The beautiful game has returned, and with it, a new opportunity to make some money. Soccer, or football as it’s called in other parts of the world, is back! And just like before, there will be massive competition between bookmakers, as well as between individual players, regarding who will win the race to profit off the millions of pounds invested in the sport.
So if you’re looking to make some money from soccer, then you’ve come the right place! In this article, we will teach you the basics of betting on soccer. We’ll cover everything from how to make bets to where to place them. And hopefully, we’ll shed some light on some of the tactics that bookmakers and soccer insiders use to make a profit off the sport.
What Is Soccer Betting?
Let’s start from the beginning. What is soccer betting? Simply put, it’s the practice of trying to predict the outcome of a match between two teams, often with the assistance of a bookmaker. In some cases, there is also the opportunity to bet on whether a player will score or will achieve a certain number of touches, or goals, in the match.
If you’re familiar with horse racing, you might also know that there is a similar practice known as gambling on sports. In fact, many of the same terms are used, such as handicap, underdog, and favorite. In the case of soccer, these terms are typically applied to the teams competing in the match.
The line between gambling and sports investing is becoming increasingly blurred. As bookmakers have realized the revenue potential of the soccer fan, the opportunity to place wagers on matches has increased, as has the sophistication of those wagers. For example, you might now find betting markets pertaining to the weather in a particular area, or whether a player will have a good or bad game, amongst others.
Why Bet On Soccer?
As with any sport, there are many reasons why you might want to wager on soccer. Perhaps the most common is to get involved in a friendly competition with a group of friends. If you’ve ever played fantasy sports like FIFA or NBA 2K, then you know that there is a lot of fun to be had competing against your friends, or colleagues, in a league where the object is to be the best. Not surprisingly, there are many social sports betting sites where you can do just that.
Another very popular option is to use betting sites when you feel that the sport is being rigged, whether it be by a bookmaker or the organization that rules it. If you’re convinced that someone is trying to manipulate the outcome of a game, then you can check out a site like SportingKC, for example, and place bets on any match you like, with the goal of exposing and fixing the scandal. Similarly, if you feel that certain outcomes are being overlooked due to bias or incompetence, you can bet on those results too.
How Does Soccer Work?
So now that you know what soccer betting is and why you might want to get involved, let’s discuss how the game actually works. There are four distinct phases to every soccer game:
- The Pre-Game Phase: This is the phase that most people are accustomed to. It starts hours, sometimes even days, before the game, and is largely made up of media and public relations activity, including player interviews and scouting reports. This is also the phase that includes the buildup to the game, with lots of activity taking place, both domestically and internationally.
- The Game Phase: This is the part of the game that everyone is waiting for, and it lasts for about an hour. During this time, the teams will take the field and the winning team will be determined by the sum of the three elements: The Pitch, The Players, and The Officials.
- The Post-Game Phase: This is when everything comes to a halt, as far as the game is concerned. The players will leave the field, the game will end, and the winning team will be determined by the bookmakers. However, this doesn’t mean that the game is over for the fans, as they will continue to engage with each other, either via chat functions or, in some cases, via emails, to discuss the game and their place in it. After the game, the losing team will naturally be looking for ways to improve and get back on track, while the winning team will be trying to cash in, both literally and figuratively.
- The Extended Post-Game Phase: This is a phase that hasn’t seen much attention, at least not on a large scale, but it is something that many individual game participants, as well as teams and fans, are taking advantage of. It covers several additional minutes in some cases and there is a growing trend of people engaging with each other after the game, whether it be through in-game celebrations, or, in others, through online forums or blogs. This is also the phase where, depending on the time constraints of the game, the losing team will have a chance to regroup and possibly try for a do-over. Some games also have additional phases, such as a double-elimination tournament, where the brackets are decided by game results, or the use of a pitch that is arranged in a tournament style configuration. All of these aspects should be considered when placing bets, so that you can fully understand how a game will play out.
Key Points To Remember
When placing bets on soccer, it is important to remember a few key points. First off, just like any other sport, the outcome of a game can be unpredictable, particularly in leagues, or competitions, where the standard of play is high. For that reason, even the most experienced players can have a hard time picking winning teams. This is why it is crucial to use a betting site, or services like DKIMO, that can provide you with the best possible odds and lines. Second, if you are placing a bet on a match, then you should do so, at the very least, one hour before the game. This way, you’ll have enough time to follow the relevant news reports, as well as any team blogs, forums, or social media accounts, pertaining to the game.
Third, in the event of a postponed or canceled game, you will find the best odds available for that particular match. While it is not always the case, especially in lower-league games, the bookmakers will always have something available for you, and they will not keep you waiting for long. Finally, in most cases, there is no fee to place bets, as long as you adhere to the basic sports fairness principles.
Now that you’re equipped with the basics of betting on soccer, where do you think you’ll place your bets? Are you looking to make some money from soccer for the first time? Or, have you been betting on the sport for a while, but now you’re curious about another way to profit? Let us know down in the comments below!