A wager is just another name for placing a bet. Yes, it really is that simple. We’re going to fully explore the subject of what does wager mean in betting here. In particular, this term can be used to describe a requirement of how much needs to be bet, in order to be compliant with some sort of offer or bonus. Read on to learn everything that you need to know about wagers.
Let’s start by going through some of the most popular types of wager that you can expect to find on all the best betting sites right now:
Now that you know what is a wager, we’re going to show you how to place a bet. If you’ve not placed one before, you may be unsure of how to go about such a task, so we’ll take you through it step-by-step.
Select one of our recommended bookmakers and visit their website.
Find where you need to click to open an account and register your personal details. You will generally have to select a password and may have to undergo some security checks.
Once your betting account is set up, you will need to add some funds. Choose a payment method and how much you want to deposit, before confirming your choice.
With money in your account, it is time to select a bet. Go through the list of sports and choose the one that you want. You can then go through the different events and select a particular market that interests you.
Click on the odds and the wager will be transferred to a betting slip. Enter the stake and check that everything is correct. Once you’re satisfied, click confirm to place your bet.
When dealing with the question of what does wager mean in betting, there are different types of bets to consider. You can place a wager on a betting exchange or betting on the Tote for example, but by far the most common and popular type of betting are fixed odds.
With fixed odds, you place a wager and as the name suggests, the odds are fixed at the price that is available when you confirm the bet. Any winnings are calculated by multiplying your stake by the odds.
So if for example you placed a £10 bet at odds of 1/2, it would be calculated as £10 x 1/2 = £5 winnings. Odds of 1/1 would be calculated as £10 x 1/1 = £10.
A price of 2/1 would be £10 x 2/1 = £20 winnings. With fixed betting odds, the second number (the 1 in 2/1) represents your stake and the first number (the 2 in 2/1) is how much stake is multiplied by.
Many people get confused between what does wager mean in betting and what does stake mean for a bet. Put simply, the wager is the bet as a whole. The stake is one of the components of the wager.
As we have just explained, a wager at fixed odds is comprised of a chosen stake being multiplied by the odds. With a price of 8/13, the second number represents the odds and the first the potential winnings. So a £13 wager would result in £8 winnings.
British punters are wagering and staking online aplenty, that’s for sure. According to UK Gambling Commission statistics published in November 2022, the gross gambling yield for remote betting totalled £2,400,000,000 in the surveyed period. That is a lot of money people are betting, and by extension wagers being placed, in the UK.
We’ve now very much covered the word wager meaning and what it refers to. Now we will deal with a related topic. So, just what is a wagering requirement?
You will see the word ‘wagering’ alongside ‘requirements’ quite often in relation to sports betting bonuses on bookmakers’ sites. It refers to the amount of wagering that is required, for the punter to be eligible for a bonus or offer.
So you might for example, see a wagering requirement expressed as x10, which means that you have to bet a bonus amount ten times before you can withdraw any funds.
There can also be other associated requirements that come under the wagering banner. We’re going to take a look at the most common ones below.
Here are some of the most common forms of wagering requirements found with bookmaker betting offers and deals. This related aspect to what does wager mean in betting circles is important for deposit offers and casino bonuses more than sports, but can still apply through these key terms and conditions:
When it comes to online betting offers and promotions, the less requirements there are, the better. If there are additional terms and conditions that you must comply with, the more difficult it is for the punter to emerge with a profit.
You want a free choice on what markets and events to bet on, for both your qualifying bet and with any bonus bet. In both cases, it is also useful to have relatively low minimum odds, allowing you to place wagers with a statistically better chance of landing.
Short expiry periods give you very little breathing room to make a decision. Excessive rollover requirements can often make it virtually impossible to keep on winning. Look out for bonus offers with relatively few hoops to jump through with common terms and conditions, whilst trying to avoid those that are designed to trip you up.
Now you know what does wager mean in betting, you’ll be ready to place some yourself. Here are some tips and strategies that will help you to emerge with a profit.
Putting in the hard work before you make a bet, will see you rewarded. Do your research. Look into the stats regarding the event in question and keep up with any of the latest news that could have an impact, such as team selection in football. Doing your homework can give you an edge over the bookie and create instances where you spot value bets.
A value bet is one where the odds are bigger than the true probability of the wager winning. Obviously there is no way of 100% accurately knowing the true probability of a bet being successful, but with hard work and experience, you will begin to spot opportunities where the odds are clearly too big. Sometimes it’s because all the money is going towards a popular favourite, inflating the odds elsewhere. On other occasions, stats can highlight where there is value lurking.
Another way to gain a bit of extra value is to make the most of bookmakers’ offers and features. Free bets, insurance deals, deposit bonuses and the many other kinds of offers, all give you the chance to earn some extra cash at the bookies’ expense. A feature that is useful for gaining extra value is Bet Builder. It allows you to add different types of wager together from one event, into a same-game accumulator. This is a perfect way to bump up the odds, as you add short-priced bets that are bound to land.
In addition to the tips that we’ve just given to you, keep in mind these common mistakes that punters often make when placing bets on sports: