Express vs Single Bets: Essentials

Knowing the types of bets is the initial task of any beginner. But choosing a bookmaker for the game is no less important, learn more about best options before making a deposit.

What is a single bet in sports betting

Singles is the format to wager on one event. In this case, the player only needs to guess the outcome of a specific match or competition. For example, a bet can be made on the victory of one of the teams in a football match, the outcome of a tennis match or the result of a boxing fight.

The advantage of a single bet is its simplicity: the result depends on only one event. And this makes it especially attractive for beginners, who can easily calculate the possible profit and risks. However, this type of bet also has its downsides – the odds for such bets are rarely high, which makes them less attractive for those who want to win big.

Single bets are made both on the line in pre-match and live. But in a professional practice, singles are sought-after in the latter. There is no fundamental difference between the line and live.

What is an express bet in sports betting

An express is a bet placed on several events. In fact, these are several singles, the odds of which are multiplied by each other. An express is considered a winning bet if all the events in the coupon win. It is much more difficult to predict. But in case of success, the winnings will be greater than for a single bet. Some bookmakers have a limitation. You can add only one outcome from each match to the coupon. For example, you can’t add the total goals and total corners from one game – you will need to choose one of them.

Single or express — which is more profitable?

In terms of potential profit, express is more profitable. For example, let’s take 2 events with odds of 2. If we make an express with a par value of 1,000 euros, then the potential profit is 3,000 euros. If we split this same 1,000 into two singles of 500 each and place them separately, then the potential profit is only 1,000 euros.

But there are a number of disadvantages:

• The probability of winning is much lower. The theory of large numbers over time adjusts express bets to the classical theory of probability. You won’t be able to win all the time.
• The bookmaker’s margin is higher. The greater the number of outcomes in the coupon, the higher the marginality. As a rule, the difference is no more than 1.5%. But over time, this is a lot of money.
• High ROI error. It is impossible to accurately calculate profitability over time. There are no such problems with singles.

Professional bettors only bet singles. This means that it is more profitable. Singles are always more predictable in the long run.