So, you're looking for a great site for online football betting, are you? Well, you've come to the right place! Betting on football involves a number of elements that you should consider. The most important of these is identifying legitimate soccer betting sites that are free of scams, slow payouts, and other unethical or unpleasant behavior.
You also need to grasp the core ideas that make for successful football betting. This means finding value, managing your bankroll, and living by a betting plan. Football is a short season, and if you want to beat the game over the long haul, it makes sense to understand the winning principles and go into each year fully armed with a plan. We're going to introduce you to those principles and that plan. So read on!
The sites listed above are the online sportsbooks that we've deemed to be the best on the web. If you read on, you'll get an idea of why our experts chose the sites they did and why the above list is safe to bet on. You'll also get some details about the guides and blog articles we've written about football betting and where to find them, because believe us, they'll improve your chances of having a comfortable, safe and successful online gambling experience.
Details on the Best Football Betting Sites
Each and every one of the various sources listed in the table above will provide you with a first class football betting experience. Let's take a closer look at each one to learn a little more about them. There may be aspects that you like that make them a good fit for you. I was also surprised to find out something interesting during the review process.
BetUS
Since the beginning of internet sports betting, BetUS has maintained its position, having been around since 1994. The company... has a good reputation among sports bettors, which is why it has lasted so long in this industry. They also receive a number of high profile endorsements, which is another sign of their good reputation and the fact that they have plenty of money to pay out on big winning bets.
Bovada
The Bovada brand is strong among the betting public. Their odds are practically the standard, and other sites often wait to see what Bovada does before posting their own. This shows how well liked and trusted they are in the industry, which should give you a lot of confidence when deciding whether or not to go with them.
BetOnline
In the entire online football betting industry, this site offers some of the most useful betting bonuses. BetOnline don't just rest on their laurels, they feed their existing customers a steady diet of offers that can make any bet on football a little more advantageous.
Everygame
You might think that this site is all about European sports. They definitely have that part down. But if you delve into the site, you'll find that they also offer an excellent selection of American Football betting markets. The site's slightly different perspective on the sport could be an advantage when you're using it compared to other sites.
SportsBetting.ag
This site is one of the fastest rising sites in the online football betting universe. A great plan and good resources have quickly put them among the top football sites, many of which have been around for a lot longer. You have to be excited about a site that seems to be on the rise, as it seems such sites could give you even better value in the not too distant future.
WagerWeb
Consider WagerWeb as one of the most innovative football betting sites. They create clever parlays for their punters, and they also give you more options in terms of buying and selling points in a spread. If you have a creative streak when it comes to betting, this should be one of the top sites on your must use list.
GT Bets
This site generates buzz about the NFL because of how much attention they pay to it. Football fans can't get enough of their NFL betting fix, and GT Bets serves it up all year round - not just during the 17-week regular season and postseason. 1. Catering to fans with one of the most extensive NFL betting menus in the industry. 2. They deliver on that menu, posting lines well in advance and offering live in-game wagering. 3. Answer the call of the faithful with quality, quantity and timely service.
Choosing Legitimate Football Betting Sites
Before we get into the best ways to win at football betting, you need to find a football betting site that offers all the bets you're looking for while providing the security and reliability our readers deserve. Once you've opened your account, we don't want you to have any worries other than who's going to win next week and whether or not they'll cover the spread. That means no sleepless nights worrying about the bookmaker running off with your money, or stressing out while dealing with molasses-like payout speeds.
In the following sections, we will explain the key variables our specialists look at when compiling our recommendations. If you're interested in a more detailed look at what each football betting site goes through during our review process, take a look at our article explaining site legitimacy.
Safety/Legitimacy
You are probably aware that betting on football is extremely popular, especially in North America. However, this presents a bit of a conundrum in the United States, because while football betting is legal in some parts of North America (and by various means in the provinces of Canada), the United States still clings to a rather outdated federal law that really should be repealed. However, I bet (ha!) that you are also aware of several ways in which U.S. citizens can and do bet on football. Those ways include: betting legally on-site in the few states that allow it; using various means (mainly the telephone) to place bets with offshore outfits in places like Costa Rica; and betting with no-holds-barred bookies that operate right here in the good old U.S.A.
History and Reputation
We don't just evaluate a football betting site based on current customer satisfaction or the terms and conditions they are currently offering; our team goes deeper. They analyze the history of the sites we recommend, looking for past consumer complaints or signs that they're on an industry blacklist. For example, it's not enough for a site to just be talking a good game right now. If we recommend you go there to place a football bet, it's because they have a history of not just talking the talk, but walking the walk from a consumer-friendly perspective.
Customer Experience
We do not stop at the security rating of your gaming finances and personal information. We also take a look at the ease and reliability of our affiliates' sportsbook websites. When you go to these sites, they better be well designed with sports, leagues and bet types that are easy to find and use. The football betting site should be aesthetically pleasing while working on many different devices and performing a number of different visual tricks without hiccups. Another facet of the customer experience that we prioritize is customer service or support. Our recommendations maintain a customer service department that is well staffed and offers multiple methods of contact, including email, phone, and instant messaging. If there are problems, we want them to be resolved without undue inconvenience to the customer. Errors can occur, but we thoroughly vet the services we recommend for responsiveness and helpfulness.
Betting Odds
Bonuses and Rewards
We wouldn't be doing our job if we didn't talk about all the free money these football betting sites are trying to give you! The new player bonuses reward you just for creating an account or depositing money. For just signing up you'll usually get some free bets, while the first deposit bonuses usually work by matching a percentage of your initial deposit amount. It's great to get free money up front, but the loyalty programs are where you can really score some fun prizes. The rewards from these programs can vary greatly depending on how much and how often you wager. The most common rewards are free games, some sort of merchandise, or cash back on a portion of your losses, which hopefully are not too large. For those who roll the big ones, these "gifts" can include concert tickets, vacations, and sometimes even cars!
Betting on Football Games
We have introduced you to the best football betting sites in the world, and now it is time to start betting on football! There are other leagues, of course, but when it comes to the highest level of the sport, it doesn't get much better than the NFL. Football betting sites don't just offer odds on games in this premier league. They also offer odds on the NCAA college game, and football betting sites even cover the Canadian Football League from time to time. While these are all leagues that play a version of football, the rules change a bit in each league, which means the betting strategies shift a bit with each option.
Each organization has its own guides where you can discover specialized advice, strategies and systems designed to increase your success rate and the amount of profit you make from betting on football. More articles and blog posts will be uploaded all the time with ◾ picks for upcoming events; ◾ general helpful advice; ◾ updates on all the latest happenings in football. Each league has a dedicated hub page where you can find more information tailored to the type of football you are interested in.
Betting on the NFL
There is no greater place in the world of football than the National Football League. Here, the best of the best compete for the sport's highest honors. Betting on the NFL is a world-class gambling attraction that draws millions to its games, not just to watch, but to bet. And when it comes to betting on the NFL, the Super Bowl is the pinnacle. There is no bigger betting event in North America.
You can bet on all sorts of things in the NFL. You can bet on the weekly matchups, who will win or lose, how many points will be scored, and not only that, you can even place season long bets on individual awards. Of course, there's betting on everything divisional, conference, and Super Bowl related. And let's not forget to mention prop bets, betting on the game as it happens (live betting), and other creative forms of betting that sportsbooks offer.
Betting on College Football
Every fall, one of America's great traditions takes place: college football. And online sportsbooks certainly take notice! Division I NCAA college football is played by hundreds of teams each year, ranging from perennial powerhouses you might put in your top 10 (or 25) to the tiny school down the street from your childhood home. The huge number of games gives bettors an almost unlimited number of opportunities to spot upsets and find bets with positive expected value.
Each week you will find a blog highlighting the games to watch in the coming days. There are also articles devoted to the art and science of betting on college sports, and another series of (much-needed) articles for those who can't quite get a handle on how it all works. It is a common belief among many people that betting on college football is more popular than betting on professional football. This is largely due to the pure tradition of college football and the more offensive nature of its style of play. The performances of the young college players are highly emotional, which offers unique gambling opportunities. But more on that later.
Betting on the CFL
Our neighbors to the north enjoy the Canadian Football League, and it is actually gaining some momentum in U.S. sportsbooks. This football is played on a much larger field, with the goal posts in front of the end zone, compared to the NFL. The rules about pre-game motions are also different, but one major difference is that the players are not as big as the players we see in an NFL game. Once you get used to the differences and the fact that the game is just as likely to be scoreless deep into the fourth quarter as it is to have a bunch of touchdowns, you realize that this version of football can be a lot of fun to watch.
In addition, you can enjoy the opportunity to see a plethora of college stars who just couldn't make it in the NFL. Individuals like Johnny Manziel, DeVier Posey, and Willie Jefferson are all lighting it up in the CFL, and most football betting sites cover action on all twenty weeks of the league, its season-long individual awards, and future odds on its championship game, the Grey Cup.
How to Bet on Football
You may be completely new to online gambling. Or maybe you have some experience, but have not placed football bets on any of the top sites. Either way, we are here to help you understand the process from start to finish.
Step 1: Site Signup
Once you have chosen the best site for you, the first step is to create an account. This involves a few straightforward questions after you select the "Join" or "Sign Up" option on the site's main interface. You'll also need to choose a username and password (you'll remember the latter, but as for the former, well, it might be a bit of a stretch if you think you're going to call me Nocturnal Wanderer). Then there's a few confirmation steps, the most important of which is to verify that you are indeed you, and that you have the right to use the account.
Step 2: Put Money into Your Account
In order to profit from online football betting, you must first wager real money. To secure that money, you need to use one of the deposit methods supported by your chosen soccer betting site. The best sites we have listed above offer a plethora of them - from well-established options like credit cards to relatively new and exciting choices like bitcoin.
Step 3: Collect Your Bonus
The bonuses offered by the best football betting sites are worth checking out. Why not take advantage of a free bet, a deposit bonus, an odds boost, or any other incentive the site gives you just for signing up? At the very least, it's a nice cushion for your bankroll that serves to soften the blow of a losing bet.
Check the terms and conditions of each promotion you're considering. Most sites require you to "play through" or "roll over" your bonuses. This means that you have to wager a certain amount before you can get your hands on those bonuses and, in some cases, the promotional offer itself. If the rollover is too high, the site may not be as generous as it seems.
Step 4: Make Your Football Bets
The majority of the leading football betting sites have dedicated sections for just that - betting on football. In fact, many sportsbook sites will have these markets listed front and center due to the fact that football is one of the major sports for betting. If you explore the deeper recesses of the football page, you will also find some betting options that are not tied to a specific game, such as proposition bets and futures.
Regardless, you'll need to select the bet (or bets) you're interested in and choose your preferred option. You'll also need to determine the amount of money you wish to wager. At the end of this process, you'll be presented with a digital betting slip confirming all the choices you've made.
Step 5: Withdrawing Your Winnings
When you decide that you are ready to collect your winnings (or the funds remaining in your account after placing losing bets on football), all you need to do is request a withdrawal. Similar to making a deposit, you will need to select a method that is convenient for you to withdraw the funds from your account. Next, you'll need to enter the amount you wish to withdraw and follow the steps required on the site to make the money available to you.
Be aware that there may be restrictions on the amounts you can withdraw, both at the high end and the low end. And don't expect to be able to withdraw any bonus money (if you've received it) until you've met all the requirements for using it. The Top Soccer Betting Sites
Football Betting Markets
When betting on football, you should always be looking for value, which you can only find if you have a wide range of bets to choose from. This means having access to a solid selection of football betting markets. Look for sites that allow you to bet on the Money Line, Over/Under, Point Spread, Props, and Futures so you can get the most out of your pigskin betting experience.
Football Live Betting
Betting on football while it's live means that you can place bets on games that have already started instead of being locked out at the start. Any site that does not offer this option is behind the times and lagging in accessibility. A football betting site should not only offer live betting, but also have fast odds updates to keep up with the action and give you the best chance of winning your live bets.
Football Betting Strategy
Believe it or not, there is more to football betting than simply analyzing a matchup and picking a side to win. Of course, you could just do that and hope for the best. But if you're trying to make it pay off and turn a decent profit, you definitely need to know some key concepts and tricks. That's why we've created these comprehensive, easy-to-follow guides. They're perfect for both summer preparation and last-minute study before the big Sunday games.
Football Betting Guides
Predicting the odds in football betting can be quite an ordeal. Why not let us do the hard work for you? In our articles on betting on the beautiful game, you will find all sorts of tips and tricks for making your weekly picks at an online sportsbook. What's more, our in-depth guides do a great job of breaking down some of the betting systems that have stood the test of time.
Whatever your level of commitment, we have a resource to help you with your sports betting. This is true even for those who just want to dabble in the occasional friendly wager. If you are a novice gambler who does it for entertainment, the advice and methods we provide are likely to be your best option. The more advanced guides, which dissect the systems and methods used by the pros, will be of most use to serious players who aspire to high-level handicapper status. Those who just want to get by will get by, whether through our beginner guides or otherwise. But the advanced players, the aspiring high-level services, will gain much more from what we're now offering.
Favorite Football Wagers
The term "betting on football" can have many different meanings. You can bet on the winner of a game or on a point spread. You can bet on the total number of points that both teams will score in a contest. Then there are parlays, which allow you to combine multiple individual bets, futures, which don't resolve until late in the season, and prop bets, which can be placed on absolutely anything. There are so many different types of bets when it comes to football betting. We have numerous articles dedicated to the many bets, each of which has its own set of rules and strategies to be aware of. And at the end of the day, betting football may mean something very different to you than it does to me.
Some common terms and bet types that you’ll find are:
- Moneyline - A bet that strictly picks the winner of the contest
- Spread - A bet that puts one team at a point disadvantage, in other words, gives an advantage to the team that is considered less likely to win
- Total - A bet on the total number of points scored by both teams in a contest.Futures - A bet on the final outcome of the season, whether it's a team winning an award or the championship
- Parlay - A means of combining multiple bets to produce larger payouts
- Proposition - Wagers that can be placed on anything from the toss of a coin to who will score the first point to the length of the national anthem;
Prop Betting
Parlay Betting
Teasers and Pleasers
Spread Betting/Handicap Betting
Totals (Over/Under) Betting
Sports Betting Guides
We provide a wealth of knowledge about sports betting in general. To get really good at picking winners, you need to learn how to find value, understand the odds - and what they mean - and convert them into implied probabilities. Then there's the basic concept of managing your bankroll and using a betting plan. All of these essential tools and lessons can be found throughout this site. Our experts have created a wealth of educational material to help you become a successful sports bettor.
Calculating Betting Odds
Understanding Implied Probability*
Sports Betting Bankroll Management
Creating Staking Plans*
Sports Betting Glossary
All About Football
To be successful at football betting, it's important to have a thorough understanding of the sport. You can get historical knowledge from our "All About Football" pages, where you can learn about the greatest players of all time, the most spectacular matches, and the history of the leagues. Having more knowledge certainly can't hurt, and sometimes it can be downright useful to have access to past data. You might even use it to figure out what might happen next.
The more you know, the better you'll be at football betting, so today we're going to take a look at some of the fascinating history and stories surrounding the sport itself. We'll also look at some of the most famous stadiums in the football world, delve into some of the most important controversies, and even go over the different sets of rules.
Recent Football Blogs and Predictions
If you want to find articles about upcoming games and expert picks, be sure to check out our "Latest Football Blogs" section often. There you'll find all the content our professional players produce on a weekly basis as they analyze the games ahead and try to come up with what they think are sleeper picks and winning bets to make at the sportsbooks. This content will be updated regularly, so come back for the latest, greatest and hottest info, picks and predictions from week to week!
