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Have you heard of a forecast bet? How about a straight forecast? Or maybe even a computer straight forecast? All of these names refer to the same type of bet, usually known simply as a forecast.
Being able to place a forecast bet is a useful tool to have at your disposal and it’s a type of bet that’s popular. But what exactly is a forecast and how is it different from a regular bet? Never fear, Yesbets are here with all the answers you need.
What Is a Forecast Bet?
Let’s get it straight from the start: forecasts don’t work for every type of sport. However, if you have multiple participants and it’s possible to rank them in the order in which they finished, a forecast can be a very interesting proposal.
Put simply, a forecast involves the punter correctly guessing the participants that will finish in first and second place - and in the right order. If you get the right finishers but the wrong order, it’s a losing bet. Horse racing and the greyhounds are two extremely popular choices for forecast bets, but increasingly motorsports are getting involved too.
Are All Forecast Bets the Same?
A forecast shouldn’t be confused with a reverse forecast; this latter type of bet pays out if you get the correct participants, even if you predicted the wrong order.
Technically a reverse forecast involves two separate forecast bets - you place forecasts on both finishing variants which allows you to win regardless of which one comes first. For this reason, a reverse forecast is more expensive. If you bet £5 on a straight forecast, then a reverse forecast would cost £10 because you’d need to place two bets of £5 each to get the same return.
Should I Place a Forecast Bet?
A forecast is a tricky bet to get right. If you’ve ever bet on the horse racing you’ll appreciate that it’s often challenging enough to get the winner, let alone calling first and second places in the correct order. For this reason, the likelihood of you winning is lower than if you just played a single to win bet.
It is possible to mitigate the risk somewhat by placing a reverse forecast. This means you don’t need to know the right positions, just the correct finishers.
The other problem with a forecast is that you won’t normally know how much you stand to win until after the race. This is because the odds are complex and have to be recalculated. Once the first place has been taken, the odds for the second place have to be recalculated, taking into account one less participant.
If you place a reverse forecast where the odds are short, you could end up with very little profit or in the worst case scenario, you could walk away with less than you started with.
If you think a forecast is the bet for you, you’ll be able to place one with most bookies. A forecast is typically listed under the Multiple Bet Options, and you’ll need to specify whether it’s a straight or reverse.
An easy bet to place but not so easy to win unless you’re certain who’s going to rock up in first and second positions. Place sparingly and make sure you do your research in advance.