How To Bet on Soccer

Are you passionate about soccer but don’t know how to bet on your favorite team? You’ve come to the right place!

Let’s begin with the different betting options you can place.

Different Types of Soccer Bets

Three-Way Moneyline

In soccer, the moneyline takes the place of a point spread.

A three-way moneyline bet breaks down the results into three different outcomes: Team A wins, Team B wins, or the game results in a draw (tie).

For instance, in the elimination stages of the World Cup, the tournament requires a winner to progress to the next stage. But all bets are settled on regular time or 90 minutes of play.

A draw is a possible outcome you can bet on in a game where one team must be eliminated. An example of a three-way moneyline would be:

  • Liverpool FC (-145)
  • Manchester United FC (+400)
  • Draw (+240)

If you think Liverpool is going to win, you need to bet $145 on the team to win $100. If you place a $100 bet on Manchester and they win, you also win $400. If the match results in a tie or draw, you lose if you bet on either Liverpool or Manchester. The draw has a $240 payout based on a $100 bet.

Betting on the underdog to win in a moneyline bet has high risks, but the rewards also come with a higher amount.

Moneyline betting is the easiest way to start betting on sports.

Two-Way Moneyline

Soccer bettors (punters) can take the two-way moneyline, which is offered two ways: double chance and draw no bet. Both are settled based on 90 minutes of play.

Double Chance

In a double chance bet, you are betting on two of the three outcomes:

  • Team A wins, or the match ends in a draw
  • Team B wins, or the game ends in a draw
  • Either Team A or Team B wins

For each bet, you’re just eliminating one of the results. Each of these options pays out differently according to the original three-way moneyline odds. The more possible outcomes you select, the higher your chances of winning. But a higher probability of winning means much shorter odds and returns.

Draw No Bet

Draw no bet eliminates the option to place a bet on a draw. Instead, you bet on a single team to win the game. If your team wins, then you also win. But if it’s a draw, your stake is returned and the bet is deemed a push or void. If your team loses, your bet will be considered a loss.

You can place this type of bet if you are confident that your team will win or make it a close match. Draw no bet ensures that you get your money back if the game ends in a draw. Compared to three-way moneyline bets, odds are shortened for draw no bet, but not as much with the double chance.

Goal Lines

Like the two-way moneyline, the goal line is a type of bet that eliminates at least one outcome. Goal lines are comparable to point spreads in basketball or football betting. In soccer, goal lines are typically -0.5 goals. But for matches with big favorites, the goal line can be -1.5 or -2.5.

Here’s an example of goal-line odds for a match between Barcelona and Roma:

  • Barcelona -1.5 goals (-140)
  • Roma +1.5 goals (even)

By betting on Barcelona to win by two or more goals, you need to risk $140 to win $100. If Barcelona wins or loses by one goal, your bet loses.

If you bet on the other team, you need to bet $100 to win $100 (even). It’s a betting success if Roma wins the game outright or loses by one goal or less.

Asian Handicap

Asian handicap is a type of point spread that splits your bet into two different bets. This soccer bet is also used in the NBA (National Basketball Association), NHL (National Hockey League), and NFL (National Football League).

The oddsmakers create the spread with two options. When the draw is taken out, each team has a 50% chance of winning.

In this case, if your team wins by two, you break even. If the team wins by three, you win both.

You can also bet an Asian handicap of ‘0’, which is the same as taking a draw no bet. Your team needs to win the match for your bet to win. If the game ends in a draw, your stake will be refunded.

Asian handicap is an excellent way to manage risk. You can choose options that are more likely to succeed but have lower odds. You can also go for bets that may not win but have higher odds.

Over/Under or Totals

In over/under or totals betting, you bet on the combined goals scored by two competing teams and whether the total goal will be over or under your sportsbook’s prediction. The average over/under total in soccer betting is 2.0 goals, but the number depends on the matchup.

For example, the total is set at 2.5 goals for a match between Arsenal and Chelsea. If you think the two teams’ combined score will be three goals or more, you should pick over. If you think their combined score will be two goals or less, choose under.

Should the game end with the exact number of goals listed in the total, the result is considered a tie (push) and all bets are refunded.

You can bet on the total number of corner kicks from one or both teams and whether those kicks will fall over or under a specified total.

The over/under cards market is similar. But for this type of bet, you bet on the combined total of cards (yellow and red) given to both teams.

Futures Bets

Futures bets are ideal if you’re looking to make long-term soccer bets. You can bet on which club will win it all or which player will be the league’s MVP (most valuable player).

The only downside to betting on future events, especially if you place large bets, is that your bankroll could be tied up for the duration of the season.

But if you win your futures bet, it can mean a huge payoff at the end of the season.

Prop Bets

You can place a proposition bet based on occurrences or non-occurrences during a match. Unlike point spreads, totals, or straight-up bets, these occurrences may not directly affect the match’s outcome or even the final score.

Prop bets are also called novelty bets. This type of bet can include individual players or a team’s milestones. Here are other prop bets on soccer matches that bookies offer:

  • Red cards to be given
  • The first team to score
  • The last team to score
  • Goals scored in the first half
  • Goals scored by a specific player

Half-Time and Full-Time Betting

In this bet, you bet on the expected result at half-time and full-time. The game is broken down into two separate matches and you choose the result at the end of each half.

To win the bet, you need both of your selections to be correct. Let’s say you favor one team to win the match. You can choose “Draw – Team A.”

Maybe you want to back the favorite, but the odds are too short for your liking. Betting on that team to lead at half-time and full-time will give you slightly better odds, but the team needs to start the match strongly and hold their lead.

Soccer Betting Strategy Guide

Know the Rules for Soccer Betting

All sportsbooks and sports betting sites follow their own regulated soccer betting systems. But here are some rules that are considered industry standards:

  • All soccer games are based on 90 minutes of play (“regulation time”) plus injury and stoppage time, unless stated otherwise in the sports sheets.
  • Overtime, golden goals, or penalty shootouts are not included in calculating winning or losing bets.
  • Soccer games must go full-time, or all bets will be graded “no action.”

Understand How Soccer Betting Odds Work

Odds are the most essential aspect of soccer betting. Learning how these odds work gives you an edge over other soccer bettors.

Soccer betting odds can tell you how much you’ll earn from a successful bet. They also show how likely an event may be. The longer the betting odds, the less likely an event is going to happen.

Soccer odds are displayed in American (moneyline), fractional (British), or decimal (European) odds.

In American odds, the favorite is represented by a ‘-’ sign. The number beside the minus sign shows how much you need to bet to win $100. The underdog is represented by a ‘+’ sign. The value beside the plus sign shows how much you can earn from a $100 bet.

In fractional odds, a numerator (top number) that is smaller than the denominator (bottom number) indicates that the team is the favorite. If the odds feature a numerator that is bigger than the denominator, that team is the underdog.

Unlike American and fractional odds, decimal odds already include the total money instead of just the profit. Generally, a team is the favorite if the decimal is less than 2.0 or the underdog if the decimal is greater than 2.0. Odds are usually greater than 2.0 when you bet on a draw.

Bet on Known Soccer Leagues

Another important sports betting strategy: if you’re unfamiliar with it, don’t bet on it. This simple strategy applies to all sports. If you haven’t done the research, a bet’s not worth the risk.

Avoid betting on less familiar leagues just to get money back. There are many professional soccer leagues around the world that you can bet on, like:

  • English Premier League
  • La Liga (Spain)
  • Ligue 1 (France)
  • Serie A (Italy)
  • Bundesliga (Germany)
  • Major League Soccer (America)

Aside from leagues, soccer teams play in-club and international tournaments. Popular soccer tournaments and events that many people bet on include the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Champions League and the World Cup.

The World Cup is run by FIFA (International Federation of Association Football). This international soccer competition takes place in the summer every four years. There are two stages of the FIFA World Cup tournament: the “group stage” and the “knockout stage.”

In the group stage, 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four. Those teams will play a round-robin tournament among themselves and the top teams will advance to the knockout stage. Once the field is cut from 32 to 16, the teams square off in one-off matches in a single-elimination tournament.

If the matches are a draw after 90 minutes, the teams play two 15-minute extra time sessions. If the games are still tied, the winner will be decided through a penalty shootout.

FAQs

Can I bet on soccer?

You can bet on soccer in multiple ways. The most common types of bets are the three-way moneyline, two-way moneyline, goal lines, and over/under (totals).

How do I bet on soccer without losing all the time?

It’s best to know the sport, teams, players, and game trends before betting. Doing your research and learning to identify which matchups to bet on can help you make an informed betting decision, increasing your chances of winning.

Can I make millions in soccer betting within six months?

Making billions in soccer betting within six months is almost impossible unless you do it full-time and become one of the best bettors worldwide. Only a small percentage of punters are profitable.

If I bet on many teams, what happens if I lose some bets?

It’s completely normal to lose some bets. Just keep making the best bets you can. But if you lose a lot of soccer bets, maybe you should bet on other sports instead.

In which states can I legally bet on soccer?

Sports betting is legal in Colorado, Nevada, Delaware, New Jersey, Mississippi, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Arkansas, New York, Iowa, Oregon, Indiana, New Hampshire, Illinois, Michigan, Montana, Washington, DC, and Tennessee.