Betting Basics: How To Fill In A Betting Slip

Martin Green

August 16th, 2019

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Betting on horse racing or a big sporting event is the perfect way to ramp up the thrill you experience when watching the action unfold. However, filling in a betting slip can be a daunting process for newcomers, and any mistakes could cost you money. This guide will explain exactly how to complete a betting slip like a seasoned punter.

Placing a Traditional Bet on Horse Racing

For anyone wondering how to write out a betting slip, horse racing is the perfect place to start. If you walk into a betting shop, you will typically find piles of white betting slips along the walls and on the tables. Grab one and follow these simple steps:

• Write the name of the racecourse and the time of the race at the top of the slip, such as “York 13.30” or “Royal Ascot 16:00”.
• Write the name of the horse you want to bet on.
• If you want to guarantee that you will be paid out at the odds currently on offer for that horse, write them down. If you would prefer to take the starting price, leave the odds off your slip.
• Decide the type of bet you want to place. The most popular options on a horse race are win and each-way.
• Write your stake, along with the bet you are placing, such as “£20 win” or “£10 each-way”.

With an each-way bet, half of your stake goes on the horse to win the race, and the other half goes on it finishing in the top two, three, four or five places – depending on how many runners are in the race – at a fraction of the odds. You will be given a receipt for your bet. If it proves successful, you can take it over to the cashier and you will be paid out.

For big races like the Grand National and the Grade 1 contests at the Cheltenham Festival, you will find coupons that simplify the process for you. You will see the names of the various runners, and you can mark a white box next to the horses you want to bet on. You can then mark the stake, the type of bet you wish to place and whether you would like to take a price. You will be given a receipt after handing it over, informing you of your potential payout.

Placing an Online Bet on Horse Racing

Online betting has made the process of wagering on a horse race much easier for punters. You start by visiting one of the best horse racing betting sites and searching for the race you wish to bet on. Click on the horse racing section and you will see all the races taking place that day, plus a number of ante-post races due to run at a later date.

• Click on the race you are interested in, and you will be presented with a list of the runners, along with information about them.
• Click on the odds displayed next to the horse you like the look of, and you will trigger a digital betting slip. This typically appears to the right of the screen, featuring your selection and the race it is running in.
• You can then type the amount of money you wish to wager on that horse into a white box, mark whether you want to go each-way or to take the starting price, and then click on the button that says “Place Bet”.
• You can remove a selection from your digital betting slip at any time if you make a mistake.
• You will be given an online receipt that tells you the name of your horse, the race and the potential payout you stand to receive.

Bookmakers have seamlessly integrated the traditional betting slip into their online offerings, making it far neater and simpler. It is a lot easier to fill in a betting slip online, there are no ambiguities and the chances of making a mistake are greatly diminished.

You also have all the information at your disposal before making a selection. That is one reason why online betting has become a lot more popular than betting in a physical shop. You can place wagers from the comfort of your home or while on the go, and all you need is a smartphone.

Placing a Traditional Sports Bet

For many people wondering how to fill out a betting slip, football is the sport of choice. If this is the case, write the match you want to bet on at the top of the slip, such as “Liverpool vs Chelsea”. Then write down the type of bet you want to place. It could be “Firmino to score first” or “Both teams to score”.

If you want to bet on the winner, you could simply write “Liverpool to beat Chelsea”. If you want to lock in the current odds, write them down. The cashier will check they are correct and circle them if so. Then write down your stake.

You will find football coupons in most betting shops, and they make this process easier. Mark the box next to the selection you like, mark another box for your stake and then hand the coupon over to the cashier.

Placing an Online Sports Bet

It is far easier to place a sports bet online than in person. You simply search for the match or tournament you are interested in and you will be presented with a wide range of betting options, laid out in a neat, easily accessible format. A physical coupon in store will only offer a limited number of markets, whereas you can often find hundreds of intriguing bets on a single match at leading online bookmakers.

You simply click on a bet that appeals to you and it automatically opens up a betting slip to the right of the screen. You can enter the amount of money you wish to wager in a box next to your selection, and it will tell you how much profit you stand to earn.

Keep adding as many bets as you like to the slip, and remove any you are not happy with, before clicking “Place Bet”. It will then give you a receipt and tell you what your potential return is. It is a really simple, efficient process and you will quickly get to grips with it, as the best sites are extremely intuitive and user friendly.

How to Place an Accumulator (ACCA) Bet

An accumulator is the perfect way to maximise the entertainment value of your bets and gain a higher return from a smaller stake. It involves combining multiple selections into one wager to earn higher accumulative odds, with the caveat that they must all win for you to be paid out. You might not know how to write out a betting slip, accumulator or otherwise, but it is actually pretty simple.

Write down all your selections on the slip, for example: Chelsea to beat West Ham, Juventus to beat Napoli, Barcelona to beat Espanyol, Celtic to beat Motherwell. Then write “accumulator”, “acca” or “four-fold”. Write the odds if you want to take the current price on each leg, and then write down the amount of money you wish to stake. However, you rarely have to follow this process, as most betting shops have dedicated coupons for accumulators.

You just mark the box next to the teams you wish to include, then mark the box for the bet you wish to place. If you choose two teams, it is a double, three is a treble, four is a four-fold, five is a five-fold and so on. Then fill in your stake. Before placing your bet, it's a good idea to check whether or not your chosen bookmaker offers ACCA insurance.

How to Place an ACCA Online

It is even easier to place an acca online. You simply search for a sporting event that you are interested in, find a bet that appeals to you and tap on it. That selection will be added to the betting slip that appears to the right of the screen.

Find another bet you like the look of, tap on it, and it will appear underneath your initial selection. Keep doing this as many times as you like. At the bottom of your slip, there will be the option for an acca bet. If you have chosen five selections, it will read “Fivefold Accumulator” or “5 Fold” or something similar. You add your stake in a white box in that section of the betting slip and then click “Place Bet”.

It’s as simple as that. Once again, you will be presented with a receipt that tells you the payout you stand to receive if all of your selections prove correct.

Finding the Bookie for your Bet

It is now time for you to start enjoying the excitement of sports betting, but choosing the right bookie can be a minefield in itself.

It is an extremely competitive industry, and it is important to wade through a sea of unscrupulous sites in order to find trustworthy bookmakers that have a strong reputation for fairness, transparency and security.

We have been covering the industry for many years and we can help you find the best betting sites on the market. This will ensure you benefit from leading odds, promotions and bonuses, and stand the best chance of earning a profit.