📚 This guide is for you if: you are wondering how betting works, you already bet and lose regularly, or you want to weigh up the risks before deciding. No prior knowledge needed — we start from scratch. Deciding not to bet is also a good decision.
Essential Terminology
| TERM | DEFINITION |
|---|---|
| Odds | Multiplier applied to your stake. Odds of 2.50 on 10 = 25 back if you win. |
| Bookmaker | The operator that accepts your bets (an operator licensed in your country). |
| Value Bet | A bet whose odds pay more than the estimated probability justifies. An estimate, not a certainty. |
| Edge | Gap between the estimated probability and the implied probability of the odds, in points. |
| BTTS | Both Teams To Score — both teams score at least one goal. |
| Over/Under | A bet on the total number of goals in a match. |
| Double Chance | A bet on two outcomes at once (e.g. 1X = home win or draw). |
| Cash Out | Closing your bet before the end of the match to secure a partial return. |
| Accumulator (Parlay) | Several selections on the same slip — odds multiplied, risk multiplied. |
| Free Bet | A bet offered by an operator under commercial conditions. Read them: it is not free money. |
| ROI | Return On Investment — net result relative to the total staked, as a percentage. |
First of All — Responsible Gambling
Nothing obliges you to bet. If you decide to, set yourself time and money limits in advance: an amount whose loss would have no consequence on your life, never topped up along the way.
Three simple habits: don't try to win back what you have lost, never bet money you need, and stop if betting stops being a pastime. Losing streaks happen even with a good method.
The 4 Types of Bets
1. Single Bet — The Classic
You bet on a single outcome. It is the clearest format: only one risk to estimate. Example: PSG to win, Over 2.5 goals, BTTS Yes.
2. Accumulator — Risky
You combine several selections. The odds multiply, but every result has to be correct. A 5-selection accumulator with a 65% chance on each selection has only about a 12% chance of coming in.
3. In-Play Betting — Live
You bet while the match is in progress. The odds keep changing throughout the match. It requires sound tactical knowledge and excellent emotional control.
4. Long-Term Bets
League winner, top scorer of the season, relegated team. High odds, but your money is tied up for a long time. IASHARK does not analyse these bets.
The 7 Mistakes Beginners Make
2. Chasing losses — Doubling the stake after a loss to "win it back" leads straight to ruin.
3. Ignoring the odds — Even the best prediction can be a bad deal if the odds are too low.
4. Too many accumulators — Accumulators make bookmakers rich, not bettors.
5. Betting on instinct — Without a numerical estimate, there is no way of knowing whether the odds pay for the risk.
6. Going beyond your limits — Betting more, or more often, than planned turns a pastime into a problem, even with a good method.
7. Betting on an unlicensed site — Only operators licensed in your country offer protection and recourse.
A Methodical Approach
A methodical approach rests on two pillars: comparing the odds with an estimated probability and setting time and money limits in advance. Even then, no result is certain: variance can produce long losing streaks.
In practice with IASHARK: the “Favourable gap” label only appears from a gap of 3 points between the model and the odds. The reliability shown next to it describes the quality of the calculation, not the probability that the bet comes in.
Frequently Asked Questions
🦈 Today's Analyses
Football analyses recalculated once a day: model probability, comparison with the odds and reliability level. A full analysis is free every day with a free account.
SEE TODAY'S ANALYSES →