Betting strategies have evolved over the years, and among the most popular methods used by both seasoned punters and beginners is the concept of Banker Bets.
This type of bet is designed to increase the likelihood of a return, reducing the risk involved, especially when used with accumulators or a variety of other multiple selection bets.
In this article, we will explore what a Banker Bets are, how they work, and how to use them effectively at bet365 Sport, one of the world’s leading online sports betting platforms.
Always remember to gamble responsibly.
Check out bet365’s Safer Gambling page for more details.
What is a Banker Bet?
A Banker Bet, as the name suggests, is a selection in a bet that is considered a “sure thing” by the bettor. It’s the safest bet in a combination of bets, used to secure an overall bet or accumulator. Think of it as a foundation for your betting slip — a selection that you expect to win almost certainly, which, if it doesn’t, will result in the entire bet losing.
When a bettor includes a Banker Bet in a bet slip, they are essentially saying, “I am confident this outcome will happen, and I am building my bet around this certainty.” Banker Bets are frequently used in accumulator bets or system bets because they boost the overall odds, reduce the number of lines required to cover a bet in full while simultaneously providing some level of security.
For instance, in a football match where a dominant team like Arsenal is playing against a lower-ranked side such as Leicester City, you might feel confident that Arsenal will win. This match could be your banker bet, with the expectation that this result is almost guaranteed.
Depending on the number of selections on your bet slip, you may elect to have just one or more banker bets. Just remember, all of the banker bets you select must win for your bet to stand a chance of generating a return.
How Banker Bets Work at bet365
bet365 offers a wide array of betting options, and it allows users to include Banker Bets in both accumulator and system bets. Let’s break down how Banker Bets are used in these formats:
1. Accumulator Bets
An accumulator bet, also known as an acca, is a bet that combines several selections into one bet. All selections (or legs) need to win for the bet to be successful. The odds of each selection are multiplied together to create a higher potential payout, but the risk increases with each additional leg because one loss means the entire bet loses.
In an accumulator bet, a Banker Bet can be used to help improve the chances of the overall success of the accumulator and reduce the cost of the overall bet by reducing the number of lines the punter is required to cover.
The idea is to include one or more “safe” outcomes — those you consider as certain or close to certain — alongside riskier bets. This strategy can reduce the overall risk without severely compromising the odds.
For example, let’s say you’re placing an £2 accumulator bet with four football matches:
- Match 1: Arsenal to beat Leicester City (Banker Bet)
- Match 2: Chelsea to draw with Brighton (Riskier selection)
- Match 3: Crystal Palace to beat Everton (Medium risk)
- Match 4: Liverpool to beat Wolves (Possible Banker/Low risk bet)
By using Arsenal’s game as your sole Banker, you’re relying on their victory as a secure outcome.
While there is nothing against using Banker Bets in this way, there is no real difference between placing a Banker Bet such as the one outlined above, and a standard accumulator. The requirements of the bet, and the potential payout is the same.
However, the flexibility of using Banker Bets is much more apparent when you start to look at the other betting options open to you to back with Banker Bets selections. These are the System Bets.
2. System Bets
A system bet is a more advanced form of betting where you can place multiple bets across different selections. Unlike accumulator bets, not all of your selections need to win for you to receive a return. This can provide more flexibility and reduce the chances of losing all your money on one bad outcome.
In a system bet, you can mark one or more selections as a Banker Bet. This means you expect these selections to win and are willing to build your system around them. If your Banker Bet loses, your entire system loses. However, if your Banker Bet wins, you still have a chance to win even if some of your other selections lose.
For example, you might place a Lucky Seven Bet, which consists of four selections combined into seven bets: three doubles, three trebles and one fourfold accumulator. If you mark one of the selections as a Banker, then the banker bet must win to generate a return on each of the different double, treble and accumulator bets covered.
In the example shown above, you can see the notation used to describe the different bet combinations on the Banker bet slip at bet365 Sport.
1B + 1/3 means you are covering three double bets. Your banker bet (Arsenal) to win and then one line which covers Arsenal and the Chelsea/Brighton draw, another which covers Arsenal and Palace to win and finally, the Arsenal and Liverpool both win option.
1B + 2/3 means you are also covering three treble bets. Again, Arsenal must win for any of the options to be a winner. In this bet you are covering Arsenal and the Chelsea v Brighton draw/Palace win, Arsenal and the Chelsea v Brighton draw/Liverpool win and finally, the Arsenal win and Crystal Palace and Liverpool both to win.
1B + 3/3 means you are covering the accumulator option which is a bet on all four selections winning. Your banker bet must win this bet, but so must all other selections.
In the example above, a unit stake of £0.50 means that to cover all the options with one banker bet, you would need a total stake of £3.50 to cover the seven different lines for those four selections.
How to Place a Banker Bet on bet365
Placing a Banker Bet at bet365 is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:
- Create an Account: If you don’t have a bet365 account yet, you’ll need to create one. The registration process is simple and takes only a few minutes. You’ll need to provide basic details such as your name, email address, and payment information.
- Verify Your Identity: As part of the Know Your Customer protocol, bet365 will conduct a verification process to ensure you are who you say you are. This helps stop underage and fraudulent users. This process may require additional documentation to be provided by the new customer, if their identity cannot be verified automatically online.
- Deposit Funds: After creating an account, you’ll need to deposit money. bet365 offers various payment methods, including debit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets services.
- Navigate to the Sport: Once logged in, navigate to the sport and event you want to bet on. For example, if you want to place a Banker Bet on football, click on the football section, and choose your desired match or league.
- Add Selections to Your Bet Slip: To create a bet, click on the odds for the outcomes you’re interested in. These will automatically be added to your bet slip, which is usually found on the right side of the screen.
- Select the Banker Bet Section: Click on the Show Options tag on the bet slip. This will display two options Remove All and Bet Builders. Click on Bet Builders and from the drop-down list select Banker.
Choosing Your Banker Bet selection(s)
Now that you have the correct bet slip to place a Banker Bet, here’s what you do next to complete the process.
- Mark Your Banker Bet: To mark a selection as a banker, click on the box with a ‘B’ inside. Once it is highlighted green, this means this selection is a banker bet.
- Set Your Stakes and Confirm the Bet: Once you’ve added your selections and marked any Banker Bets, you’ll need to select which of the betting combinations you wish to cover and also set your unit stake. This is the amount of money you’re willing to wager in total on the bet, covering all the selected lines. You don’t have to cover all the options with a Banker Bet at bet365. You can just select one of the betting options to back with your stake, or cover a couple and leave the others. The choice is yours. Review your bet slip carefully before confirming, especially if you’re using multiple selections to check the total price to place the bet is what you expect it to be.
- Monitor Your Bet: After placing your bet, you can monitor its progress in the “My Bets” section. Here, you’ll be able to track how each selection is performing.
Selecting Multiple Banker Bet Selections
Sometimes, you may add a couple of selections to a bet slip and think that there are more than one banker bets on that slip.
In the example above, we mentioned that the Liverpool win over Wolves was a possible banker bet alongside the Arsenal selection to beat Leicester.
If you then select Liverpool as an additional Banker bet selection by clicking on the box with the ‘B’ inside, you will see that the betting options available to you change to reflect that.
Now you can see with two bankers (2B), there are just three different lines to cover.
2B + 1/2 means you are covering Arsenal and Liverpool to win as bankers, paired with either Chelsea and Brighton to draw, or Crystal Palace to beat Everton.
2B + 2/2 means you are covering Arsenal and Liverpool to win as bankers, but also need Chelsea and Brighton to draw and Crystal Palace to beat Everton for the bet to win.
By adding a second banker to this bet, the number of lines required to cover all options is reduced from seven, down to just three. This makes the initial bet cheaper for the same unit stake (£1.50 to cover all options, as opposed to £3.50 when using one Banker Bet).
Tips for Using Banker Bets on bet365
While Banker Bets can increase your chances of success, they still require careful planning and strategy. Here are some tips to help you use Banker Bets effectively at bet365:
1. Choose Bankers Wisely
Not all “safe” bets are truly safe. Even if a team or player seems overwhelmingly likely to win, upsets can and do happen. Research is key to choosing reliable Banker Bets. Check recent form, injuries, head-to-head statistics, and other factors before selecting your Banker.
2. Avoid Extremely Low Odds
One mistake many bettors make is choosing Banker Bets with extremely low odds (such as 1.05 or lower). While these selections seem “safe,” they add little in value to the overall odds of your bet, and the risk isn’t always worth the small additional payout.
3. Use Bankers to Reduce the Cost of Making a Multiple Selection Bet
If you’re placing a bet with several legs, adding a Banker Bet can help reduce the overall cost and risk of the bet. Just remember that even the most “certain” outcome can still go wrong. Combining multiple Banker Bets in an accumulator can further reduce the overall cost of a bet, while still giving good coverage of your selected options.
4. Don’t Rely Solely on Bankers
While Banker Bets can be a key part of your betting strategy, don’t rely on them exclusively. They should form part of a wider, well-thought-out betting plan. A balance between safe and riskier bets is the best way to reduce the risk of a bet, but still generate a decent return if the bet is a winner.
5. Consider System Bets for More Flexibility
System bets offer a middle ground between single bets and accumulators. By using a Banker Bet within a system bet, you give yourself a higher chance of winning, as not all selections need to come through. Banker bets in system betting add great flexibility, and lower costs to make the initial bet. However, be aware that if your Banker loses, your system bet loses entirely.
6. Use bet365’s Bet Builder to Build Banker Bets
bet365 offers a Bet Builder+ tool that allows you to create custom bets for specific matches. This tool can be a great way to incorporate Banker Bets into highly customised bets. For example, you can combine outcomes like “Team A to win” (as a Banker) with more speculative outcomes like “Player X to score.”
Conclusion
Banker Bets are a popular strategy for punters. They reduce the number of lines required in bets while still offering good value in terms of a potential return. They are particularly flexible when it comes to system bets and when used wisely, they can provide a solid foundation for your betting strategy.
At bet365, one of the most user-friendly platforms for sports betting, placing Banker Bets is simple and can be done across various sports and various markets.
However, remember that no bet is ever completely risk-free. As with all forms of gambling, it’s essential to practice responsible betting and never wager more than you can afford to lose.
By understanding how Banker Bets work and using them strategically, you can improve your betting experience and add more variety to your accumulator and multiple selection betting.
Always remember to gamble responsibly.
Check out bet365’s Safer Gambling page for more details.
Updated on 26th September 2024
