Football, or soccer as it’s in some parts of the world, is a sport globally with over following, so it’s no surprise that football betting is a massive industry worth billions of dollars. However, for beginners, betting options and odds seem daunting.
What are football betting odds?
Put simply, odds are numbers that indicate the likelihood of an outcome occurring. To calculate how much you stand to win if your bet wins. Bookmakers set the odds based on their expert analysis of factors like a team’s form, injuries, head-to-head records, and more. The odds are expressed in different formats depending on which part of the world you’re in.
Handicap betting
It is where bookmakers give one team a virtual deficit or advantage to level out the chances of either team winning. It creates more balanced odds for bettors.
Let’s look at an example:
- Arsenal vs Liverpool
- Arsenal +1.5 goals – 1.90
- Liverpool -1.5 goals – 1.95
Here Arsenal starts with a 1.5-goal advantage. It means if Arsenal loses by 1 goal, you still win your bet. Liverpool has to win by 2 clear goals for its bet to win. The handicap odds for each outcome are very close. Handicaps usually range from 0.25 to 2.5 goals but can sometimes be more.
Over/under total goals
Referred to as total Fun88 betting, here you bet on the total number of goals scored by both teams. Bookmakers set a line and you bet whether the actual goals will be over or under that line.
For example:
- Arsenal vs Liverpool
- Over 2.5 goals – 1.90
- Under 2.5 goals – 1.95
If you bet on over 2.5 goals, there needs to be 3 or more goals in the match for your bet to win. If you bet under, 0, 1, or 2 goals scored for your bet to be successful for the online football betting .
Read and compare odds
As you become familiar with the common odds formats, you’ll be able to read and compare the odds for different bookmakers quickly. Here are some tips:
- Higher decimal odds and bigger fractions indicate a better payout.
- Lower decimal odds and smaller fractions indicate a more likely outcome.
- Compare the decimal or fractional odds rather than moneyline numbers to understand which betting line gives you a better return.
- Converting fractions to decimals makes it easier to compare odds from different formats.
Ultimately higher odds compensate for lower win probability and vice versa. So it’s all about finding value bets – picks that are more likely to win than their odds imply.
Tips for football betting beginners
- Start with major markets like match winners, and over/under goals before trying specials.
- The bookmaker’s margins are lower for major markets, so you get better value.
- Don’t chase losses – stick to your betting amount per game.
- Use credible tipsters, stats, and trends but always make your judgment.
- Utilize promotions and bonuses from bookmakers for better returns.