A 3-way bet can be described as a bet that has three possible outcomes. These possible outcomes include team A winning, team B winning, or draw. A 3-way bet can also be called a 1×2 (team 1, draw (x), or team 2), but for the remainder of this article I will refer it to as 3-way betting, as that is what is more commonly used in Canada.
Three-way betting is popular in games with the possibility of ending in draws like soccer matches. There will be 3-way lines for hockey games, as well as other sports such as boxing, football, and golf head-tohead.
SOCCER EXAMPLE
This is an example of a Bet365.com 3-way betting line for a match between Chelsea City and Manchester City.
- Chelsea 2.90
- Draw 3.30
- Manchester City 2.37
This bet was listed at Bet365 as “Full-Time Result”. You may also find 3-way, 1×2 or full-time result bets, which are sometimes referred to “regulation time bet”.
The match can have three outcomes, with odds associated with each outcome.
In terms of odds and payout, a 3-way bet works exactly the same way as a money line bet. There are three possible outcomes, instead of just two.
HOCKEY EXAMPLE
Without a hockey example, this guide wouldn’t be as useful for Canadians.
When I feel certain that a team will win in regulation, I will bet on the 3-way line in hockey.
Here’s an example taken from the Battle of Alberta
The bet at Sports Interaction is called “regulation time”. The bet doesn’t include overtime which means it can have three outcomes: Edmonton winning, Calgary winning or a tie.
Edmonton is the favorite to win the game. They are also the 2/1 favourite to win overtime. You can see the difference in returns by betting on the regulation line. In this case, Edmonton has 1.56 odds of winning the game (including overtime). If you like Edmonton, betting on the regulation line will earn you $56 on a $100 wager, and $91 on a $100 one. The regulation line can be valuable if you want a team that wins the game before either OT or a shootout.