Know about betting on Football, how, where, and when to bet. In play betting, high and low odds of betting, and much more.
Introduction
Betting on college and professional football has become more convenient and entertaining than ever for casual bettors. Gone are the days when only two options were picking the winner or the numbers.
Nowadays, most oddsmakers offer a wide range of wagering possibilities, from the first-quarter spread to the quarterback’s passing yards to predicting the player who scores the first touchdown of the game. Here are a few useful tips for newcomers to football betting:
Getting Started
Three things to Know Before betting
Timing
While most ticket writers and sportsbook staff are happy to assist first-time bettors, it’s best to avoid approaching them at noon on a Saturday or Sunday. Plan your visit accordingly to ensure a smoother experience while betting on football.
Apps
If the sportsbook you’re visiting has a mobile app, take the time to familiarize yourself with it before your visit. This way, you’ll be prepared and informed about the types of bets they offer, giving you a head start.
Cash
Keep in mind that sportsbooks operate on a cash-only basis.
Betting on football is never been easy. Avoid the inconvenience of waiting in line, only to realize you don’t have cash on hand when it’s time to place your bets. Betting on football needs cash and you need a sufficient amount of it.
Terminology you need to Know before
Betting on Football
Juice (or Vig)
This is the fee charged by sportsbooks for placing your bet, essentially how they make their profit. For individual football bets, most sportsbooks set the juice at -110. This means you need to bet $110 to win $100 (collect $210) or $11 to win $10 (collect $21).
Push
If your bet ends in a tie, it’s considered a push. For example, if you bet on a team favored by 7 points and they win by exactly 7 points, you get your initial wager back. Similarly, if you bet on the game to go over 40 points and it ends 23-17, you also get your initial wager back.
Future Wager
This involves betting on a long-term event, such as a team winning a division, conference, or league championship, or an individual winning an MVP award or leading the league in passing.
Parlay
A parlay is a type of bet where you combine multiple individual bets into one. To win, all of the individual bets, or “legs,” must be successful. The more teams or outcomes you include in your parlay, the higher the potential payout.
Teaser
A teaser is a unique type of parlay where the bettor receives assistance on the point spread for a slightly reduced payout. One popular football teaser is the 6-point, two-team teaser. Here, the bettor selects two teams and receives six points added or subtracted from each team’s point spread. For instance, if a team is a 3-point underdog, a 6-point teaser would adjust their spread to +9 points. Conversely, if a team is an 8-point favorite, a 6-point teaser would require them to win by more than two points instead of eight. Both parts of the teaser must be successful for the bet to win.
The Hook
Winning or losing a bet by a half-point is referred to as “the hook.” In football, games often have final margins of 3 or 7 points. For example, if you bet on an underdog at +3.5 and they lose by three points, you’ve won your bet “by the hook.” Conversely, if you bet on a favorite at -7.5 and they win by only seven points, you’ve lost “by the hook.”
How can I determine which team is playing at home or away in betting?
Typically, bookmakers list the home team first followed by the away team, with the draw market positioned between the two.
What are the various categories of football wagers?
- Bet builder or same game multi
- Player props or player stats
- Asian handicap betting
- Half-time/full-time outcomes
- Double chance bets
- Accumulators
- Goalscorer predictions
- Correct score, Scorecast, and Wincast bets
- Over and under-betting
- Draw No Bet option
- Specials on manager and player transfers
- In-play betting opportunities
A bit more about betting on football
Every week, countless football matches are happening around the world, and bookmakers offer a ton of different odds on almost every part of these games. Before betting on football you must predict certain things. These include who will win, how many goals will be scored, who will score those goals, and even how many red or yellow cards will be shown.
The Bookmakers
These bookmakers are always trying to give good deals to their customers, so they often have special offers, especially for big games. So betting on football is not that easy, you should know a lot before betting.
High And Low Odds
When you place a bet and the game is over, if your bet was right, you get back your original bet along with extra money based on the odds you got when you placed the bet. This means if you bet on something with high odds and it happens, you can win a lot more money than if you bet on something with low odds.
Accumulator
There are lots of different ways to bet on football. One popular type is called an accumulator. This is where you combine lots of different bets into one big bet. For example, you might bet on three different teams all winning their games. If they all win, you win your accumulator bet, but if even one of them loses, you lose the whole bet.
Bet Builder
Another option is bet builders, which are newer. These let you create your custom bet with different elements of the game. So, you could bet on things like a certain player scoring and a specific number of corners being taken, all in one bet.
Simple Guessing
But some people prefer simpler bets, like just guessing who will score the first goal or which team will win. These are easier to understand and can still be a lot of fun.
Overall, there isn’t one best way to bet on football. It depends on what you like and how much risk you’re willing to take. Some people like the excitement of big accumulator bets, while others prefer the simplicity of predicting single events.
Whatever you choose, just remember to bet responsibly and only gamble with money you can afford to lose.
Football Betting Odds
When delving into football betting, it’s crucial to grasp four fundamental elements: the rotation number, the point spread, the total, and the money line.
Rotation Number
This is a unique 3-digit identifier assigned to each game, typically displayed in front of the team names on betting boards and websites.
It serves as a standardized way for both bettors and ticket writers to refer to specific matchups, eliminating any confusion that may arise from using team names alone.
Point Spread
The point spread represents the margin of victory that the favorite team is expected to achieve over the underdog. It’s denoted with a minus sign for the favorite and indicates the number of points they need to win to “cover the spread.”
Conversely, the underdog is implicitly granted the same number of points and can lose by that margin or less for a successful bet. For example, if the point spread is -6.5 in favor of Team A against Team B, Team A must win by at least 7 points for bets on them to be successful, while bets on Team B will win if they either win the game outright or lose by less than 7 points.
Total
Also known as the over/under, this bet allows you to wager on whether the total combined score of both teams will be over or under a predetermined number set by the oddsmakers.
Bettors can predict whether the total score will exceed (“over”) or fall short (“under”) of the specified total points. For example, if the total is set at 45 points and you bet on the over, you win if the final score adds up to 46 or more.
Moneyline
Moneyline betting involves placing bets on the outright winner of a game, regardless of the point spread. Teams are assigned odds based on their perceived likelihood of winning, with favorites indicated by a minus sign and underdogs by a plus sign.
The negative number indicates the amount you need to bet to win $100, while the positive number shows the potential profit on a $100 bet. For instance, a moneyline of -200 for Team A means you must bet $200 to win $100, while a moneyline of +150 for Team B implies a $100 bet would yield $150 in profit if Team B wins.
Understanding these key components is essential for making informed decisions when betting on football games, helping you navigate through the array of betting options available and maximize your chances of success.
Same Game Multis
Betting on football through bet builders, also known as same-game multis, has become incredibly popular among football enthusiasts. This innovative betting option allows you to combine various outcomes from a single match, akin to accumulators but within the same fixture.
Although combining selections increases the associated risk, it also presents an opportunity to utilize your understanding of the teams involved and generate attractive odds.
Bet builders offer a wide range of options, including selections like yellow cards, corners, or goalscorers, in addition to the match result itself. Moreover, you can incorporate player props, which we’ll delve into further. They will also enhance the versatility and appeal of bet builders.
Betting on Football Players
The world of football betting keeps getting more interesting with new types of bets popping up. Now, you can bet on things like how many shots or tackles a player will make in a game, or even how many times a team will kick the ball out or pass it around.
Bet 365
Some bookmakers, like bet365, have lots of these special bets, known as player props. They’re fun because you can use your knowledge to make smart bets.
For example, you might bet on a player to make a certain number of passes in a match.
Premier League season
It’s a cool way to get more involved in the game and test your skills as a football expert. Lately, people have been able to bet on things like individual player tackles or how many tackles a team will make in a game. These bets can be pretty exciting, especially when a new Premier League season starts.
But remember, even though these bets can give you better odds, football can be unpredictable. So, it’s important to be careful about how much money you bet.
Asain Handicap
An Asian handicap bet involves giving one team a handicap to overcome, eliminating the chance of a draw in betting.
Bookmakers assign each team a plus or minus figure, indicating their handicap, which can be either a whole-goal (e.g., +1, -2) or a half-goal (e.g., +0.5, -1.5) handicap.
Full Goal Handicap
For example, if Manchester United has a -1 handicap and Newcastle United has a +2 handicap, these figures are applied to their scores in the match.
If you bet on Manchester United, you win if they win by at least a two-goal margin, lose if they draw or lose, and get your stake back if they win by a one-goal margin (canceled out by the -1). If you bet on Newcastle United, you win if they win, draw, or lose by just one goal, and get your stake back if they lose by a two-goal margin (canceled out by the +2).
Half Goal Handicap
With a half-goal handicap, such as Manchester United -1.5 and Newcastle United +1.5, a draw is impossible. If you bet on Manchester United and they win by a two-goal margin or more, you win; otherwise, you lose. If you bet on Newcastle United and they lose by one goal, draw, or win, you win; otherwise, you lose.
Draw no winning
This type of betting on football involves wagering on the outcome of a match. The provision occurs if the match ends in a draw, the better receives their stake back. However, this typically results in lower odds compared to other markets.
A Guide to Bet on Football Halftime or Full-Time
Betting on the outcome of either the first half or the second half of a football match is common. You can wager on the home team, away team, or a draw for one or both halves. This type of bet is popular among football enthusiasts who observe certain teams’ tendencies to start or finish matches strongly or weakly.
Having insights into the starting line-ups and team dynamics, such as the absence of key players due to rest or injury, can provide a significant advantage when placing bets of this nature.
Accumulators
Accumulators are highly popular in football betting as they combine multiple selections into one bet, offering the potential for significant returns from modest stakes. With accumulators, winnings from each selection are rolled over to the next one, amplifying potential payouts.
The main risk is that all selections must win for the bettor to receive the full payout. some bookmakers like William Hill provide accumulator insurance, refunding the stake as a free bet if one selection (minimum five selections) fails.
For instance, if you identify four evenly priced teams to win and bet £1 on each in separate single bets, your total return would be £8, including returned stake money for successful bets. However, placing a £1 accumulator on all four winning at even money would result in the £2 from the first win being wagered on the second team, effectively doubling the return to £4, and so on for the subsequent teams, yielding a total return of £16. With each team priced at 2/1, the return could soar to £81, highlighting the allure of accumulators.
Goal Scorer Betting
A player-to-score bet is a straightforward way to wager on football, focusing on a particular player to score during a match. You can bet on various outcomes, such as the player being the first or last goalscorer or scoring at any time during the match.
Odds for scoring at any time are typically shorter due to higher likelihood. Betfred offers a promotion called Double Delight and Hat-trick Heaven, where odds are doubled or tripled if your first goalscorer selection scores twice or gets a hat-trick in selected games.
When betting on a football you must know certain things. The bets in football are enticing when a player is in good form or when a team is superior to their opponents. It increases the likelihood of a player scoring. Bookmakers often provide strong offers alongside popular goalscoring markets, with boosts available during matches depending on the game’s dynamics.
A guide to correct score betting on Football
A correct score bet involves predicting the final score of a match, considering that this outcome reflects the result after 90 minutes, including extra time and penalties in cup ties. While correct score bet prices are often appealing, accurately predicting the exact score proves challenging.
A Scorecast combines selecting a goalscorer with the correct score. For instance, you might bet on Harry Kane to score and England to win 2-0. Such bets offer higher odds due to the requirement of predicting two outcomes. Some bookmakers allow you to specify the goalscorer in a Scorecast as the first, last, or at any time during the match.
Similarly, a Wincast involves selecting a goalscorer along with the match outcome, like Harry Kane to score and England to win. Although the odds for a Wincast aren’t as high as a Scorecast, they are still attractive as predicting the outcome is generally easier than predicting the scoreline.
Over and Under Betting
A total bet involves wagering on the total number of occurrences of an event during a match, such as goals, corners, or yellow cards, and is popular among many bookmakers. So betting on football is never easy, you must be careful.
Bookmakers set a baseline number for the event, and bettors can bet on whether there will be more (over) or fewer (under) occurrences than that number. The baseline number is never a whole number, ensuring that the outcome is either over or under.
When betting on football, if a bookmaker offers the market over or under 10.5 corners for a match, betting on if 11 or more wins. Loses if the total corners are 10 or fewer. Conversely, betting on under wins if there are fewer than 10 corners and loses if the total is 11 or more.
Odds For Events
Many bookmakers provide specialized odds for events occurring off the pitch, catering to fans’ interests beyond match outcomes. One popular market is predicting the next manager to be sacked, particularly prevalent in leagues like the Premier League where managerial turnover is frequent. Over the past 12 months, there have been numerous managerial changes, making this market especially active and engaging for bettors.
Rumored to be transferred
Similarly, bookmakers offer markets for players who are rumored to be transferring clubs during the transfer window. Fans eagerly follow these speculations, and bookmakers capitalize on the excitement by providing odds on potential transfers, adding an extra layer of anticipation to the transfer season.
La Liga League, Serie A, WorldCup and UEFA Tournaments
Moreover, there are markets available for predicting leading goalscorers in various competitions worldwide. Whether it’s the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, or international tournaments like the World Cup or UEFA Champions League, fans can wager on who they believe will top the scoring charts. This market attracts attention from football enthusiasts globally, fostering competition among bettors to accurately predict the top goalscorers.
Market Updates
To stay updated with these markets and more, bettors regularly visit different bookmakers’ websites. By monitoring multiple platforms, they can compare odds and offerings, ensuring they get the best deals and opportunities for their football betting endeavors.
In-play betting, also known as live betting, allows bettors to place wagers on various outcomes during an ongoing sports event, offering a dynamic and interactive betting experience. Here’s a detailed overview of how in-play betting works and the different markets available:
Definition and Concept
In-play betting involves placing bets on specific outcomes while the event is in progress. Unlike traditional betting where wagers are placed before the start of the event, in-play betting allows bettors to react to unfolding events and adjust their strategies accordingly.
Market Availability
Bookmakers offer a wide range of markets for in-play betting to cater to diverse preferences and interests. Some common markets include:
- Next Goal: Predicting which team will score the next goal.
- Next Scorer: Betting on the player who will score the next goal.
- Next Corner or Throw-in: Wagering on which team will win the next corner kick or throw-in.
- Next Yellow Card or Red Card: Predicting which player will receive the next booking.
- Total Goals: Betting on the total number of goals scored in the remainder of the match.
- Match Winner: Betting on the eventual winner of the match based on the current score and performance.
Prop Markets
Specialized markets offering various betting options, such as shots on target, player assists, or the time of the next goal.
Enhanced Experience
In-play betting enhances the excitement and enjoyment of watching live sports events. It allows bettors to stay engaged throughout the match, with the ability to place bets based on real-time developments and analysis.
Accessibility
In-play betting is widely available across online sports betting platforms and mobile betting apps. Bettors can easily access live betting markets and place bets using their smartphones, tablets, or computers.
Risk and Strategy
While in-play betting offers opportunities for additional profits, it also carries risks, particularly due to the fast-paced nature of live events and the limited time for decision-making. Successful in-play betting requires careful observation, analysis of game dynamics, and quick decision-making to capitalize on favorable betting opportunities.
Regulation and Fairness
In-play betting on football is subject to regulatory guidelines to ensure fairness and integrity in sports betting. Bookmakers adhere to strict standards to maintain transparency and protect bettors’ interests.
In summary, in-play betting provides an exciting and interactive way to engage with live sports events, offering a wide range of betting markets and opportunities for bettors to participate in real-time action and enhance their overall viewing experience.
Research And Ample Knowledge of Board Game
Despite conducting thorough research and possessing ample knowledge of a game, there’s always the potential for unexpected outcomes, adding to the intrigue of the sport. This unpredictability underscores the importance of relying on one’s expertise when betting on football.
Bet To Target
Understanding the tricks of the game helps in determining which games and bets to target. For newcomers to football betting, it’s advisable to start with simpler bets like match outcomes or goalscorer markets or opt for lower-risk options such as draw no bet or double chance.
Identifying Value in Betting Opportunities
Focusing on familiar markets reduces the risk of financial losses, and research and knowledge are key factors in identifying value in betting opportunities. Punters can leverage free statistical resources to gain insights into more specific prop markets offered by various bookmakers, such as the number of shots on target a player might take.
A Football Enthusiast
For example, a football enthusiast who regularly follows Premier League matches would be better suited to betting on events in the English top flight, rather than venturing into unfamiliar leagues and matches from around the globe.
Multitude of Matches
Betting on the multitude of football matches worldwide can be immensely enjoyable, provided you focus on what you know and feel confident about. Identifying bets with good value is key to success. It increases your chances of winning while minimizing the frustration of losses while betting on football.
Excitement of sports
Adding a betting element to football can heighten the excitement of the sport, but it’s essential to approach gambling responsibly. Set limits, stick to your budget, and prioritize enjoyment over chasing big wins. Remember, gambling should be fun, so always bet responsibly.
Best Betting Football Sites
Football Betting Site | Premier League | Bundesliga |
MrMega | 94.69% | 93.89% |
bet365 | 95.04% | 94.32% |
YetiBet | 94.19% | 94.44% |
Ladbrokes | 94.90% | 94.86% |
Some more betting sites are
- Fanatics
- Draft kings
- Bet MGM
- Caesars
- Fan Duel
- Coral
FAQs
Q: What is football betting?
Football betting involves placing wagers on various aspects of football matches, such as match outcomes, goalscorers, halftime/full-time results, and more.
Q: How do I start betting on football?
To start betting on football, you’ll need to register an account with a reputable online sportsbook, deposit funds, browse available markets, and place your bets.
Q: What types of football bets can I make?
There are numerous types of football bets, including match winner, over/under goals, Asian handicap, correct score, goalscorer markets, halftime/full-time result, and many more.
Q: Is football betting legal?
The legality of football betting depends on your location. In many countries, betting on football is legal and regulated, but it’s essential to check the laws in your jurisdiction.
Q: How do odds work in football betting?
Odds represent the probability of a particular outcome occurring. The lower the odds, the higher the probability according to the bookmaker. Understanding odds helps bettors calculate potential payouts.
Q: What is a handicap bet in football?
A handicap bet in football involves giving one team a virtual advantage or disadvantage to level the playing field. This can be expressed as goals added to or subtracted from a team’s final score.
Q: How can I improve my chances of winning at football betting?
Conduct thorough research, stay updated on team news and injuries, analyze statistics, and consider factors like form, tactics, and motivation when placing bets. Start with simpler bets and gradually expand your betting knowledge.
Q: Can I bet on football matches during the game?
Yes, in-play or live betting allows you to place bets on football matches while they are in progress, offering a dynamic and interactive betting experience.
Q: What are the risks of football betting?
Football betting carries risks, including the potential loss of money. It’s essential to gamble responsibly, set a budget, and avoid chasing losses.
Q: Are there strategies for successful football betting?
Various strategies exist, such as value betting, bankroll management, and focusing on specific leagues or markets where you have expertise. Experiment with different approaches to find what works best for you.
