Bet builders are still a new concept when you consider the extensive history of the gambling industry.
They were first introduced in the United Kingdom less than a decade ago and have completely transformed how people bet.
Following the rise in popularity of request-a-bet features, bet builders promised to simplify that process, enabling punters to choose their own bets in seconds, from hundreds of potential selections.
This has been a revelation for both customers and bookmakers, and means that the betting landscape has been completely transformed.
But as people try to utilise bet builders in the pursuit of profit, adding extra legs just increases the chances of a bet failing, and the customer losing money.
There is plenty of money to be made, and fun to be had, but going about bet builders the right way is crucial to both.
Here is everything you need to know about how to identify bet builders which will give you the best chance of winning.
Value, value, value
This word will become a common theme, as it is ultimately the pillar that holds up the entire gambling industry.
Value in gambling is defined as identifying odds which exceed the true probability of an outcome. Simply put, this means that there is more chance of an event happening than the odds suggest.
There is an important distinction to make between a high-value bet and a high-odds bet, because a high potential return does not automatically mean that it is high value.
For example, an event priced as high as 50/1 is likely at such a price due to the high improbability of it happening. So while it may look lucrative, the value is almost always nominal, due to the low probability of winning.
But despite employing vast, highly-trained teams to price their markets, bookmakers often overprice certain odds. The opposite can also be true, which is why it is important to identify the value yourself and not treat the listed odds as a probability.
Make a prediction and do not contradict
Possibly the easiest, but most useless betting advice somebody could give you is “just predict it right”, because that is the obvious goal of every punter when making selections.
But it is vitally important in a broader context.
Predicting how you envisage a match playing out is crucial before you decide which selections. And once you have a prediction, it is imperative that you do not contradict it.
For example, if you predict that Arsenal will dominate Coventry City in the first Premier League game of the season, betting on a market like Coventry City to have the most shots on target, for example, makes little sense.
While it is possible, it makes little sense if you predict the nature of the game taking a different toll, and minimises the likelihood of multiple selections coming in.
Likewise, predicting a player to score, if you envisage the opposition defence doing well, is counterproductive.
An example of this would be betting on Ollie Watkins to score in Manchester City versus Aston Villa, but also backing Manchester City to concede under 1.5 goals.
Watkins could score the Villans’ only goal of the match, but you are backing yourself into a corner and significantly reducing the likelihood of your bet builder winning.
Research
If you randomly select options for a bet builder that seem likely, there is always a chance that you will win, but in doing so, you are not giving yourself the best chance possible to be victorious.
There is something romantic about a gut-feeling bet winning, but the reality is that it is rare.
But you can drastically enhance your chances of placing successful bet builders if you research the match and your potential selections beforehand.
There are a number of ways that you can go about doing this, and they vary in effectiveness and how long they take.
One of the easiest ways is through the in-app data provided by some bookmakers on certain markets.
While these are easily accessible and reliable, they do not offer the same level of detail and insight as typical research, but do represent a useful failsafe before you make a selection on certain markets with some bookmakers.
Another semi-automated way to research is online tipsters, who frequently post their own research onto social media for punters to use for themselves.
The level of detail and specific markets researched varies from tipster to tipster, with some offering their own bet builders with detailed research to justify each selection, while others provide pure research, intended for their audience to select their own bets.
This can be very useful, but is still not the most effective form of research, because, while the vast majority of such accounts are trustworthy, you are ultimately still relying on somebody else’s word.
The most time-consuming, but undoubtedly most effective and reliable form of research, is to do it yourself. Data providers like Opta and their affiliates, who draw data from the company, provide detailed insights into many areas of football.
Though it takes up the most time, this is the sure-fire way to feel the most confident in your bet builders, and to also allow yourself to research any market you want, rather than hoping somebody else has done it for you.
Keep it fun
The most important advice for gambling, whether a bet builder, accumulator or otherwise, is to make sure you are having fun.
While you can enhance your chances of winning bet builders, you can never guarantee profits, and if that is your only motivation for gambling, you should seriously consider you motives.
It is really important that you never stake more than you can afford to lose, and remember that ‘When the fun stops, stop’.
But if you are going to gamble, with stakes that you can afford to lose, then following the tips in this guide will give you a far greater chance of winning, and we all know that betting is always more fun when you win!
Best UK Bet Builder Bookmakers Compared
The best UK bookmakers, such as bet365 or SBK, offering Bet Builder features let you combine multiple selections from the same match into one bet, making football betting more flexible and engaging. Best Bet Builder bookmaker, a same-game accumulator, or the best football Bet Builder site? Reputable betting apps and new sportsbooks offer comprehensive Bet Builder tools across Premier League, Champions League and other major competitions. Features vary by bookmaker, with differences in the number of available markets, player props, live Bet Builder functionality, Cash Out, and regular Bet Builder promotions. Comparing the leading UK betting sites can help you find the platform that best suits your betting style.
| Bookmaker | Max Selections* | Live Bet Builder | Player Props | Cards & Corners | Bet Builder Promotions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bet365 | 20+ | ✅ | Excellent | ✅ | Frequent |
| Paddy Power | 12+ | ✅ | Excellent | ✅ | Excellent |
| Sky Bet | 12+ | ✅ | Very Good | ✅ | Frequent |
| Betfred | 10+ | ✅ | Very Good | ✅ | Regular |
| William Hill | 10+ | ✅ | Very Good | ✅ | Regular |
| BoyleSports | 10+ | ✅ | Good | ✅ | Frequent |
| BetMGM UK | 15 | ✅ | Excellent | ✅ | Regular |
| Betfair Sportsbook | 12+ | ✅ | Very Good | ✅ | Occasional |
| Coral | 10+ | ✅ | Good | ✅ | Regular |
| Ladbrokes | 10+ | ✅ | Good | ✅ | Regular |
*Maximum selections vary by sport, league, and market availability.
