Where to start
If you've never placed a bet, read how to place your first bet. Then learn odds formats, because every other guide assumes you can read them.
Bet types at a glance
| Bet type | Guide |
|---|---|
| Several picks in one bet | Accumulators and parlays |
| Same-game combos | Bet builder |
| Betting during the match | Live betting |
| Settling early | Cash out |
| Giving or taking a head start | Handicaps |
| Goals, points or games totals | Over and under |
Sports
The biggest markets are football, tennis, basketball and cricket. Each guide covers the rules that decide how bets settle.
Betting with your head
Our smarter betting page covers bankroll and variance. No one can promise wins.
Sports Stake names
Stake names football (soccer), the NFL, the NBA, tennis, cricket, boxing, MMA and UFC, F1, horse racing, ice hockey, baseball and esports including CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends and Valorant, plus novelty and prediction markets. It doesn't give a count. Each of the main sports has a guide here: tennis, cricket, baseball, esports and more in the list below.
How settlement works
Most disputes come from settlement rules, not from the result itself. Does extra time count? What happens if a player retires or a fight is cancelled? Each sport guide explains the common rules, but Stake's own sports rules decide. Read the market name carefully: "match result" and "to qualify" are different bets.
Settlement questions by sport
| Sport | The rule to check |
|---|---|
| Football | Does the market include extra time? |
| Tennis | What happens on a retirement? |
| Basketball | Is overtime included? |
| MMA and boxing | What voids a fight bet? |
| Baseball | Extra innings and rain-shortened games |
The bookmaker's margin
Every price includes a margin. Add up the implied chances of every outcome in a market and you'll get more than 100%. The extra is the sportsbook's edge. Multiples stack that margin on every leg, which is why accumulators usually cost more than singles.
Who the sportsbook suits
Fans who know a sport, bet small, and accept that even good picks lose often. If you bet to win back losses, stop and read responsible gambling.
Sportsbook guides
Place your first bet
Bet slip anatomy, stake size and cash-out basics.
Accumulators and parlays
Leg maths, plus dead-heat and void handling.
Baseball betting
Run line, totals and extra-innings rules.
Basketball betting
Spreads, totals and overtime rules.
Bet builder
Same-game combos and correlated limits.
Boxing betting
Decision and KO markets, and draw handling.
Cash out
Full and partial, and when the value is poor.
Champions League betting
Knockout versus group-stage markets.
Copa America betting
Tournament markets and the squad-news angle.
Cricket betting
Match, top batter and innings markets.
Esports betting
CS2, LoL and Dota 2 map markets.
F1 betting
Podium and fastest-lap markets, plus DNF rules.
Football betting
1X2, draw no bet, props and league depth.
World Cup betting
An evergreen template reused each tournament.
Handicap betting
Asian versus European handicap.
Horse racing betting
Each-way and scratchings.
Ice hockey betting
Puck line, and whether overtime is included.
Live betting
Suspensions and how live bets interact with cash out.
MMA and UFC betting
Method and round markets, plus void rules.
NBA Finals betting
Series markets and MVP props.
NFL betting
Spread and player props.
Odds explained
Decimal, fractional and American, with payout maths.
Over and under
Push rules and alternative lines.
Smarter betting
Bankroll, line shopping and variance.
Table tennis betting
Fast live niche and set betting.
Tennis betting
Sets, games and retirement rules.
Volleyball betting
Sets handicap and live pace.
FAQ
How many sports does Stake cover?
Stake doesn't publish a count. It names football, the NFL, the NBA, tennis, cricket, boxing, MMA, F1, horse racing, ice hockey, baseball and esports.
Can I change the odds format?
Yes, in settings.
Does Stake stream matches?
Some events have streams or match trackers.