A reverse bet is a combination of “If Bets”, in which you place two or more bets that are activated in a specified order. Through reverse bets, you reduce the chances of loss by making each If Bet a two-way wager. The definition of a reverse bet can be complex for anyone who is not familiar with If Bets, but we will bring examples for your total understanding.
How to Place Reverse Bets?
Reverse bets are placed like any other bet, except that you need to select the “if bet”, and then “reverse bet” options because it is not automatic. In general, the best sports betting sites in the Philippines are quite intuitive and show them in the bet slip:
Credit: BetOnline
Suppose you stop at the selection of an If Bet; you will not benefit from the two-way characteristic of a reverse bet. Make sure to activate the “Reverse Bet” button and only add the bet value then. If we add a stake before activating the reverse bet, that value would still count as an If Bet:
Credit: BetOnline
Place Real Reverse Bets on BetOnline
In the example above, you would have an If Bet that considers the Brooklyn Nets result first, and then the other bet if you win or it is a tie or cancel, and another If Bet with the Over 215.5 bet first. That one, just like the first, requires you to win in order to apply the Brooklyn Nets bet that went second. It is important to be familiar with the concept of If Bets.
In the next topic, we have brought a continuation of the applicable example above.
Example of a Real Reverse Bet
The best way to learn what a reverse bet is, if you are not familiar with If Bets, through a real example. Let’s consider two NBA bets on different matches, one on a +2 spread bet and another one on an over 215.5 bet:
Credit: BetOnline
They both have odds of 1.87, as you can see in the image above. If we were to set straight separate bets, each one would have a potential win of only 0.87x. The combination of them in a reverse bet equals odds of 5.00 and a potential win of 4x:
Credit: BetOnline
By placing a $10 (~ 557 PHP) reverse bet, it is the same as if you had $5 (~ 278 PHP) on each way, as two If Bets – if you had more selections, there would always be twice as many If Bets. There is one bet that considers the Brooklyn Nets bet first, and the other starts with the Over bet. It is mandatory for the first bet to be a win for the second one to be considered.
Here is a detailed table:
| Number | Team(s) | Bet | Odds | Risk | Win | Total Win |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Brooklyn Nets | +2 Spread | 1.87 | $18.70 | $12.50 | $50 |
| #2 | Orlando Magic Vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | Over 215.5 | 1.87 | $18.70 | $12.50 |
Therefore, you have an If Bet that considers the +2 Spread bet first, followed by the Over 215.5 bet, and another one that goes the other way around.
Possibilities of Example Reverse Bet
We listed the possible outcome of the If Bets that compose the reverse bet so you know how much could be won in each scenario:
1. The Brooklyn Nets (bet #1) do not lose by two points or more, and the match between Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers (bet #2) results in at least 216 points: You win $12.50 for each, and since it is two ways, that equals the max win of $50:
- Bet #1 won as first bet: $12.50, then Bet #2 is qualified. If won, $12.50 more to your account.
- Bet #2 won as first bet: $12.50, then Bet #1 is qualified. If won, $12.50 more to your account.
2. The Brooklyn Nets lose by more than two points, which results in a loss. The second bet does not apply. Orlando Magic Vs. Cleveland Cavaliers has over 216 points, winning the other If Bet: Only $12.50.
3. The Brooklyn Nets lose by more than two points, which results in a loss. The Orlando Vs. Cavaliers match results in 215 points or less: no win.
4. The Brooklyn Nets do not lose by two points or more, but the Magic Vs. Cavaliers match does not get to 216 points or more: you win $12.50 from the If Bet starting with the spread bet.
In the scenario that one of the bets is a push (tie), your stake is returned, and the If Bet continues to the second listed bet.
Reverse Bet Vs. Parlay Bet
If the reverse bet has bets that are dependent on other ones, you might ask yourself if it is not just another parlay bet. There is an essential difference there, and we will continue with the same bets as an example to make it easier to understand.
A parlay bet with the same +2 Spread bet and Over 215.5 bet would require you to get both correct in order to actually win. With a reverse bet, on the other hand, you win if one of the bets wins, at least in one of the If Bets created by it.
Therefore, the essential difference is in the fact that reverse bets put an order to the bets but do not necessarily require you to win them all.
Disadvantage of Reverse Betting
We can easily figure out the obvious disadvantage of reverse betting, which is that it is less risky than a parlay bet. As with anything else in sports betting, the payout is always proportional to risk. Therefore, if you place a reverse bet, the possible profit is going to be lower because you have the chance of winning with a single one of its bets or when there is a tie.
Should You Do Reverse Betting?
Reverse betting is an excellent resource to diversify your sports betting strategy and to get better odds compared to individual bets. It is much more balanced in terms of risk when compared to parlay bets, and that is a top-notch alternative when you are not so certain that all your bets are going to be winners.
FAQs
Since it is a reverse bet, the other one or more bets are also considered as the “first reverse bet,” so you still have a chance of winning.
Yes, you can include up to eight games in your reverse bet, which results in many possibilities.
You may place reverse bets on any sports that the sportsbook of your choice allows you to. Simply check on the bet slip before you conclude the bet.
As long as you do not try to reverse bets that are completely correlated, you may place reverse bets for all betting markets.
The odds are the representation of the payout for the risk in betting, so you may see it written as “risk” or “odds”, but it will always be there to represent the payout.
An action reverse bet is simply another name given to any type of reverse bet.
