Correct/Exact Score Betting Explained

What is Correct Score Betting? - Exact Score Betting Explained & Tips

Sports betting is a weird and wonderful world of different markets that cover all kinds of outcomes and ticket types. This is largely because sport is, in itself, wildly unpredictable and full of intrigue and unexpected outcomes. It’s a huge part of why we sports fans love it.

In the world of sports wagering, seasoned bettors will tell you all about popular bets types like parlays , Asian handicaps , and spread betting . And, while this can sometimes seem a little daunting to the less experienced among us, there is one bet type that self-proclaimed pros like to use that is a little more intuitive. That is one known as correct, or, exact score bets.

Let’s take a look at just what correct score markets are, which sports you can play them on, and a few tips and tricks for using them in your betting slip at Stake Sportsbook .

How Does Correct Score Betting Work?

We said that this is a pretty intuitive form of betting and, by that, we mean that it is very much what it says on the tin. At any good sportsbook, in almost every sport, there will be a breakdown of different markets other than the moneyline , which is a bet on the outright winner or if the game will be a draw. When it comes to one of these correct score types of bets, though, players are doing more than just predicting the winner. Instead, they’re picking what they think the exact scores of these fixtures will be.

So, when placing a bet like this at Stake.com , you would navigate to the sport you want to place your bet on and find the fixtures you think you can predict. Once there, you would click into those fixtures - let’s say Manchester City v Chelsea - and go to the correct score section. There, you can drag the slider for each side to set how many goals you think they will score. Hey presto, you add this to your betting slip and you’ve got yourself a correct score bet!

If you're a beginner sports betting and are looking for some information to help get you started, we recommend checking out our ultimate sports betting guide , as well as our guide to reading sports betting odds .

Most Popular Sports to Place Exact Score Bets On

While you can usually find correct score betting for most sports, there are definitely some that are more popular than others. These tend to be games with more simple scoring mechanisms that don’t require anything more than you thinking “this team or competitor will score this many points and the other one will score this many points”. So, for example, you’re not likely to see individual race correct score odds for Formula 1 or Horse Racing . Even then, though, there is one sport that just comes out on top as the king of correct score betting.

Soccer Betting

I mean, we used a soccer analogy to explain the bet type just a minute ago and it is a beautiful game for a reason. It is without doubt the most popular event for players to use this market on. That owes much to the simplicity of the scoring mechanic (goals) and the fact that the margin of victory in any given match is rarely more than a handful of goals. Even in games with a massive underdog team, particularly in the Premier League and other top European leagues , it’s unlikely that one team will run away with it and post an unprecedented scoreline. Just don’t mention Australia v American Samoa. We don’t think anyone would have made the accurate prediction of 31-0 before a ball was kicked.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Correct Score Predictions

As with any sports betting market, there are definitely pros and cons to this sort of correct score predictions bet. We’ve broken down some of the big ones below.

Pro: Eking Out Value

Because you are adding an extra layer of jeopardy to your bet and giving yourself another chance to lose by not only picking out an individual team to win a specific fixture but also exactly how they will win it, your odds are going to be longer. Take an FA Cup soccer match between a side from the Premier League and a team from the bottom level of the English Football League. The side in the Prem will be an odds-on favourite even if their current form is below-par, so the price on them will be pretty short. If you can predict the correct score, though, it’s going to lengthen it massively.

Con: Sports on Offer

Other than soccer, it largely depends on the individual sportsbook as to whether correct score betting is possible for your chosen sport. Not many other sports follow as simple a mechanism for scoring as soccer does. Take Aussie rules football, for example. As the score is based on adding together both teams’ goals scored and behinds posted, it adds an extra layer of difficulty to predicting the exact scores. Are you predicting that the combined score will be X, or just that goals scored will be Y?

Pro: Favour Sport Fanatics

While every fixture is going to be unpredictable to an extent, bettors who have an in-depth knowledge of their chosen sport can use this to their advantage. If you have a strong insight into the teams you have selected, you stand a better chance of being able to accurately predict scores. Again, looking at soccer, bettors who have analysed different teams’ playing styles will have a better idea of how many goals they are likely to score and concede. Chelsea under Jose Mourinho, for example, were known for their steely defence, so bettors would likely not have them down as conceding more than one goal in any given game. This means that those who surround themselves with the sport will have something of a minor advantage.

Con: Double Jeopardy

While lengthening the odds on a nailed-on favourite might seem like a no-brainer. There are some potential pitfalls you need to be aware of. First of all, you could get the margin of victory spot on but be out by a goal (2-1 instead of 3-2). It’s a stinker but it’s part of the game. However, the bigger sucker punch could come in knock-out soccer, for example. The most popular form of these bets does not apply to the score after extra time, and the result is counted when regular time ends after 90 minutes. You may just predict the final overall score but if the fine print says that it’s only valid for 90.

Exact Score Betting Strategies & Tips

As with any type of betting, there are a number of tips and tricks that experienced bettors will tell you to employ to maximise your slip. When it comes to correct scores, the best betting strategy or tip you can employ is studying the form. If you know that both teams in a fixture are regularly involved in high-scoring games, you probably won’t predict a scoreless draw. The same goes for injuries and suspensions. If their regular goal scorers are injured or otherwise out of the upcoming fixture, you might temper your expectations when it comes to goals.

Other than that, the best way to manage your correct score betting strategy is to keep an eye on your slip’s complexity. While it might be tempting to combine lots of predictions into one ticket in order to boost your potential returns, this only serves to make it more likely that one leg will trip you up. These types of bets are best as singles on games where you are confident that you can accurately guess how the game will play out. If you are not confident, betting options like double chance might be better for you. These bets cover two out of the three game outcomes (for example, home win and draw) so that you’re reducing the chance of losing to the detriment of potential returns.

Correct Score Betting Odds & Payouts

One of the main attractions of correct score betting is the fact that the potential returns are much higher than simply picking a winner. The odds are lengthened due to the specifics that you have applied to the bet. Take, for example, a game between Japan and Spain at the 2024 Olympic Games . Below are the odds on just a Spain win before the game, as well as a handful of other exact scores, and the payout based on a $10 stake.

Sports Promotions, VIP Club & Responsible Betting

At Stake Sportsbook, we want to ensure that the betting experience we offer is of the highest quality. That’s why we offer regularly updated sports betting promotions , including bonuses on the biggest tournaments, weekly leaderboards, and more.

As well as this, bettors can join our VIP Club to get your hands on exclusive rewards , including rakeback bonuses , reload offers , and a VIP host as you level up. Learn more about this exclusive club with the VIP FAQs post on our blog.

While offering these promotions and bonuses is important to us, we place the utmost importance on player safety. Players can find how-to guides and assistance on responsible gaming in our help section. We have also created a dedicated Stake Smart and betting limits guide , as well as a responsible gambling calculator , to encourage players to build healthy habits and know when to stop.