All you need to know about: How to Bet

Types of Sports Wagers Available in Kenya

A single sport can be bet on in various ways, and there are numerous ways to gamble on different sports.

When it comes to sports betting, the best thing Kenyan players can do is learn the rules of each wager type and its associated payout, starting with these most common sports betting types.

• Money Line Bets: One of the simplest ways to wager on sports is through a money line bet. You'll be deciding who will win a game or match, and the winnings are determined by the odds.
• Straight Bets (Point Spread): A straight bet is also known as a point spread wager, especially in the US betting scene. The point spread indicates who is likely to win and by what margin.
• Total Line Bets (Over/Under): Here, the wager depends on the total number of points scored by both teams combined. You must predict whether you believe the final score will be higher or lower than the number set by the sportsbook.
• Parlay Bets: A parlay bet involves placing multiple bets that must all win for you to cash out. You could bet on Team A to win the Premier League and Team X to win the Super Bowl in the same year, for example.
• Teaser Bets: Teaser bets are similar to parlays as they feature two or more selections. The key difference is that you get a more favourable point spread in exchange for a lower potential payout.
• Head-To-Head Bets: When you pick the winner between two specific participants in an event, it's called a head-to-head bet.

Football Betting in Kenya

Football (soccer) is undeniably one of the most popular sports for betting globally, with a massive following in Kenya.

It's a widely followed sport with numerous famous clubs and leagues, offering Kenyan fans plenty of excitement. Another reason why many enjoy betting on football games is the sheer number of tournaments and matches available throughout the year.

These tournaments feature countless matches involving many different teams, providing fans with abundant opportunities to place wagers.

While football is king in Kenya, in some countries like the United States, the NFL dominates; in Australia and New Zealand, rugby is the preferred sport; and in Canada, ice hockey is the national favourite.

Your Football Betting Guide for Kenya

To start learning how to bet on football in Kenya, first, select a bookmaker with a strong reputation. The betting site should possess all necessary licenses and offer excellent customer service.

The website should offer a wide variety of payment options and robust security measures. Before choosing a sports bookie, it is advisable to consult other players and conduct some online research for tips.

The most popular betting types in football include first scorer, half/full time, parlay, and both teams to score.

First Scorer bets are a very popular football betting method. This involves betting on which player or team you think will score the first goal in a match. The football odds for first scorer bets are often more favourable due to the numerous possible outcomes.

Half/Full Time bets allow you to wager on outcomes such as:

• One side leading at halftime, but the other team leading at full-time, or vice versa.
• A team being ahead at halftime and maintaining that lead until the end of the game.
• It being a draw at halftime, with one of the teams then going on to win at full-time.
• The game concluding in a draw both at halftime and at the final whistle.

Parlay bets enhance potential returns by allowing you to bet on multiple teams to win, lose, or draw. This adjusts the odds with each additional game but increases your chances of a significant win.

Both Teams To Score (BTTS) bets are quite straightforward: you are presented with a selection of matches and must choose those where you predict both teams will score. Unlike parlay bets where you're looking at win/loss/draw outcomes, here there are only two possibilities: 'will score' or 'won't score'.

Fantasy sports leagues have existed for a while, but betting on them to generate income has only recently gained popularity, and it's becoming a favourite among Kenyan bettors.

Fantasy Football Betting

The core idea behind fantasy sports betting is that you assemble a virtual team of players based on specific criteria. These players then earn points for your team depending on their real-life performance in matches.

You then compete against other people who have also assembled fantasy teams, with the winner being the one whose team accumulates the most points. Betting can take various forms, including participating in leagues that span an entire season.

Horse Race Betting

Horse racing boasts a long and rich history, with evidence of the sport being practiced for millennia across the globe. Even ancient civilizations like the Greeks and Romans enjoyed chariot racing.

In the United Kingdom, horse racing is second only to football in popularity as a spectator sport. Industry studies indicate that over six million people attend races annually, with women making up a significant portion of attendees.

This sport also enjoys considerable popularity in countries like France, Australia, the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, and Malaysia. Enthusiasts in Japan are even known to camp out overnight to witness major racing events.

Horse race betting guide

To begin betting on horse races, bettors must first register with an appropriate betting site and then deposit their funds there.

Then, they simply find the race they wish to wager on. Most websites include a list of racetracks that are hosting races that day, allowing you to pick one and see all of the scheduled races.

How to pick a winner

Here are the six major factors punters need to consider when attempting to predict the winner of a horse race - the going, track distance, horse pedigree, connections, course form, and the handicap mark.

• Going: Going (also called track condition or track rating) is the track surface of a horse racing track prior to a race or race meet. The going is determined by the amount of moisture in the ground and is assessed by an official steward on the day of the race
• Distance: Most horses can only run a certain distance before they tire. Choosing a horse with a track record of endurance can pay well.
• Pedigree: This refers to the horse's ancestry. Experienced bettors would often examine a horse's pedigree to see whether it has a preference for running on dirt or turf, handling an off-track (i.e. slower), or covering a new distance.
• Connections: Certain combinations of trainer, jockey, and owner have had a lot of success, and the form of those twosomes and threesomes can yield a lot of money.
• Course Form: Horses run differently at different racetracks, so checking the racecards for prior course winners is a good idea.
• Handicap Mark: Once a horse has achieved their handicap peak, it is difficult for them to compete against better-weighted horses. In handicap races, comparing a horse's rating to their last winning one is critical.

Cricket betting

Cricket is one of the oldest games, with roots reaching back to the 18th century in England. It's also one of the most popular sports in the world, with many sports betting enthusiasts wagering on cricket matches from the comfort of their own homes.

In reality, betting on cricket sports events is a lucrative part of the online gambling industry. While it's most popular in Britain, India, Australia, and South Africa, it's growing in popularity with Americans who are becoming more familiar with the game.

Although the majority of punters in the United States are still unfamiliar with the game, some American sports bettors are finding betting on cricket to be interesting owing to the numerous wagering options given by the game.

Cricket betting guide

First and foremost, bettors must locate the best bookmaker that is well-versed in cricket and gives competitive odds. Furthermore, some bookmaker websites give customers with the statistics they need to be successful bettors.

It's far easier to place bets based on gut instincts than it is to design and analyze a strategy. However, if bettors use some of the veterans' tried and true cricket betting tips, they won't need to conduct extensive statistical analysis to increase your chances of betting to win.

Always keep up with the weather forecast

Knowing the weather can give you some hidden insight in a game that is primarily reliant on wind and the degree of air instability. For example, if rain is forecasted, games scheduled on those days may be shortened, favoring the team batting second.

Waiting on the results of the toss

The decision on who bats first has a significant impact on the game's result. This is because the first side to bat will face less of a disadvantage as the game proceeds due to wicket wear and tear.

The importance of form

The form will determine how well or poorly a team or individual player performs. Make sure you examine the teams and players ahead of time to get the most up-to-date information on their performance statistics.

Assessing ground conditions

While the qualities of different game pitches may not be a top focus for most betters, they do matter. Some wickets, for example, do not appear to turn at all, while others respond wonderfully to spin. There are slow tracks and some that have a buoyancy to them that favors fast bowlers.

Cricket is at the top of the list when it comes to difficult-to-handicap sports. This is due to the large number of markets to choose from. There are both ante-post and live in-play betting options available.

With so many betting alternatives, there's a considerable risk of placing multiple speculative bets. As a result, learning some of the finest tactics bettors may use to gain an advantage and possibly beat the system is important.

UFC betting

Over the last decade, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has increased in popularity, as has betting on the events that take place. As more individuals wager, online bookmakers are driven to improve their service by providing additional betting options, promotions, and odds that are competitive.

Bettors can make a lot of money betting on UFC. Just like most sports betting, there are tried and tested strategies that can help bettors reduce risk while increasing returns. Veterans always consider the tactics, but it's even more important for first-time mixed-martial-arts bettors.

There are a few things to consider that will assist completely new bettors get started with UFC betting on the right foot.

UFC betting guide

Finding a sportsbook is the first thing to do to bet in UFC. It is big decision to make, but it's a lot easier now than it was a few years ago. The reason for this is that, thanks to the expansion of UFC betting, most bookies now offer substantial UFC betting options.

Reviews are available to help bettors decide if you require assistance, and players should also seek advice from the betting community.

What players should be searching for is a basic interface that they are familiar with and that allows them to navigate the betting markets with ease. Look for any betting deals bettors can take advantage of, whether it's free bets, money back offers, or something else; they'll all help punters out in the beginning.

UFC betting: Key betting terms to know

• Favorite: The fighter who is predicted to win — and nearly always at ridiculously low odds. With undercard fights, betting on favorites is always more profitable.
• Underdog: On the other hand, this is the combatant who is unlikely to win. It can be more profitable than betting on the favorite because you will get your stake back plus a profit.
• Push: A wager that results in a tie is neither a losing nor a winning ticket. Your wager is simply returned.
• Chalk: The fight's favorite or projected winner, and usually the individual with the best odds; nearly always negative odds.
• Decision: The result of the fight as per the judges' scorecard. This could either be split, unanimous, majority, or a technical decision.
• TKO: This means Technical Knock Down. The fighters gets knocked down three times, or the referee intervenes and calls a halt to the bout after determining that the fighter is unable to continue. Unless the judges determine the fight on the scorecards or proclaim a No Contest, corner retirements are also TKOs.

Sports betting glossary

The terminology of sports betting can be complicated, especially for those new to the field. Many of the most commonly used terminology, concepts, and methods that you will encounter on this site and in online sports betting, in general, are listed in the sports betting glossary below.

Take note that some terms that were defined above may not be included in this sports betting dictionary section, and this section does not include all the terms involved in sports betting.

• Action - A bet or wager.
• Against the spread - The final result of a game, taking into account the point spread.
• Bad Beat - A bet that appears to be going in the bettor's favor but does not.
• Book (Sportsbook) - A sportsbook is a place where people can wager on the outcome of sporting events .
• Buck - A $100 bet.
• Chalk - The match favorite.
• Consensus - The percentage of bettors on each side of a game.
• Cover - The outcome of a point spread wager.
• Dime - A $1,000 bet.
• Dollar - A $100 bet.
• Edge - A bettor's advantage before a bet is placed.
• Even (Even Money) - A $100 bet to win $100.
• Handle - The entire amount of money bet on a certain game.
• Handicapping - Using sports analytics to make predictions.
• Hedging - Betting opposite of a previous bet to guarantee to win at least a small amount.
• Hook - A half-point in the spread
• Juice - A commission books earn on each wager.
• Key Numbers - Represents the most common margins of defeat. This is used mostly in football, where many games end with one team winning by multiples of three or seven.
• Limit - The maximum amount allowed on a single bet.
• Lock - A large favorite.
• Long Shot - A large underdog.
• Nickel - A $500 bet.
• No Action - A game that is no longer accepting bets and has returned all wagers.
• Oddsmaker (Linemaker) - Someone who chooses a game's first line.
• Off the Board - An event that players cannot wager on.
• Pick'em - An event that has no favorite or underdog.
• Puckline - In hockey, the favorite has a -1.5 point spread, while the underdog has a +1.5 point spread.
• Reverse-Line Movement - Movement in the betting line that defies public betting percentages.
• Runline - In baseball, the favorite has a -1.5 point spread, while the underdog has a +1.5 point spread.
• Sharp (Wiseguy) - A professional sports punter.
• Steam - A quick line change as a result of heavy betting.
• Taking the points - Wagering the underdog against the spread.
• Wager - A get placed at a sportsbook.