How to Bet on Football

Football is often referred to as the beautiful game. Fans can’t get enough of the players' skills, top corner strikes, crunching tackles, and world-class skills. Football is also one of the most popular sports to bet on, with LiveScore Bet covering games from top competitions and leagues during the season. Use this guide to learn how to bet on football, whether it’s a pre-match single, weekend acca, or an in-play pick.

Learn how to get started with football betting

Football is enjoyed across the world and is the standout betting sport in the UK. But with so many matches, markets, and features, punters must understand what they are doing. How to bet on football? LiveScore Bet covers everything from the English Premier League and FA Cup to La Liga and the World Cup. We’ll discuss 1x2, total goals, and correct score markets on this page, along with bet builder and match statistics.

Understand how football odds work in practice

Every football betting market at LiveScore Bet has a price. Prices are known as betting odds and show how much punters stand to make from placing a bet. We allow our members to select from a handful of formats, including fractional, decimal, and American odds. Let’s outline how the different formats work before we go any further in this “how to bet on football” guide.

Learn how to read fractional odds

Fractional odds are the most common in the UK. Many punters like how easy it is to work out the potential profit and required stake. The number on the left is the profit, and the number on the right is the bet size.

For example, if Tottenham Hotspur are 2/1 to beat Chelsea, a £10 stake gives potential returns of £30, £20 of which is profit. This is the simplest way of explaining how to bet on football using fractional odds. 5/2, 8/11, 6/1, and 1/2 are other possible prices you’ll find on our betting site.

Learn how to read decimal odds

Decimal odds can also be chosen. The total payout is calculated by multiplying the stake by the decimal number. Sounds simple, right? Let’s say Real Madrid are 2.00 to beat Barcelona at the Camp Nou.

A £5 stake would deliver a £5 profit and a £10 total return. That’s using the calculation: £ 5 × 2.00 = £10.

We often price favourites at decimal odds between 1.01 and 1.91, while underdogs are at 2.05 or higher.

Follow these simple steps to place your first bet online

How to place a bet on football? LiveScore has made it easy for football supporters to back teams and players. Like a professional following his manager’s on-pitch instructions, punters can follow these steps to get started:

Explore the most popular football betting markets

No sport offers more betting markets than football. Part of understanding how to bet on football online is understanding markets. LiveScore Bet’s football markets include pre-match, live, and outright options. The chosen market affects betting strategies and analysis. For example, beginners are often drawn to 1x2 and total goals markets. Experienced punters may opt for a correct score, first goalscorer, or half-time/full-time options.

Predict the final outcome with a match result bet

The 1x2 market is the easiest to understand. Punters are just betting on the result of an individual match. There are three possible outcomes: a home win, a draw, or an away win. The scoreline at the end of the 90 minutes and injury time is the only factor we use to settle these wagers. When it comes to tips on how to bet on football, the 1x2 market is a good starting point for newcomers.

Back both teams to score during the match

Both teams to score (BTTS) is another football market that will appeal to beginners. All you need to do is pick “Yes” or “No” on the chance of both teams finding the back of the net during a match. The result isn’t important. This market is particularly attractive when two high-scoring teams take to the pitch or clubs with a small number of goals conceded go head-to-head.

Choose goalscorer markets for individual player bets

This is something you may have done with your mates while watching a match in the stadium or on TV. We accept bets on first, anytime, and last goalscorers before and during games. Punters often back star strikers, while greater odds are available on players who rarely find the back of the net, including full-backs and centre-halves. The thrill of backing a winner here can be compared to scoring the winning goal in a local 5-a-side game.

Create a custom wager with a bet builder

Looking for tips on how to bet on football? Here’s one for you. Our bet builder allows punters to create their perfect football bet. Multiple selections from the same match can be combined. So, why not add player bookings, total corners, goalscorers, and the match result to see what the potential returns could be with a personalised accumulator? Football fans have never had more control over their wagering, and the bet builder is one of many features available at LiveScore Bet.

Find value in major leagues and competitions

Our football coverage spans the entire gruelling Premier League campaign and short-term competitions such as the EFL Cup and Community Shield. However, this does mean that analysing teams and players becomes trickier. Teams in Europe’s top divisions regularly rotate their squads, while there are fierce rivalries and league positions to consider, too. Cup competitions are much simpler, with teams generally doing whatever it takes to reach the next round.

Use these expert tips on how to bet on football

The amount of data surrounding football is greater than ever before. That means there’s no excuse not to do your homework to enable more informed betting decisions. When it comes to tips on how to bet on football, it’s important to come up with a clear approach to analyse upcoming fixtures.

Research team form and head to head statistics

These are some of the things to look into before placing a football bet:

Don’t rely on luck and give yourself the best possible chance of winning by finding up-to-date football statistics and news. There’s nothing worse than backing a team, only to find out that their star player isn’t in the starting XI.

Manage your bankroll to practice responsible gambling

We suggest that all punters set a deposit limit. That’s regardless of whether you’re a newcomer or an experienced bettor. This is the first step to managing your bankroll and ensuring that you don’t go beyond your means. An important part of how to bet on football online is being responsible. LiveScore Bet also offers cool-offs, self-exclusion, and reality checks. These tools facilitate long-term activity, with chasing losses never recommended.

Play LiveScore Bet Squads for a free way to enjoy the game

The fun doesn’t stop there. Squads is a free-to-play game available to all customers at LiveScore Bet. Cash rewards and free bets are up for grabs, and all that is needed is to unveil a 5-a-side team made up of Premier League players. We deliver rewards when one of the players in your lineup scores a goal in weekend fixtures. After reading tips on how to bet on football, you can play without risk at the same time as to add to the excitement of upcoming matches.

Ready to test these strategies out?

Head over to our football betting section to put your newfound skills to the test!