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Soccer Betting Online

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, and the sheer number of available leagues and games fuels significant betting interest. People enjoy rooting for their favorite teams and betting on their favorite sporting events.


However, newbies tend to have difficulties with selecting the best soccer betting sites for their gambling adventures. It's understandable given the sheer number of available options, the majority of which do not provide the best services. That’s what we’re here for! In this article, we’ve included our top picks of soccer betting sites online. Let’s go!

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Written by

Patrick Meyer
Patrick Meyer

🎖Top 10 Sites to Bet on Soccer in 2024

How We Choose The Best Soccer Betting Sites

There are several betting sites available online, making it challenging for newbies to know which is reliable or not. But, not to worry, we’ve done the legwork for you by providing you with our top list. Below are the factors we considered in selecting the best soccer gambling sites.

Licence

A reliable sportsbook should be licensed by appropriate authorities such as the Malta Gaming Authority and Gibraltar. Without the proper licensing, the website cannot assure you of fairness and safety. It is essential to know that your banking and personal information is safe and secure, which is why we only choose sites with the latest SSL encryption.

Betting Markets

The best online soccer betting sites offer a wide range of betting markets. That is, they accept wagers in the most significant leagues. You can expect to see wagers on the MLS, La Liga, FIFA, and Premier Soccer League. Access to the major soccer leagues is essential, but gaining flexibility with your betting options within those leagues should not be overlooked. We only recommend sportsbooks that offer the most options and increased flexibility.

Betting Bonuses

The average sportsbooks offer players lucrative incentives to entice them to their sites. We advise every gambler to take advantage of these bonuses since they serve as an excellent way to increase your soccer betting bankroll. The top betting sites provide bonuses that are juicy and with reasonable wagering requirements.

Betting Odds

Getting the best price for your soccer bets is vital for a profitable betting strategy. Some betting sites are hesitant to risk paying out at large odds. The top soccer betting sites on our list, on the other hand, provide competitive odds.

How to Bet on Soccer

Now that we've narrowed down the options for the best soccer betting sites in South Africa, below, we'll walk you through the process of getting started below.

  • Register - The first step is to create an account with your preferred sportsbook. Click on the “Sign Up” button, and you’ll be directed to fill in some information such as your full name, age, email address and home address. You’ll also be required to choose a unique username and password as your login details; be sure to keep these safe from third parties.
  • Deposit - You’ll have to deposit some funds into your betting account to place real money wagers. Check out the “Deposit” or “Cashier” section. Most of the recommended sites on this page provide reliable payment options, so select the one you are most comfortable using. Then, deposit any amount while taking note of the minimum deposit allowed on the platform.
  • Place Your Wagers - With your account funded, you are free to check out the betting markets that interest you the most. Enter the amount you want to bet and confirm the transaction. The selection will appear on your betting slip, showing the potential payout for any wager you place.

Soccer Bets Online: The Best Soccer Betting Markets

With so many betting markets available online, it may be challenging to select the best. Most bookmakers will offer dozens of betting markets, especially for big matches and major football leagues, but one must exercise caution when choosing bets. It is necessary for bettors to become acquainted with all of them, or at least the most popular ones, in order to maximise their chances of winning. If you’re new to the betting world, you might be confused about where to begin. Luckily, we'll be looking at the best soccer betting markets in this section to help narrow down your options.

  • Double Chance - A double chance bet allows you to cover two out of three possible outcomes in a soccer match. You can bet on a Draw or Away win (Draw or Away),  Home win or Draw (Home or Draw), or a Home win or Away win (Home or Away).

  • Correct Score - The Correct score market consists of several outcomes related to the game's final score. Because there are several possible outcomes, the Correct score market offers lucrative odds. This makes the market relatively risky, but it also provides higher profits.

  • Draw No Bet - The Draw No Bet is less risky and is often referred to as an insurance bet. This market has only two possible outcomes: a home or an away win. If the game ends in a tie, you will receive your money back.

  • Over/Under - You do not have to bet on a team or the game's outcome in this type of bet, but rather on the number of goals in a soccer match. There are numerous options available, including:

    Over - Your team will score more points or goals than you specified.
    Under - Your team will score fewer points or goals than specified.

  • Match Odds - Without a doubt, the most popular betting market is the match odds market. It allows you to wager on the overall outcome of the game, such as whether it will end in a home win, an away win, or a draw.

What Is the Minimum Bet I Can Make?

The minimum bet amount varies among betting sites. Some sportsbooks may require a minimum of R25, while some may go as low as R15. Be sure to check through the terms & conditions of the sportsbook to be on the safe side.

What Is the Maximum Bet I Can Make?

The maximum bet will also depend on the soccer betting site of your choice. So, it’s your job to do due diligence by checking the rules of the platform before placing your wagers.

What Is the House Edge on Soccer Bets?

The term "House Edge" refers to the mathematical advantage that the sportsbook has over you as you play over time. There’s no specified house edge for soccer games, however, each betting site provides you with the house edge for each game on their website.

Soccer Betting Odds Explained

Before you begin placing bets, you must first learn how to read the odds for each wager. The odds will determine whether or not the risk of placing a bet is worthwhile. Odds are presented in three different formats, which are:

Betting Odds

American Odds

In the United States, odds are centred on winning or wagering $100 on a given bet, with odds represented by a plus (+) and minus (-) sign to indicate the favourite and underdog. A positive number signifies how much profit you’ll make if you bet $100(R1800). For example, if the odds are +200, it means that if you bet R1800 on that outcome and it wins, you will receive R200 plus your original R1800 stake (R2000 total).


Meanwhile, a negative number represents the amount you must stake to profit $100 (which is R1800). For example, if the odds are -150, you would need to wager R150 to win R1800 on a successful outcome.

Betting Odds

Fractional Odds

Fractional odds indicate the potential winnings in relation to the stake you place on the bet. The numerator represents the winning amount, while the denominator signifies the corresponding bet. For example, if the odds are 5/2, a R2 bet will pay out a R7 win (R5 profit plus R2 staked).

Betting Odds

Decimal Odds

To calculate your decimal odds, you simply multiply your stake by the decimal odds offered. However, remember that the potential return includes your stake. For example, odds of 2.25 on a R200 bet would be calculated as:
Odds x Stake = 2.25 x R200 = R450 in winnings

Pre-Match vs Live Soccer Betting

Pre-match betting requires the bettor to place their wager before the event begins, while in live betting, the wagering goes on throughout the soccer event. One of the advantages of pre-match betting is that it gives you more time for analysis. You have the time to examine stats, current team forms, and personal match histories before making a decision. The odds are also less likely to fluctuate in pre-match betting. However, once the game starts, you’re not allowed to change your bets.

While in live betting, you can change your mind and bet a larger amount on the new favourite, overlapping the previous bet. Another advantage of the live betting option is watching the game unfold and making the right decision at the right time. However, emotions are in play here and can make you choose the wrong bet.

Soccer Betting Features to Look Out for

There are betting features that can help skyrocket your gambling experience. These are:

  1. Odds Boost

Enhanced odds are promotions offered by betting sites in which the operator intentionally boosts the odds of specific betting markets to make them more appealing. Think of them as a discount or sales price. Enhanced odds are an excellent way for new bettors to experiment with different bet types and events at competitive odds.

  1. Cash Out

It is a betting feature that allows punters to withdraw their bet before the game ends. This provides sports bettors with better decision-making options and control over their bets, which they can now end and settle with the bookmaker at any time.

  1. Multi Bets

A Multi (also known as "All-Up," "Parlay," or "Accumulator") is a type of bet that allows punters to combine multiple single bets into one wager, with each single constituting a leg of the Multi Bet. The more legs you add to a multi-bet, the higher the risk and the greater the reward.

Our Top Soccer Betting Tips & Strategies for Successful Betting

Betting on soccer can be a lot of fun, especially when you’re winning and to win, you need the best hands to show you the right steps. We’ve compiled some soccer betting tips and strategies to help you find success as you journey into the world of online gambling. They might seem straightforward, but we can assure you better chances of winning with these tips.

  • Bet on the favourites
  • Analyse the team’s strengths and weaknesses 
  • Compare available odds
  • Keep a record of your wagers
  • Focus on one sport and a few leagues
  • Remove emotion from betting

The Most Common Soccer Betting Mistakes to Avoid

When it comes to sports betting, you can try your hardest to make the best bet. But, in the end, betting is a game of chance in which anything can happen. Sometimes you win, other times, you lose. What matters most is that you don't jeopardise your chances of winning by making careless mistakes. We’ll be discussing some of the most common soccer betting mistakes that punters make, as well as our expert advice on how to avoid them. 

Chasing Losses

Chasing losses entails placing sports bets to compensate for lost funds. Even though it is discouraged, this is a common occurrence among bettors. Chasing your losses will almost always result in more losses. Instead of betting to make up for lost money, consider devising betting strategies to increase your chances of winning.

Betting Blindly

Betting blind refers to placing bets without conducting any research. It is a minor mistake that can cost you a lot of money. Therefore, we advise you to conduct proper research before adding a selection to a bet slip.

Unrealistic Expectations

Refrain from starting your betting adventure with unrealistic expectations, convincing yourself that this will be your lucky break. Instead, be realistic in your expectations, set achievable goals, play in moderation, and most importantly, enjoy the thrill of sports betting.

Mobile Soccer Betting

With the rise in active mobile users worldwide, it’s only pertinent that soccer betting sites provide the option of betting on mobile devices. Today, you’ll find sportsbooks that are mobile-optimised; some even go to the extent of creating apps for a seamless gaming experience. With mobile soccer betting, you can bet on the go from anywhere.

FAQs

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Is betting on soccer profitable?

With adequate research and the right bet, soccer betting can be highly profitable.

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Is soccer betting rigged?

No, sports betting on reliable betting sites is not rigged. This is why you should only choose from the best bookmakers available online.

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How do you bet on soccer?

It’s easy. All you have to do is choose a reputable gambling site, make a deposit, choose your bet and start having fun.

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Where can you bet on soccer?

Sports betting sites that provide odds on soccer are the best places to bet on soccer.

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How betting on soccer works?

You choose an odd and place your wagers. If your bet wins, you get a payout.

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What is the best way to bet on soccer?

The best way to bet on soccer is by using the right tips and tricks for a successful wager.

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What is the best market to bet on soccer?

The best market to bet on will depend on your personal choice. However, Match odds, Draw No Bet, and Double Chance are good options.

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How to bet on soccer in South Africa?

Betting on soccer is the same everywhere. Simply choose a bookmaker and start placing your bets.

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Is soccer betting legal in South Africa?

Yes, soccer betting is legal in South Africa, providing you gamble with a licensed operator.

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How do I place a bet on a soccer match?

Choose the game you want to bet on and the odds, then place your wagers. That simple!

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What is the most popular type of bet on soccer matches?

Correct Score is the most popular type of bet on soccer games.

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What is the average payout on soccer bets?

There’s no specific payout on soccer bets. Your payout will depend on the odds and stake wagered.

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Are there any special bets I can make on soccer matches?

Yes, there are. Props bets are special wagers on events that may or may not happen during a game.

Author Patrick Meyer portrait
Patrick MeyerFactCheckIcon

Product Owner and Editor

Patrick is the face of Onlinegamblingsa.co.za - he joined us years ago as a freelance writer and came up through the ranks to become an indispensable part of the team. He's our secret weapon, our gambling expert and a massively talented writer with a knack to make complicated things simple, all while writing with journalistic objectivity.

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