What Is a Bet Builder? How To Do a Bet Builder Explained
Bet Builders have become a popular feature among football fans and sports bettors alike, offering a more tailored way to engage with matches. With more bookmakers offering this option, it’s useful to understand how they work and what to expect before placing one.
In this blog post, we’ll walk through how to place a Bet Builder, the key rules to be aware of, and how they compare to other types of bets, like accumulators. Read on to learn more.
What Is a Bet Builder?
A Bet Builder is a feature offered by many UK-licensed bookmakers that allows bettors to create personalised bets by combining multiple selections from a single sporting event. Rather than placing several separate wagers, it lets bettors bring together predictions, such as who will score first, the number of goals, or total cards, into one custom bet.
The appeal lies in the added control it gives. Bettors can focus on the moments they find most interesting, building a bet that reflects their own view of the match. While Bet Builders are especially popular for football, they’re also available for sports like rugby and cricket.
How Does a Bet Builder Work?
In practice, a Bet Builder allows bettors to create a custom bet by selecting multiple outcomes from the same event. It typically starts by choosing a match, most often a football fixture, on the bookmaker’s site.
From there, bettors can add markets like first goalscorer, total goals, or number of corners. With each added selection, the Bet Builder automatically updates the combined odds, which reflect the reduced likelihood of all chosen outcomes happening together.
Once the selections are in place and the odds confirmed, the bet can be placed. As with an accumulator, all selections must be correct for the Bet Builder to result in a win.
Bet Builder Example
To understand how a Bet Builder works in context, consider a typical football fixture—say, Manchester United v Liverpool. A bettor might use the Bet Builder tool to combine the following selections into one personalised bet:
- Manchester United to win
- Marcus Rashford to score
- Over 2.5 total goals in the match
- At least one yellow card for each team
For the bet to pay out, all four selections must come through. If even one outcome doesn’t occur, the entire bet is considered unsuccessful.
Combining several outcomes boosts potential returns, but it also increases the difficulty. You might want to consider each selection carefully before finalising your bet.
Bet Builder Rules
If you choose to place a Bet Builder, it’s worth getting familiar with the rules first, as they can vary slightly from one bookmaker to another. Below are some key points to keep in mind:
- Event-Specific Bets:  All your selections must come from the same match or event. You can’t combine outcomes from different fixtures in a single Bet Builder.
- Available Markets: Not every market is available for Bet Builder bets. Options will differ depending on the bookmaker, so it’s a good idea to check which types of selections are allowed for the event you’re looking at.
- Maximum Selections: Most bookmakers limit how many outcomes you can include—typically between four and twelve. Be sure to check the limit before building your bet.
- Combined Odds: The more selections you include, the longer the odds will be. This means potentially higher payouts, but the bet also becomes harder to win since every outcome must go your way.
- Bet Builder Bets & Promotions: Some sites treat Bet Builder bets separately from standard bets, so they might not qualify for certain promotions or bonuses. It’s best to review the terms and conditions to understand what applies.
Taking a few minutes to look over your bookmaker’s specific Bet Builder rules can help avoid confusion and give you a clearer idea of how your bet works before placing it.
How To Do a Bet Builder
If you choose to use a Bet Builder, the process is usually straightforward. Here’s how it typically works:
- Choose Your Event: Start by logging in to your bookmaker’s site and selecting the match or event you’re interested in.
- Open the Bet Builder: Look for the Bet Builder option within the event page and click to open it.
- Pick Your Selections: Add the outcomes you want to include—this could be anything from the first goalscorer to total goals or the number of yellow cards.
- Check the Combined Odds: With each new selection, the odds will update to reflect the overall likelihood of all outcomes happening together. Take a moment to review these before moving on.
- Place Your Bet: Once you’re happy with your selections, enter your stake, double-check your bet slip, and confirm your bet.
Your custom-built bet will now be placed. Just remember that all of your chosen outcomes need to come in for the bet to pay out.
Bet Builder Tips
If you decide to use a Bet Builder, you might want to consider doing the following to help make the experience smoother:
- Do Some Research First: Reviewing team news, recent form, and relevant statistics can help you make more informed selections.
- Start Small: Beginning with fewer picks can be beneficial, as adding more selections increases the chance of losing the bet.
- Choose Related Outcomes: Select options that logically fit together, such as a player to score and their team to win, rather than combining unrelated markets.
- Set a Budget: Only wager what you are prepared to lose, and consider using any available tools to set limits.
- Review Your Bet Slip Carefully: Double-check all your selections before placing the bet to ensure accuracy.
Bet Builder vs Acca: What’s The Difference?
At first glance, Bet Builders and accumulators (Accas) may seem quite similar, but there are important differences that bettors should understand:
- Bet Builder:
- Combines multiple selections from a single match or event.
- Common markets include goal scorers, total goals, bookings, and corners.
- Allows bettors to create a customised bet by grouping outcomes all within the same event.
- Combines multiple selections from a single match or event.
- Accumulator (Acca):
- Combines selections from multiple matches or events.
- All picks must be successful for the bet to pay out.
- Typical examples include backing several teams to win across a matchday or combining results from different leagues or competitions.
- Combines selections from multiple matches or events.
- Key Differences:
- Bet Builders focus on markets from one event, while Accas combine outcomes from multiple events.
- Adding more selections generally increases the potential returns for both bet types.
- Bet Builders concentrate the chance of success on a single match, whereas Accumulators spread the chance of success across several games.
- Bet Builders focus on markets from one event, while Accas combine outcomes from multiple events.
Understanding these distinctions can help you choose the type of bet that best suits your preferences and approach. As always, if you’re interested in placing a bet, always do so with responsible gambling practices in mind, and never wager more than you are willing to lose.
Bet Builder FAQs
What Happens If a Player Doesn’t Start In Your Bet Builder?
If a player you’ve included doesn’t start, sites usually void that part of the bet. The rest stands with new odds. Always review your bookmaker’s rules to be certain.
Is a Bet Voided If a Player Gets Subbed?
If your chosen player is substituted, the bet still stands. However, any bet on them scoring, for instance, loses if they leave before that outcome happens.
Are Bet Builders Only 90 Minutes?
Typically, Bet Builders only count the first 90 minutes plus injury time, unless your site mentions otherwise. This means extra time and penalties are left out—see your bookmaker’s terms for more details.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.