Main Betting Types for Dummies

In the betting industry, there a lot of betting types that can be placed on different aspects of any sports event or even on peculiar kinds of sport. Nevertheless, there are also main types that cover the general aspects of various sports and can be placed almost on all of them. In fact, they are 1X2, Totals, and Handicapping.

1X2 Bets Explained

This betting kind is the simplest gambling variation that is perfectly suitable for beginner punters to understand the general principles of the industry and the cost of bets. The given bets deal simply with direct outcomes of different sports events.

In order to clearly understand the principles of the given bet, it would be better to consider an actual example. For this, let us imagine that you want to bet on an illusory football game between Juventus and Arsenal at corresponding odds. If you stake $10 on Arsenal to win at the odds of 4.3, the win of the given team will generate you $43 including your stake placed. Thus, the net profit will amount at $33. However, you should understand that the defeat of Arsenal or draw will result in the fact that you will lose your stake.

For the same game, a $10 bet on a draw will let you obtain $37 returns, while the win of Juventus has the shortest odds. In this case, you will be able to obtain only $19 returns from a $10 stake (the net profit of $9 only).

When you have completely mastered the given betting variation, it is high-time for you to understand that different bookmakers can offer different odds for the same events. So, it is better for you to monitor all the available bookmakers in order to find the best value.

General Principles of Handicapping

Handicap bets are the second kind of the most basic wagers, but they can be applied only for events when one team significantly overpowers the other one. In this case, bookmakers offer handicaps to balance teams’ chances to win.

Handicaps can be positive or negative. Positive handicaps are placed on teams that are likely to lose, with the handicap numbers indicating the maximum amount of scores allowed to concede. Thus, if you place a +2 handicap on Arsenal, you will obtain benefits even if the team loses with the final score of 0:1. The same principles are applied to positive handicaps that are placed on favorites.

Also, it is possible to place split handicaps that are represented by one decimal and one even number (for instance, -1.5 & -2) decided independently. Then, there are three possible outcomes: both bets win, only one bet wins, both bets lose. In fact, such split handicaps are placed in order to get reinsured and increase possible winning amount.

Different Kinds of Totals

The final of the three main betting types is represented by total bets. In fact, they are a perfect alternative to the previously mentioned gambling variations because totals have nothing to do with guessing an outcome of entire events while implying predicting certain aspects of the game (runs, points, goals, and so on).

Here, bookmakers provide punters with a certain margins and options to be either under or over the given value. Thus, gamblers should only make a correct prediction.

As for the game between Juventus and Arsenal, total goal bets can be Over 2.5 (2.1) or Under 2.5. (1.8). If you stake $10 on the Over bet, and the game ends in 2:1 (regardless of the fact who wins), you will obtain $21 returns.