How to Bet on Football: Complete Guide to Online Football Betting - December 2025

bet365

Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.

William Hill

Get £40 in free bets when you deposit & bet £10

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+. Play Safe. Online only. For new UK register customers using promo code G40. Deposit & place £10 cash single bet (min odds 1/2) on sportsbook (excl. Virtuals). Get £40 in Free Bets (4x£10), valid for sportsbook (excl. Virtuals), 7 days expiry, must use in full (£10 each). Not valid with deposits via PayPal, Neosurf, Paysafe, Apple Pay, NETELLER, Skrill, ecoPayz, Kalibra/Postpay or WH PLUS Card. One per customer. Full T&Cs apply. www.begambleaware.org #ad

BetMGM

Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New cust. Deposit £10+ in 7 days & bet on sports. Min odds apply. Reward = 4 x £10 Free Bets (2 x £10 Bet Builders & 2 x £10 Sports bet). Valid 7 days. Free bets not valid on e-sports & non UK/IE horse racing. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org

Sky Bet

£30 IN FREE BETS - WHEN YOU PLACE ANY BET

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New customers only. First single & E/W bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 3 X £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets exclude virtuals. Free bets are non withdrawable. Free bets expire after 30 days. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply. 18+.

Unibet

Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+. GambleAware.org . New GB customers only. Min £10 debit card deposit. Place a £10+ bet on sportsbook at min odds 1/1 (2.0) each leg. Receive 2 x £10 free bets within 24 hours of bet settlement, and further 2 x £10 casino bonus the next day. T&C’s apply.

Betfred

£50 IN FREE BETS, WHEN YOU BET £10

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New Customer offer - Use promo code YSKAST. Place a min £5 bet on the sportsbook at odds of min EVS (2.0) and get £30 in free bets. Free bet rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via Debit Cards & Apple Pay will qualify for this offer. 18+. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly Full T&Cs

Ladbrokes

Get £30 in free bets when you bet £5

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excluded. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account registration at min odds 1/2 to get 6 x £5 free bets (selected sportsbook markets only, valid 7 days, stake not returned). Restrictions + T&Cs apply.

talkSPORT BET

Christmas Cracker - Bet £10 Get £50 on Football

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+ New customers only. Opt in, deposit and bet £10 on any football markets at odds of 1/1+ within 3 days of sign up. Get 1x£50 Free Bet for any football markets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org . Please gamble responsibly

Betfair

Get £30 in free multiples When you place £10 bet on Sportsbook

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

Place a min £10 bet on Sportsbook on odds of min EVS (2.0), get £30 in Free Bet Builders, Accumulators or multiples to use on any sport. Rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via cards or Apple Pay will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly. 18+. GambleAware.org

Dabble

£10 No Deposit Free Bet with GOALDAB

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New customers only. Free bets credited following registration. Must be wagered 1x at min odds of 1/2 (1.5). 7-day expiry. Stake not returned. Promotional terms apply. 18+. GambleAware.org Full T&Cs

BOYLE Sports

Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets + £10 Casino Bonus plus When your Team Goes 2 Goal ahead, we pay out!

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+ New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. £40 in FREE Bets (FB) as £30 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7-day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. T&Cs Apply. 18+. Applies to bets placed on match betting ahead of kick off. Get paid out as a winner if your team goes 2 goals ahead even if they win, lose or draw. 90 mins only. Applies to Singles & Multiples. T&Cs apply.

Paddy Power

£50 in Bet Builder Bets when you stake £10 on football

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New Customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on Football on odds of min 1.5 (1/2), get £50 in Free Bet Builders after the qualifying bet has been settled. Rewards valid for 90 days. Only deposits via cards & Apple Pay will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly. 18+. GambleAware.org

Tote

Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Only valid with code B10G40 on registration. £10 min qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £10 Win + £10 Place). Receive £20 Tote Credit, £10 Free Sports Bet and 50 Free Spins on a selected game within 48 hours of qualifying bet settlement. 7-day expiry on free bets & Tote Credit. Your first bet will be your qualifying bet. One per customer. UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Home

SpreadEx

Bet £10 Get £60 in Free Bets

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

Spread betting losses can exceed deposit. Place a qualifying £10 fixed odds bet at odds of 1/2 or greater and get 3x £10 free fixed odds bets in consecutive days and 6x £5 free spread bets across consecutive days. Qualifying bet cannot be placed in-play or cashed out early. Free bets expire in 28 days if unused. T&Cs apply. 18+. GambleAware.org

Betano

Kick off with £40 in Free Bets

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+ New customers. Opt in, deposit and bet £10 on any sports market (odds 1/1+) within 3 days of sign up. Get 4x£10 Free Bets for set markets. Bonuses expire in 14 days. Scroll down for T&Cs | GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly

Coral

Get £20 in Sports Bets + 50 Free Spins When You Bet £5

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+. New Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet type excl(min odds 1/2). Min first £5+ deposit and bet within 14 days of account reg & get 4x £5 free bets(selected sports market only) and 50 Free Spins(value pound0.10 selected games) Valid 7 days. Restrictions & T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org

10bet

100% up to £50 Welcome Bonus

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

TC’s: New players. Choose bonus at signup / use code SPORT. Wager deposit+bonus 8x. Max bet = bonus. Deposit used 1st. Early withdrawals void bonus. Valid 60 days. Odds, bet & payment limits. T&Cs apply. 18+.

Parimatch

Bet £10 Get £30

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+ New Customers Only. Opt in and bet £10 on football (odds 2.00+) within 7 days. No cash-out. Get 4x£5 Free Bets for set markets and a £10 Slot Bonus for Big Bass Splash, 30x wagering, to withdraw max £250. Rewards expire in 20 days. T&Cs apply. Home  | Please gamble responsibly

CopyBet

Bet £20, Get £20 in Free Bets + up to 15% daily profit boost

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

Full T&Cs apply. New UK customers only. The qualifying bet should be either a Single or Acca (2+ selections) bet, start at £20, have 1.9 or greater odds and must be settled within 7 days of opt-in. The Free bet include: 1 x £20 Free bet any Live or Pre-Match event. Max payout – £500. 7-day expiry. To unlock the offer, complete the first deposit via the banking app secured by Truelayer. Profit boost: One boost per day; claim required. 1 day to claim (by 23:59 UTC+3). Max stake £30. Single bets only. No Free Bets. Profit Boost valid for 24 hrs. Max payout £1,000. Credited within 24 hrs. 18+. GambleAware.com

BetUK

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New cust only. Opt-in required. Deposit & place a bet within 7 days and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater to be credited with 3 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 football. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org

Mr. Play

Bet £10 Get £15

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £15 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at a min. odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible.

Luckster

Bet £10 Get a £10 Free Bet

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New customers only. Only residents of UK and IE. Max. FreeBet amount: £10. Offer valid only to customers making a first deposit of £10 or more. The “Welcome Free Bet” must be used at luckster.com within 14 days of being credited to your account. Customers who deposit using Neteller, Paysafe, PayPal, Skrill or Skril 1-Tap will not be eligible for any free bet offer. Free Bet Specific Terms and Conditions: One Free bet token will be awarded once you have made your first deposit and have bet £10 with min odds of 1/1 (2.00) or higher. This bet must be settled within 14 days of bet placement to qualify for the welcome free bet offer. Full TC's Apply. 18+. GambleAware.org

easyBet

Bet £20 Get £20 in Free Bets

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New customers only. To qualify for free bets, the new user must place and settle £20 on easyBet markets. The user must bet on at least 2 different events to qualify. The user must place and settle bets at odds of 2.0 or more. An event is classed as two different sporting events. Bets can be placed on singles, multiples and Bet Builders.  The user must place and settle bets before the closing date of the promotion to qualify. Users making their first deposit by Skrill, Neteller or PaySafe card will not qualify for this promotion. T's and C's Apply. Gamble Aware. 18+

BetVictor

Get £30 in Free Bets for Premier League Join us & bet £10

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10  or more on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds within 7 days of registration. No cash out. Get £30 in Free Football Bets, selected markets. Free Bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly. Full T&Cs

Betway

£30 Matched Free Bet if your first Acca loses + 100 Free Spins

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New UK customers only. Min Stake: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football or Horse Racing multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. 100 Free Spins on More Unusual Suspects (£0.10 per spin) credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. No wagering requirements on free spin winnings. Debit Card deposit only (exclusions apply). This offer is valid 7 days from the new account being registered. 18+ GambleAware.org . Bet the Responsible Way. Full Terms apply

SBK

Bet £10, Get £40 in Free Bets

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New UK customers only. Minimum first deposit of £10. Place a £10 bet at minimum odds of 2.0 to receive £40 in Free Bets within 48 hours. Restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. 18+. GambleAware.org .

Zetbet

Bet £10 Get a £10 Free Bet

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £10 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible.

Bzeebet

Bet £10 Get £10

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+. New Customers Only. Max one £10 Free Bet. Qualifying bets at Odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater. Paid as Bonus Token with Min 4/5 (1.80) Odds Req. Skrill, Neteller & Paypal not eligible. GambleAware.org. T&Cs apply.

Matchbook

Get £30 in Free Bets when you bet £20

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New Players Only. Sign Up with Bonus Code: NEW30. Bet and Settle 1x£10 Bet on Matchbook Exchange at odds of 2.0 or more. Bet and Settle 1x£10 Bet on a Bet Builder or Multiple at odds of 3.0 or more, with min 3 selections. Within 72 hours of Qualifying Bets settling user will receive 1x £10 Exchange Free Bet, 1x £10 Multiples Free Bet, and 1x £10 Bet Builder Free Bet. Users making their first deposit by Skrill, Neteller or PaySafe card will not qualify for this promotion. 18+ Only. T's and C's Apply. Gamble Aware.

QuinnBet

50% back up to £25

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+ New UK Customers Only. Bet £10+ on any sportsbook markets at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. No cash out. Get 50% back of your first day’s losses (from first bet settlement until 23:59) as a Free Bet up to £25, valid for 7 days. Min. 3 bets on different events required, with 2 bets being at least 50% of your largest stake. Place at least 1 bet of £10+ at odds 2.00+ to receive a £5 Free Bet even if your account is up or losses are under £5. T&Cs Apply. GambleAware.org

kwiff

Bet £10 and Get £10 in Free Bets

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New UK customers. 18+ only. Min £10 dep. In 5 days of first deposit, place a £10+ bet at min 1.50. No Multis/EW. Credited in 48 hrs; valid 7 days. T&Cs apply. Ends 1/1/27. GambleAware.org

NetBet

Get £20 Free Bet + 25 Free Spins When you Bet £10

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New players only. Bet £10 min. odds 1/1 (2.00) to get 4 x £5 Free Bets + 25 Free Spins on Big Bass Splash (10p spins, no wagering). Terms apply. 18+. GambleAware.org

AK Bets

Up to £100 Winnings Boost on your first Acca

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

Applies to new UK/IRE customers who sign up with promo code AKACCA100. Place your first bet as a multiple (minimum 3 selections) and AK Bets will boost the profit gained on that initial bet by 25% in the form of a Free Bet up to a value of £100. 18+ | GambleAware.org

bwin

£20 Backup bet if your first bet loses

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+ | New UK players only | Min deposit req. £10 | Certain deposit methods excluded | Place 1 sport bet (3+ selections) | Excl Horse Racing | Min stake £10 | Max stake £20 | Min Odds 2/1 (3.0) | Max FreeBet £20 for football only | FreeBet valid for 7 days | FreeBet stake not returned | T&Cs apply

Midnite

BET £10 GET £30

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+ New customers only. Place a £10+ bet at min odds 1/1 (2.0) within 14 days of sign-up. Get £30 in Free Bets, valid for 7 days on selected bets only. Free stake not returned with winnings. T&Cs apply. Home

Jeffbet

Bet £10 And Get £30 Free Bet

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New Players Only. Free bet - one-time stake of £30, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from receipt. Limited to 1 sport & 5 casino brand/s within the network.. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms Apply 18+ #ad gambleaware Full T&Cs

NRG.bet

Bet £20 and Get a £10 Free Bet

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New customers only. Sign up using promo code b20g10. Deposit and place a minimum £20 bet with minimum odds of evens (2.00) and receive a £10 free bet upon bet settlement. Free bet expires after 7 days. 18+. GambleAware.org . Full T&Cs apply.

Blue Fox Casino

Bet £20 and Get £30 Free Bets

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

Opt-in Required. Min Deposit £10 with promo code: ROYAL required. Offer is valid from 17/06/2025 to 21/06/2025 23:59GMT. Minimum of £10 worth of qualifying bets to any horse racing event to get a £30 Free bet. Free bet must be used within 7 Days and bonus within 7 Days from receipt. Free bet is a one-time stake, minimum odds of 2, stake is not returned. 1X wagering the winnings. Wagering occurs from real balance first. Max conversion: £200. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms Apply. 18+. GambleAware.org

Mogobet

Deposit & Bet £10 Get £30 Free Bet

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

Opt-in Required. Min Deposit £10 with promo code: ROYAL required. Offer is valid from 17/06/2025 to 21/06/2025 23:59GMT. Minimum of £10 worth of qualifying bets to any horse racing event to get a £30 Free bet. Free bet must be used within 7 Days and bonus within 7 Days from receipt. Free bet is a one-time stake, minimum odds of 2, stake is not returned. 1X wagering the winnings. Wagering occurs from real balance first. Max conversion: £200. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms apply. GambleAware.org

Tangobet

Bet £20 Get £20 Free Bet

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+. New customers only. First deposit minimum £20, minimum Bet £20 at minimum odds 1/1 (2.00) and Get a £20 Free Bet with minimum odds of 4/5 (1.80). Eligible bets: Single, Combo, Bet Builder. Max 1 free bet per customer. Free bet tokens credited within 24 hours, valid for 3 days. System bets excluded. Full Terms apply. GambleAware.org

Highbet

Bet £10 Get £20 Free Bet

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+. New verified customers. UK residents. Customers must first opt-in to this promotion before making the qualifying bet within 7 days of registration. Min. stake amount: £10 with real money with you first ever bet within 7 days of your registration. Free bets must be claimed within the promotion section of the website. Free bets are non-withdrawable. Free bet amount: £20 (1x£20). Min. odds: 3/2 (2.5). Maximum withdrawable winnings from free bet per player: £100. Period to activate: 7 days after the qualifying bet is placed. Full TC's Apply. GambleAware.org

7bet

BET £10 & GET £10

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

1st deposit only. Min deposit £10. Max bonus £10. Min odds 1/1 (2.0). Max winnings £100. 5-days bonus expiry. User Agreement and Bonus T&Cs apply.

PricedUp

Bet £40 Get £20 + 100 Free Spins on Big Bass Splash

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+. New customers only. Place a minimum £40 bet on any selection with minimum odds of Evens (2.00) and receive a £20 free bet upon bet settlement and 100 Free Spins on Big Bass Splash. Free bet and free spins expire after 7 days. GambleAware.org . T&Cs apply. #ad

BetWright

Bet £10 get £10 Free Bet + Up to £300 in Free Bet Bangers

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New Customers use code EPL10. Deposit £10 and place a bet of £10 on any Premier League Outrights 2025/26 market at minimum odds of 2.0. Free Bet credited within 24 hours and must be wagered on English Premier League markets only. Full Terms apply. Bangers N'Cash rewards are a separate promotional scheme and must be opted into during the weekly promotional period via the BetWright Rewards Section. 18+ GambleAware.org.

Betrino

Bet £25 Get £50 Free Bet

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New Players Only. Free bet - one-time stake of £50, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from receipt. Limited to 1 sport & 5 casino brand/s within the network. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms apply. 18+. GambleAware.org

Monster Sports

Deposit & Bet £20 Get £40 Free Bets

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New Players Only. Free bet - one-time stake of £40, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from receipt. Limited to 1 sport & 5 casino brand/s within the network. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms Apply. 18+. | _GambleAware.org | #Ad

All British Casino

Get a £10 Free Bet When you Bet £10

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

#AD | New customers only. £10 in real money. Bets placed on sports at odds of 2.00 or more to qualify. Bets must be placed 24 hours within registration. £10 free bets must be wagered on sports. Full TCs apply. 18+ | GambleAware.org | Gambling is addictive, please gamble responsibly

Pub Casino

Get a £10 free bet when you bet £10 + 50% ACCA Boost on all Football Games

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

#AD | New customers only. £10 in real money. Bets placed on sports at odds of 2.00 or more to qualify. Bets must be placed 24 hours within registration. £10 free bets must be wagered on sports. Full TCs apply. 18+ | GambleAware.org | Gambling is addictive, please gamble responsibly

QuickBet

Bet £10, Get £10 Free Bet

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

#AD | Welcome bonus for new players only | Maximum bonus is 100% up to £100 | Min. deposit is £10 | No max cash out | Wagering is 40x bonus | Maximum bet with an active bonus is £5 | Eligibility is restricted for suspected abuse | Skrill & Neteller deposits excluded for welcome bonus | Cashback when offered, applies to deposits where no bonus is included | Cashback is cash with no restrictions | T&C's apply |Free bet: Min odds: 2.0 - Free bet value will be deducted from free bet winnings | 18+ | GambleAware.org | Gambling is addictive, please gamble responsibly.

Casino Kings

Bet £10 and Get £40 Free Bet

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

New Players Only. Free bet-one-time stake of £10, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Free bets and Bonuses are valid for 7 days. Limited to 1 sport & 5 casino brand/s within the network. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms apply. 18+. GambleAware.org

Hollywoodbets

Free bet up to £30 on 1st Losing ACCA

New Customers Only

Claim Offer

18+. Register an account and deposit £10+ using Visa/Mastercard. Get your stake back as a free bet, up to a maximum of £30, on your first qualifying acca to be settled as a loss. Qualifying accas each need to be a stake of £10+, 3+ legs, odds of 4/1 or greater and settled within your first 7 days. Each customer will be eligible for a maximum of 1 x free bet with this promotion. TCs Apply. GambleAware.org

Biggest Football Events of December 2025

November serves up a feast of footballing drama, headlined early on by a blockbuster at the Etihad as Manchester City welcome Liverpool in a clash between two of the Premier League’s leading contenders.

A day earlier, City’s neighbours Manchester United head south to face a Spurs side firmly eyeing a spot in the top four.

Then comes the season’s penultimate international break, where England feature twice — first hosting Serbia before travelling to Albania.

Across Europe, France meet Ukraine, Ireland entertain Portugal, and Poland square off with the Netherlands in the opening batch of fixtures.

The action continues as Spain face Georgia, Italy host Norway, Germany lock horns with Slovakia, and Scotland welcome Denmark.

Domestic football resumes the following weekend, bringing heavyweight Premier League encounters such as Newcastle versus Man City and Arsenal against Spurs in the first north London derby of the campaign.

Next, the Champions League returns, offering mouthwatering matchups — Marseille hosting Newcastle, Chelsea meeting Barcelona, Inter taking on Atletico, Arsenal battling Bayern, and Spurs visiting PSG, the reigning champions.

November wraps up with more Premier League theatre, featuring Man United away at Crystal Palace, West Ham hosting Liverpool, and Chelsea welcoming Arsenal to Stamford Bridge.

Understanding Football Betting Odds

Fractional Odds

When betting on the football calendar’s most intriguing events, understanding how odds work is imperative.

Odds are the numerical values representing the probability of a particular event occurring. For example, Inter Milan to beat PSG in the Champions League Final is priced at 13/10 with several major sportsbooks.

That means that for every £10 wagered on Inter, £23 is returned if they win the final. This total comprises of the original stake plus a profit of £13.

Bettors can calculate potential returns by multiplying their stake by the odds. For example, a £10 bet at 1/2 returns £15.

Betting odds are not assigned to outcomes at random; numerical values depend on several factors, including team form, player availability, historical performance, market demand, and bookmaker margins.

Additionally, odds are rarely entirely standardised. While several major top bookmakers provide comparable odds on popular markets, better value might be available elsewhere.

Understanding Football Betting Markets: Different Betting Markets Explained

Full Time Result Markets

Full-Time betting, arguably the football market’s simplest selection, tasks punters to predict the outcome of a match at the end of regulation time.

During the Champions League Final, bettors could select between a PSG victory, an Inter Milan win, or a draw.

A draw in a Champions League final or other fixtures which could go to extra-time and penalties, refers to a level score after 90 minutes (regular time). Some bookmakers offer markets that consider extra time, extending the wager to 120 minutes.

The betting for this is often presented as follows:

In this instance, if you’re betting on PSG, you need them to beat Inter Milan within 90 minutes, with your bet losing if they draw or lose the game.

Over/Under Markets

Over/Under lines are used for various markets, including goals scored, corners, and card counts. The bookmaker sets a figure (e.g., 2.5 goals), and bettors predict whether the actual total will fall over or under.

For example, for the Champions League final the yellow cards for Inter Milan players over/under line is 4.5.

When betting on this, punters must predict whether the Italian club’s yellow card count exceeds or falls short of 4.5. A yellow card count of 5 or more exceeds 4.5, while a count of 4 or less falls short.

Most prominent sportsbooks set the Over/Under line strategically, so an equal split of punters wager over or under the projected total.

Since commonly wagered football stats (e.g., 1 goal) are recorded as whole numbers, Over/Under markets that use a .5 decimal avoid hitting the exact number, known as a push.

In football betting, pushes only occur when a bookmaker sets the over/under line as a whole number e.g., 7 corners.

The betting of these types of markets often look as follows

Handicap Markets

Handicap betting on football markets is available at most major bookmakers. The betting market, designed to level the playing field in predictable matches, enables bettors to give one team a goal advantage or disadvantage.

With handicaps, bettors can increase the value of wagering on dominant teams who win games most weeks.

If a -1 handicap were placed on the favourites, they would have to win by at least two goals to win the bet.

Meanwhile, placing a +1 handicap on the underdogs increases the chances of winning a bet on the underdog, despite their perceived inferior strength.

The betting for this is displayed as follows

In this example, if you bet on Nottingham Forest, you just need them to avoid defeat for your bet to win.

A bet on Chelsea means you need them to win by at least two goals, whilst betting on 'Draw' means you need the favourites t. win by exactly one goal.

Asian Handicaps

Asian Handicaps might initially perplex newcomer bettors, but the variation of traditional handicap markets is a comprehensible way to bet on previously unappealing markets.

Removing whole number handicaps in Asian Handicap markets eliminates the possibility in bets ending in draws or no results.

Like traditional handicap betting, an advantage or disadvantage is placed on one of the two teams to level the playing field. For example, a bettor could place a -1.5 handicap on Manchester City during a Premier League fixture against Fulham.

The match would theoretically begin with the Citizens one and a half goals behind, meaning Guardiola’s team would have to win by a two-goal margin to win the bet.

This contrasts with traditional handicap markets, where a 1-0 or 2-1 Manchester City win would result in bets ending as a draw. Half-goal advantages mean bets must have a win-or-loss conclusion.

Here, if you bet on Man City, you need them to win by 2 or more goals, whilst a bet on Fulham means they just need to avoid losing by two or more.

Game Prop Markets

Game Prop markets refer to betting options that don’t directly depend on the final score. These include markets such as total goals scored, corner counts, card counts, and first team to score.

Non-final score markets can be particularly appealing when two teams are evenly matched. In such cases, wagering on the likelihood of an end-to-end contest — for example, by backing ‘Both teams to have over 8.5 corners’ — often feels more pragmatic than predicting a winner.

Likewise, during an unpredictable fixture, such as Barcelona Vs Real Madrid, the Catalans have 105 El Clasico wins against Madrid’s 103, wagering on a prop market, such as +3 goals over 90 minutes, is more strategic than predicting a winner.

In addition, full-time markets typically have three outcomes: home team win, away team win, or draw.

In contrast, the plethora of outcomes in most Game Prop bet markets, where corner, goal, and card counts can range from 0 to 10+, creates riskier, more engaging, and better-valued betting options.

There are huge range of game props to bet on with the biggest bookmakers, the most common of which are as follows:

• Corners - Over/Under
• Cards - Over/Under
• Shots
• Shots on Target
• Passes
• Offsides
• Free Kicks
• Thrown Ins
• Goal Kicks
• Which team will score first/last?
• Team to win from behind
• Team to score/miss a penalty

Player Prop Markets

Player Prop markets – for example, Erling Haaland to score, Myles Lewis Skelly to be sent off, or Mohammed Salah to score and assist – are another strategic way of betting on football without selecting an outright winner.

Player-based markets can offer more value and entertainment than backing the match result. Games involving top teams like PSG, Celtic, and Bayern Munich often feel like a foregone conclusion before a ball has been kicked. In such instances, Player Prop markets provide different betting opportunities.

At reputable betting platforms, such as talkSPORT BET, Sky Bet, and LiveScore BET, the options for player-based bets are plentiful, and often rewarding.

Finding odds for markets like player to score or assist, player to have over 4.5 shots, player to commit over 2.5 fouls, player to make over 3.5 tackles, and goalkeeper to make under 1.5 saves is effortless and provides greater value than backing the favourite to win.

For example, odds of 2.05 are available at bet365 for the Premier League’s record-chasing goalscorer, Mohammed Salah, to score or assist against 9th-placed Brighton.

This contrasts with backing Liverpool, who have shorter odds to claim all three points.

When it comes to betting on player props, these are some of the markets available with the UK’s top online sites and best betting apps:

• Shots
• Shots on Target
• To be carded
• Passes - Over/under
• Tackles
• Fouls
• To be fouled
• Offsides

Bet Builders

Bet Builders are multi-leg punts on single football games. The same-game multi-leg wager has rapidly grown in popularity since the inception of digital gambling platforms due to its personalisation features and favourable odds.

With Bet Builder, offered in varying forms by all the UK’s major sportsbooks, bettors can combine numerous market selections, including full-time result, first goalscorer, and number of corners, in one wager.

The custom bet feature is similar to traditional multi-leg accumulators but only focuses on an individual match.

Let’s say, a Bet Builder covering Manchester City beating Leicester City, Erling Haaland scoring, and Phil Foden assisting could have odds of 15/2, rather than a traditional accumulator, which might include Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, and Newcastle United winning.

The option is advantageous for bettors looking to increase their engagement and enjoyment of a singular match. Additionally, it provides freedom for creative and bespoke betting experiences; most combinations imaginable are available with Bet Builder on major Premier League fixtures.

While Bet Builder odds can be generous — especially on bets with four or more legs — each added selection reduces the likelihood of success, but significantly boosts potential returns.

If bettors are convinced of multiple outcomes during one match, Bet Builder provides a profitable, and often engaging, way of personalising multi-leg wagers.

Half-Time/Full-Time

Half-Time/Full-Time markets task bettors with predicting the result at the interval and the final whistle.

Half-Time/Full-Time wagers are only deemed successful when the score is guessed correctly at the midway point and full-time.

For example, a successful Arsenal HT/Southampton FT bet would require Arsenal to lead after 45 minutes, but Southampton to overturn their lead and win the game. If Southampton HT/Southampton FT has been wagered, the bet loses despite the Saints' victory.

The market has nine available selections, varying between combinations of a team winning, drawing, or losing at half-time and winning, drawing, or losing at full-time. For example, Southampton HT / Draw FT, Southampton HT / Arsenal FT, and Southampton HT / Southampton FT.

Teams like Arsenal, who have dropped 21 points from winning positions this season, could be profitable picks to lead at half-time but draw or lose by full-time.

The betting for these types of markets will often look like this:

Double Chance Markets

Double Chance markets allow bettors to minimise football’s persistent uncertainty and unpredictability by covering two outcomes in a single bet.

For example, during the Premier League’s final day contest between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, bettors can use Double Chance markets to cover both a Nottingham Forest victory and a draw.

Essentially, in these instances, bettors are wagering against a particular outcome (in this example, a Chelsea win) occurring.

Betting on the weaker side to draw or win can be strategic in double chance wagers; it offers a safety net by covering two outcomes, increasing the chances of a return even if the underdog doesn't win outright.

However, odds on Double Chance markets are less favourable than backing a team outright. For risk-averse bettors, backing a team to win or draw offers a safer alternative to the more lucrative option of backing them to win outright.

The betting for this market is often presented like so:

Goalscorer Markets

Goalscorer markets, perhaps due to the growing individualisation of elite-level sports but largely due to the advantageous odds available, are popular football selections.

In player-based markets, including first goalscorer, second goalscorer, player to score, and player to score 2+, among several other choices , the bet focuses solely on the individual, rather than the overall team outcome.

Markets for 2+ goals or 3+ goals, particularly when backing the world’s best players against weaker opposition, are a great way of making one-sided affairs more profitable and engaging.

The betting for this market will look something like:

For ‘Anytime’ goalscorer, the player just has to score at any point in the match for the bet to win.

For ‘First’ Goalscorer, the player must score the first goal in the match for the bet to win (own goals don't count towards this market).

For ‘Last’ Goalscorer, the player must score the last goal in the match for the bet to win.

Correct Score Markets

Correct score markets are popular among newcomers and seasoned bettors. Typically, correct score markets require punters to predict the exact scoreline, for example, 4-0 to Aston Villa, at full-time. In several cases, correct score markets are also available for half-time markets.

Predicting the exact scoreline can be challenging; a 2020 study suggested only 9.2% of correct score predictions were successful.

Correct score’s difficulty produces favourable odds. Modest odds of 6/4 were available for Manchester United to beat Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final. Yet, for United to win the final 2-0, better odds of 11/1 are widely accessible.

Bettors can use statistics to their advantage in correct score markets in several ways; most notably, punters must understand how probable each scoreline is. Although it’s exciting to imagine, 4-2 results rarely occur in the Premier League.

During the 2024-2025 Premier League season, the most common results were 1-1 draws, 2-1 home wins, and 2-2 draws.

Meanwhile, analysing a team’s scoring patterns, particularly against weaker or stronger oppositions, provides a deeper insight into how they might fare in a given fixture.

Liverpool have kept a clean sheet and won on 14 occasions this season; backing the Kopites to a 2-0 or 3-0 win, a scoreline that provides good value with most sportsbooks, against weaker opposition could prove profitable.

Irrespective of scoreline analysis, guessing a fixture’s exact result is challenging. Nonetheless, the market selection is engaging and winning bets yield significant value.

The betting for this market will often look like:

Outright Markets

In outright markets, odds are for competitions, not individual matches. Bettors can back a team’s final standing before a competition begins or while in play.

Numerous outright Premier League markets are available at the start of the season. Title-winner markets receive the majority of media attention.

For example, Liverpool are valued at 15/8 to win the 2025-2026 PL title. Elsewhere, Manchester City has odds of 9/4 while Arsenal have appealing odds of 5/2.

Despite City’s dominance in recent seasons, backing a Premier League title winner is persistently perplexing. After all, Leicester City lifted the title in 2015-2016 with odds of 5,000/1.

So, backing next season’s title favourites, despite Liverpool’s strength, feels risky. Top two markets provide bettors with greater leeway for unforeseen dips in performance.

Elsewhere, top 4, top 5, top 6, top-half, bottom-half, and relegation markets are provided by several bookmakers.

Once the competition begins, and an idea of a team’s strength is understood, odds are shortened or extended depending on the outcome’s probability.

Manchester City entered the 2024-2025 Premier League season as strong title favourites, but their odds adjusted accordingly as Guardiola’s side stuttered throughout the campaign.

The markets most commonly offered are:

• Champions League Winner
• Premier League Winner
• Premier League - to be relegated
• FA Cup Winner
• League Cup Winner
• Europa League Winner
• Championship - to be promoted
• Next 'Team' Manager
• Next Manager to be Sacked
• ‘Player’ Next Club
• Tournament Golden Boot Winner
• Player of the Season Winner

These bets are long-term and can be placed at any point during the competition running time until the eventual outcome of the has been decided.

Outright winner bets are only paid out once the champion has been confirmed. This is done when they have mathematically won the league and cannot be caught by another team.

For relegation markets, bets will be settled once a team has been mathematically relegated and cannot escape the drop.

For bets relating to specific knockout tournaments, bets will be settled once the final has been played, or the team bet upon has been knocked out.