Betting on sports is one of the popular gambling pastimes that have been around for many years. In the past, betting was done by individuals, but now it is done by bookmakers. There you can bet on all popular and some exotic sports, as well as major world events.
What kind of sports betting can be done in a bookmaker
Bookmakers offer betting on various sporting events and there are several types of bets:
- the victory of one of the teams (athletes);
- The total number of goals scored during a match (total);
- The difference in the number of goals between the opponents (goal difference);
- The number of individual match events – penalties, corners in football or cards shown by the referee.
These are just some of the betting possibilities offered by bookmakers – all together they are called the spreads. There are two types of coverage: pre-match – you can bet before the match, in-play – you can bet during the match.
What are the odds
The odds are a measure of the probability of a match occurring and they are used to calculate a player’s winnings. In Poland as well as in England the most common are decimal odds such as 1.2, 2.4, 2.04 and others. You can read more about odds in detail here:
With the odds you can see how likely a team is to win. The closer they are to 1.0, the higher the chance of winning a small profit on that bet.
What bonuses you can get from the bookmaker
On the websites of bookmaker’s offices you can often see advertisements for bonuses that they are willing to give to their customers. The most common ones are:
- welcome bonuses;
- additional funds credited to the player’s deposit;
- Freebets – free bets.
Before using the bonus, you need to clarify the terms and conditions of the promotion. More often than not, it will have to be wagered in order to withdraw your winnings to your card. Let’s say a bookmaker promises a €100 freibet, but only on the condition that you have to place five times its value – €500 – on bets. You can then use the money you win as you wish, including transferring it to your personal card.
Bookmaker’s profits
The profit of a bookmaker’s office is made up of:
- players’ money lost;
- the margin on the odds.
The bookmaker makes a profit with every bet – due to the fact that he has already put it in when setting the odds. For example, when the opponent’s strength is equal, then the chance of winning will be 50/50 – it is fair to set odds of 2.0 on such a bet, but in the spreads it is practically impossible to find. In case of equal strength, the odds range from 1.5 to 1.8.
What is the difference between online and offline betting
Offline betting shops are those that have a representative office. They can be found in major cities. They are designed like hobby clubs, where you can not only place a bet, but also watch a match among like-minded people.
Online betting shops operate through their own websites betnero.sc or similar resources. It is best to play at an online betting shop which has a licence and is a member of an SRO.
How to resolve disputes
All betting shops have a support service which helps to deal with problems. Also, the player has the right to appeal to the SRO to settle the dispute.
