In this section we’ve written a few handy articles on various topics about sports betting. This includes both general topics – such as ante post betting – as well as sport specific guides for football and horse racing.
General Articles
Betting Exchanges - Instead of betting with a bookie, head to an exchange to bet against other punters. Peer-to-peer betting offers better odds and the ability to bet against something happening.
Ante Post Betting - Betting well in advance of a match, tournament or event can reap big rewards but also comes with added risks. In our guide we cover what is ante-post betting, the pro’s and con’s and well as when to use it.
Cash Out - A relatively new phenomenon, cash out allows you to er.. cash in your bet before it’s settled. Using it you can get out of a potentially losing bet or lock in a win early.
In Play Betting - In Play or ‘Live Betting’ gives you the chance to bet on events that are already running, meaning you can see how a team is playing before placing your bets. You can even bet on the horse mid-race. Definitely one for those of your with a short attention span.
Accumulator Betting - Want bigger odds on your bets? Then stack them together in an acca. But be warned, with bigger odds comes greater risk.
Handicap Betting - Take the time to understand handicap and Asian handicap betting and you can use it to your advantage whether you want to bet on the favourite or the underdog.
Full Cover Bets - A more advanced betting strategy, the cover bet attempts to cover every angle to increase the chances of an overall profit regardless of the outcome of the race. It's risky though.
Betting Odds Explained - All about betting odds. The different formats, how they are calculated, how they change, and how bookies use them to ensure a profit.
Request A Bet - Many bookies allow punters to request their own odds on a market that may not already be covered. They might even put it on the site for other punters to use too.
Betting Strategy - An article about betting strategy in general full of hints and tips to save you making costly mistakes and errors in judgement.
Pools Betting - Pool betting is different to fixed odds betting, and your winnings depend on the size of the pool and how many other bettors made the same predicitons.
Which Betting Site Has the Best Odds? - How bookies odds are calculated and how they work, including the margin of many top bookmakers.
What Happens if a Bookie Goes Bust? - Online bookies come and go, but what happens to your money and your bets if the one you use suddenly announces it is going under?
High Street Betting Shops - The plight of the high street bookie, the history of the betting shop, and what the future might hold.
Dormant Betting Accounts - Anyone who has been betting for a while may well have the odd account that they rarely use. It can be a shock to log in and see your funds have gone, but if you leave your account inactive for long enough this can happen, and it's all in the t's and c's you agreed to when you signed up.
Gambling License Suspension - The UKGC can suspend a site's gambling license at any time if that site has been found to have broken the rules, and with so many gambling sites available it happens more than you might think. But what does that mean for the customers using that site?
Each Way Accas - If you understand a regular each way bet you will understand an each way acca, which still returns money on your bet so long as all your selections at least place.
What Does 'Evens' Mean? - Evens is one of the most well known betting terms, meaning the odds on a market pay out an amount equal to the stake. But are the odds truly even?
Betting Limits, Payout Limits, Account Limits - Bookmakers set limits in all sorts of areas, but it is almost always to protect their bottom line. Whether they limit how much you can bet or how much you can win, you need to know what they are.
Palpable Error - If a bookie makes an obvious error with their odds and a punter manages to take advantage before they realise their mistake, this is called a palpable error. But what happens to the bet?
Void Bets - Bookies reserve the right to void bets for a number of different reasons, and there's not a lot you can do about it.
How Long Does it Take for a Bet to Settle? - Once the result of your bet in known you will want to see the money in your account as soon as possible, but sometimes things can hold it up.
Bet Referred to Traders - When a bet flags on a bookies system for being contentious in some way, it will be referred to traders. This is where a member of staff checks it out and decides whether or not to accept the bet.
Calculating a Payout - Knowing how much you stand to win is vital to know before deciding whether or not a bet is worth placing in the first place, and the quicker you can do the maths the better.
Working Out the Payout Of Full Cover Bet - With 15 bets in one, calculating the payout of a Lucky 15 in various different circumstances can feel complex, but it's not really, even when bonuses are included into the equation.
Suspended Betting - Markets in some sports are suspended, sometimes for mere seconds, meaning you cannot bet on them or cash out your bet. But why?
Implied Probability - All bets have an implied probability, which can give you some insight as to whether or not the bet holds any value. You have to work backwards to find it though.
Converting Fractional & Decimal Odds - Being able to quickly convert odds between fractions and decimals is a very useful skill for a punter, and one that isn't difficult to learn either.
Combination Forecast - With 3 to 6 selections available to back, a combination forecast gives a little more flexibility than a regular forecast, for a price of course.
Combination Tricast - A extremely tough one to call, even though you don't need to guess the 3 finishing horses in the right order. Nevertheless, there is a time and place where the combination tricast can be a good bet.
Place Insurance - When you aren't totally convinced of a win and the each way odds are doing nothing for you, bet insurance might well be the answer you are looking for.
Official result - The official result is the only one that matters when it comes to betting, but there are scenarios when results are unclear, or when they even change.
Match Fixing - Even with all the tech available these days, corruption still happens in sport. If you have made a bet on a match that turns out to be fixed in some way, you might understandably have questions.
Can you Edit a Bet? - Editing a bet is a simple process, but it will only be available if all of your selections have a cash out value. It can be useful in many situations, including when betting live.
Proof of Income - A betting site asking for your wage slips or bank statements may well get your back up, but there's a very good reason that they sometimes have to do it.
Odds On Meaning - Betting terms can be confusing but this one is easy. Odds on is just an easy way to describe a selection that is thought extremely likely to win, making the odds unattractive.
Calculating the Margin on a Bet - All bookies add a margin to their markets, it's how they make a profit whichever way the result goes. However, some bookies are greedier than others, so the ability to calculate their margin is powerful knowledge.
Tote v Fixed Odds: Best Value - If you thought there was only one way of betting then you were wrong. The tote is a form of pari-mutuel betting where the payout depends on how many people bet correctly, but is it better than taking straight odds from a bookie?
Both Teams to Win - It might sound contradictory but this is possible in a number of ways, including using an exchange, and can actually be a good option in a tight game
Each Way Betting: Is it Worth it? - An each way bet can be a good hedge in some situations, but a lot depends on the odds on offer. It's not always a good idea, but sometimes it can be a bit of a no brainer.
Accumulators and Bookie Margin - Accas are popular bet types, and they are heavily promoted by the bookies. Every wondered why? Well, it's not because they are value bets for the punter, that's for sure. The bookmaker's margin on an accumulator might make your eyes water.
What is Closing Line Value? - The price the bookie initially sets and the price that the bet ends up at are often two very different things. The way this price moves can be a good indicator of the general consensus, and tell you if you got closing line value or not compared to the odds you took.
Hedging Your Bets - Hedging is a very useful tool to master, even though you won't always want or need to use it. It can be a lifesaver when a value bet turns sour through unexpected circumstances though.
Bet Boosts - Getting your odds boosted can only be a good thing, right? Well, maybe. They will certainly be better than they were before they were boosted, but that doesn't necessarily make the new odds good or the bet hold any value.
Best Odds Guaranteed vs Price Promise - Best Odds Guaranteed is a staple offer at most bookies, while price promises are less common. There are a few things to know about both of them though, and even though both have pluses and minuses, could you be better off ignoring both?
How are Dead Heats Settled? - Dead heats are impossible in some sports, unusual in others, but surprisingly common in a few. In terms of your bets, dead heats can have a dramatic effect on the size of your returns, so it makes sense to understand how they work.
Betting Without - When the odds are so short so as to make the event impossible to bet on, it can be frustrating. However, the betting without market breathes new life into an otherwise pointless event.
Betting on More than One Horse (Dutching) - Maths matters. A head for numbers can be the difference between a winning betting strategy and a losing one, and a solid understand of 'dutching' is one element of this. Picking 1 winner is hard, picking a few is less difficult.
Tennis Walkover Betting Rules - A walkover is basically an easy win, won not by merit but usually by someone else's misfortune. That said, it's still a win (much of the time), but it can cause problems with your bet depending on when it happens and how it is handled by the organisers.
What is a Nap in Betting? - Wake up! This has nothing to do with sleeping and everything to do with taking betting tips from people who purport to know what's going to happen.
Wisdom of the Crowd vs Fading the Public - Odds are always a mixture of what the bookies think and what the market thinks, but as punters, we need to decide whether we agree with the market, or whether we want to move against it.
Tips to Improve Bet Builder Betting - Bet builders are a relatively new way to make a bet, amounting to what is essentially an acca on a single event, but with so many outcomes available to include, it's not always clear what the most savvy selections are.
Sport Specific
Football
Football Bets - Here we cover the main bets you are likely to come across when betting on football, as well as hints and tips for getting the most value.
Football Betting Rules - The things you need to know when betting on football. Including which goals count and which don’t.
Abandoned Matches - What happens when a match is abandoned after it starts. Does your bet stand to do you get a refund?
Football Betting Strategy - You can bet on every element of a football match, so being strategic about what sort of bet to make and when can make a big difference to the money in your pocket.
Expected Goals - Using tons of data, computers can calculate the expected goals - or xG as it is know - for each game. This can highlight under or over performing teams.
What are Booking Points? - In order to make the cards betting bracket more interesting, the booking points system was introduced. This gives each card a numerical value and bets can be made based on the total value at the end of the game.
Own Goals - Apart from being demoralising for the team and embarrassing for the guilty party, own goals can be a confusing topic when it comes to betting. In some cases they are good news for your bet, and in other cases they are not.
Regular Time, Injury Time, & Extra Time - To those with only a passing knowledge of the game, they might all seem like the same thing, but they all represent different periods of time during a match and they can also have a big impact on any bets made on the game.
Draw No Bet & Double Chance - Useful for more cautious bettors or betting situations, the Drawn No Bet and Double Chance markets don't offer life changing odds but they might save you from a loss.
What Does Over/Under .5 Goals Mean? - One of the many aspects of a football match you can bet on is how many goals will be scored, but in order to create a definitive market decimals are used.
Both Teams to Score Betting - Games featuring sides who tend to both score and concede often are ripe for BTTS bets, and you can also bet against BTTS.
Shots on Target - Not always easy to find but a nice addition to a bet builder, shots on target can offer good value but are not as simple as they sound.
Home Advantage - We put the theory that the home side has an advantage over their opposition to the test.
What Does Win Both Halves Mean? - A slightly different take on the HT/FT market which can offer longer odds. Very useful in a game where you think one team will dominate but odds on the Win aren't worth taking.
Aggregate Wins and Your Bet - Changing rules further complicate this potentially confusing element to football betting, but knowing the difference between 'to win' and 'to qualify' markets is crucial.
Scoring From Throw Ins, Corners, Goal Kicks - There are some funny old rules when it comes to more obscure ways of scoring goals in a game of football. You might be surprised at what is and what isn't allowed.
Goal Difference - It may seem trivial but in some cases goal difference can be the difference between winning and losing a league.
Offside Betting - Offside betting is a possibility with some betting brands these days, and it's a good one for anyone who likes stats based betting.
Football Acronyms - Having a shorthand is useful in many situations, including football, and acronyms are always a part of that. They are only useful though, if you know what they mean.
Asian Goal Line - One of the more complicated bet types to get your head around, but a useful addition to your arsenal once you've got it cracked.
Football Markets with the Lowest Margin - Bettors are always looking for value bets, but do some markets tend to offer better value than others in terms of the bookies margin?
Player Doesn't Play - Player props bet types have become increasingly popular over time, but obviously, they rely on the player you bet on actually taking part in the game. If they don't, your bet can't win, so what happens then?
Bet Not to Score - Betting on a player to score is a very popular market, but the opposite is true of the opposite situation. It is possible, albeit via an exchange rather than fixed odds bookie, but it's not exactly a busy market.
Bet on Cards in Football - There are a number of ways to bet on cards being given in football matches, whether by team, by player, or by the whole game. It can also be a good market for making less specific predictions.
First Goalscorer Each Way - You might not even have known it was possible to bet each way on the first goal scorer market, but in the right situation it can be the smartest move, even when compared with the anytime goalscorer market.
What is VAR? - Brought in for 2018, the introduction of VAR to football is still a controversial subject. It's here to stay though, so whether you love it or hate it, it's probably worth understanding what it is, how it works, and why it is here at all.
Betting on Goalkeeper Saves - The focus on football is always on goals, but at the other end of the pitch saves are arguably equally important. People don't tend to think about betting on them all that often though, as it is a relatively new market.
Sack Race and Next Manager - So much of football betting focusses on what is happening during the game, but there are markets that looks at some of the important factors that go on off the pitch too, and being a football manager is one of them.
Multi Goal Betting - Getting better odds on what is essentially the same market but with added benefits - something you would be interested in? This can be possible with multi goal betting when used in place of certain other markets.
What is Team Performance? - A slightly more gamified way of placing a wager on the football is team performance betting markets. It's a little bit like betting on how much action will occur in the game, without having to worry too much about the specifics.
Betting on Tackles - Player props are increasingly popular betting markets, and player tackles is one of these that bettors can utilise when they see the opportunity. If you see a dual between 2 players coming up for example, this could be a market to look at.
Correct Score Betting in Football - Ask anyone down the pub and they will tell you exactly what the score is sure to be at the weekend. They won't usually get it right though. Yet correct score betting is incredibly popular, because the odds are often rather tempting - but there's a reason for that.
Reacting to Game State When In-Play Betting - A lot can happen inside of 90 minutes, which is why in-play betting offers extra markets and increased excitement too. As a bettor, knowing how to react to game changing moments can really help.
Betting on Late Goals - Punters always want to find an angle, and with the extended length of extra time, late goals is a good area to explore. More goals are scored in the last 15 minutes than at any other point in the average game, but is there betting value here?
Horse Racing
Horse Racing Bets - Just like we did for football, we’ve covered the main racing bets. Including the difference between win, place and each way as well as the more exotic full cover bets.
Horse Racing Betting Rules - What is the day of race market and when does it start? What happens if your horse pulls out? The answers to these questions, and many more, can be found in our horse racing rules guide.
Grades, Racecards & Form - Our beginner’s guide to racing, covering everything you need to know about grades & races, form and how to read a racecard.
Handicapping - Handicapping is a way of levelling the playing field. Adding weight to faster horses to provide a more competitive, and often more exciting, race.
Steamers and Drifters - Horse racing terminology can be complex, but these two terms are fairly straightforward. More importantly though, you need to understand why horses become steamers or drifters and what to do about it.
Best Odds Guaranteed and Starting Price - Best Odds Guaranteed is almost an expectation from bookies these days, but is it always the best option or should you ever take the starting price?
Horse Racing Strategy - Every good bettor had a strategy when it comes to making their selections and deciding how much to wager on each one. Here are some tips to improve yours.
Forecasts, Reverse Forecasts & Exactas - When you are surer than sure that you know how a race will go a forecast or reverse forecast can give you some nice odds. The Exacta is a different way of doing things, and can often be more rewarding too.
Tricasts, Combinations, and Trifecta Bets - A more complex bet than a forecast, the tricast bet types allow for the inclusion of an extra runner, and this means extra betting options become available within this bracket too.
What is Draw Bias? - The stall a horse starts from can have a huge impact on their chances of winning, especially at tracks with a strong draw bias.
Obstacles in Racing: Fences & Hurdles - All jumps are not made equal, and different kinds are used to test a horse's ability before they are let loose on the really intimidating jumps.
Headgear in Horse Racing - Horses race with all sorts of different equipment, some of which are standard and some more optional. Headgear is one area where different horses might wear slightly different equipment.
All Weather Racing - To keep racing moving in this country with its ever changing weather, different tracks surfaces have been developed, but do they work?
Back to Lay - Betting exchanges allow savvy punters to use the odds movements in such a way that a net win is secured regardless of the outcome of the race.
Amateur Jockeys - In most sporting arenas the gap between an amateur and a professional is wide a noticeable. In horse racing however, this isn't necessarily the case.
Places Betting - Think your horse is going to do well, but not 100% confident it will win? You need to look at betting on places instead.
Fell, Pulled Up, Brought Down & Unseated Rider - Much can happen during a horse race, and not all of it is good news for punters, especially if it means their horse doesn't finish. Here are a few reasons why that might happen.
What Does Refused Mean? - Horses have their own personalities and don't always want to race. When they make this known and can't be persuaded otherwise, it is called a refusal.
Horse Breeds Used for Racing - Different horse breeds are better suited to specific types of racing or equestrian events, with some more popular in different countries than others.
Forecast vs Exacta - Both bets require punters to predict the top two finishers in a race, but which one is the smartest choice for bettors?
Tricast vs Trifecta - Although very similar in nature (and incredibly difficult to call), there is an optimal time to use the tricast over the trifecta and vice versa if you want to maximise winnings.
Official Ratings - Not all horses have an official rating (OR), but they can serve as a guide to a horse's quality. They are no replacement for good research, however.
No Horses Declared - You need a minimum of two horses for a race to be a race, but sometimes no one turns up. Why is this, and what happens?
Final Declarations - The point at which betting goes from being ante post to day of race is once final declarations have been made, and this then changes the rules of your bet in a number of ways.
Non Runners - A non-runner is exactly as it sounds, a horse that doesn't end up racing, but the reasons behind this occurrence and the impact on bets is worth learning about.
Racing Acronyms - You can only make an informed decision on your horse racing bets if you understand all the terminology and information you have been given on the horses, terms, offers, etc.
Non-Runners in a Forecast or Tricast - Non-runners happen all the time, but when they are part of a bigger bet it can cause confusion as to what happens next.
Bet on Long Shot or Favourite? - Betting on the favourite might seem sensible, but long term, it's usually not a good plan. But neither is consistently betting on outsiders. This is where dutching can help.
Lowest Margin Horse Racing Markets - Knowing which markets to examine and which markets to avoid in terms of value will set you in good stead for the long run when betting on the horses.
Betting on Horse Racing In Play - A lot of people don't realise that betting on a horse race which has already started is even possible, but it very much is, and if you know the horses you are watching you can take advantage of odds movements - but you have to be quick.
80/20 Horse Racing Betting Strategy - Savvy punters go further than the markets offered to them by bookmakers. They play around with the way they split their stake too, and the 80/20 strategy is the perfect example of how some basic maths can get you a bit of an extra edge with your betting.
How to Bet on The Tote’s World Pool - In pool betting, also known colloquially as 'Tote' betting, the size of the pool is the all important factor - as well as how many winning dividends there are to share out of course. Well imagine how big that pool would be if it was shared amongst all the bettors in the world.
How do Non-Runner Money Back Promotions Work? - The right promotion can really enhance your bet, and at big meetings like Cheltenham Festival there are usually a lot off promotions floating around to get on board with. Non-runner money back offers are one common example, but how do they work?
What is Going and How Important is it? - When punters research the horses and races they are thinking of betting on, much attention is paid to the horse's form, but just as much attention should be given to the going, because it has a huge impact on how each horse performs.
Do Horses Run Better After a Wind Operation? - This is nothing to do with digestion, but everything to do with how freely a horse can draw in air to power their body and improve performance. Wind operations are all about optimising the horse's breathing, for their health and for their racing capabilities.
What are the Different Types of Horse Race? - A horse race is either a flat race or a jumps race, right? Well, not really. There are different types of race for different types of horses, so many race types that novice bettors might not really understand the difference. This article will help.
Bets on Horse Racing: Online vs Betting Ring - At the racecourse, you usually have the choice to place bets at kiosks and with independent bookies in the betting ring. You can place bets online too if you like, but both options come with their plusses and minuses.
Can Horse Pedigree Predict the Outcome of a Race? - Pedigree isn't everything, but in those races with horses that haven't raced much, it's as good a place to start as any, and owners will pay a fortune to breed their horses with other successful racers, so there must be something in it.
What is Pattern Form in Horse Racing? - There are many ways to analyse a horse race before deciding how to bet on it, if at all, and pattern form is one such method. You can think of it as a way of filtering the runners to find the one with the best chance on paper.
How Reliable are Handicap Ratings in Racing? - Handicapping was introduced to try and create a more level playing field from one race to another, although it can cause its fair share of surprises too. So, how reliable is handicapping?
What are Sectional Times? - Most punters only think of horse racing in terms of which horse is ahead at the end. However, sectional times can give insight into how a horse will race, not just where it might finish.
What Happens to My Bet If There’s a False Start? - A false start isn't always a big deal in horse racing. They can reset and go again. However, depending on exactly what happens after the false start and why, your bet could be impacted.
What is Point to Point Racing? - Popular with amateur riders and the betting public alike, point to point races are a great training ground for young jockeys and young horses, and several champion runners have come to the sport via this route.
Ca a Jockey Re-Mount After a Fall? - A rule change in 2009 made it against the rules for a jockey to re-mount, but before this, there had even been occasions when a re-mounting jockey went on to win the race.
Greyhound Racing
Greyhound Bets - Learn the basics behind the most common types of bet you can make on the greyhounds.
How Many Greyhound Tracks Are There in the UK? - At one time there was a greyhound racing track in almost every major town and city in the UK. These days their number has been decimated, but going to the dogs is still a favourite pastime for many.
The Greyhound Derby - Once a headline event and attended by almost 100,000 people at its peak, the Greyhound Derby is still running today, albeit not in its former glory. It has a new home now though, and a chance to establish itself once more.
Trap Challenge Betting Rules - For anyone who finds too much research tiresome but still wants to bet on the Greyhounds, the trap challenge is a good way to get a stake in every race on the card by doing nothing more than following your gut.
Greyhound Betting Rules - A brief run through of the mainstay bet types and the rules surrounding betting on the greyhounds. Nothing is too detailed in here, but all of the basics are covered.
Greyhound Hares - Greyhound racing wouldn't last long if they used a real hare as bait for the dogs, so what do they use instead?
Tennis
Retirement Rules for Tennis Betting - A player can retire from a match (we aren't talking about career retirements here) for many reasons and at many different points in the process. The specifics of this as well as the rules at your bookie will determine the outcome for your bet.
Tennis Disqualification Rules - It doesn't happen often, but even some of the most famous tennis stars have been sent back to the changing room early. For the bettor then, what does this mean?
Tennis Bets - Betting on any sport successfully requires the bettor to use the right bets at the right time, and these are the main bet types for tennis.
Tennis Handicap Betting - Handicap betting is available across many different sports, but can be used with tennis in several different ways.
Total Games - A good option if the match winner odds are poor but you have a strong idea of how the match will pan out.
Match and Serve Dominance - When you think the outcome is set in stone, dominance markets allow you to wager on how badly beaten the loser will be.
Set Betting - A good way to broaden your betting arsenal, set betting can be useful in a number of different scenarios, but especially when backing the favourite is not worthwhile due to super short odds.
Golf
Improve Your Golf Betting - Bettors often ignore markets they don't understand, golf being one of them. So here are a few pointers for anyone wanting to improve or learn about golf betting, whether that be pre-tournament or in-play.
Golf Bets & Bet Types - Betting on golf is so much more than simply picking the tournament winner. There are many more betting markets these days for golf than there have ever been, and using them correctly can have a positive impact on your success rate when betting on golf.
2 & 3 Ball Betting - Although 2 and 3 ball betting are not difficult markets to understand, they don't tend to attract novice golf bettors, and that's a shame, because they are an easy way to diversify your bets and find interesting wagers too.
Who Will Make the Cut Betting - The way in which the cut works has caused murmers in the golfing world, but for bettors, it's just another opportunity to find value bets, whether you wager on a player making the cut, or not to make the cut.
Each Way Golf Betting - Picking a winner in a golf tournament is hard. Really hard. Making an each way bet instead can make things a little easier for the bettor, but all bookies have their own each way terms.
First Round Golf Betting Markets - First round betting on golf is a wager on arguably the most exciting stage of a tournament. It's also a good way to bet without letting external factors get in the way.
Top Finish Bets and Golf Accumulator Betting - Most people know what an acca is, but did you know that golf has it's own unique type of accas? The top finish markets can often be a more savvy bet than backing someone on the nose, so it's worth exploring.