Corner betting, as the name suggests, is a form of wagering that revolves around the corner kicks in a football match.
What is Corner Betting?
Corner markets allow punters to place bets on whether a team will exceed or fall short of a set total of corners during a given fixture.
To outsiders, gambling on a team’s corner count might seem absurd; it often appears as though corners occur entirely at random.
Without a sophisticated understanding of the market, identifying which team, game scenario, or playstyle will produce several corners in a 90-minute match is challenging.
Yet, despite how it may appear, betting on corners isn’t a mindless guessing game. Numerous data-backed factors indicate how many corners could be taken inside any fixture.
As a result — and thanks to gaps in bookmaker analysis — savvy bettors have opportunities to find value in corner markets.
Understanding Corner Betting
Available markets on corner kicks, the highly anticipated attacking set-piece awarded after a defending player touches the ball behind their byline, vary from bookmaker to bookmaker.
The market’s most popular selection is Total Corner (Over/Under); the option, offered by all major sportsbooks, asks bettors to determine whether a team or game’s corner count will exceed or fall short of a set total.
For example, Manchester United to be awarded over 6.5 corners in their Premier League fixture against Chelsea this weekend, will be a popular choice among casual and seasoned bettors.
The set total is adjusted pre-game based on the bookie’s expectations of how many corners will be taken during the upcoming fixture.
It is in the best interests of bookmakers to set the total at the corner count they anticipate occurring in the game to ensure the bet is as finely balanced as possible.
If a team faces a lesser opposition and is likely to rack up a corner count exceeding 10, it would be counterproductive for the bookmaker to set the Over/Under total at 5.
Many sportsbooks allow punters to make selections of +3, +4, +5, +6, +7, +8, and +9 corners and beyond.
Different Types of Corner Bets Explained
Several major sportsbooks provide up to 10 corner-related market selections for elite Premier League fixtures; each offers varying levels of risk, strategy, and unpredictability.
The strategy and research required to make corner betting profitable depends on the market selected. Some markets favour tactical insight, while others are driven more by team strength or match tempo.
- Most Corners Taken: A straightforward market where bettors back the team they expect to win the corner count. It closely mirrors final trends in result betting; studies show the match favourite earns more corners than their opponent in 63.6% of Premier League games.
- Each Total Half Goals and Corners: Available at top bookmakers including Sky Bet, is a multi-leg market where punters predict both goals and corners for each half. It suits those confident in reading match flow across both 45-minute periods.
- Total Corners Taken: Allows punters to back whether the combined corner count for both teams goes over or under a set line. These bets are best placed on tightly contested fixtures. If a team is likely to dominate possession or, in contrast, sit in a low block, a disparity in awarded corners is probable.
- First Match Corner: A market in which bettors pick the team they believe will win the first corner. It often favours home teams in intense atmospheres, where early momentum, crowd influence, and risk-taking in possession can lead to attacking set pieces in the opening minutes.
Additional niche and bet builder corner markets are typically offered by most major sportsbooks, allowing bettors to customise multi-leg selections based on tactical expectations or team-specific trends.
Corner Betting Strategies
At a glance, corner betting appears more challenging than standard outcome-based markets. For example, some bettors can accurately rely on easily accessible information or intuition to predict a match winner.
After all, a European tie at Anfield, a derby match, or a play-off semi-final often has an atmosphere or feeling that transcends rational thinking and data; on occasions, there’s an inarticulable belief that a team is destined for a certain outcome.
The same intuitive knowing is rarely experienced when considering which team will win more corners. The team that dominates, wins, or has a greater share of possession in a match doesn’t always boast a superior corner count.
But, these hindrances don’t have to limit corner betting success. There are data-driven methods to assess which and when teams are more, or less, likely to accumulate several corners.
In the Premier League, there’s a correlation between a team’s possession share and corner count. The Premier League’s top five for possession, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur, are also the top five for corners won.
Tottenham’s presence, despite sitting 17th in the table, supports the idea that it’s possession, not league position, that better predicts corner output. Historical data from other possession-heavy sides shows the same trend.
While bookmakers adjust odds in response to accessible data on corner counts and possession stats in the Premier League, more obscure leagues’ prices are more standardised and less detailed.
For example, League Two’s highest team for ball possession per game, Notts County, has comparable corner count odds to teams in similar league positions with significantly lower possession, such as AFC Wimbledon.
What is Corner Betting - FAQs
What is corner betting in football?
Corner betting allows you to wager on how many corners a team or match will produce. Markets include Over/Under totals, which team will win more corners, or who will take the first corner.
Is there a strategy involved in betting on corners?
Yes, while corners may seem random, smart bettors use data like possession stats, team tactics, and game tempo to predict outcomes and find value, especially in overlooked leagues.
What are the most popular corner betting markets?
The most common are Total Corners (Over/Under), Most Corners, and First Match Corner. More advanced options include combining corner and goal predictions or building custom bets.