Football betting terminology

Bookmakers will offer a wide variety of markets depending on the level of the match.

For example, there’s a lot more depth of selection in a Champions League game compared to League Two and these big lists of markets can feel quite impenetrable at first glance.

But fear not, we've put together a helpful guide that will cover the significant terms used in football betting and exactly what they mean. So you can truly understand what is going on.

 

Common betting terms for football markets

Here we’ll cover some of the most common terms used in football betting:

 

Acca or accumulator

Combining several bets into one big bet. Each needs to land in order to win the bet.

 

Bet builder

Lets you combine multiple bets from the same event into one, such as result, goals, or player stats. Odds and the risk increase the more legs you add to the bet builder.

 

Both teams to score:

Bet that the two teams will score. Assuming they do, you win the bet. Both teams to score is a bit of a mouthful, so is regularly shortened to BTTS.

 

Both teams to score and win:

Predict the winning team and bet that both teams will score.

 

Clean sheet

A clean sheet means a team finishes the match without conceding a goal. You don’t need the team to win; as long as they don’t concede a goal, you win the bet.

 

Correct score

Bet on the final score of the match.

 

Double

To win a double bet, both selections must win.If either selection loses, the bet is lost. Additionally, the two selections must come from separate events.

 

Double chance

Covers more than one result in one bet (e.g., win or draw).

 

Draw no bet

Your bet is refunded in the event of a draw in the match.

 

Each-way

Mainly used in horse racing, an each-way bet is essentially two bets in one. Half of your stake is placed on the horse to win, while the other half is placed on the horse to finish in a "placed" position. It is used in football, mainly in outright market betting.

 

First/second half winner

By focusing on the first half or second half, you can avoid the risks of a team that starts well but falters later, or vice-versa. Teams often perform consistently in the first or second half, so backing the first, or second, half result allows you to capitalise on recent form without the unpredictability of the full game.

Half-time/full-time

You’re betting on both the half-time and full-time results, and you need to get both correct to win. There are no partial payouts—it's all or nothing. Note that the "full-time" result refers to the entire game, not just the second half.

 

Moneyline

The American equivalent of the match market in Europe, where you bet on the outcome of a game or match. The numbers 1 and 2 represent the possible outcomes, which can refer to a team, player, or event result.

 

Treble

To win a treble bet, all three selections must win. If any of the selections loses, the bet is lost. Additionally, the three selections must come from separate events.

 

Win/Draw/Win

Wager on the eventual outcome: either the home team wins or the away team wins.

 

Win to nil

Betting on a team to win and keep a clean sheet. If the opposition scores, the bet loses. While riskier than the standard win (1X2) market, it offers higher odds.

 

Betting on goalscoring markets terms

The goal markets give you the option to bet on goals in the selected fixture.

These markets include the first goalscorer, last goalscorer, which team will score, whether both teams will score, whether there will be a goal at all and so forth. 

The following are some of the terms you’ll come across when placing a bet on goals.

 

Anytime goalscorer

This is a bet you put on a particular player scoring an objective during the installation.

 

First goalscorer

This is a football wager where you bet on the player who will score first. You win assuming that your selected player bags the opening goal in a fixture.

 

Last goalscorer

The same as the above, but this time you want your selection to be the last player to hit the back of the net. This bet is open throughout the match and might provide more of an entertainment factor that first goalscorer.

 

Team to score

Here, you bet on whether a team will score or not. You win if your prediction is correct.

 

Scorecast/Wincast

You bet on the first player to score and the outcome of the match here. Assuming that you accurately foresee the result in this bet, you can appreciate astonishing payouts.

 

Score both halves

Betting the team will score at least once in both the first and second halves, regardless of when the goals occur. The number of goals the opposition scores doesn’t affect the outcome; as long as your team scores in each half, you win.

Handicap betting terms

Handicap betting is when one football team starts a game with fewer points or more than the other team.

The objective of this is to make the two teams more even and give the bettors better chance of success and potentially better odds. Handicap wagers fall into various classes, which include:

 

Handicap:

This is the ordinary handicap bet where you are offered a picture of the outcomes and the handicap joined. You offer handicap to a club during a fixture and accept a draw subsequently.

For example, on the off chance that you give PSG a - 2 handicap to beat Manchester City, you will need PSG to win by three goals in order for the bet to land.

 

Asian handicap betting:

This resembles the typical handicap bet aside from the way that on the off chance that the game finishes in a draw, you get your wager back.

 

Alternative Asian handicap:

This kind of bet comprises of any remaining results that the Asian handicap or standard handicap doesn't cover.

 

Over/Under betting terms

The over/under bet applies to different types of bets, including the quantity of corners, goals, cards or fouls. Let's take a look at a few of the most popular bets in this category.

 

Number of cards

You stake money here on how many cards you think will be dealt out during a game. For example, betting on over 2.5 cards will succeed if three cards are brandished during the game.

 

Number of corners

Here, you bet on the quantity of corners you accept a match will create. Depending on the bookmaker you use, the margin can be anywhere from 0 to 9, 10 to 12, or 13 and more.

 

Number of goals

With this kind of bet, of course on the quantity of goals you think will be scored in a game. Typically, this is divided into margins of 0.5, 1.5, 5.5, and so on. You can place a bet on whether you think the game will score more or less than 1.5, 5.5, etc.

 

Odd/even number bet

This is a football bet in which you wager on whether a game will result in an odd or even number of goals.

 

Betting on special markets terems

Specials are the unique bets which bookmakers tend to offer on fixtures. They are grouped separately and are distinct from the typical bet type.

Clean sheets, anytime own goals, time of the last goal, time interval of the first goal, and other such markets are included.

The kinds of special bets you will find contrast contingent on the bookmaker. As a result, it's critical to investigate all of your options to find the one that works best for you. A few of the most popular bets in this category are listed below.

 

Penalties

Bet on whether a game will result in a penalty kick, which team will receive one, and whether or not they will score.

 

Winning margin

Bet on the winning team and the exact score they will achieve.

 

Minute market

Wager on the quantity of fouls, objectives, shots, or corners inside unambiguous time stretches (e.g., 10-15 mins).

 

Red card yes/no

Wager on whether a red card will be given during the game.

 

Clean sheet yes/no

Bet on which team will win the game without conceding a goal, the home team or the away team.

 

Outright markets terms

The outright bet is one of the most straightforward sorts of wagers that anyone could hope to find. 

Some punters like to bet on the outcome of a tournament or league rather than individual matches. 

Today things have changed, and most bettors wager on all sorts of different markets. These include which managers will be fired, which players will be transferred after the season is over, and so on.

Outright wagers are typically required prior to the competition or season, but they can be placed after the event has concluded.

Many bookmakers will provide each-way betting in outright markets, but check the T&Cs to see how many places they are paying out for. For example, an each-way bet on a Premier League outright winner could pay out for second or even third place.

Because they typically provide players who win substantial payouts, outright bets are the most popular option for many players. Some of the most common kinds of bets in this category are as follows:

 

Tournament winner

Here you bet in the group to win a contest or competition.

 

Promotion and relegation

This is an exceptionally direct wager where you bet in the group you feel will be consigned or advanced when the season closes.

 

Highest goalscorer

Here, you bet on the player you accept will score the most objectives during the season and get the brilliant boot.

 

Manager sackings

Manager's jobs are a constant source of speculation, and their odds to leave their current role is one of the most popular football betting markets.

It's usually a results driven market, but sometimes other managerial movements can affect the price of managers to be sacked.

Keep an eye on the news with this market, as a favourite one day could be out at 100/1 by the next.

 

Next manager

Once a manager has been sacked, someone has to replace them.

Betting on the next manager to join a club is another market that can wildly swing in many directions and has the potential to land big winnings if your successful selection is an outsider at a big price.

 

Transfers

This bet allows you to bet on the transfer market and which club the player will be joining next or before a certain timeframe.

 

Other betting terminology

 

There's different terminology in UK and US betting, here's a few that should make it a little clearer.

 

Point spread betting

Here, the bookmaker designates a couple of goals to the dark horses, which is deducted from the fav. The goals deducted or granted are classified as the point spread.

 

Proposition bets

Bets that aren't directly related to how the match will end, like the number of corners, who will score first, or who will score the most goals.

 

Prop bets

One more name for suggestion wagers.

 

Push

Term used to allude to a tied bet.

 

Ante-post betting

Bets made long before an event has started.

 

Exotic bets

Term used to refer to different kinds of bets, such as proposition bets.

 

Forecasts

Wagers placed on teams that are predicted to finish first and second.

 

Banker

A bet considered a lock.

 

Nap

Mainly used in horse racing for the best selection of the day from that tipster, but can be used generically in other sports to highlight the best bet.

 

Combination bet

Wagers comprising of more than one choice, e.g., parlay wagers and gatherer wagers.

 

Totals

Wagering on whether the quantity of objectives scored will be higher or lower than a foreordained number.

 

Dime Bet

A football bet with a worth of $1,000.