The Ultimate How to Bet on Football Guide for Beginners

If you’re looking to bet on football, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we will make sure to cover all the basics and show you that learning how to bet on football is as easy as it gets. Unlike many other betting guides out there, we won’t guarantee that you’ll become an overnight expert. However, we are confident you will learn everything there is to know about betting on football. Moreover, we are certain that our guide will help increase your chances of becoming a successful punter.

While our article is tailored towards new players, even experienced punters might pick up a thing or two, so make sure to check out what we have to say down below.

8 Quick Facts on How to Bet on Football in the UK

• Football is the most popular sport to bet on in the UK.
• Bookies use fractional, decimal, and moneyline for displaying the odds.
• Bookmakers create odds in their favour.
• Choosing the right bookie is the most important factor for new punters.
• Every reputable bookie offers a welcome bonus for registering.
• The most beginner-friendly type of bet is the match bet.
• Some bookies offer risk-free bets where you can try betting without risking any money.
• Anyone can win by betting on sports.

Choosing a Bookmaker

Before you learn how to bet on football games, you will need to decide whether you want to bet online or in a brick-and-mortar sportsbook. The process of placing a bet is generally the same as long as you know the basics, and it is just a matter of preference. Naturally, betting online is the easiest and the best way to bet on football, which is why we recommend and focus our guide on it.

However, while choosing between an online or a land-based bookie is just a matter of accessibility, selecting the right bookmaker can make a world of difference. You need to pay close attention to several aspects when choosing a bookmaker, such as the odds it offers compared to competitors, the variety of betting markets, types of bets, security, payment methods, and more.

Odds

To bet on football matches, you must first understand the odds and the way they are expressed. Odds are one of the most important aspects to consider because higher odds grant better payout. There are three different types of odds:

• British (fractional) are the most common in the UK, and they are shown as 7/1, 10/4, or 4/3, for example.
• European (decimal) types of odds are shown as 2.0, 2.7, or 1.4.
• American (moneyline) are rarely used in the UK and are shown as -170, +140, +90, for example.

Most of the bookmakers in the UK offer fractional odds, but they most likely have an option that will allow you to change the odds format if you are more comfortable with it. Granted, this is only a rudimentary explanation of the odds types. However, to learn how to bet on football games, you should check our article on different odd types and learn everything there is to know about the odds, how to determine which ones are in your favour, and how to calculate them.

Odds values often vary from one bookie to another. While many of the most reputable bookies have competitive odds, you can always squeeze a little bit of extra cash for every bet if you simply compare in advance the odds for a game you want to bet on. 

For that reason, the best way to bet on football would be to simply have multiple accounts at different bookies. This way, you can maximise your profits and simply swap between the bookies based on the best odds for the match you wish to bet on.

Welcome Bonus

Another important thing to pay attention to when looking for a bookie is the bookie’s bonuses. There are several different types of bonuses, all of which offer different amounts of money. Nearly every bookmaker offers a welcome bonus that new players can claim upon registering. Some bookies offer risk-free bets, and others will even allow you to claim additional money in free bets.

However, before you decide to claim a bonus and bet on football games, an important thing to know is that welcome bonuses come with wagering requirements. This means that you won’t be able to withdraw any bonus money before fulfilling the wagering requirements attached to the bonus. For that reason, make sure to read thoroughly bonus’ terms and conditions before opting to claim one. 

Lastly, while most of the bonuses are designed for newcomers, bookies often have a lot of ongoing bonuses and promotions that you can claim whenever they are active.

Types of Bets

If you want to learn how to bet on football and win, you need to take advantage of all the different types of bets that a bookie offers. By doing so, you can place a variety of different bets and truly put your football knowledge to the test. The most common and beginner-friendly type of bet is the match bet, where you simply bet on a match’s outcome. All you have to do in a match bet is to predict the winner correctly.

Other types of bets include handicap bets, spread bets, system bets, accumulator bets, and many others. Some of them are rather complex, and it could take a while before you can make the most of them. We have already explained different types of bets in greater detail, so make sure to check our related posts.

Not only will it help you learn how to bet on football online more efficiently, but mastering the different types of bets can help you make the most out of your bets and significantly boost your profits, as well as the chance to win.

Betting-Sites’ Team to the Rescue

If you feel like you are not knowledgeable enough or unwilling to put in all the work and figure out what bookmaker works out the best for you, there’s no reason to worry since we can make the process a lot easier. In fact, every punter from the cradle of modern football wondering how to bet on football in the UK will be pleased to know that we have already created a list of the best betting sites in the UK.

The list is based on the criteria we already mentioned, and it also takes into consideration bookies licences, customer service, security, payment methods, and more. Each of the bookies on our list is reputable and has been thoroughly reviewed by our team of experts.

Creating an Account

After you have finished selecting a bookie, it’s time to create an account. The process is straightforward, and it will take minutes before you can bet on football matches. Simply find the button labelled as “Join Now,” “Register,” or anything of a sort and click it. Then, they’ll ask you to provide personal information, such as your name, date of birth, address, and similar.

Make sure that all the information you provide is valid since virtually every bookmaker will need to verify it before processing any payments. In other words, if you are unable to prove your identity, the bookmaker may nullify your winnings and close your account.

Additionally, depending on the website’s layout, you might be prompted to tick a box or enter a promo code to claim the bonus during your registration process. By doing so, you will automatically claim the bonus upon registering. 

Once again, make sure to check the bonus’ terms and conditions before opting for it. If the bookmaker has an active risk-free bet promotion, make sure to take full advantage of it because it is the best way to bet on football while learning how betting works.

Placing a Bet

Believe it or not, placing a bet is the easiest part of learning how to bet. After you’ve selected the bookmaker and created an account, all you will have to do is navigate to the game you want to bet on and then choose the type of bet and the amount you wish to wager. Most bookmakers have intuitive and comprehensive website designs that will allow you to navigate around easily and find the games you want to bet on.

Of course, you don’t have to bet on one game at a time. If you have read our post on different types of football bets, you can bet on football games and place complex bets that increase your profits, as well as your chances to win.

Apart from betting on the upcoming games, many bookies will also offer the “In-Play” option where you can bet on live matches. The bookies update odds for in-play matches in real-time and determine them on current events, minutes left until the end, etc. Unlike betting on the upcoming matches, in-play betting is a lot riskier but can also prove to be a lot more rewarding.

Conclusion

As you can see, it will take you only several minutes to learn how to bet on football games, and the hardest part is setting up your account and getting started. Granted, while there are many new things to learn and the beginning of your punter career may seem a bit overwhelming, it won’t be long before you familiarise yourself with betting and become an expert punter.

Naturally, you should curb your expectations even after learning how to bet on football and prepare for losses as well. No matter how knowledgeable you are about the sport and how many different aspects you take into consideration, a lot of unpredictable things can happen, and the other team may simply end up being the better squad that day.