The explosion of online betting over the last generation has resulted in a whole suite of new features, bet types, systems and strategies. If you try to use a new tool such as cash out or you want to try out a more complex bet such as a full cover Lucky 15 it really does help to understand the principles first before you risk your own funds.
In this section we cover several major types of guide, those relating to bet types and how to bet and those relating to betting tools such as live betting, streaming and cash out and guides to do with common betting rules and terms. We tell you how to use new bets and features but we also discuss the best strategies to use to get the best out of your wagers.
Betting Tools and Features
Cash Out and Partial Cash Out Explained
Cash Out is a great new tool now provided by the majority of our recommended bookies. Used sensibly the feature can add to your winnings but used foolishly the service can reduce your payouts. Read about how cash out and partial cash out work and how to get the best out of it.
Live In Play Betting Explained
The gambling world has changed in the last ten years with more and more wagers now placed live during play. The number of markets and features has exploded and its not just for football either, you can bet in play on virtually anything now, but should you? Read our live betting guide for information and advice.
Live Streaming Guide
The rise of live betting and live streaming goes hand in hand and this is fantastic for punters. Not only are we able to watch action from tons of sports around the world (usually for free) we are also able to make more informed wagers based on what we see live. Our guide tells you what you can watch and where.
Mobile Betting Guide
The lines between betting on desktop and through your mobile have become very blurred. If you are unsure which is the best way for you to place your wagers read our guide which will give you advice on how betting on your mobile differs from desktop. We also talk about the various advantages and disadvantages of mobile gambling.
Bet Types
Each Way Betting
Some people only ever back a winner whereas others nearly always take the each way option to increase the chances of getting a return. When is it a good time to place an each way bet? What sports can you place each way bets on? how much do you get back if your selection wins or places? See our each way betting guide.
Ante Post Betting
Ante-Post bets basically covers any bet placed a certain amount of time before an event starts. For most sports this is 24 hours but for horse racing it is usually after 9am on the day of the race. Find out about ante post and whether it is worth taking early prices or better to wait until closer to the event start time.
Full Cover Betting Explained
Full cover bets such as the Lucky 15 do exactly what they say on the tin, they cover all possible combinations for a given number of selections. This means you will always get a return whether all or just one of your selections win. These bets are however packages of single bets meaning you need to make multiple stakes.
Handicap Betting Explained
Handicap bets are most commonly placed on markets where there is a big difference in odds between selections. The handicap serves to bring prices into a more reasonable range in exchange for a positive or negative handicap. Sometimes referred to as point spread more commonly in US markets.
Accumulator Betting Explained
Accumulator bets can be tempting with potentially huge payouts for small stakes, but they might also be a little daunting to the uninitiated. Read this simple breakdown of what they are and how to use them to get the best results.
Matched Betting Explained
You’ve heard whispers about a mysterious betting hack that can guarantee a profit regardless of the outcome, but you’re concerned about how safe it is, and wonder whether it can really be true. If you read this article, you will wonder no more.
Betting Exchanges Explained
Many bettors are missing out on better odds by letting fear of the unknown keep them away from betting exchanges. This style of betting has been attracting fans since Y2K, so if you have always wondered how it works this article will explain it all.
Weird And Strange Sports To Bet On
The saying goes ‘you can bet on anything’ and when you see our featured obscure sports on this page you probably wouldn’t argue. We look at some of the more weird sports that people play and others people bet on, from chessboxing to giant pumpkin kayaking. It’s a wonder who thought of these things in the first place.
Common Betting Terms
Bookmaker Odds and Margins Explained
Find out how betting sites and bookies calculate odds and how to spot under priced markets to take advantage of. We also explain the difference between fractional, decimal and American odds.
Dead Heats Explained
What happens when there is a dead heat? This occurs more commonly than you think and applies to any sport where scenarios occur where places cannot be separated such as horse racing, golf, football, rugby, etc, etc. Make sure you know what will happen to you bet or offer if it happens to you.
Banking & Payments
Betting Using American Express
If you have ever tried to top up your online betting account using your American Express card you will already have come up against a bit of a problem – nowhere accepts them. This can be irritating unless you know the reasons behind it, so have a quick read of this and get clued up. You might just decide you are better off keeping it in your wallet.
Betting Problems
Canceling a Bet
You were trying to put a tenner on the footy at the same time as arguing with your other half and you look away from your screen at just the wrong time and, uh-oh, accidental £100 wager placed. Quick! Read this article before your other half cottons on to what you’ve done and see what, if anything, you can do.
When Betting Websites Close Down
It can be a worry and a shock to hear that your go-to sportsbook or casino is closing down, especially if you still have funds in your account. Getting those funds back is not a simple process in certain situations, and will largely come down to the deposit protection level the company has. Don’t know what that means? Read this article.
How to Exclude/Block Yourself From Betting Sites
When you realise something is wrong there is absolutely no shame in looking for help. For some people, gambling can become difficult to deal with responsibly, and this article is for those people. Whether you want to block yourself from a certain site or exclude yourself from online gambling completely, we will show you how to do it.
How To Claim Bets and Winnings When Someone Dies
With tens of millions of people possessing betting accounts online or betting in shops it is natural that a lot of people die with money in betting accounts or with bets still outstanding. What are the rules around claiming winnings for the deceased and what happens to any ante-post bets they still have running? We look at the major points to consider when trying to claim betting winnings and stakes as part of an estate.
Rules and Regulations
Verification Explained
If any other company asked you to send them your passport you would probably say no, right? So why is it different for gambling companies? This short article will put your mind at ease and explain how the process works and why it is there in the first place.
Insider Betting
The rules of course say you can’t place bets using insider information but the reality is this is very difficult to police. There are set rules about what constitutes insider betting and how the industry is supposed to handle this but there are still many grey areas and cracks that people can fall into. Here we look at the rules around insider betting along with some well known examples.
Are You Allowed To Bet On Yourself and Others You Know?
Unless you are a professional sportsman or someone with inside knowledge then you are perfectly allowed to bet on yourself, or someone else, to achieve something. In fact, a lot of people do this each and every year. Here we look at the rules around backing yourself and others along with some famous examples where it has come off.
Are Fairground Games Gambling? Are They Regulated?
We’ve all been to a fair ground and been tempted to have a go at hook-a-duck, burst-a-balloon, ring toss, ball-in-a-bucket, or something similar. These games are a lot of fun and played by both children and adults. However, as these games do not pay cash prizes they are not classed as gambling and therefore are not regulated in the same way. We look into the rules around fairground games and ask if they are actually rigged or not.