Soccer Betting Online
Few events captivate the world like World Cup Soccer or even the Euro Cup where the interest is massive. The combination of national pride and a global tournament makes even the most casual fan of the sport tune in. Even if you’re a soccer neophyte, however, nothing makes learning a new game more enjoyable — and potentially profitable — than being able to make a smart bet on the outcome. Right now we are looking forward to Euro 2012 betting this summer, which is the big event this year.
Bet Soccer Online at William Hill – Click Here
Betting on soccer is a little more advanced than betting on other sports. Since soccer is a sport that enjoys global popularity, different countries use different formats to list the games’ odds. In America, soccer odds are generally listed as a moneyline. An example of a moneyline looks like this:
UEFA Champions League Soccer Group F
FC Barcelona -1200
FC Rubin Kazan +2000
Draw +800
As with any moneyline, you have the option of betting the favorite or the underdog. In this case, Barcelona is the favorite at -1200, a figure that translates to a staggering 12-1. Since Barcelona is heavily favored to win the match, the sportsbook requires you to risk, or lay, $1200 in order to win $100. On the other hand, Rubin Kazan is a 20-1 underdog at +2000. Accordingly, a $100 bet on Rubin Kazan would result in a $2000 win if they are able to overcome the heavy odds and pull off the victory. Of course, you also have the option of betting on the game ending in a draw — a bet that would return $800 on every $100 you wager.
Bodog is the best soccer betting site for US players
The ability to bet on a game ending in a draw is where soccer lines differ from those of other sports. When you are able to bet on a draw as the game’s outcome, any bet placed on a team to win the game is considered a loss if the draw does occur. In other words, if you bet on Barcelona to win the game, Barcelona must actually win the game in order for your bet to be a winner. Sounds obvious so far, but the addition of a draw as a betting outcome creates some interesting situations in soccer sportsbetting. Take a look at the following line as an example:
UEFA Champions League Soccer Group C
Zurich FC +260
Olympique Marseille +120
Draw +230
Notice anything different about that line? In this game, all 3 options are presented as underdogs. This is because of the possibility of the game ending in a draw, something that you won’t see in the betting lines for many other popular sports.
Whichever side you decide to bet, you should always keep in mind that sportsbooks inherently work by balancing the money they take in on both sides of the line. This means that the odds you are offered on both sides will change as the sportsbook is forced to carry out this delicate balancing process. By staying on top of line movement, as well as shopping around between different sportsbooks, you will be able to ensure that you get the best possible line for the bet you’re making, giving you the most value for your money.
Where to Bet Soccer Online
Note: If you’re accessing this page from the United States, there are limited options for soccer betting available. One of these options and our top choice is Bodog Sportsbook.
If you’re located outside the United States, there are dozens of options available such as Expekt, BWin, Bet365 and others listed on the lower two right sidebar sections of our page.