How to bet on soccer

Posted30 August, 2021

Updated30 August, 2021

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. Its followed by 3.5 billion fans worldwide and there are 200 million players in the world. Betting on Soccer is super fun and if you understand the rules, it can be very profitable.

At InstaBET you can bet on the most prestigious International and Domestic competitions.

The most important rule for betting on Soccer is that:

1. All soccer matches are based on the results at the end of 90 minutes of play, including any injury or stoppage time, unless otherwise stated.

a. Friendly Matches are graded according to the result when the game finishes (not including extra time), regardless of whether the full 90 minutes are played.

b. First half wagers are considered official once the first half is complete.

Types of soccer bets

Three-Way Moneyline wager

In Soccer, there are three outcomes when betting the three-way moneyline:

Team A is the winner, Team B is the winner and Team A and Team B Draw

Please note that in Soccer, the moneyline results are graded solely on the 90 minutes of the ‘Regulation Time’. This includes any injury or stoppage time added by the referee, but does not include overtimes or penalty shootouts. There is no Push option on Soccer moneylines.

For example, Argentina played Germany in the FIFA 2014 World Cup Final and the closing three-way moneyline was:

Germany +130
Argentina +255
Draw +230

Argentina and Germany were tied, 0-0, after 90 minutes of regulation, meaning the Draw +230 paid. Betting on Germany (+130) or Argentina (+255) as winners lost.

Two-Way Moneyline

The two-way moneyline is offered in two ways: Double Chance and Draw No Bet. Both are graded solely on 90 minutes of regulation time.

Double Chance means you’re betting on a specific team to win/draw, or either team to win. The three possible results are:

Team A is the winner or draws, Team B is the winner or draws, and Team A is the winner or Team B is the winner

Example:

Spain/Draw -135
Netherlands/Draw +475
Spain / Netherlands -200

Draw No Bet is a wager that eliminates the prospect of the draw completely, so the only two potential results are:

Team A wins or Team B wins

In this type of bet, the draw or tie, is taken out of the calculation.

For example:

COSTA RICA +725
URUGUAY -225

If at regulation time, the game ends in a draw, then all bets are refunded and considered “No Action”.

Goal Lines Spread wager

Similar to betting the Two-Way Moneyline, the Goal Line is a type of wager that eliminates at least one outcome. Goal Lines are similar to Point Spreads in Football or Basketball.

A Goal Line is typically -0.5 goals in soccer, but for games with big favorites, the Goal Line may be higher like -1.5 or -2.5.

Goal Line odds for a World Cup match between Argentina and Iran look like this:

Argentina -2.5 goals (+110)
Iran +2.5 goals (-120)

When dealing with goal lines or spreads, there’s always juice associated, just like an NFL spread or NBA spread.

If you bet on Argentina -2.5 goals, then to win the bet they must win by three goals or more. It you bet on Iran +2.5 goals, that means to win the bet Iran can win, draw or lose by one or two goals.

Totals bet – over or under

Totals in Soccer are shown in multiples of 0.25 goals. InstaBET will often set a total of 2.25 or 2.75 goals.

For example, if you bet on the Over 2.25 goals, half your bet is placed on “Over 2” and the other half of your bet is placed on “Over 2.5”.

If the game ends, 1-1, then you lose your bet on Over 2.5, and are refunded your bet on Over 2. If the game ends with three goals or more, you would win both your bets.

Another example is if you bet on Under 2.75 goals. Half of your bet is placed on Under 2.5 goals and the other half of the bet is on Under 3 goals. If the game lands on three, you’d lose half your bet (Under 2.5) and refunded the other half (Under 3).