Both Teams to Score (BTTS) Explained

Both Teams to Score, usually shortened to BTTS, is a football market with only two outcomes. It does not matter who wins or how many goals are scored in total, only whether each side scores at least once. This guide explains the market for readers in the UK, USA, Ireland, Canada and Australia.

It is an explanation, not a tip. The market has a built-in margin like every other, and nothing about it makes results easier to predict.

How the market works

There are two choices. BTTS Yes wins if both teams score at least once during the match. BTTS No wins if at least one team finishes with zero goals.

Here are some final scores and how they settle:

• 2-1: Yes wins, because both teams scored.
• 3-0: No wins, because one team did not score.
• 0-0: No wins.
• 1-1: Yes wins.

The scoreline is what matters, not the order in which goals were scored. Operators treat own goals in different ways, so check the terms before you bet.

Settlement is normally on the 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalty shootouts are not included unless the market says so. If a match is abandoned, the bet is often void unless the result was already decided, though rules vary by operator.

Turning prices into probabilities

To convert decimal odds to an implied probability, divide 1 by the odds. This is the same method used across betting markets and is explained in more detail in fractional, decimal and American odds compared.

Say, for illustration, a bookmaker offers Yes at 1.80 and No at 2.00 (invented prices).

• Yes: 1 divided by 1.80 is 55.56 percent.
• No: 1 divided by 2.00 is 50.00 percent.
• Total: 105.56 percent.

The total is more than 100 percent because the bookmaker has built in a margin, sometimes called the overround. Here it is about 5.56 percentage points. To estimate a “fair” view, scale each figure back to 100 percent: Yes becomes 55.56 divided by 105.56, or about 52.6 percent, and No about 47.4 percent. That is an estimate of what the prices imply, not a measured chance.

How a price can be built

A simple model treats each team’s goals as a Poisson process. This is a common textbook way of describing how scoring varies from match to match, not a perfect description of football. Suppose, for illustration and using invented scoring rates, the home team is expected to score 1.5 goals and the away team 1.1.

The chance a team scores at least once is 1 minus the chance of zero goals. For the home team that is 1 minus e to the power of -1.5, or about 77.7 percent. For the away team it is 1 minus e to the power of -1.1, or about 66.7 percent. If the two are treated as independent, the chance of both scoring is 0.777 times 0.667, which is about 51.8 percent. Under those invented inputs and that independence assumption, a fair price for Yes would be near 1.93. In real matches the two teams’ scoring is linked, so this is a teaching sketch only.

Real compilers do more. They adjust for injuries, tactical styles, motivation and how the market is moving. See how odds compilers work.

Combining BTTS with other markets

BTTS is often offered in combination with the match result or with over/under goals. For example, “home win and BTTS Yes” requires the home team to win and both teams to score, so the only winning scores are things like 2-1 or 3-1.

The two parts of such a bet are linked, so the price is not simply the two prices multiplied together. The bookmaker prices the combination as a single event using its own model, and it adds margin to that price. The more parts you add, the more the margin can compound, as with accumulators. For details on linked legs see same-game parlays and bet builders explained.

Over 2.5 goals and BTTS Yes also overlap. Any match with three or more goals where both teams score satisfies both, but a 3-0 win satisfies only the over. Read over/under goals betting explained for the totals side.

Common misunderstandings

• “Both teams scored last time, so it is more likely now.” Past results can be one input to a model, but a streak does not create a rule. See the gambler’s fallacy and probability myths.
• “No is the safe side.” Neither side is safe. A price of 2.00 means the bookmaker thinks it is roughly a coin toss, with margin on top.
• “Half-time BTTS is the same market.” Half-time and second-half versions exist and are generally settled only on goals in that period.

Rules by country

• United Kingdom: BTTS is widely offered on football by operators licensed in Great Britain. The age is 18 and winnings are not taxed for the player.
• United States: many sportsbooks offer BTTS on soccer, with prices shown in American odds. For example, a price of +100 is the same as decimal 2.00. Regulation is state by state and ages are mostly 21.
• Ireland: the market is common with Irish bookmakers. Licensing under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 is being rolled out, betting first.
• Canada: BTTS is offered by regulated operators. Ages are 19 in most provinces and 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec.
• Australia: licensed wagering operators offer soccer markets, but online in-play sports betting is generally prohibited. Online casino games are also prohibited.

The bottom line

Both Teams to Score is a two-outcome football market. Divide 1 by the odds to see the implied probability, expect the two sides to add to more than 100 percent, and be careful with combined markets because the margin is larger. Decide a budget before you bet and check it against your spend tracker. Most bettors lose over time, and no market changes that.

Sources

• Glossary of bets (sportinglife.com)
• Types of bets guide (racingpost.com)
• Punting on the law: in play betting (hallandwilcox.com.au)
• In-play betting guidance (gamblingcommission.gov.uk)

18+ only (21 in most US states, 19 in most Canadian provinces for casino and betting). Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available: Great Britain: England and Scotland 0808 8020 133, Wales 0808 2819 265 (free, 24 hours), and GAMSTOP (gamstop.co.uk); US: National Problem Gambling Helpline 1-800-MY-RESET (the older 1-800-522-4700 also works); Australia: Gambling Help Online 1800 858 858 and BetStop (betstop.gov.au); Ontario, Canada: ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600; Ireland: speak to your GP or the HSE. Never gamble money you need for living costs.