Want to become an expert in football betting? At Campeonbet, we offer a clear and detailed guide to help you grasp the basics of football betting.
Football is the world’s most popular sport, attracting countless fans eager to turn their insights into potential wins. Understanding the fundamentals of betting allows fans to monetize their knowledge and predictions, turning insights into potential wins.
Betting involves wagering on outcomes, such as match results or player performances, based on odds. A correct prediction results in a successful bet. Soccer betting blends fans’ passion for the game with the thrill of strategic forecasting.
Ready to convert your football knowledge into winning predictions? Let’s dive into the essentials!
Market Overview: 1X2, Double Chance, and Moneyline
Time for an overview of the most popular markets in sports betting. Having a solid understanding can significantly enhance bettors’ strategies. At Campeonbet each market features its risk levels, potential payouts, but also specific rules for placing bets. These various betting types serve as the foundation for successful betting. In this section, we will delve into some key markets – 1X2, Double Chance, Moneyline, and BTTS (Both Teams to Score) – to help bettors make informed decisions.
1X2 Betting
1X2 Betting market, or else “win draw win”, is the most popular and straightforward one. Betting on this market is plain because bettors can choose one of the three possible outcomes for a match:
- “1” represents a win for the home team
- “Χ” indicates a draw
- “2” represents a win for the away team
To make it clearer, here is a simple example: If Team A plays against Team B, betting on “1” means predicting that Team A will win the match.
Now, when it comes to payout potentials, the main concept is that favorites have lower odds while underdogs have higher odds. That being said, it is important to understand that there is a higher risk when wagering on a draw because it is harder to predict.
Once you decide to bet on the 1X2 market, you should be able to have a good understanding of the odds. Odds indicate the probability of each match result and the potential winnings. If the odds for a home win are 3/1 (which is 4.00 in decimal format), this means you will win ₦3 for every ₦1 you bet—so if you stake ₦1,000, your total winnings would be ₦4,000 (₦3,000 profit + your original ₦1,000 stake). A key point to remember when converting odds into 1X2 probability- simply divide 1 by the decimal odds. For odds of 4.00, 1 ÷ 4 = 25% probability, meaning the bookmaker estimates a 25% chance of the home team winning.
Double Chance
This one is similar to the 1X2 betting but with a twist- once you choose this market, then there is the possibility of wagering on 2 out of 3 possible outcomes:
- 1X → Home win or draw
- X2 → Away win or draw
- 12 → Either team wins (no draw)
Let’s say there is a match with Enyimba FC against Plateau United, and you choose to bet on X2, meaning your bet is successful if Plateau United wins or if the match ends in a draw.
Double Chance betting offers lower risk as a tradeoff for lower odds. It is often a safer alternative to 1X2 betting since it covers more than one outcome, and for that matter, the market has a lower risk. This, consequently, offers smaller payout potentials since the odds are reduced for covering multiple results. It is a market intended mostly for those who prefer security over risk.
BTTS (both teams to score)
BTTS is a dynamic betting market where both teams must score at least once during the 90 minutes of a football match, regardless of who wins, for the bet to be successful. If both teams score at least once, your bet wins. If you’ve bet on “No” for BTTS, at least one team must fail to score. BTTS is just a shorthand for “Both Teams to Score”. Bookmakers often use BTTS for convenience.
The appeal of BTTS bets is that they remain active until the final whistle. Even if one team is dominating during the game, a single goal from the other side can still secure a win.
- BTTS: Yes – Both teams must score at least once.
- BTTS: No – At least one team must fail to score.
This market carries moderate risk, as it depends on attacking and defensive strengths. Payouts vary based on team tendencies. For example, Team A supposedly plays against Team B, and the final score is 2-1, a BTTS: Yes stake wins because both teams scored. In case the score is 2-0, a BTTS: No stake wins because only one team scored.
While easier to assess than traditional match result bets, predicting BTTS still requires evaluating key factors like offensive quality, defensive vulnerabilities, and player availability.
Successful strategies often involve selecting teams with consistent scoring records or identifying strong attacking teams playing away against weaker defenses. Historical match data can also provide valuable insight into expected scoring trends.
Moneyline
Moneyline betting is the simplest form of sports betting, because bettors only pick the winner of the football match. There are no point spreads, totals, or other conditions involved. This market does not account for a draw.
Time to check the odds and simplicity remains:
- Favorites have negative odds (e.g., -200), meaning you must bet more to win a set amount.
- Underdogs have positive odds (e.g., +200), meaning a smaller bet can yield a larger profit.
Let’s suppose Enyimba FC is playing Rivers United, and the odds are:
- Enyimba FC (-200) → You must bet ₦20,000 to win ₦10,000 (total payout: ₦30,000).
- Rivers United (+200) → A ₦10,000 bet wins ₦20,000 (total payout: ₦30,000).
If you bet on Enyimba FC and they win, you collect ₦30,000 (your stake + profit). If you bet on Rivers United and they win, you collect ₦30,000 (your stake + profit).
Exploring Handicap Betting: Asian vs. European
In essence, handicap betting modifies the match score before the game, making the betting experience more dynamic and competitive.
European Handicap
European Handicap is a fixed-goal advantage or disadvantage applied to a team before the football match begins. It operates similarly to standard betting, but it includes a handicap. In other words, that is a way to level the playing field between teams of different strengths by assigning a whole-number advantage or disadvantage to one of the teams.
This, in practice, means that bettors still wager on one of the three possible outcomes- win, lose, or draw.
- Home win (with the handicap)
- Draw (after the handicap is applied)
- Away win (with the handicap)
In this betting format, players focus on how much a team will win or lose, rather than simply betting on who will win the game. This approach creates more balanced odds and a variety of interesting betting options. European handicaps typically involve moderate to high risk, but they also offer the potential for larger rewards.
For instance:
- If Kano Pillars is given a -1 handicap, it means this team must win by at least 2 goals for the bet to succeed (2-0, 4-2 etc).
- If Bayelsa United has a +1 handicap, they can either win or draw for the bet to win.
Asian Handicap
The Asian handicap is a popular betting format that removes the option of a draw, aiming to make betting more dynamic. Unlike the European handicap, which offers three possible outcomes (win, lose, draw), the Asian handicap focuses solely on two outcomes (win or lose).
It uses whole numbers (e.g., -1, +2), half numbers (e.g., -0.5, +1.5), and quarter numbers (e.g., -0.25, +0.75) to create virtual advantages or disadvantages for teams. This makes betting more dynamic and strategic, as the stakes are adjusted to factor in these handicaps. Essentially, it levels the playing field and enhances the betting experience by minimizing randomness.
Split-Stake Example:
When betting on a team with a handicap of +1.25, the stake is divided between two spreads: +1.0 and +1.5. So, half your stake is placed on +1.0 and the other half on +1.5. If your team loses by one goal, you win on the +1.5 bet while the +1.0 bet is refunded.
Whole-Goal Handicaps:
When betting on a -1 handicap, the favored team must win by more than one goal to secure a win. A +2 handicap means the underdog starts with a two-goal advantage, so this team can lose by up to one goal and still win the bet.
Quarter-Goal Handicaps:
This format reduces risk since the bet’s stake is split. For example, a bet on Team A (-0.25) is halved between Team A (0.0) and Team A (-0.5). This protects part of your stake if the match ends in a draw.
Asian Handicap appeals to experienced bettors seeking more strategic control and reduced variance, while European Handicap is often favored by those who prefer simpler betting formats. To make the most of it, consider team form, head-to-head statistics, and specific match conditions before placing your bets.
Totals Markets: Goals, Corners, and Cards
Campeonbet is here to explain totals markets. This betting format focuses on quantities rather than match outcomes. Bettors wager on whether a specific statistic, such as goals, corners, or cards, will be over or under a set number.
Over/Under Goals Betting
This market allows bettors to predict whether the total number of goals in a match will be above or below a given threshold.
- Over 0.5 Goals → At least one goal must be scored for the bet to win.
- Under 2.5 Goals → The match must have two or fewer goals for the bet to win.
Example: If you bet Over 2.5 Goals and the final score is 3-1, your bet wins because the total goals are 4. If the score is 1-1, your bet loses because only 2 goals were scored.
Corners and Cards Totals
Βettors wager on the total number of corners awarded in a match.
- Over 8.5 Corners → The match must have 9 or more corners for the bet to win.
- Under 10.5 Corners → The match must have 10 or fewer corners for the bet to win.
Example: If you bet Over 8.5 Corners and the match has 10 corners, your bet wins. If there are only 8 corners, your bet loses.
3. Cards Totals (Yellow & Red Cards)
The Cards totals market involves betting on the total number of yellow and red cards shown in a match.
- Over 3.5 Cards → The match must have 4 or more cards for the bet to win.
- Under 5.5 Cards → The match must have 5 or fewer cards for the bet to win.
Example: If you bet Over 3.5 Cards and the referee issues 5 yellow cards, your bet wins. If only 3 cards are shown, your bet loses.
Prop Bets: Player and Team Specials
Proposition bets, also widely known as prop bets, are wagers that go beyond the standard betting markets like moneyline, point spread, and total. In fact, they are considered to be some of the most fun bets for a variety of sports, as they are designed to focus on other aspects of a game rather than the outcome.
Player Props
As you might guess from the name, this type of prop bets is placed on anything related to an individual player. They are considered to be a very popular way to bet on football matches, as players get to wager on the number of assists by a point guard, number of strikeouts thrown, or the total number of points a specific player will score during a game.
Team Props
On the other hand, team props allow bettors to focus on the outcome or performance of a team for a specific game. Depending on the sport, bets can be placed on the final score of a game, the number of corner kicks, the number of free throws, or the number of shots on a goal. As with all types of football betting, research is key, and the flexibility team props offer is what makes them so appealing. That means that there is no need to predict an upright winner.
Live Betting and In-Play Strategies
Live betting, also known as In-Play betting, has completely transformed the way bettors approach sports wagering. However, since this is a fast-paced format, research and timing are some of the key strategies.
In order to get the most out of live-betting, bettors need to research and study important game aspects like team form, player statistics, and previous match-ups. This pre-match analysis is crucial for identifying patterns; however, timing is also a crucial factor. You may have conducted the necessary research, but football is known to be unpredictable, so you need to pay close attention to how the momentum may change during the game.
Even the most experienced bettors can make impulsive decisions as an emotional response to potential losses. So, to avoid tilting, setting limits beforehand and remaining disciplined throughout the event are highly recommended.
Utilizing Stats & Models
For as long as anyone can remember, people have been making predictions on the outcomes of various competitions and football betting is no exception. However, in the modern era, bettors no longer rely on just their intuitions and gut when betting on sports online. Technology is a big part of our everyday life and players can now use it to predict the outcomes of sports events based on data-driven insights.
Understanding xG (Expected Goals)
Understanding xG, known as expected goals, might seem complicated, but it is actually a very simple procedure. Expected goals are essentially the probability that a shot will result in a goal based on the characteristics of that shot and everything leading up to it. Some of these characteristics include:
- Location of the shooter
- Body part
- Type of pass
- Type of attack
The Poisson Model for Football
The Poisson model was originally designed by the French mathematician Denis Poisson in the 19th century as a way to determine the probability of a number of wrongful convictions occurring in specific countries.
In the world of sports betting, this model is used as a probability theory that utilises previous sports data. Through data from league averages and specific team’s previous results, it can predict the outcome of sports events by working out the likelihood of certain events happening in a fixed period of time.
Common Mistakes in Football Betting
Chasing Losses and Emotional Betting
When it comes to football betting, one of the most common pitfalls a bettor can encounter is chasing losses. This behaviour is typically an emotional response to a series of lost bets driven by emotion rather than logic. While it may seem natural to feel frustrated after a losing streak, letting such emotions dictate your decisions can ultimately lead to even bigger losses.
In order to avoid falling into this kind of trap, it is important to set pre-defined limits. Establishing a fixed balance and deciding how much you are willing to spend beforehand can go a long way in making sure that you never stray out of your path. These limits can either be set on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.
Misunderstanding Betting Markets
Another frequent mistake in football betting is misunderstanding how different betting markets work, due to how similar they might seem to bettors. This confusion is particularly clear in the case of betting markets such as Asian and European Handicap. At first glance, they may indeed seem alike, but one of the main differences is how each market pays out.
This confusion can result in costly errors, and in order to avoid such errors it is crucial to thoroughly understand before placing a bet. Most reputable sportsbook providers, like Campeonbet, provide market explanations on how payouts work, and what outcomes are covered, so it’s always a good idea to read these explanations.
Over-Reliance on Accumulators
Accumulators are some of the most exciting forms of betting. These bets are known for their high-risk/high-reward structure, making them one of the most exciting forms of football betting. However, the overuse of accumulators might prove to be one of the most tempting traps, especially for beginners.
While the odds may look attractive, the truth about accumulators is that they come with a low probability of success. If you are a new player, you should consider shifting your focus on value singles, instead. These bets don’t offer big payouts, but they build consistency which is vital for long-term growth.
Betting Without a Model or Strategy
When it comes to sports betting, in order to have any chance of coming out on top in a consistent and well-structured way, you need an efficient strategy. Many casual bettors tend to rely on just their gut or their love for the team they support, often with little or no research at all. So, such practices of unstructured betting almost always lead to long-term losses. Following a reputable stats-based analysis is also a good strategy, because they provide previews, predictions, and insights that are drawn from actual data and not hype.
Tips for Successful Football Betting for Beginners
Start with Simple Markets and Small Stakes
The best way to build up your skills and your confidence is to start simple. As easy as it may sound, focusing on understandable and easy to cope with markets will help you more in the long run, instead of diving straight into complex betting types. Such easy-to-understand markets include 1X2 or Over/Under 2.5.
The 1X2 market simply asks the player to bet on three possible outcomes, so it’s a straightforward and ideal choice for learning how to read odds and evaluate team strengths. On the other hand, the Over/Under market makes the whole experience easier, as bettors bet on whether the total number of goals will be over or under 2.5.
In both cases, we at Campeonbet advise you to use small stakes and wager with moderate amounts, as this builds experience without risking too much.
Bankroll Management Fundamentals
At Campeonbet, we believe that one of the most crucial aspects of turning football betting into a successful experience is bankroll management.
What constitutes an effective bankroll management is dividing the bankroll wisely across your bets, instead of placing large wagers and acting impulsive. Our recommendation would be to stake between 1-5% of your total bankroll, as this will help absorb any inevitable losing streaks without harming your balance.
Tracking performance is also another important practice, as players get to keep a detailed record of all their bets. Aside from adding discipline to their betting approach, this data can also reveal what is actually working and what has room for improvement.
