Over the years, sports betting has grown to become a mainstream activity in India. Moreover, more people are now open to exploring gambling opportunities after reaching the legal age. However, people doing online betting for the first time may find it challenging owing to the hundreds of markets available. Without a clear path, one may even end up with more losses than wins. Fortunately, there is always an opportunity to learn and improve your profits by making smart bets.
Betting Types
Here is a guide with the most popular betting types for new players
Match Winner
The match-winner is the simplest betting type beginner players should understand. In this bet, you are required to predict and select the team that wins the match. In football, you have three options, select a home or away team to win or a draw. However, if the game ends in a draw in cricket, the match is voided.
Outright Bet
An outright bet is popular among seasoned bettors who understand long-term bets. This type of sports betting requires players to wager on a team that wins an entire tournament instead of a single match or series. While most beginners avoid this bet, it is one of the most accessible markets since it has better odds and bigger payouts. However, it requires better research and analysis to make a winning choice.
Series Winner
The series winner is similar to outright betting, and players make predictions on the team that wins multiple games instead of one. You bet on one team to win a best-of-three or a best-of-five. If your desired team wins the series, you receive a huge payout. However, it is crucial to note that this bet is risky and requires in-depth knowledge about a team before betting.
Top Batsman Bet
The top batsman bet is one of the famous betting types that beginner cricket players are exploring today. When placing a top batsman bet, you select a player who will score the most runs in a cricket match. However, you must understand the risk involved in this bet, whether a domestic match, a series, or a tournament, especially when two dominant teams are playing. Fortunately, the option offers higher odds than average cricket bets, which can boost your winnings.
Top Bowler Bet
The top bowler bet compares to the top batsman bet, except this option requires bettors to predict the player who takes the most wickets in a game. These types of sports betting offer better odds and significant winnings than match-winner bets. In addition, it is necessary to watch out for the squad lineup to ensure the bowler you are betting on is included. Most players tend to lose their money by betting on players not actively involved in the game.
Over/Under Bets
Over/under bets are easy-to-understand betting methods, which explains their popularity among cricket bettors in India. When wagering on this type of bet, you are predicting whether the total score of both teams will be over or under a specified score limit. The bet combines runs scored by both teams depending on whether it is a high- or low-scoring match. Novice players can explore these bets because they are less risky and offer better payouts than most.
Handicap Bets
Handicap is among the complex betting types for novice players to understand because they involve a lot of calculations. It is mainly popularised by seasoned players who are experienced in accurately predicting match outcomes. Unlike the bets covered above, handicap bets are more hypothetical because they involve disadvantaging one team for the advantage of another.
Bookies deduct or add points to the final scores to settle bets. In most cases, dominant teams tend to have negative handicaps, meaning points will be deducted from their overall score. Conversely, weaker teams have positive handicaps, where points are added to their total score to win over the favourites. This bet type is highly risky, but the payouts are worth it in the long run.
Accumulator Bets
An accumulator bet, or parlay, combines multiple wagers to create one bet and is one of the popular betting types. It includes two or more bets from different markets offered by the bookmaker. To win this bet, all your predicted outcomes must be correct. Accumulator bets are at higher risk than individual bets but offer the best odds in the betting landscape.
In addition, you get a bigger payout from one stake, which is a dream for most bettors. Beginner players should explore this option carefully due to its complexity. Learn about the sport, teams, and players to make the best selections.
Toss Winner
Toss winner bets refer to a type of bet where you predict which team will win the coin toss at the beginning of a sports match, typically in cricket. A coin toss is a random event that determines which team gets to choose whether to bat or bowl first, depending on the sport. Toss winner bets allow bettors to wager on which team they believe will win the toss. If your chosen team wins the coin toss, your bet is considered a winner. Bookmakers often offer this type of bet as a separate market, providing an additional opportunity for betting excitement before the match begins.
As online betting is spreading like wildfire, bookmakers adopt various practices for a top-notch betting experience. Offering different markets ensures all players have something worth their money. Moreover, it allows beginner players to explore different options to find a profitable edge. Therefore, if you are a beginner, you can consider the bets mentioned above as a starting point.