A Guide to the Major Sportsbook Bet Types

Prior to betting with bookmakers, it is essential to familiarize oneself and understand the major types of sportsbook betting lines. Provided below is an in-depth guide on the most widely used bet types, illustrated with examples of sports as well as esports events.

Regardless if you're wagering on football, Dota 2, or CS2, understanding how each betting type functions is essential to long-term success. If you want to make combination bets, read more about some of the best parlay betting sites offering accumulator options and multi-leg bets.

Types of Bets Covered:

• Single Bets
• Accumulator (Express) Bets
• System Bets
• Outright Bets
• Match Bets
• Handicap Bets
• Totals (Over/Under)
• Special Event Bets
• Pre-match vs Live Betting

Single Bet

Single bet is a bet placed on only one specific outcome. For example, betting on a team to win a football match, a goal to be scored in the first half, or a win on a specific map in gaming.

Accumulator (Express, Multiple)

An accumulator consists of several bets being put together in one. You can only win if all of the individual selections win. The total odds are calculated by multiplying each of the individual selections.

Example (Arsenal v Chelsea):

• Draw – 1.25
• Either team scores – 1.12
• Either team is shown a yellow card – 1.10

Combined probability: 1.25 × 1.12 × 1.10 = 1.54

Hedgers typically select 3–6 events of high likelihood and odds between 1.10 and 1.50. Many bookmakers offer set accumulator options.

Key limitation: You lose the entire bet if just one selection fails.

System Bets

System bet is a collection of some accumulators. The major benefit is that none of the results need to win to earn a payout.

Example – system 2 out of 3:

• Draw – 1.25
• Either team scores – 1.12
• Yellow card – 1.10

You win if any two out of the three selections are correct: 1&2, 1&3, or 2&3.

Outright Bet

Long-term bets on the outcome of a tournament. E.g., betting on a team to win the FIFA World Cup.

Match Bets

Straight single bets on the result of a match (win, lose, draw). Applicable to football, esports, basketball, etc.

Handicap Bets

Very popular in sports as well as esports. Handicaps even out the odds between a favorite and a non-favorite by adding or subtracting goals/points.

• A "+2" handicap increases the chances of the underdog but decreases the likelihood.
• A "−2" handicap increases risk for the favorite but offers more odds.

Football Handicap Example (Man City vs Sparta):

• Handicap −2.5 on Man City:
  For the bet to be a winner, Man City should win by 3 goals or more.
• 3:0 → 3 − 2.5 = 0.5 → win
• 3:1 → 3 − 2.5 = 0.5 vs 1 → lose

• Handicap +2.5 on Sparta:
  Sparta should not lose more than 2 goals.
• 3:0 → 0 + 2.5 = 2.5 → lose
• 3:1 → 1 + 2.5 = 3.5 vs 3 → win

Note:

• Decimal handicaps (e.g. ±2.5) are "hard" handicaps: you win or lose.
• Integer handicaps (e.g. ±2) offer a "draw" scenario, where the bet is returned.

Handicap in Esports

Common in CS2, Dota 2, and LoL (especially Best of 3 formats):

• Map handicap
• Round handicap (CS2)
• Kill handicap (Dota 2, LoL)

Example: Handicap on the number of rounds won in a CS2 map.

Totals (Over/Under)

As familiar as handicap betting, especially in esports, totals involve wagering on the number of times a particular event occurs. Totals are usually decimal figures like 2.5 or 3.5.

• Over (O): Wins if the actual number is higher than the total.
• Under (U): Wins if the actual number is lower.

Football Totals Example

• Over 3.5: Win when there are 4+ goals (e.g. 2:2, 3:1, 4:0)
• Under 3.5: Win when there are 3 or fewer goals (e.g. 1:1, 2:0, 1:2)

Esports Totals

Totals can be:

• Number of kills
• Total rounds (in CS2)
• Maps played (in Bo3 formats)
• Objectives like towers or dragons (in LoL)