Basic Rules of Football Betting in 2024
There are several sports to bet on across various bookies, but football is the most popular among them. A lot of bettors become more comfortable with football betting because it is quite easy to understand and involves simpler rules compared to other sports.
However, many people still lose money particularly because they are not aware of the basic football betting rules. With this guide, you’ll get right into football betting and will feel confident and comfortable when placing your next football bet.
You will get to know some of the most basic football bet rules, including the most popular types of bets you can place on a football match at a number of leading sports betting platforms. Let’s dive right in!
Rules of Football Betting Explained
The importance of knowing basic football bet rules cannot be overemphasized, especially in making informed decisions about your predictions. In complete awareness of that, let’s check out some of the most popular football betting rules.
Settlement
Depending on the betting site in question, any bets you place on football matches are marked as “paid out” or “settled”. This settlement is determined by the official result at the end of the match, including any extra time played. This rule implies that all the bets are valid and are settled according to the full-time score.
If a match is abandoned after it has begun, most bookmakers will void the bets on such a match, unless the outcome has already been determined.
Minimum Age
Another rule involved in football betting is the minimum age, which varies by country or jurisdiction. In most regions, the minimum age to create a betting account is 18, but some regions may extend this age limit to 21.
You might want to check the specific legal and age requirements in your jurisdiction to confirm that you can place bets.
90 minutes only rule
Many options in football betting are settled at regular time, which is the result after the standard 90 minutes of play, plus injury time. This rule does not include extra time or penalty shootouts unless it is clearly stated in the option.
For instance, bets on match outcomes, correct scores, or first goalscorer will be settled based on the score at the end of 90 minutes.
Dead heats in football betting
A dead heat is an event where two or more participants tie for a particular position. When this happens in betting, the stake is usually divided by the number of tied participants, and the full odds are applied to this reduced stake.
You should note that dead heats are not particularly common in football betting but may affect some markets in the sport such as top goalscorer at the end of a season or tournament, if two players finish with the same number of goals.
Maximum payout rules
Bookmakers often set maximum payout limits on their bets. You should know that these limits can vary significantly between bookies and may also depend on the type of competition or bet you are placing.
For example, a bookmaker might cap the maximum payout on a domestic league match at $500,000 but offer higher limits for international tournaments.
Own goals in football betting
If the only goal in a match is own, bets on the first goalscorer, the last goalscorer, and similar markets are usually voided. However, own goals are included in the total goals count and determine the final match result
Abandoned matches
If a match is stopped prematurely, most bookmakers will cancel all bets unless the outcome has been definitively determined. Some markets, like the first goalscorer, may be settled if the relevant event occurred before the abandonment.
Postponed matches
Generally, matches that have been postponed and rescheduled to kick off within a specific period, may have their bets stand depending on the policy of the bookmaker. However, if the match does not take place within this timeframe, most bookies will void all bets and refund the stakes.
Popular Football Bet Types
Now that you are aware of the most popular football betting rules for teams and players, it is time that you check out some common kinds of bets you can make on the sport.
Moneyline
This is betting on which team will win or lose the game. On most bookies, you will find this option as W1 (Team 1 to win) and W2 (Team 2 to win).
Point Spread
In point spread betting, the bookmaker sets a handicap for the favoured team. Bettors can wager on the favourite to win by more than the spread or the underdog to lose by less
Totals
In totals betting, also known as Over/Under, you bet on whether the combined score of both teams will be higher or lower than a predetermined number set by the bookmaker
Futures
Futures betting involves placing bets on events that will take place in the future, often months or even years in advance. In football, common futures bets include predicting the winner of a league, the World Cup, or a specific tournament.
Proposition Bets (Props)
‘Prop Bets’ are wagers on specific events within a football match that do not necessarily relate to the outcome.
These can include bets on individual player performances, such as the first goalscorer, or specific elements within the game, like the number of yellow cards or whether a penalty will be awarded
How Football Betting Rules Differ by Country
Football betting rules can vary widely depending on the country where you reside. These distinctions usually stem primarily from variations in national gambling laws, regulatory frameworks, and cultural attitudes towards betting.
Below are some areas where you may come across differences in football betting rules.
Legal Age and Regulations
The legal age for gambling differs across countries, typically being 18 or 21. Regulatory frameworks also vary significantly, with some countries having well-established regulatory bodies overseeing all gambling activities, while others may have less stringent controls or even complete prohibitions on sports betting
Betting Options and Markets
The availability of betting options can vary depending on local regulations. In some countries, you may have access to a wide range of bet types, including moneyline bets, point spreads, totals, futures, and proposition bets.
However, in other regions, especially where gambling laws are stricter, the options may be more limited, with fewer types of bets legally permitted.
Taxation
The taxation of gambling winnings and operators can differ significantly across countries. In some jurisdictions, you may be required to pay taxes on your winnings, while in others, the tax burden falls on the operators.
The tax rates and structures can have a significant impact on the overall betting experience and your potential profitability.
