Understanding Margins in 1Win, Mostbet, and 1xbet

The bookmaker’s margin, also known as the overround, vig, or juice, is one of the most critical factors affecting long-term profitability in sports betting. Understanding how margins work and comparing them across different platforms can significantly impact your betting success. This comprehensive guide examines the margin structures of three major bookmakers—1Win, Mostbet, and 1xbet—helping you make informed decisions about where to place your bets for maximum value.

What is Bookmaker’s Margin?

Before diving into platform-specific comparisons, it’s essential to understand what margin means and how it affects your betting.

Definition and Calculation

The bookmaker’s margin is the built-in profit advantage that betting companies incorporate into their odds. It represents the difference between the “true odds” (based on actual probability) and the odds offered to bettors. This margin ensures the bookmaker makes a profit regardless of the event outcome, assuming balanced action on both sides.

To calculate the margin, convert all possible outcomes’ odds to implied probabilities and sum them. In a fair market with no margin, the total would equal 100%. The amount exceeding 100% represents the bookmaker’s margin.

Example Calculation:

Consider a football match with these odds:

• Home win: 2.00 (50% implied probability)
• Draw: 3.50 (28.57% implied probability)
• Away win: 4.00 (25% implied probability)

Total implied probability: 50% + 28.57% + 25% = 103.57%

The margin is 3.57%, meaning the bookmaker has built in a 3.57% profit advantage on this match.

Why Margin Matters

Lower margins mean better value for bettors. A bookmaker offering 4% margin provides significantly better long-term value than one offering 8% margin. Over hundreds or thousands of bets, these differences compound dramatically.

For professional and serious recreational bettors, finding the lowest margins possible is crucial for profitability. Even a 1-2% difference in margin can determine whether a betting strategy is profitable or unprofitable over the long term.

Margin Comparison: 1Win, Mostbet, and 1xbet

Let’s examine how these three platforms structure their margins across different sports and event types.

Football (Soccer) Margins

Football is the most popular betting sport globally, and margins on major football matches are typically among the lowest offered by bookmakers due to intense competition.

1xbet Football Margins

1xbet is known for offering competitive margins on football, particularly for top-tier competitions:

Major European Leagues (Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1):

• Typical margin: 4-6%
• High-profile matches (Manchester City vs Arsenal, Real Madrid vs Barcelona): Often 3.5-5%
• Mid-table matches: Usually 5-6.5%

UEFA Champions League:

• Group stage matches: 4-5.5%
• Knockout stage matches: 3.5-5%
• Final: Often 3-4%, among the lowest in the industry

Secondary European Leagues (Dutch Eredivisie, Portuguese Primeira Liga, Belgian Pro League):

• Typical margin: 6-7.5%

Lower-Tier Leagues and Obscure Competitions:

• Margin can increase to 8-10% or higher
• Third and fourth division matches often have 10-12% margins

Asian and Other Regional Football:

• Mainstream Asian leagues (J-League, K-League): 6-8%
• Less popular Asian leagues: 8-12%

1xbet’s strength lies in offering relatively low margins even on less mainstream competitions compared to competitors. However, the platform’s margins can vary significantly between different betting types on the same match—main outcomes typically have lower margins while more exotic bets carry higher margins.

Mostbet Football Margins

Mostbet provides competitive margins with consistent quality across major competitions:

Major European Leagues:

• Typical margin: 4.5-6.5%
• Top matches: 4-5.5%
• Regular fixtures: 5.5-7%

UEFA Competitions:

• Champions League: 4.5-6%
• Europa League: 5-6.5%
• Conference League: 5.5-7%

Secondary Leagues:

• Margin: 6.5-8%

Lower-Tier Competitions:

• Margin: 7.5-10%

Mostbet’s margins are generally consistent and reliable. The platform doesn’t always offer the absolute lowest margins on every match, but it maintains competitive rates across a broad range of competitions. This consistency makes Mostbet attractive for bettors who value predictable pricing alongside competitive odds.

1Win Football Margins

1Win offers competitive margins with particular strength in popular mainstream matches:

Major European Leagues:

• Typical margin: 5-7%
• Featured matches: 4.5-6%
• Standard matches: 6-7.5%

UEFA Competitions:

• Champions League: 5-6.5%
• Other UEFA competitions: 6-7.5%

Other Leagues:

• Popular leagues: 6.5-8%
• Less mainstream competitions: 8-10%

1Win compensates for slightly higher margins on some events through generous bonus programs and promotional offers with enhanced odds. The platform frequently runs promotions featuring boosted odds on selected matches, which can offset the standard margin and provide excellent value for specific events.

Football Margin Comparison Summary:

For the absolute lowest margins on top-tier football: 1xbet typically leads, especially on Champions League and major league fixtures.

For consistent competitive margins across most competitions: Mostbet offers reliable value with less variance.

For mainstream matches combined with bonus value: 1Win provides competitive margins enhanced by generous promotional offers.

Basketball Margins

Basketball, particularly the NBA, is the second most popular betting sport globally and attracts significant betting volume.

1xbet Basketball Margins

NBA:

• Regular season: 4.5-6%
• Playoff games: 4-5.5%
• Finals: 3.5-5%

EuroLeague:

• Typical margin: 5-6.5%

National European Leagues (Spanish ACB, Italian Lega, Turkish BSL):

• Margin: 6-7.5%

NCAA Basketball:

• Major conference games: 5.5-7%
• March Madness: 5-6.5%

Lower-Tier Competitions:

• Margin: 7-10%

1xbet offers extensive basketball coverage with competitive margins on NBA and major European competitions. The platform’s margins on alternative betting types (player props, quarter betting) are also relatively competitive compared to industry standards.

Mostbet Basketball Margins

NBA:

• Regular season: 5-6.5%
• Playoffs: 4.5-6%
• Finals: 4.5-5.5%

European Basketball:

• EuroLeague: 5.5-7%
• National leagues: 6.5-8%

Other Competitions:

• NCAA: 6-7.5%
• International tournaments: 6-8%

Mostbet maintains solid margins on basketball with particular strength in European competitions where the platform has strong market knowledge.

1Win Basketball Margins

NBA:

• Regular season: 5.5-7%
• Playoffs: 5-6.5%
• Major games: 5-6%

European Basketball:

• Major competitions: 6.5-8%

Other Basketball:

• Margin: 7-9%

1Win’s basketball margins are competitive on NBA games, especially when factoring in promotional offers and accumulator bonuses.

Basketball Margin Summary:

1xbet offers the lowest margins on NBA and top European basketball. Mostbet provides balanced margins with good value on European competitions. 1Win delivers competitive NBA margins enhanced by bonuses.

Tennis Margins

Tennis is unique in offering nearly year-round betting opportunities with frequent tournaments at various levels.

1xbet Tennis Margins

Grand Slam Tournaments (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open):

• Early rounds: 4.5-6%
• Later rounds: 4-5%
• Finals: 3.5-4.5%

ATP Masters 1000 / WTA 1000:

• Margin: 4.5-6%

ATP 500 / WTA 500:

• Margin: 5-6.5%

ATP 250 / WTA 250:

• Margin: 5.5-7%

Challenger and ITF Events:

• Margin: 6.5-9%

Tennis typically has lower margins than team sports due to the binary nature (only two possible winners) and the high betting volumes on popular matches. 1xbet maintains very competitive margins on tennis across all levels.

Mostbet Tennis Margins

Grand Slams:

• Margin: 4.5-5.5%

Masters/Premier Events:

• Margin: 5-6%

Regular Tour Events:

• Margin: 5.5-7%

Lower-Tier Tournaments:

• Margin: 6.5-8.5%

Mostbet offers excellent tennis margins, often matching or nearly matching 1xbet on major tournaments.

1Win Tennis Margins

Grand Slams:

• Margin: 5-6.5%

Major Tournaments:

• Margin: 5.5-7%

Regular Events:

• Margin: 6.5-8%

Lower-Tier Events:

• Margin: 7.5-9.5%

1Win’s tennis margins are competitive on major events, with the platform focusing on the most popular tournaments rather than comprehensive coverage of all levels.

Tennis Margin Summary:

Tennis generally offers excellent value across all three platforms. 1xbet and Mostbet lead in margin competitiveness, particularly on Grand Slam events.

Ice Hockey Margins

Ice hockey attracts significant betting interest, especially in North America, Russia, and Northern Europe.

1xbet Ice Hockey Margins

NHL:

• Regular season: 5-6.5%
• Playoffs: 4.5-6%
• Stanley Cup Finals: 4-5.5%

KHL:

• Regular season: 5.5-7%
• Playoffs: 5-6.5%

European Leagues (SHL, Liiga, NLA):

• Margin: 6-8%

International Tournaments:

• World Championships: 5-6%
• Olympics: 4.5-5.5%

1Win and Mostbet Ice Hockey Margins

Both platforms offer similar margin structures for hockey:

NHL: 5.5-7% KHL: 6-7.5% European Leagues: 6.5-8.5% International Events: 5.5-7%

All three platforms provide competitive hockey margins, with 1xbet having a slight edge on NHL games.

Combat Sports Margins (MMA and Boxing)

Combat sports present unique pricing challenges due to the potential for upsets and the difficulty in accurately assessing fight outcomes.

1xbet Combat Sports Margins

UFC Main Events:

• Championship fights: 5-7%
• Main card fights: 6-8%
• Preliminary card: 7-10%

Major Boxing Events:

• Title fights with stars: 5-7%
• Regular championship bouts: 6.5-8.5%

Other MMA Promotions (Bellator, ONE Championship):

• Margin: 7-10%

Combat sports typically carry higher margins than mainstream team sports due to lower betting volumes and higher unpredictability.

Mostbet and 1Win Combat Sports Margins

Both platforms offer similar structures:

Major UFC/Boxing Events: 6-8% Regular Events: 7.5-10% Lesser Promotions: 8-12%

Combat sports margins are generally higher across all platforms, reflecting the risk associated with the sport’s unpredictability.

Esports Margins

Esports has grown dramatically as a betting category, with all three platforms now offering comprehensive coverage.

1xbet Esports Margins

Major Tournaments (CS2 Majors, Dota 2 The International, LoL Worlds):

• Margin: 5-7%

Regular Professional Matches:

• Tier 1 teams: 6-8%
• Tier 2 teams: 7-10%

Regional Leagues:

• Margin: 8-12%

1xbet leads in esports coverage depth, offering betting on everything from top-tier tournaments to semi-professional regional leagues.

Mostbet Esports Margins

Major Tournaments: 6-8% Professional Matches: 7-9% Regional Events: 8-11%

1Win Esports Margins

Major Tournaments: 6-8.5% Professional Matches: 7-10%

1Win has strong esports focus given its younger target demographic, offering competitive margins on popular titles.

Esports Margin Summary:

Esports margins are gradually decreasing as the industry matures. 1xbet offers the most comprehensive coverage with competitive margins. All three platforms provide good value on major esports events.

Live Betting Margins

In-play betting margins typically differ from pre-match margins due to the dynamic nature of live odds and reduced liquidity.

General Live Betting Margin Patterns

Across all three platforms, live betting margins typically:

• Increase by 1-3% compared to pre-match margins
• Fluctuate based on game situation and time remaining
• Are tighter during stable game periods
• Widen during critical moments (goals, timeouts, set points)

1xbet Live Margins

1xbet maintains relatively competitive live margins given their extensive live offering (500+ events simultaneously). The platform’s live margins typically add 1.5-2.5% to pre-match margins for main betting types.

Mostbet Live Margins

Mostbet’s live margins are consistent, usually adding 1.5-3% to pre-match rates. The platform prioritizes stability over aggressive pricing but maintains competitive overall value.

1Win Live Margins

1Win’s live margins add approximately 2-3.5% to pre-match rates. The platform compensates through superior mobile interface and quick bet placement capabilities.

Alternative Betting Types and Margins

Beyond main outcomes, bookmakers offer numerous alternative betting types, each with different margin structures.

Asian Handicaps

Asian handicaps typically carry lower margins than traditional 1X2 betting:

• 1xbet: 3.5-5% on major football matches
• Mostbet: 4-5.5%
• 1Win: 4.5-6%

Totals (Over/Under)

Total betting margins are usually comparable to main outcome margins:

• Similar ranges as 1X2 betting on the same events
• Alternative total lines may have slightly higher margins

Player Props and Specials

These exotic bets carry significantly higher margins:

• Typical range: 10-20% across all platforms
• Reflects difficulty in pricing and lower liquidity
• 1xbet offers the most variety but margins remain high

Margin Variation Factors

Several factors influence margin levels across all platforms:

Event Popularity

More popular events attract more betting volume, allowing bookmakers to reduce margins while maintaining profit. Premier League matches have lower margins than fourth-division games.

Liquidity and Competition

Events with high betting volumes and strong competition between bookmakers see the lowest margins. Champions League finals and World Cup matches feature razor-thin margins.

Market Maturity

Established betting disciplines (football, tennis) have lower margins than emerging ones (esports, niche sports).

Time to Event

Margins sometimes tighten as events approach, as bookmakers receive more information and betting patterns become clearer.

Practical Implications for Bettors

Understanding margins helps inform betting decisions:

Line Shopping

Since margins vary between bookmakers and even between different matches on the same platform, comparing odds across 1Win, Mostbet, and 1xbet before placing bets can yield better value. A 1% difference in margin may seem small but compounds significantly over time.

Selective Betting

Focus on events where your chosen platform offers competitive margins. If 1xbet consistently offers better Champions League odds but Mostbet excels on tennis Grand Slams, distribute your betting accordingly.

Bonus Consideration

Factor promotional offers into margin calculations. 1Win’s generous bonuses can offset slightly higher margins on some events, creating net positive value.

Long-Term Impact

A bettor making 1000 bets per year could see a difference of 10-20 betting units in long-term results solely based on choosing platforms with 1-2% lower margins.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Overall Margin Leaders by Sport:

Football: 1xbet for top-tier competitions, Mostbet for consistent value across all levels Basketball: 1xbet for NBA, Mostbet for European basketball Tennis: 1xbet and Mostbet both excellent, especially on Grand Slams Hockey: 1xbet slight edge on NHL Combat Sports: Similar across all three platforms Esports: 1xbet for breadth, all three competitive on major tournaments

General Recommendations:

Choose 1xbet if: You prioritize the absolute lowest margins and bet on a wide variety of sports and competition levels. The platform consistently offers some of the industry’s best margins on major events.

Choose Mostbet if: You value consistent, reliable margins across diverse competitions without extreme variance. Mostbet offers excellent balance between competitive margins and user experience.

Choose 1Win if: You’re willing to accept slightly higher baseline margins in exchange for generous bonuses, superior mobile experience, and promotional offers that can create overall positive value.

Optimal Strategy: Maintain accounts on all three platforms, compare odds before placing bets, and utilize each platform’s strengths for specific sports or events. Professional bettors commonly use multiple bookmakers precisely to access the best available margins on each bet.

Remember that while margins are crucial, they’re just one factor in successful betting. Betting discipline, bankroll management, research quality, and psychological control all play equally important roles in long-term profitability.