The unpredictable nature of sports makes betting a risky venture as you stand to lose money at any moment. However, seasoned bettors employ various strategies to safeguard their funds, minimize losses, and potentially make gains. One such approach is the “counter-bet” or “reverse bet” strategy. To understand this strategy, it’s necessary to delve into what reverse betting is all about.

What Does Reverse Betting Mean?

A reverse bet, also known as an arbitrage bet or “arbing,” involves betting on opposite outcomes using different bookmakers. The essential condition here is that the odds on each event should be such that if one bet fails, the other bet covers the loss and still provides a profit.

This strategy can be applied to any opposing events, including:

  1. Match outcome (one team winning).
  2. Handicap.
  3. Over/Under bets.
  4. Goals. Basically, wherever there are two opposing outcomes, reverse bets can be applied, provided the odds are sufficiently high.

The Crux of the Betting Strategy

The process of placing bets using the “counter-bet” strategy is quite straightforward: • The player places an accumulator bet, including 3-4 events that occur at different times, not concurrently. • If the first two events are successful, the player can insure the remaining events. • In this case, a bet is placed on the opposite outcome of the final event. The odds for this bet should be such that they cover the initial investment. There’s even a special formula, S x E/K, where S is the bet on the accumulator, and E and K are the odds of the accumulator and counter-bet respectively. With this strategy, a player is assured of a win regardless of the final outcome.

Examples of Reverse Betting

Consider this scenario for an example: A player places a bet on three matches, choosing a victory for one team in each match with odds of 1.9, 1.8, and 1.5. The total odds are 5.2. A 100 Euro bet would potentially yield 520 Euros. If the first two matches are successful, the player can place a counter-bet on the opposing team for the third match, using odds of 1.9.

Using the formula, the size of the counter-bet is calculated as 100 * 5.2 / 1.9, which amounts to 273 Euros. The total stake invested is 373 Euros, yet the player is guaranteed a profit:

  1. If the accumulator wins, the return is 520 Euros.
  2. If the accumulator loses, the return is the same amount.

In both cases, the player makes a profit, albeit slightly more in the second case.

Additional Counter-Betting Strategy

There’s another strategy for betting on reverse outcomes that’s suited for bettors with limited funds. Unlike the first strategy where the counter-bet is calculated to secure a profit, the second strategy uses the counter-bet solely to recoup expenses. The counter-bet is calculated using the formula S / (K-1), and using this strategy yields a profit of 111 Euros, covering the initial stake.

If we do the calculation, we get:

  1. For the first scenario, the winnings from the accumulator will be 513 Euros or 302 Euros after deducting all costs.
  2. If the accumulator loses and the counter-bet wins, the profit will be 211 Euros, effectively cancelling out the initial stake after costs.

Choosing a Reliable Bookmaker

Reverse bets are a somewhat risky tactic, often frowned upon by bookmakers. Bettors need to create accounts with different bookmakers and work covertly, considering the potential exchange of information between bookmakers. When selecting a bookmaker, it’s crucial to consider:

  1. The duration the platform has been active, its official registration, and licenses.
  2. The reputation of the platform. Pay particular attention to instances of account blocking due to arbitrage betting.
  3. The features and bonuses offered to users.

These factors are just a few of the many considerations for anyone looking to try reverse betting. It’s crucial to find a trustworthy platform and familiarize oneself with the nuances of betting. As always, if there are any questions about betting strategies or any other aspect, our team of experts is always ready to help. All that’s left is to register and place your first bets.