Football is the sport that garners the most attention and coverage in South Africa, with other sports often taking a back seat as the media prioritizes the nation's favorite pastime. This phenomenon is not exclusive to South Africa, as football is also the most popular sport worldwide, played in over 200 countries and featuring globally renowned events that attract millions of viewers.
Recently, there has been a growing interest among football fans who watch and follow national and international football championships in online football betting. Having a comprehensive understanding of how the game works and being knowledgeable about the events can greatly help in making successful bets. Furthermore, football is one of the sports with a wide range of markets and online betting possibilities. Some South Africans have already fully dedicated themselves to sports betting.
If you have come across this guide, it is because you are interested in acquiring knowledge or learning more about football betting. And rightly so, as there is so much to learn, and every day you can stumble upon new strategies to enhance your predictions. In this beginner's guide to online betting, our aim is to provide you with all the essential information required to kickstart your journey and succeed in online football game betting.
Before we dive into action, let's cover some key points that might pique your interest, such as top-notch websites for placing football bets and a brief overview of our evaluation process for the recommended platforms. Once that's done, it's time to grab your pen and paper and start jotting down all the essential information you'll need to succeed in your betting endeavors.
The top websites to place football bets
There are countless options for sports betting websites today, making it quite challenging to choose which one to place your bets on. Naturally, some sites are superior to others, which is why part of our mission involves evaluating and ranking these sites based on factors such as security, reliability, customer service, bonuses and promotions, advantages and conveniences, among other aspects.
Check out our curated list of top football betting websites below. Additionally, feel free to explore our comprehensive guide on the best football betting sites to see how your favorite platforms performed in our rankings. In the next section of this guide, we delve into the reasons behind our assessment of online betting sites and casinos. Discover why and how we evaluate them to ensure an optimal betting experience.
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We evaluate football betting websites for you.
Our website's main objective is to serve as a specialized platform for betting and casino games, offering South African users relevant, up-to-date, and unbiased information about online gambling. The content you find on our site has been independently generated to ensure that South African players have access to game guides, recommendations, and site reviews, providing everything they need for a secure gaming experience. We strive to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for all users, where they can explore a wide range of gaming options and make informed decisions. Join our community today and take your online gambling experience to the next level!
Given the South African legislation, which prohibits gambling in the country, players often find themselves confused about the legality of online betting. While we strongly advise caution when choosing where to bet, we assure you that there are trustworthy options to wager your money online, which can yield profits and many hours of entertainment. We understand that the world of gambling can be bewildering and daunting for beginner players, and many questions often arise about where to start. If you need further assistance in these matters, take a look at our special guide on secure gaming.
Guides on how to play games, manuals on gambling, and reviews of casinos that accept South African players - all of this is available here, at gambling-world, for those who want to venture into online casinos and betting sites. Our assessments are based on the player's perspective (after all, our team also plays on the same sites as you), evaluating key factors of each site and giving a final rating to the experience we had.
All casinos and recommended sites have been thoroughly evaluated by our team. Your safety is our utmost priority, and we strive to provide you with the best chances of winning in your bets. Discover further insights into our evaluation process for online casinos and betting sites below.
Identifying reliable websites for betting
The online gaming and betting industry doesn't inspire much confidence. If this is also your impression, it's understandable that you may have reservations before entrusting your money to these websites. It's a natural reaction. Before starting to play, most South Africans wonder if this is a secure activity. Naturally, the first step is to conduct research.
On the other hand, conducting a thorough investigation into casino and online betting websites can be time-consuming, and players hardly want to waste time comparing each option. Their main desire is to engage in gameplay and, ideally, emerge victorious.
Considering this, our evaluations provide all the insights required for effectively comparing websites and determining where to invest your time and money. Every review we compile comprehensively covers the following factors:
- Licensing and auditing;
- User information security;
- Online reputation refers to the evaluations made by users of the website.
- Software for gaming and betting;
- Types and number of games;
- User support and communication channels;
- Available bonuses and promotions.
- Speed, design, and information;
- Loyalty program and other benefits.
At the end of each assessment, we assign a score to the website, which represents the average of the partial scores for each of the aforementioned factors. To access our assessments, kindly navigate to the website's main menu located in the top right corner, where you will find the tab labeled "Evaluations". There, you will discover a comprehensive collection of all the assessments we have conducted thus far.
Everything you need to know to start placing online football bets.
What is your number one goal when placing football bets? And don't say it's to win because that would be too obvious. Obviously, all bettors want to win their bets, but your number one goal should be something else: making accurate predictions. The best (and only, actually) way to win bets on football games (and any other sport, by the way) is to make accurate predictions based on your knowledge of the event. If you truly want to learn how to bet like a professional, guessing the outcome is out of the question.
By focusing on this objective, ensuring victory becomes a guarantee, regardless of the market in which you're placing your bets. If you're wagering on a team to win a championship, you must make an accurate prediction on the likelihood of them winning all the required matches. If you're betting on another team to be relegated to the second division, you need to make correct predictions on the probability of that team finishing in the bottom positions of the league.
The reality is that football betting is not as straightforward as it may seem. If it were, we would all be wealthy without having to leave our homes. Essentially, in order to grasp football betting and succeed, one must possess extensive knowledge about the sport and comprehend all the variables that play a significant role in the outcome of a match. Additionally, it is necessary to accurately assess the probability of your prediction being correct and have a keen eye for seizing high-value bets.
Only through constant study, extensive research, and available time is it possible to profit in the long term from football betting. But do not be discouraged! We all understand that predicting the outcome of a game is not easy - the odds are not like a game of heads or tails, nor like a roll of the dice - there is simply a lot happening simultaneously. However, with dedication and perseverance, you can develop the skills and knowledge needed to make informed decisions and increase your chances of success. Remember, it's a journey that requires patience and continuous learning. Stay motivated and keep pushing forward!
It is nearly impossible, in fact, to accurately forecast all the potential outcomes in a soccer match, given the myriad variables at play. What can be done, however, is to prioritize the most pertinent factors of a particular game and assess the potential results from there onwards.
Now let's delve into a few fundamental concepts required for making football bets. Ensure that you carefully read and comprehend each one of them before proceeding to the strategies. Take the time to grasp the essentials before delving into more advanced tactics. Familiarity with these basic principles will serve as a solid foundation for your betting journey. Pay close attention to each concept so that you can confidently navigate the world of football betting with ease.
Different Types of Football Betting
Bingo is a game of chance that is quite simple to play, whether it's free bingo or bingo for money. The game's rules are straightforward, and its mechanics are even more uncomplicated. The various varieties of bingo, including online bingo, are categorized based on the number of balls. There are four modes: bingo with 30, 75, 80, and 90 balls. Discover below some additional insights into the distinct types of online bingo games.
Simple bet (Moneyline)
Every week, numerous football matches take place, and betting on the final outcome of a match is the most straightforward and commonly used method for football betting. Coincidentally, it is also the easiest way to place a bet. There are various ways to bet on the final result of a game, but we will focus on the primary method found on all betting websites: the moneyline.
Let's suppose that Team A and Team B will be playing a match tomorrow. In general, there are three potential outcomes for this event: Team A wins, Team B wins, or the match ends in a draw. Each team will give their all to secure a victory, displaying their skills and tactics on the field. The outcome of the match will depend on various factors, such as the players' form, teamwork, and strategic decisions made by the coaches. It is an exciting and unpredictable event, where anything can happen, adding to the thrill and anticipation for both the players and the fans. Regardless of the result, it is a moment for true sportsmanship and respect between the teams.
- Time A vence.
- Time B vence.
- The two tie.
To place a straightforward bet, players just need to select a winner for the match or bet on a draw. It's as easy as that. Naturally, the odds and payouts for bets vary depending on the favored teams and their position within the specific championship. Typically, wagering on the less favored team (the "underdog") yields higher payouts, while betting on the favored team results in lower payouts.
Total (Over/Under)
Understanding the total bet is also quite straightforward. It simply requires you to predict whether the final tally of goals in the match will be higher or lower than what the betting site anticipated.
In this scenario, the betting website will choose a total number of goals for the soccer match, and then you can decide whether you believe the final score will be above (over) or below (under) that number. For instance, if the betting website states that both teams will score a combined total of 2 goals, you have the option to bet on whether they will score more or fewer than that.
The level of risk you take with a total bet depends on the range of options available to you. For instance, if you are confident that there will be at least three goals in that match, you can place a bet on an over of 2.5, but a safer bet would be on an over of 1.5. The variety of choices at your disposal allows you to tailor your wager to your own risk tolerance and strategic preferences.
In total wagers, every option is presented with a half-goal (0.5, 1.5, 2.5, etc.) to eliminate the chance of a tie bet. This ensures that either a win or a loss occurs. To prevent the possibility of a stalemate, fractional goals are used for all choices in total betting. As a result, there is no ambiguity; the outcome will always be either a victory or a defeat.
Point spread (Handicap)
If you found everything up until now quite easy, it is now that things get a little more complicated. In soccer, you can place bets using point spread, commonly known in soccer as handicap, which determines by how many goals a team will come out as the winner of the match. The point spread, therefore, signifies the number of goals that the betting site determines based on the game's outcome probabilities. Typically, it is accompanied by a negative or positive sign before the number of goals, such as Internacional (-1) x Grêmio (+1).
The negative sign is employed when the team is the frontrunner to win, signifying the number of goals the website believes they will score (in the case above, one). In this scenario, if you wager on the favored team, they must win by a margin of one goal or more for you to win the bet. If Internacional wins by only one goal difference against Grêmio, you lose the bet. However, if they triumph by two goals or more, you emerge victorious.
To put it simply, if you placed a bet on the match between Internacional (-1) and Grêmio (+1) and predicted that the former would emerge victorious, there are three potential outcomes that could unfold:
- If Internacional wins by 2 or more goals, you win the bet.
- If Internacional wins by exactly 1 goal, you will lose the bet.
- If there is a draw or Grêmio wins, you lose the bet.
In other words, the aim of handicap betting is to provide teams with additional goals or deduct them only for the moment of the bet. Several platforms enable you to select the number of goals that are either given or subtracted from the scenario, while calculating the odds based on your preference.
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Types of bets available
In addition to the aforementioned football bets, there are other possibilities for more specific wagers, such as predicting which player will score the last goal of a match or betting on the halftime score between the first and second halves. These types of bets are straightforward and simple to place, but can be more challenging to get right.
Asian Handicap
This particular betting option is essentially the same as the handicap, but with some minor differences. The Asian handicap eliminates the possibility of a draw, transforming a football match into a 50/50 chance of outcome. To achieve this, the bet also grants "gifts" of goals to the teams. The favored team "loses" goals, while the underdog "receives" goals.
This particular wager is slightly more intricate than the rest, but once you grasp its mechanics, it becomes simplified. Mastering the nuances of this bet may seem challenging at first, but with practice, it becomes more manageable. Once you comprehend the underlying principles, navigating through this type of wager becomes a breeze. While it may initially appear convoluted, acquiring a solid understanding of its inner workings will make it less intimidating.
Proposition
Side bets, also known as proposition bets, can be placed within a match but are unrelated to the game's outcome. Sounds confusing? Let's give you an example: numerous betting websites provide the following proposition bets:
- The first team to score a goal in the match;
- Exact moment of the first goal;
- Specific player who scores a goal.
- Penalties earned, among other things.
As you can observe, this sort of wager has nothing to do with which team will win the match. These bets cater to the "weekend bettors" as they are more unpredictable and exhilarating. With a few exceptions, this is not the type of bet that the professional bettor seeks. It is aimed at those seeking an extra thrill and challenge in their betting experience.
Future
This type of wager revolves not around individual football matches, but rather the outcome of entire championships. For instance, at the onset of the South African Championship, football betting websites may offer wagers for you to predict who will emerge as the champion at the end of the year, even though the final result may seem distant.
Nearly all major football championships are highly competitive, making it nearly impossible to predict the winner unless there is a significant disparity in quality between the teams. Furthermore, this type of bet takes a long time to pay off, so we do not recommend it.
Live football betting
Live football betting involves placing bets on matches that are currently taking place. This significantly changes the act of betting: instead of having to predict what will happen before the game starts, you can watch part of the event and then make your betting decision based on the teams' performance and the current score. This provides the bettor with more information to work with, which can lead to more accurate predictions. Therefore, engaging in live betting is one of the most effective ways to ensure successful and informed wagering choices.
In addition to live betting, there are other types of "side bets" that can be made.
- Next team to score a goal;
- Next player to score a goal.
- Exact moment of the next goal, among other things.
How to interpret the odds of football betting
It's crucial to distinguish odds from the actual probabilities of an event occurring. Probability (if you need a refresher from math class) is a real number between 0 and 1 that represents the likelihood of something happening. A 0 or 0% indicates that the event has no chance of occurring, whereas a 1 or 100% means it is certain to happen. Don't mistake the two!
On the other hand, the odds used in sports betting express the likelihood of an event occurring versus the likelihood of it not happening. This implies that the odds are not always an exact reflection of the probabilities of the game's outcome.
The diversity of odds can often bewilder novice bettors due to their various formats. Football betting odds are commonly expressed in decimal, fractional, or moneyline formats. The latter is predominantly used in the United States and is denoted by a positive or negative sign upfront. Below, take a look at the following examples:
- Decimal: 1.10
- Fraction: 1/10
- Americana (US): +1000
Various websites will provide different odds for the same event, as they are influenced by several factors. In our comprehensive guide on how to succeed in sports betting, we delve deeper into odds and how to interpret them. If you are eager to learn more, we invite you to pay it a visit!
Learning how to analyze a match
Let's not dwell too much on how the bettor should learn to analyze a match before placing their bet, as we extensively covered this in another guide called "How to Win in Football Betting." However, it's always good to remember a few basic rules of football betting for beginners.
One essential aspect to consider when placing bets is analyzing the match. This is crucial to ensure more accurate predictions. It is vital to familiarize oneself with the competing teams, the players, their standings in the league, among other factors. The following are some of the key elements to ponder:
- Current team status: This is a great indicator of how the team will perform in the upcoming match. It can shed light on how well (or poorly) the team is playing at the moment. To check the current team status, look for specialized websites that publish this type of information (usually in a table format with other related details).
- Game style: Unlike the team's state, which is tangible statistical information, the game style is a more interpretive factor. It is challenging to measure how much the game style will impact the outcome of a match, but professional bettors dedicate time to watch the games and understand how the team plays to gauge this factor.
- Games at home and away: Football teams tend to perform better when they play in their own stadium, due to various factors. This is no secret, and betting websites often adjust the odds to give a certain advantage to the home team.
- Suspensions and injuries: This is quite obvious as well, but it is still important to mention here. Any team suffering from injuries or suspensions can change the course of the game. However, be careful when assessing the impact of suspensions and injuries, as you should consider which players are missing, who will replace them if they do, and how important they are to the team as a whole.
These are just a few of the aspects that the bettor should be aware of before placing their wager on a football match. There are numerous additional factors that the bettor will gradually become acquainted with as they delve further into the subject.
The biggest football events in the world
Football bettors are likely familiar with the biggest sports events around the globe. These championships tend to attract a lot of attention, which is why betting sites cover them from start to finish. If you're a beginner, following one of these tournaments can be a great way to dip your toes into football betting. And if you're still unsure where to place your bets, check out our specialized guide on the top sports betting websites.
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup is the world's largest football event, sponsored by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association. It can also be deemed as the foremost global sports spectacle, surpassing the Olympic Games in terms of drawing and engaging a larger fanbase.
Since its first edition in 1930, which took place in the neighboring country of Uruguay, FIFA has organized quadrennial events, with the exception of the years during the Second World War, becoming the most anticipated sporting event in the world. In 2014, for the very first time, the event was brought to South Africa, attracting a substantial number of fans and tourists to the country.
UEFA Champions League
We are aware that Europe is second only to the Americas when it comes to the love for football, hosting an impressive number of continental-scale events. The UEFA Champions League is an annual competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations and contested by the finest European clubs. It stands as one of the most fiercely contested and highly esteemed tournaments on the European continent.
The tournament takes place annually, with the initial qualifying matches kicking off in mid-July and culminating in the championship in mid-May of the following year. Presently, the team boasting the highest number of victories in the Champions League is Real Madrid.
Euro Cup
The Euro Championship, commonly referred to as the Euro Cup, stands as the premier football tournament where national teams from European countries affiliated with UEFA compete. Taking place every four years, its inaugural event unfolded in the year 1960. Interestingly, the Euro Cup allows for the possibility of neighboring European nations co-hosting the tournament in a single year. Moreover, the victorious team earns a coveted spot to compete in the FIFA Confederations Cup.
America Cup
The oldest football tournament in the world, even older than the World Cup, is the Copa América. It takes place every four years and involves national teams from countries that are part of the CONMEBOL (South American Football Confederation). Until 2016, the Copa América was exclusively held in Latin American countries. However, its 2016 edition marked the tournament's centennial and was celebrated with a special event hosted in the United States. Uruguay currently holds the record for the most victories in the competition.
America's Copa Libertadores
The Copa Libertadores, widely recognized in South Africa and Latin America, is undoubtedly familiar to you. This annual tournament brings together the finest football clubs from South America. Each year, the competition takes place in a different country, with matches spanning the entire year. Organized by the South American Football Confederation since 1960, this event is considered one of the greatest in the world.
UEFA Europa League
This is another prominent European league, in which European clubs compete. The UEFA Europa League, officially known as the UEFA Europa League, was established in 1971. Clubs can qualify for the competition based on their performance in domestic leagues and other national championships. It occurs on an annual basis.
The Spanish League
The Spanish La Liga is undoubtedly one of the finest and most fiercely contested regional football leagues in the world. The championship is exclusively battled out by Spanish clubs, yet it captivates viewers from across the globe due to the game's exceptional quality and the players' skills. The duo of Real Madrid and Barcelona hold the vast majority of the titles, solidifying their dominance in the league.
Premier League
The English Premier League is the renowned English league and arguably the most prestigious championship in Europe. Annually, from June to May, esteemed teams such as Liverpool and Manchester United compete for the title, providing both bettors and fans with thrilling and fiercely contested matches. Similar to the Spanish La Liga, the Premier League captivates spectators from all over the globe who appreciate the artistry of football.
South-African championship
Known as Brasileirão or Série A, the national championship founded in 1959 deserves a mention. Each year, the top South African clubs compete for the coveted title. However, in terms of gameplay quality, the championship falls significantly behind international tournaments, thus attracting primarily local spectators. To incentivize South African fans, certain websites provide special bonuses for betting on South African football online.
Confederations Cup
The FIFA Confederations Cup is another global event organized by FIFA, taking place in the same year as the World Cup. The competition features the top national teams vying for the title. Preceding the World Cup, the Confederations Cup occurs in the host country, serving as somewhat of a prelude to the main event.
Bundesliga
The German national championship, known as the Bundesliga, has been held annually since 1963. Similar to other major European leagues, the competition season runs from August to May of the following year, providing football fans and bettors with an extensive schedule of matches to place their bets on. The games are fiercely contested, and German teams typically boast an exceptional caliber of players.
Argentine Championship
The Superliga Argentina, also known as the Argentine Championship, features the top-tier football clubs in Argentina. Like the South African Championship, the visibility of Argentine teams is primarily within the country. However, you can still catch the matches on select paid channels and place your bets from South Africa.
Dutch Championship
The Dutch Eredivisie, which translates to the Dutch Football Championship, is the annual national football league of the Netherlands. While it may lag behind its neighboring leagues, it still garners some attention due to its Latin American players.
French Championship
The French Ligue 1 is the national championship in which the top professional football division competes for the national title, serving as France's premier football competition. You might come across a few prominent teams, such as Olympic Lyon and Paris Saint Germain.
Portuguese First League
The Portuguese Primeira Liga stands as Portugal's premier football championship, showcasing yearly fixtures between the country's top clubs. Similar to the Dutch and French national leagues, the Portuguese league is not widely recognized on the international stage, particularly from this distant vantage point. Nevertheless, you can explore enticing wagering opportunities on leading football betting platforms.
Italian Series A
Also referred to as the Italian Football Championship, this is the annual national tournament that brings together the finest Italian clubs, categorized into 9 divisions, with the prime division being Serie A, officially known as Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A.
9 strategies and basic betting tips
You don't have to be a sports expert to make some profit from football betting. However, that doesn't imply that having some knowledge about it is not important and a decisive factor if you intend to get your predictions right. Knowledge and information are power, and that holds true for football betting as well. The more you know, the easier it will be to make accurate decisions.
Embarking on football betting can initially be a bit overwhelming, we understand. It's a lot to take in, numerous decisions to make. Indeed it is. There are countless platforms for placing bets, hundreds of leagues worldwide, dozens of matches happening simultaneously, infinite markets, odds, and ways to place a wager. How does one learn it all? Where does one begin?
If the mere thought of the countless possibilities is making you feel exhausted too, take into consideration a few pointers and tactics that can make football betting a tad easier, flexible, and profitable for you:
- Whenever possible, bet on a single championship, preferably one you follow closely. We've mentioned some of them in this article, as well as some of the most prominent sporting events, but there are many more, both international and regional.
- Inform yourself as much as you can about the championship you've chosen to bet on, to make more precise decisions.
- If you have the time and the willingness, you can follow more than one championship at the same time, but it will require dedication!
- There's no escaping watching the matches, so it's essential that you enjoy football.
- Don't dive headfirst into football betting if you haven't quite understood how they work. This also applies to other sports bets. First, learn, then take risks.
- Understand the types of football bets to know which ones are more advantageous. You can also learn through practice, with your mistakes and successes, but it's essential to have some theoretical knowledge beforehand.
- Most bettors today wager for fun in occasional games that gain more attention. However, these bettors can significantly influence the markets, so take that into consideration.
- Always look for bets that have higher value, which we discuss in our article on Discovering the art of sports betting.
- Basic knowledge of mathematics can be very helpful if you want to profit in the long term from football betting.
Making the best online football betting choices.
If you have followed us this far, you are aware that there is a lot more to a simple football bet. We extend a warm invitation to peruse our various guides and informative articles on online betting and casino games. In addition, we also provide a plethora of reviews on online casinos and betting sites, where we meticulously outline key factors to determine whether a site is trustworthy (or not) for online betting. Pay them a visit and select a site to kickstart your football betting journey!
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