A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Soccer Betting Odds

This article will teach beginners the basics of understanding how to bet on soccer using the soccer betting odds to get the most bang for your buck without ever having to step onto the pitch.

The Basics of Sports Betting

The basics of any sports betting begins with understanding the language used and understanding these terms, this is essential to avoiding potentially expensive blunders.

Stake

The stake is what you would think it is. It is how much money is at stake should you lose the bet. So if you bet R100.00 your stakes are R100.00 because that is what you stand to lose. When the stakes are high, the selection best be accurate.

Selection

Selection refers to the team or the bet you have placed to win. So, in a match winner bet your selection is the team you have bet on to win.

Odds

When it comes to sports betting of any kind the odds are what confuse people and even deter them from placing a bet. In truth, once you understand soccer betting odds (or any sport’s betting odds) you are much more likely to enjoy betting on your favourite sport’s teams.

Odds are the probability of what may occur as determined by the bookmaker or bookie. Let’s say the odds for Manchester United to beat Arsenal are 2/1. If you place a match winner bet on Manchester United, you will win your original stake back plus an additional R200 if you staked R100. If you placed a bet on Arsenal to win at 5/1 and they won despite the odds being stacked against them, you would win back five times your original bet or stake amount. So, you could win R200 from your original bet if the team favoured to win does; whereas if you bet on the “underdog” you would win R500 on your original R100.00 stake.

Soccer Betting Options

There are many options when it comes to sports betting and even more when it comes to playing the odds, your selection and stake. Once you have a good understanding of soccer betting odds you can use this knowledge to bet on different soccer markets.

Match Betting

This is the simplest form of soccer betting and can be done with a very basic understanding of soccer betting odds. Match betting is the best kind of betting for beginners, simply make a selection of who you think will win the 90 minute match and hope for the best.

Both Teams to Score (BTS)

This is bet where the punter can choose whether or not both teams participating scores a goal within the match. The Punter has the option to choose either “Yes” or “No”.

Correct Score

Correct Score and Scorecast are two independent markets, Correct Score is a selection on the exact score at the end of 90mins incl. injury time

Half Time/ Full Time

HT/FT - is where it is possible for you to bet on the result at half time and the final outcome of the match. E.g. if at Half time the score is 1-0 and the match ends 1-1, the winning outcome is 1/X (Home/Draw). The bet is settled at the end of regular time.

Understanding How Soccer Betting Handicap Odds Work

You can play the odds as set by the bookmaker or place handicap bets which work as follows:

• Level Handicap ‒ This is identical to the Draw No Bet market. An Asian Handicap 0.0 (sometimes displayed as solely ‘0’) is offered when both teams are evenly matched. If your selection wins then your bet is successful. If the games ends in a draw then your stake is refunded. If your selection loses then you lose your stake.
• Single Goal Handicap ‒ if you bet on the team with the handicap they must win with more than one goal because they started at -1 goals. Winning by 1 goal would mean, in betting handicap terms, the game was a draw meaning your bet will be resulted as a losing bet, for this example.
• ½ Ball Handicap ‒ A 0.5 Asian Handicap is identical to the ‘To Win’ market. If you bet with a -0.5 handicap then your selection must win for your bet to be successful. If the match ends in a draw then you lose your stake. If your selection loses then you lose your stake. If you bet with a +0.5 handicap then your selection must win or draw for your bet to be successful. If your selection loses then you lose your stake.
• Asian Handicaps ‒
  • Quarter-goal or Two-way Handicaps:

Most matches are handicapped by ½ or ¼ intervals which can eliminate the possibility of a push because it is impossible to score half a goal.

With Asian Handicap 0.25, your stake is split into two to form two bets. If you bet with a -0.25 handicap then your selection must win for your bet to be successful. If the game ends in a draw then half of your stake is returned and half is settled as lost. If your selection loses then you lose your stake. If you bet with a +0.25 handicap then your selection must win for your bet to be successful. If the game ends in a draw then half of your stake is returned and half is settled as a winner at the odds taken. If your selection loses then you lose your stake.

• Whole Handicaps and Draws:

The table below explains how the handicap would adjust the final score which will determine if your handicap selection will win, lose or draw.

 

Handicap	Team result	Bet result	Handicap	Team result	Bet result
0	Win	Win	0	Win	Win
	Draw	Stake refund		Draw	Stake refund
	Lose	Lose		Lose	Lose
- 0.25	Win	Win	+ 0.25	Win	Win
	Draw	Half lose		Draw	Half win
	Lose	Lose		Lose	Lose
- 0.50	Win	Win	+ 0.50	Win	Win
	Draw	Lose		Draw	Win
	Lose	Lose		Lose	Lose
- 0.75	Win by 2+	Win	+ 0.75	Win	Win
	Win by 1	Half win		Draw	Win
	Draw	Lose		Lose by 1	Half Lose
	Lose	Lose		Lose by 2+	Lose
- 1.00	Win by 2+	Win	+ 1.00	Win	Win
	Win by 1	Stake refund		Draw	Win
	Draw	Lose		Lose by 1	Stake refund
	Lose	Lose		Lose by 2+	Lose
- 1.25	Win by 2+	Win	+ 1.25	Win	Win
	Win by 1	Half lose		Draw	Win
	Draw	Lose		Lose by 1	Half win
	Lose	Lose		Lose by 2+	Lose
- 1.50	Win by 2+	Win	+ 1.50	Win	Win
	Win by 1	Lose		Draw	Win
	Draw	Lose		Lose by 1	Win
	Lose	Lose		Lose by 2+	Lose
- 1.75	Win by 3+	Win	+ 1.75	Win	Win
	Win by 2	Half win		Draw	Win
	Win by 1	Lose		Lose by 1	Win
	Draw	Lose		Lose by 2	Half lose
	Lose	Lose		Lose by 3+	Lose
- 2.00	Win by 3+	Win	+ 2.00	Win	Win
	Win by 2	Stake refund		Draw	Win
	Win by 1	Lose		Lose by 1	Win
	Draw	Lose		Lose by 2	Stake refund
	Lose	Lose		Lose by 3+	Lose

(Table Sourced from Wikipedia)

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