Northern Ireland has long been considered one of the more challenging places to place a sports bet. While the landscape is scenic and the people are generally very nice, it’s difficult to predict the winner of any given match, especially since gambling is illegal in Ireland. Bookmakers had to resort to offering odds that were more than 100-to-1 against the home side. The first major change to the betting landscape in Northern Ireland came in the form of the Good Friday Agreement, which led to sports books opening and the formation of the Northern Ireland Betting Postponed (NIBP). Since then, fixed matches and fixed odds betting (FMFO) has become legal, and bookmakers have worked hard to ensure that their clients know exactly what they’re paying for.
What is NIBP?
NIBP was founded in 1991 and is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a level playing field for sports betting in Northern Ireland. The group seeks to eliminate the many anti-trust laws that still affect the industry, as well as to make sure that all sportsbooks are operated legally and responsibly.
NIBP sets standards for all sportsbooks and punters in the region have to adhere to them. These standards include:
- Full licensing
- Efficient and fair exchange of funds
- Operative customer protection
- Responsible gambling
How Does Football Affect the Betting Line?
There are nine teams in the Northern Ireland Premier League (NIFL), which might not seem like much, but each game matters. This is because:
- The competition is tight
- Few games are straightforward victories
- Home advantage can often make the difference
- Few players are regularly unavailable
- Teams have to play each other multiple times
- And all of this is before the season even starts!
This means that any given match in the NIFL is worth at least four points, and a lot more when considering cup competitions and promotions. When the Republic of Ireland played England in a recent international, the betting lines shifted significantly in favor of the home side simply because England are usually considered underdogs against the best teams in the world. This is because the English team is not only competing for pride but wins often come down to a shootout, which is very vulnerable to mistakes. When you add in the fact that Ireland are not only good friends with England but also at home, all of this made for significantly higher betting odds than you would usually see in a classic soccer match.
What About The Cups?
Another thing that makes matches in Northern Ireland so interesting is the fact that they are heavily weighted in favor of the home team. This is partly because the four-team Irish Cup is open to the 36 top-flight teams in Northern Ireland, while the eight-team Europa Cup is open to teams from the island of Ireland, as well as to Scottish club sides. The fact that these are national competitions means that clubs are under huge amounts of pressure to win, and they will often go all out to achieve just one thing: The league title. This often means they will put everything they’ve got into winning a game, even when they’re playing at home, because they know it’s not guaranteed they will win.
The Europa Cup competition is the second-most important tournament in Northern Ireland after the league, and there’s a similar level of importance attached to the Irish Cup. This is why the betting lines usually shift in favor of the home side, and why bookmakers offer such high prices on international friendlies and competitions. If you’re a regular gambler, you’ll know exactly what type of bets to make considering all of this.
Where Can I Find The Latest Scores?
One of the great things about NIBP is their commitment to keeping things moving. They keep a close eye on all of the scores from around the world, and they ensure that sportsbooks remain up to date with all the latest news. This is vital for keeping up with the immense interest in sports, as people are always looking for the latest results so they can place their bets. NIBP also provides regular updates on all the major sporting events, helping recreational and professional gamblers make the right choice easily and effectively.
All scores and results from around the world are available at https://www.nibp.org/sports/ with the aim being to provide impartial information to both recreational and professional gamblers. The information is updated frequently, ensuring that each and every outcome is presented as soon as possible.
What About Fixed Matches?
Along with fixed odds betting (FOB) and fixed matches (FMFO), online sportsbooks also offer parlay bets (PBO) where gamblers put on a multiple bet with the aim of collecting winning bets. In a parlay, you’re agreeing to take part in multiple events with the aim of making some profit off winning bets. The great thing about these types of bets is that they offer people the opportunity to hedge their bets. Say, for example, you feel that Scotland are a sure thing to beat Wales in an international match. You could bet on Scotland to win both the match and the parlay, in which case you would collect winnings on both bets.
With FOB, you’re essentially placing a single bet on the outcome of an event with a bookmaker. The odds are usually set by the bookmaker, so you know exactly what you’re spending on. As a general rule, the more events you bet on, the more you’ll win, but it’s all about having a good understanding of how the sport works and having the discipline to keep on top of your bets. There’s a lot of risk involved, but also a lot of potential for huge rewards.
Can You Guess The Result Of A Game Based On The Weather?
Yes, you can definitely guess the result of a game based on the weather. For instance, if it’s raining or if there’s snow on the ground, there’s a good chance that the game will be postponed or canceled, rendering all bets void. It’s not always easy to determine whether a game can be played or not, especially if there’s thunder and lighting, which often lead to bolts of lightning striking anywhere and killing players or damaging stadiums and other venues. In fact, the 1995 Men’s World Cup in Norway was postponed due to riots and violence between the Norwegian and Swedish supporters resulting from a battle over a place in the European qualifying rounds. The match was eventually played without any further incidents, but FIFA, the governing body for football worldwide, decided to cancel all the remaining matches in the competition due to security concerns.
Based on this, you could easily make a case for some kind of bet where you guess whether or not a game will be interrupted by a delay or a cancellation. Of course, this will depend on how big of a mug you think the weatherman is, as well as how confident you feel regarding your guess. If you feel that there’s a good chance that the game will be called off, you could bet on it not being held, with the weather in London being a key factor in your decision.