Football betting: markets, settlement and payouts
Football has the widest range of betting markets — and the most questions about settlement: does extra time count, what happens to a postponed match, why was a stake returned?
Main markets
- 1X2 — home win, draw or away win in normal time.
- Double chance — two of the three outcomes in one bet, at lower odds.
- Total goals — over or under a line such as 2.5.
- Both teams to score — yes or no.
- Handicap — goals added to or taken from one side before kick-off.
Normal time and extra time
Most football markets settle on normal time — 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties usually do not count unless the market says so, as in "to qualify". This is one of the most common sources of confusion.
Postponed and abandoned matches
If a match is postponed or abandoned, the bookmaker's rules decide whether stakes are returned, settled on the score at the time, or kept open for a period. Rules differ, so read them before long-term bets.
Cards, corners and player stats
Beyond goals, many bookmakers offer cards, corners and player statistics. Settlement rules here are more complex — for example, whether a red card counts as two yellows. Read the market definitions before betting.
In-play betting
Odds move fast during a match, and the slip may reject a bet if the price changed — protection against stale prices. In-play it is easy to stake more than planned, so set an amount before kick-off.
Winnings and the cashier
Winnings are credited after settlement. If the bet was part of an accumulator, the whole slip settles after the last event. If you used a sports bonus, check that the bet met the minimum odds. Then the win can be withdrawn — Withdrawals and statuses.