How to Bet on Football Online
| Updated: November 6, 2025
There is no doubt that online sports wagering has evolved greatly over the past few years, making it one of the greatest sources of entertainment for punters from a wide variety of countries. Although countless gamblers find online football betting enticing, many punters still shy away from it because they consider it too demanding or even onerous.
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In essence, this cannot be further from the truth, because wagering on football over the Internet is not complicated, which makes it suitable for all types of punters, including those who lack extensive experience in the field. One thing inexperienced punters might appreciate is that, at the beginning, they can stick to some of the basic football wagers and still enjoy favorable results.
Still, if you want to ensure that you have a great time and enjoy even better results, it would be better to familiarize yourself with the twists and turns of online football betting. If this is your goal as well, you might find this article useful, as it provides guidelines on the procedure you should follow when gambling on football online and on the different types of wagers you can choose.
Different Types of Football Wagers
It is fair to say that online football betting is immensely popular among punters, and one of the main reasons is the variety of wagers available. Unlike many other sports that offer a relatively limited number of betting options, this is definitely not the case with football, or soccer as the sport is also known. Best of all, football devotees do not need extensive expertise to wager on the sport, because many of the wagers function in a simple and straightforward manner.
Full-time Results
As already stated, the variety of betting options available to football lovers is truly impressive. Still, one of the most popular ways to bet on football is to wager on full-time results. Perhaps the most obvious reason this wager type is so popular is its simplicity. Gambling enthusiasts should also be aware that when wagering on full-time results, they can choose between several methods of betting.
It is true that the win-draw-win market is one of the most preferred ways to wager on football matchups. Interestingly enough, most reputable bookies offer this market for football, and it is also available for many other sports. You might be interested to learn that this way of betting on soccer is also known to punters as the 1×2 market.
Still, what makes this market a great option for complete rookies is that they must choose from only three outcomes. They simply predict which of the two teams will win, or whether the match will end in a draw. Unlike some other sports, football matchups often end in a draw, which is why this wager is available.
Football lovers should remember that if they bet on Chelsea, for example, and the match ends in a draw, their stake will lose. Gambling enthusiasts should also remember that a bet is settled after regular time has elapsed.
Double chance is another popular way to wager on the full-time result. Many football devotees consider it one of the most foolproof options, because it allows bettors to cover two of the three possible outcomes of a match. Thus, punters can wager on the home team or draw, the home team or away team, or the away team or draw. In most cases, however, the odds are lower, because it is easier to win when the bet covers most of the possible outcomes.
If you prefer to play it safe, draw no bet is another option that might appeal to you. With this market, bettors wager on which team will win the match. Unlike the markets mentioned above, a draw is not an available selection. If the match ends in a draw, your bet is void and your stake is returned.
Handicap, or Asian handicap, remains one of the most favored betting options among knowledgeable punters. Its defining characteristic is that teams may be deducted goals or awarded extra goals for betting purposes. For this reason, it largely resembles point-spread betting. Therefore, the odds will vary depending on the number of goals in the handicap. In most cases, the favorite is deducted goals, whereas the underdog is awarded goals. In some instances the opposite may occur, depending on the bookmaker.
If you bet on Chelsea (-1), your stake will win provided the team wins the match by at least two goals, because one goal is removed from its score. If, however, you bet on Arsenal (+2) and the final result is 2:2, your bet will win because of the +2 handicap.
Correct score is another straightforward type of soccer wager, because bettors stake on the exact final score of a match. Naturally, predicting the exact score is much harder, which explains why the odds are higher. Although such bets can deliver a substantial return, if your overall profit matters to you, it may be better to avoid them.
Half-time Results and Half-time/Full-time Results
Half-time results and half-time/full-time results are another exciting way of wagering on soccer. As you might guess, wagering on half-time results involves staking exclusively on the result of the first half. For half-time/full-time results, bettors predict both the half-time result and the final result of the match. Although it is harder to make the correct prediction, the odds offered often attract bettors to such bets.
When betting on half-time results, football devotees can choose from the same options they have when making a 1×2 wager. Thus, if you back Chelsea to lead at half-time, your stake will win if the team is ahead when the first half ends.
First and Last Goalscorer
If you want to try this market, rest assured that there is nothing complicated about it: you simply pick the player you think will score the first or the last goal in the match. As you can guess, making the correct prediction can be difficult, because there are many players to choose from.
Total Goals
It is fair to say that total goals is also one of the most popular soccer wagers, with the most obvious reason being that gamblers simply need to decide whether the total number of goals scored will be under or over a specific predetermined value. The lines are usually set with half-goal increments to ensure the total will be either over or under the value, which means your stake cannot push.
Scorecasts
Any knowledgeable football bettor will tell you that scorecast wagers are among the trickiest ways of staking on soccer. This bet type requires bettors to make two correct predictions, which have to do with the player who will score the first goal and the final score of the match. Your stake succeeds only if both predictions are correct. Therefore, if you want consistent results, it may be better to avoid such bets, as they require both expertise and luck.
Both Teams to Score
If you prefer straightforward bet types, both teams to score may appeal to you. As the name suggests, you simply wager on whether both teams will score in the match. Best of all, these bets can yield a nice profit, which explains their popularity.
Futures
Gambling enthusiasts who are determined to make long-term predictions should know that future bets are the best way to go. Unlike the bets discussed above, the biggest peculiarity of these bets is that gambling enthusiasts are making predictions about the outcome of events such as leagues or cups. A prime example of a futures bet is wagering on the winner of the World Cup. Punters need considerable expertise and knowledge about the teams to make accurate assessments. It is important to note, however, that football fans can place such wagers throughout the entire competition.
Parlays and Accumulators
Making parlay or accumulator bets is another exciting way to dive into soccer betting. What sets these bet types apart from the rest of the wagers we already discussed is that parlays and accumulators incorporate several selections into a single bet. The most challenging aspect is that every selection within the parlay or accumulator must win. Conversely, the potential payouts can be very alluring.
Special Bets
Special bets, or proposition bets as they are also known, are extremely popular with recreational football devotees because, when making such bets, they are wagering on certain events that may occur during the match and that might not have a direct impact on its outcome. A prime example of a special bet would be wagering on the time of the first goal or on the number of corners.
How to Bet on Football Online
Now that you are better equipped to proceed with your betting session, we will elaborate on the procedure you should follow to bet on football online. Wagering on soccer directly from your handheld device or personal computer is, hands down, much more convenient for gamblers. Besides being accessible and convenient, this form of gambling boasts several other advantages.
Once you have found an online bookmaker that meets all your requirements, you simply need to establish an account, which usually takes only a few minutes. After completing the registration process, the next step is to log into your account. Then pick football from the list of covered sports and review the events you can wager on. Once you have chosen the matchup you fancy wagering on, click on the event so all the betting opportunities you can select from will be revealed. Next, click on the bet type that appeals to you, and it will be added to your bet slip immediately. Football bettors should remember to specify the amount they wish to wager on each bet. Most reputable virtual bookies will also give you the chance to check your potential return based on the amount of money you have decided to stake. Finally, simply click on “place your bet,” cross your fingers, and hope your predictions are correct.
Advantages of Wagering on Football
Although gamblers can choose from a wide variety of sports to wager on, soccer is by far the most favored sport by punters. This is not surprising, because gambling on football over the Internet has some undeniable advantages that make it more attractive than many of the other sports available.
One of the main reasons soccer holds the upper hand is that it is one of the sports that boasts an impressive variety of wagers punters can choose. As you have probably noticed, your options are not limited to betting on the final result, which is undoubtedly a major benefit. In fact, gamblers can make predictions on almost every imaginable aspect of a football match.
Another advantage of online football betting has to do with the coverage of the sport. If you are a real soccer fan, you know that almost every single game from some of the major football events is aired in a wide variety of countries around the clock, thus giving punters the chance to keep up with the action. This aspect is often overlooked, but it undoubtedly plays an important role. Even if you do not have much experience in the field, you will notice that when you watch football matches on a regular basis, it is much easier for you to make accurate judgments.
The wide range of betting opportunities is yet another thing that makes wagering on football worthwhile. Few other sports can be found in almost all parts of the world. As you probably know, apart from the international competitions and tournaments, many countries have domestic leagues as well. Thus, football devotees are undoubtedly spoiled for choice when it comes to the events they can bet on.
When it comes to online football betting, we should pay special attention to the availability of information as well. This is essential, especially when it comes to wagering on soccer, because gambling enthusiasts can make their assessments after carrying out solid research. Best of all, gamblers do not need to search long in order to find the statistics they need, as such valuable information is readily available right at their fingertips.
Pros and Cons of Online Football Betting
Online soccer betting has undergone dramatic changes over the past few years, completely altering the manner in which we perceive this particular form of gambling. In fact, interactive bookies now provide punters with many more opportunities, which explains why wagering on soccer over the Internet has grown into a well-loved pastime for so many gamblers.
One of the most compelling reasons so many soccer devotees are excited about online betting is that it is extremely easy. Offline football betting can sometimes be quite daunting. This is not the case online, as operators have streamlined account setup and fund transfers. Bettors can then easily place their stakes by selecting football, finding the event they wish to wager on, choosing an available bet, and specifying the amount they would like to stake.
Another advantage of online football betting is that the lines and the odds are often more favorable. Even minor differences can have a serious impact on your overall profit.
Many football devotees are also attracted by the perks they can enjoy while gambling over the Internet. Operators go out of their way to retain their registered users. Indeed, one of the best ways to accomplish this is to provide bettors with various promotional incentives such as welcome bonuses, enhanced odds on certain events, cashback offers, and incentives based on their activity. Taking advantage of these offers is one of the best ways to get the most out of your betting session.
Another undeniable advantage associated with online football betting is the convenience punters can enjoy. Above all, you do not need to go to a brick-and-mortar bookie to wager on the preferred football events, as instead, you can do so with a few clicks on your smartphone or tablet. Furthermore, you will have the freedom to wager whenever you prefer, which makes online football betting an even more alluring option.
Despite these advantages, online football betting has several drawbacks that should be taken into consideration as well. Although the industry is well-regulated, the risk of registering an account with a bookie that is unreliable or unsafe invariably exists. Therefore, punters are advised to be extremely careful when making their choice.
Some bettors might also consider the lack of a social element a disadvantage. If you enjoy the idea of being surrounded by people while placing your stakes, online football betting might not be your cup of tea.
Finally, it is easier to lose control and spend money you cannot afford while gambling on soccer online. Still, this becomes an issue only if you find it hard to control yourself.