How to Bet on Soccer

The world’s most popular sport gives bettors a wide array of betting opportunities. From MLS to major International tournaments like Euro 2024, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Soccer bets can also include props, or proposition bets, on player performance and other market-based events. These bets can add a lot of excitement to watching the game, especially when your money is on the line.

Spread bets

The best soccer betting sites offer a wide range of wagers, including spread bets. They also feature player markets for a match, and allow you to build same-game parlays. These are often more accurate than point spreads and can be profitable in the long run.

When betting on a soccer game, be sure to consider a team’s recent and upcoming schedule. It might be tempting for a club to rest some of its stars in an inferior match, especially if it comes directly before a key fixture against a superior opponent.

In soccer, betting lines are often shown as Over/Under totals because scoring is minimal in the sport. However, some sportsbooks may include overtime and penalty shots in a score. Flexible spreads are more common in sports that have a lot of scoring, while systematic spreads are used in games with low scoring like baseball and hockey. In either case, bettors should always check the injury report before placing a bet.

Money line

In soccer betting, like other sports, money line odds are a popular way to bet. They represent the implied probability that a team will win or lose, and they can be used to make winning wagers on underdog teams. They also help you compare betting lines between different sportsbooks.

Moneyline bets are less risky than point spreads, and they offer a larger payout if the team wins outright. This makes them a good choice for bettors who don’t want to risk their entire bankroll on one wager.

Some sportsbooks offer three-way moneyline odds, which allow you to bet on both sides of a game and the possibility of a draw. These odds are typically higher than traditional point spreads, as they reflect the fact that soccer games often end in ties. They can be found at most legal online, mobile and retail sportsbooks in the United States. Many of these sportsbooks also offer props and specials, which are individual player or team-specific predictions.

Asian handicap

Asian handicap betting is a great way to increase your chances of winning on soccer spreads and total bets. These wagers are similar to traditional spread bets, except that they eliminate the draw as a betting option by adding or subtracting goals from one team. There are several different types of Asian handicaps, including (+ 0.5 & +1) and fractional bets (.25 and.75).

A positive Asian handicap means that the team you bet on will start the game with a goal advantage, while a negative handicap is the opposite and adds goals to the underdog. If the team you bet on wins, the bet is a winner, but if there is a tie, your stake will be refunded as a push. This type of betting can be complicated, but with proper research and money management, you can increase your odds of winning. You should also consider utilizing a betting service that provides the best odds and payouts.

Parlay bets

With international soccer matches and the MLS continuing to grow in popularity, sportsbooks offer a wide variety of options for bettors. The traditional Money Lines and Over/Under goals totals are available as well as more team and player props. Parlay bets are based on the outcome of a full soccer game (90 minutes plus stoppage time). Extra-time and Golden Goals do not have any effect on your wagers.

Many of the standard betting markets can be parlayed together. The over/under total is similar to the total in basketball and football, and oddsmakers project the number of total goals scored in a game and allow bettors to place a wager on whether the final tally will go Over or Under that total. Also popular are team and player props, which focus on specific actions by players on the field. These can include a player to score a goal, total player shots and more. However, you should never combine correlated outcomes in a parlay.