This guide will introduce you to all the key sports betting terms, so you can easily become part of this exciting new world.
Bonuses
Here are the main types of promotions available for sportsbook players: Free Bets – this bonus lets you place sports bets for free without using your own money. There are two main types of Free Bets you can receive:
- OnlyWin Free Bet – with this bonus, you only receive the winnings, not the stake amount. For example: you place a 10 € Free Bet on odds of 1.5. If the bet wins, you’ll get 5 € in real money. Here’s how it works: 10 € × 1.5 = 15 €. From this, the 10 € Free Bet stake is deducted, leaving you with 5 € in real money.
- NoRisk Free Bet – often called bet insurance. This bonus protects your stake. To use it, you need to have the bet amount available in your real balance. If your bet loses, the same amount will be returned to your account. For example: you get a 10 € NoRisk Free Bet. You must have at least 10 € in your balance to place it. If the bet loses, the 10 € is refunded to your balance.
- Cashback – this one is simple and familiar to casino players. It works the same way here: you get back a percentage of your losses. For example: every week, you can receive 10% of your sportsbook losses back to your balance.
- Comboboost – this bonus increases the odds of your combo bets. A combo bet is when you combine several outcomes into one bet. To win, all outcomes in your combo must be correct. For example: you place a combo bet with 4 outcomes, each with odds of 2. The total odds are calculated as 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 16. With a Comboboost of 1.3 (or 30%), the odds are multiplied again: 16 × 1.3 = 20.8. That’s an extra 30% added to your odds — and to your winnings.
- Hunting – a type of bonus that lets players earn Free Bets by placing real-money bets. The player receives and activates the Hunting bonus, then places sports bets to accumulate points. The number of points earned depends on various factors: the percentage set for winning or losing bets, the size of the bet and the type of the bet: single or combo, for combo bets the player will get more bonus points. Once the bonus amount equals the player’s average bet, the player receives a Free Bet equal in value to their average bet.
- Loot box – this bonus allows players to get a certain amount of bonus points while making real-money bets. Once the player has enough points to activate the bonus, they get a chance to choose one of the loot boxes presented on the screen and win up to three Free Bets. Each Free Bet is equal to the player’s average wager.
- VIP Bet – allows you to place bets without standard restrictions, up to 1,000,000 € on any event, from football to esports, including live events! VIP Bets are available to all players, not just VIP players. There are no restrictions!
Types of Bets
Here are the main bet types you’ll come across in a sportsbook:
- Single Bet (Straight Bet) – a bet on one single outcome (e.g., Team A to win). If you’re right, your payout is calculated based on the odds. For example: you place a 10 € bet on Team A to win with odds of 1.6. If Team A wins, your payout will be 10 × 1.6 = 16 €.
- Combo Bet (Parlay or Accumulator) – a bet that combines two or more selections into one. All the odds are multiplied together, which makes the potential payout higher. For example: you place a 10 € combo bet with 5 outcomes, each at odds of 1.5. The total odds are calculated as 1.5 × 1.5 × 1.5 × 1.5 × 1.5 = 7.594. If all outcomes win, your payout will be 10 × 7.594 = 75.94 €. Remember: every single outcome in the combo must win, otherwise the whole bet is lost.
- System Bet – a more flexible version of a combo bet. It combines multiple parlays and still pays out even if some selections lose. For example: in a “2/3 system,” you make 3 picks. As long as at least 2 of them win, you’ll still receive a payout (calculated based on the winning combinations).
- Cash Out – this feature lets you settle your bet before the event is finished. You can secure a smaller win if things are going your way, or cut your losses if the game isn’t looking good. Cash out is available across almost all sports, and you can find it by opening the “My Bets” page at any point.
- Live Betting (In-Play) – placing bets while the match is already in progress. The odds change in real time depending on what’s happening in the game.
Good luck!
Now that you’ve learned the basic terms, it’s time to put your knowledge into practice. After all, one real bet teaches you more than reading a hundred guides.