One of the most popular forms of betting for experienced punters, ‘To Win Either Half' betting requires you to bet on either the home team or the away team to outscore the other, in either half of a football match. It’s a simple enough market to grasp, but we want to show you how to master it, learning the win either half meaning, exactly when to use and where to find value.
- 1 Win Either Half Example: How Does It Work?
- 2 How to Place a To Win Either Half Bet
- 3 To Win Either Half Betting Tips & Predictions
- 4 Using Stats to Make Informed To Win Either Half Bets
- 5 To Win Either Half Betting Odds
- 6 Best Betting Sites We Recommend for To Win Either Half Betting in 2025
- 7 Top Promos to Use on “To Win Either Half” Bets
- 8 To Win Either Half Bet Settlement Rules
- 9 Advantages and Disadvantages of 'To Win Either Half' Betting
- 10 Similar Betting Markets
- 11 ThePuntersPage Final Say
- 12 To Win Either Half Betting FAQs
Win Either Half Example: How Does It Work?
Let’s kick things off by laying a few ground rules so we can better understand the to win either half meaning:
-
Team wins first half = bet wins
-
Team wins second half = bet wins
-
Team loses or draws first and second half = bet loses
So, there’s not an awful lot more to this sports betting term than this. Essentially, you’re breaking a 90-minute match into two mini-matches. If your team wins either half, your bet will be settled as a win.
One thing we want to highlight at this point is that the market is different from half-time/full-time betting. Punters often get confused, thinking they’re the same, but for HT/FT betting, you need to predict the result at half-time and full-time. In contrast, with our market, winning either half will suffice.
Let’s run through a quick “win either half” example:
The game in question was a Premier League fixture between Fulham and Everton. Quick tip – if you’re betting to win either half with bet365, you can find these markets under “Specials”.
As you can see, we backed Everton at 6/4 to win either half. However, disaster struck for The Toffees early doors and Fulham went into half-time two goals to nil. As it stood, we lost the first half, but the bet was still live.
In the second half, Everton improved and pulled a goal back, but ultimately lost the game 2-1. However, the second-half scoreline was 0-1, resulting in Everton winning that half and our bet paying out at odds of 6/4.
This is an excellent example of how this market can still offer value, even though your pick hasn’t won the game outright.
Home Team to Win Either Half: Example
It won't come as much of a surprise to learn that most teams are better at home than away. They have the crowd on their side and familiar surroundings, and generally, the home team has a higher chance of winning at least one half compared to the away side.
The Premier League stats from the 2024/2025 season show that around 57% of matches had the home team winning at halftime. To put this into context, home teams led at halftime in 134 of 380 games (~35%) and went on to win the second half 111 times (~29%).
INFO
Arsenal are a great example of a team that dominates the first half, having led at half-time in 13 out of 18 home games (72%). But it’s not just the league's elite where these trends can be found. Newcastle United, buoyed by a raucous atmosphere at St James’ Park, have led at half time in 71% of their home games this season.
When looking at the “home team to win either half” market, ask yourself: Does the team start on the front foot at home? Do they finish strong in the second half? The stats often show a measurable trend that can be applied to your bets.
To illustrate exactly what “home team to win either half” means, one of the best examples came from a game between Manchester United and Brentford at Old Trafford in October 2024.
It's worth noting that Brentford had not beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford since 1937. When they went 1-0 up in the first half, it was deemed a bit of a shock. They held on until halftime, meaning that a bet on Brentford to win either half would have been successful.
In the second half, Manchester United surged, scoring two goals without reply to win the half 2-0 and ultimately securing a 2-1 victory. Again, if you had placed a bet on the home team to win either half, this would also have been successful.
Highlights Manchester United – Brentford
Use home teams to win either half as part of your acca betting strategy
Jonathan Askew: The odds for home teams to win either half are generally shorter than those for the away team. To create a bit of value, I like to combine these bets to create accumulators. That said, it’s crucial to consider the broader context of the game. Southampton at home to Liverpool will likely be setting money alight, but in tighter games, like Bournemouth versus Brighton, backing the home team to nick a half makes a lot of sense.
Away Team to Win Either Half: Example
If you’re looking for more value from the bookies, betting on the away team to win either half will provide that. In terms of raw football stats, it’s less likely that the away team wins a half. However, we reckon it’s closer than you may think.
52% of away teams won a half in the 2024/25 Premier League season. Granted, lower than the 64% by home teams, but still relatively close. What’s super interesting is that away teams outscored home teams more often than vice versa (127 second-half wins for away vs 111 for home).
Key takeaway
Home teams tend to start faster, while away teams often gain momentum in the second half.
One of the best away teams to win either half examples from this season came at the Emirates in a bonkers game between Arsenal and Bournemouth. Arsenal were, naturally, strong favourites to beat Bournemouth, and they went into halftime leading 1-0.
However, Bournemouth made an astonishing comeback to win the second half 2-0 and ultimately the game, 2-1. This is another classic example that reinforces the numbers stating that home teams tend to start well, but away teams often come back into the game in the second half.
Oppose short-priced favourites who are rotating players
Jonathan Askew: Opposing teams who are resting or rotating starting players make a lot of sense here. For example, if Liverpool has a huge Champions League semifinal coming up on a Tuesday, there’s a good chance that at least some of the star players won’t feature on a Saturday to keep them fresh. A weakened starting eleven gives away teams a chance to start strong and dominate in games where, usually, they’d get destroyed.
How to Place a To Win Either Half Bet
We’ve covered the win either half meaning, now we’re going to show you how to place a bet. bet365 is our go-to bookie for the guide below, but it won’t differ too much regardless of which bookmaker you use.
To Win Either Half Betting Tips & Predictions
One of the areas that we want to touch on for this guide is win either half tips. Now, this isn’t going to be exact games to target or bets to make, as you can use our brilliant API (below) for that. Instead, it’s more food for thought on when to use the market and how to get the most value from it.
Don’t Assume the Favourites Always Win a Half
A common misconception is that a heavy favourite will always win a half. Top teams like City, Arsenal and Liverpool will tick the box in most games, but there are times when teams are held to a draw and can even lose games when well fancied in the betting. Big Six clashes are prime examples of this, where they often cancel each other out. Odds for firm favourites to win either half will be short, so you need to balance the risk/reward of taking on these bets based on the odds.
Identify Live Underdogs
Underdogs with something to play for are a green light for a viable win either half prediction. These are the sort of games where you think a team has a chance of winning, but the form guide might suggest otherwise. Target teams that start aggressively or have a history of grabbing a consolation goal. A relegation-battling squad is a good fit here as games become must-win and could take an early lead, even if they fail to see it out. Southampton did exactly this recently against Fulham, where they were all but relegated at home to Fulham. They scored first, won the first half, but eventually lost the game 2-1.
Beware of the Draw
It is possible to land a win either half bet with a draw in one of the two halves, but it makes life a lot more difficult. For games where you think the draw is a plausible 90-minute result, then it’s good practice to leave this market alone. Around 15% of all Premier League games have both halves as a draw, which is higher than you might have thought.
Use as Part of Acca and Combo Bets
Bet builders are a great way to boost the odds of short-priced “win either half” markets. They combine well with total goals for games that will be active in terms of action. For example, Team X to win either half, combined with over 2.5 total match goals. Alternatively, you can include multiple bets in a single accumulator. This is best for games around odds of 1/2 that are short but still offer value.
Using Stats to Make Informed To Win Either Half Bets
Data-driven bets are the best. Being able to back up that hunch with football streaks and trends is the most effective way to grind out a profit consistently. And the “win either half” market is no different.
You can use our handy stats table (above) to see what’s happening right now, including related statistics such as the highest-scoring half, halftime results, and halftime/full-time betting. Below, we’ve included a range of data points that take current goal stats as of the time of writing and apply it as if we were betting on this market today.
Combine metrics to identify potential bets
Jonathan Askew: When I use data points like the highest-scoring half and win in both halves, I’m looking to align team strengths with opposition weaknesses. For example, if I know that Arsenal flies out of the blocks in the first half and Fulham are super strong in the second half, I can confidently say that both teams have a good chance of getting a result in their strongest half. Now, Arsenal will definitely be favourites, but I can use the stats to find value in the likes of Fulham, who could nick a first-half lead (unlikely, but possible) but who will finish strong in the second half to keep the bet alive.
To Win Either Half Betting Odds
The odds for a ‘to win either half' bet vary depending on the teams. In an evenly-matched contest, the odds might be quite low, but when there’s a clear favourite, the odds can be pretty good.
There are also factors such as who’s playing where — the “home team to win either half” will have shorter odds than the away team.
As we can see from the image above, Manchester United are the clear favourite at 2/7, while Fulham are priced at 17/10. This shows that United are the stronger team, but Fulham are not that far off, which might be a sign from the market telling us that it is possible for the away team to win either half.
If you think you might end up seeing a draw, the odds for neither of the teams to win any specific half are also strong. But this also means that both halves must end in a draw.
In an even matchup, such as Everton vs Brighton, the odds are visibly much closer, so betting on either of the teams can be worth it. With Brighton being considered as the better team, the probable best choice is the away team to win either half, with solid odds set at 17/20.
Best Betting Sites We Recommend for To Win Either Half Betting in 2025
The table of bookies below showcases the best of the best when it comes to betting on the win either half markets. Each is tried and tested and comes with ThePuntersPage seal of approval.
|
Founded:
2000
UK Gambling Commission
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
Payment methods(11):
Bet £10 & Get £30 18+. 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. 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
|
|
Founded:
1994
UK Gambling Commission
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
Payment methods(4):
Bet £10 & Get £50 in Bonuses 18+ New Customers Only. Opt in and bet £10 on football (odds 2.00+) within 7 days. Get 4x£10 Free Bets for set markets and a £10 Slot Bonus for Big Bass Splash, 30x wagering, to withdraw max £250. Rewards expire in 10 days. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.10
Max. withdrawal: £50,000
Min. deposit: £5
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
|
|
Founded:
2003
UK Gambling Commission
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
Payment methods(10):
100% up to £50 Welcome Bonus 18+ New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; 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
|
|
Founded:
2015
UK Gambling Commission
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
Payment methods(9):
Bet £10 and Get £30 in Free Bets 18+ New selected customers only. Qualifying bet of £10 at min. odds 2.0 within 5 days of registration, E/W excluded. Get 3 x Free Bets: 1 x £10 Football, 1 x £10 Racing, 1 x £10 Acca (Min 4 selections). 7-day expiry. Min. deposit of £10. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.10
Max. withdrawal: £100,000,000
Min. deposit: £10
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
|
|
Founded:
2004
UK Gambling Commission
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
Payment methods(6):
Bet £50 Get £50 18+ This promotion is available to new customers only, who register using the promo code “GET50”. To qualify for free bets, the new user must place and settle £50 on Matchbook markets only. The user must bet on at least 4 different events to qualify. The user must place and settle bets at odds of 2.0 or more. Bets can be placed on singles, multiples and Bet Builders. The user must place and settle bets before the closing date of the promotion to qualify. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
Good to know:
Min. stake: £0.01
Max. withdrawal: £100,000,000
Min. deposit: £10
24/7 Customer Support:
Mobile-App:
Android
iOS
|
|
Founded:
2012
UK Gambling Commission
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
Payment methods(6):
Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets 18+ New cust only. Deposit & Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 Horse Racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 Football. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. 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
UK Gambling Commission
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
Payment methods(7):
£20 Backup Bet 18+ New UK players only | Min deposit req. £10 | Certain deposit methods excluded | Place 1 sport bet (3+ selections) | Excl Horse Racing | Min stake £10 | Max stake £20 | Min Odds 2/1 (3.0) | Max FreeBet £20 for football only | FreeBet valid for 7 days | FreeBet stake not returned | 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
|
Top Promos to Use on “To Win Either Half” Bets
We think it’s fair for us to say that to “win either half” markets are relatively niche in football betting, but it’s worth noting that they are eligible for free bets and bonuses to be claimed and cleared with. We’ve got a ton of the best betting promos in the industry all ready to go below.
-
bet365 BonusSports: Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets18+. 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. Time limits and Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
-
BetVictor BonusBet £10 & Get £30 in Football Free Bets18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 or more on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds within 7 days of registration. No cash out. Get £30 in Free Football Bets, selected markets. Free Bets expire in 7 days. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
-
Parimatch BonusBet £10 & Get £50 in Bonuses18+ New Customers Only. Opt in and bet £10 on football (odds 2.00+) within 7 days. Get 4x£10 Free Bets for set markets and a £10 Slot Bonus for Big Bass Splash, 30x wagering, to withdraw max £250. Rewards expire in 10 days. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
To Win Either Half Bet Settlement Rules
Let’s take a closer look at the rules surrounding the “to win either half” betting market, which are usually found in the small print. These can make or break the bet, so you should be aware of them.
-
First half – the team scores more goals than the opposition in the first half of the game, plus stoppage/injury time.
-
Second half – the team scores more goals than the opposition in the second half of the game, including stoppage/injury time.
-
If both halves are drawn, the bet is settled as a loss.
-
Extra time and penalties will not count toward the settlement of this bet unless specifically stated.
-
If games are abandoned before completion, bets will be void unless the market has already been settled. For example, if the first half ends with a winner and the game is abandoned during the second half, bets on the first half will be considered winners, but any open bets will be void.
-
Postponed games must be rescheduled within 24-48 hours; otherwise, bets will be void.
-
Own goals count toward this market for the team that benefits from them.
Advantages and Disadvantages of 'To Win Either Half' Betting
We’ve covered the win either half meaning in depth now, so you should be able to grasp what it is and how it works. Now we want to look at some of the reasons why you might choose to use this market over others and also why you might want to avoid it.
- The bet can be settled in a single half
- There are multiple opportunities for the bet to be won
- The match outcome doesn’t influence the bet
- Great odds for this type of market
- Low odds for heavy favourites
- Losing teams may struggle to win this bet when facing strong defensive opposition
Similar Betting Markets
Check out the list below to see a range of related to win either half betting markets:
-
To Win Both Halves – In this market, you must predict that a team will win both halves individually. It’s similar to ‘win either half’, but harder to predict. With greater risks come much greater rewards.
-
Half-Time/Full-Time – Here, you must back the team you think will be leading the match at half-time and at full-time. Teams don't need to win both halves, but rather to remain in the lead. A 1-0 win from a first-half goal can be valid here.
-
Double Chance – In this market, you can back two outcomes at once. These are: Team A win or Draw, Team B win or Draw, and Team A or Team B win. It removes a lot of the risk of most matches, but, of course, lowers the odds too.
-
Half-Time Result – Put simply, you just need to predict which team, if any, will be winning the match by half time. This bet is quick and exciting, and the odds are quite decent thanks to the short timeframe.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
To win either half is a bit of a forgotten betting market. Most bookies hide it away under “Specials”, and it’s not something that the casual punter even knows exists. But if you’ve made it this far, hopefully we’ve opened your eyes a little as to not just the win either half meaning, but also how you can use data to find value. This won’t be a bet you place every week, and you might only use it a few times per season, but used properly, it can be a great alternative to the outright winner, especially if betting on the underdog.
To Win Either Half Betting FAQs
A to win either half bet is where you bet on a team to win the first or the second half. For example, they could lose the first half 1-0 but win the second half 2-0, and because they’ve outscored their opponent in just one half of the match, the bet will win.
bet365 has the largest coverage for the market, so we will opt for them as the best. It’s worth noting that you can use the bet365 welcome free bets to win any half markets, which is not something that all bookies allow.
Yes, stoppage time in the first and second halves will count. Basically, it’s up until the referee blows the whistle for the end of that respective half. Extra time and penalties will not count.
To win either half means that you bet on a team to win either the first or the second half. The final result is irrelevant. They need to outscore their opponents in one half for the bet to land.