Double Betting Guide

Double Betting Guide

What is a Double Bet?

A double bet is a single wager that links two different selections into one bet. Both selections must win for the bet to be successful. If one selection loses, the entire bet is lost. The odds of both selections are multiplied together, offering a higher return than betting on them separately.

Double bets are popular in sports like football, horse racing, and tennis, where punters look to combine two strong picks to enhance their returns.

How Does a Double Bet Work?

Let's say you place a double bet on two football matches:

Manchester United to win at odds of 2.00
Liverpool to win at odds of 1.50

The total odds for the double bet are calculated by multiplying the two odds: 2.00 × 1.50 = 3.00

If you stake £10, your potential return would be £30 (including the original stake).

However, if either team loses or draws, the bet is lost.

Why Use Double Bets?

Double bets provide an opportunity to increase your returns while maintaining a reasonable level of risk. Instead of betting on a single event, combining two selections gives you higher odds. However, they are riskier than single bets since both selections must win.

Double Betting and Matched Betting

Matched betting involves using bookmaker free bets and promotions to guarantee a profit, regardless of the outcome. Double bets can be used in matched betting strategies, but they require a more careful approach since both legs must be covered with lay bets.

Here's how a matched betting double works:

Find a bookmaker promotion offering a free bet or enhanced odds on a double.
Use an odds comparison tool to find close matches between bookmaker odds and exchange odds.
Place the double bet with the bookmaker.
Lay both selections separately on a betting exchange to lock in a profit.

This can be trickier than single bets because you must calculate separate lay stakes for each selection. However, some matched betting tools provide calculators specifically for double bets.

Advantages of Double Betting

✅ Higher returns than single bets
✅ Simple to understand and place
✅ Can be used effectively with bookmaker promotions
✅ Works well for favorites when single odds are low

Disadvantages of Double Betting

❌ Both selections must win
❌ Riskier than a single bet
❌ Harder to hedge with lay bets compared to singles

Double Betting Strategy Tips

Stick to value bets – Don't just pick favorites, find bets with genuine value.
Use promotions – Many bookmakers offer boosted odds on doubles.
Check liquidity on exchanges – If matched betting, ensure you can lay both legs.
Manage risk – Consider keeping stakes lower as losses can add up quickly.

The most frequently asked questions

If one selection is void (e.g., due to a postponed match), the bet reverts to a single bet with the odds of the remaining selection.

Yes, many bookmakers offer a cash-out option, but the amount will depend on how your selections are performing.

Double betting can be profitable if you consistently find value bets. However, it is riskier than single bets.

Yes, most bookmakers allow free bets to be used on doubles. This can be a great way to extract more value from a free bet.

You need to lay both selections separately on a betting exchange, calculating lay stakes carefully to ensure a profit.

Join Our Community Odds Matcher MB calculator Freeze Matcher Boost Matcher Extra Place Matcher BOG Matcher Each Way Matcher