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Best Sportsbooks US / Betting Guide / 1x2 Betting Explained

1x2 Betting Explained: What Does 1x2 Mean in Betting?

Publish Date: 30/03/2022
Fact checked by: Sam

1x2 Betting Definition

Need to have 1x2 betting explained? You’re definitely in the right place. Take a look below to see the betting 1x2 definition and learn how to take advantage of this popular sports bet!

Our guide gives you the perfect place to start when playing with 1x2 betting markets. Once you understand the basic betting 1x2 definition, you’ll quickly see lots more interesting 1x2 betting alternatives that could give you extra value when trying your luck. So keep reading to have betting 1x2 explained in simple terms!

A simple 1x2 betting definition

1x2 betting essentially refers to three different outcomes in a sporting encounter. The ‘1’ refers to the home team winning, the ‘2’ refers to the away team winning, and the ‘x’ refers to a draw or tie between the two teams.

A standard 1x2 bet would therefore require you to bet on either the end result of the sporting event being a home win, an away win, or a draw. If your prediction is correct, you’ll win your stake back along with a return that is dependent on the odds. If your prediction is wrong, you’ll simply lose your betting stake.

We should note that there will always be a home team and an away team even in those games that are held in a neutral venue such as the soccer World Cup final. All of which adds up to give you one of the simplest kinds of sports bets.

1x2 betting explained with an example

Still confused about what a 1x2 bet is? Well, you could google “sportsbook near me” and go and ask someone in person about betting terminology. Alternatively, carry on reading our guide because we are confident you will understand this concept soon.

When you’re starting out, betting soccer 1x2 markets are some of the easiest to understand, and so let’s take a look at an example of an MLS game between NY Red Bulls and DC United.

So if you went to an online sportsbook, you may see the game between NY Red Bulls and DC United displayed in the following way:

NY Red Bulls - 176, Draw +300, DC United +450

The Red Bulls were the home team in this game, and so if you wanted to bet on the Red Bull to win, you would be betting on the ‘1’ market that has the -176 odds and spreads. DC United would be the away team and to back them you’d be betting on the ‘2’ market which has +450 odds and spreads. The only remaining betting option would be the draw which is represented by an x which has odds of +300.

Still unsure? You could always try a betting sites odds and spreads calculator to help you work out the returns on offer with the given odds, spreads and stakes.

The appeal of 1x2 betting

The above example quickly illustrates the basic appeal of 1x2 betting. After all, it is one of the simplest kinds of sports bets that follows on nicely from the kind of predictions that we automatically make whenever we think about an upcoming sporting event.

After all, a 1x2 bet is essentially the same as any kind of money line bet that you’d normally put on any game in the NFL, NBA, NHL or NBA. However, it’s the addition of the ‘x’ betting market that makes 1x2 betting a little more intriguing.

What sports work with 1x2 betting?

A 1x2 bet will work with any sport where the three game outcomes are either a home win, an away win or a draw. 1x2 betting is therefore most commonly linked with soccer where there are high frequencies of all of the above outcomes. However, you will also find that 1x2 betting works nicely with other sports like Test match cricket where there are plenty of draws.

It’s easy to see why 1x2 betting won’t work too well with high-scoring sports like basketball. While a few NFL games end up as ties, this is such a rare outcome that it doesn’t really suit 1x2 betting markets. There’s the potential for betting on 1x2 markets for an NHL game to be finished at the end of its three regular periods, however most people will opt for a standard money line bet for who wins the shootout.

Obviously, 1x2 betting markets won’t work for sports that don’t have draws like tennis and golf. Plus there won’t be any 1x2 bets available for racing sports such as NASCAR racing. Simply put, if it is a low-scoring sport that could have a drawing result, then you should be able to put down a 1x2 bet on it!

Handicap 1x2 betting explained

Want to know what a betting handicapper is. Lots of people enjoy handicap 1x2 betting as it offers you a great way of leveling the playing field. Handicap betting essentially works the same way as points spread betting where you are putting the favorite at a disadvantage and the underdog at an advantage. This is done in a bid to give you longer odds and spreads for the favorite or more chances of success when backing the underdog. There should also be an option for a handicap bet with a tie and without a tie.

Let’s take a look at an example. There was an MLS game coming up between the Western Conference leaders LA Galaxy and the team at the bottom of the table, Seattle Sounders. You wanted to bet on LA Galaxy to win, but their odds and spreads were so short that your returns would be negligible.

Here you could put the LA Galaxy at a -1.5 goals handicap. This would mean that LA Galaxy would have to beat Seattle Sounders by at least two goals for you to win your bet. It would be a harder bet to win, but your returns would be better as a result of the longer odds and spreads.

Conversely, you could put the Seattle Sounders at a +1.5 goals handicap. Here the game could end as a 1-1 draw, and you'd win your bet. The odds might be shorter compared to a standard 1x2 bet, but you’d still get a return which is better than no return at all.

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Other types of 1x2 betting explained: Double chance bet

A double chance bet will let you bet on two outcomes of the 1x2 betting markets. This effectively means that you will get a much better chance of winning your bet, but it comes at the cost of shorter odds and spreads.

Let's take an example of an MLS game between Philadelphia Union and Orlando City. Here, a double chance bet could include the following options:

  • Philadelphia win or a draw
  • Orlando win or a draw
  • Philadelphia win or an Orlando win

The fact that you can bet on either team to win and you’d still win your bet may seem counter-intuitive, but it’s a great option for anyone who seriously wants to win their bets and a great betting deal!

Other types of 1x2 betting explained: Draw no bet

A draw no bet is a simple alternative to the regular 1x2 betting market. Here it simply removes the draw option which means you’ll get your stake returned should the game end as a draw. You’ll find that the odds will be shorter with a draw no bet, but you’ll stand less of a chance of losing.

It’s interesting to see that draw no bets are a common feature of betting on boxing. While there’s always the possibility of a tied result, sportsbooks will tend to restrict your betting options for just backing the winner of the bout.

Putting 1x2 bets into a parlay

Lots of soccer fans like combining 1x2 bets into one big parlay bet. This is where there are multiple selections that all have to win in order for your parlay bet to succeed.

So a parlay bet in the MLS could be something like predicting Real Salt Lake, Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew and Colorado Rapids all to win. Here, the odds would combine to be very high but it would be a bet that was very unlikely to win.

Using bonuses with 1x2 bets

You should find that most sportsbook promotions and bonuses work just fine with 1x2 betting. For example, a matched deposit bonus should simply give you extra money to play with on 1x2 betting markets. Conversely, a risk-free bet bonus would simply give you a refund if your bet on the 1x2 betting lines lost. Just remember to read through the small print before using any bonus as you want to ensure you get the best deals and best free bets today!

How to start sports 1x2 betting

It’s so easy to bet on 1x2 markets. Here’s what you need to do:

  • Sign up to one of the recommended betting companies that allow US players
  • Make a real money deposit
  • Bet on either the home team to win, the away team to win, or for there to be a draw
  • Enter your betting stake, submit your bet and enjoy the big game!

Simple tips for 1x2 betting

Do your research: Seriously, there is no excuse for not researching each team’s past form, head-to-head records and injuries.

Try live betting: You can bet live on 1x2 markets at all good online sportsbooks. A great way to get extra value late on in any big game.

Bet with modesty: Remember that sporting upsets happen all of the time, so make sure that you only wager with money that you don’t mind losing.

Conclusion - Much more than a basic 1x2 betting  definition!

Now that we’ve had betting 1x2 explained, we can see that this is one of the simplest and most instinctive sports bets around. However, it’s still a sports bet that has plenty of permutations to give you extra value. In particular, handicap 1x2 betting effectively acts like points spread betting and is well worth a look.

Remember that this is just one of the many bets that we offer guides for, along with our many sportsbook reviews. So be sure to browse around to see how some alternative bet types can work wonders for your sports bet. All of which should give you plenty of entertainment at any of our featured online sportsbooks!

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1x2 betting explained FAQ

👍🏻 What is a good 1x2 bet strategy?

Our guides have it all - we review sportsbooks, bonuses, sports betting apps, and here, the best strategies that you can use with your 1x2 bets. This guide will start off by giving you the basic betting 1x2 definition before moving on to examine some of the best ways to put this bet into action. All of which should give you plenty of confidence in how to wager on one of the most popular betting options.

🏆Who has the best 1x2 odds and spreads?

Make sure that you read our guide where you’ll get to see how to spot a sportsbook with superior 1x2 betting odds and spreads. We’ll have betting 1x2 explained in a way that you’ll quickly identify what each of the relevant betting lines means. From here you’ll get some great recommendations for seeing which kinds of online betting sites favor this kind of betting.

⚽What does x mean in betting?

Like you may be asking yourself, in betting, “what does plus and minus mean”, you could also be puzzled by what 1x2 betting is. Check out our guide that has 1x2 betting explained in a simple way so that you can quickly see what the 1, x and 2 mean. This means that you can go from this explanation to interpreting just how favorable any of the 1x2 odds and spreads on offer at any sportsbooks are. Perfect for getting the best value from your online sports bets. 

❓What does 1 mean in betting?

You’ll have to understand what the ‘1’ means in the 1x2 betting markets if you are to have any success with this kind of bet. The good news is that this is one of the simplest types of sports bets you’ll encounter and so you shouldn’t have any problem in using this kind of bet. But you should still read our betting 1x2 definition to make sure that you get it right!

⭐What is the handicap 1x2 betting?

Not only does our guide give you the basic betting 1x2 definition, but we will also see some of the more advanced aspects of this betting market. This means that you will quickly understand how the handicap form of 1x2 betting offers you an excellent way of balancing out an uneven playing field. Perfect for approaching sports betting in a different way!

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