There is a difference between
types of bet and betting markets.
Do you know what it is?
Let’s find out.
Many people mix up types of bet and betting markets, but they are two different things.
Think about it like this. A betting market is what you bet on, like Match Winner, Both Teams to Score or Over 2.5 Goals. A type of bet is how you put your picks together, whether it’s a single bet, an accumulator, a Yankee or something else.
Once you know the difference, choosing your bets becomes much easier. Let’s start with the basics.
What Is a Type of Bet?
A type of bet is the way you place your bets.
For example, you have found three football bets with odds you like. You can place them one by one as single bets, combine two into a double, combine all three into a treble, or add even more bets to create an accumulator.
The football bets don’t change. The odds don’t change either. What changes is the way they are placed.
Different betting types can lead to different payouts, even when you use the same football bets. For example, the same three bets could pay you €18 with one bet type or €45 with another.
Types of Bet vs Betting Markets
This is one of the most common confusions in sports betting.
A type of bet is how you place your bet. A betting market is what you bet on.
For example, Match Winner, Over 2.5 Goals and Both Teams to Score are betting markets. You can place each one as a single bet, combine them, or use another type of bet.
Let’s say you want to bet on Over 2.5 Goals in Liverpool vs Arsenal. Over 2.5 Goals is the betting market. If you place only that bet, it’s a single bet. If you combine it with Barcelona to win and Both Teams to Score in another match, it becomes a treble.
The same betting market can be used with different types of bet. A simple way to remember it is: first choose the betting market, then choose the type of bet.
Basic Types of Bet
These are the simplest bet types you’ll find at almost every sportsbook. Let’s see how each one works, when to use it, and how it can change your payout.
- Single Bet
A single bet is the simplest type of bet because you place one bet on one betting market.
Let’s use football to see how this works.
Liverpool to beat Everton @1.80 with €10 stake.
- If Liverpool wins, you get €18 back.
- If Liverpool doesn’t win, the bet loses.
Here’s another example.
Liverpool -1.25 Asian Handicap @2.02 with €10 stake.
This is also a single bet because you’re still placing only one bet.
When does a single bet make sense?
A single bet makes sense when one bet looks better than the others. Maybe you think the odds are too good, or maybe you think the bookmaker got them a little wrong. If you feel confident about that result, there’s no need to add more matches and make the bet harder to win.
- Double Bet
A double bet combines two bets into one.
Let’s keep the same football bets and turn them into a double.
Liverpool to beat Everton @1.80
Barcelona to beat Sevilla @1.70
You combine both bets and stake €10.
- If both bets win, you get €30.60 back.
- If one bet loses, the whole bet loses.
Let’s make the other single bet a double.
Liverpool -1.25 Asian Handicap @2.02
Over 2.5 Goals in Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid @1.85
You combine both bets and stake €10.
- If both bets win, you get €37.37 back.
- If one bet loses, the whole bet loses.
Why is the payout higher?
Let’s say you have €10 to bet.
If you place two single bets, you’ll have to split your money; for example, €5 on the first bet and €5 on the second.
If you place a double bet, the full €10 goes on both bets together. That’s why the payout can be much higher. The trade-off is that both bets have to win.
When does a double bet make sense?
It makes sense when you’ve found two bets with good odds or two bets you believe have value. The risk is higher because both bets have to win, but so is the payout.
A bigger payout isn’t always a better bet, though. If you wouldn’t back the second bet on its own, leave it out.
- Treble Bet
A treble bet is a combination of three bets into one.
Let’s add one more bet to the previous double.
Liverpool to beat Everton @1.80
Barcelona to beat Sevilla @1.70
Bayern Munich to beat Augsburg @1.65
You combine both bets and stake €10.
- If all three bets win, you get €50.49 back from combined odds of 5.049
- If one bet loses, the whole bet loses.
Let’s make the other double bet a treble.
Liverpool -1.25 Asian Handicap @2.02
Over 2.5 Goals in Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid @1.85
Both Teams to Score in Inter vs Milan @1.90
You combine both bets and stake €10.
- If all three bets win, you get €70.97 back from combined odds of 7.0973
- If one bet loses, the whole bet loses.
Why is the payout higher?
Let’s say you have €10 to bet. If you place three single bets, ou might stake €5 on the first bet, €3 on the second, and €2 on the third.
- Liverpool @1.80 returns €9.00
- Barcelona @1.70 returns €5.10
- Bayern Munich @1.65 returns €3.30
If all three bets win, you get back €17.40 in total.
Now compare that to the treble bet, where the full €10 goes on all three bets together with combined odds of 7.0973. If all three bets win, you get €70.97 back.
That’s why a treble can offer a much bigger payout, but only if all three bets win.
When does a teble bet make sense?
It makes sense when every bet has a reason to be there. The bigger payout is a bonus, not the reason to add another match.
Common Bet Combinations
- Accumulator Bet
You’ve already seen what happens when you go from a single to a double, and from a double to a treble. Add one more bet, and you’ve got an accumulator bet.
The idea stays exactly the same. Every new bet increases the possible payout, but it also gives you one more way to lose the whole bet.
There’s no need for another example. By now, you’ve got the idea.
When is an accumulator worth the risk?
An accumulator is worth the risk when every bet has a reason to be there. The bigger payout should be a bonus, not the reason for adding another match.
- Parlay Bet
If you’ve heard the term parlay bet, don’t let it confuse you. A parlay is simply another name for an accumulator bet. The only real difference is where the term is used.
In the United States and Canada, bettors usually say parlay. In the UK and many other countries, the same bet is known as an accumulator or simply an acca.
The rules don’t change. You combine multiple bets into one, every bet has to win, and adding more bets increases both the possible payout and the risk.
- Bet Builder
A Bet Builder lets you put together different bets from the same match. Instead of placing three separate bets, you put them all into one Bet Builder. For example:
- Liverpool to win
- Mohamed Salah to score anytime
- Over 2.5 Goals
Isn’t that just a treble?
Not really.
With a treble, you put separate bets into one bet. They usually come from different matches because bookmakers don’t normally let you put more than one bet from the same match into a treble.
Why?
Because the bets can help each other.
For example, if Liverpool wins 5-0, Over 2.5 Goals is more likely to win. Mohamed Salah to score anytime is also more likely to win. One bet can make the other bets easier to win.
So why do bookmakers allow a Bet Builder?
Because they know the bets are connected.
Instead of treating them like a normal treble, they give you new odds for the whole Bet Builder.
In most cases, those odds will be lower than if you simply multiplied all the odds together. That’s because the bookmaker knows one bet can make the others more likely to win.
The easiest way to remember it? One match is a Bet Builder. Different matches is a treble.
When is a Bet Builder worth the risk?
A Bet Builder is worth it when you already have a good idea of how you think the match will go.
Maybe you think Liverpool will win, there will be plenty of goals and Salah will score. Instead of placing three separate bets, you can put them into one Bet Builder.
The important thing is that every pick should fit the way you see the game. If you’re only adding another pick because you want bigger odds, it’s probably better to leave it out.
The best Bet Builders are built around one clear idea of how the match will go, with every pick fitting that idea.
FAQ
If I have €10, should I split it into singles or put it all on a double?
There isn’t one right answer. If you want a better chance of winning, many bettors split their money into singles. If you want a bigger payout and believe both bets are strong enough, a double can be a good choice.
When is it a bad idea to add one more bet to an accumulator?
When the extra bet is only there to increase the odds. If you wouldn’t place it on its own, it probably doesn’t belong in your accumulator.
Why does my Bet Builder give lower odds than the odds I get when I multiply them myself?
Because the bets are connected. If one bet makes another one more likely to win, the bookmaker takes that into account before showing the final Bet Builder odds.
Can I cash out a double, treble or accumulator before all matches finish?
In many cases, yes. If your bookmaker offers Cash Out, you may be able to settle your bet before the final whistle. The amount you receive depends on how your bets are doing at that moment.
What happens if one match in my accumulator is void?
In most cases, that bet is removed from the accumulator and the remaining bets stay active. Your final odds will be lower because one selection has been taken out.
Can I mix different betting markets in the same accumulator?
Yes. For example, you can combine Match Winner, Over 2.5 Goals, Asian Handicap and Both Teams to Score, as long as your bookmaker allows those bets to be combined.
Is an acca the same as a parlay?
Yes. An acca is another name for an accumulator, while parlay is the term mainly used in the United States and Canada.
In a Nutshell
Now that you know the most common types of bet, choosing between them should be much easier. Remember, the bets don’t change. What changes is the way you place them. Sometimes a single bet is all you need. Other times, combining your bets can give you a bigger payout. The key is to choose the type of bet for the right reason, not just because the odds look bigger.
Please bet responsibly. Never risk more than you can afford to lose.
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