Soccer Betting

Did you know that there are an estimated 3.5 billion soccer fans in the world? That’s almost half of the entire population!

More people watch soccer than any other sport, and its popularity shows no signs of fading.

In fact, the number of fans is expected to grow in the years to come. Not only is soccer finally entering the mainstream in the United States of America, but it’s becoming more popular in other regions too.

As the most popular spectator sport on the planet, it’s no surprise that soccer attracts a lot of betting interest.

A sizable percentage of soccer fans enjoy putting their knowledge to the test as they take on the bookmakers.

Some of these fans are what we call recreational bettors, and they bet on soccer primarily as a form of entertainment. Others are motivated by the chance to make money, and they take things a lot more seriously.

This soccer betting guide has been compiled with both sets of bettors in mind. There’s a ton of basic information and advice for those who are just interested in betting for fun and some more advanced content for those who are striving to make consistent profits.

Lots of people start betting on soccer without having even the slightest clue what they are doing. This is CRAZY in our opinion.

We realize that soccer betting can be a very exciting experience and that it does actually present some genuine opportunities for making money. Still, we can’t understand why people don’t take the time to learn the basics before they jump in and get started.

Soccer betting is incredibly popular, but that doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone. We suggest that you think carefully about whether it’s something you want to get involved with BEFORE learning too much about it. Otherwise, you may just be wasting your time.

A good way to decide whether soccer betting is right for you is to consider its various pros and cons.

RULES FOR SOCCER BETTING

Full game soccer wagers are official at the completion of a full soccer game (90 minutes of play plus injury time) unless otherwise specified on the sports sheets or display boards.

For the purpose of a soccer wager, the results of any extra time period(s) or penalty kick shootouts are not used to calculate winning or losing wagers, unless otherwise specified on the sports sheets or display boards.

SOCCER BETTING LINES

Soccer events can be a 3-way (Team A, Team B, and Draw) or 2-way (Team A or Team B).

When wagering on the 3-way moneyline, there are three options. Your selected option must be correct for your wager to be a winner. F

or example, if you selected Team B and the event ends in a Draw, your selection on Team B loses.

When wagering on soccer using goals as the point spread, your bet must “cover the spread.”

On this wager, if you wager on the favoured team, you are betting that the favourite is going to win by more goals than the point spread.

Conversely, if you bet the underdog, you are betting that the team will lose by less than the point spread or win the game outright.

You may wager that the score after full time is more than or less than the total. This total is the score of both teams added together. This is an independent wager. It makes no difference which team wins or if the game ends in a draw.

Understanding Soccer Betting Lines: Key Factors

1. Odds
2. Bonuses
3. Sportsbook Experience

Finding a legal soccer betting app or online sportsbook that offers odds on the biggest leagues and international tournaments is the easy part.

If you’re used to betting on major North American sports like football or hockey, you might be surprised at the huge number of wagering options offered for soccer.

The most typical choices include three-way moneylines, double chance, and draw no bet.

It’s important to pay attention to even seemingly small differences between the betting lines and odds on offer.

Some betting sites focus on offering odds at the best possible value, while others prioritize more exotic offerings not available elsewhere.

Additional Soccer Betting Odds

In addition to the most popular single-game soccer wagers outlined above, you’ll also benefit from identifying a site that offers a healthy selection of props and futures lines.

Soccer Props

Proposition bets, or props, require you to bet on an element of the game other than the outcome itself.

Common soccer props relate to both team and player performances. Here are a few of the most popular markets:

• Both teams to score
• Both teams to score & over 2.5 goals
• Total team goals
• The first and the last player to score
• Will a penalty kick be awarded?
• Time of the first goal

This list only begins to scratch the surface of the huge number of options available at the best soccer betting sites.

Soccer Futures:

Soccer futures ask you to predict the outcome of an event relatively far ahead of time. Due to the long time horizon, these lines are notoriously difficult to hit. That said, they offer some of the biggest potential payouts and make for great conversation starters.

Like soccer props, the futures line will put odds on a range of both player and team achievements. Common examples include projecting the next winner of the World Cup, Champions League winner, top scorer in specific leagues, Premier League Player of the Season, and so on.

Soccer Betting Site Bonuses

Bonuses are an easy way to squeeze some extra value into your online soccer betting experience.

Most soccer betting bonuses take the form of welcome bonuses and sign up incentives that give you a bit of extra cash in your bankroll as you first get started with the site.

Risk-free bets are most common among US-based soccer betting sites, while many international operators will match your deposit to varying degrees.

The soccer sites and betting apps with the best bonuses also provide ongoing value to return customers. This usually takes the form of boosted odds that enhance your payouts or rewards programs that offer free bets or site credit the more you wager.

Evaluating the Sportsbook Experience

The basic characteristics of a good sports betting experience are obvious. You should expect responsive customer service, excellent security, competitive odds on a range of leagues and tournaments, and enticing bonuses to shore up your bankroll.

But betting on soccer isn’t the same as betting on other sports. There are a much greater number of top-tier leagues to choose from, and high-level competition also frequently occurs through major international tournaments culminating in the World Cup.

World Cup Betting is a MUST!

Every four years, the FIFA World Cup captures the attention of audiences around the globe as the world’s best players put their professional careers on hold to represent their national teams in the world’s most widely followed sporting event.

Following qualifying tournaments held by each regional confederation, 32 teams compete over the course of a month. This leads to a massive number of betting opportunities, and upsets are frequent enough to keep things interesting for viewers and punters (i.e. dedicated soccer bettors) alike.

Of course, the biggest sporting events are also the biggest betting events, and online sportsbooks have been known to charge a premium when demand is highest.

When searching for the best World Cup betting site, you’ll want to find an option that offers a multitude of lines on every single game and doesn’t charge a premium compared to juice charged on professional games or other international tournaments.

Betting on Champions League, EPL, Serie A, La Liga, & Bundesliga

The most competitive professional leagues remain based in Europe, and you’re likely to find the most extensive wagering options available on the continent’s biggest professional leagues.

Of course, UEFA’s annual Champions League brings together the best squads from each of these top-tier leagues to crown the best team in all of Europe.

When it comes to finding the best place to bet on the Champions League and other UEFA games, it’s all about the depth of props and secondary lines available.

Of course, you’ll always want to make sure the odds still offer good value, as these games are some of the most heavily wagered upon around the globe.

Betting on MLS Games

American soccer fans likely have mixed feelings about their own professional league, the MLS.

While the league continues to grow in popularity every year, it still lags its European counterparts in terms of attracting top talent and public fanfare.

Of course, the fact that MLS games receive slightly less action and attention is a good thing for soccer bettors.

If you follow Major League Soccer closely or are willing to take the time to put in the research, there’s often value to be found on the least=publicized events.

Betting on South American Soccer, Liga MX, and Smaller Pro Leagues

For much of the sport’s history, Europe and South America have been locked in a perennial power struggle over the heart of the game.

Early World Cups were split between the continents, and players at the highest level of the game continue to come primarily from these locations.

Even though the big money, largest endorsements, and premier talent are largely concentrated within the UEFA-sanctioned leagues of Europe, professional soccer in South America is highly competitive and hugely appealing to bettors looking for more variety.

Whether you’re opting for the South American powerhouse leagues like Argentina’s Superliga and Brazil’s Campeonato Brasileiro, or looking north at Mexico’s Liga MX, Latin America shouldn’t be ignored by any soccer betting sites worth their salt.

Of course, looking at even less well-known leagues from Asia or Eastern Europe is an excellent approach for soccer bettors more concerned with finding value than betting on teams they’re familiar with.

Look for a Site with Excellent Live Betting Options

Live betting takes the excitement of wagering on soccer to a whole new level.

By allowing you to respond to events on the field in real-time, the combination of live betting opportunities and the ability to bet with the convenience of a mobile app means it’s finally possible to bet on the game as it happens, from anywhere you can find a wireless or data connection.

All highly rated soccer betting sites will offer live betting odds. In addition to updating the odds for popular wager types such as moneylines, spreads, and totals in immediate response to changes on the pitch, live betting presents the chance for interesting props that simply aren’t possible prior to the game.

Here are a few examples:

• Next Team to Score
• Win Rest of First Half
• Win Second Half
• Exact Number of Goals – First Half

A great live soccer betting app requires both interesting betting options and odds that don’t stray too far from those offered before the game.

Of course, you should expect to see moneylines and spreads adjusted as one team gains an advantage or appears to be playing better. Just make sure the live odds still reflect a reasonable implied probability and aren’t simply upping the vigorish.

Is Betting on Soccer Legal?

Every betting site featured on this page is fully licensed and regulated to operate in the US and other locations across the globe.

These are all legal betting sites that comply with relevant regulations everywhere they do business.

When it comes to the US, sports betting is regulated at the state level. This means that the rules aren’t necessarily the same everywhere in the country. Some of the sportsbooks only hold licenses for certain states, and some states do not yet allow online sports betting.

That said, legal soccer betting is expanding rapidly across the country. Check your local regulations to see what the deal is in your neighbourhood.

Legal US betting sites use geolocation technology to determine if you’re located within their licensed area of operation. If not, you’ll be blocked from placing any wagers.

You should be wary of any site that’s not frequently checking your location. Sticking to the legal options featured here is an easy way to ensure your bankroll and identity are always protected.