Soccer Betting in Illinois

Love soccer? We do, too. They call it, “the beautiful game” for a reason. The acrobatic leaps, the gorgeous passes, and the electrifying goals make soccer (or football, in many countries) incredibly fun to watch. Soccer betting adds to the excitement, making you feel like your part of the action unfolding on the pitch. Check out the wide variety of soccer bets at BetRivers Illinois Sportsbook today and make your wagers!

Unlike many other major professional sports, you can bet on soccer most of the year. Thanks to the English Premier League, Bundesliga, Major League Soccer, and of course, intermittent and spectacular World Cup, soccer games are almost always in action. That makes for a lot of great sports television and provides ample betting opportunities for savvy bettors.

Soccer betting is fabulously popular around the world. It also features many wagering markets you don’t find in other sports. We’ll explain some of the common rules of soccer, as well as the betting systems you’ll find at sportsbooks like BetRivers Illinois Sportsbook.

Soccer matches are straightforward – each game is made 90 minutes long, divided into halves of 45 minutes, with a resting period of 15 minutes between the two halves. The objective is simple -- to score more goals than the other team. Each team fields 11 players at a time, with occasional substitutions.

Red flags, player changes, and injuries often a match’s outcome. Importantly, these shifts also cause changes to soccer odds, not just in the current game, but also in future games. Understanding these subtleties is key to making smart soccer bets.

Factors to consider when betting on soccer

Let’s start with some basic soccer betting tips. Before you bet, assess each team’s home and away records.

For example, one team might have a stellar home record, and is set to play a team with a poor road record. Taken as a whole this data would seem to strongly indicate that the home team is likely to win. Combine this information with your knowledge of player matchups, injuries, motivation, and other factors, and you may be able to spot soccer bets with great value.

Discipline – Why does discipline matter? When undisciplined clubs play teams that have an ability to draw a lot of fouls, the red cards start flying, and players will be disqualified. These situations can drastically change the course of the game.

Check the Weather – Weather can have a dramatic effect on a team’s playing style. For example, heavy rain may favor teams that play long balls from defense to attack. On the other hand, a downpour may negatively affect teams that depend on short and quick passes.

High winds may be an advantage to teams that love to keep the ball low to the ground. But for the teams that are accustomed to the long ball playing style, they might have a hard time keeping the ball under control.

Understanding Soccer Betting Odds

In comparison to betting on other major sports, there are notable differences when it comes to betting on soccer, particularly regarding how the moneyline works. In other sports, when you play the moneyline, you either choose the favorite or the underdog. But because soccer matches can potentially in end in a draw, soccer moneylines have a third option. It’s called a three-way bet, because you can bet on one team to win, or for the match to end in a draw.

Many bettors prefer the three-way moneyline. That’s because heavy favorites can be found at more favorable odds, simply because of the possibility of a draw. On the other hand, many bettors simply prefer to choose a side, hoping against a draw. In doing so, they leave themselves at the mercy of tie games.

The catch is a lot of soccer matches end in draws. When two teams seem equally matched it’s often smart to bet on draws. The good news is that you can often find ties with odds of +150 or better before a match, so your potential payout is quite good.

Soccer Betting Tips

Have a Budget- if you have been betting for some time then you know it’s important to set your bankroll limits and stick to them. In the end, this makes all sports betting more enjoyable.

Tail Expert Bettors – Sharp bettors often share soccer betting insights online. Check the success rate of well-regarded tipsters and you may find yourself with solid betting information that you can leverage for great payouts.

Don’t wait, check out soccer odds and place your soccer bets at BetRivers Illinois Sportsbook today!