Popular Types of Football Bets and How They Work

Football betting has expanded well beyond picking a match winner. A modern sportsbook carries dozens of markets for any given fixture, from simple yes/no questions about goals to detailed predictions on scorelines, goalscorers and how a match unfolds across both halves. Understanding what each market involves is the starting point for knowing which one suits a particular bet.

This guide runs through the main types of football bets you’ll likely encounter, with a quick definition of each, where they tend to apply and links to our dedicated articles if you want the full picture.

All football bets are settled on the result at 90 minutes plus stoppage time unless otherwise stated. Extra time and penalties are not included unless you're betting on a market that explicitly covers them.

Match result markets

1X2 / match result

The most straightforward football bet. Back the home team to win (1), the match to end in a draw (X) or the away team to win (2). Three possible outcomes, one selection. The simplest entry point into football betting and the most widely placed market across the sport.

Applies to any match. The baseline market against which everything else is compared.

Double Chance

Covers two of the three possible match outcomes in one bet: home win or draw (1X), away win or draw (X2), or home win or away win (12). The extra coverage is reflected in shorter odds than a straight match result bet. The 12 option - covering either side to win loses only if the match ends level.

Useful in matches where the result is difficult to call, or where covering the draw alongside a win feels like the more logical bet.

Full article: Double Chance betting explained

Draw No Bet

Removes the draw from the market. Back either team to win and if the match ends level, your stake is returned rather than lost. The odds are shorter than a straight win bet on the same team to reflect the partial protection.

Relevant in matches where you have a view on one side winning but want protection against the draw, without needing to cover it as a winning outcome.

Goalscoring markets

Total goals (over/under)

An over/under line set on the number of goals scored across the full match. The most common line is 2.5 – back over 2.5 and you need three or more goals, back under 2.5 and you need two or fewer. Lines are available from 0.5 through to 5.5 and beyond. The result doesn't matter, only the total number of goals.

Applies to matches where you have a view on how open or closed the game will be, without wanting to call a specific winner.

Full article: Over 2.5 goals explained

Both Teams to Score (BTTS)

A yes/no market on whether both teams will score at least one goal each. The final score and the result are irrelevant – only whether both sides get on the scoresheet by the final whistle. BTTS Yes wins on any scoreline where both teams score; BTTS No wins if either side fails to score.

Worth considering for matches where you expect goals at both ends but don't fancy calling the result or the exact scoreline.

Full article: Both Teams to Score explained

Correct score

Predict the exact final scoreline. Possible full-time results from 0-0 upwards are available as a market. The precision required is reflected in significantly longer odds than a match result bet: a correct score bet on a 2-1 win loses if the game ends 3-1, even though the same team won.

May be useful for matches where you have a strong view on how a game will play out and want the longer odds that come with calling the exact score.

Goalscorer markets

Anytime goalscorer

Back a specific player to score at any point during the match. The loosest of the goalscorer markets, as it doesn't matter when they score or whether they score more than once. Own goals typically don't count. Worth confirming a player is starting rather than named as a substitute before placing.

Can be useful for matches where you have a view on a specific player's involvement without wanting to commit to when they'll score.

First goalscorer

Back a specific player to score the first goal of the match. If the player doesn't score at all, the bet loses. If another player scores first and your selection scores later, the bet also loses.

Own goals are typically excluded, so if an own goal is the first goal, the next legitimate goalscorer counts as first. If a player is named in the squad but doesn't start, stakes are usually refunded. Check our terms and conditions so you know exactly what to expect.

This market is relevant in matches where you have a strong view on a specific player making an early impact.

Handicap markets

Handicap betting

A virtual advantage or disadvantage applied to one team's score. A -1 handicap on the favourite means they need to win by two or more goals for the bet to land. A +1 handicap on the underdog means they can lose by one goal and the bet still wins. Handicaps give the match a different set of odds by adjusting the effective scoreline.

These tend to be useful in matches with a clear favourite where the standard match result odds are short, and a handicap line offers a more differentiated set of prices.

Full article: Handicap betting explained

Asian handicap

A variation on standard handicap betting that eliminates the draw as an outcome by using half-goal or quarter-goal lines. A -0.5 handicap means the favourite must win by any margin; a +0.5 means the underdog can draw or win for the bet to land.

Quarter-goal lines split the stake across two adjacent handicaps, meaning a partial refund is possible on certain outcomes.

A market that can work for those who want to remove the draw from a match result market, or who want more granular handicap lines than whole-goal increments offer.

Full article: Asian handicap explained

Timing markets

Half-time/full-time

Predict both the result at half-time and the result at full-time in a single bet. There are nine possible combinations: home/home, home/draw, draw/away and so on. All nine need specific results at the half-time whistle and the final whistle to land. The additional precision compared to a straight match result produces longer odds across most combinations.

Applies to matches where you have a view on how both halves will play out; for example, where a team expected to win tends to start slowly and score after the break.

Multiple bets

Accumulator (acca)

Multiple match selections combined into one bet, with the odds of each selection multiplying together. All selections must land for the bet to pay out: one losing leg ends the whole thing. The multiplication of odds produces significantly higher potential returns than placing each selection as a separate single, at the cost of each additional leg making the bet harder to land.

Can be useful for those wanting to combine several match result picks across a day's fixtures, with the odds multiplying across each leg.

Full article: Accumulators explained

Bet builder

Combines multiple markets from within a single match into one bet. Rather than picking results across several games, you might combine a match result, a BTTS selection and an anytime goalscorer from the same fixture. All legs must land, and the odds multiply across each selection. Some market combinations are restricted depending on how they interact.

May be of interest to bettors with a detailed view on a specific match and who want to combine several markets into one bet on that fixture.

Full article: Bet builder explained

Quick football bet comparison table

Adding more selections - whether to an acca or a bet builder - multiplies the potential return but also means each new leg is another condition the bet must satisfy. The difficulty of landing a bet increases with each selection added, regardless of how the combined odds may look.

Football betting market FAQs

What is the most popular type of football bet?

The match result (1X2) market is the most widely placed football bet: backing a home win, draw or away win on a given match. It's the simplest and most accessible market and the one most bettors start with.

Do all football bets include extra time?

The vast majority of football betting markets settle after the 90-minute result plus stoppage time only. Extra time and penalties are excluded unless you're betting on a market that explicitly states otherwise.

Can I combine different bet types in one bet?

Yes, with accas and bet builders. Accas combine different match fixtures into one bet, bet builders combine different markets for the same fixture. All selections to land, and the odds multiply together to produce the combined price.

All offers mentioned correct at the time of writing but may be subject to change.