For many sports fans in the United States, the world of sports betting is synonymous with markets like the point spread, totals, and the moneyline. When these fans turn their attention to soccer, the most popular sport globally, they often encounter a betting landscape that feels both familiar and fundamentally different. The primary point of confusion frequently arises from the main betting market, leading to the common question of how a 1X2 vs moneyline bet truly compares. Understanding this distinction is the most critical first step for anyone looking to engage with soccer betting.
While both bet types concern the winner of a match, the inclusion of a third potential outcome in soccer—the draw—completely changes the structure and strategy of the wager. This guide will break down each market, highlight their core differences, and explain why soccer betting operates on a different framework than most American sports.
What is a Moneyline Bet?
In the context of American sports like football, basketball, or baseball, a moneyline bet is the most straightforward wager available. It is a two-way market where the bettor simply picks which of the two teams will win the game outright. The score difference does not matter; all that matters is the final result. Since draws are either impossible or extremely rare in these sports, the market only needs two options.
How Moneyline Odds Work
Moneyline odds are presented using American odds, which are indicated by a plus (+) or minus (-) sign.
- The Favorite: The team expected to win is shown with a minus sign (e.g., -150). This number indicates how much a bettor must risk to win $100. A $150 bet on a -150 favorite would win $100.
- The Underdog: The team expected to lose is shown with a plus sign (e.g., +130). This number indicates how much a bettor wins for every $100 risked. A $100 bet on a +130 underdog would win $130.
Crucially, moneyline bets in sports like the NFL or NBA typically include overtime. If the team you bet on wins the game after the regulation period has concluded, your moneyline bet is a winner. The concept of a “push” (where the stake is returned) on a moneyline bet is uncommon unless a specific sport’s rules allow for a tie after overtime, which is rare.
Explaining the 1X2 Bet (Three-Way Moneyline)
The 1X2 bet is the standard and most popular betting market for soccer worldwide. It is sometimes referred to as the “Three-Way Moneyline” because it introduces a third possible outcome that is very common in soccer: the draw. Unlike a traditional two-way moneyline, a 1X2 bet requires the bettor to choose from one of three distinct results.
The Three Possible Outcomes
The name “1X2” directly corresponds to the three potential results of a soccer match.
- 1: This represents a win for the home team.
- X: This represents a draw or tie.
- 2: This represents a win for the away (visiting) team.
A critical rule to understand is that 1X2 bets are settled based on the result after 90 minutes of regulation play plus any stoppage time. The outcome in extra time or a penalty shootout does not count toward a 1X2 wager. If you bet on a team to win (1 or 2) and the match is tied after 90 minutes, your bet loses, even if that team goes on to win in extra time.
1X2 vs. Moneyline: The Crucial Role of the Draw
The fundamental difference when comparing a 1X2 vs moneyline bet is how the draw is handled. In a two-way moneyline, the draw is not an option you can bet on. If a game ends in a tie, the bet is typically declared a push, and all stakes are refunded. In the 1X2 market, the draw (X) is not only a bettable option but also a losing outcome if you have wagered on either team to win.
This single difference significantly impacts betting strategy and odds. Because the possibility of a win is split across three outcomes instead of two, the odds for picking the home (1) or away (2) team to win are generally higher in a 1X2 market than they would be in a comparable two-way moneyline.
A Practical Example: Arsenal vs. Tottenham
To illustrate the difference, let’s consider a hypothetical English Premier League match. The odds could be presented in a way that shows both the three-way (1X2) and two-way (Moneyline) options.
| Bet Type | Arsenal (Home) | Draw | Tottenham (Away) |
| 1X2 Bet | +120 | +250 | +220 |
| Moneyline (Draw No Bet) | -200 | Push | +160 |
In this example, if you bet $100 on Arsenal to win on the 1X2 market at +120 odds and the game ends in a 1-1 draw, your bet loses. However, if you placed a bet on Arsenal using the two-way Moneyline (Draw No Bet) option, your $100 stake would be refunded because the draw result triggers a push.
Alternative Markets: When You Want to Avoid the Draw
For bettors accustomed to the two-way nature of American moneyline betting, sportsbooks offer alternative soccer markets that remove the draw as a third outcome. These markets provide a more familiar betting experience, though the odds are adjusted to reflect the reduced risk.
Draw No Bet (DNB)
This market is the direct equivalent of a traditional two-way moneyline. You bet on one of the two teams to win the match. If your selected team wins, your bet wins. If the match ends in a draw, your stake is returned as a push. As seen in the table above, the odds for a team in the DNB market are significantly lower than in the 1X2 market because the risk of losing on a draw is eliminated.
Double Chance
The Double Chance market is another popular option that allows you to cover two of the three possible outcomes of the 1X2 bet simultaneously. This greatly increases your probability of winning, but the odds are much lower as a result.
- 1X: Your bet wins if the home team wins or if the match is a draw.
- X2: Your bet wins if the away team wins or if the match is a draw.
- 12: Your bet wins if either the home team or the away team wins (the match does not end in a draw).
In conclusion, the primary lesson in the 1X2 vs moneyline debate is the central importance of the draw. The 1X2 market embraces the draw as a common and bettable outcome in soccer, creating a three-way dynamic that defines betting on the sport. While the American-style moneyline, often presented as Draw No Bet, exists in soccer, understanding the 1X2 market is essential for anyone serious about navigating the world’s most popular sport from a betting perspective.
