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How to Hedge a Sports Bet?

The best way to hedge a sports bet is to place a second bet against your original wager. It reduces risk and guarantees a profit regardless of the outcome. For example, if you bet on Barcelona to win, you can hedge by betting on Real Madrid to minimize losses and secure some return.

According to sports betting experts at Bettime, hedging is not always beneficial because it can reduce potential profits. Likewise, hedging can become problematic if your original bet has a higher probability of winning.

You can use this formula to calculate the hedge amount:

Hedge Amount = Original Bet x Original Odds / Hedge Odds
Let’s say your original bet is $100 on Barcelona at odds of 3.0. The hedge odds are 2.0 for Real Madrid. Let’s calculate the hedge amount using the formula:

Hedge Amount = $100 x 3.0 / 2.0 = $150

In this case, you must bet $150 on Real Madrid to hedge your original bet. If Barcelona wins, the sportsbook will pay you $300. Subtract the hedge bet amount to calculate your total profit:
Profit = $300 (Barcelona wins) – $150 (Hedge Bet) = $150

Common hedging strategies in sports betting are full hedge, partial hedge, and in-play hedge. A full hedge allows you to cover your original bet completely. A partial bet is a smaller amount to minimize the risk but keep some profit potential. In-play hedging in sports betting means placing hedge bets during live matches or events as the odds change.

The best sports for hedge betting are:

The worst sports for hedge betting are:

The best time to hedge in sports betting is when the odds are favorable. For example, hedge betting is beneficial when your original bet is winning or if you want to minimize losses or earn some profit.

Let’s say you are a soccer fan,and there is a soccer match between Manchester City and Chelsea. You bet on Manchester City to win against Chelsea. So, you placed the bet before the game started, and Manchester City took an early lead.

At halftime, Manchester City is leading 2 – 0, and the odds for Chelsea to win have increased significantly. Thus, this is the best time to hedge the bet. Remember, your original bet is Manchester City to win.
However, at halftime, you place a bet on Chelsea to win or draw. Therefore, when you hedge at halftime when the odds for Chelsea are higher, you can secure a profit regardless of the outcome.

If you don’t hedge, you win or lose your original bet completely. Although this can lead to higher profits if your bet wins, it can also cause higher losses if your bet does not win.

Most sportsbooks and bookmakers do not mind hedging because they usually profit from the betting volume and the odds margin. However, some online platforms may not allow bettors to place hedge bets. Therefore, knowing the terms and conditions can avoid disappointments. Always choose a sportsbook that allows bettors to hedge betting.

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