Understanding the standard football wagering terms is very important for any punter, new or existing. If you don't know what an ACCA is, how can you place a successful wager? In this article, we will explain to you what the most common football wagering terms mean. We will clarify the meaning of each term in alphabetical order.
1. Accumulator (ACCA) Bets
Definition:
An accumulator bet is a single wager that combines four or more individual bets (legs) into one. To win an ACCA, every selection must be successful; if even one leg loses, the entire wager fails.
Why They’re Popular:
They’re favoured because the combined odds can lead to a high payout if all selections win, although the risk increases with each additional leg.
2. Asian Handicap
Definition:
Asian Handicap betting levels the playing field by giving the underdog a virtual advantage. This method eliminates the possibility of a draw, simplifying your betting decision.
Why It’s Useful:
Once you understand the concept, Asian Handicap can offer better value by reducing risk, particularly in matches that might otherwise be seen as even.
3. Combination Betting
Definition:
Combination betting lets you merge several wagers into one bet, thereby increasing the overall odds. Known by different names across bookmakers—such as Same Game Multi or Bet Builder—these bets can span one event or multiple events.
Why It’s Popular:
They allow for greater creativity in betting and potentially higher returns compared to placing individual bets.
4. Double Chance Betting
Definition:
Double Chance betting lets you cover two outcomes in one bet (e.g., home win or draw).
Why It’s Popular:
This type of bet provides a higher chance of winning, though with lower odds, making it a safe option for cautious punters.
5. Draw No Bet
Definition:
In a Draw No Bet wager, you win if your chosen team wins, and if the match ends in a draw, your stake is returned.
Why It’s Popular:
It removes the risk of a draw, which is particularly appealing when you’re unsure about the outcome but lean towards one team.
6. Each-Way Wagering
Definition:
Commonly used in horse racing (and sometimes in football outright bets), an each-way bet splits your stake into two: one for the win and one for a placing (finishing in a top position).
Why It’s Popular:
Even if your team or horse doesn’t win outright, you can still receive a payout if it finishes in a high position, albeit at lower odds.
7. Even Wager
Definition:
An even wager is placed at even odds (for example, 2.0 or 1/1).
Why It’s Popular:
Because even odds offer a straightforward, 50/50 proposition, many bookmakers reward new customers with promotions when they place qualifying even wagers.
8. Full-Time Result (90 Minutes)
Definition:
This bet involves predicting the outcome of a match (home win, away win, or draw) based solely on the score at the end of 90 minutes. Overtime and penalties are not considered.
Why It’s Popular:
It’s one of the most straightforward markets, appealing to punters who want to focus on the basic result of a match.
9. Half Time/Full-Time Betting
Definition:
In a HT/FT bet, you predict the result at both half-time and full-time. For the wager to win, both predictions must be correct.
Why It’s Popular:
This bet adds an extra challenge and offers the potential for higher payouts due to the increased difficulty of predicting two outcomes.
10. Head-to-Head Betting
Definition:
Head-to-head betting involves predicting the individual performance of players, rather than the final outcome of the match. For example, you might bet on which player will score more goals or register more assists.
Why It’s Popular:
It allows you to focus on personal performance metrics and can be a fun alternative to traditional match outcome bets.
11. Outright Bet
Definition:
Also known as “Futures,” outright betting involves wagering on the outcome of an entire tournament or competition rather than a single match.
Why It’s Popular:
These bets usually offer high payouts due to the long wait for results, making them appealing for long-term strategy and investment in a competition’s outcome.
12. Over/Under Wagering
Definition:
With over/under bets, you wager on whether a specific statistical measure (e.g., total goals scored) will be over or under the bookmaker’s set figure.
Why It’s Popular:
They simplify decision-making by focusing on a single numerical outcome, rather than the full match result.
13. Team to Go Through
Definition:
This bet involves predicting whether a specific team will advance to the next round of a tournament or competition, regardless of individual match outcomes.
Why It’s Popular:
It’s commonly used in knockout competitions like the Champions League or World Cup, allowing you to back a team’s overall performance in progressing through the stages.
14. Scorecast Betting
Definition:
Scorecast is a combination bet where you pick a goalscorer (usually the first, last, or anytime) and must also predict the correct final score of the match.
Why It’s Popular:
It offers a high reward due to the difficulty of predicting both a specific scorer and the final score accurately.
15. Single Wager
Definition:
A single wager is the most basic type of bet where you predict a single outcome. There’s only one selection, so the risk is lower compared to accumulators.
Why It’s Popular:
It’s straightforward and provides a higher probability of winning, ideal for punters who prefer a simpler approach.
16. Spread Betting
Definition:
In spread betting, you wager on the margin of victory rather than the outright winner. For example, you might bet on whether a team will win by more (or less) than a specified number of points.
Why It’s Popular:
It emphasizes the accuracy of your prediction, allowing you to profit from the exact performance of a team.
17. Three-Way Handicap (European Handicap)
Definition:
This bet assigns a handicap to one team to level the playing field, offering three possible outcomes: a win for the home team, a win for the away team, or a draw.
Why It’s Popular:
It gives a more balanced betting market and can provide better value on matches where one team is heavily favoured.
18. Teasers
Definition:
Teasers are similar to accumulator bets, but they allow you to adjust the point spreads in your favour. All selections must win after the adjustment for the bet to be successful.
Why It’s Popular:
They offer the chance to improve odds on multiple bets, though at the cost of a reduced overall payout.
19. Void Bet
Definition:
A void bet occurs when a bet is canceled (for example, if a match is postponed or canceled), and your stake is returned. It’s as if the bet was never placed.
Why It’s Important:
Understanding void bets helps you know your rights if an event doesn’t proceed as planned, ensuring you’re not penalised for circumstances outside your control.
20. Wincast Betting
Definition:
Wincast betting is similar to Scorecast, but instead of predicting the correct score, you must predict the final result of the game along with a specific goalscorer.
Why It’s Popular:
It offers an additional challenge with potentially higher returns, appealing to punters who enjoy combining multiple elements in one bet.