Sports betting: how a bet is settled and how to challenge it
In sports betting you stake on the outcome of an event and the bookmaker settles the bet afterwards under its own rules. Compared with the casino there are more points of dispute: did the match go to extra time, did the player start, was the bet voided? This page covers the basics and the logic of settlement.
Whether your Valmo account has a sports betting section, and which sports it covers, is shown in the account. We do not claim every market described here is available; we explain how bets and their settlement generally work and how to avoid a dispute.
Odds and margin
Odds show how many times the stake is returned on a win. Odds of 2.00 mean a €10 bet returns €20 if it wins. The bookmaker builds a margin into the betting line: add up the implied probabilities of all outcomes and the total exceeds 100%. The smaller the margin, the better the line for the player.
| Odds | Implied probability | Return on €10 |
|---|---|---|
| 1.50 | ≈ 67% | €15 |
| 2.00 | 50% | €20 |
| 3.00 | ≈ 33% | €30 |
Live betting, in-play and cash out
Live or in-play bets are placed during the event and odds change constantly. There can be a delay when confirming, and if odds move meanwhile the bet may be rejected. Cash out lets you settle a bet early; the amount offered reflects the current state and the margin.
Sports and leagues
Football betting usually has the widest choice: leagues, tournaments and many markets per match. Basketball, tennis and cricket each have rules that affect settlement.
Betting bonuses
Sports bonuses may be a free bet, an odds boost or bet insurance. With a free bet, usually only the winnings are paid, not the stake. Bonus bets often have a minimum odds requirement and wagering.
Betting rules are a separate document
Sports betting usually has its own rules, separate from the casino terms. They set out settlement for each sport, reasons for voiding, maximum winnings and what happens with obvious errors in odds. Read that document before your first bet — in a dispute, it is what the bookmaker cites.
How to read a bet slip
A slip shows the bet ID, event, market, odds at confirmation, stake and potential return. If anything changes later — for instance the odds — the slip is your evidence. Screenshot it for larger bets.
If a bet was settled wrongly
- Find the settlement clause for that sport in the bookmaker's rules.
- Screenshot the bet slip: bet ID, event, market, odds, time.
- Contact support and cite the clause.
- If the reply does not satisfy you, follow the complaint order.