A Bet Builder bet is simply an accumulator bet that is compiled using a special ‘Bet Builder” feature on the site.
With this feature you can combine selections from a wide range of markets on a single (or sometimes multiple) fixture(s) to make your own accumulator bet.
When you have made your selections from the markets available, add the built bet to your bet slip and you can then wager on it! It really is that simple!
How does a Bet Builder Work?
A bet builder bet is not a complex bet. It works in the exact same way as an accumulator in that all your selections on the bet must win.
For example, if you select a bet builder on a Manchester United v Chelsea football match that has three options:
- Cole Palmer to score at anytime
- Both teams to receive 2 or more Yellow Cards
- And for the Game to be a 2-2 draw
The bet365 Bet Builder feature offers odds of 41.00 (40/1) on this trio of selections.
However, you need all three criteria to be met for the entire bet to win.
You can of course add more selections, but regardless of how many selections you have in your Bet Builder bet, all of them must win for the bet to be a winner.
Using a Bet Builder is a fun way to bet, knowing you are combining markets that your betting site will accept and avoiding those combinations, that it will not.
Which Betting Sites Offer a Bet Builder Feature or Similar?
All of the following betting sites offer a bet builder function, although it may be called something different on that particular site: –
- Bet365 Sport
- William Hill
- Betfred
- 888Sport
- Boylesports
- BetVictor
- Hollywoodbets
- LeoVegas
- 10Bet
- Sporting Bet
- Midnite
- Virgin Bet
- PariMatch
- Unibet
- SportingIndex
- NetBet
- Betway
- Ladbrokes
- Coral
On Which Sports Can You Commonly Place a Bet Builder Bet?
The list of sports you can place Bet Builder bets on is not the same for all betting sites.
However, sites tend to offer Bet Builder bets on some or all of the following sports: –
- Soccer
- Tennis
- Basketball
- American Football
- Rugby Union
- Rugby League
- Baseball
- Ice Hockey
- Australian Rules Football
- MMA
- Boxing
- Limited Overs Cricket (Such as the Indian Premier League, or T20 Games)
- Formula 1 (pre-race only)
The markets on offer for bet builder bets may differ from one bookmaker to the next, even within the same sporting events.
Can I Place a Bet Builder Bet Across Multiple Football Matches? Or Even Across Multiple Sports?
Traditionally, you could only use the Bet Builder service on one football match, or one specific sporting fixture.
However, some sites now offer an enhanced Bet Builder service which allows you to combine Bet Builder markets from different fixtures.
For example, if you were to bet on football, your football bet builder as standard would be based on one match. But with enhanced Bet Builders you can select markets from two, three or more matches and combine them into one bet.
Not only that, but with some bookmakers it is even possible to combine Bet Builder selections from different sports. For example, combining selections from a couple of football match bet builder selections, with a selection from a Cricket bet builder market.
Bet365 Sport’s excellent Bet Builder+ is a good example of this kind of enhanced Bet Builder service.
Can I Use Free Bets or Bet Credits to Place a Bet Builder Bet?
Again, this may not be the case with every sports betting service, but generally if your betting site will allow you to use free bets on accumulator bets, then it is likely that you will be able to use any bet credits or free bets you have on bet builder wagers.
How Does a Bet Builder and Accumulator Bet Differ?
Many people wonder ‘what is the difference between a Bet Builder bet and an accumulator bet?’ It’s a fair question as a Bet Builder IS certainly a type of accumulator. For both bets, you bet by selecting multiple options and then bundling them together in a single bet, on which all selections must win in order to win your bet. (Unless you are fortunate enough to be with a bookmaker that offers some form of Bet Builder insurance).
However, it differs from a standard accumulator in several important respects, such as: –
- Some betting sites may only offer Bet Builders for certain sports or fixtures, whereas accumulator bets can be used widely across a massive choice of sports.
- Bet Builders have their own pre-defined markets you can add to your bet. With some bookmakers you can only use these markets, but with others, you may be able to add non-Bet Builder markets to the bet too.
- Bet Builders are limited to a certain number of selections as defined by your bookmaker. This is usually around a maximum of 12 selections. You can generally add more selections to an accumulator if you so wish.
- With Bet Builder Bets, the odds displayed are the cumulative odds based on all your Bet Builder selections. Not individual odds for each selection as with an accumulator bet.
- You can select from different sports and markets for most accumulator bets, but only some enhanced Bet Builder offerings will allow this specific bet type.
- You cannot have a place bet (each way bet) on a Bet Builder bet. It is a win only bet.
What Are the Main Rules to Remember When You Build a Bet Using Bet Builder?
There are not too many Bet Builder rules to remember, and there may be slightly different rules regarding the bet builder bet depending on which online sports betting site you are using.
We’ve summarised the key rules to remember when using the Bet Builder feature below: –
- Remember the odds shown for Bet Builder bets are cumulative (for the selection shown plus the selections already made on your bet slip).
- Bet Builder software won’t allow you to make illogical bets (such as backing one team to win to nil and then selecting a goalscorer for the other team in the same game).
- All your selections must win for the bet builder bet to win.
- Enhanced Bet Builder options can include selections from multiple fixtures and multiple sports.
- You can edit your bet builder bet before you place it. This is useful to see the odds the betting site will offer for different selections on the same bet builder.
- Some sites also offer an In-Play Bet Builder as well as a pre-match Bet Builder, which is the standard option.
This is pretty much all you need to know about bet builder bets moving forward!
Bet Builder Tips for Beginners
So, you want to place a bet on a Bet Builder? Good! It is a very popular type of bet. Many customers spend their time on a betting site bet building nowadays!
But before you make your first bet on a Bet Builder, let’s first give you some helpful hints and guidance on how to create a bet builder of multiple selections that will give you a better chance of landing a win.
- Don’t add too many selections! Yes, those odds of 178/1 look fantastic, but does the bet have a realistic chance of success with the 6 selections made? Use bets with 2 or 3 selections initially to increase your chances of success.
- Stick to markets with fewer options. For example, betting on the Correct Score of a football game is a popular bet, but one with lots of potential options. Instead, the match result market of home win, away win or draw, has only three so is a better choice.
- Remember, a lower odds win is better than a big odds loss!
- Keep things simple initially. Stick to sports and markets you know well and make sure you know how the bet builder works on the site.
- Always bet responsibly and safely.
We hope now when you place bet builder bets, you’ll do so from a position of knowledge and understanding, whichever bookmaking site you decide to bet with!
Bet Builder's Frequently asked questions
Will a Bet Builder Work if I Add Selections Not from The Bet Builder Tab?
No. If you are using the bet builder function to place the bet you want, then all selections on your bet slip must be made from the available bet builder markets.
Bet Builder allows only selections from the markets part of the feature to be added to create your multiple bets.
I Like to Bet on Football, can I use a Football Bet Builder Instead of an Accumulator bet?
Yes. When football betting, you can use the Bet Builder feature to create a single bet of multiple selections, just as you would an accumulator bet.
In fact, Bet Builder football bets often offer customers the chance to combine betting markets that they were previously unable to on their other football multiple bets, such as an accumulator.
It is this flexibility that makes bet builders such a popular bet with many betting site customers.
Which Online Betting Site has the Best Bet Builder Option?
In our opinion, while many betting sites have a very good bet builder service, we think the Bet Builder + option at bet365 Sport gives this company the edge presently.
Having both the standard option and the enhanced service available for bet builders to use means that there is so much flexibility when customers place multiple bets, that it is one of the best bet builder offers you can find online today.
Can I Use a Bet Builder when I Bet In Play?
Yes, if your bookmaker has the Bet Builder feature available for some of its In Play betting markets. Bet365 Sport, for example, offers Live In-Play bet builder bets on several sports including football, tennis, cricket and basketball to name but four/
