November 10, 2026

11 Types of Sports Bets to Offer on Your Sportsbook in 2026

Explore the types of sports bets to offer on your sportsbook in 2026, from moneylines and spreads to player props and live bets. See how each market works.

Yoav Ziv, CRO at LSports
Yoav Ziv
CRO @ LSports

In this article

The new generation of bettors wants to place a bet on almost every aspect of the game. They want live markets that update as the game unfolds and bets tied to individual players or specific moments.

To keep up with this demand, you need to expand your offering beyond traditional match-winner markets, but each new bet type needs the right data, pricing, and risk controls.

In this article, you’ll learn about 11 common types of sports bets, including what it takes to offer them.

Key takeaways

  • Different bet types require different data and pricing capabilities

Match winner and totals markets can rely on relatively straightforward results and scores, while player props, Asian handicaps, teasers, and same-game parlays require more detailed data or specialized pricing logic. 

  • Live betting depends on fast, reliable updates

Your sportsbook needs live odds and event data that update quickly enough to adjust prices or suspend markets when the action changes. Delays can leave outdated odds available and increase your exposure. 

  • Check market coverage at the bet-type level

Before you plan your offering, confirm which bet types your providers support for each competition. Player props, correct scores, and other specialist markets are the most common gaps.

  • LSports provides the data and technology to support a wide range of betting markets

LSports covers 100+ sports, 15,000+ leagues, and 2,500+ markets, and its live data and trading technology help you adjust odds and suspend markets as the action changes.

11 most popular types of sports bets

Here’s a breakdown of 11 popular types of sports bets and the way they work in practice:

1. Moneyline and match winner bets

A moneyline or match winner bet is a wager on the team or player will win an event.

In a 2026 University of North Florida survey, 60% of Florida online sports bettors claimed to have placed moneyline bets, making them the most common bet type among respondents.

In a two-way market, customers choose between two possible winners. In sports where a draw is possible, you can offer a three-way market that includes the home team, draw, and away team as separate selections.

The exact match winner markets you can offer depend on the sport and the way the result is settled:

  • Basketball: Boston Celtics to beat the Miami Heat, including overtime
  • Soccer: Arsenal to beat Chelsea in 90 minutes plus stoppage time
  • Tennis: Novak Djokovic to beat Carlos Alcaraz, subject to your rules for retirements and walkovers
  • Ice hockey: Toronto Maple Leafs to beat the Boston Bruins, including overtime and a shootout

2. Point spread bets

A point spread bet is a wager on a team after a handicap is applied to the final score. The favorite receives a negative spread and must win by more than that number for the bet to win. The underdog receives a positive spread, so it can win the game outright or lose by less than the spread.

Here are some examples of point spread bets:

Sport Bet Winning condition
Basketball Dallas Mavericks -5.5 against the Phoenix Suns Dallas must win by at least six points.
American football Green Bay Packers +3.5 against the Chicago Bears Green Bay can win or lose by up to three points.
Baseball New York Yankees -1.5 against the Boston Red Sox The Yankees must win by at least two runs.
Ice hockey Edmonton Oilers +1.5 against the Calgary Flames Edmonton can win or lose by one goal.

3. Totals bets

A totals bet, also called an over/under bet, is a wager on whether the combined number of points, goals, runs, or games will be over or under the line your sportsbook sets. The total can apply to the entire match, one team, or a specific period of play.

Here are some examples of totals bets:

  • Soccer: Over or under 2.5 goals in Arsenal vs. Chelsea
  • Basketball: Over or under 224.5 combined points in Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat
  • Tennis: Over or under 22.5 games in a match
  • Baseball: New York Yankees to score over or under 4.5 runs
  • Soccer (first half): Over or under 1.5 goals in the first half of Arsenal vs. Chelsea

4. Asian handicap bets

An Asian handicap bet is a two-way handicap market used mainly in soccer that removes the draw as a separate betting outcome by giving one team a goal advantage and the other a matching disadvantage. For example, if Arsenal is -0.5, Chelsea would be +0.5.

Asian handicaps can use whole-number, half-number, or quarter-number lines. Whole-number handicaps can result in the stake being refunded, while half-number handicaps always produce a winning or losing bet. Quarter-number handicaps split the stake equally between two adjacent handicap lines.

Here are some examples of Asian handicap bets in soccer:

  • Arsenal -0.5: Arsenal must win. A draw or loss means the bet loses.
  • Arsenal -1.0: Arsenal must win by at least two goals for the bet to win. A one-goal win returns the stake.
  • Arsenal -0.75: Half of the stake is placed on Arsenal -0.5 and half on Arsenal -1.0. A one-goal win means half the bet wins and half is refunded.
  • Chelsea +0.25: Half of the stake is placed on Chelsea 0.0 (draw no bet) and half on Chelsea +0.5. A draw means half the bet wins and half is refunded.

5. Double chance bets

A double chance bet combines two of the three possible match results into one selection. It is commonly used in soccer betting, where the three possible results are a home win, a draw, or an away win.

For an Arsenal vs. Chelsea match, the double chance options would be:

  • Arsenal or draw (1X): The bet wins if Arsenal wins or the match ends in a draw.
  • Chelsea or draw (X2): The bet wins if Chelsea wins or the match ends in a draw.
  • Arsenal or Chelsea (12): The bet wins if either team wins. A draw loses the bet.

These markets are typically settled on the result after 90 minutes plus stoppage time, according to your sportsbook’s rules.

Double chance is different from draw no bet. An Arsenal or draw selection wins if Arsenal wins or the match ends in a draw. An Arsenal draw no bet selection wins only if Arsenal wins, and a draw returns the customer’s stake.

6. Correct score bets

A correct score bet is a wager on a specific match score. Depending on the market, the customer may predict the final score, the score at the end of a particular period, or a score that will occur at any point during the match.

Here are some examples of correct score bets:

  • Full-time soccer score: Arsenal to beat Chelsea 2–1
  • First-half soccer score: Arsenal and Chelsea to be tied 0–0 at halftime
  • Score at any point: Arsenal to lead Chelsea 2–0 at any point during the match
  • Tennis match score: Novak Djokovic to win a best-of-three match 2–0 in sets
  • Ice hockey period score: Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames to finish the first period 1–1

7. Proposition bets

A proposition bet, commonly called a prop bet, is a wager on a specific event or individual performance within a sporting event. A 2025 Siena Research Institute survey found that 73% of sports bettors said they like to participate in prop bets.

Player props focus on a particular player's performance, such as points scored or shots on target. Event prop markets can cover in-game outcomes, such as the match going to overtime or one team scoring first.

Here are some examples of player prop bets:

  • American football: A quarterback to record over 249.5 passing yards, a receiver to make over 5.5 receptions, or a running back to score a touchdown
  • Basketball: A player to score over 24.5 points, record over 8.5 rebounds, or make at least four three-pointers
  • Baseball: A pitcher to record over 6.5 strikeouts or a batter to hit a home run
  • Ice hockey: A skater to record over 3.5 shots on goal or a goalkeeper to make over 27.5 saves
  • Soccer: A player to score at any time, record an assist, or have over 1.5 shots on target

8. Futures and outright bets

Futures and outright bets are wagers on outcomes settled over a full season or tournament, such as league and tournament winners, season win totals, and individual awards.

Here are some examples of futures and outright bets:

  • Soccer: Arsenal to win the league
  • Basketball: Boston Celtics to win the NBA championship
  • American football: Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl
  • Tennis: Carlos Alcaraz to win a Grand Slam tournament
  • Basketball (season wins): Sacramento Kings to finish the regular season with over 49.5 wins
  • Basketball (player award): Nikola Jokic to win the league’s Most Valuable Player award

9. Parlays

A parlay, also called an accumulator, combines two or more selections into a single bet. The odds of each selection are multiplied, so the potential payout is higher than any single selection would pay. In a standard parlay, every selection must win for the bet to pay out.

These bets are becoming increasingly common in the US. The National Council on Problem Gambling found that 30% of sports bettors made parlay bets in 2024, up from 17% in 2018.

A parlay can combine selections from different games and sports. For example:

  • Boston Celtics -5.5 against the New York Knicks
  • Miami Heat moneyline against the Chicago Bulls
  • Toronto Blue Jays moneyline against the Tampa Bay Rays
  • Baltimore Orioles +1.5 runs against the Boston Red Sox

10. Same-game parlays

A same-game parlay, also called a bet builder, combines multiple selections from the same sporting event into one bet. Like with a standard parlay, all selections must win for the bet to win. However, selections within the same game can be related, so you need to account for these relationships when calculating the combined odds.

For a Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat game, a same-game parlay could include:

  • Boston Celtics to win
  • Over 219.5 total points
  • Jayson Tatum to score at least 25 points
  • Jayson Tatum to make at least three three-pointers

These selections are connected. For example, the player’s three-pointers count toward their total points, while their points also contribute to the game total. Because of these relationships, only multiplying the individual odds could produce an inaccurate price for the same-game parlay.

11. Teaser bets

A teaser bet combines multiple selections into one wager and allows customers to adjust point spreads or totals in their favor by a set number of points. Because the adjusted lines are easier to cover, teaser bets offer lower potential payouts than parlays using the original lines. They are most commonly offered for American football and basketball.

For example, a six-point American football teaser could include:

  • Kansas City Chiefs -7.5 → -1.5: Kansas City needs to win by at least two points.
  • Green Bay Packers +2.5 → +8.5: Green Bay can win the game or lose by up to eight points.
  • Over 47.5 → over 41.5: The teams need to score at least 42 combined points.

What do sportsbooks need to offer these sports bets?

To offer these bet types, your data and trading setup should cover the following areas:

  • Sports data that supports each market: Your data feed must provide the information needed to create and settle the bets you offer. Match winner markets may only require results and scores, while player props need detailed statistics such as points, assists, shots, passing yards, or strikeouts.
  • Pre-match and live odds: Pre-match betting requires accurate opening prices that reflect team strength, historical performance, and other factors affecting the expected outcome. Live betting requires fast updates so odds can change or markets can be suspended the moment a goal, red card, or injury affects the game.
  • Pricing for more complex bets: Teasers, Asian handicaps, and same-game parlays require additional pricing logic. Same-game parlays are particularly complex because related selections cannot always be priced accurately by multiplying their individual odds alone.
  • Trading and risk controls: You need tools to monitor liability and control how much exposure your sportsbook accepts. These can include stake and payout limits, market suspensions, customer-specific limits, and manual bet review.
  • Market and competition coverage: Check that your provider supports each bet type across the sports and competitions you plan to cover. A provider may supply match winner and totals markets for a league without supporting player props, correct scores, or other specialist markets.

Build and manage your betting markets with LSports

LSports provides the sports data, odds, and trading technology you need to offer and manage various types of sports bets. Its coverage includes 100+ sports, 15,000+ leagues, 2,500+ betting markets, and 3 million fixtures each year.

Depending on your sportsbook setup, you may benefit from:

  • Sports API: Access fixtures, scores, statistics, incidents, and other event data across 100+ sports. This data can support market creation and settlement, including markets that depend on detailed match and player statistics.
  • OddService: Get pre-match and in-play odds from 100+ bookmakers. You can compare prices across the market and use the data within your own trading and pricing setup.
  • Hyper Feed: Receive hyper-fast live updates with confidence grading, advanced event detection, rich metadata, and trace IDs. These features help you react quickly to game incidents during in-play betting.
  • TRADE: Manage live scores, pre-match and in-play odds, statistics, and settlements in one trading solution. You can create odds based on your market offering and pricing strategy, set margins and odds parameters, and control when to suspend odds.
  • DEFEND: Monitor betting activity and exposure, set customer-specific limits on stakes, payouts, and bet frequency, and apply risk rules by sport, location, competition, or event.
  • BOOST: Monitor market uptime and margins across your data providers in real time, compare feed performance, and spot coverage gaps where competitors may have an edge.

Request a demo today to see how LSports can help you add new bet types, supplying the data, pricing tools, automated trading, and risk controls needed to support them.

FAQ:

1. What are the most popular soccer bets?

Popular soccer bets include match winner, totals, both teams to score, Asian handicaps, correct score, and player props.

2. How can sportsbooks offer bet builders?

To offer bet builders, you need a betting interface that lets customers combine multiple selections from the same event and a pricing engine that accounts for correlations between them. Since these outcomes can be related, simply multiplying their individual odds can produce inaccurate prices.

3. Why is low latency important for sports betting?

Low latency helps your sportsbook receive live event data and update betting markets quickly as the action changes. Delayed data can leave outdated odds available for longer and increase the risk of accepting bets at prices that no longer reflect what is happening in the event.

‍

Product
Technology
Product/Tech
Startup
Enterprise