Betting slip

The betting slip records what you tip on. It lists the chosen matches, the odds that go with them, your stake and the possible payout. A slip can hold a single bet or bundle several tips into an accumulator.

At the betting shop, the slip takes shape as you make your selection at the self-service terminal or pass it across at the counter. Once you have paid, you get the slip as a printout. It is your proof for the payout of any winnings, so unlike with online betting you hold the receipt in paper form in your hand. Betting is permitted only from the age of 18 (21 in Bremen).

The slip works as both proof and overview. You can check at any time what you bet on without having to remember the details. That is especially handy with several tips or an accumulator, and it lets you keep track even when a match does not kick off for days. The possible payout shown on the slip is only a calculated figure for a win, not a promise.

A betting slip usually shows all the key details at a glance.

• Tips: the chosen matches and betting markets
• Odds: the figure per tip and the combined figure
• Stake: the amount you have staked
• Possible winnings: stake times odds as a calculated figure
• Receipt number: a unique identifier for the slip

Check these details carefully before you pay. Once placed, the slip is binding and cannot be changed.

The slip looks different depending on how you bundle your tips. These are the usual forms at the betting shop.

• Single bet: just one tip on one match, plain and simple
• Accumulator: several tips on one slip, all of which have to come in
• System bet: several tips in combinations, which can still pay out on a partial win

An accumulator combines several sets of odds into a higher total. In return the risk rises, because one wrong tip loses the whole slip. Which form fits depends on your strategy.

Before you pay, a quick look at the slip is worth it. That way you catch any typing slips that cannot be put right later.

• Match and market: are the fixture and the chosen betting market right?
• Odds: does the figure shown match your selection?
• Stake: is the amount entered correctly?
• Date and kick-off: has the match not started yet?

Only once everything checks out do you confirm the slip. With live bets the odds shift constantly, so check again just before confirming. If in doubt, the staff at the counter can help. A quick check costs only seconds but can save you grief. Unlike online, a printed slip cannot be cancelled with a click once placed. Take particular care that you have the right match, because similar fixtures often sit close together at the terminal.

In the classic betting shop, the rule is often that whoever holds the slip can collect the winnings. Lose the receipt and the payout can become hard or impossible, so keep it safe until the match is settled.

Creases or damp can make the print illegible, so it is best kept somewhere protected. Treat it like cash, because it decides the payout. In Germany, sports bets carry a betting tax of 5 percent, which Tipico calculates separately from the odds.

Set yourself a fixed budget before you go and stick to it. Only play with money you can spare, and treat betting as entertainment. Gambling is permitted only from the age of 18 (21 in Bremen) and can be addictive. If you run into trouble, free and confidential counselling services can help, and often a single call to a counselling centre is enough. How to fill in and place a betting slip is explained in the guide filling in and placing a betting slip.