What Is an ‘If Bet’ in Sports Betting?
An ‘If Bet’ is a type of wager that links two or more individual bets (or “legs”) together in a specific sequence. The progression of the bet is conditional: the second leg only becomes active if the first leg wins.
Think of it as a conditional parlay. Unlike a standard parlay where all selections must win simultaneously, an If Bet proceeds one step at a time. This structure allows you to manage your risk by deciding the order of importance for your bets.
How an ‘If Bet’ Works
When you place an If Bet, you determine the order of your selections and place a single stake on the first one.
- If your first selection wins: The original stake amount is then automatically placed on your second selection.
- If your first selection loses: The entire bet is over, and you lose your initial stake. The second selection never becomes active.
There are two primary types of If Bets, which determine what happens if the first leg is a “push” (a tie or draw where your stake is returned).
Different Types of If Bets
1. If Win Only Bet
This is the most common and straightforward type. The second part of your bet only gets action if the first part wins. A push or a loss on the first leg will end the bet.
- Example (If Win Only): You bet $110 to win $100 on a two-part If Bet:
- Leg 1: Kansas City Chiefs -7 against the Denver Broncos.
- Leg 2: Green Bay Packers -3 against the Chicago Bears.
- Scenario A: Chiefs win by 10 (Leg 1 wins).
- Your initial bet won. A new $110 bet is now active on the Packers -3. If the Packers also win by more than 3, you win that bet too, for a total profit of $200.
- Scenario B: Chiefs win by exactly 7 (Leg 1 is a push).
- The bet ends. Your original $110 stake is returned to you. The bet on the Packers is never placed.
- Scenario C: Chiefs lose the game (Leg 1 loses).
- The bet ends. You lose your initial $110 stake.
2. If Action Bet
This type provides more activity. The second part of your bet gets action if the first part wins OR is a push. The bet only stops if the first leg is a clear loss.
- Example (If Action): Using the same $110 bet as above:
- Leg 1: Kansas City Chiefs -7
- Leg 2: Green Bay Packers -3
- Scenario A: Chiefs win by 10 (Leg 1 wins).
- Same as above. Your $110 bet rolls over to the Packers.
- Scenario B: Chiefs win by exactly 7 (Leg 1 is a push).
- This is the key difference. Because it’s an “If Action” bet, your original $110 stake from the push now rolls over and is placed on the Packers -3. Your bet continues.
- Scenario C: Chiefs lose the game (Leg 1 loses).
- The bet ends. You lose your initial $110 stake.
Key Takeaways
- Sequential Wager: The outcome of the first leg determines if the second leg gets action.
- Risk Management: You only risk the initial stake. You are re-wagering your initial stake on the second leg, not adding more money.
- Different from a Parlay: In a parlay, all legs must win. In an If Bet, you can still profit if your first leg wins and your second leg loses, as you would keep the winnings from the first leg.
- Less Common Today: While a foundational concept, traditional If Bets are less common on modern betting sites than parlays, especially with the rise of “Same Game Parlay” features that offer a more dynamic way to link bets.