Football Betting Markets Explained: 1X2, Double Chance, BTTS and Over/Under

Football betting markets are specific outcomes or events within a match that you can wager on. They include traditional match outcome markets such as 1X2, scoring markets such as Over/Under goals, handicap markets and accumulators. A single football match can have dozens of markets, each representing a possible scenario or outcome.

Football betting markets give players different ways to bet on a match, from the final result to goals, handicaps and player events. The market you choose changes the conditions your selection must meet and the odds available. Read this SportPesa guide to understand how the main football betting markets work.

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This is betting on the match result: 1 is a home win, X is a draw, and 2 is an away win. 1X2 is also used in match listings to show the full-time match result. 1X2 betting features all three possible outcomes of a football match. It is one of the simplest match-result markets to understand. For instance:

·       The Manchester derby could be represented as Manchester City vs Manchester United.

·       A home-team win (Man City) would be 1, a draw X, and an away-team win (Man U) would be 2.

·       For illustration, odds could be 2.00 for a Man City win, 2.50 for a Man United win and 3.20 for a draw. If Man City wins at a KES 100 stake at 2.00, the gross return would be KES 200 before applicable deductions.

·       The bet is settled at the end of regular time, excluding extra time or penalties.

·       Compare the three outcomes and the displayed odds before making a selection; odds reflect the bookmaker’s pricing of each possible result.

Draw No Bet is a wager that removes the draw as a possible match outcome, leaving only a home or away win. Your stake is refunded if the game ends in a draw. The draw is treated as the refund condition rather than as a winning selection.

·       Bettors select a home or away win.

·       For instance, a Draw No Bet market would offer a price on AFC Leopards and a price on Gor Mahia; the draw is the refund condition rather than a third selection.

·       If a bettor selects Gor Mahia Draw No Bet, the potential return is calculated from the stake and the displayed DNB odds if Gor Mahia win.

·       If AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia draw, the stake is refunded, subject to the applicable market rules.

ALSO READ: SportPesa League Betting Odds: Markets, Tips, and Where to Start

A Double Chance wager features 2 of 3 possible match outcomes in a single bet.

·       Home win and a draw (1X): Your bet wins if the home team wins or if the match ends in a draw. It loses if the away team wins.

·       Away win and a draw ( X2): Your bet wins if the away team wins or the match ends in a draw. It loses if the home team wins.

·       Home and away win (12): Your bet wins if either team wins. It loses if the match ends in a draw.

·       Because one selection covers two of the three match results, Double Chance usually has shorter odds than the corresponding 1X2 selection.

·       Double Chance betting covers two results in one selection, but lower odds do not remove the possibility of losing the stake.

The following table compares match outcome betting markets:

ALSO READ: How betting odds work on SportPesa

This is wagering on whether the total number of goals scored in a football match will be over or under a given line. It’s also known as a totals bet.

·       An Over 2.5 bet wins if 3 goals are scored.

·       An Under 1.5 bet loses if two goals are scored.

·       Bookmakers also use 0.5, 1.5, 3.5, and 4.5. This depends on how high or low-scoring the match is expected to be.

·       Lines use decimals (2.5 goals) to eliminate the possibility of a tie.

It’s a yes/no bet where you win if both teams score at least one goal. It’s also called the Both Teams to Score bet (BTTS). It’s a simple bet, useful for beginners.

·       GG/NG Yes means both teams will score.

·       GG/NG No means at least one team does not score.

·       If a match ends 0-0, it settles as GG/NG No. A match that ends at 3-2 settles as GG/NG Yes.

·       The bet only settles after 90 minutes and injury time. Extra time, penalties and the match winner do not count.

·       Own goals are credited to opposing teams in GG/NG/BTTS wagers.

ALSO READ: Football betting options worth exploring: Corners, cards and BTTS/GG

Correct score betting means wagering on what you think the final game score will be. Because an exact score is a more specific outcome than a match-result selection, correct-score prices are often higher. Here are some Correct Score betting tips:

·       Players predict the exact score by the end of regular time.

·       If you bet on Brighton and Hove Albion to beat Arsenal 3-0, then the bet wins only if that is the final score.

·       If Brighton scores the third goal at injury time, you would still win. However, extra time and penalty shootouts do not count.

·       Full-time correct score markets feature predicting the score at the end of regular time. Half-time correct score means betting on the score at 45 minutes.

·       Half-time/full-time and correct-score combinations are separate markets. Check the exact selections and settlement rules shown before placing the bet.

Use SP Score for live scores, fixtures, lineups and stats in football betting.

Handicap betting applies a virtual goal advantage or disadvantage before settlement. It is commonly used in favourite/underdog matchups. The meaning of a displayed handicap such as 0:1 depends on which team receives the virtual goal, so always read the market notation before betting. Two common forms are European and Asian handicap.

This is a betting market that requires a team to win a match by a certain margin. The team you are betting on is given a pre-match deficit, usually expressed in whole numbers such as -1 or -2. To win the bet, your team must overcome the deficit. Unlike Asian Handicap, the European version has three possible outcomes, including the draw.

This market gives one team a virtual advantage or disadvantage before kickoff. The favourite receives a minus handicap while the underdog gets a plus handicap.

·       The market offers different lines, such as 0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.5.

·       Quarter lines such as 0.25 and 0.75 split the stake equally across two neighbouring handicap lines, which is why half wins and half losses can occur.

·       Depending on the line, an Asian Handicap bet can win fully, lose fully, be refunded, or be settled as a half win or half loss. Most Asian Handicap lines are structured as two-way markets rather than the three-way 1X2 format.

Here’s a clear breakdown of the difference between European and Asian handicap betting.

It involves predicting the half-time (45 minutes) and full-time (90 minutes) result.

·       The bet is in two parts. If you predict the half-time score wrong, the bet loses.

·       You can select home, away or draw for both half-time and full-time.

·       This leads to nine possible combinations: Home/Home, Home/Draw, Home/Away, Draw/Home, Draw/Draw, Draw/Away, Away/Home, Away/Draw and  Away/Away.

·       Because both the half-time and full-time outcomes must be correct, the market is more specific than a standard 1X2 bet and can carry higher odds.

These markets involve predicting the goal scorers or shot makers in standard time. While popular, the markets also feature precise rules.

·       First goalscorer involves predicting the player to score the match’s first goal. First goalscorer betting rules include: only one player can be the first scorer, and the match must have at least 1 goal.

·       Anytime goalscorer involves predicting that your player will score at any point in the match. The player can score at any point within the settlement period specified for the market.

·       Last goalscorer involves predicting which player will score last in a football match.

·       Player participation and non-starter rules vary by market, so check the settlement terms shown for the selection.

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Accumulators are wagers that combine multiple individual bets into one bet, also called a parlay. It means betting on 2 or more matches. Each selection within the multi-bet must win for the overall bet to succeed. If you lose one selection, the whole bet fails. Multi-bet odds equal the product of the individual selection odds.

This tool lets you select a series of customised bets and combine them into a personalised larger bet. You can select multiple markets from the same match, such as GG/NG, Over 2.5 goals, and corner count.

Live betting is wagering on an ongoing sports event. It differs from pre-match betting, which closes when the match starts. Live betting odds and markets reflect the action in a football game.

Cash out, where available, lets you settle an eligible bet before the event finishes for the value displayed at that time. The offer can change or disappear as the match develops, and accepting it ends the relevant bet according to the cash-out terms.

SportPesa offers a range of football markets across eligible fixtures. Before selecting one, understand exactly what outcome the market requires:

·       Start small. Small bets are no less enjoyable.

·       Understand odds, such as GG/NG.

·       Don’t be tempted by accumulators. They are riskier.

·       If a promotion or free bet is available, read its terms before using it.

·       Bet on leagues or matchups that you have researched.

·       Bet responsibly, not for income or emotional escape.

Common football betting markets include 1X2, Double Chance, Draw No Bet, Over/Under goals, BTTS/GG, correct score, handicaps, goalscorer markets, accumulators and live betting. The right market depends on what match outcome or event you want to predict; no market guarantees a win.

No. Double Chance covers two of the three 1X2 outcomes, but the bet still loses if the uncovered result occurs. Covering two outcomes normally results in shorter odds.

No football league is guaranteed to be easy to predict. Team form, injuries, lineups, home advantage and other match conditions can change from fixture to fixture. You can review football results as part of your research.

Set a fixed budget, understand the market and odds before placing a bet, and never chase losses. Betting should be treated as entertainment rather than a source of income.

Football betting markets give you different ways to follow a match, from 1X2 and Double Chance to BTTS, Over/Under, handicaps and player markets. Understanding how each market is settled makes it easier to choose the option that matches the outcome you want to predict. You can also learn how live betting works on SportPesa or explore pre-match football markets.

Explore available football markets on SportPesa Kenya.

Bet responsibly. 18+ only.