What is a bet slip, and how do you check one?

A bet slip is the list of selections you are about to bet on, together with your stake, the odds and the possible return. At a licensed South African bookmaker it fills up as you tap on odds, and once you confirm it becomes a placed bet with its own reference number. Knowing how to read and check a bet slip saves arguments with support and helps you spot mistakes before they cost money.

The parts of a bet slip

Layouts differ by bookmaker, but almost every slip shows the same fields:

If the slip shows a bonus or free bet being used, read that line twice. Bonus stakes are often not returned with the winnings, so the potential return can be lower than you expect.

Singles, multis and the accumulator bet slip

A single is one selection: if it wins, you are paid. A multi, also called an accumulator, combines several selections and multiplies their odds, so the return grows quickly, but every leg must win. One wrong result loses the whole accumulator bet slip. System bets split one slip into many smaller combinations so that some can still pay if one leg fails, at the cost of a higher total stake.

The arithmetic is simple to test with our betting odds calculator: add four selections at odds of 1.80 and the combined price looks attractive, but the chance of all four landing is far lower than the chance of any one of them.

How to check a bet slip after the match

1. Open your bet history. Every bookmaker keeps a record of open and settled bets in the account area. Settled bets show won, lost, void or cashed out.
2. Match the reference. Make sure you are looking at the right slip, especially if you placed several similar bets.
3. Check each leg. On a multi, look at which selections are marked as won, lost or void. A void leg is usually removed and the slip is paid at reduced odds.
4. Read the market rules. Many disputes come from rules rather than results: whether extra time counts, what happens if a player does not start, how an abandoned match is settled.
5. Query in writing. If a result looks wrong, contact support with the reference number and a short explanation. Keep their reply.

For retail bets placed at a branch, the printed ticket is the slip. Keep it safe and dry; for most bookmakers the paper ticket is what gets paid.

Booking codes: sharing a bet slip

A booking code is a short code that saves a set of selections so someone else, or you on another device, can load the same slip without adding each game by hand. You build the slip, choose to book or share it, and receive a code. Entering that code at the same bookmaker reloads the selections, after which you set your own stake and confirm.

A booking code only works at the bookmaker that created it, and odds update to current prices when the code is loaded. It does not place a bet on its own, and it carries no special information about how the games will go.

Why "winning bet slips for today" are a warning sign

Search for bet slips today or betslips for today and you will find groups selling booking codes, "sure" slips and bet slip generators. Treat them with suspicion:

• No one can know today's results in advance. A slip described as winning before kick-off is a guess with marketing on top.
• Sellers often show only past slips that won and quietly drop the ones that lost.
• Some groups ask for payment in voucher PINs, which are almost impossible to recover once shared.
• A betslip prediction from a stranger does not change the odds of the match by a single cent.

If you want to understand form and markets, our guide to how to bet on soccer explains how odds and markets work without promising results.

Common bet slip mistakes

• Adding a selection twice on a multi, or adding two related outcomes that the bookmaker will not allow together.
• Missing an odds change during live betting and confirming at a lower price than you saw.
• Leaving an old selection on the slip from a previous session, which then becomes part of your multi.
• Confusing return with profit. The potential return includes your stake.

Keeping your bet slips in check

Bet history is also a useful mirror. Looking back over a month of slips shows how much you have staked in total, not just what you won on the good days. Betting is only for people aged 18 and over. If the numbers worry you, set a deposit limit or take a break, and see our responsible gambling page for support.