Victor Arum is a seasoned sports betting writer who currently contributes to SportsTalkPhilly. He creates insightful guides and how-tos to help sports bettors formulate winning strategies and make informed wagers. Victor also reviews and rates sportsbooks, deeming them a SMASH or PASS. When not analysing sports betting patterns or writing, he's probably stretching at the gym or (re)watching a sitcom
All posts by Victor Arum1st quarter 3-way betting is a method of gambling that allows you to bet on the outcome of the 1st quarter or period. As a result, there are 3 possible outcomes – victory for team A, victory for team B, or a tie.
We explain in detail exactly what 1st quarter 3-way betting is while also highlighting the American sports where it is most relevant—namely, NFL, NBA, and NHL. Additionally, we recommend the best offshore sportsbooks for maximizing your betting value. After this, you’ll know exactly how you can achieve maximum value from your 1st quarter 3-way bet.
1st Quarter 3 Way Betting Explained
1st Quarter betting offers a unique chance for bettors to engage with the game from the very beginning and provides the opportunity for quick(er) wins for bettors who don’t want to wait for the game to finish.
Put simply, 1st quarter 3-way betting is a form of bet which allows you to bet on the outcome of the 1st quarter or period of a match. Bettors place their stakes on which team will be ahead when the first quarter ends or whether the score will be tied.
The outcome of that bet will then be settled upon the end of the quarter or period, based solely on the goals or points scored within that time.
Because of the competitive odds associated with each possible result, bettors are given the chance to achieve potentially higher returns than they would from a standard 3-way bet.
Also, an added benefit to 1st quarter 3-way betting is the fact that even if you don’t win upon the outcome of the 1st quarter, you can bet again on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters.
Oddsmakers, unsurprisingly, tend to employ 1st quarter 3-way bets on sports where the 1st quarter is likely to end in a draw, such as NFL, NBA, and NHL, which will all be discussed in depth below.
What Is 1st Quarter 3 Way Betting In NFL?
You can place 1st quarter bets in the NFL and any American football match by betting on the outcome of the match’s 1st quarter.
For example, in the recent Super Bowl 2024 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, a bettor could choose to bet on the Chiefs to win the 1st quarter, the 49ers to win the 1st quarter, or for the 1st quarter to end in a tie.
As it happened, in that particular game, the scores were 0-0 at the end of the first quarter, so the outcome would have been a tie.
What Is 1st Quarter 3 Way Betting In NBA?
Much like football, you can place a 1st quarter 3-way bet in the NBA as well. Ties are not a typical result in basketball, so betting on a winner in the 1st quarter is probably a safer bet, but you never know what could happen in those first 12 minutes.
For example, in an NBA game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Philadelphia 76ers, where the 1st quarter ended with the Mavericks leading 32-22. If you bet on the Mavericks to win the 1st quarter, your wager succeeds. However, if you predicted a 76ers win or a tie, your bet loses.
What Is 1st Quarter 3 Way Betting In NHL?
After a rule change in 2005/06, NHL games no longer can end in a tie, but instead go to overtime to decide the winner if the scores are level at the end of regulation.
Unlike football and basketball, hockey games are generally quite low-scoring, with the average number of goals per game hovering around the 3 mark, which means there’s a high chance that the 1st quarter ends in a tie.
For example, if you bet on NHL game between the Boston Bruins and the Edmonton Oilers that ended up level at 0-0 after the 1st quarter. Only a bet that says the 1st quarter will end in a tie will win.
What Is 1st Half 3 Way Betting In Soccer?
This means betting on the outcome of the soccer game’s first half only. So, you either select one of the sides to win or wager on a draw. The odds and potential payout of this betting market are usually bigger than that of regular 3 way betting in soccer.
Much like the NHL, soccer tends to be quite low-scoring with the average goals per game once again just below 3, so a good number of games end up in a tie.
In a recent MLS game between Colorado and Nashville, the score was 0-0 at half-time, so if you had bet on one of the sides to be winning at half-time, you would have lost your bet.
Is It Better To Bet On The 3-Way Market Or Moneyline?
Moneyline is the simplest form of betting, in which the bettor picks a team to win straight up. For example, you can either back Team A to win or Team B to win.
3-way bets, on the other hand, include a third option, the possibility of a draw. For example, either Team A or B could win, or the game could end in a tie.
Although it is impossible to say which method is better, 3-way betting certainly does come with its perks. Because it is more difficult to predict the outcome of an event with 3 possibilities, 3-way bets will offer more value than a straightforward moneyline.
1st Quarter 3-way betting will also allow the bettor a quicker return on a match – not having to wait until the game has ended to find out if they’ve won.
This then lends itself to 3-way quarter bettors wagering on other sections or quarters in the game – meaning they can dip in and out with more bets through just one match.
What Are The Pros Of 1st Quarter 3-Way Betting
One positive of 1st quarter 3-way betting is that you can achieve more immediate returns. Because you are focusing on shorter periods of time, your bet can be paid out more quickly. Basically, you’re only waiting for the end of the quarter to finish, as opposed to waiting for the entire game to end.
On top of this, because your bet is over much quicker than a standard bet, it can add a lot more excitement to your gambling experience.
Another benefit of 3-way betting is the fact that if you do lose your 1st quarter bet, you still have an opportunity to place bets on the remaining 3 quarters.
1st Quarter 3-way betting also gives you the flexibility to track the game developments and adjust accordingly. For example, if a particular player on a team has picked up an injury, it may influence your bet selection for the next quarter.
How Much Does It Cost To Place a 1st Quarter 3-Way Bet?
A 1st quarter 3-way bet will cost as much as you are willing to stake, but the amount you are willing to stake will also impact your potential winnings.
For example, if your bet is deemed relatively safe, you may want to lay down a larger stake because you have a better chance of winning.
However, if your bet is particularly risky, it may be wise to limit your stake because you are more likely to lose the bet.
