Winner
The most common market where you bet on which team or player will win the match. In a 3-way market, you can also select a draw. Some bookmakers offer “Draw No Bet” or “Double Chance” to reduce risk.
How to Bet on Soccer
Soccer betting is typically done by two kinds of punters: those who bet for fun and those who bet to win. Whatever kind you are, the goal is to beat the bookie. Soccer is unpredictable, but there are guidelines to boost your chances. With hundreds of matches and many markets each week, things can get confusing, so we’ve put together this handy guide to help you place a soccer bet online.
Get Started with an Online Bookie
Whether you love the thrill of UEFA competitions, you can’t wait for the FA Cup, or you’re more of a local supporter, there’s always something to follow — and to bet on. The first step is to find an online bookie where you can comfortably and easily place your soccer bet online. An established bookie will post soccer betting odds for different matches every day and offer useful soccer betting tips and predictions. Once you’ve found a bookie you’re comfortable with, you’ll need to understand the different kinds of soccer bets.
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Understand the Different Soccer Bets
Whether you’re a soccer fanatic or a casual bettor, the game features two teams of 11 players over 90 minutes (two 45-minute halves), with extra time or penalties if needed in certain competitions. The aim is simple: score more goals than the opponent. In betting terms, there are several markets and outcomes to consider — many aren’t decided by the match result alone.
There are three common kinds of soccer betting:
- Handicaps
- Totals
- Match outcome (also called 1X2 bets)
Let’s look at each to help you place your next soccer bet online.
1X2 Bets
One of the most common types of soccer bets — win, draw, or loss — is the classic 1X2 bet. In this bet: 1 is a home win, X is a draw, and 2 is an away win.
Some bookies offer Double Chance (1X, X2, or 12). Unlike moneyline betting in some sports, standard league matches can end in a draw after 90 minutes.
Handicap Bets
Handicap betting applies a goal handicap to balance perceived differences in team strength. Favourites usually have a negative handicap to overcome; underdogs receive a positive head start.
Because soccer is low-scoring, handicaps are typically smaller than other sports. For a negative handicap to win (e.g., −1.5), the favourite must win by at least two goals; for a positive handicap, the underdog must avoid losing by more than the set line.
Total Bets
Totals (Over/Under) betting focuses on the total number of goals in a match, regardless of who wins. The bookmaker sets a goals line (e.g., 2.5), and you wager on whether the total will be over or under that figure.
Other Soccer Betting Variations
Once you understand the basics, you can transfer your skills to live (in-play) betting and additional markets. Popular options include corners, cards, first team to score, and various player/team props.
Beyond single matches, you can bet on outrights: top goalscorer, competition winners, relegation candidates, and season points totals.
Multi Bets and Live Play Soccer Betting
Multiple bets combine two or more selections across events; all selections must win for the slip to cash (unless you use system bets). Live betting lets you place wagers while the match is underway, with odds moving based on game state.
The live betting screen shows in-play markets such as next goal, next card, corners, and updated totals. It’s a dynamic way to react to team performance and match flow.
Soccer Betting Tips
Soccer betting has surged in popularity with more bookies online and more leagues to follow. From the Argentinian Primera División to the English Premier League, research and preparation are key.
Start with long-term stats: recent performance, styles, average goals for/against, and results versus similar opponents. Then evaluate short-term form: fitness, fatigue, rotations, and recent trends. Head-to-head history can provide additional context.
Try to Develop a Strategy for Soccer Betting
Build on your knowledge with basic data analysis. Quantify home/away performance, create your own probabilities, convert them to odds, and compare with the bookie’s prices to find value.
Soccer is variable and hard to predict, but past data and expected-goals metrics can help. Whether you’re betting Both Teams to Score, backing a draw, or analysing shot quality, let data guide your decisions.
Brush Up on Your Mathematics
Use maths to calculate whether to place a bet, how much to stake, and whether there’s positive expected value. Staking methods help optimise bankroll management.
- When to bet (value vs. price)
- Stake sizing per bet
- Converting probabilities to odds
Double Chance can reduce variance by covering two outcomes in one match, trading some upside for consistency.
Be Cautious of Others’ Soccer Predictions
There’s no guaranteed formula. Measure tipster performance and focus on building your own process.
Profit takes patience and discipline; blindly following others rarely works long-term.
Check Team News and Information
Look beyond injuries and suspensions. Consider fixture congestion, rotation risk, travel, and tactical changes (especially in European competition weeks).
After confirming line-ups, assess the impact of absences and replacements and how they affect the team’s style and expected performance. Use these betting tips to make better predictions.
Popular Betting Markets
Bookings
Bet on yellow/red cards: totals, which team receives more, time of first card, or whether a red card will be shown. Useful for bettors who study referee tendencies and team discipline.
Goals
Predict how many goals will be scored in the match, a half, or by a team. Common options include Over/Under (e.g., Over 2.5), Both Teams to Score, and Team Totals.
Halves
Focus on first-half or second-half outcomes: half result, half goals, or team to win either half. You can also combine half-time and full-time for higher potential payouts.
Corners
Bet on total corners, which team takes more, or time of first corner. Ideal for analysing attacking styles and set-piece frequency.
Scores
Predict the exact scoreline (e.g., 2–1 or 1–1). Includes variants like Correct Score, Any Draw, or Score Range; odds are higher due to precision required.
Handicaps
Apply a virtual goal start/deficit to balance teams (Asian or European Handicap). For example, −1.5 must win by two or more; +1.5 can win or lose by one.
Teams
Back team-specific outcomes such as Team to Score First, Team Total Goals, or Win to Nil. Useful when you have a read on one side but not the whole match.
Player Specials
Bet on individual player actions: Anytime Scorer, To Be Carded, or Shots on Target. Works best when you track player form and roles.
Combos
Combine markets for enhanced returns, e.g., Team to Win & Over 2.5 or Player to Score & Team to Win. Risk increases with each leg, but so does the payout.
