Your Guide to Betting on Football

We may not have the same name for it - soccer to us back in the U.S., football in the UK - but we can all agree, it’s the beautiful game. There’s so much excitement to enjoy, with thrilling moments from across the globe. So, why not get involved in the fun? 

Bet on football online at Bally Casino and you can get closer to the action, with awesome markets to wager on and in-play football betting available!  

But don’t sweat it if you’re new to football betting. We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know to get started. Keep reading and get our complete guide to football betting, including how to place wagers and the games you can bet on.

What is football betting? 

We’re sure most of y’all need no introduction to football. 70% of sports bettors said they had a wager on it in 2023¹, making it the most popular UK sports betting market. 

Part of the 30% who weren’t involved? Now’s the perfect time to change that. 

Football betting is exactly what it sounds like - placing a wager on the most-watched sport on this side of the pond. Sure, there are some more details involved – like the different football betting markets available, special terms and odds – but it really is as simple as betting on what you think will happen in a game of football.

Football betting terms explained  

Let’s kick-off with some of the most common terms you’ll find when betting on football. Take a look below to find out what a variety of the top ones mean. 

• Acca – Short for ‘accumulator’ which is a multiple bet with four or more selections. If they all win, you win! 
• Bet builder – Combine a number of outcomes from the big game into one bet. Go for goalscorers, players to be carded, number of corners – the power is in your hands. 
• BTTS – Both teams to score. Each side in the game has to find the back of the net. 
• Card points – Bet on the value of card points in a match. Yellows are worth 10, reds are worth 25. 
• FGS – First goalscorer. Pick the player who finds the net before anyone else. Own goals don’t count for this market, so if they score first then it rolls over to the second player. 
• HT/FT – Check out our half-time/full-time markets, where you bet on the result at the interval and at the end of the match. 
• Over/under – Cards, corners, goals and more – decide whether they’ll be more or less of them than the line says. 
• Win from behind – We all love a comeback king. Back a team to be losing at any point in the game and then rise up to take the victory.

Want to catch up on more of the lingo? We've got the full list of sports betting terms for you to read up on.

The top football competitions to bet on 

We mentioned we’ve got football odds from around the world, with a heap of pre-match and live betting options.  

Check out some of the top football events below, and when you can look forward to them.

International tournaments 

The best playing the best - that’s what it’s all about. International tournaments take place less regularly than club events, but you can catch them on both sides of the pond. 

The World Cup takes place every four years, and will expand to include 48 teams in the USA, Canada and Mexico in 2026. There’ll be over a month of incredible action to take in before the winner is decided at MetLife Stadium on July 19. 

In 2028, the European Championships come to the UK and Ireland. 24 nations from Europe compete for the trophy, with each country hoping to take home the title of champion. 

Think of yourself as a true football fanatic? Get involved in the African Cup of Nations starting in December, while the next Copa América will test South America’s best in 2028.

Global club competitions 

There’s a new tournament to look forward to in 2025, also hosted in the U.S. The Club World Cup has been revamped to include 32 teams from all over the globe, all playing for the chance to become world champions. It kicks off on June 14, and the final takes place on July 13, meaning there’s no rest for football this year. 

Besides that, you’ve got the top European club competitions coming to the business end. The Champions League, Europa League and Conference League all have finals to look forward to in May. Keen to experience all of them? We’ve got all angles covered at Bally Casino.

Top domestic leagues 

Get your bets on for all the major league domestic football competitions across Europe and the rest of the world. From the English Premier League to Italy’s Serie A, you’ll find many exciting betting opportunities for every big game. Jump in and see for yourself.

Popular types of football bets 

Now y’all know how to bet, the markets you can find, and the games we’ve got available. It’s time to talk types of bets.

Singles 

You might hear these called ‘straight up’ wagers from time to time. A single bet is placed on one outcome from an event, from any of the markets we’ve got on offer. 

There’s no waiting around to settle when you go for a single bet. Nuh uh. When it’s won or lost, it’s settled. So, if your goalscorer finds the net right at the start, you’ll be straight in the money.

Multiples 

Multiples have become one of the most popular wagers for sports bettors, and they’re just as common in football as they are in horse racing, American Football and everything else. 

The most well-known bet is the accumulator. Add four or more selections to your slip, and every pick has to win to trigger the payout. Most players opt for match results, but y’all can include goalscorers, BTTS, cards and more, too. 

Taking a chance on some underdogs? Check out other multiples including trixies (three doubles and a treble) and yankees (six doubles, four trebles and a four-fold accumulator), where you can still make a profit even if you’re not totally right.

Outright 

Outright wagers can be placed across a season, giving you something to follow as the games unfold. Bet on league champions, relegated teams, cup winners, top goalscorers and much more!

Check out the top football betting markets 

We’ve got so many incredible betting options for your football predictions at Bally Casino. Here’s a peek at some of the markets you can experience with us before and during the game, and what they all mean.

Match result 

Win, lose or draw. Predict the outcome of a match and get paid out if your guesses are right on the money.

Over/under goals 

Think it’ll be a snoozefest or expecting goals galore? Hit up the over/under markets to wager on how many times the ball will cross the line.

Both teams to score 

Go one step further than the over/under. To win this bet, each of the two teams have to find the back of the net during the game.

Handicaps 

Level the playing field with a handicap bet. Just like in American Football betting, handicaps give the better team a head start so they theoretically have the same chance of winning. 

Let’s say it’s Manchester City v Fulham. You might take Fulham +2, which pays out if they win, draw or lose by less than two goals. 

And if y’all are wondering ‘what are Asian handicaps in football?’, then this is where things are a little different. Asian handicaps take the draw out of the equation, so teams can basically only win or lose. 

There are three options to pick from – quarter goal (+/- 0.25 or 0.75), half goal (+/- 0.5), or full goal (+/- one goal). With full goal you can get your stake back for a draw, while with quarter goals you can hedge your bets slightly to reduce the risk.

Correct score 

Place a bet on the exact result of any match with our correct score markets. The more goals there are the bigger the odds will be, so let’s hope for plenty of attacking prowess.

Goalscorers 

Maybe you’ve got a striker on a hot streak, or you fancy a defender to net from a set piece. Pick out a player to score during the match - first, last or any time - for the chance to share some of their glory.

Cards 

Referees have to keep a closer eye on some players. Wager on one who you think will receive a yellow or red card from the match official, and if they get their name in the book, you win!

Football betting tips  

Wondering how to bet on football for beginners? We’ve got you. Here are some hints to help all the rookies out there.

Stats are your buddies - do the research 

Statistics never lie. So, it can pay to do some fact-finding before you pick something to bet on. 

For example, some teams have terrible records at certain stadiums. Everton haven’t won at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge since 1996, which is almost three decades! Head-to-head records are a great guide too, as you might just find favoured opposition. 

When it comes to players, some of them can’t help but find the net against certain teams, while others can’t hit a barn door. 

Check the form book to find games where one side is hot, while the other is not. You may just find a little bit of value.

Don’t bet on friendlies 

Friendlies aren’t always friendly to bettors. These usually take place before the regular season when the real competition starts, and they’re all about trying out new tactics and building fitness. So, you might see a whole lot of strange results from the pre-season.

Stay up to date with the latest news 

Things can change very quickly in football, and so can the odds. Whether it’s a sudden shower of rain or an injury in the warm-up, there’s always something to keep an eye out for. 

You can bet on football right up until kick-off or even afterwards with in-play betting, so sometimes it’s worth watching and waiting before hitting the ‘Place Bet’ button.

Bet with your head, not your heart 

One of the main tips for betting on football is to always use your head. We know y’all always want to see your team win, but it’s not always realistic. 

Use the form guide and all the stats available to make a decision on who to wager on. Don’t let your heart run the show.

How to bet on football online 

Ready to go? First thing’s first, log in or sign up with us. You don’t want to miss out on all our epic online sports betting options after all. 

Next, click ‘Sports’ to open our virtual Sportsbook, the perfect place to bet online. Once you’re in, head for the ‘Football’ hub to find all the available markets. 

All that’s left is to add something to your bet slip. Add a stake to the wager, then press ‘Place Bet’ and you’re good to go! 

Make your way through our wide range of markets - correct scores, match results, and Asian handicaps to name just a few – and you’ll find plenty to choose from.

Bet on live football 

Watching the big game and got a hunch about the next play? Our football betting in-play markets are where you want to be. 

Place wagers as the teams go head-to-head, and you could join the star players in hitting the back of the net. 

Click the ‘Live Now’ tab in our Sportsbook and scroll down to our in-play football leagues, with odds and markets updating in real time to get you closer to the game.

Take the action on the go with a football betting app  

Heading out? There’s no need to miss a moment of the beautiful game. We’ve got everything you need for a top football betting experience. 

Download the Bally Casino mobile app to play on Apple or Android devices, and you can get involved even when you’re out on the go. 

Our sports betting mobile app is perfect for in-play, placing accas and everything else that comes with football betting. Come and see for yourself.

Football betting FAQs 

Got some last-minute thoughts before the whistle blows? Don’t sweat it - check out our answers to some of our most common questions below.

How do odds work in football? 

Football odds are simple to work out. A £10 bet at 2/1 or 3.0 pays out £30, so there’s £20 profit plus your stake back. At Bally Casino, y’all can pick between decimal, fractional and American odds. Check out our sports betting odds blog to find out more.

Do football bets include extra time? 

All football wagers are settled at the end of 90 minutes unless stated otherwise. So, if your anytime goalscorer finds the back of the net in extra time, it won’t count. Look out for the ‘Team to Qualify’ markets and if your selection wins in extra time or on penalties, you’ll get paid out!

What does draw no bet mean in football? 

Not fully confident that the team will get the job done? Use the draw no bet market to get your stake back if the team you pick draws. It still pays out if the selection wins the match, but at smaller odds than standard match result wagers.

What does 1x mean in football betting? 

‘1x’ means double chance. It’s a wager on the home team to win or draw, so you’re in the money if they don’t lose. Want to take the away side to win or draw? Look for the ‘x2’. Don’t fancy the draw? ‘12’ pays out if either team wins.

What does each way mean in football betting? 

Each way means the same when you bet on sports, whether that’s football, horse racing or anything else. An each way wager has two bets - one win-only, and one place-only. So, there’s basically a little insurance if your pick comes up just short. 

Check out the Bally Casino blog for all our top tips and guides for sports betting, casino action and beyond.

¹ https://business.yougov.com/content/46255-which-sports-attract-the-biggest-betting-spends-in-britain