Mastering Types of Bets: Your Ultimate Guide to Sports Betting in the UK

This guide explores the various types of bets in sports betting in the UK, including common bet types like singles and multiples (accumulators), as well as more complex bets like forecasts and full-cover bets. It also covers specialised bets specific to popular sports like football and horse racing.

Home » Mastering Types of Bets: Your Ultimate Guide to Sports Betting in the UK

Betting News

Sports betting is a battle of wits where punters (bettors) make predictions on sporting events and bet money that their prediction will be correct, while bookmakers assign odds to these predictions ¹. If the punter is correct, they win their stake amount multiplied by the odds offered, but to win consistently in the long term, you need to bet on ‘value’ bets where the payout odds are higher than the probability of the bet winning ¹.

This guide explores the various types of bets in sports betting in the UK, including common bet types like singles and multiples (accumulators), as well as more complex bets like forecasts and full-cover bets ². It also covers specialised bets specific to popular sports like football and horse racing ².

Common Bet Types

Single Bets

A win bet produces a return only if the selection wins ³. A place bet produces a return if the selection finishes in the top predetermined positions ³. An each-way bet is a combination of a win and place bet of equal size ³.

Multiple Bets

Doubles: A bet with two selections ⁵.
Trebles: A bet with three selections ⁵.
Accumulators: A bet with four or more selections ⁵.

All selections must win for the bet to be successful ⁴.

Popular Bet Types in the UK

The most popular types of sports bets in the UK are:

Money line (match betting) – Betting on the outright winner of a game or match ⁴.
Point spread (handicap) – Betting on the margin of victory ⁴.
Totals (over/under) – Betting on the total number of points/goals scored ⁴.
Double chance – Betting on two of the three possible outcomes (home win/draw, home win/away win, away win/draw) ⁴.
Parlays (accumulators) – Combining multiple bets on a single slip, where all selections must win ⁴.
Teasers – A form of parlay where the point spreads are adjusted to benefit the bettor ⁴.
Proposition bets (props) – Bets on specific events or player performances within a game ⁴.
Futures (outright bets) – Bets on the outcome of an entire competition or season ⁴.
Live betting – Bets placed during an event as the odds change ⁴.

Sport-Specific Bet Types

Different sports have their own popular bet types, such as:

Football (soccer): 3-way money line, double chance, correct score, corner/card props ⁴.
Golf: Outright winner, top finisher, player matchups, hole-in-one props ⁴.
Tennis: Game/set handicaps, over/unders, live betting on points/games ⁴.
Boxing/MMA: Money line, method of victory, round totals ⁴.
Horse racing: Win, place, show, exotic bets like exacta, trifecta ⁴.
Other sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL): Spread, money line, totals, player props ⁴.

Complex Bet Types

Multiple Selection Bets

Double Bet: A double bet is a bet on two selections, both of which must win ³.
Treble Bet: A treble bet is a bet on three selections, all of which must win ³.
Accumulator Bet: An accumulator bet is a bet on four or more selections, all of which must win ³.
Trixie Bet: A trixie bet is a bet on three selections with 4 separate bets (3 doubles, 1 treble) ³.
Yankee Bet: A yankee bet is a bet on four selections with 11 separate bets (6 doubles, 4 trebles, 1 fourfold) ³.
Canadian/Super Yankee Bet: A Canadian/Super Yankee bet is a bet on five selections with 26 separate bets ³.
Heinz Bet: A Heinz bet is a bet on six selections with 57 separate bets ³.
Super Heinz Bet: A Super Heinz bet is a bet on seven selections with 120 separate bets ³.
Goliath Bet: A Goliath bet is a bet on eight selections with 247 separate bets ³.

Combination Bets

Patent Bet: A patent bet is a bet on three selections with 7 separate bets (3 singles, 3 doubles, 1 treble) ³.
Lucky 15 Bet: A lucky 15 bet is a bet on four selections with 15 separate bets ³.
Lucky 31 Bet: A lucky 31 bet is a bet on five selections with 31 separate bets ³.
Lucky 63 Bet: A lucky 63 bet is a bet on six selections with 63 separate bets ³.
Alphabet Bet: An alphabet bet is a bet on six selections with 26 separate bets ³.

Other Complex Bets

Up-and-Down Bet: An up-and-down bet is a bet on two selections, with the winnings from one used to place an additional bet on the other ³.
Round Robin Bet: A round robin bet is a bet on three selections with 10 separate bets ³.
Flag Bet: A flag bet is a bet on four selections with 23 separate bets ³.
Super Flag Bet: A super flag bet is a bet on five selections with 46 separate bets ³.
Rounder Bet: A rounder bet is a bet on three selections with 3 singles and 3 ATC doubles ³.
Roundabout Bet: A roundabout bet is similar to a rounder bet, but the ATC doubles are to twice the stake ³.
Union Jack Bet: A union jack bet is a bet on nine selections with 8 trebles ³.

Forecast Bets

Straight Forecast Bet: A straight forecast bet is a bet on two selections to finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order ³.
Reversed Forecast Bet: A reversed forecast bet is a bet on two selections to finish 1st and 2nd in either order ³.
Combination Forecast Bet: A combination forecast bet is a bet on three or more selections to finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order ³.
Tricast Bet: A tricast bet is a bet on three selections to finish 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the correct order ³.
Combination Tricast Bet: A combination tricast bet is a bet on three or more selections to finish 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the correct order ³.

It’s worth noting that while complex bets offer higher potential payouts, they also carry a higher risk due to the increased number of selections required to win ³. As with any form of betting, it’s essential to understand the risks involved and to gamble responsibly.

Full Cover Bets

Full Cover Bets Without Singles

Trixie Bet: A trixie bet involves three selections with four separate bets – three doubles and one treble ³.
Yankee Bet: A yankee bet involves four selections with eleven separate bets – six doubles, four trebles, and one fourfold accumulator ³.
Canadian/Super Yankee Bet: A Canadian or Super Yankee bet involves five selections with twenty-six separate bets ³.
Heinz Bet: A Heinz bet involves six selections with fifty-seven separate bets ³.
Super Heinz Bet: A Super Heinz bet involves seven selections with one hundred and twenty separate bets ³.
Goliath Bet: A Goliath bet involves eight selections with two hundred and forty-seven separate bets ³.

Full Cover Bets With Singles

Patent Bet: A patent bet involves three selections with seven separate bets – three singles, three doubles, and one treble ³.
Lucky 15 Bet: A lucky 15 bet involves four selections with fifteen separate bets – four singles, six doubles, four trebles, and one fourfold accumulator ³.
Lucky 31 Bet: A lucky 31 bet involves five selections with thirty-one separate bets ³.
Lucky 63 Bet: A lucky 63 bet involves six selections with sixty-three separate bets ³.
Alphabet Bet: An alphabet bet involves six selections with twenty-six separate bets ³.

Full cover bets offer punters the opportunity to cover multiple outcomes with a single stake, increasing their chances of winning. However, it’s crucial to understand that these bets also carry a higher risk due to the increased number of selections required to win ³.

Specialised Bets

Win and Place Bets

Win Bet: A win bet produces a return only if the selection comes first (wins) in an event ³.
Place Bet: A place bet produces a return if the selection finishes first or within a predetermined number of positions (places) of the winner ³.
Each-Way Bet: An each-way bet is a combination of a win and place bet of equal size ³. It essentially consists of two separate bets: one for the selection to win, and another for the selection to place.

‘Any to Come’ (ATC) Bets

Up-and-Down Bet: An up-and-down bet is a bet on two selections, with the winnings from one used to place an additional bet on the other ³.
Round Robin Bet: A round robin bet is a bet on three selections with 10 separate bets ³.
Flag Bet: A flag bet is a bet on four selections with 23 separate bets ³.
Super Flag Bet: A super flag bet is a bet on five selections with 46 separate bets ³.
Rounder Bet: A rounder bet is a bet on three selections with 3 singles and 3 ATC doubles ³.
Roundabout Bet: A roundabout bet is similar to a rounder bet, but the ATC doubles are to twice the stake ³.

Specialty Grid Bets

Union Jack Bet: A union jack bet is a bet on nine selections with 8 treble bets arranged in a 3×3 grid ³.

These specialized bets offer unique betting opportunities and potential payouts, catering to the diverse preferences of punters in the UK sports betting market. However, it’s crucial to understand the intricacies and risks associated with each bet type before placing wagers.

FAQs

What is the most profitable type of bet?

Hedging bets are considered the most profitable betting strategy. In this approach, you place multiple bets on all possible outcomes of a game, ensuring a profit no matter what the final result is.

What sports and events can you bet on in the UK?

In the UK, you can place bets on a wide variety of sports and events. These include football, horse racing, darts, greyhound racing, golf, tennis, cricket, and basketball among others. Each sport typically offers various betting options and boosts at different times.

How can you become proficient at betting?

To master betting, follow these key strategies:

Conduct thorough research and analyse the market.
Set financial limits to manage your betting budget effectively.
Learn and understand the different types of betting odds.
Specialise in betting on a particular sport to increase your expertise.
Choose specific types of bets to focus on.
Maintain objectivity and keep your emotions in check.
Shop around for the best odds to maximise potential returns.

How many different types of bets are available?

There are numerous types of bets offered by bookmakers. Common bet types include moneylines, point spreads, totals, parlays, props, futures, teasers, and live betting. Same game parlays are also available but are less common compared to other bet types.