Kick Off Your Betting Journey: Tips for Beginner Football Bettors

Soccer (or football, depending on the region) is popular among fans and sports betting enthusiasts. At bookmaking agencies, at least a third of the betting slate is dedicated to soccer leagues.

Bookies offer detailed market listings and high odds for these competitions, and they design bonuses for major tournaments. If one knows how to bet on soccer correctly, they can place wagers with a high success rate and achieve profits in the long run.

In the pre-match betting lines for soccer matches, bookmakers offer over 1,000 markets. Players bet on the match winner, double chance, overall and individual totals (over/under), handicaps, correct score, and even or odd total goals. In the additional betting lines, bets are placed on markets such as:

• Asian markets – over/under and spreads (or handicaps);
• The exact number in the final score;
• Half time/full time;
• European handicap;
• Time intervals for the first and second goals;
• Three-way totals;
• Winning with a margin of 1, 2, or 3 goals;
• Total time of goals scored;
• Headers.

In soccer betting, wagers based on match statistics are favoured. Bettors often choose over/under bets, considering handicaps or even without any, which can be related to incidents such as yellow/red cards, fouls, shots (both on and off target), goal kicks, corners, and offsides.

Additionally, fans place bets on specific achievements by individual players. They bet on who will score, who will be the first or the last to score, and even players who might score twice (a brace) or three times (a hat-trick) in a match.

Consistent winnings can be achieved through conducting pre-match analysis for every game and utilising effective betting strategies – a set of recommendations based on experience, practice, and statistical analysis. Experienced bettors advise beginners to select 1–2 strategies to understand how to bet on soccer and avoid significant losses and streaks of bad outcomes.

In sports betting, it's crucial to understand that no strategy guarantees a win. There's always a risk of losing money, even when a bettor is confident about their wager. Veteran players also employ financial strategies, betting a fixed amount regardless of the outcome of previous wagers or a percentage of their current bankroll. Effective bankroll management can minimise losses, allowing bettors to retain funds in their accounts to recoup potential losses.

Draw Betting Strategy in Football

n bookmakers, the odds for a draw in pre-match betting usually range from 3.00 to 3.50. Often, the likelihood of a match ending in a tie is at least as high as one of the teams winning. Bettors profit in the long run if at least 1 out of every 3 bets on draws wins.

When selecting a match for this betting strategy, fans consider the following criteria:

• There is no clear favourite in the match. The absence of a dominant team can be deduced from the odds – if the odds for each team to win do not exceed 2.60.
• A drawn result would satisfy both teams, meaning neither side is motivated to secure a win.
• The teams frequently draw with opponents. In the league, at least 25% of the matches end in a tie.

Yellow Card Betting Strategy in Football

The yellow card market is available in the extended betting lines of many bookmakers. To consistently win when placing bets on yellow cards, it's advisable to follow these recommendations:

• Both teams are highly motivated, and each side must win.
• The match is officiated by a strict referee known for handing out numerous yellow cards and ejections.
• A significant number of yellow cards were shown in their previous head-to-head encounter.

Over Total Betting Strategy in Football

Betting customers often choose to place bets on over/under (totals) in soccer because it's easier to predict the number of goals scored and secure a win than to pick the match's outright winner.

For the over 2.5 goals strategy, bets are placed when the following conditions align:

• Both teams have an attacking style of play and are among the top 10 most prolific teams in the league.
• The match is significant, and a win is crucial for both sides; a draw does not benefit either team.
• The teams have exceeded the 2.5-goal total in at least half of their matches throughout the current season and in previous head-to-head encounters.

Football Express Betting Strategy

An accumulator (or parlay) in a betting shop is a bet where a user wagers on at least two outcomes in a single slip. Accumulators are popular among bettors due to their high potential returns. The bookmaker multiplies the odds of each event, resulting in a higher overall payout, even if the individual events have relatively low odds.

If even one of the outcomes on the slip fails, the entire bet is lost.

As a strategy, it's recommended to create accumulators with only a few events; it's best to include a maximum of 3-4 matches. Accumulators on soccer favourites have a higher chance of success. When choosing matches for their slips, bettors consider factors such as:

• The favoured team is playing at home.
• Key players are participating in the match; there aren't any injured or suspended players.
• The favourite is motivated to win; the match is significant for the team's league standing or for progressing to the next round of the competition.
• The team has rested adequately, at least three days since their previous match.
• There have been no recent managerial changes in the underdog's team.

With the arrival of a new coach, weaker teams often deliver a strong performance in their first match, frequently beating more vigorous opponents, even if they revert to losing ways afterwards.

Advantages of betting on soccer:

• Detailed betting lines and markets.
• High odds of major championships.
• Bonuses and promotions.
• Availability of websites with soccer statistics, which makes pre-match analysis easier.
• Availability of expert predictions for soccer matches.
• High betting limits for tournaments.
• Live streaming of both significant and minor championships.

The disadvantage of betting on soccer:

The primary disadvantage of betting on soccer is the limited availability of value bets or wagers with inflated odds.

The meticulous analysis of soccer betting lines by bookmakers' analysts and the minimal errors in those lines reduce the chances of finding value in soccer bets.

Comparing the opinions of experienced bettors with one's conclusions helps determine the most probable outcome in a soccer match.

• Ignoring pre-match analysis and statistics: Proper preparation makes selecting an outcome with high odds of success possible. Random bets might occasionally result in a win, but in the long run, this approach leads to loss of funds.
• Betting on your favourite team or national team: If a user is a fan of a particular team, they may need help objectively assessing the team's potential.
• Betting based on emotions: Emotional bets lead to losses, especially when users place bets right after a loss to recover their losses quickly.
• Not maintaining financial discipline: It's essential to avoid going all-in on bets. One should only wager up to 5% of their bankroll; for beginners, it's advisable to only bet up to 2%.

The main takeaway is that while experienced players' recommendations can provide some guidance, they can only sometimes prevent users from making mistakes. Proper research, emotional control, and financial discipline are essential to successful sports betting.

The more information a user gathers about the upcoming match, the higher the chances of placing a winning bet. During the analysis, the following factors should be taken into account:

• Team's form: Analyze the results of the last 5-7 matches. Evaluate the number of wins achieved and the strength of the opponents they've faced.
• History of head-to-head matches: In every league, there are intense derby matches, for example, when teams from the same city face each other. Teams approach such matches with a particular attitude, leading to aggressive play and unexpected results.
• Tournament position: A team's position in the league table determines its motivation. For instance, if the leader has already secured the championship or a spot in the European tournaments, they might afford to drop points against a weaker opponent.
• Expected lineup for the match: Assess the readiness of the leading players to participate in the match and check for any injured or suspended players.
• Match referee: Compare the referee's style of officiating with the team's style of play. If the referee is strict and the teams play aggressively, expect a lot of warnings, ejections, and possibly penalty kicks.

The essence of this information is that thorough research and understanding of various aspects of a match can significantly enhance one's chances of making accurate predictions in football betting.

• Licensing: In Nigeria, legal bookmakers operate with a license from the Federal Tax Service. International bookmakers obtain licenses from gaming commissions in Curacao, the UK, and other jurisdictions.
• Odds levels: Each outcome offered by a bookmaker includes a commission. The higher the margin, the lower the odds offered.
• Availability of live streaming.
• The breadth of betting lines and markets refers to the number of sports disciplines and markets available for betting.
• Methods for depositing and withdrawing funds.
• Additional factors to consider include:
• Availability of user-friendly mobile applications.
• Sections with sports statistics and results of completed matches.
• Quality of customer support.

If a bookmaker has a Nigerian license, any disputes can be settled within the Nigerian legal framework. A lack of licensing information indicates a potentially fraudulent company.

• Register at a bookmaker: Fill out the form by providing your phone number, e-mail, full name, date of birth, country of residence, permanent address, and additional details, depending on the chosen bookmaker.
• Undergo identification: Identity confirmation is mandatory for playing in Nigerian bookmakers. Most international companies identify a client's identity before paying out winnings. For online identification, fill out a form in your account with passport details, send photos of the documents, and take a selfie with them open. In Nigeria, offline identification can be done at bookmakers' offices and their partners.
• Deposit funds: To make a deposit, players use bank cards, mobile phone accounts, online wallets, and digital coins. Bookmakers accept cash through stationary offices and terminals.
• Choose an event in the live or pre-match line and analyse the statistics of the upcoming match. Before deciding, familiarise yourself with the teams, their recent performance, player conditions, and other essential variables.
• Select the desired outcome and click on the odds. This will add the selection to your betting slip.
• Enter the amount in the betting slip: Decide how much you want to stake on the bet.
• Confirm the bet: After double-checking your selections and the stake amount, finalise your bet.

• Bankroll Management: Always allocate a fixed amount of money for betting and never bet more than 2% of your total bankroll on a single event. This helps to prevent significant losses and extends the longevity of your betting capital.
• Pre-match Analysis: Before placing any bets, thoroughly research and analyse the event. Look into the team's recent performance, injuries or suspensions, head-to-head records, and other relevant factors that could affect the outcome.
• Expert Opinions: Pay attention to the predictions and opinions of seasoned sports analysts. While you shouldn't blindly follow their advice, comparing their insights with your own can lead to more informed decisions.
• Strategic Approach: Having a well-defined betting strategy is crucial rather than placing bets on impulse. Consistent strategies, coupled with careful event selection, can increase the chances of long-term profitability.
• Continuous Learning: The world of sports betting is dynamic, with ever-changing odds and conditions. Continuously educate yourself, be adaptive, and stay updated on the latest trends and information.