Soccer betting is a growing market in North America. The game’s popularity is reflected in the variety of bet types available. Whether you’re looking to make Over/Under bets, Money line bets or Prop bets, it’s important to do your homework.
Live betting is a popular way to place a wager during a match. The odds will change as the game unfolds, so you can try to capitalize on momentum shifts.
Over/Under bets
Soccer over/under bets are a great way to add excitement to your soccer betting experience. These wagers don’t require you to pick a winner; instead, they predict the number of total goals scored in a game. Lines for these bets are usually posted before the game starts, and can fluctuate based on team lineups. To get the best value on these bets, watch for new lineups and check their past history.
Unlike most other sports, soccer matches are limited to 90 minutes of play plus referee stoppage time. Therefore, most soccer betting lines are graded solely on a match’s outcome after 90 minutes of regulation time. Exceptions include 2-way moneyline bets and 3-Way Moneyline (1X2) bets, which include options to win the home team, away team or a tie.
Asian handicap
The use of Asian handicaps in soccer bets can help mitigate the risk of high juice on three-way wagers. These are placed on teams that have a strong chance of winning, but are not likely to win by more than two goals. This is done by adding or subtracting goals from the original total. For example, if the home team is favored by more than one goal against Arsenal, a bet on Arsenal +1.5 will win. However, a bet on Crystal Palace -1.5 will lose.
For this reason, it is a good idea to start with smaller handicaps (such as integers) before moving on to more complicated betting markets. This will allow you to test out the mechanics and make small profit or lose significantly less money than you would otherwise.
Money line
While many North American sports bettors don’t consider soccer betting a serious pastime, some do make bets on high profile matches during major tournaments. However, they may not understand the difference between money lines and point spreads and may end up making sub-optimal bets as a result.
The most basic way to bet on soccer is a money line. It works just like a money line in other sports, with odds assigned to each team based on their implied probability of winning the game. However, unlike other sports, the moneyline includes a three-way option (Team A wins, Team B wins, or it ends in a tie).
Most bookmakers also offer derivative odds for specific time frames, such as first half and second half. You can even place a bet on “Team A to win to nil,” which is a parlay of the team’s moneyline and its clean sheet.
Totals
Totals in soccer betting are similar to Over/Under point total bets in other sports, but with a few important differences. Oddsmakers will set a number, such as 2.5 goals, and punters can wager on whether or not the match will end with more or less than that number of goals.
The most popular market for betting on soccer matches is the Three-Way Moneyline, also known as a Win/Draw/Tie bet. This wager is based on how many goals are scored in 90 minutes of play, excluding extra time or penalties in knock-out tournament settings.
Another way to bet on soccer is through live betting, which allows you to place bets during a game. This type of wager is growing in popularity and offers a wide variety of options.
Prop bets
A prop bet is a wager that predicts an event or non-event in the game. It can be either a team or player specific prop or a totals type of bet. These bets are usually priced at -110 odds and can be placed during the course of the game.
Soccer is a low-scoring sport, so betting on the over/under goal totals can be challenging. However, the most important thing is to do your research and find a good site that offers a variety of soccer betting options.
Regular 90 minute soccer wagers are decided by the end of regulation and any added injury or stoppage time. Overtime and penalty shootouts do not count in these markets. This differs from other sports where over/under wagers are determined by the end of normal or extra time.