Sports Betting School

Betting Types and Markets

There are different types of bets you can place across different sports. These bet types allow you to choose the style that suits you best. Let's take football, for example. The most popular betting options are the match result (1X2), which allows you to predict the winner of a match or a draw, and other options include over/under bets. The over/under bet type allows you to bet on the total number of goals or points. The Both Teams to score (BTTS) bet type is simply betting on both sides to find the net. Then there are other advanced bets like the accumulators, also known as ACCAs, this type allow you to combine several selections into one bet, while futures betting is placing bets on long-term outcomes like who will win a tournament.

Below are articles written by our experts to help you understand each betting type in more detail.

• Guide to Match Result Betting
• Guide to Over/Under Betting
• Guide to Both Teams to Score
• Guide to Accumulators
• Guide to Futures Betting

Asian Handicap

This is probably one of the best betting types to be created. The Asian Handicap is meant to level the playing field between two unevenly matched teams. There are times when 2 teams are paired and it’s obvious one has a greater advantage than the other, this is where Asian handicap comes in. Instead of just choosing who wins or loses the match, to give more odds, the bookmaker assigns a goal handicap to one team. This removes the possibility of a draw and increases betting opportunities. Now let me explain.

Asian Handicap Guide

European Handicap

The European Handicap works similarly to the Asian Handicap, but the European handicap has a slight difference from the Asian handicap. European handicap retains the possibility of three outcomes as opposed to just 2 offered by Asian handicap. The possible outcomes are home win, draw, or away win. Let me explain further.

European Handicap Guide

The Most Popular Betting Strategies

There’s a popular saying, “If you don’t plan, you plan to fail.” We believe the quote applies to every aspect of life, including betting. The fastest way to lose your hard-earned money is to venture into betting without a laid-out strategy. Strategies help you manage risk, guide your betting decisions, and prevent you from placing bets impulsively. There’s no successful bettor who doesn’t have a strategy, and that’s why we always advise beginners to get and stick to a clear approach.

Here are some of the most popular betting strategies used by experienced bettors:

• Value betting: There are times when the odds offered on a match are higher than its true probability. This strategy emphasizes identifying the odds and taking advantage of those types of bets.
• Arbitrage betting: This has to do with covering all the outcomes possible across different bookmakers to secure small guaranteed profits.
• Matched betting: This type of strategy involves using free bets and promotions to place bets so you’re risking less of your money.
• Martingale system: This is used by more advanced punters. It has to do with doubling your stake after each loss to recover the previous losses. It’s very risky, but it can help you recover and make money fast.

Click here for a complete guide on how to create a betting strategy.

Betting Terminology

Every industry has its unique terms, and professionals there are familiar with the terminology. The same thing applies to betting; we also have our own unique language, and if you’re interested in this industry, you need to understand our terminology. You’ll often find terms like “accumulator,” “moneyline,” “stake,” or “odds-on,” and they may sound confusing at first, but they are what you’ll need to interpret markets and place informed bets.

To help you get familiar with betting terms, we’ve prepared a detailed glossary that explains all the essential betting terms in simple words.

Check our betting glossary

Betting Calculator

A betting calculator is a tool that is used by players to quickly determine their potential winnings based on stake, odds, and bet type. Instead of having to calculate manually how much you stand to win, you can simply enter your bet details, and the tool will provide you with the outcome instantly.

Betting calculators are of different types. There’s one for calculating singles bets, another for calculating accumulators, and handicaps. A betting calculator saves time and helps you plan your bets more effectively.

Try our betting calculator here

Is it Legal to Bet in UK?

Sports betting is considered legal in the UK. The industry is regulated by the Gambling Act 2005, which led to the establishment of the UK Gambling Commission. The UK Gambling Commission is the body responsible for regulating the activities of bookmakers to ensure that they play fairly and that consumers like yourself are protected. They are also responsible for enforcing responsible gaming practices across bookmakers operating in the country.

Responsible Gaming

In the UK, there are organizations such as GamCare, BeGambleAware, and Gamblers Anonymous UK that provide free support, advice, and treatment for those struggling with problem gambling. We highly recommend them if you ever find yourself struggling with gambling.