The sport of football has been a source of entertainment for many years. Not only is it one of the most popular sports in the world to participate in, but there is also an entire population of people that also enjoy betting on the sport, including players themselves. These basics will help you better understand the process of placing football wagers.
Betting Choices
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With so many leagues to choose from, you can easily find a football team that’s worth betting on. The UEFA Champions League is a popular one that often gets the reputation as being one of the top tournaments. The Premier League is another option and has been around since 1992. It features 38 separate matches that mostly take place on the weekends.
Other football leagues include the EUFA Europa League, the EUFA European Championship, and the FIFA World Cup. The FIFA includes football teams from all over the world. This prestigious event is only held once every four years. It draws in millions of viewers and is one of the most exciting football events to bet on.
Betting Types
There are many different methods of betting that add a new level of excitement to the sport of football. The specifics of football betting can be complex and overwhelming at first. These bets, however, are what make football betting so exciting.
Straight Bets
A single bet is a basic, straight-up bet. You are simply betting on which team will win the match. There are no odds, no positive or negative stats, and no other considerations taken into account. Predicting the winning team will get you a payout. Choosing the wrong team will result in you losing your wager. Because single bets are simple and do not require advanced betting knowledge, they are great for beginners.
Moneyline Bets
In moneyline bets, the team that you bet on needs to win the match in order for you to win. Unlike other types of bets, the outcome of the game is the only deciding factor on who wins and who loses. The moneyline numbers themselves dictate the winnings.
Think of each of the football teams listed in a straight line. Favored football teams are on the positive side of the line and are given plus stats. Underdog teams are somewhere on the negative side of the line and are given negative stats. When you place a bet, you have to make up the difference in order to even the odds. There are many other variations available with moneyline bets.
Over/Under Bets
The over/under bet is sometimes referred to as the total goals bet. Instead of predicting the outcome of the match, you are instead betting on the points accumulated by each team. A person known as the bookmaker will set a goal line. This will be the base of your bet. For example, a bookmaker might set a goal line at three. You will place a wager on whether or not the goal amount will be higher than three, an over bet, or lower than three, an under bet.
Accumulator Bets
An accumulator places a wager on multiple football events, combining them into a single bet. This process multiplies the risk and the reward potential because the odds of choosing the right team multiple times are lower. In order to win the accumulator bet, each one of your predictions must be correct. Because you cannot control whether or not a football team plays, if any of your predicted teams do not make it on the field, your bet is void.
First-Goal Bets
The first-goal bet is another straightforward wager that is perfect for beginner betters. You are simply betting on which team you believe will make the first goal. Many gamblers will choose a first-goal bet along with a straight bet. Statistics state that the first team that makes a goal has a higher chance of winning the game, especially if it’s the home team.
Halftime Bets
Just as you can bet on every other time period of the football game, you can also bet on the score at halftime. Instead of predicting who wins the entire football match, you will place a wager on who you predict will be ahead at half-time. Full-time wagers combine the outcome of both. You bet in a combination bet on who will be ahead at halftime and who will win the entire match.
High Odds/High Payout
There are many strategies you can take when placing football bets. You can go with the safe bet, but your payout will be limited. Choosing the accumulator bet or betting on the underdog has increased odds, but if you win, the payout is more significant. There are many sports upsets throughout history where the better chose the underdog and was rewarded greatly.
Betting on football matches can be exhilarating and potentially rewarding. Once you gain an understanding of each of the bet types, you will be able to create a strategy that works for you. You will also find that over time, the more complex betting concepts make more sense and increase the entertainment value of football.