When it comes to football betting, one of the most popular options in the various markets available to bettors is the Half Time/Full Time bet. Commonly referred to as HT/FT betting, this approach has become more and more prevalent in the sports betting world in recent years due to the manner in which these markets operate. At OddsMonkey, we have taken a look at what these Half Time/Full Time bets are, how exactly they work, and the general rules to consider when using these bet types.
What Is A Half Time/Full Time Bet?
Before getting into any intricacies, however, what is a Half Time/Full Time bet? Put in the simplest way possible; this is a sports wager that allows bettors to predict the outcome of both halves of a match separately. Due to the manner in which it operates, players need to correctly forecast the result at the end of the first half, as well as the result at the end of the entire game. This betting option is most commonly found in football betting and rugby betting, just to name a few examples, with these sports being divided into two halves.
Half Time/Full Time Bet Example
If you want to visualise this better, here is a Half Time/Full Time bet example which breaks down the manner in which these wagers work. For example, let’s say you bet on one team leading at half-time but the other winning by full-time. The possible outcomes of a Half Time/Full Time bet are typically represented as one of the following combinations:
- Home/Home: The home team leads both half-time and full-time.
- Home/Draw: The home team leads at half-time, but the match ends in a draw.
- Home/Away: The home team leads at half-time, but the away team wins the match.
- Draw/Home: The score is tied at half-time, but the home team wins by full-time.
- Draw/Draw: The game is tied at both half-time and full-time.
- Away/Away: The away team leads at both half-time and full-time.
- Away/Draw: The away team leads at half-time, but the match ends in a draw.
- Draw Away: The score is tied at half-time, but the away team wins by full-time.
- Away/Home: The away team leads at half-time, but the home team wins the match.
The Half Time/Full Time bet is generally a bit more challenging than your more traditional match result bets; however, due to the higher odds they typically present, they have become a favourite option amongst many bettors.
How Does A Half Time/Full Time Bet Work?
When it comes to a Half Time/Full Time bet, this is considered a double due to it being made up of two separate selections. However, these two selections are placed as a single bet at the bookmaker. As we have already covered, this bet relates to the team that is ahead at half-time and the final whistle. It combines both results into a single wager, with both parts needing to be correct to be determined as a winning one. Due to the fashion in which it operates, it shares a couple of similarities with double bets; we offer a double bet calculator on-site should you frequently utilise these types of wagers.
Rules For Half Time/Full Time Betting
There are a couple of rules relating to Half Time/Full Time betting, with the specific terms and conditions varying depending on the chosen bookmaker. Despite this, there are some general ones to keep in mind if placing Half Time/Full Time bets.
One of the first rules of a Half Time/Full Time bet is that these are settled based on the result after 90 minutes of play. This includes any injury time that may take place in either half; however, when it comes to extra time, which may be played at the end of a match in certain competitions, this does not count towards your Half Time/Full Time bet. In addition to this, penalty shootouts are also excluded from HT/FT betting due to these instances typically occurring at the end of extra time.
In the case a match is postponed or abandoned, the Half Time/Full Time bet will generally be voided, and the original stake will be returned in the form of sportsbook and casino free bets or in real cash. However, this will obviously depend on the chosen bookmaker. If this is not the case, though, a Half Time/Full Time bet is usually settled on the same day the game is played, with this obviously relying on the platform selected too.
The Value Of Half Time/Full Time Betting
One of the benefits of a Half Time/Full Time bet is the potential higher odds these have compared to simple outright win wagers. Adding an extra element to your selection, with this relating to predicting the half-time result and full-time result, may enhance the potential odds of your bet. Especially if multiple of these are combined into an accumulator, the odds that our accumulator bet calculator can determine will generally be higher than just predicting single outcomes for a game.
Potential Outcomes For Half Time/Full Time Betting
In regards to the potential outcomes of a Half Time/Full Time bet, there are 9 different result options these offer. When HT/FT betting, bookmakers will typically present them in the following fashion, with these options being able to cover all scenarios, providing a range of betting opportunities in turn.
- Home/Home (1/1)
- Draw/Home (X/1)
- Away/Home (2/1)
- Home/Draw (1/X)
- Draw/Draw (X/X)
- Away/Draw (2/X)
- Home/Away (1/2)
- Draw/Away (X/2)
- Away/Away (2/2)
How Does A Half Time/Full Time Bet Work In Matched Betting?
Compared to some other sports betting markets, a Half Time/Full Time bet can be a slightly complex one. Unless both halves are predicted correctly, this would not yield a potential return. However, it is still possible to lock in profits using a HT/FT bet, regardless of the outcome of the match.
This is achieved via the matched betting strategy, an approach that utilises bookmakers’ free bets and bonus offers and converts them into real funds. This is achieved by placing two or more counteracting wagers that cover all eventualities, using matched odds to secure profits.
In order to match bets using Half Time/Full Time bets, you must first begin by finding a bookmaker with a good promotion able to use on HT/FT bets. Following this, bettors can then place a qualifying wager in order to claim the promotional offer. After this has been done and the user has their sportsbook free bet, this free bet can be used to cover an outcome of a sports event without using real funds.
Placing a lay bet on the betting exchange essentially relates to an outcome not occurring, with this extra step in the betting process covering all potential outcomes. By betting against the selected outcome this ensures that you are covered no matter the result. To ensure this is possible, though, you must calculate the lay stake. This is the amount of money you’ll need to bet at the betting exchange, with a dedicated matched betting calculator that can be used to work out the correct lay stake for your Half Time/Full Time bet.
