It is no surprise why soccer betting is one of the popular games in the world because of the millions football fans all over the world.
Unlike other popular games, Football gambling majorly entails making predictions on matches and placing bets on them to predict who the winner of the match might be.
Since the inception of soccer betting, it has drawn millions of football and non-football fans all over the world, looking for a way to make money.
For football fans, they don’t only enjoy the game but also get to bet on teams, which is a great way to make extra money.
Football match betting is thrilling and exciting, but before deciding to start it, it is best you familiarize yourself with beginners terms so you are not lost when betting on a team.
Before entering the world of football gambling, one needs to be familiar with the terminology used therein.
TYPES OF FOOTBAL BETS
- STRAIGHT BETS
This is the most popular kind of bet usually placed by bettors.
In this case, you only get to bet your money on one of the two teams in a match.
Straight Bets is made up other categories of bets, and this will be discussed below:
- Win-Draw-Win (1×2): For this type of bet, you only have a choice of deciding whether Team 1 is going to win, the match will end in a draw, or Team 2 will win. Will it be Home Win, Draw or Away Win? You only get to choose one option.
- Double Chance: Unlike the Win-Draw-Win where you get to predict one outcome for the match, in double chance, as the name implies, the bettor is given the chance to choose two of the three possible outcomes, so increasing chances of winning. For instance, you get to place a wager on Team 1 to win or draw.
- Over/Under: In this case, instead of betting on which team will win or if there’ll be a draw, the bettor here is supposed to predict the number of goals that can be scored in total throughout a game. You get to place a bet on whether the overall total of goals will be over or under a certain limit that a bookmaker sets.
- EXOTIC BETS
Exotic bets which is the second type of betting method you can choose to play offer unique and distinctive betting alternatives. A few example of these include:
- Asian Handicap: The strategy here is to offer one of the teams a fictitious edge or drawbacks which is meant to prevent the possibility of a draw. The whole aim of Asian handicap is to equalize the chances for both teams.
- Correct Score: As a bettor, you are to predict the exact outcome of the match here. While it is literally impossible to predict exactly what the outcome will be, the good thing about this type of bet is it’ll offer higher odds and greater rewards at the end of the day. It can be extremely challenging, but once you predict correctly, the profit is usually mouthwatering.
- Both Teams to Score (BTTS): In this type of bet, you bet whether the two teams will score a minimum of one goals during the match, irrespective of the result.
- Half-Time/Full-Time: As a bettor, what you need to do here is predict the goals that’ll be scored in the match at each of the two breaks.
UNDERSTANDING BETTING ODDS
After getting familiar with the basic betting terms to help navigate your way in the sport betting world, it is equally import you understand betting odds so you can have an edge when evaluating the potential payments and possibility of an occurrence.
The following are three typical categories of odds:
- Decimal Odds, represents the amount one wins for every $1 wagered and it is quite popular across Europe. It indicates the total payout rather than the profit. For instance, if the odds are 2.50, a $10 wager would return a payoff of $25.
- Fractional Odds, here, when you have a listing of 6/1 (six-to-one) odds, it means that you win $6 against every $1 you wager and receive your dollar back (i.e., the amount you wagered). These odds are frequently used in the UK, it shows the possible return on your investment with your stake.
- Moneyline Odds, it simply includes Odds, as in “Odds to win” and are mostly used in the United States, it typically indicates how much you need to place a bet or just how much you stand to win based on a $100 bet. Positive numbers indicate potential winnings, while negative numbers represent the amount you need to bet to win $100.
SPORTSBOOKS AND BOOKMAKERS
In the business of soccer betting, they are usually approved and processed by bookmakers, who can be either individuals or businesses. Their job is to determine the reward for winning bets, manage bettors’ transactions, and also determine the odds for each game.
Some top online sportsbooks you can use to place your bet are Bet365, William Hill, and Paddy Power.
TYPICAL BETTING PHRASES
As a bettor, you must understand the following terms in betting to navigate successfully:
- The total sum of money you use on a bet is known as a Stake.
- The total sum of money that makes up your betting funds is known as a Bankroll.
- Wager: Another word for a Bet.
- A gamble entails numerous options a bettor puts into a single wager, this increases both the potential payoff and risk of losing the bet, which is known as an “Accumulator” or “Parlay.”
- Handicap: this is a common strategy for leveling up the playing field that provides the team with an advantage or disadvantage.
- Value Betting is simply the act of placing bets wherever a bettor believe the bookmaker’s odds are greater compared to the outcome’s accurate likelihood.
- Favorite/Underdog: The favorite is the team the bettor predicts will win the game, while an underdog is the team that is regarded to possess a lesser likelihood of winning.
BANKROLL CONTROL
Now, as fun and thrilling betting is, it is important you exercise control over your funds so you don’t end up going broke.
Below are some important rules you need to consider before going into soccer betting:
- Control your Betting Budget: Always set aside a stipulated sum for betting and abstain from spending extra dollars. This is important because betting can be addictive, but exercising control over your budget reduces your chances on betting beyond control.
- Set a Betting Budget: This simply involves knowing how much you can afford to lose and never exceeding that amount. Be strict and rigid with your budget.
- Set Stake Amounts: Based on your risk tolerance, determine how much of your bankroll to stake on each bet. For each game, have a budget on how much you are willing to part with and ensure you don’t get tempted to go above the limit.
- Avoid Chasing Losses: There are many instances of people hastily betting with doing the right analysis. Refrain from placing unreasonable or hasty bets in a bid to compensate and make up for losses. Stick to your plan and make thoughtful choices. Stop when you are not making profit and strategize.
RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING
While betting is addictive just like anything you enjoy doing, it can still be done responsibly. Check out these key ways you can enjoy betting and still do it the right way:
Understand the Risks of Football gambling: Betting is a risk because you are choosing to place a wager on something you are sure of what the outcome will be. You need to recognize that it involves a risk of financial loss and therefore should be handled carefully.
- Set Time and Financial Restrictions: Always establish a good balance between betting and other important aspect of your life. You can do this by deciding the dedicated amount of time and money that will be channeled into betting.
- Recognize the Early Indications of Excessive Gambling: Betting can be addictive but you need to ensure it doesn’t become a problem and you need an exclusion. This is why control is key. Do not bet more than you can afford to lose or putt aside other important commitments. This will help prevent you from developing a gambling problem.
- Seeking Assistance and Support: Once you notice that you do not have control over football gambling, that is a sign that you should either slow it down or seek help. Do not hesitate to reach out for support or professional assistance.
HOW DO YOU BEGIN BETTING AS A NOVICE?
This is a step by step guide for you to begin betting even as a notice. Once you internalize the basics of football gambling, it won’t be valuable if you do not try it out.
Below are the step by step process to help you navigate your way as a beginner:
- Familiarize yourself with the Basics of Betting: Just like embarking on a journey, you should be well acquainted with basic terms like odds, different sorts of bets, and betting categories. This is the starting point of your journey.
- Learn as many things as you can about the sport you are interested in betting on, especially football. Take the time watch football games, analyze the outcomes of the matches, the players’ statistics, and the most recent trends. Stay updated on news, injuries, and other factors influencing match results.
- Choose a Reputable Bookmaker: Do not jump on any bookmaker you find on the internet, go for a renowned and trustworthy bookmaker or online sportsbook. Also take into careful consideration key variables like their reputation, customer feedback, accessible markets, aggressive odds, and user-friendly interfaces.
- Open an Account: It is impossible to start betting without having an account with a bookmarker. Signup with the bookmaker of your choice by going through the required steps. Make sure you are adhering to legal and regulatory standards, and enter accurate information to verify your account.
- Create a Budget: Make an estimate of how much money you will invest in your gambling activities. That is the amount you are willing to part with. You should only bet with the money you are prepared to lose because there will always be a chance you will lose money. Betting on a game doesn’t give you guarantee that the outcome will be in your favor.
- Practice excellent bankroll management practices by implementing them: It is one thing to know what bankroll management is, and another thing to religiously follow through with it. Decide how much of the funds you have to spend on each bet and refrain from risky bets, while exercising budget control.
- Start Small: When starting out as a beginner, start small and until you gain mastery and understand key areas that increases your chances of winning. It is an excellent plan to make lesser wagers, understand the ropes, this allows you to gain experience, understand your betting style, and minimize potential losses.
- Choose Your Bets Wisely: Anyone can look at a game and make a random selection and a bet. But what guarantees profit is your ability to decider the most profitable matches to place a bet on. Once you evaluate the marketplaces that are available and chose bets that give you confidence. You should consider factors like your current playing form, team news, head-to-head history, and other important information. Do not rely on luck when betting.
- Track Your Bets: Always keep an accurate record of your bets. This will come in handy when you need to gauge your performance and track patterns or spot trends. Maintain a record of your choices, stakes, odds, results and draw lessons from your wins or lose.
- Maintain Your Discipline and Patience: Not everyone bets for the same reason, but whatever your reason is for betting, it is mandatory to maintain discipline and patience so you don’t get depression whenever your bets are not yielding result or when you are tempted to go beyond your betting budget. While betting is addictive, chasing losses or allowing emotions to cloud your decision will not end well. Make it a duty to maintain consistency in your strategy and stick to following your plan.
- Learn from Experience: Experience they said is the best teacher. While betting, you have to constantly stay updated with the current football news, analyze your tactics regularly and keep tabs on what is working out or isn’t. While you are on that, always make room for modification and develop your betting abilities so you can stay on top of your game.
- Always Gamble Responsibly: Betting can be quite addictive, however it is also important to do it wisely at all times. Always have a strict budget for your betting and abstain from betting when you are not emotional sound or when you are drunk. If at any point you notice that you are addicted to betting irresponsibly, seek counseling.
Conclusion
It is impossible to succeed in the world of football gambling if you are unable to get acquainted to the key terms. It is like place a bet on what you have no idea about. As a bettor you will be more equipped to succeed in football gambling if you learn and understand everything in this article.
