There are few more popular sports to bet on around the world than soccer. Despite being the most followed sport in Europe, it has quickly gained popularity in North America throughout the 21st century.
That popularity is only set to increase before Mexico, Canada, and the United States host the 2026 World Cup.
You can learn more about how to bet on soccer here as we have put together a useful Q&A for newcomers who want to bet on the sport.
How to Bet on Soccer?
Learning how to bet on soccer is essential before making a wager on the sport. Unlike other sports, there is a wide selection of markets, but all will be settled in 90 minutes.
Bettors will be able to place bets on the match winner, over/under total goals, and spread markets.
Furthermore, player specials are also evident online, with gamblers able to bet on players to score, be carded, or record an assist.
After deciding on a selection, you can add the choice to your bet slip. From here, you can enter your stake, place the bet, and then watch the action to see if your bet is a winner.
Where to Bet on Soccer?
Deciding where and how to bet on soccer is one of the biggest questions that bettors must ask themselves before signing up for a sportsbook.
The vast majority of sportsbooks in the U.S. will offer prices on soccer action, but some may be limited in the markets available.
Therefore, it is worth considering all options before signing up for an account.
BetOnline is an excellent soccer betting website, with leading odds available. The sportsbook offers prices on common markets such as match winner, total goals, and spread, while also offering excellent parlay options for goalscorers, assists, and cards.
How to Read Soccer Odds
Soccer odds can be read in a number of different forms, with decimal and fractional layouts most popular in Europe and UK, respectively. However, in the U.S., American formatted odds are most common.
For example, if a price of +300 is available, a stake of $10 will return $40. This is slightly different from decimal odds, which will be formatted as 4.00, as they take into account the stake.
Below, you can find a few examples of different odds formats, and how they appear.
| American Odds | Decimal Odds | Fraction Odds |
|---|---|---|
| -200 | 1.5 | 1/2 |
| +100 | 2.0 | 1/1 |
| +200 | 3.0 | 2/1 |
| +225 | 3.25 | 9/4 |
| +1000 | 11.00 | 10/1 |
What Does Over 2.5 Mean in Betting?
In total goals, cards, and corners markets, .5 totals will be evident. This effectively cuts out any confusion as to what is needed to find a winner.
The most popular total is 2.5, with bettors wagering on whether there will be more or less cards than this benchmark.
For example, if you place a bet on there being over 2.5 cards, there will need to be at least three cards in order to gain returns. If there are only two cards, then the stake is lost.
What Does -1 Mean on a Soccer Bet?
Spread betting is one of the most popular types of bet in North America, and that is no different when it comes to soccer betting.
If you’re placing a wager and see the ‘-1’, it means that the selected team must win by at least two clear goals for the wager to be a winner. If the team is unable to cover the spread, draws or loses, then the stake is lost.
What Does PK Mean in Soccer Betting?
Given how popular spread betting is in American sports, it no surprise that it ranks among the prominent selections when gambling on soccer.
However, some matches can often be too tight to call, meaning a spread may not be available. In this case, you will see ‘PK’ shown, which essentially means that you are picking the team to win.
For example, in this instance, a team will be effectively +0 or -0. It is worth bearing in mind that if a game ends in a draw, your stake is refunded as it’s considered a push.
In Europe and at some sportsbooks in North America, betting a PK is effectively the same as a Draw No Bet wager.
What Does ‘To Qualify’ Mean in Soccer Betting?
The vast majority of soccer bets are settled in 90 minutes, unless the market specifies differently. A prime example of this can be found in the ‘To Qualify’ market.
Certain matches throughout the season are played over two legs, including knockout matches in the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League.
For these matches, gamblers can wager on the team that will qualify for the next round, as opposed to wagering on the team that will win in 90 minutes. If the selected team reaches the next round, the bet is settled as a winner.
Can I Bet on Both Teams to Win?
Dutching is a prominent betting angle in sports such as horse racing, and it is a tactic that can also be adopted when wagering on soccer.
Therefore, individual bets on each team to win in 90 minutes can be made. However, it can be a risky betting choice, as a draw would see both bets settled as losers.
Alternatively, in the Double Chance market, a bettor can wager on Team A or Team B winning, which could prove to boast better odds than wagering on each selection individually.
Do Soccer Bets Include Extra Time?
Most betting markets available online do not cover extra-time periods should a knockout match go beyond regulation time.
Extra time in terms of stoppage time added on at the end of 90 minutes do count in bets.
However, unless a market clearly specifies that it includes extra-time and penalties for competitions such as the World Cup and EUROs, losing bets will be settled at the end of regulation time.
Does Extra Time Count in Soccer Betting?
Extra Time bets don’t count in soccer betting, unless the market specifies otherwise.
For example, if you place a bet on the moneyline, and the selected team draws 0-0 in 90 minutes but wins 1-0 after extra time, then the stake is lost.
However, there are some sportsbooks that will offer prices that include extra time and penalties, but the odds are significantly lower.
Does Penalty Shootout Goals Count in Betting Soccer?
Like extra-time, goals in penalty shootouts do not count toward bets placed before the fixture, unless it is in the method of victory market.
For example, if you have Lionel Messi to score and he fails to net in 90 minutes, the bet is settled as a loser, regardless of whether he scores in extra-time or in the penalty shootout.
Penalty shootout goals also don’t contribute to bets in the over/under goals market.
What is Double Chance in Soccer Betting?
Double Chance betting is a popular soccer betting angle, as it allows gamblers to cover two angles; adding a layer of insurance.
In this market, you can bet on Team A and the Draw, meaning that the bet is settled as a winner providing that Team B doesn’t win. In total, three options are available in this market.
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What Does Tie No Bet Mean in Soccer?
Ties are something that North American soccer fans can’t understand, but a single point can often prove crucial at the end of a domestic season.
However, for betting purposes, draws can be removed from the equation. The Tie No Bet market ensures that only bets placed on either team involved are offered, and the stake is returned if your selection is correct.
Should the match end in 90 minutes, then the stake is returned.
What is a Draw No Bet in Soccer?
A Draw No Bet selection is the same as the aforementioned Tie No Bet. If the match ends in a draw, then the stake is returned.
Only two betting options are available in this market, and if you correctly predict the right winning team, then the returns are awarded.
What Does 1st Half 3 Way Mean?
Betting on soccer doesn’t have to revolve around the result after 90 minutes. Instead, bets can be placed on three-way first half market.
Here, bettors will need to correctly predict which result will be the winner at the half-time break.
All three possible selections are available, and the bet is settled when the half-time whistle is blown. For example, if you place a bet on a match to be drawing at half-time, the returns will be won, providing that neither side is leading.
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