Types of Bets Explained: A Beginner’s Guide

Sports betting includes different types of bets, each with its own rules for how selections are combined and how winnings are calculated. A single bet covers one prediction, an accumulator combines several, and a system bet splits your selections into different combinations.

You’ll also come across terms like each-way, over/under and handicap. These describe different ways a bet can work or what needs to happen for it to win.

This guide explains the most common betting types with simple examples, so you can understand what they mean, how they’re calculated, and how they differ.

Types of Bets You May Find on UK Betting Site

Bet types can be divided into three main groups:

• Single bets involve one selection, such as a football team winning a match.
• Multiple bets combine two or more selections, all of which normally need to win for the bet to succeed.
• System bets combine several separate bets, so a return may still be possible even if some selections lose.

A selection is simply the outcome covered by a bet. For example, “Arsenal to win” is one selection, while “Over 2.5 goals” is another.

You’ll also hear the word market, which describes what you’re betting on, such as the match winner, total goals, or final score.

Let’s start with the simplest bet types.

Single Bet Explained

A single bet is a bet on one outcome. It doesn’t depend on any other selection, which makes it the simplest type of sports bet.

For example, a football team has decimal odds of 2.50 to win. With a hypothetical £10 stake:

• If the team wins, the total return is £25 (£15 profit plus the £10 stake).
• If the team loses or draws, the £10 stake is lost.

A single bet can cover almost any betting market, from a match winner to the number of goals or the winner of a tennis tournament.

The potential return depends on the odds. You can learn how these are calculated in our Betting Odds guide.

Multiple Bets Explained

A multiple bet combines two or more selections into one bet. Instead of settling each prediction separately, the bookmaker combines their odds.

The main rule is simple: every selection must normally win for the multiple to win. One losing selection usually means the entire bet loses.

Double Bet

A double combines two selections into one bet, and both must win for a return. For example:

• Team A to win at decimal odds of 2.00
• Team B to win at decimal odds of 1.50

The combined odds are:

2.00 × 1.50 = 3.00

A hypothetical £10 double would return £30 if both teams won. If either team lost, the double would lose.

Treble Bet

A treble works like a double but includes three selections. All three need to win. For example, consider three predictions with decimal odds of 2.00, 1.50, and 1.80.

The combined odds are:

2.00 × 1.50 × 1.80 = 5.40

A hypothetical £10 treble would return £54 if all three selections won. Adding another selection increases the combined odds, but it also introduces another result that must go correctly.

Accumulator Bet (Acca)

An accumulator, often shortened to acca, combines several selections into one bet. The term is usually used for multiples with four or more selections, although doubles and trebles work on the same principle.

Accumulators are also named according to their number of legs:

Some bookmakers offer promotions that may refund a qualifying accumulator when only one leg loses. We explain how these work in our Acca Insurance guide.

What Are System Bets?

A system bet combines several individual bets using the same group of selections. Unlike a standard accumulator, a system bet may still produce a return when some selections lose. That’s because different combinations are settled separately.

For example, instead of combining three football predictions into one treble, a system bet might create several doubles and a treble from those predictions.

The important difference is the total stake. If a system contains seven separate bets and each has a £1 stake, the total cost is £7, not £1.

Trixie Bet

A Trixie uses three selections to create four bets:

• Three doubles
• One treble

If there are selections A, B and C. The Trixie covers A+B, A+C, B+C and A+B+C.

Because the Trixie includes doubles, only two of the three selections need to win for a return. However, that return isn’t guaranteed to cover the full stake. A £1 Trixie costs £4 in total because it contains four separate bets.

Patent Bet

A Patent also uses three selections, but it includes seven separate bets:

• Three singles
• Three doubles
• One treble

The difference between a Patent and a Trixie is that a Patent includes single bets. This means a Patent can produce a return even if only one selection wins, although the total return may be less than the amount staked. With £1 on each of the seven bets, the total stake is £7.

Yankee Bet

A Yankee combines four selections into 11 separate bets:

• Six doubles
• Four trebles
• One four-fold accumulator

Like a Trixie, a Yankee doesn’t include singles, so at least two selections must win for a return. A £1 Yankee has a total stake of £11.

Lucky 15 Bet

A Lucky 15 also uses four selections, but it creates 15 bets instead of 11. It includes four singles, six doubles, four trebles, and one four-fold accumulator.

Because singles are included, just one winning selection can produce a return. This doesn’t necessarily mean the overall bet makes a profit. A £1 Lucky 15 costs £15 in total.

Other Common System Bets

There are several larger system bets, each combining more selections and creating more individual bets.

Larger system bets contain more combinations, which means the total stake can increase significantly even when the stake per individual bet is small.

What Is an Each-Way Bet?

An each-way bet is commonly used in horse racing, although it can also appear in golf and other sports. It combines two bets on the same selection:

1. A win bet, which pays if the selection wins.
2. A place bet, which pays if the selection finishes in one of the qualifying positions.

For example, a horse might need to finish in the top three for the place part to win. The number of qualifying places depends on the race and the bookmaker’s terms.

An important detail is that an each-way bet costs twice the stated unit stake. A £5 each-way bet means £5 on the win and £5 on the place, making £10 in total.

If the horse wins, both parts normally pay. If it finishes in a qualifying place without winning, only the place part pays. The place part also uses different odds, often a fraction of the original win odds.

Common Types of Football Bets

So far, we’ve looked at how bets are structured. Another way to categorise them is by betting market, which describes the outcome being predicted. Football betting markets cover different aspects of a match, from the final result and total number of goals to individual player performances. Each market has its own rules, so understanding what counts as a winning outcome is important.

Match Result (1X2)

A 1X2 bet covers the result of a football match, usually over 90 minutes plus stoppage time. There are three possible outcomes:

• 1 – Home team wins
• X – The match ends in a draw
• 2 – Away team wins

For example, if a match finishes 2-1, the home win (1) is the winning result.

In cup matches, extra time and penalties are normally excluded from a standard 90-minute result market unless the rules say otherwise.

Double Chance

A double chance bet covers two of the three possible match results.

The options are:

For example, 1X wins if the home team wins or the match ends in a draw. It loses only if the away team wins. Because two results are covered, double chance odds are generally shorter than the odds for either individual result.

Draw No Bet (DNB)

Draw No Bet removes the draw as a losing result. If the selected team wins, the bet wins. If that team loses, the bet loses. But if the match ends in a draw, the stake is normally returned.

For example, with Team A on Draw No Bet:

• Team A wins 2-0: the bet wins.
• The match ends 1-1: the stake is refunded.
• Team A loses 0-1: the bet loses.

Over/Under Goals

An over/under bet is about the total number of goals scored rather than which team wins. For example, with Over 2.5 Goals, the match must have at least three goals. With Under 2.5 Goals, there must be no more than two.

Similar markets exist for corners, cards, and other match statistics. Whole-number goal lines, such as Over 2.0, may have different settlement rules, including a possible refund.

Both Teams to Score (BTTS)

Both Teams to Score, commonly shortened to BTTS, is about whether each team scores at least one goal.

There are two options:

• BTTS Yes: Both teams must score.
• BTTS No: At least one team must fail to score.

For example, a 2-1 result wins for BTTS Yes, while a 2-0 result wins for BTTS No. The match winner doesn’t matter in this market.

Correct Score

A correct score bet requires the exact final score to be predicted. For example, a selection of 2-1 wins only if the match ends 2-1. Because the bet covers one specific result rather than several possibilities, correct score markets often have longer odds than standard match-result markets.

Handicap Bet

A handicap bet gives one team a virtual advantage or disadvantage before the result is calculated.

For example, if Team A has a -1.5 goal handicap, it needs to win by at least two goals for the bet to succeed. A 2-0 win would qualify, but a 1-0 win wouldn’t.

A team with a +1.5 handicap, on the other hand, would be covered if it won, drew or lost by only one goal.

There are also different handicap formats, including Asian handicaps, where some results can lead to a full or partial stake refund.

What Is a Bet Builder?

A Bet Builder allows several predictions from the same match to be combined into one bet.

For example, a football Bet Builder could include:

• Team A to win
• Over 2.5 total goals
• Both teams to score

All three conditions would need to be met for this example to win. A 2-1 victory for Team A would satisfy them, while a 2-0 victory wouldn’t because both teams didn’t score.

Bet Builders differ from standard accumulators as the selections come from the same event and may affect each other’s likelihood. As a result, bookmakers calculate the combined odds differently, and some combinations may not be available.

Pre-Match vs In-Play Betting

Another difference between bet types is when the bet is placed. Pre-match betting takes place before an event starts, while in-play betting, also called live betting, takes place after it has begun.

In-play odds can change quickly as the match develops. A goal, red card, or injury may affect the prices, and some markets can be temporarily suspended. A bet that has already been accepted is generally settled using its accepted odds, unless the bookmaker’s rules specify otherwise.

Some bookmakers also offer Cash Out, which allows certain bets to be settled before the event finishes. This is a separate feature rather than a type of bet.

Common Mistakes Connected to Bet Types

One of the most common mistakes is confusing the number of selections with the number of bets. A three-selection treble is one bet, while a three-selection Patent contains seven separate bets.

Another is assuming that a system bet guarantees a profit when some selections win. It may generate a return, but that doesn’t mean it covers the total amount staked.

It’s also important not to confuse betting markets with bet structures. A single can be placed on Over 2.5 Goals, while an accumulator can combine several Over 2.5 Goals selections from different matches. The market describes the predicted result, while the structure describes how selections are combined.

Finally, longer combined odds don’t mean an accumulator is more likely to win. Each additional required selection creates another way for the bet to lose.

Responsible Gambling

Every type of bet involves financial risk, and no outcome is guaranteed. Multiple and system bets can be especially confusing because of their combined odds and total stakes. Make sure you understand how a bet works and never spend more than you can afford to lose. For free information and support, visit BeGambleAware.

About the writer

Mike Brown

Sports Betting Editor

Mike Brown is the Sports Betting Editor at CaughtOffside. A former tipster and betting syndicate analyst, he writes on odds, bookmaker margins and expected value. He also reviews UK sportsbooks on withdrawals, KYC and promotional terms. He’s based in Manchester.

• Read more from this writer