The world of online betting offers a wide range of options, among the less known to the English consumer options are the so-called sports exchanges. The difference from the standard predictions lies in the fact that the participant practically plays against other users who have joined the exchange and not against the bookmaker himself. The potential profit comes not from the company budget, but directly from the unsuccessful bets of other participants in the respective exchange, as this type of game is called in English.
How does the sport exchange work?
When we open the website of a bookmaker offering this service (betfair or 1Xbet, we will give further examples below), we will find that in the stock exchange the coming matches are listed, with two odds for each market appearing in the main list - we have two stakes for poitions 1, X, and 2. Marking the first number for a position means that your prediction is FOR that outcome, and marking the second number is AGAINST the corresponding position.
Here's what the possibilities for a bet at one of the sports exchanges look like
At this matches, if you stop at the first (blue) possibility for a bet at 1 in the Milan - Turin match, then you are playing for a home win. However, if you select the second (pink) option 1, it means that you are actually rejecting this outcome, i.e. you play against home win, and winning for you will be a draw or a win for the guest.
Sports exchanges are not limited to the final outcome of the matches. And in an exchange you can look for markets for both teams to score a goal, for a score Under / Over a certain limit (most often 2.5 goals), for first half, and even for an accurate score after the end of regular time.
There is, however, something very important. Unlike the standard bet, when you determine the amount you choose and place it on the relevant market, your money is not immediately accepted here. In order for your prediction to be active, it must be met by an opposite prediction. On the sports market, a prediction is validated when there is a prediction opposite to it. I.e. when you make a prediction FOR and there are not enough players to play AGAINST, the bet remains pending and unconfirmed until there are enough opponents for your game. It is rarely the case that a prediction is not activated at all, but sometimes it happens if it is made shortly before the start of the event - most often a football match, but not only.
To be sure your bet is accepted, it must be noted that it has been matched. When you make your prediction and choose the amount to play, the net profit you will usually receive is also displayed. With a successful prediction, you will also be refunded your stake, of course.
The odds are higher
Since you are not betting against a bookmaker who has calculated his winnings in the formation of odds, but against other users, the potential profit is greater. In the sport exchange, the stakes are higher than standard bets for this very reason. The bookmaker also has a stake, but only by charging participants a commission (usually 1-2%). Beyond this percentage, companies leave consumers to play against each other, with some matches and selections being particularly popular and collecting serious jackpots. It is distributed among the participants with the exception of the said commission. This is due to the higher odds, as for the participants there is a bigger piece of the pie.
FOR bets
The selection you choose must be a successful one in order to earn you profit. In this type of game, you can choose a win for one or both teams and a draw as well. It is possible to choose other markets within the same match. Once the bet amount has been entered, the potential profit is also shown, and the opposite markets show the possible losses.
It is not difficult to see that the odds for safer at first glance matches are higher. This is due to the fact that the bookmaker does not participate in the calculation, but only gives a field for bettors to play. Stakes may vary at different times depending on the number of people involved FOR or AGAINST the selection and market concerned.
AGAINST bets
Rejecting an option often seems easier than guessing. However, this is not always the case. A Bet Against is somewhat reminiscent of the double chance, where we also stop at 2 out of 3 possible match outcomes. Here, however, the odds of rejecting a particular outcome of the match can be noticeably higher.
In order to play Against at the Sports Market, there must be a pretty good estimate of the funds. For example, it is not difficult to predict at first glance that the team considered an outsider will lose, but in order to make a profit, you must bet a higher amount. This is required because your bet covers the potential winnings of other players. With this kind of bet, you are taking on the role of a bookmaker.
Which bookmakers offer Sports Exchanges
This kind of betting is not found everywhere. For Bulgarian companies, the option of an exchange has not yet been introduced, which does not mean that it will not happen soon. But sports exchanges are also absent from some of the world's leading online betting platforms. Among the most popular bookmakers offering this type of game are:
Conclusion
Although the idea of participants playing against each other is probably as old as the concept of betting on races or duels, sports exchanges are generally hardly known territory to most consumers. And when joining the exchange, the opportunities are greater and more interesting, including with some bookmakers, the player can determine the odds for an event on his own and can expect a counter bet. The odds here are higher than the standard betting options and can bring in more profits.
However, in any case you must carefully choose the match to bet on, as well as the game option - For or Against. As with standard bets, setting a budget here and strict adherence to discipline in the game is key for success.
