Sports Betting Guides: Learn about sports betting with Betting.com
At Betting.com, we always aim to give our readers more knowledge about sports betting. That is why we have created online betting guides explaining how betting works, for different sports, different markets and on sports betting in general. If you want to become a player with a better understanding of betting, we recommend that you read our betting guides.
Check out the best betting sites in the UK with Betting.com.
Glossary of Betting Terminology
There are a number of terms and words that newcomers to sports betting may not understand. We have produced a glossary to help you familarise yourself with the key terms you will come across in sports betting.
| Term | Explanation |
| Parlay / Accumulator/combo / Multiple | A parlay, accumulator (or acca), combo bet, or multi is a single bet that links together two or more individual wagers, usually seen in sports betting. Winning the parlay is dependent on all of those wagers winning together. If any of the bets in the parlay lose, the entire parlay loses. There will be more information on different type of multiples in our guide. |
| Handicap | System of virtually adding or removing points from a predicted outcome to make a one-sided event more attractive to a punter. For example a stronger team starting with a one goal disadvantage. |
| Asian Handicap | Asian handicap betting is a form of betting on football in which teams are handicapped according to their form so that a stronger team must win by more goals for a bet on them to win. The system originated in Indonesia[citation needed] and gained popularity in the early 21st century. It is a form of spread betting. Handicaps typically range from one-quarter goal to several goals, in increments of half- or even quarter-goals.[1] Most importantly, Asian handicap betting reduces the possible number of outcomes from three (in traditional 1X2 wagering) to two by eliminating the draw outcome. This simplification delivers two betting options that each have a near 50% chance of success. |
| BTTS | Means Both Teams To Score, or that both teams score. A regular odds market on football in particular. |
| Moneyline | Money line bets are bets placed on a game’s conclusion. The term “money line” represents the payouts for winning the bet, with a negative integer for the underdog and a positive one for the favourite. |
| Draw no Bet | Draw no bet means you wager on one team to win a match, but your stake is refunded if it ends in a draw. This market works as insurance in case your bet does not come in. However, if you back one team and they lose the match, then you lose your stake. |
| Double Chance | A double chance bet is when you make a two-in-one bet. You can bet on the home team to win or draw (1X), away to win or draw (2X), or either team to win the match (12). |
| Cash Out | Cash out is a function which is available with most betting providers and allows the bettor to take a profit before an event has completed. In addition, Cash Out allows you to cut your losses, for example if you think your selection will no longer win the race or match, you can take a loss on your selection, but at least get part of your stake back. |
| Hedging | Betting on two opposite outcomes of a bet, usually with different bookmakers, each offering favourable odds to either guarantee winnings or cut losses. |
| Live betting | Live betting, also known as in-play or in-game bettingis a process by which you place a bet once an event, race or match has already begun. In-play prices are likely to change quickly and often and will usually differ from the starting price. |
| Each way betting | An each-way bet is a wager offered by bookmakers consisting of two separate bets: a win bet and a place bet. For the win part of the bet to give a return, the selection must win, or finish first, in the event. |
| Ante-post | Odds and prices given on an event in advance of the commencement, usually months and weeks but at least 24 hours in advance. Generally applies to horse racing. Odds are usually higher to take account of increased risk that a selection may fail to actually take part in an event. |
| Bet Builder | A Bet Builder is a feature offered by bookmakers to help users make personalised bets on a unique combination of scenarios in the same game. You can combine odds such as scores for one half, who will score, and how many goals a certain player can score. |
| Prop betting | A prop bet is a bet that isn’t made on the result of a game, but on an individual player or event in that game. |
Betting Guides by Sport
There are betting opportunities available on a huge variety of sports, along with special markets for politics and tv shows. There is always something to be learned, even for the most seasoned of punters. Each sport has individual characteristics and knowledge and understanding of these can help you with your betting. While betting is generally done in the same way all sports and leagues their own unique features. Betting.com have produced detailed guides to betting on the sports and leagues which are of most interest to the UK market. The sports which generate the most interest are listed below.
Football betting guide
Football is the most popular sport in the UK and at Betting.com we have indepth coverage of the sport. Check out our guide for the best football betting sites in the UK to find out more about typical football bets, odds and what is on offer from the bookmakers. We also offer guides to popular leagues such as the Premier League, the UEFA Champions League and La Liga. Accumulator betting is very popular in football and we have guides related to this. Most betting sites now have Bet Builders and we have this covered too.
When betting on football it is important to check out the form of the teams involved, check out injuries and suspensions and how good particular teams are at home and away. Some teams will prioritise particular competitions so you need to ensure that you are up to speed with this too.
Horse racing betting guide
Horse racing is very popular among UK bettors and Betting.com’s guide to the best horse racing betting sites in the UK, along with guides to huge events in the UK calendar such as the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National. There are guides on important topics, such as each-way betting and different types of tracks and ground conditions which will be of use to horse racing punters.
Form, ground conditions, race distance and jockey are all factors to take into account when betting on horse racing.
Cricket betting guide
Traditionally a popular spectator and partcipation sport in the UK, cricket attracts sports bettors, especially with the growth in popularity of limited overs cricket. As well as out guide to the best cricket betting sites in the UK, Betting.com have useful toplists of the best betting sites for the Ashes, the IPL and the ICC Cricket World Cup. More and more bookies are now offering player props in cricket and some sites are starting to make Bet Builders available and we offer guides on this as well as Over/Under betting which can be popular in cricket. Our various guides will keep you informed about these and how the affect all formats of the game.
Form, injuries, weather conditions, format (one day, test match, first class match, Twenty20), priorities of the teams, affect of home advantage, plus other factors mentioned in our guides are all things which must be taken into consideration when betting on cricket.
Tennis betting Guide
Tennis is a popular sport aming UK sports bettors. Betting.com’s guide to the best tennis betting sites in the UK along with pages on the Grand Slam tournaments and the other major events on the tour. Some bookies are now offering tennis Bet Builders and we have information on this. Tennis punters may also want to check out our Asian Handicap guide as they look to get greater value on one-sided matches.
Form, injuries, playing styles and playing surfaces are all factors which tennis bettors need to weigh up.
Golf betting Guide
Golf is a sport which attracts punters, especially for the Ryder Cup and the four majors. Betting.com have guides for these events along with a toplist of the best golf betting sites in the UK which gives details of the different types of bet popular in golf. Our guide to each-way betting and our cash out guide may also be of interest to bettors looking to wager on golf.
Form, weather conditions, type of course and advantage to competitors from the host country are all variables which must be considered when betting on golf.
Check out the best betting sites in the UK with Betting.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Firstly sports betting is about enjoyment and it is to some degree down to chance. There is no guaranteed way of winning. However, hard work, research and learning from others can help you make more informed choices. Our betting experts have been in the betting industry for a long time, gaining a wealth of experience. Reading their guides will help you both to get started and later when you're looking for more advanced strategies. Above all, always remember to play responsibly.
While there is no guaranteed way to be successful in sports betting, becoming a good punter firstly requires a long-term plan. Betting on impulse or with great risk-taking is never a combination that works in the long run. In other words, discipline, research, thought, knowledge and understanding are all essential for the serious player.
We can say with certainty that there is no single guide that will make anyone a winning player. But with the help of a large number of guides in interaction, you can improve your playing step by step. Why not start by checking out our library of helpful articles above!
Chris is a former athlete and a qualified PE teacher. He is a keen football fan, watching many matches at different levels throughout the season, and enjoys following many different sports. With betting and sports sites, he has a keen eye for detail and can to highlight positives and negatives for users. His experience in sport as a performer, teacher, writer and fan allows him to see things from many different perspectives.
