Outright bet

With an outright bet, you tip an outcome that isn't decided after a single match. Typical examples are the champions of a league, the winner of a tournament or the team relegated in a season. The result is only settled after many matches.

At the betting shop, you place an outright bet like any other tip. You choose the market at the terminal or at the counter, pay your stake and get a receipt. However, you have to keep this considerably longer than with a normal bet. This is the biggest difference from the short-term bet, where the result is already decided after one match. Betting is only permitted from the age of 18 (21 in Bremen).

The guide Checking your betting slip explains the wider context.

The process hardly differs from a short-term bet, only the period is longer.

• Choose the market: for example champions or tournament winner
• Secure the odds: they apply from the moment of your bet
• Pay the stake: in cash at the betting shop
• Keep the receipt: often across the whole season

The odds on an outright bet are fixed when you place it. Before the season starts they can look different from later on, because the view changes over the season. But an outcome is never certain, because over the long period a lot can happen.

As with any bet, the odds show the size of a possible payout in mathematical terms. The figure comes from your stake multiplied by the odds. The example table below shows the principle with a stake of 10 euros. The numbers are a worked example only and not a promise of winnings.

The higher the odds, the less likely the outcome is judged to be. An underdog often carries high odds but comes good less often. A payout is never guaranteed, and the numbers only show the mathematical ratio. In Germany, sports bets carry a betting tax of 5 percent, which Tipico calculates separately from the odds.

The outright bet comes with a few quirks. Weigh up these points.

• Advantage of early odds: the prices are often higher before the season starts
• Advantage of excitement: your bet stays with you throughout the whole season
• Disadvantage of a tied-up stake: your money is committed for a long time
• Disadvantage of uncertainty: a lot can happen over such a long period

Compared with a single bet on one match, the outright bet therefore suits the patient. Anyone who likes quick results is better off with short-term bets. Outright bets are most popular at the start of a season or before a major tournament, when anticipation is high. You lock in the odds early and follow how your bet develops over time. Some people place several small outright bets and are happy if one of them comes good over the season. The key point remains that you should not budget around the stake, because the money is tied up for a long time.

Bear in mind that your stake on an outright bet is often tied up for a long time. Weeks or months can pass before it is settled, so do not budget around this amount.

Keep the receipt safe for the whole period, as it is your only proof. Over weeks or months there is a real chance a paper receipt gets lost or becomes illegible, so keep it somewhere fixed and protected and treat it like cash.

Set yourself a fixed budget in advance and stick to it. Only stake money you can afford to lose, and treat betting as entertainment. Gambling is only permitted from the age of 18 (21 in Bremen) and can be addictive. If you run into problems, free and confidential support services can help, and often a single call to a counselling centre is enough.