You open a T20 World Cup game on BLISS247 and there are three tabs: Match Odds, Bookmaker and Normal. Two of them seem to ask the same question, who wins, but show completely different numbers. One says 1.47. The other says 45. Which one should you use?
Fair question, and a common one. This lesson takes each market in turn, shows how its prices are built, converts between them with real ₹ figures, and ends with a simple rule for picking the right one.
What is the Match Odds market?
Match Odds is the exchange market on the result. On BLISS247 its prices are decimal odds, and they're set by other users backing and laying against each other. You can back a team to win or lay it to lose.
Back ₹2,000 at 1.47 and, if the team wins, your profit is ₹2,000 × 0.47 = ₹940 before any commission. Because real people are on both sides, Match Odds reacts to every ball. A boundary nudges the price in, a wicket pushes it out. That movement is what makes trading out possible.
If you've not met back and lay yet, start with Back and Lay Betting Explained: Liability and Trading Out and come back here.
How does the Bookmaker market work?
The Bookmaker market is a managed market. Instead of decimal odds you see a rate, such as 45, which means you win ₹45 for every ₹100 you stake.
Converting a Bookmaker rate to decimal odds
The conversion is one line: decimal odds = 1 + rate ÷ 100. A rate of 45 is roughly 1.45 in decimal. A rate of 120 is 2.20.
So ₹2,000 at a rate of 45 wins ₹2,000 × 45 ÷ 100 = ₹900. Compare that with the ₹940 from Match Odds at 1.47. On this example the exchange price was slightly better. Sometimes it's the other way round, which is exactly why it pays to check both.
Why Bookmaker prices look smoother
Because the market is managed, prices move in steadier steps rather than ticking with every order. The trade-off is suspension. Around key moments, such as a wicket, a review or the last few balls of a tight finish, the Bookmaker market on BLISS247 often closes for a while. Don't plan an exit that depends on it staying open.
What does the Normal market cover?
Normal is the home of session and fancy lines: 6 over runs, 10 over runs, batter runs, partnership runs. You choose Yes or No against a line, and the rate fixes your payout. It isn't about who wins at all, which makes it a separate tool.
The full explanation, including why winning by one run pays the same as winning by twenty, is in Fancy and Session Bets in Cricket: How Yes and No Lines Work.
The three cricket markets compared
| Feature | Match Odds | Bookmaker | Normal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Question | Who wins | Who wins | Will a line be reached |
| Price format | Decimal odds, e.g. 1.47 | Rate per ₹100, e.g. 45 | Line plus rate, e.g. Yes 48 at 100 |
| Back and lay | Yes | Yes, as a managed rate | Yes / No |
| Price movement | Every order | Smoother steps | Every ball |
| Suspensions | Brief | Often around key moments | Around most deliveries |
| Settles | End of match | End of match | When the session ends |
When should you use each market?
Think about what you actually want from the bet. That decides the market, not habit.
- Match Odds if you want to trade, to back early and lay later, or if you want the sharpest price on the result.
- Bookmaker if you want a simple result bet, a clean rate and no fiddling with tick sizes.
- Normal if your opinion is about a passage of play, say a slow powerplay on a used Chepauk pitch, rather than the result.
Here's a worked comparison. You think the chasing side at the Wankhede will win under dew. You want to stake ₹1,500. Match Odds shows 1.62, so the profit would be ₹930. Bookmaker shows a rate of 58, so the win would be ₹870. If you plan to sit until the finish, Match Odds pays ₹60 more here before commission. If you want something you won't watch every ball, the Bookmaker bet is simpler. Neither is wrong.
Mistakes to avoid when switching markets
The biggest one is reading the Bookmaker rate as decimal odds. A rate of 45 is not 45.0. It's about 1.45. The second is assuming a position in Bookmaker can be traded out the same way as Match Odds. You can place an opposite bet, but suspensions may stop you at the moment you need it. The third is forgetting that a Normal bet has nothing to do with the result, so your team can win and your session bet can still lose.
Key takeaways
- Match Odds uses decimal odds set by other users and moves with every order.
- A Bookmaker rate of 45 means ₹45 profit per ₹100, about 1.45 in decimal.
- Normal markets are Yes/No session lines, settled when the session ends.
- Compare Match Odds and Bookmaker prices before any result bet on BLISS247.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bet on the same team in Match Odds and Bookmaker?
Yes. They're separate markets, so a position in one doesn't offset the other. Your exposure on BLISS247 shows each market on its own. Be careful not to double your risk by accident, since a loss on the result would then cost you in both places.
Why is the Bookmaker market suspended so often?
Managed markets close around moments where the price is about to change sharply, such as a wicket, a review or a big over near the finish. It protects the market from bets placed on outcomes already decided. It usually reopens once the situation settles.
Which market is best for beginners?
Most beginners find Bookmaker easiest because the rate tells you your win per ₹100 straight away. Once you're comfortable, Match Odds is worth learning for its sharper prices and trading options. Keep Normal markets for when you have a clear view on a passage of play.
Pick a match and compare live
Choose an upcoming game from the tournaments page, open all three tabs on BLISS247, and write down the prices without betting. Watching them for one innings will teach you more than any table. Then set your stake size with Bankroll Management for Bettors: Simple Staking Discipline.