Frank Christian
Understanding football betting can be straightforward once you grasp the basics. Explore our comprehensive guide to fully engage with the action while enjoying the match.
Overview of this content.
Understanding Football Betting
The roots of football betting in the U.K. date back to the 1920s, with Littlewoods introducing the first football pool in 1923. This pool, an early form of accumulator betting, was the sole legal option for wagering on football outcomes and the only alternative to horse betting until 1926.
Since then, the relationship between football and betting has flourished significantly in the U.K., especially with the rise of the Internet, which has led to an explosion of online betting platforms focused on football.
Today, betting websites are among the largest gambling markets in the U.K., with the Premier League capitalizing on this, thanks to sponsorship deals both on and off the pitch.
At The Sporting News, we aim to empower you to navigate online football betting safely and responsibly, providing essential knowledge for well-informed betting decisions. Continue reading for more insights…
Types of Football Bets
Football markets feature a variety of bet types to explore. Let’s break them down.
Outright Betting
The most fundamental form of betting is outright or full-time result betting.
This is often referred to as 1×2 betting, where you choose one of three outcomes: either the home team wins, the away team wins, or the match ends in a draw.
It’s important to remember that this bet only considers the 90 minutes of regular play and does not factor in any outcomes from extra time or penalty shootouts, such as during knockout rounds in tournaments like the Champions League or World Cup.
For instance, if a team wins through a penalty shootout, the official result remains a draw based on the regular match score.
Goal Line: Over/Under
Often called O/U betting, this allows you to predict whether the total number of goals scored in a match will be above or below a specified goal line, such as 2.5 goals.
If the match has three or more goals, your bet wins. Conversely, if it has two or fewer goals, your bet loses.
You can also place a bet on the total being under that goal line, meaning if the match ends with two goals or fewer, your wager succeeds.
Both Teams To Score (BTTS)
Instead of betting on a match’s outright victor, you can wager on both teams scoring during the game, a popular choice among accumulator bets on online football platforms.
This type of bet is unique to football betting; it focuses on whether both teams will score, removing some of the uncertainty tied to predicting a winner while often offering better odds.
These wagers apply only during the regular 90 minutes plus added time, excluding any extra time in tournaments such as the FA Cup and Champions League.
Spread Betting and Asian Handicap
What exactly is spread betting? It diverges from traditional fixed-odds betting because it involves wagering on a range of potential outcomes rather than a specific result.
In football, this could involve bets on total goals scored, timing of the first goal, point bookings for players and teams, number of corners, or even margin of victory markets known as ‘Supremacy’.
Originally, spread betting emerged from professional bettors seeking advantages in financial markets but has since gained widespread popularity in online football betting.
Asian handicap betting is another match betting type that eliminates the possibility of a draw, allowing for only wins or losses between two teams.
Here, one team might be given a fictional advantage or disadvantage, leveling the field and creating engaging betting scenarios. You place your bets based on which team you believe will win, taking the handicap into consideration.
This can add value if one team is either favored or underestimated by oddsmakers after accounting for the handicap, thus giving you a chance for better returns.
|
Bet |
Handicap |
Outcome for Liverpool |
Outcome for Ipswich |
Odds |
|
Liverpool (-1.5) |
-1.5 |
Win by 2+ goals |
Win by 1 or fewer, Draw, Lose |
29/20 |
|
Liverpool (-2) |
-2 |
Win by 3+ goals |
Win by 2, Draw, Lose |
3/1 |
|
Ipswich Town (+2) |
+2 |
Win, Draw, Lose by 1 goal |
Win, Draw, Lose by 2+ goals |
17/20 |
|
Ipswich Town (+3) |
+3 |
Win, Draw, Lose by 2 goals |
Win, Draw, Lose by 3+ goals |
8/1 |
Corners, Cards, and Proposition Betting
Corner betting typically features three elements: betting over/under a set number of corners, selecting an exact number of corners, and betting on corner ranges.
Corner ranges allow for flexible betting options without being confined to an exact figure; for example, you could bet on the range of 0-4 or 4-8 corners.
All these are categorized under prop betting, which includes side or novelty bets, such as wagering on a player to achieve a certain number of shots on target or predicting the color of a team’s shirts or the half most likely to yield the most goals.
Accumulators
Accumulator betting, often referred to as accas, appeals to casual and professional bettors alike. This allows for the combination of multiple bets into one, offering odds boosts and the chance to significantly increase your overall returns if all selections prove successful.
The more selections you include in your accumulator, the higher the odds, but this also increases the risk of losing due to the numerous variables that need to align in your favor.
Accumulators, often called fold bets, can be created by selecting various outcomes and goal predictions within individual matches to form a single bet. For example, you can place a six-fold accumulator for football matches occurring on Saturday.
This is different from the customized multiple bets offered by online betting platforms, known as ‘Bet Builders’. These allow for specific combinations including player score predictions, potential cards for players, and the overall match result.
In-Play Football Betting
In-play betting, also referred to as live betting, entails placing wagers while a match is actively taking place.
By engaging in spread betting and betting arbitrage, you can discover significant variations in bets and gain an edge across different online bookmakers, as the odds flux rapidly.
For instance, if you’re observing a game where a player has made two fouls, it might be an optimal moment to bet on that player receiving a yellow or red card.
Essential Tips for Football Betting
1. Conduct Thorough Research
Avoid wagering on matches and leagues you aren’t familiar with. While you may win occasionally with random picks, consistent success requires deeper insights. Investigate player and team statistics, recent performance, home vs. away records, and current news such as injuries and suspensions.
Learn from betting professionals, including experts at TSN, who boast a strong winning history. In recent years, online betting authorities have gained as much influence, if not more, than traditional media. Diversifying your sources for information will empower you to make educated betting decisions.
Utilizing online tools and expert tipping services can be beneficial as well. Oddschecker+ offers market-leading AI insights and expert advice for less than £1 daily.
3. Capitalize on Promotions and Welcome Bonuses
With the surge of new sports betting platforms, competition is intense for your attention. This leads to lucrative welcome bonuses and promotions that can significantly entice new users.
For example, AK Bets may offer new bettors a chance to earn up to £100 in free bets when signing up and placing bets on multiples. Explore various online betting sites to discover the best deals.
Check out our curated list of current top welcome offers from trusted partners.
Keep in mind that all promotions have terms and conditions, so review these carefully before committing to ensure you can unlock any associated benefits.
4. Manage Your Bankroll Wisely
It’s crucial to wager within your financial limits. Bet responsibly and avoid attempting to recover losses. Recent regulatory changes have aimed to assist users in managing their spending effectively. As various football betting platforms strive for your allegiance, it’s vital to keep a close eye on your betting patterns and balance.
