Our guide is here to tell you all you need to know about soccer betting. So that whether you call it football or soccer, you’ll have everything you need to bet on ‘the beautiful game’.
We’ll walk you through how you can make your first soccer bets at some of the best sports betting sites in the business. You’ll learn exactly what kinds of soccer bets are available for your preferred tournaments, and we’ll reveal how you can pick up plenty of bonus bets via some seriously generous special offers.
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Soccer betting is the process of placing bets on the outcome of a match, such as:
If your prediction is correct, your bet wins, and you get a payout. If it isn’t, you lose your wager. However, the amount you are likely to win or lose from a bet is dependent on what is known as odds.
Odds indicate the possibility of an outcome occurring in a game. These odds influence how much you get in winnings from a wager. Higher odds indicate that an outcome is less likely to happen, but features larger returns. In contrast, lower odds imply that the result is likely to occur, but the potential returns are smaller.
There are three different types of betting odds formats, including:
These are the most popular types of odds you’ll find and are represented by + and - signs in front of numbers. For instance, odds of +150 mean that if you wager $100 on the event, you’ll receive $150 in addition to your $100 wager. In contrast, odds of - 150 mean that you must wager $100 to claim $150 in winnings alongside your initial wager.
Here, odds are indicated in a fraction. The numerator(number above) indicates how much you’ll win for placing the attached wager(denominator). For example, odds of 10/2 imply that placing a wager of $2 would fetch you $10 in winnings.
In some cases, odds will be listed in decimal format. Unlike the other types of odds, decimal odds show the full amount you’ll receive from a bet. For instance, placing a $1 wager on odds of 3.00 means you get $3 in winnings($1 stake + $2 in winnings).
Top sportsbooks will offer many types of soccer bets alongside these odds. We’ve listed the common ones and how they work in the table below.
| Soccer bet type | How it works |
|---|---|
| Moneyline/ Match winner | A straightforward wager on which team to win the match or if it will end in a draw. |
| Total Goals (Over/Under) | A bet on how many goals will be scored in a game |
| Correct score | Prediction of the final score of the game. For instance, predicting that the match will end 3-1 |
| Both Teams to Score | This is a wager on if both teams will score a goal in the match |
| Futures | Long-term bets on games that will be completed in the future, like which team will win the cup |
| Accumulator bets | A combination of multiple bets. The payouts are higher, but losing one bet means you lose the entire parley. |
A soccer betting site is where you go if you want to place wagers on the beautiful game. To get involved, you will just need to create a customer account, make a deposit and then start betting. As well as betting on the winner, you’ll also find a wide range of markets covering everything from who will be the first goal scorer to the corner counts.
Plus at many of the new betting sites you’ll also find extra features like cash out, which lets you take your winnings before the final whistle. At these betting sites with cash out you’ll also have access to all of the stats, expert tips and live odds so that you can stay ahead of the game and never miss a scoring opportunity.
To truly understand what a soccer betting site is, you need to know how it differs from a standard sportsbook. Here’s a breakdown of some key differences.
All sports betting sites will have odds for soccer, but some do it better than others. Here's a look at the features to expect starting with those that directly influence your betting.
Top soccer betting sites feature real-time graphics that represent the ongoing game. This is a great way to follow the game while making bets without actually watching it live. It features live stats like total shots, shots on goal, progression bars, and much more.
You may get the option to cash out your winnings early if the team you are backing scores a specific number of goals. This reduces the chances of you losing your wager entirely if the opposing team eventually catches up.
This is another feature that is common on soccer betting platforms. It allows you to place multiple bets on a single event. For instance, BTTS, which team to win, and the number of goals. Some bet builders also feature live updates and a simple-to-use UX to ensure easier customization and improved odds.
Top sports betting sites allow you to make parlay bets, which are a combination of wagers from different events. You’ll also find bonus boosts and ACCA insurance, which protects your bet if one of your predictions is wrong. Some betting platforms take things further by offering automated ACCA builders that will do the heavy lifting for you.
You’ll find hundreds of soccer leagues and tournaments on sports betting platforms. This is why many of these operators add a filter feature that lets you categorize games by country, league, or popularity. This gives you fast access to your favorite leagues, allowing you to save time.
Having a diverse range of betting markets that cover everything from match outcomes to individual player stats is one of the biggest features we look for. By having more options it allows you to find a betting strategy that is tailored specifically to your style and liking. Markets you can find when you bet on soccer include over/under. first/last goal scorer, exact goals, both teams to score and much more.
Getting competitive odds is another feature that you have to look for when you are choosing where to bet. The best sites will regularly offer you better and updated odds to make sure that you get the most value from your bets.
Another hugely important feature you will want to find at a good sportsbook is to have reputable payment methods that ensure safe and quick deposits and withdrawals. As you would expect at the best sports betting sites, you will find a variety of the most trusted options like credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard), e-wallets (PayPal, Skrill, Neteller), bank transfers, and, nowadays, some of the new betting sites are starting to accept cryptocurrencies. By having a site that accepts only reliable payment methods, you can have peace of mind in knowing that there are the most advanced and up-to-date technologies looking after your financial information.
It should hopefully be fairly obvious as to why soccer is one of the most popular forms of sports betting. Still, here’s a quick look at the pros and cons of betting on soccer just to clarify things:
Deciding which is the best payment option for you to bet online is really a matter of personal preference. Each method has its own pros and cons, so it’s best to go with one that you feel the most comfortable with. As time goes by, there is definitely an increase in the amount of payment options available, so we have created this table that helps break it down for you:
| Payment method | Speed | Description | Reliability for in-Play and soccer betting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa, Mastercard, American Express | Instant deposits and 1 - 3 days for withdrawals | These are the most widely accepted payment options and are great for casual gamers | Decent due to limitations for betting in specific regions and slower withdrawal speed. |
| PayPal | Instant | Widely accepted with fast deposits and withrawals | Excellent for all bettors |
| Neteller | Instant | Fast speed and great for high stake bettors | Great |
| Skrill | Instant | Idea for frequent bettors. May be restricted from claiming welcome bonuses | Great |
| Apple Pay | Instant | Good option for mobile bettors and newbies due to its simplicity | Great as it is not accepted on many soccer betting sites |
| Bank transfers | 3 - 7 business days | Another very reliable option that is accepted at most major platforms. These do sometimes have longer processing times. | Poor due to limitations and slot payment processing speeds |
| Prepaid cards | Paysafecard | Prepaid cards are a great way to bet online as you control exactly how much money is on the card, but they are not always accepted at online betting sites. | Fair |
| Cryptocurrency | Instant - 15 minutes | Cryptocurrencies are becoming increasingly popular and some platforms are adopting them as a payment method, but it’s still not so common to find this payment option. | Decent but dependent on the platform |
All sports betting sites will work in roughly the same way and this means that you should just have to do the following to start making your soccer bets:
We’ve handpicked the best sports betting sites in the banners of this page and each of these can be counted on for soccer betting. Click on one of the banners to be taken directly to their sports betting sites.
This is usually located in the header section of most sports betting sites and it will start the signing up process.
All sports betting sites will require you to submit personal information like your name, address, email, mobile and date of birth. Plus you’ll probably have to come up with a unique username and a secure password.
The sports betting website will ask you to verify your identity so that they can confirm that you are of age and living in a location where it is legal to bet online. You can usually verify your identity by clicking on the link sent to your email or mobile, but you may also need to submit some government-issued photo ID.
Make sure that you apply the code if there is a sign up bonus presented. This is a great way to get a little bit extra to bet on the games. Such sportsbook bonuses will usually give you extra credit you can use for soccer betting or you might even get your losses refunded.
After you register there will be an option to deposit funds into your account. Select your preferred payment method and confirm the transaction.
After completing the previous steps it’s time to place your bets and see if your prediction was right. To do this, Click on the "Soccer" market option in the left pane. In most cases, you'll find the most popular leagues pinned underneath. These may include the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, among others. Some operators will allow you to use the filter option to streamline your choice based on Country, League, and Kick-off time.
Next, pick an event and you'll be greeted with all the available betting options like Moneylines, Spreads, Totals, Corners, or cards. Select one of the options and it will be added to the bet slip on the right side of the screen. Here, you can add your bet amount and see the estimated payout.
At this point, you can add other bets to create a combination. Every selection will be added to your bet slip, along with the estimated payout. If everything checks out, place the wager and wait for the outcome.
If your predictions are correct, and your backed team wins, the funds will be credited to your account. Head to the banking/payment page and click on withdraw. Click one of the available options and wait for the payment to reflect in your account. This could take between 24 hours and 7 days, depending on the payment method.
The soccer market is one of the most unpredictable ones you’ll come across. However, following a strategy when using a soccer betting site can make a lot of difference. Below are a few helpful tips to implement on your next visit to your favorite sportsbook.
Official team news is a great way to get insights into who to bet on or against. Here, you’ll get information about missing or injured players whose absence might affect game outcomes. Many teams post news on their official social media handle or websites, which is a great place to begin. Using the insights you get here, you can then tailor your bets for the most favorable outcome.
Sportsbooks will often offer seemingly great odds for popular teams and scorers. For instance, Chelsea to win, or Cristiano Ronaldo to score. While they may seem like a smart market to wager on, it is not always the case. Bookmakers know that huge clubs and popular players have loads of fans who will bet on them.
Therefore, they offer lower payouts on these markets because they know fans will still wager on them regardless. At the end, the payout value may be worse than you’d get from less popular teams or players. Instead of following the hype, you can get better value by staking less popular players or teams.
Line movement has to do with odds changes as the match draws nearer. Keeping tabs on this line movement before kickoff is important because it is when information on the starting lineup is released.
Based on this, online sportsbooks may make swift changes to their odds. If you notice the odds drastically drop for a team right before kickoff, it might be a sign to put your money on them. It could be a sign that key players who have a chance to alter game outcomes are in the mix.
Top soccer betting sites will sometimes give you the option to cash out your winnings before the game ends. This may come at a reduced value than you’d get if you wait until the end of the match, but it is a great way to ensure you at least get something from your bet.,
So, let's assume you bet on Liverpool to win the game against Manchester United, and things seem to be going your way. At halftime, Liverpool is up by 2-0, but the team's momentum appears to have faded, and the second goal was unplanned. Manchester United, on the other hand, seems to be all out for the win and playing way better than your team.
The sportsbook may offer you the option to cash out your winnings or some of them at this point. Based on the stats, it is unclear how the match will end, and taking up the cash out offer will allow you to withdraw your winnings. If Liverpool eventually goes on to lose the game, it won't be your problem since you already cashed out.
Finding a football betting site to wager on does not have to be complicated, as outlined in our guide above. To wrap things up, we have outlined some top platforms by regions, including:
If you are in a US state where sports betting is restricted, you can opt for a sweepstakes casino instead. Platforms like Fliff operate within the regular confines of the law and provide regular odds boosts to ensure better prizes.
It depends where you are based, as online sports betting is legal in some countries and not others. The good news is that each of the online bookmakers listed on this page is licensed for legal sports betting in your location.
Not necessarily, as it depends on your playstyle; however, learning how to leverage the cash out feature in a soccer game is important, given its unpredictability. If your backed team takes an early lead but seems to be under pressure with a lot of time left in the game, going for an early cash out might be a better strategy.
Yes, you can. Top soccer betting sites have extensive soccer market coverage and include options like Copa do Brasil, Super Lig, and the Chinese Super League. However, the odds may be lower and more volatile than popular leagues.
This is a form of soccer betting also called European Handicap. Here, you wager on one of three outcomes:
With 3-way handicaps, the favorite team will need to score two or more goals to cover the handicap. For instance, a favorite team with a handicap of -3.5 means they will need to score three or more goals to win. If they win by only two goals, it means the bet is tied, and the sportsbook will refund you. However, if both teams score the same number of goals and the game ends in a draw, the underdog wins.
Depending on where you sign up, there are many soccer markets to bet on, such as match result, over/under goals, both teams to score, correct score, first/last goalscorer, anytime goalscorer, and accumulator bets.
Look for sites that are licensed and regulated by reputable authorities. Check for competitive odds, a variety of betting markets, secure payment options, and good customer support. Reading reviews and comparing online sports betting sites can help you find the best platform that suits you.
Live betting sites let you place a wager on a game while it’s being played. In-play odds are live odds that change constantly based on real-time action. These features add an extra layer of excitement and more betting opportunities.
Yes, most reputable soccer betting sites offer mobile-friendly websites or dedicated apps, providing a seamless betting experience. You can place bets, check odds, and manage your account from anywhere.
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