The basic of Outright Betting
Outright betting is when you wager on the overall winner of a tournament or match. They are usually placed before a competition starts, but can be made while its ongoing. This article explains it and highlights some of the sports and events where they are most popular.
Updated on:
- October 31, 2025
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The Theory: How Outright Betting Works
Outright betting involves placing a bet on a team or player to win a particular competition. Examples include Premier League outright betting (e.g., Liverpool to win the title), Wimbledon (e.g., Novak Djokovic to win the tournament), and NFL (e.g., the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl).
They are often known as Futures as these markets open long before a tournament begins. In some cases, this can be years. This means you may have to wait a long time to receive a payout.
You can also place outright bets while a tournament is ongoing. As the number of competitors is eliminated, the odds tend to shorten, so it’s important to consider the right time to place a bet.
Many bookmakers also offer the ability to cash out. This is a good way of taking profits early on a bet with a good chance of winning or reducing losses on wagers that are going against you. The main appeal is giving bettors more control of their funds while mitigating the risk of the odds flipping.
In addition to cash out possibilities, the potential for long-odds winners makes outright betting appealing.
3 Examples
Outright betting is available across every sport, but here are the most popular.
Football
Premier League outright betting and Champions League outright betting are particularly popular. Examples include teams to qualify for the top four of the Premier League, teams to be relegated from the Premier League, and which teams will reach the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Tennis
Tennis is one of the most popular betting sports, with the Grand Slams being of particular interest. The Wimbledon outright betting market is the biggest.
Other Sports
Snooker outright betting and darts betting outright winner are also popular, particularly for the Snooker World Championship in April/May and the PDC World Darts Championship over the Festive Period.
Conclusions
Outright betting is one of the most popular types of bet as they are so simple. However, they aren’t particularly dynamic and you do need to wait a while before you can claim any winnings.
FAQS
What is outright betting?
It is when you place a bet on the outcome of a league or competition rather than an individual event or match.
What are the best examples of outright betting?
What are the pros and cons of outright betting?
The main advantage of outright betting is you often get longer odds, meaning you can get better value. Due to the lack of urgency, you will also get more time to study the stats before placing your bets. The main disadvantage is you may have to wait a long time to receive any winnings. There are often a limited number of outright markets too.
What is early cash-out?
Many bookmakers offer early cash-out. This is where you can receive a portion of your winnings back before the bet is settled. It is usually done to mitigate against risk, should the odds suddenly flip.
What should I consider when making an outright bet?
As with any other bet, it’s important to do your research. It’s also important to keep on top of the latest developments as a team’s form and injuries will affect their outright odds.