What Does 1×2 Mean in Betting?

This article will introduce you to 1×2 betting, also known as three-way betting. All good online sportsbooks offer it, but not for every sport. The bet is offered only in those sports where there is a possibility of a draw or tie, and the 1×2 betting market is best suited for those sports where many games end that way. As an alternative to placing a bet on the team that you think will win, you are given a third option to bet that neither team will win and that the game will end in a draw.

1×2 betting is particularly extensive in the UK and other foreign betting markets where football betting (or what we call soccer betting) is No. 1. However, this form of wagering has recently gained popularity with American sports bettors, too.

If you would like to have 1×2 betting explained further, with some helpful examples of how to make these bets and useful betting tips, keep reading. Sooner than you think, 1×2 bets could become an important part of your handicapping arsenal.

What is the 1×2 Betting Definition?

A 1×2 bet is a wager on one of three possible sports outcomes: a home win, an away win, or a draw, each with different odds. The main difference between this form of betting and traditional sports bets against a moneyline is that instead of choosing between just two outcomes, you choose between three possible outcomes.

If you were to bet against the moneyline on an NFL or NBA game, for example, you can bet on either the home team or the away team to win the game outright. One of the two teams (frequently the home team but not necessarily) would be designated the favorite (with shorter odds) and the other the underdog (with longer odds). Regardless of which of the two teams you choose, if the game should end in a tie (which is possible in these sports but unlikely), your bet would be a loser. With three-way betting, you still lose if you pick either team to win and the game ends in a tie, but you also have a third option—Draw. If you bet that the game will end in a draw and you are correct, you win.

Whenever 1×2 betting is offered, sportsbooks display the three outcomes that you can bet on as follows:

• 1 represents a home win
• X refers to a draw
• 2 represents an away win

In other words, the bet works the same way as a traditional moneyline bet except for the addition of the X betting market.

1×2 Betting Example

Since soccer is the most popular sport in which 1×2 betting is offered, we will use an example from that sport to show what your three alternative betting options might be in a particular game. These were the odds posted at FanDuel Sportsbook as of this writing for an upcoming English Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal.

As you can see from the above table, Crystal Palace is the home team and Arsenal is the away team. But as the odds clearly show, despite Crystal Palace having the home field advantage, Arsenal is heavily favored to win the match, while Crystal Palace is a huge underdog. Arsenal would be an even bigger favorite without the third option that the game will end in a draw. The availability of the draw bet gives you better odds on the favorite than you would get otherwise if you were only allowed two-way betting instead of being offered three possible outcomes.

As with standard moneyline bets with two outcomes, if your 1×2 bet wins, you will receive your stake back plus your winnings based on the odds, while if you lose, you lose your betting stake.

Be sure to examine the Reading 1×2 Odds & Payouts section of this article for additional information on 1×2 betting odds. Before you start placing 1×2 bets, you need to fully understand what each set of odds means to you as a bettor and how they will affect both the cost of your bet and the payout if you win.

Placing a 1×2 Bet Online

Placing a 1×2 bet online is easy. But first, as with any other form of online sports betting, you must be a registered player at the sportsbook you wish to use.  Here are the steps you will need to follow.

1. Open an account at an online sportsbook for players in your state that covers the 1×2 betting market if you have not already done so.
2. Deposit sufficient funds to cover the bets you wish to make. If you are a first-time user, take advantage of the sportsbook’s special welcome bonus for new customers.
3. Choose a sport that has three possible outcomes.
4. Choose a specific game.
5. Compare the odds for the three possibilities–Home team, Draw, or Away team.
6. Select the outcome you wish to bet on and the amount.
7. Review your bet slip and edit it if desired.
8. Submit your bet slip.

By the way, if the game you wish to make a 1×2 bet on has already started, no problem. You will probably have to bet into less favorable odds, but live betting is offered in the 1×2 market.

Reading 1×2 Betting Odds & Payouts

As mentioned earlier, in every game for which 1×2 betting is offered, online sportsbooks post three different odds. Those for a home win are listed first, then the odds for the game to end in a draw, and then the odds for an away win. Using the same example that we discussed earlier, we will now show you how to read 1×2 betting odds and instantly determine your bet costs and payouts.

Of course, all odds are subject to change, but let’s assume that the odds you are offered are the same as those shown in the previous table.

If you like the away team, Arsenal’s chances of winning, the cost of your bet will be $175 for every $100 you hope to win. Alternatively, if you think that Crystal Palace can pull the upset, for every $100 you wager, if you are correct, you will collect $550 (your bet of $100 plus $450 more in winnings).

Your third option is to bet that the game will end in a draw. Based on the posted odds of +290, a winning wager of $100 will return $290 (your bet of $100 plus an additional $190 in winnings).

Betting favorites always have a minus sign before the odds, and the payout amount if you win is always less than the cost of the bet. Underdogs always have a plus sign before the odds and the payout amount if you win is always greater than the cost of the bet.

Most Popular Sports for 1×2 Betting

Since 1×2 betting can only be offered in sports where the final score can be a tie, the range of sports in which this betting option is feasible is extremely limited.

While football games occasionally end in a tie, even at the end of overtime, the incidence is much too rare to offer that outcome as a betting option. A final score of a tie is even rarer in basketball games. There are other sports such as golf and tennis where the rules of the game make a final score of a tie impossible.

The five sports where 1×2 betting is most likely to be offered are as follows:

• ⚽Soccer
• 🏏Cricket
• 🏒Ice Hockey
• 🏉Rugby
• 🏐Volleyball

Soccer

The most popular sport in which 1×2 betting is offered is soccer. It is not only an immensely popular sport to bet on, but games that end in a draw are frequent occurrences.

Cricket

Cricket is another widely bet on sport where many matches end in a draw.

Ice Hockey

In this sport, if penalty shootouts or overtime is needed to determine a winner, the additional play does not count in deciding 1×2 bets; the result is considered a draw.

1×2 Bet Types

Besides the standard 1×2 betting format discussed so far, the following are a few variations that many sportsbooks offer.

Double-chance Bet

Instead of betting on just one outcome for a particular game, you can have two of the three possible outcomes working for you simultaneously. It is worth noting that double-chance bets come with much shorter odds than standard 1×2 bets, but a much better chance of winning.

Draw No Bet

If the game ends in a draw, you get your money returned to you. Again, you will have to bet into shorter odds than with standard 1×2 bets.

First Half Betting

Instead of betting on the outcome of the entire game, these 1×2 bets apply to the first half only.

Second Half Betting

Instead of betting on the outcome of the entire game, these 1×2 bets apply to the second half only.

Handicap 1×2 Bets

Rather than lay huge odds on the favorite with a negligible return, you might prefer handicap betting. To level the playing field, the better team is assessed a handicap or disadvantage that must be overcome if you are to win your bet. The concept is similar to point spread betting in football and basketball. For example, for an MLS game between Orlando City and the Chicago Fire, you might see a betting option such as the following: Orlando City: -1.5 goals; Chicago Fire +1.5 goals.

Tips & Tricks for 1×2 Betting

Here are five helpful 1×2 betting tips to help you win more often.

• Know the teams and the players. Do background research on each team’s past performance. Also, keep apprised of important player injuries and other late information that might affect the outcome of a game.
• Shop around at different sportsbooks to look for the best value.
• You are probably getting better odds on the favorite than with traditional moneyline bets. Conversely, if you like the underdog’s chances to win outright, you might get a better price with a traditional moneyline bet.
• If you like the favorite but dislike the short odds, consider handicap betting
• Explore your live betting options. They might help you augment your winnings or at least cut your losses.

Pros & Cons of this Bet

1×2 betting offers multiple advantages, but there are also some disadvantages.

✅Pros

• It is easy to understand and use.
• It also appeals to experienced bettors who enjoy doing in-depth research to help them spot solid betting situations.
• The odds on strong favorites tend not to be as short as they are with two-way betting

❌Cons

• This betting option is only offered for a few sports.
• Overtime does not count so you lose out on this possible additional way to win your bet.

FAQs