Sports Betting The Basics

Placing your first bet at a online sportsbook can be quite daunting. Especially if all you want to do is place a bet on a simple outcome but with so much terminology; "doubles", "trebles", "accumulators", "forecasts" it can quickly turn the experience sour and make placing a bet quite difficult. Hopefully this article will help you understand the terminology used by online sportsbooks and sports bettors.

Types Of Bets

Single - A single bet on an event occurring. (A football team winning, final score etc.)

Each Way Single - 2 bets, one on the win and one on a second place finish.

Double - 2 single bets, both of which must win to release the winnings. (Football team to win + Golfer to win an event)

Treble - 3 single bets, all of which must win to receive the winnings. (Correct football score + rugby team to win + cricket team to win)

Accumulator (Parlay) Multiple bets being placed (usually more then 3) all of the selections must win for you to win the bet. Common in the UK for football matches.

Forecast - Predicting the 1st place and 2nd place finisher in a race, usually for greyhounds or horses.

Reverse Forecast - Predicting the 1st and 2nd place finishers in either order.

Over/Under - Odds on more/less goals or points being scored in a match or event.

Half Time - Full Time - Predicting the result at both half time and full time.

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General Betting Terms

SP (Starting Price) - The odds offered at the start of the event.

Backed - A team with the most bets taken on them winning.

System - A mathematical method of betting used by a bettor to try and receive a advantage over the sportsbook.

Shorten - The odds getting smaller thus being less attractive to the bettor.

Lengthen - The odds getting larger thus becoming more attractive to the bettor.

In The Red - Favourite to win, "odds on".

Lines - The odds bookmakers offer to customers

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