When betting on football, soccer, basketball and similar sports, you may sometimes see sportsbooks offering half-time/full-time bets. This is a popular bet type that allows users to wager on the outcome of the game at two distinct points in time. This guide is going to explain exactly what a half-time/full-time bet is, how to make one, strategies, payouts and more.
What is a Half-Time/Full-Time Bet?
A half-time/full-time bet combines two bets into a single wager: the half-time result, and the full-time result. Sometimes, half-time/full-time betting is abbreviated as HT/FT. You may find it listed under “same game parlays” or a similar category in your online sportsbook.
HF/FT Betting in Layman’s Terms
When you make a half-time/full-time bet, you are simply wagering on the result of the game at both half-time and full-time. As it is a combined wager, you need to be correct about both the half-time result and the full-time result in order to win the bet. If you are wrong about either, you lose the HT/FT bet. There are nine possible combinations you can bet on:
- Home win – home win
- Home win – draw
- Home win – away win
- Away win – home win
- Away win – draw
- Away win – away win
- Draw – home win
- Draw – draw
- Draw – away win
There will be different odds depending on your selections.
Half-Time/Full-Time Bet Example
Below, you can view an example of a half-time/full-time betting market available for Unam Pumas vs. Cruz Azul at bet365. At the time I took this screenshot, the match was live in-play. You can see that there are different odds assigned to each potential outcome. If I was looking for a larger payout I could go with a riskier option yet there are also lower-risk outcomes with smaller potential payouts. 
Half-Time/Full-Time Bets Odds and Payouts
When you read the odds in the example above, you can get an idea of the probabilities for each event, as well as the potential payouts. As you can see, the shortest odds are for a tie at half-time and a tie at full-time. The odds are equally long for Unam Pumas leading at the first half and Cruz Azul winning at full-time, or vice versa. This screenshot was just a glimpse of a moment in time. As I watched, the odds swung wildly up and down for the various possible outcomes. While a bet on the outcome with the shortest odds may seem like it gives you the best shot at winning, keep in mind that the payout will be small compared to your risk. If you win a half-time/full-time bet at long odds, the payout can be much more substantial.
How to Place a Half-Time/Full-Time Bet
- Log into your sports betting account. Top up your account balance if needed.
- Navigate to the sport you want to bet on.
- Click on the game you are interested in.
- Look through the available betting markets until you find half-time/full-time. Remember, it may be listed in a subcategory such as same-game parlays.
- Click on the bet you want to make.
- Fill out your betting slip with the amount you want to wager.
- Double check to make sure your betting slip is correct, and then submit it.
All you need to do at that point is wait to find out if you won. You will not know your bet result until the game is over.
Types of Half-Time/Full-Time Bets
There is really only “type” of half-time/full-time bet: a wager on the results at half-time and full-time, rolled into a single bet. But some people refer to each of the nine different possible outcomes on which you can bet as “types” of half-time/full-time bets.
Pros & Cons
- In a game with a heavy favorite, you can get better odds on a similar outcome to the full-time result.
- Sometimes you may know that a particular team tends to score heavily at the start or end of a game. You can leverage that knowledge to win a higher payout than what you would get if you just placed a regular to-win bet on the final result.
- Placing this type of bet can increase your engagement and suspense through the entirety of a live game.
- If just one of the two selections in your bet loses, you lose the entire wager.
Are Half-Time/Full-Time Bets Worth Your Money?
Half-time/full-time bets certainly can be worth your money. You just need to find opportunities where there is value in the odds. It’s impossible to say if any bet is worth the money without knowing the specifics of the situation. There are definitely times when this bet is worth making.
Tips & Strategies
- Try live betting: HT/FT bets are great for live betting. You may get insights during the start of the first half that can help you make a solid prediction about the results at both HT and FT.
- Only bet if you are confident about the HT result: Even if you feel pretty sure you know who will win the game, there is little reason to bet if you do not have a clue what the result at HT will be.
- Do your research: Make sure you understand the trends for the sport you are betting on, as well as the individual teams.
- Shop the odds: Look for value opportunities. There is value in the odds when you determine based on your analysis that the sportsbook is under- or over-valuing a team.
Where to Make Half-Time/Full-Time Bets
You can make half-time/full-time bets at many popular online sportsbooks. Take a look at our recommended betting sites to find trusted, reputable sportsbooks offering the HT/FT betting market along with competitive odds and promotions.
