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. There are some nuances to win these bets and this guide is a good place to start.
- 1 Best Betting Sites We Recommend for To Win Either Half Betting in 2025
- 2 To Win Either Half Betting: Explained
- 3 Highest Scoring Half Stats Table
- 4 Understanding This Bet in Action
- 5 Advantages of 'To Win Either Half' Betting
- 6 'To Win Either Half' Betting Tips & Strategies
- 7 Similar Betting Markets
- 8 More Sports Betting Articles
- 9 ThePuntersPage Final Say
- 10 To Win Either Half Betting FAQs
Best Betting Sites We Recommend for To Win Either Half Betting in 2025
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
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    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 |
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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
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 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 |
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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
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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 |
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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
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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 |
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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
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 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 |
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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):
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 |
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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):
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 |
To Win Either Half Betting: Explained
Winning this kind of bet requires you to successfully predict a team to outscore their opponent in at least one half of a football match. This market includes injury time but not extra time.
This bet type is extremely popular among punters and falls under the category of a single bet. You don’t need to predict the winner of a match, and the team you bet on doesn’t need to win the match either. The team to win either half is just that the side you have punted on must score more goals than their opponent in either of the two halves of that particular football match.
The 'to win either half' meaning is relatively simple, but if you want to win the bet, there’s a lot to keep in mind. The best thing you can do is use stats. Our football stats centre has all that you need, including first-half and second-half goals, clean sheets, and chances created.
It’s the same thing when it comes to historical data. A lot can be learnt from previous seasons, given that managers and players tend to keep consistent styles, and the top teams are always a shoo-in to do well. Defensive managers like Diego Simeone might be worth a punt, as they try to hold onto leads, and even a 1-0 is enough to win this bet.
The location is also key, as there’s a much greater likelihood for the home team to win either half rather than the away team. The home advantage is well known, but in the case of an away side scoring first, they may be able to hold onto the lead for at least a half, therefore the away team to win either half could still be a worthwhile betting option.
Highest Scoring Half Stats Table
What Does Historical Data Tell Us?
Historical facts aren’t always needed, but for ‘to win either half’ bets it can be crucial. Looking back to the recent past, since teams don’t change drastically, you can predict that most teams might play similarly. This can be seen in different leagues or manager styles and tactics.
Looking back to first-half match goals from last season, teams like Everton, with a defensive-minded tactic, only saw an average of 1.03 goals. On the other hand, more attacking teams have seen much higher averages – for example, Chelsea and Newcastle averaged 1.58. In the case of a ‘to win either half’ bet, the data tells us which teams would be more likely to win in the first half.
The same can be applied to every league, with competitions known for more defensive play, such as the Serie A, featuring higher odds overall. Don’t take our word for it, check out our goal stats to see last season’s and current season’s metrics.
Match goals stats for the 1st half – Premier League 23/24 season
| Team | Games | Avg | 0.5+ | 1.5+ | 2.5+ | 3.5+ | 4.5+ | 5.5+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea | 38 | 1.58 | 82% | 53% | 16% | 8% | 0% | 0% |
| Newcastle Utd | 38 | 1.58 | 74% | 53% | 26% | 5% | 0% | 0% |
| West Ham Utd | 38 | 1.55 | 84% | 42% | 21% | 5% | 3% | 0% |
| Aston Villa | 38 | 1.5 | 76% | 50% | 18% | 5% | 0% | 0% |
| Manchester City | 38 | 1.47 | 82% | 39% | 24% | 3% | 0% | 0% |
| Tottenham | 38 | 1.47 | 82% | 47% | 16% | 3% | 0% | 0% |
| Nottm Forest | 38 | 1.45 | 76% | 50% | 13% | 5% | 0% | 0% |
| Sheffield Utd | 38 | 1.45 | 76% | 45% | 13% | 8% | 3% | 0% |
| Arsenal | 38 | 1.42 | 76% | 47% | 11% | 5% | 3% | 0% |
| Burnley | 38 | 1.42 | 87% | 47% | 8% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Liverpool | 38 | 1.39 | 82% | 45% | 11% | 3% | 0% | 0% |
| Brighton | 38 | 1.37 | 79% | 39% | 18% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Luton Town | 38 | 1.32 | 76% | 34% | 18% | 3% | 0% | 0% |
| Wolverhampton | 38 | 1.26 | 76% | 37% | 11% | 3% | 0% | 0% |
| Brentford | 38 | 1.24 | 68% | 34% | 16% | 5% | 0% | 0% |
| Bournemouth | 38 | 1.21 | 74% | 37% | 11% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Manchester Utd | 38 | 1.18 | 68% | 34% | 13% | 3% | 0% | 0% |
| Fulham | 38 | 1.16 | 63% | 37% | 13% | 3% | 0% | 0% |
| Crystal Palace | 38 | 1.13 | 61% | 32% | 13% | 5% | 3% | 0% |
| Everton | 38 | 1.05 | 58% | 34% | 11% | 3% | 0% | 0% |
Match goals stats for the second half – Premier League 23/24 season
Understanding This Bet in Action
So far, you should have got a brief understanding of the type of bet we're dealing with. As with any bet, the best way to fully understand and get the most value is to see it in action.
Let's take a look at some examples that will allow you to visualise these markets, which could help you when analysing betting opportunities.
To Win Either Half Successful Bet
This bet may be more common than you might think, with 59.7% of matches in the Premier League paying out this bet from first-half wins alone during the last season. Therefore, it could be won at any point, and the following match is a brilliant example of that.
As Liverpool chased their title dreams, they faced newly promoted side Luton Town. In the 19th minute, Luton Town stunned Liverpool by going 1-nil up, holding that score till half time. If you bet on Luton to win either half, you’d have won a pretty penny.
Liverpool came into the second half with venom and put four past the Hatters. If you bet on Liverpool to win either half, you’d have won too. In this scenario, both teams won the bet, even though Luton ended up losing 4-1.
Verdict
In games where there is a clear underdog and favourite, betting on ‘to win either half’ is great, as it protects you from an upset such as the one displayed above. Punting on the smaller club will get you higher returns, but it’s much less likely to occur unless there are circumstances tailoring the importance of the match, such as possible relegation at play. Teams like Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool are safe bets here.
To Win Either Half Unsuccessful Bet
This is quite simple: for a team not to win in either half, all that needs to happen is either draws in both halves or you bet on a team that doesn’t win a half. A 1-0 for Arsenal against Everton can only ever be a win for Arsenal. Let’s look at a practical example of a more complicated match.
Voted as the 23/24 Premier League match of the season, Manchester City travelled to Stamford Bridge to face a mid-table Chelsea side at the time. The match was a real thriller, with both teams scoring two apiece in each half. Each half ended in a 2-2, so neither team won at any point. Cole Palmer equalised from the spot in stoppage time, but this still counts for the bet.
Verdict
When teams are evenly matched, winning this bet can be a lot trickier, but the odds will also be greater. Choosing a side that is stronger offensively could be key in these sort of matches.
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. It 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.
Advantages of 'To Win Either Half' Betting
This kind of bet comes with several considerable advantages.
If the team you have bet on scores more goals than their opponent in either half of a game, it does not matter whether they win, lose, or draw the match. If, by the end of the first half, your team is winning, you have already won the bet.
Similarly, if the team that you have punted on is outscored in the first half of a football match, you can still win a placed bet. This would require the team you have wagered on to outscore their opponent in the second half of the match, even if they lose the game eventually.
Of course, it’s not always sunshine and rainbows, and every bet type comes with a few pros and cons:
- 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
Important Factors To Keep in Mind
This betting market may seem straightforward, but if you want to get the most out of it, you’ll need to recognise all the nuances of 'to win either half' betting. Here are a few factors that should help you do that.
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Your team doesn’t need to win the match, but you’ll need to punt on a team that scores lots of goals.
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There are two opportunities to win the bet, so make sure to research stats on both halves.
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In this type of bet, both teams could win the bet, so don’t rule out any options.
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Strong defensive records are worth looking out for, given that defensive teams are more likely to hold onto a lead.
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Away sides always have higher odds, so they could be better options for a punt.
'To Win Either Half' Betting Tips & Strategies
Before placing this type of bet, always perform your due diligence. Making sure you wager your bets on the best football betting sites in terms of odds is a great start. Look into fixture history, team news, injury news, and team form, among other statistical insights, before placing your bet.
While a team may be in a rich vein of form, historically bad results against an upcoming team could factor into their performance. An injury to a key player or the return of an important team member could work against or in favour of a team, respectively.
Attacking Teams
Strong attacking teams who tend to dominate possession are those that are most likely to outscore the opponents in at least one half. If they are facing weaker opponents, the stronger team is likely to outscore their opponent in either half of the match. Punting on teams that play an attacking brand of football is also recommended.
Defensive units
Teams that are especially strong defensively may be able to grab a goal and hold on to their lead thanks to their style of play. However, weaker sides with a defensive style will still struggle against attacking teams who win many games.
Serial Winners
Teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich win a lot of matches, so it makes sense to place a bet on these teams, as they are likely to win either half of a football match.
Home & Away Teams
Home teams are more likely to win either halves of a game, as they always tends to play better in front of their own supporters. Weaker sides with strong home support may be able to hold onto a lead for at least one half against strong opposition.
Games Over Two Legs
You could look to punt on games contested over two legs as well. If a team is behind in the first leg, they are likely to go all guns blazing in the second leg to win the tie. You could punt on the losing team going into the second leg, as they are more likely to score here.
The Importance of Statistics for To Win Either Half Betting
Statistics are the greatest tool to betting; without using them, you could be missing out on a whole lot of wins. Why, you ask? It’s simple. Football is full of patterns, styles, and predictable outcomes, and the only way to find them is through statistics and research.
When either half betting, there are several metrics that could tip you into more correct outcomes:
Goals. To win, a team needs to score, therefore goal stats are crucial. Filtering by 'home and away' as well as 'first and second half' is also a way to see whether a team is stronger at a particular point. Last season, Manchester City won the first half on 21 occasions – 13 at home and eight away. Even the biggest teams have patterns.
Defensive records. A team that can defend a lead is crucial here – Arsenal kept 18 clean sheets last season, winning 17 of them. Even weaker sides with strong defences, such as Everton, can perform this feat. The Toffees are a great example of this, with 11 win-to-nil matches.
Get creative. Don't bind yourself to the typical markets. Our football stats centre has all the tools you need to come up with interesting insights. Why not try looking up over/under goals or BTTS stats? These can all prove helpful when used well.
Free Bets & Betting Promotions
Free bets and betting promotions are what make a great operator stand out, and finding a bookie that offers them can be a magnificent achievement. Are they useful for 'to win either half' betting? Absolutely.
Free bets allow you to try out the market without the risk of losing any of your own funds, and it could also give you a chance to try out some riskier bets. Promotions such as bet boosts and acca insurance can also apply for this bet, as they can stretch your winnings or protect you from possible losses.
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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
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BetVictor BonusFootball: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 or more on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds. No cash out. Get £30 in Free Football Bets. Free Bets expire in 7 days. Debit card / Apple Pay payments only. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. GambleAware.org #ad
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Similar Betting Markets
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
More Sports Betting Articles
ThePuntersPage Final Say
A 'To Win Either Half' bet comes with distinct advantages, with the most significant ones being the possibility of settling a wager in a single half and the increased odds at which this market can be priced.
Remember that you should always perform your due diligence, and keep in mind all the betting tips and strategies mentioned throughout this article. Choose from our list of recommended betting sites and get started!
To Win Either Half Betting FAQs
This is a bet placed on a team to outscore their opponents in at least one half of a football match.
We recommend bet365, as they consistently offer great odds and many betting options.
Yes, there is a multitude of other wagers available! We have compiled a useful list of betting types and terms to help you out.
Injury time consists of a few added minutes at the end of every match to make up for fouls and stoppages. Extra time is 30 minutes of additional playing time, only added if a match ends without a distinct result after 90 minutes plus injury time.
It describes a betting market that awards you a win if the team you bet on finishes either half of a game on top. If they are losing 6-0 at the end of the first half, but end the match 6-1, that team will have won the second half. This means you would win the bet.
This is the same thing; all you need to do is predict whether a team will win at least one of the two halves.