A winning-margin bet may not be your go-to betting market, but there’s actually a lot of value which you could be benefiting from. We’re here to explain it, give you tips and strategies to get the best out of the exciting market.
- 1 What is a Winning-Margin
- 2 How Does a Winning-margin bet Work?
- 3 Winning-Margin Betting Sites
- 4 Why and When to Use Winning-margin bets?
- 5 Popular Sports & Leagues for Winning-margin bets
- 6 Strategies for Using the Winning-Margin Bet
- 7 Pros and Cons of Winning Margin Bet
- 8 Other Common Betting Terms
- 9 ThePuntersPage Final Say
- 10 Winning-margin bet FAQs
What is a Winning-Margin
A winning-margin is the exact difference in points between the winning and losing team/player in an event. This market is a good alternative to correct-score betting as you don’t need to predict the exact result, just by how many points a team/player will win by.
You’ll be able to find winning-margin bets on most major sports, possibly under different betting terminologies, including football, horse racing, rugby, golf, basketball, baseball, motorsports and more.
How Does a Winning-margin bet Work?
A winning-margin bet works by successfully predicting the margin between the two teams or players in question. Typically, you would place your bet before the event begins, wait for the final result, then calculate the winning margin to see if your bet has been successful or not.
Most bookies will allow you to place winning-margin bets live in-play, however, the odds can often be of lesser value once the game has started.
For example, if you think PSG will beat Inter Milan comfortably, you may opt to bet on a winning margin of 2+ goals. That way, if PSG win 2-0 or 5-2 or anything with a 2+ goal difference, your bet will land.
You can also bet on the exact margin, such as betting on a ‘2 goals’ margin rather than ‘2+ goals’. In our PSG vs Inter example, the ‘2+ Goals’ market is priced at 3/1, while the ‘Exactly 2 Goals’ market is priced at 5/1. The exact goals margin is trickier to predict but pays better odds.
Top online bookies also offer ranges (often called bands) of points to choose from when betting on a winning margin. For example, if you were betting on an NBA game, you could see a winning margin range such as ‘New York Knicks to win by 1-5 points. You could even pick a winning margin without backing a particular team, the odds are lower, but you give yourself that chance of cashing no matter which way the result goes, so long as it is within the margin you predicted.
Winning-Margin Betting Sites
Where’s the best place to make a winning-margin bet you ask? We’ve got an extensive list of the best bookmakers who offer this betting market.
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Founded:
2000
UKGC
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
TPP Rating
Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.
Payment methods(11):
Bet £10 & Get £30 18+. Registration Required. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Funded account or place a bet to qualify. Geo location and live streaming rules apply. Time limits and Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.10
Max. withdrawal: £100,000
Min. deposit: £5
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
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Founded:
1926
UKGC
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
TPP Rating
Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.
Payment methods(8):
Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets 18+ New UK + ROI customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 6 x £/€5 free bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days, stakes not returned). Restrictions + Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.01
Max. withdrawal: £250,000
Min. deposit: £5
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
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Founded:
1946
UKGC
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
TPP Rating
Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.
Payment methods(5):
Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets 18+ New customers only. Opt in, deposit & bet £10 (odds 2.00+) within 7 days of registration. Get £30 in Free Bets for selected markets, 7 days expiry. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.05
Max. withdrawal: £50,000
Min. deposit: £5
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
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Founded:
1999
UKGC
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
TPP Rating
Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.
Payment methods(6):
Bet £10, Get up to £60 in Free Bets 18+ New customers only. Place a £10 fixed odds single or £10 each-way bet at minimum odds of 1/2 and get 3 x £10 free fixed odds bets, 3 x £5 Total Goals football spread bets and 3 x £5 Winning Favourites spread bets and a £1 racing Race Index spread bet. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £1.00
Max. withdrawal: £25,000
Min. deposit: £1
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
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Founded:
2006
UKGC
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
TPP Rating
Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.
Payment methods(6):
Up to £30 Matched Free Bet if your First Acca Loses + 100 Free Spins + £30 Uber Eats Voucher 18+ New UK customers only. Min Stake: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football, Horse Racing, Tennis, Cricket or Basketball multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. 100 Free Spins on More Unusual Suspects (£0.10 per spin) credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. No wagering requirements on free spin winnings. Earn a £30 Uber Eats Voucher on successful Acca qualification. Debit Card deposit only (exclusions apply). This offer is valid 7 days from the new account being registered. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.20
Max. withdrawal: £100,000,000
Min. deposit: £5
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
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Founded:
2003
UKGC
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
TPP Rating
Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.
Payment methods(10):
100% up to £50 Welcome Bonus 18+ New players. Choose bonus at signup. Wager bonus 10x. Any withdrawals void bonus. Valid 30 days. Deposit used 1st. Odds, bet & payment limits. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.10
Max. withdrawal: £50,000
Min. deposit: £10
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
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Founded:
1989
UKGC
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
TPP Rating
Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.
Payment methods(9):
Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets 18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.01
Max. withdrawal: £50,000
Min. deposit: £5
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
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|
Founded:
1886
UKGC
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
TPP Rating
Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.
Payment methods(10):
Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets 18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 6 x £5 free bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days, stake not returned). Restrictions + Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.01
Max. withdrawal: £250,000
Min. deposit: £5
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
|
|
Founded:
2006
UKGC
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
TPP Rating
Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.
Payment methods(8):
Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets 18+ New players only. Bet £10 min. odds 1/1 (2.00) to get 4 x £5 Free Bets: 1 x £5 Football Bet Builder, 1 x £5 Football Acca, 1x £5 Horse Racing Acca & 1 x £5 Tennis In-Play. Valid for 7 days. Exclusions and Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.01
Max. withdrawal: £35,000
Min. deposit: £10
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
|
|
Founded:
1997
UKGC
This bookmaker is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring compliance with strict regulations designed to promote fairness, transparency, and the safety of players. The UKGC license is a mark of trust, safeguarding your funds and personal information while encouraging responsible gambling. Learn more about the UKGC here
TPP Rating
Our experts research, review, and rate bookmakers first-hand to provide you with reliable information. All our content is completely impartial based on our own personal experiences as punters.
Payment methods(7):
Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets 18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min. first £/€5 bet on selected sports within 14 days of account reg. at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £/€5 free bets (selected sports only, valid for 7 days, stake not returned). Restrictions + Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.02
Max. withdrawal: £100,000,000
Min. deposit: £5
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
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Why and When to Use Winning-margin bets?
The best way to make a winning-margin bet is to spot opportunities of value. This could be done in a number of ways, including stats, match predictions and more.
With stats, you can use metrics like possession, shots on target, goals, clean sheets and more to view how dominant a team may be. They’ll need both if you're betting on a larger winning margin. Our football betting stats can offer all this. Man City or Liverpool vs a newly promoted side is always a good shout for this.
If you’re sure a team will win, but are not certain of a specific scoreline, a winning-margin bet is a great alternative. It will give you better odds than a ‘win bet’ but isn’t as risky as predicting the exact score.
If you’re expecting a close game, you can bet on a small winning margin, without picking the winning team. That way, you can avoid making a decision on the outcome and still place a decent bet.
On the flip side, if you’re expecting a blowout, you can place a large margin bet rather than just a win bet. A rugby match involving Wales or Italy is a good place, in fact the 6 Nations' biggest winning margin this season was England vs. Wales, where the Red Roses won 68-14, a margin of 54 points.
Popular Sports & Leagues for Winning-margin bets
Winning-margin betting is found on a wide range of sports. In fact, it’s one of the more popular markets to bet on for certain sports. Here are some a few of the best events to look out for.
It’s not the most popular sports market, but it’s a great one if you wait for the right moment. Betting on the score is available on major league matches, and you may find it on markets for league points tallies too. For example, the biggest Premier League winning-margin bets will feature when top teams are playing weak defensive sides. Say Liverpool vs West Ham, Liverpool won 5-1, 5-0 and 2-1 in all competitions.
Before a league starts, you may be able to bet on by how many points a team will win the League. It’s a brilliant form of outright betting which can offer more value than just picking a team. The biggest Premier League winning points margin was 19 points by Man City in 2017/18. The closest was also City in 2011/12 by just 8 goals.
A classic golf betting market for the major events: all you need to do is predict by how many strokes a golfer will win the tournament. You don’t actually have to predict the winner themselves.
Some competitions are more likely to have smaller winning margins. For example, the Arnold Palmer Invitational has seen the winner win by just 1 stroke in 5 of the least 6 tournaments.
Snooker is another great sport for margins. Winning margins will almost always be found on major tournaments and can be of great value in the later stages of a tournament, when more frames are expected to be played.
The biggest winning margin in a world snooker final for a best-of-35 match was way back in 1989 when Steve Davis beat John Parrott 18-3. There have been several times when losing finalists failed to reach 10 frames, so the winning margins could range wildly, making it an exciting betting market.
With score lines that can reach the 60s, betting on the winning margin in rugby is a popular option. In this case, you’ll most likely find the market as a spread of a few points, for example, Harlequins to win by 7-13 points.
Other markets which you might find at big tournaments are winning margins, irrespective of who wins, and outright markets for the margin of points won in a season.
Basketball is the perfect sport for winning margin betting, thanks to the high-scoring games. The most common method of margin bets comes in ranges, for example, betting on a team to finish with 1-5 points more than their opponent. Making a Basketball winning margin prediction can be tough since games can end by a point, or by dozens.
You’ll find the market in most NBA matches and other major leagues and tournaments in Europe as well. You just need to find the right basketball betting sites who offer them.
In a nutshell, all you need to do is predict by how many runs a team will win by. It’s fairly simple, and will be offered on a wide variety of leagues, all the best baseball betting sites will offer the market. Winning-margin betting is a staple in baseball, but you may need to predict the exact amount since scores can be so close.
The major events will give you the possibility of placing bets on the winning margin in a horse race. This is a bet on how many lengths a horse will finish in front of the other. This could range from a short head to dozens of lengths.
You won’t find this market on your daily racecard, but you could find it when betting on Cheltenham and other major meetings.
Although cycling may not be as popular, some bookies will offer the market on the Tour de France, or some of the other biggest events. The results can vary wildly, with the smallest winning margin in the Tour de France being just 8 seconds in 1989.
The biggest winning margin in Tour de France history was 2 hours 59 minutes and 21 seconds in 1903. In the 21st century, the biggest Tour de France winning margin was 7 minutes and 37 seconds in 20214.
Strategies for Using the Winning-Margin Bet
Finding the right moments to use a winning-margin bet as part of a football betting strategy isn’t as difficult as you may think. If you’re pondering a correct-score bet but are cautious to pull the trigger, instead of opting for the far shorter odds of the 1×2 market, check whether the winning margin brackets offer a more suitable range of results and odds.
Explore the Player/Team’s Recent Form
Form is just one factor, but it’s an important one. It allows you to see a player or team’s current strengths and can be used to make predictions on upcoming matches. Players and teams in good form may continue to perform well, especially if their opposition isn’t as strong.
It’s important to view the wider context – if a team has won its last five matches but four of those were against teams in a relegation battle, they may not be as sharp as the form table suggests.
Looking at a team’s league position can also be important – a lower-ranked team in good form could be experiencing a renaissance or just a purple patch. It can definitely be worth a punt, if you can recognise which way a player’s or team’s form is going.
Research Your Selection’s Average Winning Margin
If you’re betting on winning margins, check the stat that matters the most, the average winning margin. Sports may be unpredictable to the naked eye, but stats have shown us that patterns do exist.
Averages show how a team or player is likely to perform in their upcoming matches. For example, 64% of Liverpool's wins in the 2024/25 season had a 2+ winning goal margin. They’re averaging well over 2 goals per game. A Team like Leicester has lost over 75% with a goal margin of over 2 goals.
Use Betting Stats to Find Trends
Stats are crucial here; you can use several metrics to gain valuable insights. The ones we suggest include possession, shots on target, goals, and clean sheets.
For example, Liverpool had the most goals scored, and second most conceded in the 2024/25 season. They were in fact the best team to punt on a winning margin bet.
Head to head records could also be a fine way to spot trends. Some teams are just consistently bad against certain clubs. For example, Everton haven’t won at Stamford Bridge since 1994 and have conceded over 2 goals in a match 11 times.
Situations That Offer the Best Value
When it comes to value betting, timing is everything. Identifying fixtures that lean heavily in favour of one team can often present opportunities to gain a real edge.
For example, a team fighting for a league title will likely dominate teams in relegation battles. In most cases, the title fighters will see this as an opportunity to improve their goal difference against the few teams likely to go down. So, betting on winning margins could work well here.
Mistakes to Avoid with Winning Margin Bet
Don’t rely on a single lens to assess matchups. Form is important, but if a team’s next match is a derby, even a smaller club is likely to play much better than in recent matches. The flip side can be true too, where the better team could be lured into a dogfight and end up losing out of nowhere. Looking at more than one metric, including stats, form, and match context will help you minimise loses.
Advanced Winning-margin bet Strategies
Sifting through the fine details can give you even more insight. External factors such as managerial pressure, unhappy players due to contract issues, or anything which could make a player or team play better or worse should also be kept in mind.
Hedging your bet is also a solid idea; you can do this by placing a spread or money line bet against your winning margin bet. That way, if you lose one, you still have a chance to win the other, just make sure to calculate the implied probability.
Pros and Cons of Winning Margin Bet
- Safer market than predicting an exact score and has decent odds
- Found in many different sports
- Stats can be used to help the markets' predictability.
- Several betting options, like exact margin and margin range.
- A tough market for low scoring sports
- Not as common on less popular sports and leagues
Other Common Betting Terms
ThePuntersPage Final Say
A winning-margin bet may not be your go to, but it’s got a brilliant balance of having good odds, without being impossible to predict. It’s also a great option when betting on a mismatch which may not always provide valuable markets. Now that you’ve got the tools, it’s up to you to find that value, and place well informed bets.
Winning-margin bet FAQs
A winning margin is the difference in score between the winning team, and the losing team. For example, 4-2 is a winning margin of two. A winning-margin bet is a prediction on what the difference will be.
A winning margin by one means that you’re predicting your team or player to win by 1 point. Whether it’s 1-0, 36-35 or 226-225 as long the difference is 1 point, that's a win.
A winning margin by 2 goals is betting on a match ending with a win by at least 2 goals. So, 2-0, 15-13 and anything like that will count as a winning-margin bet by 2.
Most bookies will offer some form of winning-margin bets and the very best include BetVictor, bet365 and Parimatch
Yes. Winning-margin bets are also available for other sports, such as golf, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, and more.