Men's Etiquette on a Friendly Wager with a Friend

Types of Bets.
There are several ways to make friendly wagers. The most common wagers men make are on sports events, specifically who will win a game or race. Other ways of betting include betting on the final score, the overall outcome of the season, and whether a specific player will play in the game. The man can also make bets and wagers on everyday occurrences. Common etiquette is to refrain from wagering on either birth or death, illness, or other things that society could see as distasteful.

Amount.
When a man is betting on something with a friend, the amount in question can be extremely important. The man must make sure that if he suggests an amount, this amount is both acceptable and payable by his friend. He should also avoid suggesting an amount that may make his friend uncomfortable or embarrassed if he is unable to pay it. The man must be sure that he and his friend are agreeing to bet the same amount of money. They should discuss this in detail before the action being betted on takes place.

Terms.
Many bets go awry because the involved parties have differing opinions about what accomplishes the bet. For example, the man bets his friend $200 that his dog can run from where he is standing to the tree at the back of the yard in less than 10 seconds. The friend accepts, the dog runs, reaches a tree in 9 seconds. The man thinks he has won the $200, while his friend was under the impression that the dog had to reach the second tree. It is vital for the terms of the bet (and what wins or loses the bet) to be clear and understood by all.

Payment.
If the man loses, he must pay the wagered amount. Betting and then refusing to pay is socially unacceptable. In the case that there is a discrepancy about which person won, the man may bring in an impartial third party to decide on the situation, although he should avoid this if possible.

Overall.
The overall purpose while making friendly wagers with someone is to keep the betting "friendly". This means not wagering or doing anything that could compromise a friendship or make interactions with the other person awkward or strained. This stresses the importance of being on the same page in terms of the wager requirements and the amount in question.