What is Over/Under Betting in UK Sports?

What is Over/Under Betting?

The over/under market involves betting on total outcomes in a match. Instead of betting on which team wins a match, players could predict if the goal will be over or under a particular number set by a bookmaker. 

An example is betting on over 2.5 goals in football. In this case, players are predicting that the number of goals scored in a match will be 3 or more. On the other hand, betting on under 2.5 goals means that the goals will be less than 3, i.e., 2 or fewer.

How Does Over/Under Betting Work in the UK?

Most UK bookmakers present an over/under betting market for football, cricket, rugby, tennis and basketball. Punters can use it to predict the number of goals, corners, cards, tackles, runs, points, and games. 

For instance, William Hill offers Total Match Goals for most football matches, as seen in the screenshot below. As an example, players may bet on over/under 0.5 goals in the UEFA Champions League matches.

However, the over/under betting market in the UK works differently from that of Asia due to Asian handicap style betting. In the UK, players either win or lose when they bet on the market. But the Asian setting allows for half-win, half-loss, and a refund. 

For instance, Asian bookmakers present split lines like over 2.25, where half the stake is on over 2.0 and the other half is on over 2.5. If the match ends with 2 goals, players will lose half their wager and get a refund of the other half. Additionally, most UK bookmakers offer odds in fractional form compared to more dominant decimal odds in Asia.

Common Sports for Over/Under Betting

Over/under betting is popular across a wide range of sports. Find some of the common UK sports for this market below.

• Football: The Over/under market is more dominant in football. You can use it to bet on the Premier League, Championship, and the UEFA Champions League. It's popular for goals, cards, corners, and offside.

• Tennis: You may play over/under in the Wimbledon final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. In such a game, over 30.5 games are expected. Other options include sets, aces, double faults, and breaks of serve.

• Rugby: Use over/under betting for the Rugby World Cup, Premiership Rugby, and Six Nations. You may bet on total match points, tries, penalties, and drop goals.

• Cricket: The over/under market is also popular in cricket for formats in the T20 and ODIs. You can bet on total team runs, batsman runs, and bowler wickets.

Pros and Cons of Over/Under Betting

Like most betting markets, over/under betting has pros and cons. We've detailed what you need to take note of below.

Strategies for Over/Under Betting

If you want to get the most out of over/under betting, use the following strategies. 

• Research stats: Research is essential for proper bankroll management to ensure you're not wasting money. Check each team's or player's record in recent matches before placing your bet. You should also check their head-to-head record to see if the fixture often produces large outcomes.

• Leverage averages: Calculate the average number of goals, runs or points from each team before placing your bet. Compare it to the line set by the bookmaker to take advantage of values in odds. 

• Weather conditions: In a sport like cricket, weather plays a vital role in the number of runs. For instance, sunny and dry conditions lead to more runs, which is better for over bets.

• Team tactics: A defensive-based team is likely to score fewer goals. You can wager on under 2.5 goals on that team, expecting they will not score more than 2 goals in the match.

Mistakes to Avoid

Here are the common mistakes you should avoid when playing over/under betting.

• Betting with emotions: It's easy to bet with emotions as a beginner. A team that scores 4 goals this week may not score the same number the following week. That's why holistic research is crucial.

• Ignoring form: While nothing is certain in sports, form goes a long way. Check out the current form of each player or team to predict their likelihood of scoring more outcomes.

• Misunderstanding odds: Misunderstanding odds values may result in misinformed decisions, which could significantly impact your bankroll.

• Extra time: Most bookmakers do not extend over/under to extra time in football. However, sports like basketball allow your over/under betting to extend to overtime.

Over/Under Betting vs Other Bet Types

Aside from over/under betting, other bet types are popular in the UK. Some of those you may consider include Match Result, Both Teams to Score (BTTS), Accumulators, and Handicap. 

Like over/under, some of these markets are simple as well. For instance, BTTS involves predicting if both teams will score in the game and is unrelated to the match results. 

However, over/under is less risky to predict by following track records and stats. A dying-minute goal could ruin your BTTS bet if you’ve predicted that both teams will not score. With handicaps, you’ll bet on a team to cover the advantage given by the bookmaker. This type of bet is riskier than over/under. 

Is Over/Under Betting Legal in the UK?

Over/under betting is legal in the UK, with the likes of bet365, Paddy Power, and William Hill offering this market in abundance. However, you must be 18 years or above to register an account with any of these bookies. We always recommend signing up with a bookmaker with a license from the UK Gambling Commission to ensure you can keep your data and finances safe. 

Additionally, register with a bookie that supports responsible gambling. Target platforms that provide GamStop self-exclusion to help you remain in control. 

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• How to Bet on Premier League - Click here for the full guide.

Responsible Gambling 

Betting in the UK is highly regulated to safeguard punters. Hence, only players 18 or above can gamble in the country. All bookies are expected to ask customers to provide an ID document to verify identity and age.

UKGC-regulated platforms also provide responsible gambling tools like time and deposit limits to help players control how much they wager. They may also sign up for the GamStop self-exclusion programme to block them from accessing any UKGC bookmaker for a specified time.