What does ROI mean in betting?

ROI (Return on Investment) is total profit divided by total staked, shown as a percentage. It is the fairest way to compare tipsters.

A value bet is one where the odds offered are longer than the true probability of the outcome — the core of any winning long-term strategy.

What is the difference between backing and laying?

Backing is betting for an outcome to happen. Laying, available on betting exchanges, is betting against an outcome — you win if it does not happen.

What is the overround?

The overround is the bookmaker's margin: the implied probabilities of all outcomes total more than 100%, and that extra is the bookmaker's built-in edge.

Reviewed by TipsterCheck Editorial TeamLast checked 29 October 2026Methodology Corrections

Betting glossary · Football

What is Half Time/Full Time?

A bet where you predict both the result at half time and the full-time result of a football match. Both parts must be correct for the bet to win. There are nine possible outcomes combining home win, draw, or away win at each stage.

How Half Time/Full Time Works

A Half Time/Full Time (HT/FT) bet requires you to correctly predict two results in one wager: the score situation at the end of the first half, and the final result when the full 90 minutes are up. Each half of the bet has three possible outcomes — home win, draw, or away win — giving nine combinations in total: Home/Home, Home/Draw, Home/Away, Draw/Home, Draw/Draw, Draw/Away, Away/Home, Away/Draw, and Away/Away.

The odds reflect how likely each combination is. Straightforward outcomes such as Draw/Draw or Home/Home are priced shorter, while unlikely reversals — for instance, a team leading at half time then losing (Home/Away or Away/Home) — carry much longer odds. Settlement is based on the 90 minutes only; extra time and penalty shootouts do not count unless the bookmaker explicitly states otherwise, and rules do vary between operators on this point, so always check the terms before placing.

Worked Example

Suppose Arsenal are at home to Tottenham. You back Draw/Arsenal (draw at half time, Arsenal win at full time) at odds of 6/1 (decimal 7.0). At half time the score is 0–0, and Arsenal score twice in the second half to win 2–0. Both parts of your selection are correct, so a £10 stake returns £70 (£60 profit plus your £10 stake back).

Now suppose Arsenal score first and lead 1–0 at half time, meaning the half-time result is Home rather than Draw. Your bet loses immediately, even though Arsenal go on to win the match 3–0. This illustrates the key risk: you can predict the final outcome correctly and still lose the bet because the half-time condition was not met.

Why It Matters When Judging a Tipster

HT/FT tips carry higher odds than straightforward match-result bets, which can make a tipster's results look impressive at first glance. However, the increased variance means you need a larger sample size before drawing meaningful conclusions about their skill. A run of winners could reflect good analysis or simply fortune; equally, a losing streak does not always indicate poor judgement. Assess yield and ROI over a substantial number of tips — typically 200 or more — rather than reacting to short-term swings.

Be cautious of tipsters who quote advised odds for HT/FT selections without proofing to a recognised, timestamped service. Because these markets are less liquid, the odds available to the average punter can differ considerably from those headline prices. Check whether the tipster's claimed odds were genuinely obtainable, and factor in that accounts regularly backing longer-priced football specials are more likely to face restrictions from bookmakers over time.

Example: A tipster advises Draw/Away at 8/1 for a Premier League match; the game is 0–0 at half time and the away side scores twice in the second half to win 2–0, making it a winning HT/FT bet.

FAQs

Does extra time count for HT/FT bets?

Usually not — most bookmakers settle HT/FT bets on 90 minutes only. However, rules differ between operators, so always read the specific terms before placing. If in doubt, contact the bookmaker directly before the match.

What happens if the match is abandoned at half time?

If a match is abandoned, most bookmakers will void the bet and return your stake. Settlement rules for abandoned matches vary, so check the operator's terms. A proofed tipster should record the result as void in their records.

Why are HT/FT odds higher than standard match-result odds?

You must predict two separate results correctly rather than one, which is harder to do. The extra condition reduces the probability of winning, so bookmakers price the markets accordingly. More outcomes also means a higher overround in some cases.

More football terms: Win to Nil, Anytime Goalscorer, Asian Handicap

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