What is 1X2 betting?

BY markoh May 25, 2023

1X2 Betting, or three-way Betting, refers to betting on the primary win, draw, or away win. We explain what the 1X2 betting market is and how to calculate your payout.

1X2 betting is well known and is an easy way to bet on sporting events where a draw is possible. 1 means home win, X means draw, and two means away win.

Unlike Asian handicaps or totals, 1X2 betting does not seek to balance out any differences in perceived quality between teams or players. They aim for the true odds of every possible outcome minus the bookmaker’s margin or transaction commission.

 

How to calculate your payout for betting on 1X2 markets

On the 1X2 market, you can calculate the payout of the back bet in two stages. For example, let’s say you bet £100 on Liverpool to beat Manchester City at odds of 2.88.

 

Step 1: Calculate returns excluding commissions

It calculates as

Odds * Stake = £ return

So in our example: 2.88 * 100 = £288

So if Liverpool wins, your bet will return £288, including your stake, plus a profit of £188.

However, since betting exchanges do not add margin to the odds – unlike bookmakers – you need to subtract the commission from the profit.

 

Step Two: Calculate Commission Return

Calculated as follows:

((Stake * (Odds -1)) * Commission rate

In our example: ((100 * (2.88 -1)) * 2% = £3.76 commission

Example; you will charge a commission of £3.76 which means your return would be £284.24 – a profit of £184.24

If the match ends in Manchester City winning or in a draw, you will lose your bet and your stake of £100.

Even when commission factors into the odds, you’ll often find the best prices on Smarkets, and this is a result of our industry’s lowest 2% commission on winning bets only.

Once you learn how to calculate betting margins, you can compare bookmaker and exchange margins to determine who offers you the best value odds.

 

How to Calculate Payouts for Betting on 1X2 Markets

You can also determine the outcome, unlike bookmakers who place bets on 1X2 lines. For example, let’s say you have Manchester City v Liverpool at odds of 2.68 with a stake of £100.

Similar to calculating payouts for back bets, betting has two stages.

 

Step 1: Calculate returns excluding commissions

Calculated as follows:

Odds * Stake = £ return

So in our example: £100 = £100

So if the game ends with Liverpool winning or a draw, your bet will win, and you will profit £100 (before commission).

 

Step Two: Calculate Commission Return

The next stage is calculating your betting profit, which considers exchange commissions. In Smarkets, 2% commission on net profit, you can use the following calculation:

Stake * 0.98 = profit

In our example: 100 * 0.98 = £98

Therefore, you will charge a commission of £2, which means your profit is £98.

When betting on the outcome on a betting exchange, you should be aware of your responsibilities in the bet and the amount you will pay if the match ends with Manchester City winning. This article explains how to calculate the exchange’s liability.

For this example, if the match ended with Manchester City winning, your liability would be deducted, resulting in a loss of £130.

 

Apply this to betting

The popularity of 1X2 betting stems from its simplicity. You now understand what the 1X2 betting market is and how to calculate your payouts, giving you the best chance of profiting on this betting market.

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