When you first set up a sportsbook account with a soccer betting website, you will be presented with a menu of odds to choose from. Each odds category – like market, team, or goal scorer – will feature a number of options, which can be a little overwhelming. To make things simpler, let’s break down the different categories and the various options within each one.
Under 1.5
The line on this betting option will be set by the bookmaker to 1.5 or fewer points for the match. Thus, a win for either team will return a net profit of just half a point, while a draw will earn you a point. If you think that the match is going to be a lot closer than the 1.5-point spread, you can opt to bet on under 1.5. In this case, you would be risking $100 to win $50, or a $150 total bet.
Why is this option such a popular one? Think about it this way: half a point is a lot of money when you’re winning once or twice a week. For instance, if you’re betting on soccer games played in Germany, you’ll hit a home run almost every other week, so the half-point winnings add up quickly. On the other hand, if you’re opting to bet on under 1.5 games, you’re basically setting yourself up for a losing proposition 90% of the time.
1.5 – 2
This category is a bit like the under 1.5 option above, but the line is set farther in the opponent’s favor. A 2-point spread or greater will land you in this part of the odds menu. When selecting this option, you’re essentially saying that your experience in soccer betting so far has been a losing one and you’re looking for an alternative. You’re also acknowledging that the game is very likely to end in a draw.
Now, if you’re looking for excitement, you can always try backing a winner in the other categories or putting money on individual players or teams in this category. The choice is yours. Just keep in mind that the larger the spread, the more likely it is that you’re going to lose money on this option.
This is where many newbie bettors get into trouble. When they’re presented with the 1.5-2 odds category, they immediately think that this is the place to be. After all, look at how much money they’re risking per match! But that’s the beauty of it. If you’re new to soccer betting, follow the simple guidelines below and you’ll be able to enjoy the game without any problems.
Over 2.0
Once you’ve been at it for a while and your experience has been more of the winning variety, you’ll be presented with a new menu of odds when signing up for a sportsbook account. The minimum line here is set at 2.0, so you’re assured of getting your money back if your team loses, but you’ll be making a significant profit if they win. What’s more, the bookmaker will be doing all the work for you. For example, if you place a $100 bet on a game featuring Manchester United and you win, the bookie will return $120 to your account.
This is the option for those who have been at it for some time and have watched their bankroll steadily grow. Backing a winner in the main categories or doing individual player or team betting is a good idea, as is placing bigger bets with bigger odds. When it comes to picking winners apart from the main players, it’s usually a good idea to keep things small in terms of both size and number, while being very selective in terms of the games you choose to bet on.
How Do I Calculate My Expected Return On Investment (EROI)?
When you first set up a betting account with an online bookmaker, they will ask you to calculate your estimated earnings (aka expected return on investment – EROI)). In mathematical terms, it’s a simple matter of multiplying the amount you’re risking (x) by the odds (y) and then adding up the total. For example, if you’re risking $100 on a game and the odds are 1.8, your EROI would be $180. In other words, you’re making a $100 bet and expecting to win $180. Hence the name “expectation” in the acronym EROI.
This is especially important to keep in mind if you’re using an online bookmaker, as opposed to a traditional sportsbook, where you’ll have to calculate your EROI yourself. Why go through all the hassle of doing the math yourself? Because when you use an online bookmaker, the odds are already done for you and all you have to do is click a button to confirm your bet.
How Do I Bet On Football (Soccer) Games?
If you’re not familiar, football (soccer) is a sport where two teams – usually consisting of 11 players – attempt to score a goal by kicking a ball into the opposing team’s goal. The objective is to score more goals than your opponents, which will result in a win. Of course, it’s not always going to be that easy. Games can end in a tie, which means that neither team scored any goals and the betting money stays in effect. In this case, you would need to decide whether or not to continue betting on the game or put your faith in whomever you bet on.
Generally, you’ll have a number of different odds options to choose from on the sports betting homepage, depending on the sport you’re interested in betting on. For instance, if you’ve set your sights on English Premier League (soccer) games, you’ll be presented with odds ranging from 2.0 to 2.5, which is moderately in the bookmaker’s favor. Thus, you can choose to risk either $100 to win $50 or $200 to win $100, which is a no brainer, really.
Now, if you’re interested in US sports like the NFL or college football, you’ll see odds that are mostly inflated – if you’ll pardon the pun. For example, if you’re betting on the Indianapolis Colts vs the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game, your odds will start at 16.0 and climb quickly from there. Naturally, this is all dependent on where you place your bet. If you’re betting on NFL games in an online bookmaker’s forum, you’ll notice that the odds are always a little higher than they would be in a land-based sportsbook. Why? Well, as I mentioned before, the online community is a little more optimistic when it comes to picking winning teams. Besides, online bookmakers take the guesswork out of sports betting. They’ll give you the best possible odds in all circumstances, so you don’t have to worry about whether or not your team is going to cover the spread. Unless, of course, you’re selecting “over 2.0” odds, in which case you can expect to lose a little bit of money on each game you play, but that’s part of the fun, right?