A correct score betting market lists the possible final scores for a particular sporting fixture. Odds are assigned to each of these. The odds roughly reflect the statistical chances of the game or match ending with the score in question.
Punters bet on the scores they think will be on the final scoreboard. Because the odds on offer are so high, it’s usually possible to bet on several different correct score options and still earn an overall profit if one of the bets wins.
When is correct score betting offered?
Correct score betting is most often associated with football betting. However, it may be offered on any sport in which scores are low enough to make it practical for bookmakers to provide odds for all the possible score outcomes. This includes sports like tennis, squash and hockey. Correct score betting tends to offer much higher odds than regular match betting markets.
Football examples
Example 1: Chelsea takes on Barcelona in the Champions League. A bookmaker offers a selection of odds in the correct score market, ranging from odds of 10/1 for a 1-0 win to Chelsea to odds of 500/1 for a 10-0 win to Barcelona. A punter predicts that the match will be won 2-1 by Chelsea, an option that’s priced by the bookmaker at 11/2. The final score of the match is 2-1 to Barcelona, so the bet loses.
Example 2: France plays Italy at the European Championships. A bookmaker offers odds ranging from 5/1 for a 1-1 draw to 500/1 for a 10-0 win to Italy. After researching the form of both sides, a punter decides to bank on the match producing a 1-1 draw. The final score of the match is indeed 1-1, so the punter’s bet is paid out at odds of 5/1.
Correct score tennis betting
In tennis, correct score betting is usually offered on the outcome of a specific set. Some bookmakers also offer in-running betting on the score for a specific game. Set betting is another variation of correct score betting. In this case, you bet on the number of sets that will be won by the match winner versus the number won by the match loser. Correct score betting in tennis is worth exploring – a good understanding of the form of the participants and their recent results means that one can predict set scores with some degree of accuracy.
Example
Andy Murray takes on Rafael Nadal in a tennis match. Odds are offered on the full possible selection of results for the third set. A punter bets on the set being a close one, and takes the 15/1 odds offered on the set being won 7-5 by Nadal. Nadal wins the set 7-5, so the bet is paid out at 15/1.
When to bet on correct scores
Correct score betting is always a high-risk option, which is why the odds offered on these markets are so good. However, there are times when these types of bets can be made with a little more accuracy. Generally, it’s not advisable to place a single correct score bet on a market. Instead place a selection of correct score bets, spreading your stake around while ensuring that you’ll still make an overall profit if one of your bets wins.
Example
Say Chelsea is due to play Barcelona. Odds of 11/2 are offered on a score 2-1 to Chelsea, odds of 12/1 are offered on a 2-0 score to Chelsea and odds of 10/1 are offered on a score of 1-1. You bet £10 on all three options for a total stake of £30. If any one of these bets wins, you’ll make an overall profi
What to take into account
Factors you should take into account when considering a correct score bet include:
- Form: Especially in football, teams tend to get stuck in grooves and will consistently win matches by a one-goal margin or feature in low-scoring fixtures. If you see this sort of trend emerge, you can narrow down your betting options.
- Relative strength: It’s important to assess the relative strength of both sides; results between equally matched sides will tend to fall into a narrower margin than those between a strong side and a weaker one.
- Weather: The weather typically affects the number of scores in a football match. Look out for matches played in poor weather conditions because these are likely to produce lower scores, and this narrows the margin of likely final scores.
