Betting on sports can be overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the scene and find it difficult to understand all its jargon. So, if you’re reading this, you’re probably interested in learning how to bet on football.
If that’s true, then you’re on the right page. In the later sections of this guide, we’ll explore the most common types of football bets, some betting strategies, and important factors you should consider/analyze before placing football bets. By the end, you should have a sound knowledge of betting on football and the common pitfalls you should avoid.
As mentioned in other football betting guides I’ve written in the past, there are two main betting markets you should know, including the pre-match and live betting markets. These markets are quite different in terms of how they work and the experiences they offer. So, it’s very important you understand them perfectly. With that in mind, let’s closely explore the two markets below:
Football live betting, which is also called in-play betting, is the act of placing a wager on ongoing football events. So, instead of making your sports picks before the match begins, live betting allows you to watch the event, see how it unfolds, and place bets based on what’s happening in real time. For instance, if you’re watching a football match and a team really plays well, you might decide to place a straight win live bet, predicting that the team that plays well might win the event.
Regarding betting options, some popular football live betting options you can bet include the next team to score, total goals (over/under), correct score, match winner, and many more. The best part? You can place live bets on your favorite football events on any of the betting sites we recommend on the banner of this page.
The betting sites worth your time
Bet365 Review
Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5!
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL OR TEXT 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ/CO/IL/IN/KY/LA/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). 21+ only (18+ in KY). Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KY/LA(select parishes)/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA. *This Referral Code is used for marketing/tracking purposes only. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply.
Football pre-match betting is the traditional way of placing bets before a match kicks off. It means you would have to study the teams, check stats, analyze and compare the odds across different sites, and make your predictions ahead of time, sometimes hours or even days before the events start. While a lot of bettors prefer live football betting, pre-match betting gives you the chance to do proper research without the pressure of a ticking clock, as it does with live betting.
However, when it comes to betting options, the two markets share some similarities, as you can also place pre-match bets with options like correct scores, match winners, draws, and many more. That said, some pre-match-specific betting options you can pick include halftime/full-time results, double chance, and scorecast bets, where you predict both the first goal scorer and the final score. That said, let’s compare live and pre-match betting in the following table:
| Feature |
Pre-match betting
|
Live betting
|
| Bet timing |
Before match begins |
During the match |
| Odds movement |
Stable until the match starts |
Fluctuates based on real-time match events |
| Best for |
Beginners and those who can analyze deeply. |
Experienced bettors who can make fast decisions. |
If you’re learning how to bet on football games, you should be aware of some common football betting options and how they work. These options, which include match winner, correct score, and totals, are some of the most popular betting options you’ll come across on any of our top-rated betting sites. Having said that, let’s take a close look at some of them:
If you’re learning how to bet on college football or any other sporting events, the match result bet, which is also called the 1X2 bet, is one of the easiest options to start with. It simply means picking which of the teams will win the event or if it will end in a draw. “1” means you’re picking the home team to win the match, “X” means you’re predicting the event will end in a draw while picking “2” means you’re predicting that the away team will win the match.
While this is not the best option for bettors learning how to place a bet on football, it’s very popular among experienced bettors. The correct score bet is exactly what it sounds like; you’re predicting the exact final score of the match. While it’s a very risky bet, it offers significant odds that can lead to larger returns if your predictions come correct.
Although Double Chance is a less-risky football betting option, it comes with relatively low betting odds. It involves predicting that either of the teams will win the match. So, if the home or away team wins, your bet wins. However, if the match ends in a draw, you’ll automatically lose the bet. As a popular betting option, you can bet on it via any of our recommended betting sites.
As stated in the other
online sports betting guide
I wrote earlier, the totals market is one of the most beginner-friendly football betting options. Instead of focusing on who will win the match, you’re betting on whether a specific statistic will be over or under a set number.
Top-rated sportsbook sites for June
1.
Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5!
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL OR TEXT 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ/CO/IL/IN/KY/LA/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). 21+ only (18+ in KY). Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KY/LA(select parishes)/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA. *This Referral Code is used for marketing/tracking purposes only. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply.
Advantages
- A wide range of betting markets
- Easy to get started
- Offers less-risky betting options
If you’re learning
how to bet on baseball, football, or any other sport, the process is quite straightforward. First, you’d have to create an account with a licensed and regulated online betting site.
The good news is that all the sites on the banner of this page are reputable and offer some of the
best free bets
among online betting sites; you can quickly create an account on your preferred one, fund it, and follow the simple process below to place your first pre-match football bet:
- Log into your betting site account
- Go to the football betting market
- Select your preferred football leagues
- Tap on the specific event you want to bet on
- Make your selections
- Enter the amount you wish to stake
- Complete your bet
Just like every other bet, there’s no assurance of winning football bets, irrespective of who places them and when. However, there are strategies that can help maximize your betting experience, and here are some of them:
- Check the previous game statistics of the two teams
- Compare the odds and analyze team form and performance before placing bets
- Start with less-risky bets like match results and totals if you’re a beginner
- Take emotions away
- Set and maintain your betting budget irrespective of the outcomes
- Take advantage of free bets and other promotions
To wrap up, betting on football events can seem hard at first, but once you understand some of its basics, as discussed earlier, you should be on your way to placing your first bet with ease. However, always remember that football betting does not assure winnings. But even at that, you can increase your betting experience by using some of the smart strategies I outlined in this football betting guide. That said, you can sign up for an account on any of the betting sites we recommend on the banner of this page.
Try these top betting bonuses
1.
Get $150 in Bonus Bets Win or Lose when you bet $5!
Wagering (WR): 1x Bonus, Min. Deposit: $10
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL OR TEXT 1-800-GAMBLER (AZ/CO/IL/IN/KY/LA/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA) or 1-800-BETS OFF (IA). 21+ only (18+ in KY). Must be present in AZ/CO/IA/IL/IN/KY/LA(select parishes)/NC/NJ/OH/PA/TN/VA. *This Referral Code is used for marketing/tracking purposes only. Minimum wager $5. Minimum odds -500 or greater. $10 minimum deposit. Paid in Bonus Bets. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. New customers only. Available in app only. Max. prize, game restrictions, time limits and T&Cs apply.
Pre-match betting involves placing your bet on a football event before it begins based on your analysis. On the other hand, live football betting involves placing bets on an ongoing football event.
The legality of football betting depends on the country or region you’re based in. While it can be legal in one country, it would be illegal to bet on a football match if you stay in a country that has banned online sports betting. You can check the banners on this page for our top recommended betting sites in your location.
🎁 Can I use bonuses or free bets as a beginner?
Yes, you can! Most of our recommended sites offer some of the best sports bonuses that you can take advantage of. However, note that these offers come with terms and conditions that you must meet.
