Once upon a time, betting on football meant you were convinced a team would do one of three things: win, lose, or draw. Nowadays, there are literally hundreds of things that may or may not happen in a football match that are available to bet on. But which are the most entertaining ways to do it?
As a modern football bettor, you can have a hunch on just about anything happening, and as long as it isn’t too far-fetched, sports betting platforms like the betway app will give you at least one way to do it – and sometimes several. So with that said: it’s time to consider just a few of the best ways to spice up any game, whether you’re a die-hard, dyed-in-the-wool follower, or a complete neutral with a spare 45 minutes on your hands.
1. Next Scorer Markets
Here’s one for those of you who follow games less for the team, and more for the individuals themselves. Whether they’re a bit of a character, share the same home country as you, or are simply pure class with the ball at their feet, it’s one way to get right behind your heroes.
There are of course ‘anytime’ goalscorer markets, but by backing the ‘next goalscorer’ you can really show your conviction, you can always go again if someone else bags first, and you might not have to wait the whole game to prove your point!
2. Method Of Next Goal
One tip for the aforementioned ‘next scorer’ market might be to think about how the next goal might be going in. Things getting a bit fiery? Perhaps there will be a penalty scored, or maybe you want to up the stakes as you know you’ve got a free-kick wizard in the ranks. It’s not always easy to gauge who the man of the match will be, but as a football fan, you so often get an irresistible feeling of what’s coming next. You can capitalise on that feeling with this market.
3. Yes/no on ‘goal scored before’ a set time
If you’re really convinced there’s a goal about to go in, you’ve got the option to put your money where your mouth is. However: the real skill, and indeed the fun, of betting, is being right when everyone else is wrong. Maybe it looks for all the world like one team is about to score, but when it comes down to it, you just don’t think their strikers are good enough.
4. ‘Under’ a set number of goals scored
Football fans tend to be an optimistic breed of human: it’s sort of a prerequisite when you follow all but the top teams. Likewise, optimism is an inherent aspect of gambling. So whilst the majority of those watching and betting are keeping their fingers crossed for ‘overs’ – the idea the total number of goals scored will be higher than a pre-set number (usually ending in ‘.5’ to make the margin clearer) – you’ve got an opportunity to go low, instead.
What are the upsides to being a downer? Well, bookmakers have to factor in the popularity as well as the likelihood of bets happening into their odds, so if anything, you’re likely to have the odds slightly more in your favour. But more importantly for the purposes of this article: you always start from a winning position. Even better: if the game is terrible, you can be the only person cheering for every miss. It might not make you the most popular, but hey, every great drama needs a villain.
5. Put it all together with a Bet Builder
This one really is designed for you to keep an interest from kick-off until the final whistle. It’s a pick-n-mix of possibilities, including goals, cards, corners, player shots, shots on target and more. You don’t have to back one team over another: you can throw in selections from both teams, or even forget teams and results altogether and focus on individual players.
The trick is to try and visualise the likely result, and think of possibilities that are in some way linked: if team A scores, will they grow in confidence and press forward, or sit back and play for the once-nil victory? If the latter, are they likely to incur bookings in doing so? You start to get the idea.
So there you go: It’s just a case of picking the right bet. ‘Hang on’, you might well say, ‘doesn’t picking the right bet equal picking a winning bet?’ Of course, payouts are a huge part of the fun of betting. But when you think about it: for most people, gambling isn’t ultimately about the winning. It’s more about the excitement that comes from the possibility of that happening – exactly like supporting a football team isn’t ultimately about the winning. If it were, most of us would’ve hung up our scarves long ago! As light-hearted as it might sound, focusing on what kind of bets lead to the most laughs, bitten fingernails and minutes of entertainment, is really worth thinking about. It’s also a top tip for gambling responsibly. Make it social: a conversation starter, a rumbling debate or even a ritual, amongst good friends.
