How to Bet on Soccer

• Evaluate and select an online sportsbook after reading through real user reviews. Reading real user reviews will give you a sense of what you can expect from the legal sportsbooks available in your state.
• Register an account. To verify your eligibility, fill in the required personal details, such as name, email, and age. You'll also need to provide proof of age (21 and above in most U.S. states sports betting regulations).
• Fund your account. Deposit methods include credit/debit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, and prepaid cards. Choose what works best for you.
• Go to the sportsbook's soccer section. It may be called "Soccer," "Football," or "Soccer Betting."
• Browse the available soccer matches and markets. You can bet on match results, total goals, live in-play soccer odds, and more.
• Choose the soccer match and market you want to bet on. Click on the soccer odds to add to your bet slip. It should pop up automatically when you click the soccer odds you wish to bet.
• Decide how much you want to bet. A responsible gambling best practice is to bet with 1-5% of your monthly/annual disposable income. Another great rule of thumb is to focus on straightforward bets like the moneyline or a point spread rather than a high-risk parlay.
• Check your bet slip to make sure everything is correct. Confirm your bet by clicking "Bet."

Understanding soccer odds is key to having a positive experience wagering on the sport. Soccer odds represent the oddsmakers' probability of outcomes and decide a bettor's potential winnings. Below is a summary of soccer odds formats you will see at all soccer sportsbooks:

American Odds

Most common in the United States. They display odds as either positive (+) or represented by a minus sign (-) numbers.

• Positive Odds (+): Represent the amount of profit you would earn from a bet on an underdog.
• Negative Odds (-): Indicate the amount you could win by wagering on a favorite.

For our example, let's say the amount bet was $100:

• If Toronto FC has odds of +150, a successful $100 bet on them would win $150 in profit (for a total payout of $250).
• If Montreal Impact has odds of -120, you need to bet $120 to win $100 in profit (for a total payout of $220).

Decimal Odds 

Commonly used in Canada, show the total payout (including your initial stake) per unit wagered. The higher the decimal, the less likely the event is to occur, but the potential payout is larger.

Example (return on a $100 bet):

• If Vancouver Whitecaps have odds of 2.75, a $100 bet on them would return $275 ($175 profit + $100 stake).
• If Calgary FC has odds of 3.10, a $100 bet would return $310 ($210 profit + $100 stake).

Fractional Odds

Fractional odds, popular in the UK, express the profit relative to the stake. The first number is the profit, and the second is the stake required.

Example (return on a $100 bet):

• If Toronto FC has odds of 1/3, a $100 bet on the favorite would win $33.33 in profit (for a total payout of $133.33).
• If Ottawa Fury has odds of 4/1, a $100 bet on the underdog would win $400 in profit (for a total payout of $500).

Most soccer matches have hundreds of individual soccer bets and betting lines. Below, you'll find a rundown of common types of soccer bets and markets you can wager on:

Additional Soccer Betting Lines

First Goalscorer

Bet on which player will score the first goal.

Example: Champions League - Barcelona vs Paris Saint-Germain Raphinha (Barcelona) - Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain)

Accumulator (Parlay)

Combine multiple bets into one bet for bigger returns.

Example: Mix matches from different leagues such as La Liga and the EPL in an accumulator bet.

Draw No Bet

This eliminates the draw; you get a refund if the match ends in a draw.

Example: Serie A - Inter Milan vs Napoli Inter Milan Draw No Bet (Inter Milan wins or refund if it's a draw)

In sports betting, prop bets are wagers on specific things that happen in a game that aren’t directly related to the final score. They also differ from point spreads.

The most popular prop bets among sports bettors include the first goal scorer, total shots on target, player assists, and cards (Yellow Cards, Red Cards). For soccer fans who love to analyze player stats and predict the details beyond the team winning each match, this can be an appealing way to bet on soccer.

One of the big advantages of this category of soccer bets is the variety. Instead of betting on the outcome on head-to-head matchups, you can bet on a specific player, like Erling Haaland, to score a goal, a particular team to make a substitution in the second half, or if the game will have over a certain number of corner kicks. This flexibility allows you to use your knowledge of players, teams, and styles of play to make a more informed bet.

However, this type of wagering can be more complex than it seems.

Let's go to the English Premier League and take the Haaland goal-scoring example. In 2023-24, he led the league in goals scored with 27 goals in 29 matches, so soccer bettors betting on him to be an anytime goalscorer might've seemed like a good strategy. However, because of multi-goal games, he ended up scoring in just over half of his matches (58.6%), making him far less of a sure thing for bettors than he might've initially seemed.

Credit: Matt McNulty/Getty Images

Prop bets require research as they depend on specific circumstances, such as lineups or in-game situations. For example, a bet on a player to score becomes less favorable if that player is likely to be rested or subbed off midway through a game.

Keep up to date with team news, injury reports, and coach tendencies. Props tied to unusual events, like whether a penalty be awarded, have longer odds but higher risk. They’re tempting but unpredictable.

Futures bets are wagers on long-term outcomes.

Examples include tournament winners, league champions, or individual awards like the Golden Boot. These bets have a longer timeframe than game-day bets as they focus on season-long or multi-week events.

Betting on Manchester City to win the English Premier League or Kylian Mbappé to score the most goals at the World Cup would fall into this category of soccer odds. Futures bets allow fans to ride the ups and downs of a team or player’s season or tournament.

One of the big attractions of futures bets is the potential for bigger payouts. Because these bets are placed far in advance, adding to uncertainty, the odds are higher than game-day bets on a typical soccer match.

A famous example is Leicester City winning the English Premier League title in 2016 despite their status as a 5000-to-1 longshot before the season began. A few optimistic bettors made that wager, which led to massive losses for English sportsbooks.

Credit: Swindon Town Football Club

Betting on an underdog to win a tournament or a league can have a large payoff if it succeeds. However, the higher soccer odds also reflect the higher risk, as many things can change over time: injuries, form, managerial changes, etc.

These wagers are available at soccer betting sites a long time in advance. For example, although the next World Cup is taking place in 2026, you can already find futures odds for the potential outright winner.

Here is an odds comparison between three popular soccer betting sites:

Futures bets require strategic thinking and long-term planning. When you place these bets, consider things like team depth, schedules, historical performance in big competitions, and player fitness.

Spreading futures bets across multiple teams or players can help mitigate risk and increase your chances of a return.

When betting soccer live, also known as in-play betting, allows you to bet on a specific team or match play as it happens. This is an exciting way to bet for fans who love to analyze the action as it unfolds.

One of the big advantages of live betting is being able to react to the game and adjust your bets accordingly. For example, if a favorite team concedes an early goal, their odds will improve massively. That means you can back them at a better price.

But live betting requires quick decisions and a good understanding of the game. Soccer odds can change quickly, and hesitation can mean missing out. You need to stay focused, not get emotional, and stick to your strategy. For example, if you’re going to bet on total goals, monitoring the flow of the game and the number of scoring chances can give you valuable information before you commit.

Because in-play betting provides a constant stream of new soccer odds and markets, it can be overwhelming. Here are some guidelines to follow:

• Set a Budget: Decide on a specific amount of money you can afford to lose before starting and stick to it, no matter what happens during the game.
• Avoid Chasing Losses: Resist the urge to recover your losses by placing additional bets impulsively. This is a main sign of problem gambling behavior, and it should never happen.
• Stay Sober: Avoid placing soccer bets while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, which can impair judgment and decision-making.
• Use Cash-Out Wisely: Take advantage of cash-out options to secure winnings or minimize losses if possible.
• Bet on What You Know: Focus on soccer matches, the winning team, or leagues you understand well to make informed decisions rather than guessing.

Betting on soccer takes knowledge, patience, luck, and attention to detail. However good your strategies may seem, there is no guaranteed way to turn a profit.

• Follow the Injuries and Lineups: Lineups released before a soccer match can affect the odds, especially sports betting on player props like goal scorers or total shots. Stay informed before the lineups are released to get the best closing line value. Monitor the press conferences for updates, track injuries, and anticipate rest or rotation based on the coach's previous decisions. Player rotation is common in tournaments where matches are close together. Being informed will help you lock in the best soccer odds.
• Tactical Styles: Tactics matter in soccer betting. For example, if one team has a weakness on one side of the field and their opponent has a fast winger on that side, that mismatch could influence the soccer odds and your betting decisions. If a team forces its opponents to take long-range shots, that could mean more corners and more value on the corners. Understanding team styles, strengths, and weaknesses are key to finding value.
• Shop Around: It is crucial to compare and read soccer odds to find the best soccer betting lines. Different sportsbooks often offer varying odds, soccer markets, and lines for the same match, which can significantly impact potential returns. By comparing soccer odds, you maximize your chances of finding value and increase potential payout.

Making a soccer bet can be fun, but approach it responsibly to avoid the traps. Here are four tips to keep your betting fun and in control:

By being responsible, you can enjoy soccer betting without it affecting your life. Remember that betting should enhance your enjoyment of the game, not cause stress or financial strain.

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