Winning Margin by 1 Betting Explained: A Detailed Guide

avatar

Lina Almans

04 September 2024

Comment 0

A winning margin by 1 (aka “to win by” bet) is a wager on a team to win the game with a margin of exactly one goal or point.

For example, if you bet on Everton to win by 1 goal, they need to win 2-1, 3-2, etc. If they draw, lose, or win by any other margin, you lose the bet.

Winning Margin by 1 at Bet365
Winning Margin 1 at Bet365

Note: This type of bet is particularly popular in sports like football and hockey.

How Does a Winning Margin by 1 Bet Work?

When you place a winning margin bet 1, you’re predicting that a team (home or away) will win by exactly one goal or point.

For example, if you bet on the home team to win by exactly 1 goal:

  • If the home team wins 2-1, 3-2, or 4-3, your bet wins.
  • If the home team draws, loses, or wins by any other margin (e.g., 2-0 or 3-1), your bet loses.

Essentially, this bet is a middle ground between a handicap and a correct score bet.

Imagine you’re confident that a team will win, but you believe the margin will be slim — exactly one goal. Betting on large handicaps feels risky, and predicting the exact score can be challenging. The odds for a full match victory might be low, so a winning margin bet by 1 offers a balanced alternative.

Popular Types of Winning Margin 1 Bets in Football

Winning margin bets are straightforward. They come in two main types: 

  • Betting on a specific team to win by 1 goal.
  • Wagering on any team to win by 1 goal (see picture below).

For the latter, you simply choose “yes” or “no,” without specifying the exact winner.

Winning Margin 1

Example: How Does a Specific Team to Win by 1 Goal Bet Work?

So, let’s say you bet on Wisla Krakow to win by 1 goal with odds of 5.00, staking $100. If they win with a one-goal gap (1-0, 2-1, 3-2, etc.), your payout will be $500 ($100 x 5.00). Your net profit would be $400 ($500 – $100). For any other result, the money goes to the bookmaker.

Here’s why the odds are appealing: there’s no room for a margin greater than 1 goal or a draw. If Wisla Krakow wins by any other margin or if KF Llapi (the underdog) wins or draws, the bet is lost.

Pros and Cons of Winning Margin 1 Bets


Pros

Cons

  • Attractive Payout Potential: Provides higher odds than regular win bets.

  • Flexible Betting: Allows betting on both specific teams and any team.

  • Exact 1-Goal Win: Bet only wins if the team wins by exactly 1 goal.

  • Limited Sports: Primarily applicable to football and hockey.