NFL Betting at Bally Bet Sports & Casino

The NFL is no longer just America’s game; it’s a global spectacle. And fans here in the UK have been joining the fun in record numbers.

From Sunday showdowns beamed across the pond to the games taking place in London, American football is establishing itself as a solid choice for UK bettors.

We bring all the gridiron action straight to you here at Bally Bet, with betting markets explained in clear, UK-friendly terms that make sense whether you’re a seasoned punter or just getting curious about touchdowns and field goals.

Huddle up and let’s get learning.

A Quick Explainer on How American Football Works

American football operates on a completely different structure from what most sports fans here are familiar with.

Instead of halves, games are divided into four 15-minute quarters (with 10 minutes of overtime if the game is tied at the end of the fourth quarter).

Teams have four attempts, known as ‘downs’, to move the ball forwards 10 yards. With each successful attempt, known as a ‘drive’, the attacking team (the ‘offence’) gets closer to the opposition’s end zone.

If a player gets into that end zone with the ball in their hands, they score a touchdown. That’s worth six points. For a successful extra-point conversion that normally follows, another point gets added.

There are two other ways in which players normally score. One is with a field goal, worth three points, where the ball is kicked through the opposition goal’s uprights. The other is with a safety, worth two, where the offence gets tackled in their own end zone, or gives away an offensive penalty there.

That’s a real whistlestop tour of how American football – and by extension, the NFL – works. As we said, it’s vastly different from what we’re used to over here. What does that mean for actually betting on the league? We thought you’d never ask.

What Makes NFL Betting Particularly Engaging

There’s an inherent stop-start nature to the sport owing to teams needing to organise themselves for each drive as well as the defence replacing the offence when the latter relinquishes possession.

Not only that, but each side is given three timeouts per half, often used to give players a break and a chance to regroup. During the late stages of a tight game, they’re also used by the team in the lead to run down the clock.

These characteristics – when compared to sports like football and rugby – give you more time to assess how the game seems to be going and weigh up the live betting opportunities in front of you.

And when it comes to statistical depth, if you thought football analysts took their job seriously, it’s a whole different ball game with the NFL. Practically every move made during a drive is tracked and registered, which is why commentators can pull out some obscure player stat so easily. For those who love to dive into the numbers surrounding a game, the NFL has plenty to get stuck into.

While it isn’t unique to American football – you've probably seen multiple examples of the low block in football – if a team wants to batten down their defensive hatches, they’ll try to apply more pressure on the opposing quarterback (known as a ‘blitz’) and control offensive gaps. A switch-up in an approach like this done mid-game can sometimes have knock-on effects worth keeping an eye on.

Continuing the comparisons with football, we know that some teams with “star players” do build their playstyles around them and look to them to inspire a comeback. In American football, this is taken to the nth degree.

Essential NFL Markets for UK Bettors

Understanding these core betting markets will get you started with confidence:

Moneyline (Match Result)

The straightforward approach. Simply back which team wins the game. Draws are extremely rare in NFL games (overtime ensures a winner), making this the most accessible market for beginners.

Point Spread (Handicap)

Give a point cushion to the underdog or start the favourites off at a deficit to create more balanced odds.

For example, if the Dallas Cowboys are –6.5 favourites, they’ll need to win by 7 points or more to cover the spread (i.e. for a bet on the spread to win).

Totals (Over/Under)

Decide whether you think the combined score will exceed or fall short of the book’s line.

A bet on an over at 47.5 would need both teams’ scores to combine for 48+ points.

For more detailed explanations of these markets and others, check out our comprehensive guide to NFL betting markets.

NFL Odds in a UK Context

At Bally Bet UK, we present NFL odds in the familiar fractional format, with decimal options available for those preferring a more continental style.

A fractional example of a moneyline bet might look like ‘Green Bay Packers 6/4’. That means you’d win £6 on a successful £4 wager. You’d also have your initial stake returned.

When it comes to spread betting, you might see a line like ‘Packers -3.5 (10/11)’. As favourites, the Packers must win by 4+ points, with the near-even odds offered in brackets.

And so on. Bottom line: while a few of the terms used to describe a bet may be unfamiliar, it’s easy to calculate potential returns with the fractional format, whether you're familiar with American football or not.

Live & In-Play NFL Betting

As we touched on earlier, the structured format of American football creates favourable conditions for those looking at live betting. But what does that actually look like?

First off, there’s a 40-second time counting down each one of the offence’s drives. That gives you a bit of breathing room. Then, there are 25-second intervals coming into play for certain events, like a change in possession or a timeout. Again, teams will use the play clock strategically, either to drag things out if they’re ahead or to get the ball moving quickly if they’re behind.

And as well as all that, certain events in an NFL game can foretell a shift in momentum when they happen. Turnovers – where possession changes hands via a fumble, interception or turnover on downs – and big plays – where a certain number of yards are run or thrown – are two such examples to look out for.

You’ll start to see changes in the odds in light of these aspects as the game progresses. Moneyline odds can fluctuate, point spreads will be adjusted to reflect the current state of the game and there can be updates to the total points market based on factors such as game pace and scoring trends.

Again, we’re just scratching the surface here. Once you know the sorts of things to look out for during a game, you’ll start to notice how and when they shift the needle.

How UK Bettors Might Approach NFL Betting

We’re keen to preface this section with the reminder that, while there is a vast amount of data to uncover for any given NFL game, it remains a sport made up of fine margins. That means there can still be upsets no matter how strong your stats may look.

So, take everything with a pinch of salt and always bet sensibly. It’s an exciting sport regardless of how much you’re wagering – if anything – and that’s what you should remember whenever you watch a game.

With that said, here are a few factors to keep tabs on as a game approaches.

Team news

Teams release injury reports three times a week in the run-up to a game, and they can be crucial for key player positions. It’s not a bad idea to consult these as and when they’re released, so you know who’s likely to be starting come gametime.

Weather

Some of these guys seem more than happy to dive headfirst into piles of snow during the colder months. That said, inclement weather conditions can affect the gameplay of both teams. Useful to keep in mind if you’re looking at point spread and totals bets.

Travel

There are four time zones in the contiguous US, and some teams need to make coast-to-coast trips where there’s a three-hour time difference.

Those fixtures can impact team performance more so than a comparatively quick drive up-state, with teams from the west coast travelling east typically finding the adjustment a challenge.

Regular season vs. playoffs

During the regular season – September through December – coaches need to manage player workload across 17 physically demanding games. That can mean more inventive play-calling as well as personnel rotation.

However, the playoffs – January to the beginning of February – see teams adopt a more conservative, defensively minded approach to avoid costly errors that can end championship aspirations.

This shift can affect scoring patterns, play tactics and the use, or lack thereof, of certain players.

Bankroll management

Smart play is responsible play. The NFL season may be short when compared to other sports – running September through February – but you should still pace your involvement intelligently.

Start with smaller stakes while you develop market understanding and focus on specific teams for a handle on how they play. There’s a lot going on in this sport, and it’s best to keep things simple while you get to grips with it all.

Market selection

We’ve already compared popular NFL bets and how they work, so if you’re familiar with the UK equivalents, you’ll know whether you’re ready to start playing with them. We’d recommend keeping things simple with moneyline bets before moving on to totals and spreads.

Prop betting is where the NFL really differs from the usual UK markets. For each NFL game, you’ll see a considerable range of player and team prop bets, so you can wager on who you think will score a touchdown or whether a team will win both halves or not.

The Super Bowl game typically features a number of novelty prop bets, like the duration of the national anthem. While these may be fun, when it comes to a prop bet on a particular player or team, it’s wise to know how they’ve been playing recently before you look to put money behind them.

A Little NFL History

The National Football League launched in 1920 with just 10 teams across four states. Today's 32-team structure splits into AFC and NFC conferences across 23 states, culminating in the Super Bowl, one of the world's biggest sporting spectacles.

For UK audiences, the connection accelerated in the 1980s when Channel 4 first started regularly broadcasting games. Now, sell-out crowds at Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium highlight a genuine appetite for American football on British soil.

Whether you back a dynasty team, explosive offence or scrappy underdogs, the NFL has established itself firmly in the UK sports calendar.

NFL Betting FAQs

What is a moneyline bet?

It’s simply backing which team wins the game outright. Like you would with a match result bet on a football game, just pick who you think the winner will be.

How do NFL spreads work?

Like handicaps in other sports. One team gets a points handicap and must either win by more than the spread value (if they’re the favourites) or lose by less than it (if they’re the underdogs).

Can I use fractional odds to bet on NFL games?

Absolutely.

Fractional odds are our default format, with decimal and American alternatives available in your account settings.

What's the difference between parlays and accumulators?

Same concept, different terms. Both are multiple selections combined into one bet where all must win for payout.

Want to learn more about how these sorts of bets work? Head over to our acca bet guide.