Everything you need to know about a soccer sportsbook?
There was a time when it was impossible for those who wanted to bet on football to do so without going to the casinos. Thanks to the advent of online gaming, access to a legitimate and legal soccer bookmaker (a gaming “house” for sports betting) is now possible.
However, there is more to choosing the winner of the game and collecting your winnings. There is a little more to the process. Soccer bets are not paid out based on a straight bet, a bet with no changes on the final score. Instead, spreads and odds play a part in the betting process. This is where a sports book comes into play. A solid and reliable bookmaker will establish fair betting lines that provide a fair playing field for the player and the house.
Why are straight bets not used? Basically, some teams are better than others and if a team with a 12-0 record were to play a team with a 1-11 record, 99% of the bets would be on the favourite. This would break the house bank if the favorite won. This is an unsustainable business model that requires the concept of odds and lines.
Basically, a sportsbook will offer a line where a handicap is placed on the favourite. A certain number of points will be taken from the favorite and given to the underdog. That is why you will see a numerical figure and a minus sign next to the favorite team. This figure is taken into account in the final result of the game.
For example, if the Eagles are (-2) against the Cowboys, the Eagle must win by three for anyone who bets on them to collect. Similarly, if someone were to beat the Cowboys, it would be possible to win the bet if the Cowboys lose by 1. If the final counted result is a tie, then the game would be a tie.
Within football betting another bet is offered that involves an over and under bet. As the name implies, you would bet if the combined final score is higher or lower than a predicted number. So if the plus and minus is 30, you can bet whether the count will be over or under 30 or not. 35.
This means that it is possible to place bets on both the game itself and the over/under game. Some may choose to use the over/under as coverage, although many seek to “clean” and win both bets. In some cases, this is the actual result.
No, the odds numbers are not randomly pulled out of thin air. They are based on careful research of team rosters, win-loss history, injury reports, and other factors.
Of course, different sportsbooks will have different lines. However, the numerical range will not be too different. Again, the lines are based on legitimate factors and not non-empirical data. As long as you sign up with a legitimate bookmaker, you shouldn’t have these problems.
Finding a reputable sportsbook can sometimes be like searching for a needle in a haystack. However, with a little internet research, you’ll be in the game before you know it.