Football is back! Or rather, it’s been back for a while – in fact, the 2018/19 Premier League season started two weeks ago. The world’s favourite game is back and bigger than ever before. Naturally, with the league’s return, comes the opportunity to place wagers on the beautiful game. If you’re looking to place a few football bets this season, here’s a guide to help get you started.
Know What To Bet On
As mentioned, football is back and all across social media, it’s been gracing our screens, informing us of match results and stats. With the opportunity to make money via betting also comes the opportunity to lose money. The key to ensuring you make profit instead of loss is by knowing which matches to bet on and which to avoid. In general, it’s a good idea to avoid betting on cup competitions and games against your local team as you’re more likely to lose money rather than make it. When it comes to placing bets on the Premier League, it’s a case of knowing when to jump on the opportunity and when to pass on the bet. At times, you may see odds as high as 60/1 or more for a single sporting event, which means you’re going to need to bet a massive amount of money to make back your investment. For example, a €60 bet on Manchester United to win the Premier League would only yield €360 – a return of €20 – making it probably not the best idea for a small fry like you or me.
What About Match Odds, Over/Under Scores And Markets?
Odds are simply the odds of an outcome happening. For example, if you bet on Manchester United to win the Premier League and they start the season as 4/1 (4 to 1) favorites, your odds of winning have then shifted to 8/1 (8 to 1). Odds can be a good indication of whether or not you should bet on a game but they don’t always hold true. When it comes to over/under scores, these are simply the total number of goals the two teams will be scoring. For example, if Manchester United are scoring 4.5 goals per game and Liverpool are scoring 3.5 goals per game, then the over/under on the season’s first meeting between the two clubs is 7.0 goals. This obviously makes it much more likely that Manchester United will win the bet than if the over/under score was, for example, 2.0 goals. Markets are very similar to over/under scores in that they also offer odds of an outcome but instead of predicting the total goal score, they predict the direction the game is going to take. For instance, if Manchester United are 5/2 (5 to 2) favorites and Liverpool are 2/1 (2 to 1) favorites in a given market, then the betting markets are predicting a goalless draw. In this case, the best possible outcome for Liverpool is that the game ends in a 0-0 draw and they don’t have to worry about Manchester United scoring as they’ll have less than two days to rest before facing Chelsea in the Premier League on September 27.
Where To Place Your Bets?
The World Cup final was last week and, naturally, everyone and their mother has an opinion about what happened. However, there’s one thing all sports fans can agree on – the event was absolutely incredible to watch. Naturally, this also led to an increase in the amount of people looking to bet on sports. If you’re searching for an online betting site then, of course, you’ll come across multiple World Cup betting options, offering odds and market information on the tournament’s greatest matches. If you’re looking for a more traditional bookmaker then you can head to the real world and place your bets at a nearby cricket betting shop. The choice is completely up to you but knowing where to place your bets is half the battle won. Keep in mind, not all cricket betting sites are created equal and some of them can be extremely risky. As with any other form of gambling, it’s always best to stay clear of sites that are known for offering big money pitches to international players or those touting themselves as being experts in gaming legislation – especially if you’re a victim of fraud.
Protect Your Money >>
Banks don’t like gambling websites because they see them as high-risk destinations. It’s always best to deposit your money into an account that doesn’t require you to provide a form of identification. This way, you’ll remain anonymous and ensure your money is safe from prying eyes. There are various reputable online betting sites that don’t require identification, making them perfect for use by those concerned about their personal security. Remember, too, that some websites may try to trick you into entering your personal details, which could leave you open to identity theft – so it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Make Sure You Study The Basics
Betting is all about having an understanding of the basic rules and regs. The first thing you need to do is identify which sports you’re going to bet on. You’ll find a list of all sports and their related odds on the site you’re using. If you’re not sure which sport to choose, it’s usually best to pick the one with the most popular name. This makes it simpler to identify with and allows you to place a bet on the sports you know and enjoy. For example, if you like to bet on British horse racing then you’ll want to make sure you’re studying the basics of horse racing, rather than all varieties of football. The more you know, the better you’ll be at placing confident, profitable bets. Of course, this also means you’ll need to do some research into the subject beforehand, in order to increase your chances of winning.
Don’t Forget About Statistics
Even if you’re a diehard fan of a single team, it’s a good idea to check the statistician’s reports on a regular basis. They can provide you with an in-depth analysis of your team’s form, which can help guide your betting decisions. For example, a sudden surge in form may indicate your team is due for a comeback win, while a significant decline in average performance may mean you’re better off avoiding them altogether. Checking the statistical reports of your team’s arch rivals may also reveal valuable information about how your team’s performance differs across leagues and competitions.
Learn From The Pros
The best place to study is from the pros. The guys at SullyBet naturally attract a lot of attention from football fans and the odd soccer bettor, looking for some educated guffaws. After placing a certain bet on Liverpool to win the Premier League last season, they reacted by asking their followers for advice. A lot of people started responding and they eventually published a guide to football betting, explaining everything from how to bet to why they think Liverpool will win. Naturally, you may need to take things with a grain of salt, as the majority of the responses come from guys, who either have a lot of experience or are just trolling for attention – in some cases, it’s not clearly distinguishable. Regardless, they do have an excellent guide and, as a budding bettor, it’s worth checking out.
Avoid High-Confidence Bets
If there’s one thing all successful bettors agree on, it’s that high-confidence bets are the key to making money. If you feel confident enough in your prediction then place a bet. If you’re not sure then it’s usually best to wait, either way. In some cases, you may see guys making big bets, based on recent form alone. This is generally a bad idea, as you’ll be placing your bet at odds that are more than likely to lose you money. Instead, bet on the opposite with your lower-odds selections. For example, if Manchester United are 10/1 (10 to 1) favorites to win the Premier League, it may be tempting to laydown your cash on them, based on their impressive form in the early stages of the season. However, if you examine the fact they’ve lost their first two games of the season and you can find fewer than 10/1 (10 to 1) odds on them winning any other game this season, it may be a safer option to bet on Liverpool, who are 5/1 (5 to 1) favorites to beat Manchester United in Sunday’s showdown.
As you can see, placing a few bets is definitely within the realms of possibility for a normal person like you or me. It’s always sad to see a great game like the World Cup taken seriously but, once the smoke clears, there’ll be plenty of money to be made, via sports betting. Be realistic though – this isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme. You’ll need to put in the hours and become educated about the betting markets. Just remember, in the end, it’s all about having fun. And who knows, maybe this year, we’ll be watching the World Cup being hosted by a foreign country.