There are more ways to bet on football than ever before.
You can bet on 100s of different outcomes across 100s of leagues.
You can bet in-play, you can cash out, you can even request a bet on Twitter!
What’s next betting on what Harry Kane is going to have for breakfast?
Despite the array of betting opportunities we have to be careful that we are getting the best value for our bets and not overlooking traditional football markets that could potentially make us greater returns.
I’m not disputing that the new features are fun and its a good thing that football betting is evolving, but let us consider whether this is beneficial to the bet we are placing rather than the bookmaker we are placing it with.
Of course, Bookmakers are a business so anyway they can maximise their revenues makes sense and the new methods certainly do that. As a punter the aim is to maximise our revenues, or at least one of our aims as well as being entertained and enjoying the experience.
The new markets certainly improve the entertainment factor of betting, who doesn’t enjoy the thrill of in-play? Or the satisfaction and foresight of cashing out a bet that goes on to lose? So in that respect they are a good thing. However as a punter its also important to consider which are the most profitable markets.
One of the markets that bookmakers take a low return on is the good old 1X2 market. Backing teams to win, draw or lose. This is the staple football market and I think the reason the bookies take a smaller cut (in general) on this market is that its the most competitive, has the most liquidity and is the most heavily researched.
You will also find that the bookmakers take a higher percentage on obscure matches than popular ones. Obviously the bookmaker doesn’t really know the ins and outs of every single football match, and they can get caught out on the lower leagues so to offset this they simply increase their margin of error.
If you are going to bet on Football here are the markets I would recommend…
1X2 or Asian Handicap
To take a specific random example here is the percentage the bookies took on Man Utd v Watford on these markets
1X2: Average = 3.6%
AH -1 (Man U) = 3.5%
If we look at 2 other markets we see the bookies are making more on average…
First Half Betting = 6.1%
BTTS = 5.8%
I researched more matches in this Football Betting Article Here
This example shows AH and 1X2 make the bookies less in percentage on average in comparison to other higher percentage markets for First Half Betting and Both Teams to Score.
For the newer forms of betting such as In-play betting you have to consider the percentage the bookmaker is taking as compared to pre-match odds.
Also for cash-out you have to consider whether you are really not better off just sticking out the bets rather than bailing out for minimal gain.
To view more insightful betting information please visit the site below…
