Pros and Cons of Football Bet Builders
Ever since the inception of sports betting, there have been innovations from time to time, including the addition of new options to increase your chances of winning.
One common innovation that has been adopted by several bookmakers today is the bet builder, which allows bettors to be more creative and flexible while making predictions on an event. Some betting sites may have a different term for this option, but “bet builder” is the most prominent.
However, there is more to bet builders than just “being popular”. Before you start using the bet builder option to place bets, you must understand the perks and drawbacks associated with the option. In this article, I will highlight some of these pros and cons and help you understand the option better.
But first, let’s take a look at what a bet builder actually is.
What is a Bet Builder?
If you have some experience in sports betting, you may have come across the term “accumulator” which is basically an option for outcomes across various events.
A bet builder is a unique variation of the accumulator option, in the sense that it involves the outcomes of a single event. It is a multiple-leg parlay on a particular football game.
For example, in a football match, instead of betting on a single outcome, such as the winner or total goals, you can bet on several outcomes to happen in the game. It could be players to score goals, players to get booked, number of offsides, number of corners, and handicaps, to mention a few. There is usually no limit to what you can do with a bet builder.
In this option, the odds are accumulated, meaning you will typically have greater potential winnings.
An example of a bet builder in use is a hypothetical football game between Arsenal and Manchester City, shown below:
- Arsenal to win at the end of regular time
- Manchester City to win 4+ corners
- Erling Haaland to have 2+ shots on goal
- Both teams to score
This illustration shows four independent events in the same football game, and these make up the legs of the bet builder. For this bet builder to be marked as won, all the outcomes must be correct at the end of the game.
Bet builders offer a more dynamic and engaging way to bet compared to traditional single bets. You can explore this option before matches begin, curating more informed bets based on your predictions and analysis.
Additionally, bet builders can be particularly exciting during live matches, especially for major events like the UEFA Champions League. As the game unfolds, you can adjust your bet based on real-time events, adding an extra layer of excitement and strategy to your betting experience
Cons
You might be wondering why the drawbacks of bet builders are coming first before the advantages. Well, it is because you can manipulate these drawbacks and use them in your own favour.
After careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that there are only two main drawbacks to bet builders. For the first, many bettors make the mistake of choosing bets with random outcomes.
While this can be enjoyable in games of chance, sports betting requires more informed choices. Instead of betting on things like the first throw-in or the number of corners, focus on outcomes that can be predicted based on knowledge and analysis.
Another key issue is fair odds calculation. Bookmakers often adjust odds for related events in accumulator bets. For example, if the odds for a team to win and a player to score the first goal are individually 1/1 and 6/1, the combined odds in an accumulator won’t be a simple 7/1.
Bookmakers argue that these events are related, as the goal influences the match outcome. However, the combined odds in the accumulator will generally be worse than if the bets were on separate games.
Pros
While the potential drawbacks of bet builders have been discussed, they also offer several advantages. One key advantage of bet builders is the ability to place stats-based bets.
Unlike random outcomes, stats-backed bets, such as on yellow cards, fouls, or shots on target, are a more informed approach. You will come across several professional tipsters on social media platforms, such as X, sharing between builders based on statistical analysis.
Ultimately, bet builders offer a more engaging betting experience. Combining multiple bets within a single game adds excitement and anticipation.
For example, backing a team to win, a player to score, and a referee to issue a yellow card can create a thrilling experience. However, it’s important to remember that even with the added excitement, responsible gambling remains crucial
Before You Go
As engaging and interesting as bet builders may be, it is important to know that they are not offered on all sports betting platforms. An example of a bookmaker that does not provide this option is Sportybet.
Although Sportybet offers the accumulator option, allowing you to combine outcomes across various events, it does not allow bettors to bet on more than one outcome of an event on a single ticket. If you want to use bet builders, you may need to explore other sports betting sites.
An example of a bookmaker that offers the best builder option is Betano. Betano is a new sports betting platform that has risen to be among the best even in a short period. Before using Betano, you should also check if the site is available in your jurisdiction.
Other bookmakers that offer bet builders include Bet365, Betfair, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power, etc.
