Betting on sports is a popular pastime that attracts fans of various sports including soccer, basketball, tennis and other disciplines. They make predictions on the outcome of a game to increase their interest in watching matches, to experience the thrill or simply to support their favorite teams.
Development of sports betting in Hungary
Sports betting has been actively developing in Hungary since 1994, when the first Hungarian betting company entered the market. However, sports forecasts reached a new level in 2020, when the activities of bookmakers were legally regulated. From 2021, companies started to receive licenses, which made sports betting in Hungary legal.
Popular sports for betting in Hungary
In Hungary, people often bet on popular sports such as:
- Soccer
- tennis
- Basketball
- Boxing
- Hockey
- Mixed Martial Arts
- Volleyball
- Table tennis
- Esports
Esports features predominantly popular games around the world, with the majority of bets being placed on Dota 2 and CS: GO. However, other games are also available for betting and you can bet even on minor competitions and niche markets.
Online sports betting
Online sports betting is especially popular these days. It is rare to find someone who makes predictions at physical betting shops. Most punters prefer to bet online at bookmaker websites. This allows them to keep track of the latest odds and make predictions at their convenience. Besides, it is convenient to use mobile versions and smartphone applications for online betting. Online betting has a number of advantages:
- You can place bets considering the current result of the match and the situation on the field.
- Some types of bets are accepted within minutes, which allows you to make numerous predictions even on a limited budget.
- You can make predictions while watching the game, as live streaming is often available directly on the bookmaker's website.
Types of betting
To know how to bet on sports, you need to understand the company's rules and the types of bets offered. Each sport has some unique markets available only for certain games. However, some types of predictions are offered for almost every sport. These include:
- Major outcomes
- Handicap
- Total
- Double result
- Exact score
- Betting on individual periods of play
In some sports, betting on the main outcomes offers three options: a win for one side, a win for the other side or a draw. However, in some sports a draw is not possible, so it is necessary to pay attention to the regulations of sporting events. For example, in hockey, in most tournaments in case of a tie, the winner is determined in overtime or in a shootout. Nevertheless, bets on the main outcomes are calculated based on the main time. Therefore, before making predictions, it is recommended to study the rules of calculation of specific types of bets.
Other types of bets
There are other types of bets, including:
- Singles (individual bets)
- Accumulators (combined bets)
- Systems (multiple bets with margin for error).
Single bets are individual bets, while accumulators are bets on two or more events in the same coupon, with all odds multiplied. To win, you must correctly predict all events. Systems consist of three or more bets, they allow for some errors in predictions but still provide a payout.
Understanding odds in betting
Betting odds are determined based on the probability of a certain event occurring. Higher odds lead to lower odds, while low popularity of a sporting event can lead to higher odds. For top matches, the odds are usually more favorable and the margin is reduced to around 2%. On average, the margin ranges from 5% to 7%. In live betting and for unique types of bets, the margin can be higher. However, these predictions have their advantages as they often offer more intriguing possibilities than pre-match betting.
Bet-match and live betting
In Hungary, residents have the opportunity to bet on sports on the Bet-match website, which offers different types of bets and up-to-date odds. In particular, live betting has its own unique features. In this mode, the odds are constantly changing and players have to make decisions quickly. However, it allows betting based on the current game situation, and live streaming is often available on bookmakers' websites.
