MLS Betting Guide
Table of Content:
- How to Bet on MLS: Step by Step
- MLS Betting Lines
- What is MLS?
- MLS Teams
- MLS Players
- MLS History
- MLS Betting Tips
- MLS Betting FAQ
How to bet on MLS: Step by Step
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to bet on the MLS with LeoVegas:
Download the LeoVegas app or access our sportsbook via the Desktop.
Head to the 'Sports' tab on our website for the central hub for your sporting bets
Use our dynamic search function and type in 'MLS' to access the best MLS betting markets. Also, these games will be displayed in our 'Live' or 'Upcoming' section, depending on the kick-off times.
Once you select 'MLS', all the upcoming games will list under 'Events', and you can choose the game/s—for example, Inter Miami v CF Montreal.
You can bet on the Moneyline through our 'Events' tab, but if you'd like to search for other markets, click on the fixture and find the perfect market!
MLS Betting Lines
Moneyline
The Moneyline market for MLS betting is when you bet on the game's result. Whether you believe it's a home team win, an away win, or a draw, you can bet on it with the Moneyline.
Double Chance
Like the Moneyline, the Double Chance refers to the game's outcome. However, you can bet on two options, for example, a home win or a draw. In this instance, as long as the away team didn't win, you would!
Total Score
Total Score reflects the amount of goals you believe they'll be in the game. With our unique sliders, you can customize the total score market and decide whether the game will be over or under that amount.
Correct Score
Correct score in MLS betting requires you to be more specific. This is the market when you predict the exact score of the game. If you believe a match will finish 2-1, the game has to finish by that exact scoreline, to that exact team, to win.
Full Time/ Half Time
Are you only confident that a team will lead after 45 minutes? This is where full-time and half-time betting comes into play. Select whether you believe a team will be winning at both whistles or whether one team is winning at half-time, but the game will end in a tie at full-time. You can have whatever combination you'd like.
3 Way Spread
This MLS betting market places a handicap ahead of the fixture on one of the teams. Therefore, if it states that the game starts 1-0 to the home team, and you select the away team to win, they need to win by two clear goals. Similarly, if you wagered on a draw, the away team would have to win by one goal to compensate for the handicap.
Props
Props allow you to bet on specific aspects of the game. For example, betting on a person to score in the game, the number of corners in the game, and many more. There are hundreds of ways to prop bet with LeoVegas.
Asian Handicap and Asian Total
Asian handicap betting places teams at a handicap according to their form so that a stronger team must win by more goals for a bet on them to win. If a team is at a -0.5 handicap in the first half, they have to win the first half by one or more.
Outrights (futures)
This is when you bet on a particular team or player to win a competition or event. Your wager on the top goalscorer, MVP, or MLS Cup Champion is viewed as an Outright in MLS betting.
What is MLS?
The MLS is a 29-team league containing the best Soccer franchises in America and two from Canada. MLS is split into two conferences - the Eastern and Western Conferences. A total of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference and 14 compete in the Western Conference, with the seven best teams advancing to the postseason after a 34-game regular season.
The playoffs follow this regular season, and the single-elimination tournament winner is crowned the MLS Cup champion.
MLS Regular Season
The MLS is a 34-game season which runs from February until October. Within the 34 games, each team plays against their conference opponents twice - one home and one away - they also play nine or ten games against teams in the opposing Conference.
The top seven teams from both conferences advance to the playoffs, and the team with the best regular season record receives the Supporters Shield.
MLS Playoffs
After the MLS regular season concludes, it's time for the Playoffs! 14 teams enter, with the one-seed from either Conference achieving a bye. Therefore, 12 teams enter the first round with the highest seed facing the lowest (2nd v 7th, 3rd v 6th, 4th v 5th).
Once the first round is over, the three winning teams from either conference advance and are joined by the one-seeds. This creates two Conference semifinals, which progress to a Conference final, and the winners of each Conference final meet for the MLS Cup.
MLS Teams
The MLS will be contested between 29 teams in 2023 - St. Louis City being the most recent expansion teams.
Two Canadian teams occupy slots in the MLS table, Toronto FC and CF Montreal. Toronto FC are the only Canadian team to win an MLS Cup, and they'll need a vast improvement from last year to hold the trophy in 2023.
As for CF Montreal, they've never won an MLS Cup, but might have a better chance in 2023. Last season, Le CFM were the 2nd seed in the Eastern Conference but fell short to NYCFC in the Conference Semifinals.
Other successful MLS teams include LA Galaxy, Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and recent champions, LAFC.
MLS Players
The MLS has become a hotbed for footballing talent in recent years. This is due to the exciting young talent playing in the league. Below is a small list of some players to watch out for in the upcoming MLS season.
Dayne St. Clair
Minnesota United's shot-stopper, Dayne St.Clair, has proven to be one of the best between the sticks in Major League Soccer. The Canadian international was named as MLS All-Star MVP during their game in 2022, and he could improve even more in 2023.
Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernadeschi
A pair of Italian stars with European pedigree hopes to propel Toronto FC to the postseason in 2023. Both Insigne and Bernadeschi were Serie A stalwarts before moving to the MLS, and now they're ready for their first entire season in the league. They could be outside contenders if you are going with the MVP when MLS betting.
MLS History
The MLS has been the largest Soccer league in America since 1996. The league was created to capitalize on the sport's growing popularity after the 1994 World Cup in California - beginning with only ten teams.
Since then, the league has expanded from its original ten teams to 29 teams in 2023, St. Louis City being the latest to join the league. In addition, the MLS has the third-highest average attendance for sports in America, only behind the juggernauts of the NFL and MLB.
MLS Betting Tips
The MLS is one of the most unpredictable leagues in world football. However, with our MLS betting tips, we can point you in the right direction ahead of an exciting season!
MLS Betting FAQ
What does MLS stand for?
MLS stands for Major League Soccer. This is the premier Soccer League in America, and it has been since its inception in 1993.
Who won the most MLS titles?
LA Galaxy hold the record for most MLS titles. The Galaxy have won five MLS Cups in nine final appearances.
Who won the MLS in the 2022 season?
Last season's MLS was won by Los Angeles FC. LAFC defeated the Philadelphia Union on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw - a game that included Gareth Bale's final domestic goal before his retirement.
Who is the best team in the MLS 2023?
Last year's champions, LAFC, are currently regarded as the best team in the MLS. However, after losing Gareth Bale, other teams like the Philadelphia Union, New York City FC, and Nashville could be primed to take the top spot.
Which is better, MLS or USL?
The MLS is better than the USL. Since it was sanctioned as a Division II league in 2017, USL has sat just below the MLS in the American Soccer hierarchy.