You’re out: Paris Saint-Germain will win the next league game by a narrow margin. As you add your prediction to your betting slip, however, this doubt grows. Because do you really want to settle for these low odds that are now on your screen? To increase the value of your bet, you can easily change this single bet into a multiple bet. But yes, such a combination bet is not always the wisest choice. To make a good decision, you first need to know exactly what the difference is between single bets and combination bets. After reading this article, single and combination bets will have no more secrets for you.
Singles and multiples are not regular football bets.
Even if you are just taking your first steps in the world of football betting, you know that you have options. It is hard to ignore them. Because with every match you want to bet on, you see this long list of bets again. At the top by default is this 1×2 bet, followed by over/under bets, Draw No Bets, half-time/full-time bets, Asian Lines and many other such football bets. It doesn’t matter how far down you scroll. In fact, in this long list of bets, you never come across the terms single bet and combi bet. And yet every bookmaker offers these options.
There is a logical explanation why single bets and combination bets do not appear in the regular list of football bets. This is because they have a completely different function than 1×2 bets and all those other standard bets. They are not a type of bet, but rather a way of betting. You can choose to add single bets to your bet slip or you can make a combination of multiple bets. It is up to you whether you leave it at a single bet or go for a combination.
Single bets: the simplest way to bet on football
You don’t have to be a huge linguist to know that the term single bet translates as a single bet. Bettors like to use these terms side by side. With one, the term single bet appears by default on your betting slip. with the other, you will constantly see the designation single bet. For you, it doesn’t matter what the bookmaker chooses. This is because it is always the same way of betting.
A single bet is the simplest way to bet on football. That is, it means that you see each prediction as a single bet. You put your money on a victory for Paris Saint-Germain and determine your stake. In addition, you can also choose an over/under bet on the match Bayern Munich – Borussia Dortmund. Then it’s a matter of waiting to see how the matches go. If that convincing victory for PSG does indeed appear on the scoreboard, then the profit on this prediction is yours. What happens between Bayern and Borussia has no further influence. Although of course it would be nice to win this bet too.
With bookmakers, you can simply bet on multiple matches at once, but because you are choosing two single bets, the bets are completely separate. You may lose the over/under bet, but that Paris Saint-Germain win will obviously stand. That way you get paid money by the bookmaker. Most bookmakers don’t require you to create a separate bet slip for each individual bet. Just make sure you stay in the singles category. Otherwise, you automatically end up in the realm of multiple bets.
A first introduction to combination bets
You bet 10 euros on a PSG win. With odds of 1.50, you will receive a payout of 15 euros. You also bet 10 euros on the Bayern – Borussia match. The odds of 1.78 are worth a payout of 17.80 euros. If both single bets make a profit, you will receive 32.80 euros from the bookmaker. Subtracting this 20 euro bet, a net profit of 12.80 euros remains.
Do you think you can get more than that 20 euros? That’s right! A combination bet (or as some bookmakers call it: a combined bet) is then a smart idea. With a combination bet, you no longer approach the bets as separate elements. Instead, you link them together. This has two important consequences:
- You must get all the predictions from the combo correct to make a profit.
- The odds are increased thanks to the multiplier system
Combined bets are very interconnected
Let’s go back to the football matches from Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga for a moment. With two single bets, these matches were worth a payout of €32.80. That the odds go up with a compound bet is certainly no exaggeration. The same total bet of €20 can now suddenly give you a payout of €53.40. This increases the net profit from €12.80 to €33.40. Almost a tripling, in other words!
This extra high profit comes about because the multiplier system comes into play. In the combined bet, all the individual odds are multiplied together. A win for PSG is good for odds of 1.50. A bet on “under 2.5 goals” in the match between Bayern and Borussia means 1.78. Collectively, these two bets come out at odds of (1.50 * 1.78) 2.67. It’s no wonder that that €20 bet can suddenly make a lot more money.
Before you get too excited about combination bets, it’s wise to consider the risks. Because of course, these higher odds come at a price. In a combi bet, the bets are so intertwined that they can’t be separated from each other. As a result, all the predictions from your combination must come true. All it takes is one wrong prediction between them and you get nothing at all.
Risk vs. Probability: What Tradeoff Do You Make?
Two or three individual bets will yield significantly lower odds than if you group the same predictions into a combination bet. But if one prediction doesn’t come true, with a combi bet you don’t get a cent. At least with three single bets you get a reward for the two bets you made to tick the correct box. It’s just… how much money is this safer way of gambling worth to you? The difference between the profit you make with a combination bet and the profit of a few individual bets is very big. That’s why it’s important to look carefully each time which is the wisest choice.
When choosing between a single bet and a multiple bet, you should carefully consider the risk involved in each individual bet. Odds play an important role here. Let’s say you’ve identified three bets that each have odds between 1.20 and 1.40. As individual football bets, they pay out very little. Maybe too little in your opinion. A multiple bet is a smart alternative. There’s a real chance that you can win each of the three bets and benefit from a higher profit. Have you set your sights on a bet that instantly quadruples your stake if you win? Then get that multiple bet out of your mind! You’re already taking a risk, and that risk only increases when you make a combination of them. Think of a multiple bet as a convenient way to increase low odds. If the bookmaker has set the odds at 2.00 or higher, this bet does not belong to a combination anyway.
This is how to maintain control of your bets individually and in combination
Single bets require less thought than a combined bet. All you have to do is think about that prediction that will appear on your coupon. Even if you make several single bets at once, you don’t have to look far beyond the statistics and current football news. With a compound bet, there is an extra element to it. That is, you always have to ask yourself how many and which bets you are linking together.
A combination of two bets already results in higher odds, but five, six or seven bets will really increase the rest of your play. However, we advise you to be careful. Even a top club like Paris Saint-Germain has its bad days. What happens if you bet confidently on a win for PSG AND combine this bet with five other predictions? The Parisians come out on a bad night and don’t get past the draw. Suddenly this profitable combination bet goes up in smoke. Our advice is to combine a maximum of three bets. This way you maintain control in this ever-uncertain world of football betting.