - there can be no draws, so you will pick one team or contestant to win.

Match Outcome

For sports in which it is possible to draw a match, you would bet on the match outcome. This is the choice of either team to win, as well as the draw (that is when both teams have an even score). This type of market is relevant in sports such as Football, Rugby and Cricket.

Over/Under

Especially popular in football and rugby, an over/under bet requires you to predict whether there will be over or under a set amount of goals or points during a game. In football, the amount of goals usually includes a half number - i.e. 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 and so on. An over/under can also be applied to individual scores. For example, in cricket, you could place an over/under wager that a batsman will score more or less than a set amount of runs, or a bowler to take more or less than a set amount of wickets.

Correct Score

Another football favourite, correct score requires you to predict the final score at the end of the match. If you get the score right, you will win; but any other scoreline means you would lose the bet, making this a typically higher risk wager than over/under or match outcome.

Each Way

For events with large fields of individual competitors - such as horse racing, Formula One, or golf - an each-way bet brings down the risk attached to simply predicting the outright winner. It splits your bet into two, with half of the stake being placed on the outright win, and the other half being wagered on your pick to 'place'. To place means to come in the top two, three, five, or more places, as specified by the bookie. If your pick places but does not win, you can at least expect to make a profit, rather than walk away with nothing.

First Goalscorer

The First goalscorer bet is one that could change in name depending on the sport and scoring system - requires you to pick the player who will score first.

In-Play Betting

In-play betting, also known as live betting, allows you to bet on a contest while it is happening. In-play betting typically features many of the same markets that you can see in pre-match betting. Odds will fluctuate through the event, depending on how it develops. In-play betting allows those watching an event to get a feel for the action before placing their bets.

Handicap Betting

Handicap betting involves a handicap being given to the favourite in a sporting contest, making betting more attractive in matches that feature a heavy favourite up against a big underdog.

Let's say Manchester City were playing Newcastle United in a Premier League football match and were heavy favourites. The handicap market could give City a -2 handicap. This means that in the context of the handicap market, City would start the match two goals down.

If you placed a handicap bet on City to win, they would need to win the match by at least three goals for your bet to be successful. While handicap bets can carry more risk, they also have the ability to make odds more rewarding in contests that would be considered a mismatch in a traditional market.

Accumulators

Accumulators or ‘accas’ are a type of bet made up of two or more individual bets. For example, you may pick the winners from a number of Premier League games that were taking place during the course of an afternoon and combine your selections into an accumulator bet. The benefit of accumulators is that the potential winnings can often be significant. However, the downside is that it only takes one of your selections to fail and the whole bet is lost.

Sports Betting FAQs

We’ve covered the basics of how to get started with sports betting, so let’s move on to answering some of the most common questions that come up in regards to betting on sports:

How do I place a bet?

You simply need to register to bet online by providing the required details, before funding your account with an initial deposit. You can then make your way to the sport and specific competition you’d like to bet on and make your selections from the options available.

What are the best sports to bet on?

This comes down to personal preference. Many people find that sports such as football, horse racing, tennis and golf are among the most entertaining sports to bet on. In general, the more popular the sport, the more pre-match and in-play betting options you can find. You may also like to bet on sports that you particularly enjoy watching, which adds an extra dimension as a spectator.

How do betting odds work?

Betting odds are shown in fractional, decimal or Moneyline form. In the UK, fractional odds are more commonly used. With fractional odds, the number on the right always represents your stake, and the number on the left represents how much you stand to win if you are successful.

How does in-play betting work?

In-play betting, also known as live betting, refers to bets made while a sports event is in progress. Odds typically change according to how a match develops.

What does EVS mean in betting?

EVS is short for 'evens'. This is the common name for odds which equate to 1/1 in fractional form.

What is each way in betting?

An each-way bet effectively splits your bet into two, with half the stake going on a participant to win an event, and the other half going on them to 'place'. Achieving a place could be finishing in the top two, three, four, five or more positions, as specified by the bookmaker.

How do I calculate a return on a bet?

To calculate your return on a bet, look at the odds. In fractional odds, your stake is represented by the number on the right, and your potential profits by the number on the left. Remember that your total return would usually include your stake.

Do you get your stake back on a bet?

In the UK you would usually receive your stake back when you win a bet. If you lose the bet, you lose your stake.

What does cash out in betting mean?

Cash-out is an option you can see in in-play betting markets. If your bet is currently winning, but the contest is not over yet, cash out gives you the option of stopping the bet and claiming your winnings. However, you should note that cash out winnings would typically be less than the winnings you could have claimed had your bet been successful at the end of the game.

What is the most difficult sport to bet on?

If following the betting odds, the most difficult sport to bet on in the modern day is Horse Racing, bets on the Cheltenham Festival were at an all-time high but many bettors may do what is called 'betting blind', which is where bettors will place a bet on a funny name rather than in-depth research, this is because researching a race for Horse Racing is significantly harder than researching a football match.

Finding tips for Sports Betting

Here at Bet UK, we have a wide range of betting markets for sports such as football and horse racing, players can also find betting tips for each sport. Some of our most popular betting tip blogs include our Premier League betting tips and our Horse Racing betting tips for weekly updates.

Each way betting is a hugely popular choice among horse racing betting fans – but not everyone knows how it works.

That’s understandable. If you’re new to horse racing betting then you can’t be expected to know all the jargon – and racing has a lot of jargon!

We’ve therefore created this guide to explain what each way betting is and how it works in the BetUK sportsbook. We’ll take you through the basics of betting each way, how it affects your stake, and explain how to calculate each way winnings.

Our aim is to help you understand the difference between a win and a place, and why each way bets are so useful.

What is Each Way Betting

Let’s start with the basics. Each way betting is when you back a horse to win or finish in the top positions of a race. Unlike a win bet, your each way stake is split into two.

The first half backs the horse to win at full odds. The second half backs the horse to ‘place’ at a fraction of the odds.

This way you stand to earn a payout if your selection narrowly misses out on victory.

Each way bets are popular because they provide a level of insurance when picking horses. After all, you can never guarantee a horse will emerge victorious. What you can do, though, is ensure you have as many outcomes covered as possible.

How Each Way Betting Works

The best way to explain how each way betting works is to look at an example. Here’s a race featured in the BetUK website.

Each Way Betting

There are nine runners, and you can see their odds in the column second from the right. Asfoora is the favourite at 6/4, with Bradsell at 3/1.

You decide to bet £2 on Bradsell each way. Now, an EW bet is effectively two bets. Half your stake backs the horse to win, the other half backs it to finish in the top positions – depending on how many horses there are in the race, this could be a top-two finish or perhaps a top-seven finish.

If your horse wins, you win both sides of your EW bet. If it places, you only win the ‘place’ side.

And, because you’re placing two bets, your stake is doubled. So, if you enter ‘2’ in your EW bet slip, your total stake is £4.

Now let’s look at the racecard above. At the top, it says: “Each Way 1/5 1-2-3-4”. What does this mean? For a start, “1-2-3-4” shows that an each way bet wins if your horse finishes first, second or third.

Now, the “1/5" part shows what fraction of the overall profit you win if your horse only places.

In our example, your £2 EW bet on Bradsell means a £4 total stake. Should the horse win, you’ll win both sides of the bet for a £11.20 return. Should the horse place, you’ll earn a £3.20 return.

Notice something here? If Bradsell finishes third, you’ll actually be down 60p on the race. Punters often use the EW option to cover the majority of their losses if a horse doesn’t win. Otherwise they need to find a horse at higher odds to earn profit from a place finish.

How to Place an Each Way Bet

Betting each way is really simple. All you need to do is tick the red ‘Each Way’ box in your BetUK bet slip, when you select your horse.

As you can see from our example, we’re backing Ponntos to win each way in a race at York. We back Ponntos odds of 16/1 with a £3 stake and hit the ‘Each Way’ box. Doing this doubles our stake and ensures we earn a payout if Ponntos finishes first, second or third.

If you want to bet on horse racing today then why not joint BetUK and discover the each way odds just waiting for you on our site and app?

Calculate Each Way Bet Profit

Each way profits are sometimes difficult to calculate because there are so many different variables. But it is possible to do so, even if you don’t use an each way betting calculator.

We’ll use our above example of betting £4 EW on Ponntos at 16/1 with a 1/5 place share to guide you through the calculation process.

There are two outcomes where you earn a return: Ponntos wins or Ponntos places.

Ponntos wins

Here, both sides of your bet win, so both sides pay out. However, they pay out different sizes:

£2 Win Bet – Returns £34.40 (£30.40 profit + £4 stake) £2 Place Bet – Returns £8.00 (£4 profit + £4 stake)

Total return: £42.40

Remember, the odds of your place bet are divided by a fifth, which is why you receive a smaller payout on that side.

Ponntos places

Here, only the place bet wins, which means your return is lower:

£2 Win Bet – Loses £2 Place Bet – Returns £8.00 (£4 profit + £4 stake) Total return: £8.00

If this feels a bit too complex then the best way to find your each way profit is to ‘test’ your bet on the BetUK site. Make your selection and enter your stake in the bet slip, click the Each Way button and you’ll see your potential profit.

What is EW+?

EW+ is a horse racing betting promotion available at BeUK. Our tipsters pick a boosted race that offers more winning places than usual. So, rather than four places, an EW+ race might feature five.

You can see EW+ races on our site and app, indicated at the top of race cards and in the horse racing homepage.

Each Way Tips

So, now you know about each way betting it’s time to consider your options. Do you think you’ll try it out, or stick to win bets? Here are three quick tips on how to use each way bets effectively:

Consider Your Reasoning

The first thing to do when betting each way is to consider why you want to go EW. Are you doing it to spread risk, or to justify backing an outsider? Are you seeking to earn big from a place finish, or just want to cover your stake if your pick doesn’t win?

These are the questions you need to address. Many punters use EW odds purely to add an extra layer of insurance, should their pick fail to win. Others back rank outsiders with an each way bet and hope they sneak a place.

Focus on Returns

Once you understand why you want to bet each way, you can start to think about your returns. Are you happy to turn a profit, no matter the size? If so, you’ll need to back a horse at minimum odds of 5.00 for a 1/4 EW split, or 6.00 for a 1/5 EW split.

Any lower, such as 3.00, and you’ll lose money if the horse places.

Or, are you gunning for big returns? If this is the case you’ll need to focus on outsiders and find a horse that everyone else has overlooked. There’s no winning formula for this tactic!

Consider Each Way Accas

Each way accumulators are increasingly popular in horse racing as they help keep combination bets alive all day long. You can group various selections together into one mega bet and hit the EW button. This way you still earn a payout even if half your picks win and half place.

Each way accas aren’t for everyone but they’re a great place to start if you plan to regularly bet on horse racing multiples.