Do you want to try soccer betting, but you are not exactly sure how it works? Maybe you are confused with all the terms bookies use, like spread, moneyline, and over/under? Well, don’t worry. This detailed guide contains soccer betting lines explained as well as all the other info you might need to enter the exciting world of soccer betting successfully.
How Does Soccer Betting Work?
The U.S. market has been slow to adopt the habit of betting on soccer. Historically, the bettors preferred to wager on major sports leagues like NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. However, with the rise of soccer quality in the United States and interest in Major League Soccer, more bettors are eager to try soccer betting. If you want to know the best place to do so, check out our list of best sports betting sites.
You must be wondering how does soccer betting work? Well, to get a grasp of that, you will have to get familiar with the odds and the way they work. They are the most important aspect of betting as they determine the likelihood of an outcome and the potential winnings.
The U.S. sportsbook operators use American odds that identify the favorite with a minus (-) symbol and the underdog with a plus (+) symbol. The symbols are then followed by numbers that indicate how much money you would need to bet to win $100 for favorites and how much you would win if you bet $100 on an underdog. Due to the possibility of a draw in soccer, there are additional odds with a plus (+) symbol on the draw that work in the same way as betting on the underdog.
Let’s take the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester City and Real Madrid, for example:
Manchester City -210
Real Madrid +550
Draw +375
Betting $210 on Man City would get you $100 (plus $210 you wagered) if they win. On the other hand, betting $100 on Real Madrid would get you $550 and your original bet if the La Liga club wins. Betting $100 on a draw would result in $375 winnings and the $100 you have wagered if the match ends in a tie.
However, you don’t have to wager $100 or more since the payout will be adjusted to your bet amount. For example, let’s say you wager $10 on Real Madrid at +550 odds. If they win, you will win $65 ($55 profit + $10 bet).
Soccer Betting Lines Explained – Moneyline
The basic bet in soccer and all other sports betting is the monyeline. As soon as you get familiar with the moneyline and how it works, you will know how to bet on soccer.
When you make a moneyline bet, you are betting on the outcome of the match. Simple as that. Most operators offer a 3-way moneyline and 2-way moneyline for soccer betting.
The 3-way moneyline is the most common and indicates three outcomes: win by the home team, win by the away team, and a draw. Only the regular time and stoppage time are taken into consideration when determining the outcome of bets. Any extra time or penalties are subject to other types of bets.
The 2-way moneyline is common in sports events that don’t allow draws like tennis. It indicates that there are only two outcomes of the match; for one side to win and the other side to lose. In soccer betting, the 2-way moneyline is called “Draw No Bet.” This market allows you to only bet on the winner of the match. If the match ends in a draw, you get your original bet back. A similar type of bet is PK.
What Does PK Mean in Soccer Betting?
What does PK mean in soccer betting, you ask? Well, it’s not short for a penalty kick but short for “pick ’em.” It is usually set when two evenly-matched teams play against each other, and there is no clear favorite. In this case, you can bet the PK and get your original bet back if it’s a tie.
Soccer Betting Explained – Handicap (Point Spread)
We previously learned that the moneyline bet only takes into consideration the outcome of the match. However, if you want to increase your winnings, you can choose to make a handicap bet. This is similar to point spread betting in basketball or football.
When you make a handicap bet, you are betting that one team will win a match and that they will do it in a dominant fashion reflected on the scoreboard. In order for your bet to be a winning one, the team you selected has to win with a certain goal difference. There are usually multiple handicap markets offered, depending on the parity of the teams included.
You’ve made a -1.0 handicap bet on Manchester City against Real Madrid. With this bet, you are predicting that Man City will win the game and do it with a two-goal difference. If the game ends 1:0 or 2:1 in favor of the Premier League side, your bet is losing even though you have predicted the winner correctly. You win only if City beats Real 2:0 or 3:1 or with any other score as long as they have a two-goal difference at the end of the match.
How To Bet On Soccer – Total Goals (Over/Under)
You can also bet on the number of goals scored in a single soccer game. This is known as total goals betting and is similar to over/under betting in NBA or NFL.
Before each game, the sportsbook operators predict the number of goals scored by both teams. The bettors can then wager on whether the number of goals scored will be higher or lower. The total goals line is usually set at a .5 decimal.
For example, the match between Manchester City and Real Madrid offers the following Total Goals odds:
Over 2.5 -150
Under 2.5 +125
If you take Over 2.5 at -150, you predict that the teams will combine for at least three goals and need to wager $150 to win $250. On the other hand, if you take Under 2.5 at +125, you predict that the teams will fail to combine for more than two goals and would take home $225 with a $100 investment.
Soccer Betting Explained – Other Markets You Might Encounter
There are all sorts of other markets associated with soccer. You can bet on the number of penalties, whether there will be a penalty kick, choose a player you think will score, and much more. One of the more popular markets is double chance. If you are new to this, you might wonder what is double chance in soccer betting? It’s straightforward.
What is Double Chance in Soccer Betting?
Double chance allows you to cover two of the three possible outcomes in a single match. Let’s again take the example of Manchester City vs. Real Madrid. Here are double chance bets you can make:
Manchester City wins, or match ends in a draw
Real Madrid wins, or match ends in a draw
Manchester City or Real Madrid win
If you take the first, Manchester City has to win, or the match has to end in a tie for your bet to be a winning one. The second requires Real Madrid to win or the match to end in a draw. The third one will be a winning bet if either team wins and you lose if the match ends in a draw.
Soccer Betting Lines Explained – Summary
Hopefully, this guide will help you start your soccer betting experience without any hiccups. You’ll probably encounter a lot more soccer betting markets that we didn’t have time to cover. However, the basics are the same, and it won’t take long before you get the hang of it. To know more you should see our articles about soccer betting sites and soccer betting apps… and you’ll be able to bet on the 2022 FIFA Soccer World Cup.