Football is the World Game; a cultural, socio-economic, religious and political barrier-breaking pastime watched by approximately half of the world’s population and played in over 200 countries.
Football’s showpiece event is the FIFA World Cup – the most widely watched and followed sporting event in the world – while the English Premier League is the most popular domestic competition.
Despite just how intensely football is put under the microscope on a global scale, it can still be a confusing sport to bet on. Here are our tips to help you make an informed decision when betting on football.
Pay attention to the news
It’s imperative to have at least some understanding of the events leading up to a match. Is a key player sidelined through injury? Does the manager have a tendency to rest regular first-team players on the eve of a European fixture? Too many rumours of an unsettled dressing room disrupting performances on the pitch? In most cases, these three examples might not be playing a factor, but it helps to be aware and could explain certain factors which have influenced the bookies odds.
Research!
One team always has the edge on the other but you didn’t know that before making a bet? The internet is at your fingertips at all times and it doesn’t take long to discover key facts such as team form, head-to-head records and top goalscorers. Researching the differences in results between a team’s home and away form is essential in football, and explains why teams can have some enticing odds when playing away from home.
In-Play Betting
A sure-fire method to heightening the excitement of your betting experience. More importantly, it offers a way to maximise potential profits as bookies’ odds increase during in-play betting. Football has numerous variables which makes in-play betting a must for punters, such as the influence of red cards and injuries to key players during matches.
Endless market options
From the totals of yellow cards and corners to predicting a penalty will be missed, there’s almost no limit for a football punter. Correct score markets are usually the most lucrative – and, of course, the most difficult to predict – while the over/under for goals scored can be a shrewd addition to a weekend multi-bet. Individual goalscorer markets are another worthwhile market to explore in football, while the volatile nature of the game means your betting can go beyond the 90-minute spectacle. Got a feeling a player is going to transfer to another club? You can bet on it. A certain manager is on the verge of facing the sack? Yep, you can bet on that too.
Make multi-bets – but keep them simple
Multi-bets are a great way to increase your odds and put you in line for a big payout off a fairly meagre stake. However, the win-draw-win element of football (atleast in league football, cup competitions can require extra-time and penalties) means you can’t afford to go crazy with the number of selections you make. It doesn’t matter if your friend tries to convince you of some legendary 20-leg multi that he heard someone won, it’s far too unlikely and will lead to a downward in your betting form. Alternatively, you don’t need to solely choose match results in multis and some bookies will allow you to make same-game multi’s; the perfect option for a team you are familiar with.
Incentives from the bookies
The sheer quantity of bookies requires them to do something to stand out from the pack. Whether it’s a signing-up bonus, live-streaming services or early payouts, you should only choose bookies who you feel are giving you all the tools needed to earn some winnings.
