Football betting squares are a simple way to place bets on a game, as you focus on specific scores rather than which team wins. It’s a fun and easy way to add excitement to watching football games.
Read on to learn everything there is to know about betting squares. This includes examples of all of the most popular US sports, particularly football. Our dedicated SportsTalkPhilly betting experts will provide extensive analysis and research into betting squares below.
What Are Betting Squares?
Betting squares are a fun way of betting on a sports game, mostly football, making the game more exciting. This contest is especially popular during the Super Bowl. It’s not too dissimilar to sweepstakes in horse racing, which are done around big events like the Grand National (UK) or the Kentucky Derby.
The game of betting squares is relatively simple. You have a 10 x 10 grid with 100 squares. Each square is numbered from 0-9 on the row and the column. One team is allocated to the rows, and the other to the columns.
The numbers on the grid can be in order or mixed up randomly. The host decides how to arrange the numbers. The most popular and fair method is to sell all 100 squares first and then randomly assign the numbers 0-9 to the rows and columns. Note that the cost of buying a square is up to the host.
How Do Betting Squares Work?
Betting squares are simple and fun. Once the football, basketball, or other sports game ends, the winning square is determined by the final digit in each team’s score.
If players select their own squares, they might try to be strategic. However, the most popular and fair way is to sell all 100 squares first and then randomly generate the numbers 0-9 after. This means there is no strategy involved and it’s just pure luck of the draw!
Once again, the value of each square is down to the host. It could be $1 per square or perhaps more, depending on how many players there are. Similarly, the winning pot is decided pre-game, whether ‘winner takes all’ at the end of the game or splitting the pot by quarters.
Betting squares are a unique game and not always available at all gambling sites. But the best US sportsbooks often feature this contest, allowing you to play against family or friends. You can hunt the internet these days to find blank betting squares to print out – making playing incredibly easy.
Example Of Betting Squares
As mentioned, betting squares are most popular in football, especially during the Super Bowl, creating an exciting form of NFL betting.
You can also use betting squares for other sports, but football is the favorite. Below are some examples of how you can play betting squares and how they generally work.
Randomly Allocated Betting Squares
This is the most popular and fairest style of betting squares. In the above photo, the Philadelphia Eagles are on the Y axis, with the New England Patriots on the X axis in this Super Bowl betting squares example.
The 0-9 numbers are in no particular order and were randomly selected after the 100 squares were filled. This method does not involve a strategy for selecting the squares; it is purely luck.
Winners Are Worked Out From The Last Digit Of Each Team’s Score
A winner is determined based on the last digit of each team’s score. This can be done at the end of each quarter, resulting in four different winners, or just at full-time. The host will set the rules before the game starts.
Using the above example, the score at Super Bowl LII was 9-3 to the Eagles at the end of the first quarter. This means that Melvin won the betting squares after the first quarter (9 on the Eagles side, 3 on the Patriots side).
At half-time, the score was 22-12 to the Eagles. Using the last digit of both scores, locate the winning square. Both were a 2, meaning Brett won the second betting squares game in the above example.
At the end of the third quarter, the score was 29-26 to the Eagles. In this case, Erin was the winner. At full-time, the score was 41-33 to the Philadelphia Eagles, meaning that the winning square was 1 on the Eagles’ axis and 3 on the Patriots’ axis. In this case, Tina was the winner.
So, there we have it: four winners of the Betting Squares contest – Melvin, Brett, Erin, and Tina. The host decides how much each quarter is worth and distributes the money to the winners. Typically, the full-time score is worth the most.
Selecting Betting Squares Strategically
Another way football fans can play squares is by having the numbers in order on the X and Y axes. For instance, in the Super Bowl squares shown above, each number is in order across both grid axes for the Kansas City Chiefs vs Philadelphia Eagles game.
Unlike our first example, where the numbers were drawn randomly after all 100 squares were filled, this time, individuals will pick their squares strategically and in order. The above example of Super Bowl betting squares is the score at half-time at Super Bowl LVII.
The Eagles were winning 24-14 at the end of the first half, meaning a 4:4 bet would’ve cashed for all end-of-first-half squares. The same would apply if the score were 4-4, 14-4, 14-14, 24-14, 24-24, 34-24, 34-34 – you get the idea.
Of course, the Chiefs ended up turning the game completely on its head, winning 38-35 come full-time. This means that the 8:5 betting square was the overall winner. 8 on the Chiefs Y axis, 4 on the Eagles X axis.
Picking individual squares makes betting on the game far more strategic, rather than random allocation, where the squares you get are the complete luck of the draw.
Regarding football squares, 0 is the most frequent number, followed by 7, then 3, and then 4.
Non-Football Betting Squares
As previously mentioned, football isn’t the only sport where betting squares can be used. One of the other sports where betting squares can be played is basketball.
Just as in football, the game is played on a 10 x 10 grid with 100 squares in total (see the above example). The squares are then filled, and the numbers are randomly allocated on both the X and Y axes. Other times, the squares can be strategically selected after the numbers have already been put into the table.
Again, it is up to the host to determine how this is done. The rules of the game will be determined before the match gets underway. The host will let you know the rules, the buy-in, and the winnings.
For example, in NBA betting, let’s say the Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers 120-112. This would mean that the 0:2 betting square will be the winner at the end of the game. 0 on the Celtics column/row, 2 on the Lakers column/row.
Betting squares is a fun way to get involved in a big game, whether in the NBA, NFL, MLB, soccer, or anything else.
How Do You Win Betting Squares?
To win betting squares, you need to match the final digit of each team’s score. There can, of course, be multiple winners depending on the rules set out by the host. Usually, there are four or five winners, one for each quarter of the game. Alternatively, there can be just one winner who takes all the winnings based on the final score.
In order for your betting square to be deemed a winner, you must match the last digit of each team’s score. For example, if the Broncos beat the Packers 33-28, the winner would be the player who has the 3:8 square on the grid. If the score was 20-17 to the Packers, then square 7:0 wins.
One team is on the X-axis, and the other is on the Y-axis for the entire game. That team then stays on that axis for the entirety of the game. It is important that the axis never changes, as square 3:8 is entirely different from square 8:3. It must be consistent for the entire game.
Example
In the above example, you can see that 100 squares have been filled for the San Francisco 49ers vs Kansas City Chiefs game at Super Bowl LVIII. Let’s quickly go through which of the above betting squares would have won at the 2024 Super Bowl at the end of each of the four quarters.
The score was 0-0 at the end of the first quarter, meaning the 0:0 square owned by ‘Seven B Seven’ in the above example would win. The half-time score was 10-3 to the 49ers, meaning square 0:3 was the winner (Smile 2 Dagney).
At the end of the third quarter, it was 49ers 10-13 Chiefs, meaning the same square 0:3 was once again the winner (Smile 2 Dagney). The game was tied at 19-19 at the end of the fourth quarter, meaning the 9:9 square owned by ‘B Smitty’ won.
Of course, the Chiefs won it 25-22 in overtime, meaning the full-time winning square was 2:5 which was owned by ‘M&M’. The process is simple and incredibly fair, as evidenced by this example.
How Much Do Betting Squares Cost?
In short, there is no set cost for betting squares. The price of the squares is at the discretion of the seller. Whether it be $1, $10, $50, or whatever value is decided pre-game, that is how much it costs to purchase one betting square.
Say the host/seller has set the price of one individual square at $1, this would mean a total of $100 in the pool when all 100 squares have been sold. The winnings are then taken from this pot, whether that be multiple winners (1st quarter, half-time, 3rd quarter, 4th quarter/full-time) or just one winner come full-time.
$1 is a popular square price if playing amongst friends and family, up to perhaps $10 per square. Of course, the more expensive one individual square, the more money there will be in the total prize pot. Thus, you could win more if you have the correct betting square.
Some high-rollers may participate in a game of betting squares, where each square is worth $100+. Some of the best sports betting apps provide this riskier, higher-stakes option.
What Are Betting Square Prizes?
Regarding betting square prizes, your winnings entirely depend on the host’s rules. Sometimes, the winning square at full-time gets 100% of the pot. Other times, the pool is split, with the winner of each quarter getting a share. For example, 20% of the prize money might go to the winning square at the end of each quarter, and the remaining 20% goes to the owner of the final score-winning square.
The beauty of this method is that it brings overtime into consideration. As we saw in Super Bowl LVIII, overtime is very much a possibility in the NFL. In this case, it means that there were five different betting square winners for each of the four quarters and then the full-time score.
However, this isn’t always the case. In a match that doesn’t go to overtime, the owner of the winning square at the end of the fourth quarter will also win the final score prize pot. This means that they take home 40% of the pot. So, it goes without saying that having the winning football square at the end of the fourth quarter is the most valuable.
The most popular way to split the prizes is into four or five shares, but sometimes the entire pot goes to the full-time winner.
Prizes depend on the rules set out by the host pre-game. As explained above, the majority of betting squares games split the pot four or five ways, but sometimes, there could be a ‘winner takes all’ prize.
Super Bowl Betting Squares: The Most Popular Edition
Although betting squares can used for football, basketball, soccer, MLB, NHL, or any other sport, they are most popular for the Super Bowl. As the biggest sports game in the US, Super Bowl betting squares have grown in popularity yearly. The bigger the game, the more people want to have fun with football betting squares.
With millions of people watching the Super Bowl every year, it’s an excellent opportunity for Super Bowl betting squares. Many people will have Super Bowl parties for the big game, a perfect opportunity to have fun with friends and family with betting squares.
Betting squares certainly add to the excitement of the Super Bowl. Rather than just cheering a team on to victory, they add another dimension. There is often money on the line, too, but ultimately, Super Bowl betting squares are the most popular for the excitement they bring.
What Are The Best Football Betting Squares To Have?
Regarding football betting squares, 0 is the most frequent number, followed by 7, then 3, and then 4. This is because of the value of each respective method of points scoring in the NFL. A touchdown is worth six points, with an extra point if the point after an attempt is converted. Hence why 7 is a popular and frequent number for football betting squares.
The most desired numbers are 0, 3, 4, and 7. As we know, field goals are worth three points, touchdowns are worth six, and point after attempts are worth one.
The numbers with the least chance of success regarding football squares are 2, 5, and 9. If you land any combinations of these numbers at your Super Bowl party, you have almost no chance of hitting a square.
A key takeaway is that if you pick squares, go for 0, 3, 4, 7, or perhaps even 1. Try your best to altogether avoid 9, 5, and 2. 8 is neither here nor there, so pick it before the least desired numbers but not before the main four or five we have outlined.
Betting Squares Strategies, Tips & Hints
As you will know by now, the most popular way to participate in betting squares, whether football or any other sport, is by randomly allocating each of the 100 squares to each person playing the game.
This means that there is no strategy involved at all, and it is simply the luck of the draw as to what numbers and squares you will get. In this case, there are no hints or tips. It really is just down to pure luck when being randomly allocated squares by the host.
However, that isn’t always the case. As previously explained, the other way of playing betting squares is by strategically selecting your squares. This way, there are certainly some tips we can share with you in order to give yourself the best chance of success when it comes to betting squares.
1. Understand Scoring Trends
Understanding scoring trends is integral when it comes to picking successful betting squares. Looking at previous h2h games, how often a team has scored X amount of points or even how many matches the previous week ended with X:X final points.
If you spot trends in the number of points a team has scored in the first quarter of a game or if a team tends to win by a particular scoreline, that will massively help you strategically select your football betting squares.
2. Do Your Research
Like any bet type or market, research is massively important in betting squares. Knowing everything there is to know about each team, their match history, previous scores, and head-to-head record, is integral.
Numbers such as 2, 5, and 9 should be avoided, but picking 0, 3, 4, 7, and 1 could be the way to go. Doing your research before selecting your betting squares will undoubtedly give you more of a chance of winning than not researching at all.
3. Pick A Mix Of High & Low Numbers
Mixing it up is another important tip when it comes to betting squares. Rigidly sticking to high numbers won’t give you the best chance of success, as the likelihood of a game finishing with two high numbers as the final digit is unlikely. The same goes for low numbers.
This is why mixing it up and selecting both high and low numbers could be your best bet for betting squares. Doing this will certainly give you the best chance of winning your football betting squares.
Pros and Cons of Betting Squares
Let’s discuss the perks and downsides of betting squares.
Positives of Betting Squares
Below are the advantages of playing betting squares online or in person with friends.
- Adds to the excitement of the game – One of the main positives of betting squares is that it adds pure excitement to the game. Whether basketball, football or any other sport, betting squares makes the game a bit more fun, knowing that one more score would make your square the winner.
- Chance to put your knowledge to the test for monetary gain – It’s also a chance for you to put your knowledge to the test while potentially winning money simultaneously. If you’ve done your research and selected certain squares based on this analysis, you are putting your knowledge to the test.
- Less chance of losing big money – There is also less chance of losing big money when participating in betting squares rather than wagering at a sportsbook or online casino. Yes, you could lose some money, but it is likely to be small amounts. Not to mention that if you do lose money, it is going to someone in the group you are playing with rather than a bookmaker.
Negatives of Betting Squares
There are also some downsides to playing betting squares. We’ll discuss these negatives below.
- Pot luck if randomly selected squares – One big negative is the squares you get are based purely on luck when the squares are randomly allocated rather than chosen. Yes, your luck can be in, and you could still win, but being randomly allocated squares means there is no chance of putting your knowledge and research to the test.
- Can lose money fairly quickly if unsuccessful – Another drawback of betting squares is that you can lose money rapidly if unsuccessful. This will, of course, depend on the price of a square and how many you bought, but if randomly allocated and the squares win you nothing, you could be well in the red come the end of the game.
- Even if you win, it’s unlikely to be big – Even if you do win with football or basketball betting squares, it is unlikely to be significant. Again, this depends on the size of the prize pot and pool. But you’ll unlikely win big with betting squares unless you are participating in big buy-in games.
The Last Word
Whether playing a light-hearted game with friends or wagering with offshore sportsbooks, betting squares add a level of excitement to your football, basketball, et al wagering experience.
The beauty of betting squares is that it doesn’t necessarily need to be done through a betting site. You can easily create a game of squares yourself and play amongst friends and family. This way, you don’t have to worry about depositing funds into a betting account or signing up to a new sportsbook.
Try betting squares for yourself, it could be for you.
