Global Sports Betting Market Overview
CASIROCK
I think sports betting's popular with all kinds of people – from total beginners who still can't keep the rules and bet types straight, to hardcore bettors who live for Europe's football leagues.
In fact, the number of sports bettors worldwide is projected to reach around 170 million in 2026, up from roughly 140 million in 2024 and 155 million in 2025.
Retail Betting Shops Around the World
In the UK and Australia, you don't just have to bet online – you can place bets at shops in town and even watch live streams there too!
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| UK | Government-licensed retail bookmakers operate high-street betting shops |
| Australia | Retail betting outlets offer wagering on horse racing and other sports |
| Hong Kong | A government-authorized betting system for horse racing and football, with off-course retail branches |
| USA | In states where sports betting is legal, you can bet in person at casinos and other venues |
CASIROCK
Even so, more and more people either live too far from a bookie or just want the convenience of betting online.
Sounds perfect for me – I'm into sports leagues from all over the world! (blushes)
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Sports Betting Strategy
The world of sports betting offers a huge range of bet types. We'll also cover some key sports betting terms along the way.
Main Types of Sports Bets
Sports betting markets range from basic bets on who wins a game to bets on total points, individual player stats, and combinations of multiple games.
| Bet Type | Overview |
|---|---|
Single Bet | The most basic type of bet, covering just one game or selection. Also known as a straight bet. |
Moneyline | A bet on who wins the game. Widely used in sports like baseball and basketball, though how draws and overtime are handled varies by sport. |
Handicap | Gives a team or player a virtual head start or deficit before the bet is settled. The point spread is a closely related format. |
Over/Under | A bet on whether total points, goals, or a player's stats will go over or under a set number. Also known as totals. |
Prop Bet | Covers stats or events separate from the final result, such as a player's points, home runs, or strikeouts. |
Live Betting | Bets placed on games already in progress. Also called in-play betting, with odds shifting as the game unfolds. |
Futures | Bets on outcomes decided later on, such as league champions, season titles, or the season MVP. |
Correct Score | A bet on the exact final score of a match. Especially popular in football. |
Bets That Combine Multiple Selections
Accumulator Bets
An accumulator combines multiple selections into a single bet. It's also known as a parlay, and in the UK it's often shortened to "acca."
Usually, every selection has to win for the bet to pay out, and the combined odds depend on how many selections you add.
| Bet Type | Overview |
|---|---|
Double | Combines two selections. |
Treble | Combines three selections. |
Fold | Combines multiple selections, named by the number of picks – 4-fold, 5-fold, and so on. |
System Bet | Builds several different combinations from multiple selections. Even if not every selection wins, some combinations may still pay out. |
Round Robin | Creates multiple combinations from your chosen selections based on a set of rules. |
Trixie | A system bet on three selections, made up of three doubles and one treble – four bets in total. |
Yankee | Four selections making up six doubles, four trebles, and one 4-fold – 11 bets in total. |
Bet Builder | Combines multiple markets from the same match. In North America, it's also known as a same game parlay. |
Football (Soccer) Betting Terms
With fans all over the world, football offers a huge number of markets – not just the match result, but also goalscorers, corners, first- and second-half results, and more.
| Bet Type | Overview |
|---|---|
1X2 | Covers three outcomes: a home win (1), a draw (X), or an away win (2). |
Double Chance | Covers two of the three possible outcomes: home win or draw, away win or draw, or home win or away win. |
Draw No Bet | Your stake is refunded if the match ends in a draw. If there's a winner, the bet is settled on your chosen team's result. |
Asian Handicap | Sets a virtual goal difference between the teams. Some lines use quarter-goal increments like 0.25, and depending on how the bet is settled, you may get a full refund or a partial settlement. |
BTTS | Short for "Both Teams to Score" – a market on whether each team scores at least once. |
First Goalscorer | A bet on the player who scores the first goal of the match. |
Half-Time/Full-Time | Combines the result at half-time with the result at full-time. |
Clean Sheet | A bet on a team finishing the match without conceding a goal. |
Corners | Covers things like the number of corner kicks in a match. |
Card Bets | Covers the number of yellow and red cards, which players get booked, and more. |
Offsides | Covers things like the number of offsides in a match. |
Baseball Betting Terms
Beyond the game result, baseball offers markets on runs by inning, pitcher strikeouts, and individual player stats like hits and home runs.
| Bet Type | Overview |
|---|---|
Run Line | A handicap market based on the run difference. In MLB, ±1.5 runs is the standard line. |
Total Runs | A market on the combined runs scored by both teams. |
First 5 Innings | A market that generally covers the result through the first five innings of the game. |
NRFI | Short for "No Run First Inning" – a bet that neither team scores in the first inning. |
YRFI | Short for "Yes Run First Inning" – a bet that at least one team scores in the first inning. |
Strikeouts | A market on the number of strikeouts recorded by a pitcher. |
Total Bases | Covers the number of bases a batter earns through hits. Walks and hit-by-pitches usually don't count. |
Home Runs | A bet on whether a specific player hits a home run, or how many. |
RBIs | A market on the number of runs batted in by an individual hitter. |
Pitcher Outs | Covers the number of outs a pitcher records while on the mound. |
Runs by Inning | A market on the number of runs scored in a specific inning. |
Betting Odds and Sportsbook Promotion Terms
Underdog
The underdog is the team or player considered less likely to win compared to their opponent. The side considered more likely to win is called the favorite.
"Underdog" isn't a type of bet – it's a term that describes how a side is rated by the odds. Underdogs usually get higher odds, but that doesn't mean they're more likely to win.
Odds Boost
An odds boost is a promotion that temporarily increases the standard odds. Eligible games, markets, and terms vary by sportsbook.
Acca boosts, which apply to accumulators, are a related type of promotion.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
Favorite | The team or player considered relatively more likely to win. |
Longshot | A selection considered unlikely to win. |
Acca Boost | A promotion that boosts the odds or payouts on accumulator bets. |
Cash Out | A feature that lets you settle a bet for an offered amount before the game or event ends. |
Free Bet | A betting credit awarded under the sportsbook's terms. Rules such as how the stake amount is treated vary between sites. |
Cashback | A promotion that refunds a portion of a qualifying amount under set conditions. |
Common Sports Betting Terms
Here are some basic terms that apply across all sports.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
Odds | A number showing the price or multiplier set for a selection. |
Market | An individual betting option, such as the match result, total points, or player stats. |
Stake | The amount of money you bet. |
Bet Slip | A summary showing your selections, odds, stake, and more. |
Decimal Odds | An odds format shown as decimal numbers, widely used in Europe and elsewhere. |
American Odds | An odds format that uses plus and minus numbers. |
Implied Probability | The odds converted into a probability. It may include the sportsbook's margin. |
Line | The benchmark number set for things like point spreads or totals. |
Push | A result graded as a tie, with the stake usually refunded. |
Void | When a bet is cancelled because a match is abandoned or for other rule-based reasons. |
Settlement | The process of grading a bet and paying out once the result is final. |
Keep in mind that rules on match duration, overtime or extra time, player participation, and void bets vary by sport and market.
Sports Betting: Final Thoughts
CASIROCK
There are a ton of ways to bet. The big difference from retail bookies is that it's not all about who wins – online, you can often bet on individual player stats too.
Betting while watching a live stream is a big hit with some fans!
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