Introduction
Played by an estimated 250 million people in 200 different countries, Football is, without doubt, the most popular sport in the world. Even a huge number of people watch football, with around 3.5 billion fans worldwide. Many fans who follow football like to bet on games which can be done in several ways using different methods.
How to bet on football?
You can bet on football in several ways, including before the match starts (prematch) or when the match has started (In-Play). This can be done in person in a betting shop or online via the bookmaker’s website or app. When placing a bet on football, you are spoilt for choice on leagues available and the multiple betting markets that come with each game.
What are the most popular leagues?
When placing a football bet, your options regarding the leagues and competitions from which to choose are endless. The most popular leagues that punters place bets on are the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and the FIFA World Cup. When wanting to bet on these leagues or individual fixtures within these, there are many different markets you can place a bet on based on what you believe might win.
The English Premier League was established on the 27th of May, 1992. This was a progression from the Football League that was founded in 1888. The Premier League is the highest tier in English football and is made up of the best 20 of 92 teams in the English league. A season of Premier League football is played over 38 games where all 20 teams play one another home and away between the months of August-May. The popularity of the Premier League is huge. There is no denying that the Premier League is the most followed domestic league, as it is broadcasted to over 800 million homes in 188 countries on 400 different TV channels,
The UEFA Champions League is UEFA’s elite-level club competition where the best European teams play for the right to be crowned champions of Europe. The competition began in 1955, under the ‘European Cup’, when 16 teams participated. In 1992/93, the competition then changed its name to the Champions League, also seeing an expansion in the number of teams entering (32). The sides are split into eight groups of 4 teams based on past achievements and other requirements. The sides play home and away in the group stage, with the top two sides progressing to the last 16 stages. The knockout stages are played as a two-legged game, with both sides having the home advantage once. The venue for the final of the Champions League is decided via a lottery system before the competition starts. The lottery system is used to make sure no country or stadium has hosted the prestigious event in recent times. The Champions League final attracts an audience of around 380-400 million people yearly, making this the most-watched standalone annual sporting event.
The World Cup is also a hugely popular event that punters bet on due to the excitement and anticipation built over time. The first World Cup took place in 1930 in Uruguay and ever since has taken place every four years. The host country of a World Cup is decided through a long ballot system and is then chosen by a vote by FIFA’s congress. The host country is often known seven years before the event takes place. Since 1998, each tournament has consisted of 32 teams, split into eight groups of four. The four teams play each other during the group stage, trying to gain as many points as possible after the three games. The top 2 sides then progress to the knockout phase, where it becomes a one-off game. Lose, and you are out. The World Cup is the most-watched event because it involves countries around the globe, and it happens once every four years.
Football betting markets
As a football bettor, you will discover a wide range of betting markets that allow you to have fun while gambling rather than just selecting a team to win or lose. These different betting markets are widely popular with those who choose to bet on football as they provide entertainment and can be followed throughout the game.
Full-time result:
Some football bettors select a full-time result, which can be placed before play starts or even during the game. To win your full-time result bet, you must select the correct team to win or draw, regardless of the scoreline. If you had the home side win and the home side win 2-1 or 3-0, that part of the bet would still win because you chose them to win the game full-time.
Over or under X amount of goals:
Another popular market in football betting is ‘Over or under X amount of goals’. This market allows the bettor to predict the number of goals that will be scored in a game. On betting sites, Apps, or in a betting shop, you will see things such as ‘Over 1.5 goals in the 90 minutes’ this means that you are betting on the game having two or more goals scored. The way to win this kind of bet is to predict correctly if the game will have over or under a certain amount of goals without selecting a specific number. With most bookies, you will be paid out before the 90 minutes is up if your bet has come in while play is still going on. So, therefore, this market is often used by those who follow and bet on football.
Both teams to score and a team to win:
This market within football betting is hugely popular as it often comes with good odds as you are betting on two outcomes within the bet. So not only are you picking a team to win, but you’re also backing whether both teams will score by selecting the YES or NO options, depending on what you feel the final result will be. This market provides entertainment and excitement for bettors throughout the game, making it popular.
Bet builders:
You can bet on all of the above in one big bet. This is called a bet builder. A bet builder is a multiple-selection bet based on a single event. For example, you can bet on both teams to score, A player to be yellow carded, as well as over 2.5 goals all within one bet. Bet builders are the most entertaining bets as they help the punter feel more involved in the game and track many aspects within one match. Bet builders often have massive odds meaning a low stake can pay huge money if successful.
Football betting strategy
When wanting to place a football bet, many different aspects can be considered when choosing what to bet on, and these can vary from player-specific stats or the form of a certain team leading up to the time you want to place a bet.
Recent form:
Before placing a bet, many punters check and analyse the form of teams. Looking at the form table allows you to decide based on facts. If a team is playing against a side in poor form, the odds are stacked on the inform, meaning the in-form side is more likely to win.
League table:
Similarly to the form of both sides, Many football fans look at the league table before placing a bet. Using the league table can give punters an indication of how a side is playing, not just recently but throughout the season as a whole. Therefore giving the punter a more overall indication of what might happen during the game. The use of a league table can help bettors come to a decision based on their actual league position. However, suppose you decide to back the top of the league against the bottom. In that case, the odds of the top side winning are likely to be short, meaning you need to place a higher stake to gain a decent return, and this can become risky as any team can beat another on any given day.
Head-to-head:
Another aspect that those wanting to place a bet may look at before placing their stake is the head-to-head and previous meetings between both teams. Some sides fare better against certain teams, so if you look at the head-to-head and see that one side has won 3 of the last three games against their opposition, this can be a factor that can influence your selection.
Form of certain players:
As well as looking at how a team plays, You can also look at an individual’s form to help influence your decision. For example, when you want to place a bet on a player to score in a game, you might look at the league’s top scorers to see where your player is in the standings. This can help punters place a bet with the highest possibility of winning, increasing the chances of money being made.
How many yellow or red cards?
Analysing players’ card records can be useful for making a few quid. Some players are known for getting yellow or red cards, and often this is a continuous theme in games due to the nature of the player. So as a punter, if you know a player is an aggressive midfielder, the likelihood of them being carded in the game is high, meaning an increased chance of you winning the bet you’ve placed.
Summary
Despite all these aspects that can be considered before placing a bet, they do NOT guarantee you win. It is important to know that all bets can lose regardless of the odds. These aspects are reference points that can help influence selections rather than make them happen. Always remember to stake sensibly and keep gambling fun.
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Explanation: player statistics (a/b c)
a - games played this season
b - goals scored
c - team position (d - defender, m - midfielder, f - forward, g - goalkeeper).
