Guide
Bet Slip Explained: How to Read, Check and Share a Betslip
Every line of a bet slip explained, how to check one after the match, how singles, multis and system bets are counted, and what booking codes can and cannot do.
A bet slip is the list of selections you are about to bet on, together with the odds, your stake, the bet type and the potential return. At a licensed South African bookmaker the betslip fills up as you tap on prices; once you confirm, it becomes a placed bet with a reference number that you can check in your bet history until it settles.
This guide reads a bet slip line by line, shows how to check one after the match, works out singles, multis and system bets with a calculator, and explains what a booking code can and cannot do.
Bet slip in short
- Before you confirm: check the event, the market, the selection, the odds, the bet type and the stake.
- Potential return = stake x odds, and it includes your stake.
- Multi: odds multiply, every leg must win. System: several bets on one slip, one stake each.
- After the match: bet history shows won, lost, void or cashed out per leg.
- Booking codes copy selections, not results. Nobody sells a slip that is known to win.
The parts of a betslip, line by line
Layouts differ from one bookmaker to the next, but almost every bet slip carries the same fields. Here is what each one means and what to look for before you tap confirm.
| Field | What it tells you | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Event and start time | The fixture or race and when it starts | Right teams, right day, right competition |
| Market | The type of bet: match result, both teams to score, handicap, total goals | Full time or first half; normal time or including extra time |
| Selection | The outcome you picked | Home and away the right way round |
| Odds | The price when you added the selection | In-play prices can change before you confirm |
| Bet type | Single, multi or a named system | Matches what you meant to place |
| Stake | The amount you risk, in rand; for systems, per bet or in total | The total cost on a system slip |
| Potential return | Stake x odds, including the stake | Lower if a bonus stake is used |
| Reference | Appears once the bet is placed | Quote it in any query |
If the slip says a bonus bet or "free bet" is being used, read that line twice. With most bonus stakes the stake itself is not paid back, so the return shown can be lower than you expect.
Singles, multis and system bets on one slip
Add one selection and you have a single: if it wins, you are paid stake x odds. Add selections from other events and the slip offers a multi, also called an accumulator or combo: the odds multiply and every leg must win. One wrong result loses the whole accumulator bet slip, which is why four legs at 1.80 pay 10.50 but land far less often than any single one of them.
A system bet splits the same selections into many smaller multiples, each a separate bet with its own stake. If one leg fails, the combinations without it can still pay. The price is a much higher total stake. Some bookmakers label systems by name, others by combination, such as "2 from 3".
A system bet helps when
- You want some return even if one selection lets you down.
- The selections are at longer odds, so a double or treble alone still pays well.
- You set the stake per bet low enough that the total stays inside your budget.
A system bet hurts when
- You forget that R10 a bet on a Lucky 15 costs R150.
- The selections are short-priced, so the winning doubles do not cover the losing lines.
- It turns one bet into dozens and makes it harder to see what you have staked.
The calculator below takes your selections and their odds, lets you pick the bet type from a single to a Heinz, and counts the bets, the total stake and the return. Tick the legs that won to see what a settled slip should pay.
Bet slip and system bet calculator
Enter your selections, pick the bet type and mark which legs won. The calculator counts the bets in a system, the total stake and what the slip returns.
- Bets on the slip
- -
- Total stake
- -
- Return with the results ticked
- -
- Return if every leg wins
- -
Returns include the stake and ignore bookmaker rules such as maximum payouts, dead heats and void legs, which the terms settle. 18+ only. Betting can lead to losses and addiction, so set a budget before you start. Responsible gambling.
For quick sums on one single or multi, the betting odds calculator also converts fractional and American prices and shows the implied chance.
Checking a bet slip after the match
Settled bets usually appear within minutes of the final whistle, but some markets, such as player bets or racing with a stewards' inquiry, take longer. Checking a bet slip is quick if you do it in order.
- Open your bet history. Every licensed bookmaker keeps open and settled bets in the account area, often called "my bets". Filter by date if you placed many.
- Match the reference. Make sure you are looking at the right slip, especially if you placed several similar ones.
- Read each leg. Won, lost, void or cashed out. A void leg in a multi normally counts at 1.00, so the return is lower than first shown.
- Check the market rules. Most disputes come from rules, not results: normal time only, a player who did not start, an abandoned match, a dead heat in racing.
- Query in writing. If the settlement still looks wrong, contact support with the reference and a short explanation, and keep their reply.
For bets placed over the counter at a branch, the printed ticket is the slip. Keep it dry and safe until it is paid; at most retail counters the paper ticket is what gets paid out.
Booking codes: sharing a slip without retyping it
A booking code saves the selections on a slip as a short code. You build the slip, choose to book or share it, and receive the code. Enter it at the same bookmaker on another phone, or send it to a friend, and the selections load again; you then set your own stake and confirm.
- A booking code works only at the bookmaker that issued it. At another site you add the selections yourself.
- Prices update to the current odds when the code is loaded, and selections that have started or closed drop out.
- It places nothing by itself and carries no information about how the games will go.
"Bet slips for today" and slip generators
Search for bet slips today, today's booking code or betslip prediction and you will find channels selling slips, "sure" codes and bet slip generators. A slip is only as good as the guesses on it.
A bet slip generator picks selections at random or from simple filters; it cannot change the chance of a single match. If you want to understand markets rather than copy them, our guide on how to bet explains them step by step.
Odds changes, partial acceptance and maximum stakes
Between tapping a price and confirming, three things can change what the slip shows.
- Price changes. In-play and close to kick-off, prices move quickly. The slip shows the new price and asks you to accept it; some apps have a setting that accepts price changes automatically, which is worth leaving off until you know what it does.
- Maximum stake. Bookmakers limit how much they accept on some markets. If your stake is above the limit, the slip may offer to place a lower amount.
- Suspended markets. After a goal or a red card a market can close for a moment, and the selection cannot be confirmed until it reopens.
Whatever changes, the bet is struck at the price and stake shown when the bookmaker accepts it, and your bet history shows those figures.
Common slip mistakes and how to avoid them
- An old selection left on the slip from an earlier session, which quietly becomes part of your multi. Clear the slip before you start.
- Accepting an odds change without looking during live betting. The slip asks you to accept new prices; read them first.
- Stake per bet versus total stake on a system slip. The total is what leaves your balance.
- Related selections in one multi, such as a team to win and to win by two. Many bookmakers refuse them or price them as a bet builder instead.
- Return mistaken for profit. The potential return includes your stake.
Using your bet history as a spending record
Bet history shows more than results. Looking over a month of slips tells you how much you staked in total, not just what came back on the good days. If the total surprises you, set a deposit limit in your account or take a break; licensed bookmakers offer both. Betting is for adults aged 18 and over only, and our responsible gambling page lists confidential support.
Questions and answers
What is a bet slip?
It is the list of selections you are about to bet on, with the odds, your stake, the bet type and the potential return. Once you confirm it, it becomes a placed bet with its own reference number in your bet history.
How do I check a bet slip after the match?
Open the bet history or "my bets" section of your account, find the slip by its reference and look at each leg: won, lost, void or cashed out. If a result looks wrong, read the market rules and then contact support in writing with the reference.
What does void mean on a bet slip?
The selection is treated as if it never happened, usually because the match was postponed or a market rule applied. A void single returns the stake; in a multi the void leg normally counts at odds of 1.00 and the rest of the slip stands.
Can I change a bet slip after placing it?
Usually not. Once confirmed, the bet stands unless the bookmaker offers cash out or an edit feature for that bet. Check every line before you confirm.
What is a booking code?
A short code that saves the selections on a slip so they can be loaded again on another device or by someone else. It only works at the bookmaker that created it, it loads current prices, and it places nothing until you set a stake and confirm.
Are "winning bet slips for today" real?
No one can know results before the games are played. Slips sold or shared as winners before kick-off are guesses, and sellers tend to show only the slips that won. Be wary of anyone who asks for payment in voucher PINs.
How many bets are in a Yankee or a Lucky 15?
A Yankee is 11 bets on four selections: six doubles, four trebles and one fourfold. A Lucky 15 adds the four singles, so 15 bets. Each bet costs one unit stake, so R10 per bet on a Lucky 15 costs R150.
Where do I find old bet slips?
In the bet history of your account. Most bookmakers let you filter by date and by open or settled bets. Paper tickets from a branch are the slip itself, so keep them until the bet is paid.