Do you want to know what a margin bet is? A margin bet is a bet on the winning margin of an event between two teams. Typically, margin bets are offered on AFL, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Netball and Basketball games.
A margin bet may be between a “band” or a range of points like between 1-5 or 6-10. A margin bet may also be between increments of 10 points like between 1-10 or 10-20. A margin bet may also be Big Win Little Win or the exact number of points like 1, 2 or 3. A margin bet may also be available for a given quarter or half.
Odds makers usually lists the team and the margin with the corresponding odds.
Here's a margin bet Big Win Little Win example for an AFL match:
| Sydney Swans 1-39 | 7.00 | Western Bulldogs 1-39 | 2.40 | |
| Sydney Swans 1-39 | 7.00 | Western Bulldogs 1-39 | 2.40 | |
| Sydney Swans 40+ | 61.00 | Western Bulldogs 40+ | 1.91 | |
| Draw | 101.00 |
If you select the Sydney Swans with their winning margin at 1-39 and they beat the Western Bulldogs within that margin, your $10 stake would return $70.00 in winnings. On the other hand, if you select the Western Bulldogs to win against the Swans with a margin of 40+ and the Bulldogs pull it off, your $10 stake would return $19.10.
When a Draw or Tie option is offered for margin betting, it will exclude any extra time that might be played.
Here's a margin bet (10pt) example for an NRL match:
| Brisbane Broncos 1-10 | 2.79 | Sydney Roosters 1-10 | 2.93 | |
| Brisbane Broncos 11-20 | 5.65 | Sydney Roosters 11-20 | 6.60 | |
| Brisbane Broncos 21-30 | 18.75 | Sydney Roosters 21-30 | 20.50 | |
| Brisbane Broncos 31-40 | 51.00 | Sydney Roosters 31-40 | 67.00 | |
| Brisbane Broncos 41-50 | 78.00 | Sydney Roosters 41-50 | 151.00 |
If you select the Brisbane Broncos to win against the Sydney Roosters with a 10-point margin between 41-50 and the Broncos pull it off, your $10 stake would return $780! Meanwhile, if you select the Sydney Roosters with the winning 10-point margin between 1-10 and they beat the Broncos within that margin, your $10 stake would return $26.30 in winnings.
Here's a margin bet (exact) example for the first half of an NBA game:
| Golden State Warriors by 1 | 17.00 | Tie 17.00 | Los Angeles Lakers by 1 | 17.00 | ||
| Golden State Warriors by 2 | 15.00 | Los Angeles Lakers by 2 | 17.00 | |||
| Golden State Warriors by 3 | 19.00 | Los Angeles Lakers by 3 | 18.00 | |||
| Golden State Warriors by 4 | 19.00 | Los Angeles Lakers by 4 | 10.00 | |||
| Golden State Warriors by 5 | 19.00 | Los Angeles Lakers by 5 | 21.00 |
If you select the Golden State Warriors to win the first half of the game against the Los Angeles Lakers by exactly 5 points and the game goes into half time with the Warriors holding a 49 – 44 lead, you win the bet. With odds of 19.00, a $10 stake would win $190.00. On the other hand, if you select the Lakers to win the first half of the game by a point, and they're up 50 – 49 at half time, you win the bet. With odds of 17.00, your $10.00 stake would win $170.00.
Remember, quarter or half-time margin bets are for the specified half or quarter only, it will not include other quarters or the other half of the game.
Truly, margin bets offer a thrilling variation to betting on a game. It adds more opportunities to win in a single game than just betting on the outright winner.
Bet on New Zealand sports now.