What is a Single Bet and How Does it Work?

A single bet refers to one wager placed on a single event. It’s the simplest form of sports betting and requires only one selection to be successful to deliver a return. 

For example, a bet placed on Arsenal to beat Manchester United in the Premier League would be a single selection and therefore form a single bet.

These wagers provide the basis for more complex bets such as doubles, trebles, accumulators, trixie and yankees.

Two single selections placed together become a double, but the wager requires only one unit stake.

Singles are a common bet, which can be placed on a wide range of sports and markets.

How to Calculate Returns on a Single Bet?

Odds can be displayed most commonly in fractional format, for example 2/1, but also in decimal, which would see 2/1 be shown as 3.0. 

In terms of fractions, a £10 bet at 2/1 would return £30. That's £20 in winnings, plus the £10 stake returned.

Returns are calculated according to the odds. If Arsenal were 3/1 to beat Manchester United and won, the returns would be £30 winnings plus £10 stake.

In horse racing, and betting generally, fractions can be more complicated. A successful £10 bet on Red Rum to win at 6/4 would return £25.

To calculate the returns - the 6/4 fraction can be turned into a decimal of 1.5. The £10 stake is multiplied by 1.5 to give £15 and the £10 wager is added to give a total return of £25.

Single Bet Strategy: When to Use It?

A single bet can offer the best value when betting. 

The purest form of a wager requires the punter to find only one position where an outcome is more likely than that implied by the odds. Multiple bad-value selections compound the negative value and also require the punter to bet into the bookmaker's margin on multiple occasions.

In theory, single bets can offer a better strike rate and that is advantageous when betting with a small bankroll or for those punters who do not appreciate long losing runs. 

Single Bet vs. Accumulator Bets

A single bet requires only one selection to be successful to deliver a return, and depending on price, they should offer a better strike rate of winners in comparison to an acca. 

Clearly, the price of a bet is the key denominator in this scenario, but an acca would require four, five, six or more bets to land in order to pay out. 

An acca would generally carry more risk, as they would be placed at a greater price, but they can also deliver bigger returns for the same unit stake as a single. 

It is easier to research one match or team thoroughly than to analyze multiple events, which is another key benefit of placing a single bet.

Are There Any Drawbacks to Single Bets?

The main drawback to single bets is stake sizing. In general, a bet placed on a single outcome may be a fairly short price. In order to deliver big returns stakes may need to be increased.

How Do I Place a Single Bet?

It’s simple to place a single bet - here’s a step-by-step guide

1. Simply navigate to the betting site
2. Login to your account 
3. Deposit the required amount
4. Find your selection 
5. Add the selection to the bet slip 
6. Add the stake to the bet slip 
7. Press confirm