Betting School

football Betting Guide

how to football bet

Football is undoubtedly the most popular sport in the world and therefore betting on football is becoming more and more common. And there is nothing more exciting than winning money while celebrating a goal by Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi, or winning money betting on football while my team scores a goal in the classic.

Bookmakers know this and that’s why we can see the possibility of betting on many markets that I will explain in a moment. I will show you how to bet on football, knowing the markets one by one, what tools to use to analyze them and what is the viability to making money in sports betting.

I will tell you how to bet football games and which are the football betting markets that have generated me the most money during the last years and why I consider it one of the most important profitable bets in the industry. You will be surprised to see these markets.

How to bet on football?

To bet on football you need to be registered with one of the bookmakers that offer this sport. Then, you just need to choose the league, the match and the market you want to bet on. In general, all bookmakers already have football in the first place to make it more visible, because as I already told you, betting on football is becoming more and more common.

Why bet on Football?

This list will give you the explanation why to bet on football:

  • Because the offer of matches is the widest in all bookmakers.

  • It’s easy to find information about the league and the teams on social networks and other tools to analyze the matches.

  • The prices are very competitive and this makes the odds higher.

  • Because if it is already exciting to watch a match, betting on football makes everything more interesting.

  • Because every day there are many matches to choose from.

Types of football betting

How to bet on the winner?

football betting on the winner is one of the most common among bettors, it is quite simple to do, you have 3 options:

  • The home team wins.

  • The game ends in a draw.

  • The visitor wins

The only thing you need to do to win is to select one of these 3 options and that it is the correct one, that is to say: if you choose the home team, you only need the home team to win.

How to bet on double chance?

The double chance bet refers to a double selection, as follows:

  •  Home win or draw (1X): To win in this selection, you need the home team to win the match or for the match to end in a draw.

  • Win away or tie (2X): With this option you need the game to either end in a tie or the away team to win.

  • Home wins or away wins (1-2): This bet means that there must be a winner, no matter which of the two teams, in order to win the money.

How to bet on the over/under 2.5 goals market?

More than 60% of the average bettor’s money goes on this market. No doubt it is the most attractive for everyone and this is the most logical thing in the world. Everyone watching a game wants to see goals, after all that is the idea of football. Having said that, psychologically it is much better to see every situation in a match as a possible goal, rather than waiting for the defender to win every duel. I personally am not a big fan of this market, sometimes if I bet on it, when I see that there is value, I generally omit this market, because as all people bet there, then the odds are no longer real, that is, the bookmakers to notice that they are getting so much money, then lower that price to control their risk, therefore it is in the minus market where I bet the most, here I leave this guide to profitable bets.

This bet works very simple, you choose an option, either more than 2.5 goals or less than 2.5 goals. To calculate the result we only have to add the sum of the goals scored by both teams in the match.

Practical examples

Bet on Over 2.5 goals

The match ends 2 – 1: We simply add 2 goals scored by the home team + 1 goal scored by the away team = 3 goals. Which means that there were more than 2.5 goals in total, so we have just won money with a sports bet.

Bet on Under 2.5 goals

The match ends 1 – 1: We simply add the goals scored, in this case it is 1 + 1 = 2 goals. The result gives us less than 2.5 goals and we have won money.

As you can see, it is not at all complicated to bet on this market which is extremely popular and if you know how to create a profitable betting strategy, then you will make a lot of money betting on football.

How to bet on the both team to score in football?

It is a very tempting market, with good margin and from which we can take advantage on certain occasions, to asincertify myself a little, I won some important sums of money with this sports bet, although it has not been the one with which I have won the most, which we will see later.

To bet on this market we have two options:

  • Both score YES: You only need both teams to score at least one goal in the match, in this case it does not matter the total amount of goals, but that each team scores. For example: it is exactly the same if the match ends 1-1 or 4-4, since we have already won the bet from 1-1.

  • Both score NO: To win this football bet you need that both teams do not score in the match, that at most one of them scores. For example: It doesn’t matter if the match ends 0-0 / 1-0 / 5-0. In these cases we have won, because both teams did not score and it was just the selection we made

Over 2.5 and YES

This is a combined bet, which I like a lot and in certain cases I find value in it. We have already seen the explanation of the over 2.5 and also of the both score, because this must be clear in order to bet on this football market, which means that the total goals scored between the two teams must be higher than 2.5 goals and also, both teams must have scored at least one goal each. Both factors must be fulfilled to win.

Practical example

 If my selection is «Over 2.5 and yes», I need any of these final scores as a minimum to win.

  • (2-1) or more goals
  • (1-2) or more goals

    As you can see with this basic example, we can use this betting strategy when we foresee that a match will be very open, with many scoring chances, where neither will subdue the other and score many goals, but both have a good offensive power and each will score at least one goal.

How to bet on corner kicks?

This bet can become very profitable if you choose correctly the details to analyze the matches, as I have said in several articles, especially in how to be a professional bettor, the secret is always more to find types of bets where most people would not look, everyone focuses on the winner of the game and goals, but there are other markets that have only an algorithm that puts them and almost no money, so they are easier for us as bettors to win.

Corner kicks are part of this selective group of bets with little bookmaker review. There are several types of bets in this corner kick market, that is why I have created this post for you to read and learn a «less common» and «simpler» way to win money in sports betting.

STEP BY STEP TO BET ON FOOTBALL

Step 1: Preparation

1.1 Know football

  • Match Information and Analysis: Stay on top of the latest news, analysis and statistics on teams and players. There are specialized websites and apps that provide detailed information on team performances, tactics employed, player injuries and suspensions, and more. Research previous meetings between teams to better understand their playing styles and historical patterns.

  • Watch Live Matches: Watching live matches allows you to get a better sense of how teams and players are performing beyond the numbers and statistics. Pay attention to how teams behave in different situations and perform at key game moments.

  • Study Odds and Odds: Familiarize yourself with the odds and odds system used by bookmakers. Understanding the odds will help you assess the potential value of a bet and determine the odds of success.

1.2 Establish a Budget

  • Define your Bankroll: Choose an amount of money you are willing to set aside exclusively for your football betting. This will be your bankroll, and it is crucial that you keep it separate from your personal finances.

  • Divide into Units: Divide your bankroll into units, which will be the amount of money you will wager on each bet. A unit usually represents between 1% and 5% of your bankroll. For example, if your bankroll is $1000 and you bet 2% of your bankroll per unit, each unit would be $20.

  • Bankroll Management: Be sure to manage your bankroll properly. Don’t bet more than one or two units on each bet, even if you are sure you will win. Proper bankroll management is essential to maintain stability and avoid large losses.
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1.2 Keep a Record

  • Record All Your Bets: Keep a detailed record of every bet you place. Write down the date, the event, the type of bet, the odds, the amount wagered and the result.

  • Analyze your Performance: Use your record to analyze your performance over time. Identify patterns, successful strategies and areas for improvement. This will allow you to adjust your strategies in the future.

  • Learn from your Mistakes: If you experience losses, don’t get discouraged. Use that information to improve your betting decisions in the future.

Tip: football is the most popular sport in the world, and that’s why bookmakers offer a large number of pre-match and live football games; it is therefore extremely important to have the strategy and discipline necessary to know exactly what you should bet on and at the right time. But don’t worry; we’ll show you a series of football betting strategies so you can find the one that is most exciting and profitable for you.

step 2: Understand the best football betting strategies

  • Final Score Betting: This consists of predicting the final score of the match after regulation time plus added time. You must select between three options: win for the home team, draw or win for the away team.
 
  • Asian Handicap: In this market, you adjust the advantage or disadvantage of a team before the match to even the odds. You can find positive (+) or negative (-) handicaps. For example, if a team has a handicap of -1.5, it needs to win by at least two goals for the bet to be a winner.
 
  • Over/Under: Consists of betting on whether the total number of goals in a match will be more or less than a goal line established by the bookmaker. The goal line can be, for example, 2.5, which means that if there are three or more goals, the «Over» bet wins, and if there are two or less goals, the «Under» bet wins.
 
  • Double Chance Bet: This allows you to bet on two possible outcomes in a single match. You can select two of the three possible options (home win/tie, draw/ away win or home win/ away win).
 
  • BTTS – Both Teams to Score: In this bet, you must predict whether both teams will score at least one goal in the match, regardless of the final result.
 
  • First Goal Scorer: You must predict which player will score the first goal of the match. If the player you selected does not play, the bet may be voided or returned.
 
  • Winner at Half-Time/Final Result: You must predict which team will be ahead at half-time and what the final result of the match will be. Both predictions must be correct to win the bet.
 
  • Number of Corners Bet: Consists of predicting the total number of corners that will be awarded in the match.
 
  • Card/Booking Bet: Bet on the total number of cards (yellow or red) that will be shown in the match. You must take into account the referees’ record and the propensity of the teams to commit fouls.
 
  • Team Goals Betting: It consists of betting on the number of goals that a specific team will score in the match.

Remember that each market has its own characteristics and opportunities. It is important to carefully analyze each option and use research and analysis to make informed decisions and increase your chances of success in football betting.

Step 3: Strategies for Success

3.1 Research

Research is the cornerstone of any successful football betting strategy. Make sure you stay on top of the latest news, statistics, and team and player analysis.

Use specialized websites and applications that provide reliable and up-to-date data. Take time to analyze the form of teams, their performance in previous matches, injuries or suspensions of key players and the tactics they usually employ. Observe how teams perform at home and away and if they have any specific strengths or weaknesses.

Use specific information to adjust your betting strategies. For example, if a team has a strong defence but struggles to score goals, consider betting on «minus goals» markets or in favour of the opposing team. Example: Investigate that one team has a winning streak at home, and their defence is very solid, while their opponent has a poor away record and has not scored many goals recently. This information leads you to bet in favour of the home team or on «fewer goals» markets.

3.2 Bankroll Management

Proper bankroll management is essential to protect your capital and avoid significant losses. A well-managed bankroll will allow you to maintain stability in your betting and continue trading even after losing streaks.

Bankroll Management Step-by-Step: Decide how much money you are willing to invest in your bets and divide it into units. Set a limit on the number of units you are willing to bet in a single day or event. Never wager an excessive amount on a single bet. 

Strategies: The rule we use is to bet a maximum of 2% of the initial stake, no matter if you are in a positive streak or in a negative streak; this must always be respected with a lot of discipline. Every 2 months, the stake is reviewed, and it is considered if it is possible to increase the amount to bet; if you had 2 months of constant profits, it means that your 2% per bet will increase, and therefore, you will start earning more money

3.3 Avoid Emotions

Emotions can cloud your judgment and lead you to make impulsive and poorly reasoned decisions in your bets. It is important to bet with your head and not with your heart.

Step-by-Step to Avoid Emotions: Before placing a bet, take a moment to coldly analyze the situation and the information available. Don’t let the passion for a team or player influence your decisions.

Strategies: If you feel emotionally invested in a match because of your affinity for a team, consider refraining from betting on that particular event. Instead, look for opportunities in other games where you can make more objective decisions.

Example: Your favourite team is playing an important game, but you have doubts about their current performance. Instead of betting on them out of pure excitement, you decide not to bet and look for other opportunities in games where you feel more confident in your analysis.

Remember that strategies for success in sports betting do not guarantee sure profits, but they will help you make more informed decisions and protect your bankroll over time. Stay disciplined and stick to your strategies even if you go through negative streaks, as patience and persistence are key to long-term success in football betting.

Step 4: Best Leagues and Tournaments to Bet on Football

  • La Liga (Spain): One of the most popular and competitive leagues in the world. It offers many markets and opportunities to bet on teams such as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.

  • Premier League (England): Another very popular championship with great teams such as Manchester United, Liverpool, and Manchester City. The Premier League has a large number of matches and betting opportunities.

  • Serie A (Italy): A league is known for its solid defence and historical teams such as Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan.

  • UEFA Champions League: Europe’s prestigious club tournament offers high-quality matches and a wide variety of markets.

  • World Cup and Euro Cup: These international tournaments provide an exciting opportunity to bet on national teams from around the world.

Step 5: Take advantage of bookmaker bonuses

Taking advantage of a bookmaker’s welcome bonus is one of the best actions you can take in this world, as you will get money that is not yours, and you will be able to invest it to make a profit.

The bookmakers give you a welcome bonus when you register with them. In this way, if you enter 100 Euros and they give you 100% means that to start betting, you will do it with 200 Euros, a very good amount of money to start winning.

The best bookmakers whom we recommend you create an account with because they are serious, with many years of experience, easy to bet and also give you an excellent welcome bonus are the following: