With more than 40% of bets placed in the UK focused around football markets, there is no doubt that the beautiful game has become a betting phenomenon.

Whether you’re looking to place your first-ever bet or someone who places a weekly accumulator, there are a host of interesting markets out there.

While some new markets might seem a tad complicated for new bettors, the Match Winner category is undoubtedly the most frequently used.

Often referred to as 1×2, the concept behind this market is as straightforward as its title suggests. Essentially, the punter is placing their bet on one of three possible outcomes that could occur at their selected fixture.

These three options in the 1×2 market simply allow you to place your bet on a home victory, away victory, or the match to finish a draw. So, the 1 refers to a home win, the X to the draw and the 2 for an away victory.

However, while the Match Winner category is a betting favourite, it should be highlighted that a winning outcome is only paid out within 90 minutes.

This means that extra-time and penalties are NOT covered in the 1×2 market, and your predicted outcome must come by the final whistle.

As any successful punter will tell you, the key behind football betting is to make sure that you do your homework.

One of the most straightforward things about the Match Winner market is that a ton of data is easily available.

By using sites such as Soccerway and Flashscore, you can scroll through all previous results for both home and away sides ahead of their upcoming fixtures.

For new users of the Match Winner market, it is always smart to make sure that you stick to the more high-profile leagues out there. By sticking to markets such as the Premier League or La Liga, you can make sure you have as much information available as possible.