What is a Related Bet?

What is a related bet meaning?

A related bet, also known as a related contingency, occurs when one selection in a multiple bet directly affects the probability or outcome of another selection in the same wager. Bookmakers won't allow you to combine these bets because one outcome would influence the odds of the other, making the combined odds mathematically incorrect.

Why is understanding related bets important in betting?

Prevents frustration when your accumulator bets get rejected by bookmaker systems
Helps you understand why certain combinations aren't available and saves time
Protects you from thinking you're getting better odds than you actually are

Master this concept and you'll never wonder why that tempting double won't go through your betting slip again.

Right, let's cut through the jargon here. A related bet is essentially when you're trying to be too clever by half with your accumulator. You know that feeling when you've spotted what looks like a brilliant double, but the bookmaker's system won't let you place it? Nine times out of ten, you've stumbled into related contingency territory.

Think of it like this: if you backed England to reach the World Cup final and then tried to double it with England to win the World Cup outright, the bookies would tell you to jog on. Why? Because if England make the final, their odds to win the whole tournament would crash faster than a student's bank balance after fresher's week.

Key point about related contingencies

The fundamental rule is simple: if one outcome makes another outcome more or less likely to happen, they're related. You can't combine them in a standard accumulator because the maths doesn't work.

Related bet examples in football

Football's where you'll encounter related contingencies most often, mainly because there are so many markets available for each match. Let's look at some classic examples that trip up punters regularly.

Champions League progression bets

You fancy Real Madrid to beat Barcelona in their Champions League semi-final, and you also think they'll win the competition outright. Sounds like a lovely double, doesn't it? Unfortunately, the bookmakers won't have it. If Real Madrid beat Barcelona, they're obviously more likely to win the tournament, so the odds are intrinsically linked.

League and match result combinations

Another common mistake is trying to back Manchester United to beat Chelsea and then doubling it with United to win the Premier League. Every three points United gain improves their title chances, so these bets are connected like a two-man horse costume.

Within-match related bets

Here's where it gets interesting. You can't back Celtic to have a player sent off and combine it with Rangers to win the match. If Celtic go down to ten men, Rangers' chances of winning improve dramatically. Similarly, you can't double Cristiano Ronaldo to score first with Real Madrid to win the match.

💡Expert Tip: Look for special markets like “wincast” or “scorecast” bets. These are single bets that account for the relationship between goalscorer and match result, offering proper odds that reflect the correlation.

Related contingencies in other sports

This isn't just a football problem – related contingencies pop up across all sports like a bad rash.

Darts examples

Take a darts match between two legends of the oche. You couldn't back Michael van Gerwen to win the match and also score the most ton-plus finishes. If he's hitting more big finishes, he's obviously more likely to win the match. It's like trying to bet on someone being good at darts and then being surprised when they win – the two go together.

Horse racing contingencies

During Royal Ascot, you might want to back Aidan O'Brien as leading trainer and Ryan Moore as leading jockey. Problem is, Moore rides for O'Brien, so their fortunes are tied together tighter than a jockey's boots. If O'Brien's horses are flying, Moore's likely to be riding plenty of winners.

Sport	Related Contingency Example
Football	Team to win match + Player from same team to score first
Tennis	Player to win match 2-1 + Same player to win match outright
Horse Racing	Trainer to be leading trainer + Jockey who rides for that trainer to be leading jockey
Darts	Player to win match + Same player to hit most 180s

What happens if bookies accept the bet in error?

Sometimes computers and humans make mistakes – it's like expecting the England football team to win a penalty shootout. If a bookmaker accidentally accepts your related contingency bet, don't start planning your early retirement just yet.

There's a famous case of a punter who thought he'd won £7 million betting on snow in different locations across northern England. He placed these as an accumulator, but betting on snow in Leeds and Wakefield (just 10 miles apart) is clearly a related contingency. The bet was settled as individual singles instead, leading to a rather disappointing payout.

Important to remember

If accepted in error, related bets are typically settled as individual singles
Regulatory bodies like IBAS will always side with the bookmaker on related contingencies
The “too good to be true” rule applies – if the odds seem amazing, check if it's a related bet

How to spot related contingencies

Most online bookmakers have systems that automatically detect related bets, but it's still worth knowing how to spot them yourself. Here are the telltale signs:

Same event dependency: Both bets relate to the same match, race, or tournament
Outcome correlation: One result makes the other more or less likely to happen
Overlapping markets: The bets cover similar or connected aspects of the same event
Time dependency: Later events that depend on earlier results

💡Expert Tip: If you're unsure whether two bets are related, ask yourself: “If the first bet wins, does it change the likelihood of the second bet winning?” If yes, they're probably related contingencies.

Quiz – Test your knowledge about related bets

1. Can you combine Manchester City to beat Liverpool with Manchester City to win the Premier League?
Answer: No, this is a related contingency because beating Liverpool improves City's title chances.

2. What's the difference between a related bet and a scorecast?
Answer: A scorecast is a single bet that accounts for the relationship between first goalscorer and match result, while a related bet is an illegal combination that bookmakers won't accept.

3. If a bookmaker accepts a related bet in error, what typically happens?
Answer: The bet is usually settled as individual singles rather than a multiple.

4. Can you back two horses in different races at the same meeting as a double?
Answer: Yes, assuming they're in separate races and one result doesn't affect the other.

5. Why won't bookmakers allow you to back England to reach the World Cup final and win it outright?
Answer: Because reaching the final dramatically improves their chances of winning the tournament, making the odds related.

6. What should you look for instead of trying to place related bets?
Answer: Special markets like wincasts or scorecasts that properly account for the relationship between outcomes.

Master your multiple betting strategy

Now you understand related contingencies, discover our comprehensive guide to accumulator betting strategies and learn how to build winning multiples that actually get through the bookmaker's system.