Across the World, soccer is the most followed sport in terms of popular online betting and although in Australia, the gap between other events might be narrower, the country still loves to get on board. It’s a game that throws out some thrilling encounters with the World Cup being the pinnacle while their own domestic league is enjoyed by Aussies, along with top action from Europe and beyond.
And, from a betting point of view, there is plenty to get involved in but what markets are available and where should you be placing your money?
Win Lose or Draw
The first port of call for any sport is the result betting and in football, you have the three basic options with a win for either side or a draw. Form and previous results between the two teams should be key to some profitable punts but naturally there can be some surprises along the way.
There are variations on this theme from time to time and bookies such as Bet365 might be offering what’s known as the Asian Handicap. This system gives a notional head start to the weaker side in terms of goals and then the price of the favourites extends as a result.
In knock out games such as semi finals or finals of any big tournament, you may also find a To Qualify market or a Lift the Trophy option. This kicks in if the game finishes in a draw after 90 minutes before going on to extra time and possibly penalties.
Side Bets
There are so many side bets involved with the biggest football matches that it will be impossible to list them all here. Some are very obscure but for many, the most popular options centre around the individual goal scorer betting and there could well be over 100 options for the bigger fixtures.
All bookmakers give you an option to pick the first and last goal scorer in the game while you can also speculate on whether your chosen player will find the net at any stage in the 90 minutes. Depending on your choice of bookmaker, you could also get an option to back a player to score at least twice or at least three times in that specific match.
It’s a set of markets that can carry high prices at times and it also requires more analysis of the players involved. Do they have a good record against the side they are up against and are they in good form coming into the match in question?
Other Options
Other popular side bets focus on goals and many punters try to speculate on how many will be scored in a certain game. Bookies set lines from 0.5, to 1.5, 2.5 and more so that the customer’s job is to bet over or under that line.
Both Teams to Score is also very popular and although it can carry some short prices, it’s one that should be relatively easy to predict over time. The correct score bet is obviously harder to call but it remains very popular and will naturally have higher prices.
Other goal based bets include winning margin and the option to call the exact number of goals in a game rather than going down the over and under route.
Other, more obscure bets might involve total corners, throw ins and whether or not a red card will be issued in a game. Some are very niche indeed but if they sound like they might be interesting to you, you will need to pick a bookmaker with the best coverage in terms of side markets.
Best Bookies for Soccer Betting
William Hill
The sheer longevity of William Hill makes them a good choice for any sport. They’ve been around for decades and that level of trust is definitely a huge plus point. A welcome offer is also available and they have one of the best sets of promotions for the soccer markets with lots of free bet and acca insurance deals available throughout the season.
As you would expect, choice and value is also here with strong prices in an extensive set of markets.
LuxBet
If you want to stay loyal to an Australian company, LuxBet could be the best choice. They’ve been around since 2008 and as they are first and foremost an Aussie bookmaker, it’s easy to play in AUD and know that you’re with an operator that’s really looking out for you.
What’s really good here is the focus on Australian sport so, if you’re looking to bet on matches from domestic soccer, you’ll find one of the best sets of markets with some excellent prices. Of course, you can also stake on the big league games from around the world too and, with some promotions to add to the value, LuxBet are a really good all rounder.
CrownBet
CrownBet are another Australian based outlet and while they were established relatively recently in 2015, they have built up a big customer base in a short space of time. There is no welcome deal for new players as of June 2017 but that is more than compensated for by one of the best sets of ongoing offers in the industry.
Free bet and price boost deals can frequently be found across the soccer markets and these come on top of strong odds from the standard books.
10Bet
This may be a relatively new name for Australian punters but 10Bet take soccer very seriously and they are certainly a brand to check out. Like Bet365, things start with one of the most generous welcome deals around and there is another great choice of offers including free bets and boosts on multiple profits.
10Bet also declare their prices very early and have an extensive set of side bets for soccer and, when you check the main odds comparison sites, you will frequently find that they are out on their own for some of the more popular side betting options such as anytime goal scorer.
When selecting a bookmaker for soccer betting, you may also want to consider Ladbrokes, another well established brand while PalmerBet are another Australian company who are getting good reviews. Unibet and Betfair can also be added to that list as two bookies who are popular across the world for combining great choice and value.
Those are the two key ingredients when selecting a bookmaker: Choice comes from a wide set of markets while value is found in standard book prices together with a strong list of regular promotions. So, if you are getting involved with soccer betting for the first time or if you’re just looking for a new bookmaker, decide what you’re really looking for by reading through the list of markets and then assess each of these bookies, all of whom provide good places to stake on an occasional or a regular basis.