With numerous betting markets available online, choosing the correct one to wager with; especially as a beginner can be difficult. Due to the fragility of sports bets and how easy it is for you to lose money, it is imperative that you strive to understand what betting markets are and how they work. This article explains just that.
In your quest to become an avid sports bettor, there are a few betting markets you should familiarise yourself with. Yes, there are a lot of them but the most popular ones you’d typically come across are – handicaps / spreads, totals (over/under), moneyline, both teams to score etc.
Each of those betting markets have their formations and specifics, which might affect how bettors choose to use them. In this post, we’ll break each one down and how they apply to sports bets.
Table Of Contents:
- What betting markets are and how they are used.
- Different types of betting markets (Explained).
- Why you should choose the right betting markets.
- Everything you need to know about understanding betting markets.
- How to navigate betting markets on MatchPlug.
What Betting Markets Are And How They Are Used
Betting markets or bet types are the specific outcomes for a sporting event. Operators use them to direct punters on what wagers to make when betting on a sport. You can either access these markets in online sportsbooks like 1XBet, on a Prediction Site like MatchPlug or in physical betting shops.
Usually, a bookmaker will give you multiple betting markets for each match. You can get up to 1500 bet types for each event. This number is dependent on the sportsbook and sport. No matter the number you are given, you should research them extensively.
After you’ve done your research, you then determine which market has the highest chances of happening within a specific time frame.
Different Types Of Betting Markets
There are a huge variety of betting markets you’d come across as a punter, no matter the sport you play. Whether it’s football, basketball, baseball, or even hockey. We have taken time to explain each one below:
1. Handicap Betting Market
Handicap betting is one of the most popular betting markets for experienced bettors. These wagers allow you to increase difficulty in your bet in order to increase your earnings.
For example, if Arsenal is playing Wolves, every probability suggests that the Gunners will win by a landslide. So, a good strategy would be to place a bet with a -1 handicap, or something similar, removing a goal from Arsenal in your prediction results.
2. Moneyline Bets
A moneyline bet is the easiest and most common betting market you’ll come across when betting on a sport. These bet types are characterized by the presence of a “favourite” (the preferred team to win) and “underdog” (the team fated to lose).
For this bet type, you simply need to select the team that’ll win a match, which is usually the favourites. To take a team on the moneyline, means you expect them to win.
3. Point Spread
In Point Spread, you work with margins. For example, if a team are 9.5- point favourites over another team, and you back the underdogs at +9.5, it means that you will win your wager if the underdogs win the match or lose by 1-9 points.
But, if those underdogs lose by 10 or more points, then the bettors backing the favourites 9.5- point spread will win. Betting against the spread means betting on the underdog, and, to win, you want the underdog to either win the game outright or lose by less than the point spread.
4. Over/ Under Betting Market
A “totals” (Over/Under) bet is actually the final score that is a sum total of the individual scores or goals of two clubs in a match (Team A score + Team B Score), not the amount of points or goals one club must score.
For example if you get an over or under total of 47.5 what it means is that the teams scored 28-20 respectively, which is 48 and actually above 47.5. If you then bet Over 47.5 I win because the total point score of that single match passed 47.5.
But if you wager under 47.5 and the teams score 23-10 respectively, which is 33 points and under 47.5, then you win as someone who chose under.
5. Corners Betting Market
Corners betting markets are so popular because of how thrilling and lucrative they are. This market is unpredictable, but you can make a lot of money if you succeed in it. Bookmakers will always favour this bet. However, you should understand statistics if you want to win here.
For accurate results, monitor the behavior of corner kicks in any league and the clubs that face each other in a game. Similarly, consider fixtures where the favorites badly need to win.
6. Combination Betting Market
Combination bets is a combination for some simple bets. Bookies allow you to combine a maximum of 12 simple bets. This is why they’re called multiple bets or parlays.
For a combination bet to win, you must win all the single predictions in the combination. To know the odds of a parlay or combination bet, multiply the odds of all the selections you have on your ticket. This bet is good because every successful bet multiplies the profit so that by betting little, you can win a lot of money.
7. Draw No Bet
Draw No Bet is an easy betting market with profitable returns. Here, you bet on just two possibilities: a home victory or an away victory. If a game ends in a draw your bet is refunded.
This market is good for fixtures where you can’t tell which team will win. Even if the match ends in a stalemate or draw your stake will still be returned.
8. Both Teams To Score
In Both Teams To Score, you win if both teams scored during the entire game. Who wins in the end or the total score of the match does not matter.
The only two options for you are Yes or No. If you think both clubs will score one or more goals select “Yes”, if you feel they’ll draw or only one side will score select “No”. To increase your earnings, use BTTS when two equally strong clubs are playing against each other, as the chance of both clubs scoring is higher.
9. Anytime Goalscorer
Anytime goalscorer can be used to boost the roster of a team or the excellent goalscoring record of a player. Here, all goals count except if it is scored in extra time or penalties.
Select a player; the less likely you are to score, the better the odds will be. You win if they score within 90 minutes of the match.
10. First To Score
First To Score is easy to predict, but, your payouts will be larger if you bet before the opening coin toss.
The toss is a 50-50 chance, but the home team might score first due to factors like strength of offense and defense, 11th-man factor, and first quarter game plan. A great way to enhance your prediction is to research teams’ history and previous records when playing against each other. This can help you learn patterns.
11. Player Props
Player props might not make you a lot of money, but it can still maximize your earnings if you research and prepare well for it. Some props to back are highest match goal scorer, player assists, man of the match, etc.
Why You Should Choose The Right Betting Markets
While your intuition and extensive research on team form, player injuries, and historical data will get you very far when betting on sports. Choosing the right betting markets is another aspect of sports betting you must never ignore.
In this section, we share 3 reasons why you should choose the right betting markets.
1. It Increases Your Chances Of A Winning Bet
Selecting the right betting markets immensely improves your chances of making a winning bet. Which is why you should always pick a market you are familiar with. Doing this gives you enough time to research and come up with accurate football predictions.
2. Fewer Variables
The best betting markets are the ones that have fewer variables. It is crucial that you analyse each market given to you by a bookie before making your choice. This rule applies to wagering on football, basketball, or even on horse racing.
3. Lucrative Odds
The right betting markets come with generous odds. If you choose the right market, then you can expect to earn a lot of money from your bets. Furthermore, making this smart decision ensures that your earnings are intact regardless of the sport you’re wagering on and the bookie in charge of adjusting the market.
Everything You Need To Know About Understanding Betting Markets
If there is one thing you should never do while starting out as a sports bettor, it’s betting on a market you do not understand. And contrary to what you think, knowing how the rules of each market works is not enough.
So, what actually goes into understanding betting markets? We share what it entails below:
1. Read Bookmakers Rules
One way to begin your journey of understanding a betting market is to familiarise yourself with a bookmaker’s rules. Similarly, you can read articles like the ones we have on our blog site or even apply the examples you’ve seen play out.
2. Avoid Trial And Error
Using trial and error methods is one common mistake that bettors make when navigating betting markets. It is in your best interest to understand how a market works before using it, otherwise you can lose money, because you do not fully grasp the requirements of the market you need to win. Understanding the markets indepthly will make you a successful bettor.
3. Cramming Rules Are Not Enough
Knowing that taking a team on the Moneyline means that they’ll win the match is you simply knowing the rules of that market. But understanding it on a deeper level requires more work and research.
4. Understand Outcomes And Reoccurrences
You know you’ve understood a market when you can accurately list the number of times that outcome has happened in a particular league, match, or between two teams. Of course, this would involve a bit of statistical analysis and studying the form. A combination of all these things will help you exploit the market and make profits from your wagers.
How To Navigate Betting Markets On MatchPlug
As one of the Best Prediction Sites in the sports betting industry, MatchPlug makes it very easy for beginners to navigate the various betting markets they come across daily. Here are a few things you’ll find on our site to help with this process.
1. Expert Tips
We work with a team of experienced analysts with over 20 years of experience, who shell out expert sport tips for every match and popular sporting event happening in your preferred league. Our analysis has been cited and validated by prominent sports publications.
2. Numerous Betting Markets
MatchPlug ensures you pick only the right betting markets, by presenting you with a carefully curated selection when you visit our website. We show you what the most lucrative options are and what’s hot for the day.
3. Sports Previews And News
Our site simplifies the process of researching head-to-head records, player injuries, and major league updates, by providing you with sports previews and current news every week. The previews contain an analysis of upcoming matches, as well as the best odds.
4. Partnership
MatchPlug partners with only the best bookmakers and sportsbooks in the industry. This ensures that our bettors get choice markets delivered to their fingertips. Some of our partners include 1XBet, 888 Starz, and FairPari.
5. Articles On Betting Tips
The sports betting related articles on our blog section are truly the icing on the cake, as they break down the most complex concepts about sports betting in a simple manner. We cover an array of topics that answer your burning questions about succeeding in this industry.
