Cheering on your favorite football team from the sidelines is nothing short of fun. It’s even more rewarding if you have some skin in the game and stand to win, too. So, let’s discuss how to bet on football.
It’s only after you get into the intricacies of football betting that you realize how multi-faceted the sport is. There are so many football leagues you can bet on using different types of wagers. You don’t bet blindly and rely on odds to know what you’re staking and winning. We explain this and more in our guide.
Football betting is big business everywhere. The global football betting market is estimated to reach $265.5 billion by the end of 2034. It’s not too difficult to explain how to bet on football. You basically predict the result of a football match and place a wager on the outcome.
There’s nothing wrong with going with your gut instincts when placing football bets. However, having a strategy results in long-term betting success. That applies to any sport, really, including when learning
how to bet on cricket.
Key Betting Terms
Is it easy to bet on football? Considerably. Anytime you wager on a football match, one of three outcomes happens: a win, a loss, or a draw. When you wager on football matches, you use odds determined by the sportsbook. This figure shows the likelihood of a football outcome occurring, and can be displayed in American, Fractional, or Decimal format.
You can place single wagers where you bet on one outcome, or combine multiple bets into a parlay. The catch with parlays is that all your selections must win to win your wager.
How Football Betting Works
How do you bet on football? You can wager on most football leagues and tournaments, from the English Premier League to the UEFA Champions League.
When learning how to bet on football, know that you can place pre-match or in-play bets. The former lets you wager before the game starts. In-play or live betting allows you to punt while the game is underway. We find that live betting offers more betting flexibility, but it is also risky. Odds aren’t fixed and tend to fluctuate heavily, so you should be able to make sound betting decisions on the fly.
Betting on Football: Pros & Cons
We’ll admit that betting on football can be pretty rewarding if your predictions are on the money. But you can’t rule out the risks attached. Keep the following upsides and downsides in mind when learning how to bet on football.
Pros and Cons
Numerous leagues to bet on
Can place numerous bet types
Several bonuses linked to football wagers
Some bet types are complex
Understanding Different Bet Types
Part of figuring out how to bet on football is understanding the different ways to wager. Only after you research various markets can you identify those that mesh well with your strengths.
Match Result (1×2)
The Match Result is also known as the 1×2 or Outright winner bet. It’s the most straightforward and requires that you pick the team to win the match. The match winner is a popular wager and pops up when discussing other sports, like
how to bet on snooker.
Over/Under Goals
Instead of betting on the result, Over Under betting is based on the number of goals scored in a match. Players don’t predict the exact result. You simply need the total number of goals scored in a match to be above or below your prediction.
Both Teams to Score (BTTS)
BTTS is yet another relatively straightforward bet where you don’t need to worry about the end result. You simply guess whether both teams will score a goal in the football match or not. We find this wager plays out effectively if you’re dealing with two high-scoring teams or two weak defenses.
Props
With this bet type, you predict if a specific event will happen in a game, regardless of the outcome. This interesting bet covers all sorts of in-game moments, like predicting the team to score first.
Half Time/ Full Time Bet
A half-time/full-time wager is much like a match result bet. But instead of predicting the full-time result, you bet that the team will win in the first half and then at the end of the game. In our opinion, it’s better than a straight win wager because it has more competitive odds.
Draw No Bet
Again, this bet is similar to the match result, except the draw outcome is removed from the equation. You pick the team you think will win, and if a draw results, your stake is refunded.
Market Type
Description
Risk Level
Best For
Match Result (1×2)
Bet on home win, draw, or away win
Low
Beginners, straightforward
Over/Under Goals
Total goals over or under a set number
Medium
Goal-focused bettors
Both Teams to Score (BTTS)
Bet on both teams to score or not
Medium
Fans of attacking football
Correct Score
Predict the exact final score
High
Experienced bettors
First Goalscorer
Player to score first
High
Prop bet enthusiasts
Football Betting Tips
Football betting has no guarantees. But as for how to bet on football and win, you won’t go wrong with these tips. They help increase your chances of making more accurate predictions.
🏆 Find the Best Bookmakers
The first step is to register with a licensed and secure bookie that provides the best odds. This isn’t a football-only tip, but it works when learning
how to bet on darts, too.
📚 Let NEXT.io Guide You
You don’t have to do the heavy lifting when figuring out how to bet on football. Our guides help you understand the inner workings of football betting.
🔍 Research Team Form and Injury Reports
It’s always a good idea to place bets from an informed viewpoint. Study the teams’ recent performances and injury reports to get an idea of what to expect.
⚽ Specialize in Certain Leagues
Instead of being a jack of all trades, focus on a specific football league to gain a deeper understanding of how it works. Study the league’s teams, players, and game performances to place winning wagers.
📰 Keep Up with the Latest News.
Things and circumstances change in football betting. For instance, players get injured, teams lose key players, and venues shift. Be on top of the latest football news, so you’re not caught unawares.
📊 Compare Odds
Shop around for the best odds from different sportsbooks to get maximum value for each wager in your desired market.
💰 Bankroll Management
No matter which betting on football strategy you use, it all falls flat if you don’t manage your finances correctly. Always set a football betting budget and stick to it.
Key Football Events to Bet on
We already hinted at popular football events you can wager on. We’ll break down some of the most common leagues to explore at an international, club, or domestic level.
FIFA World Cup
This is an international football tournament involving football teams from all over the world. Organized by FIFA, it’s been running every 4 years since 1930. 32 teams have competed in the past, but 48 will compete in the 2026th edition. This is the first format change since it was launched.
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League is a popular tournament at the club level. It sees 32 European football teams compete for the top spot. You get a chance to back your favorite clubs like Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea.
English Premier League
Domestic football tournaments such as the English Premier League are quite popular among players. The EPL is the highest level of the English football league system. 20 teams from England battle it out in hopes of being crowned the English champions.
Conclusion – Bet on Football with Our Top Strategies
Football betting remains a global phenomenon, as players all over the world back their favorite football teams. You can place different wagers on numerous football events using available odds. The concept is simple in theory, but using a betting football strategy helps make more accurate predictions.
You need an idea of team performances, player injuries, and what’s happening on the pitch. We’ve covered all these aspects in our guide to help you place meaningful wagers every time. We also recommend signing up to one of
our top-rated UK betting sites; you’ll find them in our banners, since they offer the best football markets and odds. Also, feel free to check NEXT.io for more information on how football and other betting-related aspects work.
How to Bet on Football FAQs
You totally can. It’s called a live bet or in-play wager. But be prepared to make quick betting decisions due to the ever-changing odds.
Bookies use a combination of expert opinions, public sentiments, and stats to determine odds for a football match.
The match winner is arguably the easiest football wager. You simply predict who will win the match.
