Betting Odds for Today's Football Matches

How Do Football Betting Odds Work?

Without odds, there would be nothing to multiply your bets on to give you a return. However, the odds are not based on a simple chance for an event to occur during the game. The bookmaker's margin directly impacts football betting odds. It is a fee that the bookmaker implies to guarantee a profit regardless of the event result. There’s more that can affect the odds of the match, and here’s what you need to know:

• Squad and Injuries. If one of the teams is seemingly more powerful, though the odds are not indicating that, it’s most likely due to the squad rotation. Sometimes, it takes one player to be out for the team to struggle. For instance, Manchester City and their drastically declined performance upon Rodri’s injury caused the biggest odds to win occur. 

• Tournament Motivation. Some teams could’ve already advanced to the next round of competition before the upcoming game. This can cause the odds to fluctuate to better display the probability of their opponents winning if they still compete to qualify. 

• Punters Wagers. Sometimes, the odds will become lower if many people are betting that the same thing will happen. This makes the value of the bet much worse. Professionals commonly try to find an alternative outcome with the same success scenario, e.g., Double Chance or +0.5 Handicap. 

Football Odds Comparison as Betting Assistant

You can’t have multiple betting accounts in one sportsbook, but nothing stops you from having one at each of the top ones, at least. This way, you can compare the odds using this page and get the most out of your bet using the highest possible multiplier. Also, ensure you check all of the markets before betting. Some bookmakers tend to copy the odds from other operators, which may lead to you having a couple of minutes before the odds will change. We indicate all the trends, such as dropping odds, so you can try to find the place where the best football odds are still valuable. 

Why Is It Important to Compare Odds?

You can combine the analysis from this page and sites such as the OddsPortal to get the full picture of the odds fluctuation. This can help find how the chances of certain events happening change over time. If you can see the reasoning behind those changes, such as the injuries, squad rotation, lack of motivation, etc., then the changes are probably based on that. If not, then it is caused by the punters massively wagering that that will happen. Use the information cautiously and try to wager closer to the game's start. Typically, the lineups are finalised and open to the public an hour before the referee blows the whistle. 

Another thing to consider is the difference in the margins of various bookies. Some might offer the best betting odds for certain events yet have much worse odds for lower divisions such as the Championship. Others might present better prices for the Champions League and Premier League. However, their multipliers for the Bundesliga or Serie A might have a considerable margin instead. 

As a punter, you always have the chances against you, even when the odds seem favourable. Try to maximise your opportunity and weigh the winning chance. For example, the probability of winning the wager with a 4/5 odds is, on average, 55.6%. 

On the other hand, the success rate with a multiplier of 6/5 is 45.5%. If you compare the odds, you can find an extra 10% winning probability at higher odds. 

Assume most sportsbooks set the multiplier for Arsenal to win the next match at 4/5, and you’ve found the one that offers the 6/5 price. Thanks to football odds comparison, you’ve just placed a bet with a 55.6% chance of happening, according to most sportsbooks, at the price of a 44.5% outcome. 

Types of Betting Odds

Bookmakers automatically set the odds to show up based on your location. However, you can manually switch them to the preferred ones. There is no difference in value; the only change is how they are written down. The three standard betting odds are the following:

• British (Fractional). The ones you see most commonly are mainly used by all British native sportsbooks by default. They look like this - 1/4, 6/5, 1/1. 

• European (Decimal) is one of the most popular choices among punters outside the UK. It is written as a number: 2.11, 1.98, 1.66. 

• American (Moneyline). US gamblers and sportsbooks mostly use it. Shown as a positive or a negative number. For instance, -150, +200

Here’s a table to understand the similarities in value and difference in appearance:

If you decide to make a stake, you can also find bookmakers with the best bonuses available further down the page. 

Popular Football Betting Markets

Football offers one of the most diverse selections of outcomes to punters. Whether you want to back a team to win with a certain handicap or go more comprehensive with a total + result single wager, it is there for you to pick. Let’s have a gander at what are the most popular football betting markets:

• Match Result (1X2). It's as classic and simple as it gets. You back a team to win the match or a draw to happen. Remember that this only applies to the 90 minutes + stoppage time. If the match goes on to the extra time, only the draw bet will succeed. To wager on teams to win the whole game, there is a separate market instead.

• Correct Score. If you feel like guessing something more complicated than the result, this is for you. To win this wager, you need to predict the exact goals scored by both teams. 

• Total Goals. A less punishing version of the previous market, hence more popular. You are set to guess how many goals will be scored in the match. Typically, this is done by betting on whether it will be over or under a certain amount. For instance, a match total of goals over 2.5 wager win condition means that three goals will be scored. 

• Handicap. Sometimes, even the best UK football odds can’t make the favourite priced high enough to make it valuable for a bet. This is when you can place a handicap stake and improve the odds by adding a disadvantage from the get-go. To succeed, you need the backed team to win by a margin of goals and remain victorious despite the handicap deduction. The same can be done with a positive handicap towards the outsiders. 

• Both Teams to Score. Backing both sides to score at least once throughout the 90 minutes.

• Statistics. Bookies allow you to wager on multiple performance-based outcomes. This includes player goals and assists with red and yellow cards. You can even go exotic and wager how often the referee uses the VAR system.  

• Outrights. This one best suits punters who are into long-term betting. You can pick and choose whether the teams will be crowned champions at the end of the season, win the cup, how far they will go in the Champions League, or get promoted from the Championship. There are many tournaments, and most premiere competitions have these markets available. 

How to Bet on Football in the UK

Punters who analyse matches thoroughly and evaluate bookmakers before making a wager have the biggest odds to win against the operator. However, to do so, you need to understand and replicate a set of criteria in your research. Try to find the best UK football odds from licensed sportsbooks, or refer to our list below as a first step towards your evaluation.

Choosing the Best Football Betting Site

There is plenty to consider when determining which bookmakers are worth your time. For football enthusiasts, the market count and outcome selection are crucial. However, if the margin is too high, then there is no use for these markets as the odds are poor. Look for licensed bookmakers that offer clarity on the bet settlement, payouts and bonus terms. Make sure to learn more about the functionality offered by the sportsbook, whether there are live broadcasts, and whether the mobile application is performing well. 

All of that can better or worsen your time at a betting site, and as punters ourselves, we made a selection of top platforms to wager on:

Bet365

It is one of the most well-known bookmakers for its trailblazing nature in all things new regarding wagering and player-oriented functionality. 1800+ outcomes per top football match is definitely enough to find a suitable bet. Many features like the Cash Out and Bet Builder allow more flexible gambling. An average margin of 5.40%. And a generous welcome offer of Bet £10 & Get £50 that you can use to wager on the best football odds. The only downside is slightly unintuitive navigation.

• Over 1800 outcomes for top events

• Competitive odds

• Great welcome bonus

• Top-notch features and functionality

• Live broadcasts

Join Here

№ 40

in bookmakers rating

£50

Join Here

#ad / 18+. Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365. 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. www.begambleaware.org

Unibet

This operator commonly appears as the best choice on our Football Odds page. The margin is around 4.8% for Premier League clashes and slightly above 5% overall. The outcome selection is vast, with 800+ outcomes for the top matches. Live streaming is available to registered punters, and a mobile sports betting application is also available. Upon registration, you can claim the Bet £10 & Get £40 bonus.

• Low Margin

• Many outcomes for top games

• Lucrative welcome offer

• Live streaming and Bet Builder

Join Here

№ 2

in bookmakers rating

£40

Join Here

#ad / 18+. BeGambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Min £10 debit card deposit. Place a £10+ bet at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days. Opt in for £20 in free bets and £20 Casino Bonus. Valid for 7 days. Geographical restrictions and T&C’s apply.

Casumo

While not the most popular choice, this sportsbook offers one of the smallest margins towards Premier League football. An average of 4.51% makes it one of the UK’s best football odds sites. Over 550 bets are available for selection for top matches. Bet Builder is available on each match tagged with a “BB” symbol. The navigation is easy, and convenient filters help quickly find the desired markets and events. Their welcome offer consists of 2x 50% Second Chance Free Bets if your two first wagers lose. 

• One of the best Premier League odds

• Bet Builder

• Convenient Interface

• Loss protection welcome offer 

Join Here

№ 101

in bookmakers rating

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UK players only - 18+ - BeGambleAware

Sky Bet

This operator might not be the best in terms of margin and odds, as the average fee is 6.60%. However, the licensing of top leagues, live broadcasts and other functionalities push it up the ranks. You can place both pre-match and In-Play wagers, though be prepared for the margin to skyrocket when the event starts. It typically takes 10 minutes for the odds to get back to normal. The outcome selection is one of the widest available in the UK market, with over 2000 for top clashes. New customers can claim £30 in Free Bets after placing a £5 stake. 

• 2000+ selections for premiere events

• Extensive live coverage

• Many licenses for streaming

• Features such as Bet Builder and Cash Out

Join Here

№ 72

in bookmakers rating

Join Here

UK players only - 18+ - BeGambleAware

William Hill

One of the oldest operating sportsbooks in the UK offers newcomers a Bet £10 & Get £30 as a welcome bonus. While the average margin is above 6.50%, Premier League matches generally foresee much lower fees under 5.5%. The interface is classy, and nothing unnecessary fills the page space, so the site loads fast. The outcome selection for football is rich - 2000+ per EPL clash. With additional functionality such as Cash Out and Bet Builder, this operator certainly deserves a try. 

• Wide choice of football outcomes

• Generous welcome promotion

• Bet Builder and Cash Out

• Fair prices for the Premier League

Join Here

№ 38

in bookmakers rating

£30

Join Here

#ad / 18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Full T&Cs apply. www.begambleaware.org

Football Betting & Odds FAQ