How to bet on football - A football betting guide for beginners
Table of contents
Football is played throughout the year, offering thousands of betting opportunities. There are national leagues, continental competitions between clubs, and international matches between teams from all over the world. In the football betting guide below we’ll cover everything you need to know to place your tickets. You’ll learn how to bet on football and get tips to prepare your bets. Let’s start!
How to bet on football essentials
In football betting, you place a bet on the outcome of a football match. If your prediction turns out true, you win.
The key elements of your football bet will be:
- The event(s) you choose
- The odds
- The stake
- The win and the profit
Let’s take a closer look.
The event
You can bet on one or more football games on the same ticket. Whether you’d like to split your stake or bet everything in one place is up to you. You can mix multiple bets on different matches, leagues, and even sports. You can also choose between placing pre-match or live bets (during the game). Some players even like to place bets in advance where possible (these long-term bets are called ante-post bets).
How to bet on football - understand your odds
The odds are linked to the probability of an outcome. They reflect how likely it is for an event to come true. There are different ways of displaying and applying odds. Here are the most popular types of football odds:
Decimal odds (European): These are the most common odds in Europe. The odds look like 1.50, 2.75, 3.60, etc. Total win = stake x odds. For a bet of 100 with 1.50 odds, that would be 100 x 1.50 = 150.
Fractional odds (British X/Y): These are most common in the UK. The Y shows the units you will need to bet to get a profit of X. The odds look like 7/10, 8/11, 21/20, etc. For a bet of 100 with 9/10 odds, you would make a profit of 100 x 9/10 = 90. Your total win would be 100 + 90 = 190.
Moneyline odds (American): These are odds specific to the US. The +/- symbols show the amount you would win for every $100 staked or the amount you need to bet to win $100. The odds look like -130, +140, +230. For a bet with odds of -130, you will need to bet $130 to win $100. For a bet with odds of +140, you will win $140 if you bet $100.
There are sometimes enhanced odds available as part of promotions, so it's worth checking up the promo page regularly. Bigger odds add up and increase the potential win.
How to apply odds to get the probability of an event
If you want to get the probability of an event in percentage, you can divide the value of 1 by your odds when using the decimal format.
Let’s take the odds of 1.50 as an example:
1 / 1.50 = 0.66. It would mean there is a 66% chance for that event to happen.
To turn fractional odds into decimal odds, divide the fraction and add 1. For example:
8/15 would become 8/15 + 1 = 0.53 + 1 = 1.53.
The stake
This is the amount you choose to bet. You will always be able to see the total cost of your ticket before placing the bet. It is specifically valuable when using an accumulator or system bet.
The win and the profit
You might think these are the same, but there is a slight difference. Say you place a bet of 100 with odds of 4.50. If you win, you will get 450. This is the total win. However, your profit will be 350 (450 minus your original stake of 100).
Beginner football betting guide to placing a ticket
Now that you know the elements forming a bet, we can move forward and check the ways to place a bet. Basically, your options are to bet on a single event or more.
Single bet - You bet on a single match.
Multiple / combo / accumulator bet - You bet on multiple events, but with a single win. You will only win if all of the single bets are correct.
System bet - You bet on multiple combinations, with multiple ways to win. Depending on the system, you can get a win even if one or more bets are incorrect.
Banker bet - You bet on multiple events using a mix of an accumulator bet and a system bet. You choose which events/predictions you think will be correct (all of these will need to turn out correctly) and which to work in a system format.
Beginner football betting guide to using systems
A football betting system allows you to have some edge. You won’t need to get all bets correctly to win. Find some of the most popular betting systems below:
Double - A combo of 2 predictions.
Triple - A combo of 3 predictions.
Trixie - Can only be used on a ticket with 3 different events; it consists of 3 doubles (1-2, 1-3, 2-3) and one triple (1-2-3).
Patent - Can only be used on a ticket with 3 different events and 7 bets; it consists of 1 Trixie and 6 single bets.
Yankee – Can only be used on a ticket with 4 different events and 11 bets; it consists of 6 doubles, 4 triples, and 1 accumulator bet.
Heinz - Can only be used on a ticket with 6 matches and 57 bets; it consists of 15 doubles, 20 triples, 15 combos of 4 selections, 6 combos of 5 selections + one accumulator bet.
Examples of betting markets for football
The betting markets are the types of bets to pick from. From the straightforward bet on the winner to more complex ones, there are plenty of options. Let’s take a look over a few:
Match bet (1x2) - This is the bet on the winner (home team = 1; away team = 2); there are, however, three outcomes, as you can also bet on the draw (x).
DNB bet (Draw No Bet) – This bet removes the option to bet on the draw, and you only bet on the winner; in case of a draw, you get your stake back.
Double chance bet - This one includes two possible outcomes out of three (1x, x2, 12); 1x means that either the home team wins or there is a draw.
Over / under bet - You bet on the number of goals in a match, with an x.5 limit. An example would be: over/under 2.5 goals.
Handicap bets – These bets require one team to get a fictive advantage to balance the odds; there are a few variations available (i.e. Asian Handicap, European Handicap) which we will expand soon in a future post.
Half-time / full-time bet - This bet requires you to predict the outcome for both the half-time and the full-time. x/2 would mean betting on a draw at half-time and a win for the away team at the end. 2/x would mean betting on the away team to lead at half-time and a draw at the end of the second half.
Odd/even bet - You bet that a particular number of events (i.e. number of goals, corners, cards, etc) will be odd or even.
GG bet - Both teams score.
Goalscorer - You can bet that a particular player will score.
Corners bet - You can bet on who will get more corners, the total number of corners, who will get the first or the last corner.
Cards bet - You can bet on the number of cards, who will get more, red cards, etc.
Correct score - You bet on the final score at the end of the match.
Tips for beginners
You might be eager to start betting right away, but it's worth taking some time to prepare your bets. We’ve put together a list of tips to consider before starting your betting journey.
Understand the sport you’re betting on
Betting is indeed a game of luck, but you can improve your chances of making good predictions by understanding the sports. Take some time to get familiar with the rules, the teams, and the results. Look for information about the players, the calendars, the latest changes, and the morale. Staying up to date pays out hugely.
Avoid betting in favour of your teams all the time
Sometimes players find it difficult to separate themselves from the fanbase they’re part of. Even though you want your favourite teams to win, it is at times better to have a realistic betting approach and check the current status and statistics.
Keep track of your betting budget and patterns
It’s easy to get carried away and bet more than you expected. Maybe you were close to winning a bet, and one missed score took it away. You might be tempted to bet again. At LeoVegas, we believe players should enjoy their betting experience, and losing control is not a part of that.
We advise you to set a weekly or monthly budget and stick with it. There will always be new football events available for betting. Don't worry about missing opportunities. It’s also beneficial to track the time you spend betting or preparing your bets. It would be a pity to miss out on other aspects of life. Try keeping track of the time spent, and take a break if you need it. Our support team is here to help you if you need assistance.
How to bet on LeoVegas
It’s intuitive to place an online bet on LeoVegas. Here are the steps:
Register or log into your account
You’ll need an account to be able to place a ticket. The registration process requires you to fill out a form with some personal data and contact information.
Make a deposit
You’ll also need to have some money in your account to wager. Choose your preferred payment method and only bet as much as you can afford to lose. You can check our promo page for the latest bonuses available for new or existing players.
Choose the events to bet on
Once you’re ready to wager, go to the sports betting section or straight to the football betting section to choose the events. You will see the matches, the football markets, and the odds. To add an event to your bet, click on the odds. The ticket will be generated automatically and show up on your screen.
Place your ticket
After sorting out your matches and odds, you can proceed to choose the type of ticket to place. At the top of your ticket you will see: “Singles”, “Combination”, and “Multiples”. You can select the type of ticket and the system you want and set the stake accordingly. You will also see the total odds and the potential payout. Once you’re happy with the bets, click the “Place Bet” button. You have now placed your ticket! Should you win, your balance will be updated automatically.
Glossary of basic betting terms
Bookie (Bookmaker) - A betting website such as LeoVegas.
Bettor - The player placing a bet.
Bet - A prediction on the outcome of a game.
Stake - The amount of money placed on a bet.
Favourite – The team or player with the most chances of winning.
Outsider / Underdog - The team with lower chances of winning.
Odds – Numbers displaying the relationship between the stake and the win & the probability of an event.
Cash-out - The possibility of withdrawing a bet before the end of the event to retrieve at least a part of the original money wagered.
Time to prepare your bets
We hope our “How to bet on football” guide will help you make the first steps in the online betting world. We have some great football markets and odds here on LeoVegas, so take a look and prepare your tickets. May the odds be in your favour!