How to Bet on Football

From single bets to accumulators, there’s plenty going on in the world of football betting, and it’s easy for beginners to feel overwhelmed. No worries! This page is dedicated to all things football betting, so if you’re wondering how to bet on football online, you’re in the right spot. 

Our guide has got you covered with what you need to know, from understanding football betting odds and the different types of football bets to a look at some of the exciting football matches, leagues, and competitions you can bet on. Read on to discover more. 

How to Understand Football Betting Odds 

When you’re betting on football games, understanding how betting odds work can be a game-changer. Football odds reflect the probability of certain outcomes in a match or tournament, giving you an insight into your chance to win and the potential payouts you can expect. 

Betting odds can be expressed in different ways. In the UK and Ireland, fractional odds like 4/1 or 7/2 are popular, where the first number shows the potential profit and the second is the stake required. Meanwhile, in Europe, decimal odds like 3.0 or 6.50 are more common. To find your potential winnings, just multiply your stake by the odds. Most online bookies let punters switch between different odds formats, so you can bet the way you prefer.

Which Football Events to Bet On

Once you’ve got to grips with how to bet on football online, there’s no shortage of exciting events on which to apply your newfound skills. Here are some of the most exciting football leagues, competitions, and tournaments to bet on. 

• Premier League – England’s top-tier football league features intense competition between 20 teams. Known for its high-quality football, star players, and thrilling rivalries like Manchester Utd vs current champs Manchester City, the Premier League offers a wide range of betting markets and captivating matches throughout the season. 
• Scottish Premiership – The highest professional football league in Scotland, the Scottish Premiership sees 12 teams battling it out for the title. With passionate fans and fierce rivalries like Celtic vs Rangers, the league provides exciting betting opportunities and matchups.
• La Liga – Showcasing top-notch talent with renowned clubs such as Barcelona and Real Madrid, La Liga is Spain’s premier football league. La Liga offers a unique style of football characterised by technical excellence and skilful players, making La Liga match betting a popular choice for football bettors.
• Ligue 1 – Known for its attacking style of play and emerging young talents, Ligue 1 is the top league in French football. The league features prominent clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille, providing a mix of competitive matches and standout performances.
• Champions League – The Champions League represents the pinnacle of European club football, where the best teams from across the continent compete for this prestigious trophy. The Champions League is always filled with drama, high-stakes encounters, and dramatic comebacks, making it a thrilling event for football bettors. 
• Europa League – Europe’s secondary club football competition follows the same format as the Champions League, with knockout rounds following the group stage. The Europa League offers intense matchups and underdog stories, and plenty of opportunities for bettors to benefit from enticing football betting odds. 
• FA Cup – The oldest football cup competition in the world, the FA Cup involves teams from all levels of English football, all competing to lift this historic trophy. It offers a unique chance for lower-league teams to challenge Premier League giants, providing a captivating event for football bettors.
• Scottish/English Playoffs – These nail-biting matches decide which teams will earn that extra promotion to higher divisions at the end of the season. It’s a make-or-break moment for clubs, with the playoffs providing a perfect blend of excitement, tension, and unpredictability for bettors.

Bet Types Explained

From the match winner in tennis to the moneyline in baseball, each sport has its preferred betting types, and football is no exception. Below, you can find out a little more about some of the most popular types of football bet for your bet slip.

• Over/Under – The over/under bet is all about predicting if the total number of goals scored in a match will be over or under a certain value. So, if you expect three or more goals, you go for the over 2.5 bet. But if you think there will be two or fewer goals, you opt for under 2.5. This market can also relate to stats such as bookings and corners, and many bookies also offer a halftime market. 
• Double Chance – With this type of bet, you cover two possible outcomes for a match in a single wager. For instance, in a Liverpool vs Chelsea game, you could bet on Liverpool to win or the match to end in a draw. It’s like having a backup plan for your bet.
• Match Result – In betting terms, this is as simple as it gets: simply predict the outcome of the match — whether it will be a win for Team A, Team B, or a draw. 
• Both Teams to Score – The BTTS bet focuses on whether both teams will score at least one goal during the match. It doesn’t matter who wins; as long as both teams find the back of the net, your bet wins. Some bookies also offer first half and second half markets. 
• Handicap – With handicap betting, the bookie gives one team an advantage. So, if Team A is the favourite against Team B, Team B might get a handicap of +1.5 goals. If you bet on Team B, and Team A wins by only one goal, your bet would still win. An Asian handicap is a variant that eliminates the possibility of a draw. 
• Correct Score – This bet requires you to predict the exact final score of the match. It’s a great chance to put your intuition to the test and guess the scoreline down to the last goal. The odds for correct score bets are typically quite high, especially once you start getting into high-scoring predictions like 5-0 and 6-1, but they can be tricky to land. 
• First to Score – With this bet, you’re wagering on which team will score the first goal in the match. So, if England were facing Denmark at the women’s World Cup, you might bet on England to score first. It adds an extra layer of excitement to the game as you wait for that first goal to go in. 
• Accumulators (accas) – Known by American bettors as parlays, accumulator bets allow you to combine multiple selections into a single bet. You can include several matches and even mix different bet types when placing an acca. Some bookies also offer a bet builder feature, which allows you to combine selections from the same match. 

Football Live Betting 

If you’re ready to take your football betting to the next level, live betting can add an extra layer of excitement to the game. With live betting, also known as in-play betting, you can place bets while the action unfolds on the pitch. Many bettors see live betting as one of their number one betting strategies, preferring this way of betting on football as it allows them to see how a game is going before placing a wager. 

Another great thing about live football betting is that there’s a whole raft of new football betting markets available after kick-off, compared to pre-match options. For example, in-play betting means you can wager on things like the time of the next goal and the team to score next. Player specials, which allow you to bet on specific player-related outcomes, such as a player to receive a yellow card or provide an assist, are also readily available. 

With bookies keeping you in the loop with dynamic betting odds, live betting is the perfect way to stay engaged and boost the thrill of betting on the beautiful game. Just be sure to act fast if you see great value betting odds — they probably won’t be around for long. 

Cashing Out

To enhance your online betting experience even further, many bookies offer a cash out feature, allowing you to settle your bet early. Cashing out gives you the chance to secure your winnings or cut your losses before the final whistle blows. Imagine you’ve made a bet that initially looks like a winner, but suddenly the tide of the game turns, and your wager looks less certain. No worries! You can cash out early and lock in a portion of your profits instead of risking it all. On the flip side, if things aren’t going your way, you might decide to cut your losses and salvage a portion of your stake. 

Some of the best football betting sites offer a partial cash out feature, allowing you to cash out a part of your bet while leaving the rest to run to its natural conclusion. This can be an ideal solution when you’re unsure about how the remainder of the match will play out. However, cash-out availability is not guaranteed, so you’ll need to keep a close eye on the cash-out option during the match to make the most of this exciting feature.