Sports Betting School

What is Sports Betting?

Put simply, sports betting is the act of placing money on the outcome of a particular sporting event. Bets can be placed on any number of outcomes, from the winner of a particular match or tournament, to the player to score the most goals or be awarded the most red or yellow cards in a single football match. The most popular sports to bet on worldwide are football, basketball, tennis and horse racing, although it is possible to find betting odds online for a huge variety of sports, from American football and Aussie Rules to volleyball and water polo.

Betting Types and Markets

There is a wide range of different betting types and markets that can be applied to different sports. Below, you can familiarise yourself with the most common betting types and markets that you are likely to come across when sports betting, then we will go into Asian handicap and European handicap bets in more detail:

• Match Bets / Moneyline - Betting on a team or player to win the game.
• Over/Under (Totals) - Betting on the total number of goals/points/aces scored in the game being over or under a specific value.
• Props - Bets on something unrelated to the final outcome of the game; for example a particular player scoring a goal in a football match.
• Singles - A bet on a single outcome.
• Multiples - A bet where multiple outcomes must all occur for the bet to be successful.
• Futures - A long term bet; for example a bet on a team to win the English Premier League.

Asian Handicap

Asian handicap betting is generally (but not exclusively) found in the world of football (soccer) betting. Regular match bets allow for three outcomes; Team A win, Team B win, or Team A and Team B draw. With Asian handicap betting, a handicap is applied to each team, which usually eliminates the possibility of a draw.

For example, in a Premier League match between Liverpool and West Ham United, if Liverpool are the clear favourites, a bookmaker might offer Liverpool an Asian handicap of -1.5 and West Ham +1.5. Your bets could work as follows:

• If you bet on Liverpool -1.5, they must win by at least two goals for your bet to win.
• If you bet on West Ham United +1.5, your bet wins if West Ham wins by any number of goals, draws, or loses by only one goal.

NOTE: If the handicap is a whole number, for example +1, this would mean that if they lose by just one goal, then after the handicap is applied it is a draw at 1:1. With an Asian Handicap in this scenario your stake is returned.

European Handicap

Unlike an Asian handicap bet, the European handicap system allows for a draw as a separate bet, whilst still applying a handicap to each team. A European handicap will always be using whole numbers rather than fractions. When a handicap is applied to a team, they must not only win, but win by a minimum number of goals. Typically, this type of bet offers better odds than standard match winner markets.

For example, in a Serie A match between Juventus and AC Milan, a bookmaker might offer -1 on Juventus (Juventus starts with a one-goal disadvantage), -1 on a draw (Juventus wins by exactly one goal) and +1 on AC Milan (they start with a one-goal advantage). Your bet outcome could work as follows:

• If you bet on Juventus -1, they must win by at least two goals for your bet to win.
• If they win by exactly one goal, the draw (-1) bet wins.
• If AC Milan draws or wins, the AC Milan +1 bet wins.

With European Handicap bets there is no scenario where your stake is refunded.

The Most Popular Betting Strategies

When betting on sports, if you want to have a positive result from your wagers, it is important to have a strategy, especially if you are a beginner. There are many strategies that can increase your chances of winning, although some are more risky than others. Of course, the thing to remember is to never bet more than you can afford to lose. Here are some basic explanations of some popular betting strategies:

• Martingale System - Repeatedly doubling your stake until a bet wins, ensuring a return of the total stakes, plus a little profit.
• Arbitrage Betting - Placing bets on all possible outcomes of an event across different bookmakers, to guarantee a profit.
• Kelly Criterion - Uses a formula to determine the size of your wager.
• Paroli System - Doubling your stake for three bets if your bets win, reverting to the initial stake if your bet loses.
• D’Alembert System - Increases your stake after a loss and decreases it after a win.

Betting Terminology

The sphere of sports betting has its very own terminology, which can seem like a foreign language to those new to gambling on sporting fixtures. While much of it may seem like gobbledygook, it is important to learn and understand the meaning of each betting term, as it can affect your understanding of the whole process.

Let’s face it, you are betting your hard earned cash here, so it is essential to know exactly what you are spending your money on. But never fear! From Antepost to Yankee bets, our glossary will help you learn the lingo required to help you feel confident in the world of online sports betting.

Betting Calculator

A betting calculator helps punters to calculate the potential returns on their bet. For single bets, you simply enter your stake and the odds of your selection and the bet calculator will tell you how much you can win. However, other bets such as accumulators and Heinz bets with multiple selections, are much less straightforward, and this is where a betting calculator really earns its worth.

Different types of betting calculator include:

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