What Are the Most Common Soccer Betting Terms?
If you are learning how to bet on soccer, understanding the terminology is just as important as understanding the teams.
You may see a betting board showing 1X2, ML, PK, O/U, BTTS, DNB, AH, FT, HT, TT, plus and minus numbers, and other abbreviations.
What do they actually mean?
This guide brings together the most common soccer betting language into one place, with simple explanations and examples.
At YouWager, you may see many of these terms when exploring soccer markets. The exact markets available depend on the match and competition, so always check the market description and settlement rules before placing a wager.
What Does 1X2 Mean in Soccer Betting?
1X2 is the traditional three way match result market.
1 means home team wins.
X means draw.
2 means away team wins.
For example:
Real Madrid vs Barcelona
1 = Real Madrid wins
X = Draw
2 = Barcelona wins
This is one of the first soccer betting terms every beginner should understand.
What Does 3 Way Betting Mean in Soccer?
3 way betting means there are three possible betting outcomes.
In a standard soccer match result market:
Home win
Draw
Away win
This is why 1X2 is also called a three way market.
The important difference between a three way market and a two way market is what happens when the match ends in a draw.
What Does X Mean in Soccer Betting?
X means draw in a traditional three way soccer betting market.
If the match finishes:
0 to 0
1 to 1
2 to 2
The X result wins.
The meaning of X can change in other markets, so always look at the market title.
What Does ML Mean in Soccer Betting?
ML means Moneyline.
It generally refers to betting on a team to win according to the rules of that particular market.
The exact structure matters because soccer commonly has three possible match results.
At YouWager, check whether the specific market is a three way result market or another structure before placing your wager.
What Does SU Mean in Soccer Betting?
SU means Straight Up.
It generally refers to betting on the outright winner without applying a handicap.
For example:
Barcelona SU
means you are backing Barcelona to win according to the applicable market rules.
What Does PK Mean in Soccer Betting?
PK means Pick’em.
It indicates that neither team receives a handicap advantage.
The basic idea is:
Team A PK
Team B PK
Neither side starts with a virtual goal advantage.
PK is therefore closely related to a no handicap market.
What Does FT Mean in Soccer Betting?
FT means Full Time.
It normally refers to the result at the end of regulation time according to the applicable market rules.
For standard soccer matches, this generally means the result after 90 minutes plus stoppage time.
Do not automatically assume extra time or penalty shootouts are included.
The settlement rules for the specific market determine what counts.
What Does HT Mean in Soccer Betting?
HT means Half Time.
A half time market is settled according to the score at the end of the first half.
For example:
HT Home
HT Draw
HT Away
These selections relate to the first half rather than the final match result.
What Does HT/FT Mean in Soccer Betting?
HT/FT means Half Time/Full Time.
You are predicting both results.
For example:
Home/Home
means the home team must lead at half time and also win at full time.
Draw/Home
means the match must be tied at half time and the home team must win at full time.
It is therefore much more specific than a normal match result wager.
What Does O/U Mean in Soccer Betting?
O/U means Over/Under.
You are predicting whether the total number of goals will finish above or below a specified line.
For example:
Over 2.5
Under 2.5
If there are three or more total goals, Over 2.5 wins.
If there are zero, one, or two goals, Under 2.5 wins.
What Does BTTS Mean in Soccer Betting?
BTTS means Both Teams To Score.
You are predicting whether both teams will score at least one goal.
1 to 1 → BTTS Yes wins
2 to 1 → BTTS Yes wins
2 to 0 → BTTS Yes loses
BTTS is different from Over Under because it does not care about the total number of goals as long as both teams score.
What Does GG Mean in Soccer Betting?
GG is another term commonly used for Both Teams To Score.
GG means both teams score.
You may therefore see:
BTTS Yes
GG
Both Teams To Score
These terms can refer to the same basic outcome.
What Does TT Mean in Soccer Betting?
TT means Team Total.
A Team Total focuses on the goals scored by one specific team rather than the combined goals of the entire match.
For example:
Barcelona Team Total Over 1.5
Barcelona must score at least two goals.
A match ending 2 to 0 would win that Team Total.
What Does DNB Mean in Soccer Betting?
DNB means Draw No Bet.
You select one team.
If the team wins → wager wins.
If the match draws → stake is returned.
If the team loses → wager loses.
DNB is particularly useful when you favor one team but want protection against the draw.
What Is a Handicap in Soccer Betting?
A handicap gives one team a virtual advantage or disadvantage for betting purposes.
For example:
Team A −1
Team B +1
The handicap changes how the final score is evaluated.
Handicap markets can be structured differently, so the sign and type of handicap matter.
What Do Plus and Minus Numbers Mean in Soccer Betting?
The plus and minus signs indicate which team is receiving or giving the handicap.
A minus handicap generally means the selected team is giving a virtual advantage to its opponent.
A plus handicap generally means the selected team is receiving a virtual advantage.
For example:
Team A −1
Team B +1
Team A must overcome the handicap.
Team B receives the handicap.
The exact settlement depends on whether you are looking at Asian Handicap, European Handicap, or another handicap market.
What Does Handicap 0 Mean?
Handicap 0 means neither team receives a virtual goal.
In Asian Handicap, 0 is generally equivalent to Draw No Bet.
Team wins → wins
Draw → stake returned
Team loses → loses
European Handicap 0 is different because the draw remains one of the three betting outcomes.
What Does Handicap −1 Mean?
A standard Asian Handicap −1 means the selected team gives one virtual goal.
If the team wins by two or more goals → win.
If the team wins by exactly one goal → push.
If the match draws or the team loses → lose.
The same number can have different settlement rules in European Handicap.
What Does Handicap +1 Mean?
A standard Asian Handicap +1 gives the selected team one virtual goal.
If the team wins → win.
If the match draws → win.
If the team loses by exactly one goal → push.
If the team loses by two or more goals → lose.
What Does Handicap 1.5 Mean?
A 1.5 handicap can be positive or negative.
−1.5 means the selected team must win by at least two goals.
+1.5 means the selected team can win, draw, or lose by one goal and still cover.
Because 1.5 is a half goal, there is no exact push on the line.
What Is Asian Handicap?
Asian Handicap is a handicap market that can use whole, half, and quarter goal lines.
Examples include:
0
−0.25
−0.5
−0.75
−1
−1.25
−1.5
Depending on the line, settlement can include:
Full win
Full loss
Push
Half win
Half loss
Understanding the exact handicap is essential before placing the wager.
What Is European Handicap?
European Handicap also applies a virtual goal advantage or disadvantage, but it normally retains three possible outcomes.
Home
Draw
Away
This means an adjusted draw is a betting result rather than a push.
That is one of the biggest differences between European Handicap and Asian Handicap.
What Is a Push in Soccer Betting?
A push occurs when a wager lands exactly on an applicable betting line and the original stake is returned.
For example:
Asian Handicap −1
Team wins 1 to 0
After applying the handicap:
0 to 0
The wager pushes.
Not every market can produce a push.
A standard Over 2.5 wager, for example, cannot land exactly on 2.5 goals.
What Is a Hook in Soccer Betting?
A hook generally refers to a half point added to a betting line.
Examples include:
1.5
2.5
3.5
The half point prevents the result from landing exactly on the betting number.
For example, a 2.5 goal total cannot finish with exactly 2.5 goals.
That removes the possibility of a simple push on that line.
What Is a Banker in Soccer Betting?
A banker is a selection that a bettor considers highly likely to win.
A bettor may use a banker as part of a multiple wager.
But there is an important distinction:
A banker is not a guaranteed winner.
There is no guaranteed soccer bet.
A team can be heavily favored and still lose.
What Is a Pick in Soccer Betting?
A pick is a prediction about a betting outcome.
A pick could be:
Barcelona to win
Over 2.5
BTTS Yes
Barcelona −1
A pick is simply a prediction.
It is not a guarantee.
What Is the Favorite in Soccer Betting?
The favorite is the outcome considered more likely by the betting market.
Favorites generally have lower odds than underdogs.
For example:
Team A 1.50
Team B 5.00
Team A would normally be the favorite.
But favorite does not mean guaranteed.
What Is an Underdog in Soccer Betting?
An underdog is the outcome considered less likely to win.
Underdogs generally have higher odds.
Higher odds mean a larger potential return relative to the stake, but they also generally indicate a lower implied probability.
What Is EVS in Soccer Betting?
EVS means Even Money.
It generally refers to decimal odds of 2.00.
At 2.00 odds:
$10 stake
$20 total return
$10 profit
The original stake is included in the total return.
What Is a Clean Sheet?
A clean sheet means a team concedes zero goals.
Examples:
1 to 0
2 to 0
3 to 0
A 0 to 0 draw means both teams kept clean sheets.
Clean sheets can be particularly useful when analyzing BTTS and team goal markets.
What Is a Brace in Soccer?
A brace means a player scores two goals in the same match.
For example:
Barcelona player scores twice.
That player has scored a brace.
The term can appear in player scoring discussions and betting markets.
What Is a Substitute to Score Bet?
A substitute to score market asks whether a player who enters the match as a substitute will score.
The exact eligibility and settlement rules depend on the sportsbook and market.
What Is Sending Off in Soccer Betting?
A sending off occurs when a player receives a red card and is removed from the match.
A sending off can dramatically change the match and may also affect card related betting markets.
What Are Booking Points?
Booking points are used in certain soccer card betting markets.
Cards are assigned values according to the rules of the specific market, and those values are used to determine the result.
Because the scoring system can vary, always check the market rules.
What Is a Prop Bet in Soccer?
A prop bet is a wager on a specific event or statistic rather than simply the final result.
Soccer prop examples include:
Player to score
Player tackles
Player cards
Team corners
Total cards
The available props depend on the event and sportsbook.
At YouWager, available markets can vary from match to match.
What Is a Straight Bet?
A straight bet is one wager on one selection.
Examples:
Team A to win
Over 2.5
BTTS Yes
It is one of the simplest betting structures.
What Is a Double?
A double combines two selections into one multiple wager.
Both selections must win for the double to win.
What Is a Triple?
A triple combines three selections.
All three must win for the full wager to win.
What Is a Treble?
A treble is another term for a three selection multiple wager.
Three selections are combined into one wager and all three must win for the treble to win.
What Is a Fold?
A fold is a multiple wager involving several selections.
It can refer to an accumulator or similar multiple structure where several selections are combined.
The exact structure depends on the wager type.
What Is a Round Robin?
A Round Robin creates multiple combinations from a group of selections.
Instead of putting all selections into one single parlay, different combinations are created.
This can provide more potential winning combinations, but it also creates multiple individual wagers and increases the total amount risked.
What Is a Trixie?
A Trixie uses three selections to create four wagers:
Three doubles
One treble
It is an advanced multiple betting structure.
What Is an Octopus?
An Octopus is a multiple betting structure involving eight selections and combinations of those selections.
It is an advanced wager and is not necessary for someone learning basic soccer betting.
What Is Arbing in Soccer Betting?
Arbing, short for arbitrage betting, involves using different prices on different outcomes to try to create a guaranteed or near guaranteed profit.
The mathematics must work across the available prices for an arbitrage opportunity to exist.
Arbitrage is different from ordinary value betting.
What Is Lay Betting?
Lay betting means betting against an outcome.
Instead of backing Team A to win, a bettor using a lay market is effectively taking the position that Team A will not win.
Lay betting is most commonly associated with betting exchanges rather than traditional sportsbooks.
What Is Matched Betting?
Matched betting involves placing opposing wagers to reduce or eliminate exposure to a particular outcome, often around promotional offers.
It is different from simply trying to predict the winner of a soccer match.
What Is Outright Betting?
Outright betting means betting on the eventual winner of a competition rather than the result of one individual match.
Examples:
Premier League winner
Champions League winner
World Cup winner
These are also sometimes called futures or tournament winner markets.
What Is Odd and Even Betting?
Odd and Even betting predicts whether a particular total will be odd or even.
For soccer goals:
Odd:
1
3
5
7
Even:
0
2
4
6
The market can also apply to other statistics depending on the event.
What Is the Money Side and Total?
The money side generally refers to betting on which team wins.
The total refers to betting Over or Under on the combined goals.
For example:
Barcelona moneyline
Barcelona vs Real Madrid Over 2.5
These are completely different markets.
What Are Key Numbers in Soccer Betting?
Key numbers are commonly occurring margins or totals that can have greater importance in certain betting markets.
The concept is more prominent in sports where scoring margins frequently cluster around particular numbers.
In soccer, bettors should be careful about directly importing American sports betting concepts into soccer because soccer scoring is structured differently.
For soccer, the practical focus is usually on understanding the actual handicap or total being offered and how the settlement works.
What Is the House Percentage in Soccer Betting?
The house percentage refers to the mathematical advantage built into the sportsbook’s odds.
It is commonly associated with the vig, vigorish, or sportsbook margin.
For example, if the implied probabilities of all outcomes in a market add up to more than 100 percent, the difference represents the built in margin.
Understanding the house percentage is important because the bettor is not betting against a perfectly neutral price.
What Is Vig in Soccer Betting?
Vig, short for vigorish, is the sportsbook’s built in margin in the odds.
Suppose a two outcome market has:
Outcome A
Outcome B
If the implied probabilities add up to more than 100 percent, that excess represents the sportsbook’s theoretical margin.
This is why understanding odds is so important.
The displayed price is not simply a prediction.
It also contains the sportsbook’s margin.
What Is the Most Important Factor When Betting Soccer?
There is no single factor that works for every market.
Important considerations can include:
Team form
Injuries
Suspensions
Home and away performance
Goals scored
Goals conceded
Expected Goals
Player performance
Tactical matchup
Weather
Motivation
Schedule
Available odds
The most important factor depends on what you are betting.
For an Over Under wager, goal creation and defensive vulnerability can be particularly relevant.
For a player prop, the player’s expected role can matter more.
For a match result, the overall team matchup becomes more important.
What Statistics Should You Look At When Betting Soccer?
Useful statistics can include:
Team form
Recent performances can provide context.
Goals scored
Shows a team’s recent attacking output.
Goals conceded
Shows defensive performance.
Expected Goals
Provides information about the quality of scoring opportunities created.
Expected Goals Against
Helps evaluate the quality of chances a team allows.
Home and away records
Some teams perform significantly differently depending on location.
BTTS percentage
Can be useful when evaluating Both Teams To Score.
Over 2.5 percentage
Can help when evaluating goal totals.
Clean sheets
Can be useful when evaluating whether both teams are likely to score.
Statistics should be matched to the market rather than treated as universal predictors.
What Should You Look For When Betting on Soccer?
Before placing a wager, ask:
What is the market asking me to predict?
What does the data say?
What does the matchup suggest?
Who is available?
How do the teams perform home and away?
What are the current odds?
Is the price attractive enough?
How much am I risking?
This is much stronger than simply asking which team looks better.
What Should You Know Before Betting on Soccer?
You should understand four basic things:
The market
What exactly are you predicting?
The odds
What price are you receiving?
The settlement
What result makes the wager win, lose, or return the stake?
The stake
How much money are you risking?
If you cannot answer those four questions, you should not place the wager yet.
Why Does a Half Goal Matter in Soccer Betting?
A half goal prevents the result from landing exactly on the line.
For example:
Over 2.5
Under 2.5
A match cannot finish with exactly 2.5 goals.
Therefore there is no push on a standard 2.5 total.
Half goal lines are extremely common in soccer betting.
What Is a Quarter Goal Line?
Quarter goal lines include:
0.25
0.75
1.25
1.75
2.25
2.75
These lines can split the stake between two nearby betting lines.
For example:
2.25
effectively combines 2.0 and 2.5.
This can create more complicated settlement outcomes, including partial wins and partial losses.
Quarter goal markets are most commonly associated with Asian Handicap and Asian Total betting.
Why Can Similar Soccer Markets Have Different Results?
Because the settlement rules can be different.
Consider:
Asian Handicap −1
A one goal victory can produce a push.
European Handicap −1
A one goal victory can produce an adjusted draw.
The same match can therefore produce different betting results depending on the market.
This is why the most important habit in soccer betting is to understand the exact market, not just the team or number.
How Does This Apply to Soccer Betting at YouWager?
When looking at a soccer match at YouWager, you may see many of these terms and markets together.
For example:
1X2
Double Chance
Draw No Bet
Asian Handicap
European Handicap
Over Under
BTTS
Team Totals
Player Props
Cards
Corners
Live Betting
Each market answers a different question.
Before placing a wager, look at the exact market name, selection, odds, and applicable rules.
That is especially important when similar looking markets such as Asian Handicap, European Handicap, Draw No Bet, and Double Chance appear next to each other.
Frequently Asked Questions About Common Soccer Betting Terms
What does 1X2 mean?
Home win, draw, or away win.
What does X mean?
Draw.
What does ML mean?
Moneyline.
What does SU mean?
Straight Up.
What does PK mean?
Pick’em, meaning neither side receives a handicap.
What does FT mean?
Full Time.
What does HT mean?
Half Time.
What does HT/FT mean?
Half Time/Full Time.
What does O/U mean?
Over/Under.
What does BTTS mean?
Both Teams To Score.
What does GG mean?
Both Teams To Score.
What does TT mean?
Team Total.
What does DNB mean?
Draw No Bet.
What does plus and minus mean in soccer betting?
They generally indicate whether a team is receiving or giving a handicap.
What is a push?
A wager that lands exactly on an applicable line and returns the stake.
What is a hook?
A half point added to a line to prevent an exact landing on the number.
What is a banker?
A selection considered highly likely to win, but never guaranteed.
What is a pick?
A prediction about a betting outcome.
What is a prop bet?
A wager on a specific event or statistic.
What is a clean sheet?
A team concedes zero goals.
What is a brace?
A player scores two goals.
What is a handicap?
A virtual advantage or disadvantage applied to a team for betting purposes.
What is Asian Handicap?
A handicap market with its own settlement structure that can include pushes and split outcomes.
What is European Handicap?
A three outcome handicap market where the adjusted draw is a separate result.
What is a straight bet?
One wager on one selection.
What is a double?
Two selections combined into one multiple wager.
What is a treble?
Three selections combined into one multiple wager.
What is a Trixie?
Three doubles and one treble from three selections.
What is a Round Robin?
Multiple combinations created from a group of selections.
What is arbing?
Using different prices on different outcomes to seek an arbitrage opportunity.
What is outright betting?
Betting on the eventual winner of a competition.
What is vig?
The sportsbook’s built in mathematical margin.
What is odd and even betting?
Predicting whether the applicable total is odd or even.
What Is the Golden Rule of Soccer Betting Terminology?
Never assume two markets mean the same thing just because they look similar.
A minus one handicap can mean something different depending on the handicap system.
A draw can win one market, return your stake in another, and lose a third.
Over 2.5 and Team Total Over 2.5 are not the same wager.
BTTS and Over 2.5 are not the same prediction.
Asian Handicap 0 and European Handicap 0 are not the same market.
The number, abbreviation, market type, and settlement rules all matter.
At YouWager, take a few seconds to understand the exact market before confirming your wager. That small habit can prevent a major misunderstanding.
Where Does the Soccer Betting Hub Go From Here?
You now have the basic language needed to understand soccer betting.
The next layer moves from terms into prices.
That means answering the questions:
What are soccer betting odds?
What do decimal odds mean?
What are American odds?
What are fractional odds?
How do you convert soccer betting odds?
How do you calculate potential return?
What is implied probability?
What is vig?
What is the sportsbook margin?
What does a plus or minus price mean?
Soccer Betting Hub:
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Soccer Betting Glossary
How Do You Bet on Soccer for the First Time
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Soccer Betting Odds Explained
Soccer Betting for Beginners
Soccer Betting Explained
Soccer Betting FAQs
What Are Soccer Betting Odds and How Do They Work
1X2 Betting in Soccer
What Is European Handicap in Soccer Betting
What Is Asian Handicap in Soccer Betting
What Is Over Under Betting in Soccer
What Does BTTS Mean in Soccer Betting
What Is Draw No Bet in Soccer Betting
What Is Double Chance Betting in Soccer
Common Soccer Betting Terms
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