Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, even though it is more of a nice sport in the United States. But betting on soccer is popular in America, as bettors can wager on it in the morning and afternoon before most sporting events in America begin. As a result, the major online sportsbooks accept bets on leagues in dozens of different countries around the globe. Here, we look at how to bet on soccer and what promotions are available to make the most of it.
Can I Legally Bet On Soccer?
Soccer betting is indeed legal in many parts of the United States. In 2018, the United States Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), making sports betting legal in the United States. From there, states have had the ability to legalize sports betting on a state-by-state basis, which includes the legalization of betting on soccer.
The legal status of sports betting, and therefore soccer betting, varies by state. Some states allow it, while others do not. It is up to bettors to understand the legal status of sports betting where they are, before they take advantage of our tips on how to bet on soccer.
Understanding Different Soccer Leagues
The first thing to understand when wagering on soccer is that there are a ton of different soccer leagues and competitions out there. Unlike pro football and basketball, where the NFL and NBA are the undisputed pinnacles of the sport, there are many top-flight soccer leagues around. The English Premier League, La Liga, Champions League, and countless other competitions are among the best to wager on due to their high quality.
But there are many smaller leagues worth betting on as well. Virtually every country has its own professional league, even small countries. There are also lower level leagues in the countries that have top-flight leagues, such as the Championship and League One in England. All of these leagues have their own value in the grand scheme of soccer betting, and bettors can pick and choose which they want to pay attention to.
Soccer Betting Types
There are a ton of betting markets to choose from when betting on soccer. Some of them closely resemble what is available in other sports, while others are unique to the beautiful game. Here, we look at those soccer betting markets a little more closely.
Moneyline
With moneyline bets, the goal is to predict which team is going to win each match. But moneyline betting is a little different in soccer than it is in other sports, as there is the possibility for matches to end in a draw. Instead of there just being two options to choose from on the moneyline, bettors can pick either team to win, or for the match to end in a draw.
Spread
Spread betting allows bettors to wager on which team is going to win a match after a handicap or spread is applied. Favorites have goals taken from their score in this market, while underdogs have goals added to their score. The side with the higher score after that handicap is applied is the winner in the spread market.
Total (Over/Under)
Over/unders ask bettors to predict how much scoring will take place over the course of a match. Oddsmakers set the total for each game based on the attacking and defending capabilities of both teams. Bettors can then wager on whether they think the total number of goals scored in a match will go over or under that number.
Goal Scorer Betting
Goal scorer betting is a form of prop betting where bettors are able to predict whether or not a specific player will score in a match. There are several variations of this betting market, as bettors can back players to score at any time in a match, to be the first goal scorer, or to score multiple goals in a match.
Prop Bets
There are many other prop bet types out there that bettors should look out for when wagering on soccer. Bettors can put money on everything from the number of corner kicks there are in a match to how many cards will be shown. These types of bets do not hinge on the amount of scoring that takes place in a match, but instead focus on hyper-specific occurrences during them.
Futures
With futures betting, the goal is not to predict the outcome of one match. Instead, the goal is to determine which player or team will win a competition over the course of a full campaign. This can be a bet on a team to win a domestic league or international competition, or even a player to finish as a competition’s top scorer.
Parlays
Parlays are also an option in soccer betting. Bettors can combine multiple bets into one ticket, with all legs required to win in order for the parlay ticket to be a winner. These can involve props from one single match, or consist of multiple match outcomes, with a small risk potentially turning into a large payout.
Best Online Sportsbooks For Soccer Betting
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook is one of the best sportsbooks for soccer specifically, thanks to their odds boosts. They offer a large amount of odds boosts on a regular basis across several sports, soccer included. That can mean extra value when wagering on the world’s game.
BetMGM
BetMGM is also great for soccer, thanks to their One Game Parlay feature. They are one of the best same game parlay sportsbooks out there, and that includes their coverage of soccer. For those who like to combine game results with totals and props, their parlay boosts are a good way to do so with some extra value.
DraftKings Sportsbook
One of the top providers of sportsbook promotions is DraftKings Sportsbook, which makes them an excellent choice for soccer betting. For big matches, DraftKings will often provide boosted odds or premade parlays that add extra excitement from opening kickoff to the final whistle.
BetRivers
BetRivers offers live streaming of smaller soccer events, which can add major excitement to betting on games that can be hard to find elsewhere. That is a part of their live betting interface, which is one of the best in the business, which prominently features live soccer betting when in-season.
PointsBet
Those who want to be rewarded for their play will enjoy betting on soccer at PointsBet. Their rewards program rewards soccer bettors for every bet that they place, with points that accumulate faster than many of the competing sportsbook brands out there. For high-volume soccer bettors, this is a great place to go.
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel Sportsbook is a mainstream option for new sports bettors, which has plenty of benefits for those wagering on soccer. They are also very good with their Same Game Parlay offerings, especially during key matches in the Premier League and Champions League seasons.
How To Bet On Soccer: Soccer Betting Strategies
From a strategic standpoint, there are several things to consider when betting on soccer. Here, we look at the most important of those strategic elements to think about before locking in any wagers on the most popular sport in the world.
Think Outside the Box
There are several big clubs and countries in soccer that are typically a cut above the rest, and it can be tempting to bet on those teams and only those teams. But there is little to no value in approaching soccer betting in that way. Instead, bettors should look for opportunities where those teams may be vulnerable, or at other teams and leagues entirely.
Dig Deeper
In addition to looking beyond the big teams when choosing who to bet on, bettors should also look deeper at statistical analysis to make their decisions. Metrics like expected goals and breaking down where on the field a team’s possession is can help bettors determine who is more effective with its attacking and can help uncover value in the betting markets.
Money Management
The most important thing that a bettor can do when wagering on soccer, or any sport, is to manage their money carefully. Bettors should be sure to set a budget and stick to it, and stick to specific bet amounts on each wager that fit into that overall budget. Doing this will help overcome the variance that comes with sports betting, while also keeping things fun and without issue financially.
