Betting can be defined as putting money on a prediction of whether an outcome will happen or not, often the outcome of an event.

Betting tips
Both online and high street bookmakers will provide betting tips, guidance on names and odds on which horses, dogs, footaball teams etc are likely to do well in an event.

Odds betting?
The most common form of betting in the world is Odds betting, this involves predicting whether an outcome will happen or not. You place your bet at particular 'Odds' which relate directly to the percentage probability that the outcome will happen. The lower the Odds, the more likely it is that the outcome will occur. The outcome with the lowest Odds is often known as the 'favourite'. Traditionally, the Odds betting market happens one-way only, with bookmakers always 'offering' Odds and customers always 'taking Odds'.

This type of betting has been around forever and it's the method of betting that most punters know and love. If you back at the racecourse then you will place a bet of this nature with a bookmaker. The bookmaker will quote odds on his board for each horse. You then select the horse that you wish to back and as long as the odds are agreeable with you then you will place a bet at the stated odds. You will then be given a ticket that shows you the amount bet, the odds that the bet was struck at and the amount that you stand to win.

You know exactly where you stand with this bet. You know how much you stand to lose and you also know how much you stand to win. What's more the odds can't be altered after the bet has been struck.

If you are in a betting shop, on the Internet or phoning a bet through to your bookie, then you can also place a bet of this nature at S.P. or at starting price. This means that at the time of placing the bet you don't know what the odds will be that the bet is struck at. The odds will be set at the start of the race, hence the name starting price.

Tote Betting
A different type of betting is Tote betting. All of the bets placed on a race are pooled, a deduction is made to cover costs and the Tote's contribution to racing. A winning dividend is then calculated by dividing the remainder of the pool by the number of winning units. The dividend declared inclusive of a £1 stake. In other words, pool customers bet against each other, whereas with Standard Betting they bet against the bookmaker. This means that you don't know the odds that you will get when you place the bet. The odds can change all the way up to the start of the race.

Bookmakers
A bookmakers is a person or company whose business is taking bets, either face to face in the high street or on-line.Many bookmakers operate out of licenced betting shops places in hight profile spots, often on the high street. Within these bookies you can bet on a wide variety of sports, such as horseracing, greyhound racing, football, cricket, golf, NFL, snooker, boxing, tennis and most other sports. Betting is all about odds. Neither bookmakers nor the punters know the true odds. Bookmakers are in competition, so their odds on offer differ and the odds can change quickly as punters place their bets.

Betting Shops
Most betting shops are equipped to accept tote direct bets through an online terminal. Many betting shops are equipped with Tote Direct terminals to enable customers to bet directly into the on-course pools. The whole range of tote bets are catered for with 'no limit' to winnings. From the latest 'Exacta' straight forecast bet to the ever popular Placepot.

How to place a bet online
How to place a bet online. Find the event in which you are interested. This can be done by using the navigation menus (often in the left hand column). Click on the odds box to select the bet you wish to place. Alternatively you can enter the particular market by clicking on the event name, this will give you market volumes and depths. Enter your stake and odds, then submit your bet. Finally, confirm your bet.