People may think that betting in sports has so many different types of betting that it is complex and confusing. A lot of first-time punters feel overwhelmed when they see the variety of ways to bet, such as a handicap, a total combination of the two. The process is much easier once everyone has an understanding of the way each of these types works, as it will be able to narrow down options and feel comfortable about making a bet.
The vast majority of sports betting platforms, such as Afropari, have various types of sports bets available for almost any sporting event. This is a huge reason that many people enjoy gambling and participate in the activity. When a full understanding of what betting options are available, betting becomes quite simple and easy to understand.
Handicap betting made simple
The idea behind handicap betting is to provide a means of either giving one team a better position or a worse position before the game is played, so as to create a more level playing field when competing teams are very different in strength.
For example, here is a very strong team that has a handicap of -1, which means they must win by two or more goals for the bet to be a winner. Conversely, can a very weak team, which has a handicap of +1, which means that they must lose by one or more goals, in order for the bet to be a winner.
Handicap betting has benefits for bettors who feel they already know the winner of the game because of low odds. When betting on the winner of a game by a specified amount rather than just on the winner of a game, handicap wagering reduces risk.
Many sporting events are now being bet on using an “Asian handicap” where the odds include half or quarter point increments to help remove the chance of a tie or split wager. As a result, these types of betting options will normally have less risk or will provide a chance for either a partial win or a partial loss.
Understanding totals without confusion
Betting on totals consists of predicting how many points will be scored in a match instead of selecting a winner. The bettor must guess if the combined score between both teams will be over or under the posted total for that match.
For example, if the total for a match is listed as 2.5 goals:
The bet for “over” 2.5 goals wins if there are 3 or more total goals scored in the game.
The bet for “under” 2.5 goals wins if there are 2 or fewer total goals scored in the game.
Totals are very popular because when betting on a total, neither team matters; only the style of play the teams have on the field and how many goals are scored in the game. A final score of 2-1 and a score of 1-2 are both the same for someone betting on a total.
Some games will be played with a defensive mentality, while others may leave the door open for an offensive onslaught, and using team statistics to identify trends can help a bettor select which team has the edge to bet on totals.
Combo bets: more risk, more reward
Multiple bets or accumulator / Combo betting allow combining multiple betting selections into one bet. A single ticket must be accepted, and all selections must win for the bet to win.
The key factor is usually the higher payout potential. Wagering on different sporting events will give all a more significant payout than wagering on one event.
Many combo bettors have a mixture of single and combo bets. They will have their fun on the combo bets, while they will be more conservative with their single bet plays.
Bettors tend to approach combo betting in different ways:
- Combine match winner bets for multiple events.
- Combine total points and handicap bets.
- Combine individual player and goal scorer markets to increase odds.
- Utilise the safer odds to create a higher return.
Combo betting is successful when maintaining discipline. People have the opportunity to chase large payouts, but sometimes smaller, more realistic combos will be more effective.
Quick comparison of the three bet types
| Bet Type | What Predict | Difficulty Level |
| Handicap | Winning margin after adjustment | Medium |
| Totals | Total goals or points scored | Easy to medium |
| Combo bet | Several predictions in one ticket | Medium to high |
Understanding this difference helps bettors choose markets based on comfort level. New players often start with totals, then try handicaps once they learn team patterns.
Choosing the right option for style
Different match types require different bets. Smart betters base their bets on match conditions. If one team is clearly the dominant team, can often get better odds by betting using handicaps. And when it has two attacking teams, place a bet on the total score rather than using a handicap. Combo bets are opportunities to capitalize on confidence in 3 or more games at the same time.
Also, have a better ability to make sound decisions by watching many matches. With live betting, everyone can measure the pace of each match and adjust picks as needed during the match.
Final tips before placing bets
The betting market requires some level of experience, so practice will help in becoming more adept with betting markets. Watching games, comparing game outcomes, and keeping track of selections are ways to learn about sports betting. Over time, anyone will identify patterns.
Start with lower amounts at first to learn how games are played and how teams interact before wagering larger amounts on a bet. The goal of betting is to have fun, not to get too stressed out.
