Soccer is the world’s most popular sport, attracting millions of fans and bettors who seek to profit from their knowledge of the game. Whether you are a beginner just starting to explore soccer betting or an experienced bettor looking to refine your strategies, understanding the types of bets, analyzing matches, and employing effective strategies are essential for success. In this guide, we will explore how to bet on soccer with the best strategies for betting on soccer, the types of bets you can place, and useful tips for both beginners and advanced bettors.
Types of Soccer Bets
Before diving into soccer betting strategies, it is essential to understand the different types of soccer bets you can make when learning how to bet on soccer. Soccer betting offers a variety of options, ranging from simple wagers to more complex ones. Here are the most common soccer bet types:
- Moneyline (1X2 Bet): This is the most basic and popular bet in soccer. You are betting on the outcome of a match: This bet doesn’t account for the scoreline, just the winner.
- 1: Home team win
- X: Draw
- 2: Away team win
- Over/Under (Totals): In this bet, you wager on the total number of goals scored in a match. Bookmakers set a line (e.g., 2.5 goals). You then bet whether the total goals scored will be over or under this number.
- Asian Handicap: This is a popular bet for those looking to increase odds or avoid a draw. It gives one team a virtual handicap, meaning one team starts with a goal advantage or disadvantage. If the handicap results in a draw, your bet is refunded. This is much like spread betting in other sports.
- Double Chance: This bet allows you to combine two of the three possible outcomes (home win, draw, away win). For example, you can bet on a home win or draw, or an away win or draw. This reduces risk but also lowers potential returns.
- Draw No Bet: This is a similar soccer bet type to the Double Chance, however, in Draw No Bet you’re taking one team to win and the draw, but if the outcome draws, you get refund.
- Correct Score: Here, you predict the exact scoreline of the match. This type of bet has higher odds but is more difficult to predict.
- Both Teams to Score (BTTS): In this bet, you wager on whether both teams will score in the match. If you bet on “Yes,” both teams must score for your bet to win. Up the betting odds by betting on BTTS & Over 2.5 if you feel the game will be especially high-scoring. This bet type is not always available but can be found at many soccer betting sites.
- Half-time/Full-time Bet: This is a combination bet where you predict both the outcome at halftime and the final result of the match.
- Player Props: These bets focus on individual players, such as betting on a player to score, assist, or receive a yellow card.
- Accumulator/Acca (Parlay) Bet: A parlay bet combines multiple bets into one wager. For instance, you might bet on the outcome of several games in one round of fixtures. The odds are multiplied, but all selections must win for the bet to pay out. An example may be to combine Liverpool and Manchester City to win into one two-game parlay in the Premier League since they may both be heavily favored and not worth betting as straight bets.
Betting Strategies for Soccer
Now that you understand the types of soccer bets, let’s look at some strategies that can help you increase your chances of success when learning how to bet on soccer.
1. Research and Analyze Team Form
Understanding the form of the teams involved is crucial for making informed decisions. Look at:
- Recent performances: How have the teams been performing in their last few games? Are they on a winning streak or struggling?
- Home vs. Away form: Some teams perform significantly better at home than away. Analyzing this trend can provide valuable insights.
- Head-to-head statistics: Look at the history of encounters between the two teams, as certain teams have a psychological advantage over others.
- Injuries and suspensions: Missing key players can drastically affect a team’s performance. Always check team news before placing bets.
- Tactics and playing styles: Some teams are more suited to certain types of matches. For instance, a counter-attacking team might perform well against a possession-based team.
2. Focus on Value Betting
A value bet occurs when the odds offered by a bookmaker are higher than the actual probability of an event occurring. To identify value bets, you need to:
- Understand the market odds: Learn how bookmakers set their odds and how they might overvalue or undervalue certain teams or outcomes.
- Assess the true probability: Do your own analysis of the match (team form, injuries, etc.) to estimate the true probability of the outcome, and compare it with the bookmaker’s odds.
For example, if you believe the probability of a home win is 60%, but the bookmaker’s odds imply only a 50% chance, this could be a value bet. Betting on value allows you to consistently make profits in the long run.
3. Bankroll Management
Effective bankroll management is essential for long-term success in soccer betting. Here are a few principles to consider when getting acquainted with how to bet on soccer.
- Set a budget: Determine how much money you are willing to risk on soccer bets. Only bet with money you can afford to lose.
- Flat betting: Place the same amount of money on each bet, regardless of how confident you feel about the outcome. This helps manage risk.
- Percentage betting: Some bettors prefer to wager a small percentage (e.g., 2-5%) of their bankroll on each bet. This helps you manage your funds during a losing streak.
4. Avoid Emotional Betting
Bettors often make poor decisions when they let emotions dictate their bets when learning how to bet on soccer. For example, betting on your favorite team regardless of their form or betting on a high-profile match simply because it’s exciting. Successful soccer betting requires objectivity, research, and discipline.
5. Follow Expert Insights
While it’s important to form your own opinions, following expert analysts and soccer betting tips can provide an edge. Many experts study the game in-depth, and their insights can help you spot opportunities you may have missed. Some of the best strategies for how to bet on soccer can be acquired by learning a little bit from multiple sources.
6. Use Multiple Bookmakers
Different online betting sites offer different odds for the same event. To maximize your potential returns, open accounts with several reputable sportsbooks and shop around for the best odds before placing your bet. Most of the top soccer betting sites will offer some exciting new customer sportsbook offers.
Tips for Beginners
If you’re new to soccer betting, here are some key tips to help you get started with how to bet on soccer.
- Start Small: As a beginner, avoid making large wagers. Start with small, conservative bets until you become familiar with the nuances of soccer betting.
- Bet on What You Know: Stick to leagues and teams you are familiar with. Knowledge of a particular league or team can help you make more informed bets. The most popular leagues would be the Premier League (England), Bundesliga (Germany), La Liga (Spain) and Serie A (Italy). But every country has a top-tier league and many lower-level leagues to where teams can be promoted or relegated from. In North America, there is one top league though, where everyone competes in Major League Soccer, or MLS.
- Avoid Betting on Every Game: It’s tempting to place bets on every match, but this can lead to losses. Focus on high-value opportunities.
- Study the Basics: Learn the fundamentals of soccer betting, such as understanding odds and different bet types, before diving deeper into complex strategies.
- Keep Records: Track your bets, wins, and losses to identify patterns. This will help you assess your performance and improve over time.
Tips for Advanced Bettors
For more experienced bettors, here are strategies that can elevate your soccer betting to the next level:
- Advanced Statistical Analysis: Use advanced metrics, such as Expected Goals (xG), Expected Goals Against (xGA), final third touches, corners and possession statistics, to get a deeper understanding of teams’ true performance beyond traditional results.
- Bet on Markets with Less Competition: Consider betting on lesser-known leagues or niche markets where the odds may be mispriced, and the competition is not as fierce. Some of the second-tier European Leagues such as the Eredivisie (Netherlands), Jupiler League (Belgium), Super Lig (Turkey), Primeira Liga (Portugal) and others can offer lots of betting value and excitement. Consider these leagues as you continue crafting your strategies for how to bet on soccer.
- Live Betting: In-play or live betting can be profitable if you can analyze match situations in real-time. Watching the game and responding to changing circumstances can give you an edge.
- Arbitrage Betting: This involves placing bets on all possible outcomes of a match across different bookmakers, guaranteeing a profit regardless of the result. However, this requires a lot of time and precision.
- Psychological Factors: Understand the psychology of teams and players. For example, how a team performs when under pressure or with a lead can sometimes be more important than stats alone.
Start Betting on Soccer
Soccer betting can be simple and fun but requires knowledge, discipline, and strategy. By understanding the types of bets available, researching teams, and employing sound betting strategies, you can increase your chances of success. For beginners, it’s crucial to start small, bet with discipline, and learn how to bet on soccer with the basics. Advanced bettors should focus on finding additional ways to find value and employ multiple soccer betting strategies to become profitable.
