An ‘if bet’ is a term that refers to a type of bet that consists of two or more bets that are linked together by a condition. An ‘if bet’ is also known as a conditional bet, a chain bet, or a sequential bet. An ‘if bet’ is a common and convenient way of betting on multiple games or events, especially in sports betting.
How ‘If Bet’ Works
To place an ‘if bet’, you need to follow these steps:
Choose the sport or event that you want to bet on. You can select from various sports and events, such as football, basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, golf, etc.
Choose the type of bet that you want to place. You can select from various types of bets, such as moneyline, point spread, totals, props, or futures.
Choose the selections that you want to bet on. You can select from various teams or players that are competing or participating in the sport or event. You can choose two or more selections, depending on the number of bets that you want to link together.
Check the potential payout and the odds of each bet. The potential payout is the amount of money that you can win if the bet is successful. The odds are the ratio of the payout to the stake. The odds and the payout of each bet may vary depending on the bookmaker, casino, or betting platform that offers them, and may change over time as the market or event progresses or approaches.
Enter the stake that you want to wager on the first bet. The stake is the amount of money that you risk on the bet. The stake of the first bet is usually the same as the total stake of the ‘if bet’.
Confirm and place the ‘if bet’.
The outcome and payout of your ‘if bet’ will depend on the results of each bet. There are two possible scenarios for each bet:
Scenario 1: The bet is correct. You win the payout of the bet, and the stake of the next bet is equal to the payout of the previous bet. The ‘if bet’ continues until all bets are correct or until one bet is wrong.
Scenario 2: The bet is wrong. You lose the stake of the bet, and the ‘if bet’ ends. You receive no payout for the remaining bets.
Examples of ‘If Bets’
Here are some examples of ‘if bets’ with different sports and types of bets:
Example 1
An ‘if bet’ on two football games with moneyline bets:
Event: NFL games between Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants, and between Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers
Bet type: Moneyline
Selections: Dallas Cowboys to win, and Los Angeles Rams to win
Odds: +200 for Dallas Cowboys, and -150 for Los Angeles Rams
Potential payout: $200 for the first bet, and $133.33 for the second bet
Stake: $100 for the first bet, and $200 for the second bet
‘If bet’: $100 on Dallas Cowboys to win at +200 odds, and if correct, $200 on Los Angeles Rams to win at -150 odds
Scenario 1: Both bets are correct. You win both bets and receive $333.33 in total payout.
Scenario 2: Only the first bet is correct. You win the first bet and lose the second bet. You receive $200 in payout and lose $200 in stake, resulting in a net profit of $0.
Scenario 3: Only the second bet is correct. You lose the first bet and the ‘if bet’ ends. You receive no payout and lose $100 in stake, resulting in a net loss of $100.
Scenario 4: Both bets are wrong. You lose both bets and the ‘if bet’ ends. You receive no payout and lose $100 in stake, resulting in a net loss of $100.
Example 2
An ‘if bet’ on three basketball games with point spread bets:
• Sport: Basketball
• Event: NBA games between Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, between Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls, and between Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets
• Bet type: Point spread
• Selections: Los Angeles Lakers -5.5, Miami Heat +3.5, and Denver Nuggets -2.5
• Odds: -110 for all bets
• Potential payout: $90.91 for each bet
• Stake: $100 for the first bet, $190.91 for the second bet, and $281.82 for the third bet
• ‘If bet’: $100 on Los Angeles Lakers -5.5 at -110 odds, and if correct, $190.91 on Miami Heat +3.5 at -110 odds, and if correct, $281.82 on Denver Nuggets -2.5 at -110 odds
Scenario 1: All bets are correct. You win all bets and receive $462.64 in total payout.
Scenario 2: Only the first and the second bets are correct. You win the first and the second bets and lose the third bet. You receive $181.82 in payout and lose $281.82 in stake, resulting in a net loss of $100.
Scenario 3: Only the first bet is correct. You win the first bet and lose the second bet. You receive $90.91 in payout and lose $190.91 in stake, resulting in a net loss of $100.
Scenario 4: Only the second and the third bets are correct. You lose the first bet and the ‘if bet’ ends. You receive no payout and lose $100 in stake, resulting in a net loss of $100.
Scenario 5: Only the third bet is correct. You lose the first bet and the ‘if bet’ ends. You receive no payout and lose $100 in stake, resulting in a net loss of $100.
Scenario 6: All bets are wrong. You lose all bets and the ‘if bet’ ends. You receive no payout and lose $100 in stake, resulting in a net loss of $100.
Pros and Cons of ‘If Bets’
‘If bets’ can have some benefits and drawbacks for bettors. Some of them are:
Pros:
They can reduce or limit the risk and exposure of betting, as they only require a single stake for multiple bets, and the stake of each bet depends on the outcome of the previous bet.
They can increase or maximize the potential profit or return of betting, as they can multiply the payout of each bet by the odds of the next bet, and create a compound effect.
They can suit any budget or bankroll size, as they can be adjusted or scaled according to the stake and the number of bets chosen.
Cons:
They can lower or restrict the flexibility and control of betting, as they cannot be changed or canceled once they are placed, and the stake of each bet is fixed and predetermined.
They can involve more cost or complexity than regular bets, as they can require more money, time, or research to place and monitor multiple bets, and to calculate and compare the odds and the payout of each bet.
They can be influenced or affected by external factors that are beyond the control of the bettors, such as odds movements, betting limits, or betting restrictions.
To Sum Up
An ‘if bet’ is a term that refers to a type of bet that consists of two or more bets that are linked together by a condition. An ‘if bet’ is also known as a conditional bet, a chain bet, or a sequential bet. An ‘if bet’ is a common and convenient way of betting on multiple games or events, especially in sports betting. An ‘if bet’ works by choosing a sport, event, type of bet, selection, odds, payout, and stake that are based on the condition of the previous bet. An ‘if bet’ can have some pros and cons for bettors, depending on their goals and preferences.