Betting markets are the foundation of any bookmaker meaning they’re incredibly important to both punters and bookies.
In this article, we’ll take a deeper look into what betting markets are, how you can understand them and of course the most profitable markets out there.
Let’s kick things off right from the beginning.
What is a betting market?
This may be the first time you’ve come across the term betting market, so here’s a short definition.
“Betting markets is the name given to different bets that punters can place at bookmakers. These bets can be placed on a wide range of different sporting and non-sporting events.”
As you’ll find out later in this article, there are thousands of different betting markets available to punters across the UK and further afield.
For each betting market, the bookies set the odds on the likelihood of that outcome happening. These are the prices that punters accept if they place a bet on a certain market.
So in the following markets, the odds for Novak Djokovic winning Wimbledon are 4/6, and the odds for Roger Federer winning are 3/1.
Different betting markets
In the modern world of online gambling, the competition is incredibly fierce. Therefore the bookmakers are constantly looking for ways to improve their platforms and beat the competition.
One of the methods they use is by creating and adding more betting markets for punters to bet on. Nowadays, there is a huge range of different betting markets available.
In 2019, there are so many markets it’s hard to keep track of them all. Sites like Bet365 and Smarkets have an endless supply of markets. You could argue that there are in fact too many.
However, this is what we (the punters) have asked for over the years. Bettors want more and more markets to increase the flexibility of their betting and ultimately make more profit.
So what are the most popular markets in 2019?
Popular betting markets
As the betting industry has developed over the years, the bookies have refined their platforms to cater to exactly what punters are after.
Bettors have their own preferences when it comes to betting markets. However, there are some that are more popular than others. Here’s a list of the most popular:
- Win/Draw/Win
- Accumulators
- Anytime goalscorer
- Both teams to score
Win/Draw/Win
The most common betting market across many different sports, the outright result market is incredibly popular with bettors. You may also see this market written as 1/X/2.
In this market, you are betting on either the home team or the away team winning. The 1 represents the home team, the X means a draw and the 2 means away.
Accumulators
In recent years, accumulator betting markets or accas as they’re also known, have been incredibly popular across many different sporting events.
Accas are ongoing bets that require you to correctly predict the outcome of more than one event. Any winnings roll over and act as the stake on the next bet. However, any wrong predictions and this is a losing bet.
Accumulators are popular as the potential winnings from a small stake can be very rewarding. Obviously, the likelihood of landing a large acca is quite slim, but that’s why the returns are so big.
Punters typically like to place accumulators on multiple football teams winning their weekly matches.
Anytime goalscorer
Another popular betting market, anytime goalscorer is specifically used in football matches. In this market, you’re betting on a player to score at any point during a match.
With awards like the Premier League Golden Boot, there is a lot of excitement around top goalscorers and football punters like to get in on the action.
Both teams to score
Once again, this betting market is specifically used in football matches. You guessed it, in this market you’re betting on both teams to score at some point during the match.
If both teams score, this will be a winning bet.
As you may have noticed, these betting markets are all to do with football! However, the majority of markets are used in other sports with a few alterations.
For example, most bookmakers will offer anytime try scorer for Rugby and Rugby League matches.
Creating your own betting markets
With so much emphasis on the punters, some bookmakers now even let you create your own betting markets. Bookies such as Skybet, Coral and Ladbrokes amongst others, offer this service to their customers.
This gives bettors complete freedom over exactly what they want to place their bets on.
This also gives you the opportunity to beat the bookmaker. Have you been following a certain team or player for a while? Know some key information that hasn’t been widely covered in the media? All in all, you can research your market and then approach the bookie and see if they’ll accept your bet.
This may give you the upper hand when it comes to winning.
Keep in mind that creating your own bets is a relatively new category in the betting world and not every bookmaker will offer this feature.
You may have heard of #RequestABet from Skybet, #YourCall from Coral and #GetAPrice from Ladbrokes. At the time of writing, these are the most popular bookies offering this feature.
Football betting markets
As you’d expect from one of the most popular sports in the world, there are hundreds of different betting markets available for football. In fact, there’s far more than you’ll ever need.
Let’s check out some of the options.
- Win/Draw/Win
- Anytime goalscorer
- Both teams to score
- Correct score
- Draw no bet
- First goalscorer
- Half time / Full time
- Over / Under
- Asian handicap
- Corners
- Yellow/red cards
- Scorecast
There are many more football betting markets, but that list should give you a better idea and somewhere to start. When you consider features such as #RequestABet, football bettors can literally bet on any market they fancy.
Tennis betting markets
Similar to betting on football, there are plenty of tennis betting markets. There’s more than enough to satisfy your needs.
Betting on tennis is slightly different from betting on football and rugby for example. There are not as many markets available due to the nature of the sport. However, you can still bet on:
- Match winner
- Next point
- First set winner
- Set betting
- Handicap betting
And many many more. For a complete list of tennis betting markets, check out your preferred bookmakers’ website.
Cricket betting markets
Being one of the most popular sports to bet on, you’d expect the bookies offer loads of different cricket betting markets. They don’t disappoint! Here are just some of the many markets available.
- Match winner
- 1st Innings runs
- Top batsman
- Most sixes
- Total fours
- Total sixes
Horse racing betting markets
Unlike other sports mentioned in this article, there are far fewer markets available when betting on horse racing. It’s due to the nature of the sport. Here are the markets you can expect to find.
- To win
- Each way betting
- To place
Understanding betting markets
Betting markets are the basis of any bookmaker meaning it’s important you understand how they work and the options you have when it comes to placing bets
All in all, there are hundreds of betting markets available to punters on a regular basis. With the invention of features such as #RequestABet, bettors can create whatever market they fancy.
The only limit is your imagination. Oh, and the bookies have to accept it… But they’re likely to accept most reasonable bets.
Got a favourite market or sport you like to place your bets on? Let me know by leaving a comment below right now.