The Basics of the Double Bet in Sports Betting
A double bet is the most straightforward type of system bet as it only involves two selections. For a double to win, both selections need to win. This means it’s higher risk than placing the two bets separately, but your winnings will be higher. This is because your winnings from the first bet form the stake for the second. In this article, we’ll take a look at the double bet and give you some examples.
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The Theory: How the Double Bet Works
It is important to note that a double can only be placed on two independent markets. You cannot place a double on the same market – for example, a horse to win a race and a second horse to place in the same race. This type of bet is known as a Forecast bet.
When you place a double, the winnings from your first bet are then staked on the second. This increases your return, but it also means that both bets need to win to get a pay out. This can get a little complicated, so many people use our double bet calculator to do the maths for them.
Double bets are particularly good to extract more value from low-value odds. By combining favourites into a double, you can boost your profits quite significantly. We would also recommend avoiding linked outcomes – for example, Chelsea to win and score over 1.5 goals in the same match. Many bookmakers won’t permit this, but the value you will gain is low anyway.
You can also place an each way double bet, but your stake would have to be doubled to do this.
Examples
A double bet is very straightforward. Here is how it works. The examples provided are based on a €5 stake.
Selection | Odds | Result |
Chelsea | 1.90 | WON |
Newcastle United | 2.60 | WON |
If you placed a double on this scenario, your return would be €24.70, making a €19.70 profit. If either Chelsea or Newcastle United did not win, your bet would be lost.
This is how it breaks down:
- Your €5 stake is placed on Chelsea at odds of 1.90, returning €9.50.
- This €9.50 is then staked on Newcastle to return €24.70.
If you had placed €5 on each bet singularly, your return would be €9.50 + €13 = €22.50 for a profit of €12.50. Therefore, by placing the double, your return would be €2.20 higher and your profit would be €7.20 higher.
Conclusions
A double bet is a very popular system bet as it’s easy to understand and comes with minimal risk. By placing a double as opposed to two single bets, you increase your potential profit, but the trade-off is you increase the risk as both bets must win.
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FAQS
Can you place an each way double bet?
Yes, each way double bets are quite popular and most sportsbooks offer them. However, it’s important to note that the required stake for each way bets is double. It’s also important to note that each way bets cannot be combined with straight bets in the same double.
What is the main advantage of a double bet?
The main advantage of a double bet is higher returns than if you place the two bets singularly. However, for a double to win, both bets must win. This means the risk is higher than it would be with two singles.
On which sports can I place a double bet?
You can place a double bet on all sports, providing the two events you are betting on are independent of each other. You can also combine different sports in a double bet.
Can I cash out a double bet?
Some bookmakers do offer cash out on doubles if the first bet wins, but we recommend checking the T&Cs at your sportsbook of choice to make sure.
Where can I place a double bet?
As double bets are one of the most popular types of accumulator, nearly all sportsbooks offer them.