Football Betting at Bally Bet Sports & Casino

We may not have the same name for it - soccer in the US, football in the UK - but we can all agree, it’s the beautiful game. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just love the thrill of the game, betting on football adds a whole new level of excitement to every kick, tackle and goal.

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

But don’t sweat it if you’re new to football betting. Our complete guide to football betting has everything you need to know to get started, from what football betting actually means, the markets that matter and what to look out for when betting on the leagues that get everyone talking.

We’ll also show you how to use our very own sports betting app to place your football wagers, whether that’s at home or on the go.

Read on and be enlightened.

What Is Football Betting?

We’re sure most reading this will need no introduction to football betting. With 70% of bettors saying they’d placed a wager on football in 2023, it’s comfortably the most popular UK sports betting market.

But for the 30% that haven’t joined the fun yet, now is the perfect time to change that – and we’ll start with a quick definition of football betting.

Put simply: football betting is when you wager on the outcome of football matches or specific events that happen within them. You can bet on a match before it kicks off, or get stuck into the live, in-play markets that change with every pass and shot on goal.

And while there are some more details involved – like the different football betting markets available, special terms and odds – it really is as simple as betting on what you think will happen in a game of football.

Explained: Football Betting Terms

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 two or more selections (up to 20!). If they all win, you win!  

Bet builder – Combine a number of outcomes from the big game into one bet. Go for goal scorers, players to be carded, number of corners – the power is in your hands.  

BTTS – Both teams to score. Each side in the match has to find the back of the net.  

Card points – Bet on the value of card points in a match, with yellow cards worth 10 and red cards worth 25.

FGS – First goal scorer. 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. 

Popular Football Betting Markets

We’ve got so many incredible betting options for you here at Bally Bet, it’s hard to keep track. Here’s a peek at some of the most popular markets you can choose from 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 correct.

Total goals

Think it’ll be a snoozefest, or are you expecting goals galore? Head to our totals markets and predict the number of times you think the ball will cross the goal line, for both teams.

Both teams to score (or BTTS)

For a winning wager here, you’ll need both teams to find the back of the net at some point in the match. As definitions go, this one is as straightforward as they get, but actually landing a successful BTTS bet requires some awareness of the two teams’ recent form as well as head-to-head histories.

Handicaps

Even things out with handicap betting, and give one team a point advantage to maintain or a point deficit to overcome.

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

And if you were wondering what Asian handicaps are in football, then this is where things are a little different. This type of handicap takes 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). If you choose ‘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.

Goal scorers

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

Certain players are more closely watched by the referee than others. With this market, you can bet on who you think will receive a yellow or red card during the game. If they do, you win.

Popular Types of Football Bets

Now that you’re all clued up on what football betting is, what certain terms mean and the markets you can find when you play with us, it’s time to discuss the most popular types of football bets out there.

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. When it’s either won or lost, it’s settled. So, if your goal scorer 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 multiple bet is the accumulator. Add two or more selections to your online sports betting slip, and every pick has to win to trigger the payout. Most players opt for match results, but you can include goal scorers, 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.

Outrights

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 goal scorers and much more!

The Top Football Leagues and Competitions to Bet On

We mentioned having 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.

Domestic Leagues and Tournaments

Get your bets on for all the major domestic football league competitions, which bring the drama and the markets across Europe and the rest of the world. With us, you can choose from:

• Premier League

• La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1

• EFL Cup and FA Cup

At Bally Bet, we’ve got all of these competitions covered and more, meaning there are markets and odds to suit every fan and every style. Jump in and see for yourself.

International Tournaments

The best playing the best. These tournaments have elite teams from nations across the globe going at it to provide unforgettable moments (and exciting betting markets) for spectators. Here are just a few options you can choose from:

• FIFA World Cup

• UEFA European Championship

• Africa Cup of Nations

• Copa América

Global Club Competitions

Club football doesn’t stop at domestic leagues. The biggest teams in the world also battle it out on global and continental stages:

• UEFA Champions League

• UEFA Europa League

• UEFA Europa Conference League

• FIFA Club World Cup

Want to see what these competitions have to offer? We’ve got all angles covered at Bally Bet.

Football Betting Tips & Acvice

Are you new to football betting? We’ve got you. Here are some hints to help all the rookies out there. In fact, they might be worth reading even if you’re already familiar with how things work.

Stats are your friends - do the research

Football statistics are extremely easy to get ahold of, and they’re objective. That’s why it’s worthwhile doing a bit of fact-finding before you pick a bet. An awareness of what’s happened previously can help you decide whether a particular market is valuable or not.

Some teams really don’t seem to like certain stadiums. For example, Everton haven’t won a match at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge since 1994. Again, with statistics so readily available, finding undesirable records like this isn’t too arduous a task.

On the topic of records, head-to-head histories 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

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. As a result, you might see a whole lot of strange results from the pre-season, and that’s why they’re not the best matches to bet on.

Check the fixtures

Fatigue and travel can affect teams more than you might think, especially if the team has a lot of starters who play international football. Keep that in mind when looking at your team’s upcoming matches.

Keep an eye on the news

Change can happen rapidly in football, and odds movements will reflect those changes almost equally as quickly. There could be a sudden downpour of rain or someone getting injured while warming up, but whatever it might be, there’s always something to look out for.

With pre-match markets, you can bet on a football game right up until the moment it kicks off. Or watch and wait for a bet you like the look of with in-play betting, hitting the ‘Place Bet’ button once you get a feeling about the game unfolding in front of you.

Use your head, not your heart, when betting

It’s only natural to want your team to win, but it’s not always realistic. That’s why it’s a good idea to use common sense and keep things in perspective whenever you’re betting on football.

Keep tabs on the team’s recent form and make use of the numerous team and player statistics for a clearer idea on who to wager on.

Don’t let your heart run the show.

Don’t chase losses

Sports betting, football or otherwise, is meant to be fun. To that end, whenever you place a wager, make sure that you’re keeping within your means and aren’t betting on impulse.

How to Bet on Football Online

Ready to go? Us too. First things first, log in or sign up with us. After all, you don’t want to miss out on all our epic online sports betting options.

Next, click ‘Sports’ to open our virtual sportsbook, the ideal place to bet online. Once you’re in, head to 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.

Play Your Way With the Bally Bet Sports & Casino 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 Bet Sports & Casino mobile app to play on Apple or Android devices, and you can get involved even when you’re out and about.

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