Soccer is the biggest sport in the world and with that comes an array of ways to bet on it. Punters who are just starting out on their gambling career may be overwhelmed with the sheer number of markets that you can place bets on. However, this article will help you understand all the different markets that you can expect to find when betting on the world’s most popular sport.
Betting on this sport is entirely different from other casino games such as poker and the slots. Instead, you will be betting on live-action unfolding in front of you, and there are certain elements that you must follow if you’re going to maximise your chances of getting returns. But, first, let’s take a look at some of the most popular competitions that you can expect to bet on.
FIFA World Cup
Undoubtedly the biggest competition in the world is the World Cup. The tournament sees the best players in the world represent their countries as they try and make it through to the final, and then eventually win the competition. The World Cup is held every four years, with each instalment being hosted in a different country. Brazil is the most successful nation in the history of the World Cup, having won the competition on five occasions. The reigning champions are France who beat Croatia in the final in 2018. The next competition will be hosted in Qatar in 2022.
Premier League
The most competitive domestic league in the world comes from England. The Premier League contains 20 teams, and all the teams face each other twice over the course of nine months. The teams in the bottom three are relegated into the Championship, while the top four will be playing in the following seasons Champions League. The amount of betting markets for this competition outweighs most. As well as being able to place a stake on the team that you think will win the league, you can places wagers on the top scorer, the teams to be relegated and whether specific teams will finish in the top-six. It is the most-watched sports league in the world for a reason; nothing comes close to the excitement.
UEFA Champions League
The Champions League is the one competition over the course of the season where you can expect the very best teams from across Europe to go head to head. It is the most prestigious club competition in the world, and the one that all teams starting the season aspire to win. The teams must first negotiate a group stage containing three other sides, before then advancing to the knockout stages. These ties are played over two legs, with the team with the better record advancing. The teams continue to be chopped down until only two remain, and these sides face off in a one-off final to end the club season. There is also the Europa League, but that is considering the secondary competition on the continent.
Betting Markets
Match Betting
The most common way to bet on any football match regardless of the competition is in the match betting market or the 1X2 market. Here, you simply put a stake on the team that you believe will win. The ‘1’ will signify the home side, while ‘2’ is for the away. The ‘X’ is for the draw. It is important to remember for knockout games in the Champions League and World Cup that if a game goes to extra time, then the correct outcome in the betting markets would be a draw. This betting market is very simple, and punters can also combine multiple selections into longer formed bet called an accumulator. This will maximise returns, but the risks are increased.
Both Teams to Score Market
This market is one of the best ways to remain interested in the action throughout the game. Here, you will simply place a stake on either ‘yes’ or ‘no’. If you select yes, then both sides must score in the match for your bet to be a winning one. Meanwhile, if you opt for no, then you will be hoping that at the very most one of the teams score. It can be an incredibly lucrative market, and much like the match betting market, it can also be included in an accumulator.
Over/Under Markets
The over/under markets are similar to the prior mentioned market in the sense that you’re playing a bet on one of two options. However, in this market instead of putting a stake on yes or no, you’re instead placing a bet whether something will be over or under. For soccer matches, this will include being able to bet on whether or not there will over a certain number of goals, corners, cards and even throw-ins. The benchmark set by the bookmaker typically goes up in halves, which means there is always a clear win or lose. For instance, for the goals market, the benchmark could be 3.5. You can then put on a bet saying there will be over this amount of goals. The bet is a winner as long as there are four or more goals scored in the match.
Outright Markets
The most popular way for all soccer punters to make sure they remain interested throughout the competitions is by betting on the outright market. This is simply betting on the team that will win a certain competition, or a player to finish a tournament as the top scorer. Every competition in world soccer will enable punters to bet on the outright markets. It can be incredibly lucrative should the punters have done their research prior to making the bet.
Some bookmakers will also offer competitive prices on special markets such as managers to be fired and players to move to new clubs. The fun of betting on soccer doesn’t have to end when the referee blows their full-time whistle. There are more than enough ways to bet on soccer.
