Soccer Betting Guide
Soccer betting can be a fun way to enhance your viewing experience. This guide contains resources to help you win money soccer betting.
Explore the different types of bets available, learn effective strategies and tips for handicapping, and discover the best sites for soccer betting.
In This Soccer Betting Guide:
Bets Available Online For Soccer
Do you simply want to bet on what team will win the match? Are you curious about how to bet on corners? We dive into the most common soccer bets available online.
Moneyline Betting
A moneyline bet is a wager on which team will win the match. There are two different types of moneyline betting in soccer: the 3-way moneyline and the 2-way moneyline.
Recommended Sportsbook For Moneylines: BetNow
3-Way Moneylines
The 3-way moneyline lets you choose between three possible outcomes in a match: the home team winning, the away team winning, or a draw.
Example: If Liverpool plays Tottenham at home and is expected to win, you can set the 3-way moneyline to:
- Liverpool -210 (Bet $210 to win $100)
- Tottenham +465 (Bet $100 to win $465)
- Draw +455 (Bet $100 to win $455)
If this match ended 1-1, bets on Liverpool and Tottenham would be graded as losses, and bets on a draw would win.
2-Way Moneylines
The 2-way moneyline bet (known as a “Draw No Bet” line) sets a line on each team to win. In this bet type, you do not have the option to bet on a draw.
Example: Using the same game in the example above, the 2-way moneyline might be set at:
- Liverpool -500 (Bet $500 to win $100)
- Tottenham +350 (Bet $100 to win $350)
You’re wagering on either one of these teams to win.
Spread Betting (Goal Lines)
In soccer, point spread betting (or goal line betting) is a point handicap that aims to make a match more even. The favored team must win by a margin larger than the point spread to cash in on this wager. Meanwhile, the underdog can win this bet with an outright win, or by losing by less than the spread amount.
Recommended Sportsbook For Spread Betting: MyBookie
Example: Odds for a match between Real Madrid and Cadiz are set at:
- Real Madrid (-290)
- Cadiz (+840)
- Draw (+440)
This game could have a spread of:
- Real Madrid -1.5 goals (+100)
- Cadiz +1.5 goals (-120)
In this example, Real Madrid are the favorites. Therefore, they need to win by more than 1.5 goals for a bet on them to pay off. As there are no 0.5 goals in soccer, Real Madrid would need to win by 2 or more goals for you to win the bet.
Cadiz are the underdog, so they start with a +1.5 goal advantage in the betting market. If you bet on Cadiz, there are three outcomes that could make you win the bet:
- Option 1: Cadiz wins the game
- Option 2: Cadiz ties
- Option 3: Cadiz loses the game by 1 goal
Expert Point Spread Tip:
If you want to bet on the favorite in this example, the point spread (+100) provides more value than the moneyline (-290).
Double Chance Bets
A double chance bet allows you to bet on two of the three possible outcomes in a match. The bet is graded a winner if either of those two outcomes occurs. In any soccer match, there are three possible outcomes:
- Team A wins.
- Team B wins.
- The match ends in a draw.
Recommended Sportsbook For Double Chances: BetWhale
Example: In a match between AS Roma and Juventus, the odds for the double chance options available could be listed as
- AS Roma or Draw (-245)
- Juventus or Draw (-270)
- AS Roma or Juventus” (-310)
In situations where you want to back a favorite to avoid losing, or when you think an underdog has a chance to win or draw, but aren’t confident enough to back each outcome individually. Keep in mind, that since these bets cover more than one outcome and reduce rise, they typically offer lower odds compared to standard win-draw-win markets.
Asian Handicap
Asian handicap in soccer is a type of spread bet. In this betting, the favorite is given a negative goal handicap to overcome, while the underdog is given a positive goal handicap as a head start. In some cases, Asian Handicaps are listed as two numbers, or as a decimal in quarters, like .25 or .75.
Recommended Sportsbook For Asian Handicaps: Everygame
Match Example:
- Inter Miami: -0.5, -1 (or -0.75) at odds of -107
- New York Red Bulls: +0.5, +1 (or +0.75) at odds of -123
Inter Miami -0.75 at -107
This line means that if you bet on Inter Miami, your bet is split between Inter Miami -0.5 and Inter Miami -1.0.
- -0.5 Part: Inter Miami needs to win by 1 or more goals for this part of the bet to win.
- -1.0 Part: If Inter Miami wins by exactly 1 goal, this part of the bet is refunded; if they win by more than 1 goal, it wins; if the match is a draw or Inter Miami loses, it loses.
New York Red Bulls +0.75 at -123
Betting on New York Red Bulls splits your stake between +0.5 and +1.0.
- +0.5 Part: You win this part if New York Red Bulls win, draw, or lose by less than 1 goal.
- +1.0 Part: If New York Red Bulls lose by exactly 1 goal, this part of your bet is refunded; if they lose by more than 1 goal, it loses; if they win or draw, it wins.
With these odds, if you place a $10 bet on Inter Miami -0.75, that $10 is split in half. $5 on Miami -0.5 and $5 on Miami -1. Your entire bet would lose if Miami loses or draws, your entire bet would win if Miami wins by two goals or more, and half of your bet would win, and the other half would push in a one-goal victory.
Futures Betting
A futures bet is a wager on an event that will take place in the future, such as the winner of La Liga this season, or the winner of the next World Cup.
Recommended Sportsbook For Futures: BetOnline
Example: In 2024, you can place a future bet on France at +550 to win the World Cup in 2026.
Props Betting
Proposition bets, also known as prop bets, are wagers on specific events occurring within a match that are not necessarily tied to the outcome of the match.
Recommended Sportsbook For Props: BetUS
Example: In a Manchester City vs. Wolves match, some prop bet examples are:
- Erling Haaland to score a goal (-200)
- Manchester City to record a clean sheet (-150)
- The game to have over 11 corner kicks (-110)
Parlay Betting
A parlay in sports betting is a combination of multiple bets (known as legs) into one wager, with the condition that every leg must win in order for the parlay to win. These plays come at a higher risk than standard bets, due to the difficulty of selecting multiple winners, but they do have higher potential payouts as well.
Recommended Sportsbook For Parlays: SportsBetting
Example: A three-team parlay of:
- Borussia Dortmund (-120)
- Wolfsburg (-200)
- Union Berlin (+110)
This three-way moneyline would pay +475 if all three teams win, but would lose if any of these three clubs lost or drew their match.
Totals Betting (also called Over/Unders)
Totals are bets on whether the total number of goals scored by both teams combined will go over or under a number set by the sportsbook. Take a look at a team’s offensive output when considering how to bet totals.
Recommended Sportsbook For Totals: Bovada
Example: The total for a Lille vs. Lyon match is set at Over 2.5 Goals (-130), Under 2.5 Goals (+105). If the final score is a 2-2 draw, the total number of goals scored was four, meaning the Over 2.5 Goals wager is graded a winner.
Expert Tip:
When learning how to win money in soccer betting, we recommend getting into the habit of analyzing AI and expert soccer picks. You don’t have to follow these picks blindly. Instead, study the analytics and logic that went into making these picks, and then try to incorporate what you learn into your own handicapping strategies.
Guide To Live Betting On Soccer
One of the most exciting ways to bet on soccer is live betting. In this section of our soccer betting guide, we’ve compiled some tips for live betting that can help you to improve your win rate.
Pay Attention To Team Form And Recent Performance
Betting on the elite clubs with the world’s top players often comes at a premium price at online sportsbooks. That price is justified when a team and its star players are in top form. But when these teams hit a rut over the course of a long season, you can often find great value in betting against them. If a team has not been playing up to its potential, or even just looks flat early in a match you are watching live, don’t be afraid to bet on the underdog at the right price.
Analyze Injuries Or Suspensions Affecting Key Players
A key defender playing on a yellow card will need to be less aggressive while defending the opposition. Use knowledge of injuries or suspensions that you observe to your advantage when making in-game wagers.
Monitor Weather Conditions
There are many ways that weather can impact a game. Rain can lead to a slippery pitch or ball, winds can affect shot accuracy, and extreme heat or cold can lead to injuries or endurance issues. When you see adverse weather in a match, consider which team and players are most likely to be affected, based on their style of play.
Watch For Tactical Changes Or Lineup Adjustments
Both teams usually make tactical adjustments at halftime, based on performance and the score. But these adjustments can also be made throughout the game during stoppages, or after a goal or injury. Pay close attention to tactical changes and how they will likely impact the rest of the match. Make live bets to match these predictions.
Assess Motivation Levels Of Each Team
Motivation is something to factor in to your pre-match handicapping observations. Motivation can change during the match as well, however. An underdog trailing by three goals at the half might give up entirely, while a goal in a tie game with the crowd behind them might provide the motivation to push for a win. Look out for shifts in motivation and momentum as the match progresses.
Keep Track Of Referee Tendencies And Their Impact
Matches that feature many foul calls often end up with high scores, due to more set plays being awarded, and less physical defence being tolerated. Some referees are also a lot more generous than others when it comes to managing stoppage time. Studying referee tendencies before a match, or simply observing the tone they are setting with their calls early on, can help give you an extra edge.
Best Soccer Betting Site For Beginners
BetUS Free Picks, Predictions, & More
Our top recommended soccer betting site for beginners is BetUS. This sportsbook has an outstanding variety of betting lines and props available for all the top soccer leagues in the world. BetUS gives its customers access to seven different weekly soccer picks and prediction shows on BetUS TV, as well as daily written game previews in the BetUS Locker Room.
Sports Welcome Bonus 100% up to $2,500
Crypto Re-Up Bonus 100% up to $2,500
Picks and analysis on BetUS TV and Locker Room
Features all the major worldwide soccer leagues
Large number of soccer props
How To Bet On Soccer
Signing up with a sportsbook and placing soccer bets is a quick and easy. Follow the steps below:
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Consider our soccer sportsbook recommendations and your personal preferences to decide which betting site you want to sign up with.
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Tap or click on the “Join” button located in the top-right corner of the page on most sportsbooks to begin the registration process. You will be required to fill out a form with your personal information including your name, email address, and phone number.
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Confirm that you have selected a welcome bonus before completing your deposit. Your bonus will be applied automatically if you follow one of the links on this page, such as the BetUS 150% Deposit Match up to $3,125 on your first three deposits.
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Complete the form for your first deposit. Fill out the banking details and the amount you want to deposit.
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Navigate to the soccer section of your sportsbook. On BetUS, clicking “Sportsbook” and then “Soccer” will show you all the leagues with available betting lines.
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Tapping or clicking on a wager type will open up a bet slip. Type in the amount you want to wager, confirm that everything is correct, and then lock in your wager with the “Place Bet” button.
Responsible Soccer Betting
We encourage you to gamble responsibly and consider online betting as a form of entertainment, not a source of income. Set loss limits and time limits, and don’t bet more than you’re comfortable losing.
Here are some resources to help you, or someone you care about, gamble responsibly and get help:
- National Council on Problem Gambling: (202) 547-9204 or NCPGambling.org
- AGA Responsible Gambling Code of Conduct (as supported by the NBA)
- Gamble Responsibly America App (downloadable)
- Gambler’s Anonymous: gamblersanonymous.org/ga/
- Responsible Gambling Council: http://www.responsiblegambling.org/
Your Complete Soccer Betting Guide
Soccer betting features a range of bet types. The moneyline bet addresses direct win, loss, or draw outcomes, and spread betting levels the playing field in uneven matchups. Futures bets focus on season-long achievements while double chance bets cover two possible outcomes, Top of Form, Bottom of Form. Each type offers unique strategies and risk levels.
BetUS is our top soccer betting site recommendation for beginners, due to its free video and article resources, and competitive betting lines. For more betting guides, handicapping strategies and sportsbook reviews, visit more of our pages here at The Sports Geek.
