In the difficult world of betting survives anyone who has patience, perseverance, plan, information, and above all, who works methodically and with cold blood.
The method of betting is something that characterizes the professional player, but also the one who respects his money and tries not to be in the "red". There are various tools that players use around the globe and many can say for and against for each of them. But let's start by knowing some of the tools the book uses in the endless battle with the players.
Rake, his gain book
Η rake is the book's profit percentage of any event it offers for betting. The more difficult it is for a book to determine the probability of an event, the larger the rake adds. The usual levels of rake varying around the world are around 8-10%. In recent years, of course, due to the high competition of the betting market tends to fall to lower levels.
In simple words, let's say that in a fight we have the following odds:
2,00-3,00-4,00 and we want to secure 1000 unit gain by betting on all three points.
We have to play in the 1000 / 2,00 = equation 500 units
At tie 1000 / 3,00 = 333 units
And in the double 1000 / 4,00 = 250 units
So whichever is the result we will have won 1000 units! Good one huh? Yes if the money we have bet was less than 1000 units ...
However, having 500 + 333 + 250 = 1083 units in total, we will get back 1000 units! That's why Bookmakers always win ...
The mathematical formula of the rake for a match with odds on
1 = AxNUMX, at X = AxNUMX and at 1 = AxNUMX is the following. 
This calculation is for football events and generally what events have three possible outcomes. In basketball, however, the possibility of a tie may not be suitable for betting, we also omit it in the calculation. So if we want to calculate the rake in a two-point game then we only use Axminx and Axminx.
For example, in a football game between Larissa and Heracles, odds on OPAP and the average odds of the online book were:
OPAP: ...... 1,70 - 3,00 - 4,00
M.O..: ........ 1,70 - 3,35 - 4,50
OPAP rake=100*(1-1/(1/1,70+1/3,00+1/4,00))=14,64%
Internet rake=100*(1-1/(1,70+1/3,35+1/4,50))=9,82%
So we see that in this match there is a difference of 4,82%. It should be noted here that it does not matter that the ace is given the same odds on the internet and on OPAP. What interests the book is not a given point, but its profit from all bets. This is because not only the ace is going to be played, since the other two points will take over the game.
And of course, this game at OPAP was not an option for anyone to bet on it alone. He had to combine it with two other games, which greatly increases the rake, which in combinations is given by the formula:
1 - (1 - G) ^ N where
G = the average race rake in decimal format.
N = the number of matches.
^ = symbol of height rise
So if, along with the above-mentioned game, we chose two more with the same rake (14,64% or 0,1464 in decimal format), the total rake with which to play our combo would be
1–(1–0,1464)^3=1–(0,8536)^3=1–0,62=0,38 ή αλλιώς 38% !!!
That in a nutshell means that if we played 100 €, in our pocket we would return only 62 or otherwise OPAP would have a net profit of 38 € !!!
Here one could say to me: "Well, if I catch my triad, OPAP will not pay me the total rate on 100 €? "
Of course he will pay for it, but there is no doubt that the buck is not interested in the point you choose in each race, he is interested in having a steady profit from all the players who will bet regardless of their choice.
In conclusion, each betting player leaves a certain rake in the book. Those who bet on ONLY bets leave the minimum "tip", while those who bet on triplets, quads, etc. are mathematically certain to be lost in the long run.
Where conditions are best for players is the Asian handicap. This is because, as has been reported in other columns, the probable odds are reduced from three to two, as the probability eliminates the possibility of a draw.
Let's take the League 2 game in England, for example, between Darlington and Northampton ...
19:45 | Darlington | +0.5 | 2.020 | | 2.5 | over | 2.070 |
Northampton Town | -0.5 | 1.900 | | under | 1.830 |
We see that the home team is played with a half-goal lead, in fact 1X in 2,02 and the clean double at 1,90. The rake in this case it is just at 2,09%!
Similarly, over 2,5 is played on 2,07 with under 2,5 given to 1,83 and rake to be located in 2,87%!
Do we see the corresponding rake in the same match at OPAP?
DIP | OE | CODE | 1 | PURCHASE | Χ | HOSPITALIZED | 2 | Rake | 1X | -U- | -ABOUT- | Rake |
AG2 | 21:45 | 127 | 3,30 | DARLINGTON | 3,20 | NORTHAMPTON | 1,85 | 13,50% | 1,62 | 1,60 | 1,85 | 14,20% |
We notice that the rake in a three-point game is 13,5%, and if we take the 1X in 1,62 and the clean double at 1,85 the rake becomes 13,63%. In his case under / over we have the rake in 14,2%... And of course, we have to take into account that if we have to play two more games, the rake goes up to about 38% ...
