Football Betting: Markets, Bet Types and Free Bets
Football attracts more bets than any other sport in the UK, and the number of markets can feel overwhelming. This guide explains the bets you will see most often and how football promotions work.
Popular football markets
Most football betting happens on a handful of markets:
- Match result (1X2): home win, draw or away win over 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties don't count unless the market says so.
- Double chance: two of the three results in one bet, such as home win or draw. Shorter odds, but two ways to win.
- Draw no bet: your stake is returned if the match ends level.
- Both teams to score (BTTS): a simple yes or no, whatever the result.
- Over/under goals: whether total goals finish above or below a line, such as 2.5.
- Correct score and first, last or anytime goalscorer.
- Handicaps, including Asian handicaps, which give one side a head start to level up a mismatch.
Match result, BTTS and goal lines
These three markets account for most single bets. A few things are worth knowing:
- Goal lines use half-goals so there's always a winner: over 2.5 goals needs three or more goals in the match.
- BTTS "yes" doesn't care who wins. A 1-1 draw and a 3-1 home win both settle as winners.
- You can combine these markets in a bet builder, but every extra leg adds the bookmaker's margin again.
If you're not sure how to read the prices, our guide to how betting odds work covers fractional and decimal odds.
Accumulators and bet builders
An accumulator (acca) combines selections from different matches into one bet. The odds are multiplied together, so returns grow quickly, but every selection has to win. Four selections at 2.00 each make a combined price of 16.00, so £10 would return £160. If any one of them loses, the whole bet loses.
A bet builder combines selections from the same match, such as a home win, over 2.5 goals and a named player to score. Because those outcomes are linked, the bookmaker prices the combination as a whole rather than simply multiplying the individual odds.
Work out the return on any multiple with our acca calculator.
In-play football betting
Odds move throughout a match as goals, cards and the run of play change the picture. Popular in-play markets include next goal, match result and total goals, and markets are suspended for a few moments after big incidents such as goals and penalties. Our in-play betting guide explains how live odds and cash out work.
Football promotions at our featured bookmakers
Weekly football offers come and go, but two promotions run across our featured brands:
- Acca Super Boost. SaviBet, LuckCity and BetBlink boost the winnings on qualifying winning multiples. See acca boosts explained.
- 1UP Early Payout. BetFusion and PlayWins settle a qualifying match-result bet as a winner if your team goes one goal ahead, on selected matches. Our early payout guide has worked examples.
Here are the current welcome offers for new customers, with the key terms beside each one:
Editor's pick Position 1
BetFusion iOS app
Code BFUS10 on your first deposit
Get a £10 Free Bet
Code BFUS10- Min deposit £10
- Min odds 6/4 (2.5) combined
- Max conversion £100 free bet winnings
- Valid 7 days
18+ New customers only. First deposit of £10+ by Visa, Mastercard or Apple Pay using code BFUS10. Place a £10+ qualifying ACCA or Bet Builder (2+ selections, combined odds 6/4 or bigger) to get one £10 Free Bet for an ACCA or Bet Builder on the same terms; free bet stake not returned. Horse racing, greyhounds and virtual sports excluded. Qualifying bet and free bet must be placed within 7 days of the deposit. Max free bet winnings £100. One per person, household, device and IP address. 18+. T&Cs apply.
Great offer Position 2
PlayWins iOS app
Code PWIN10 on your first deposit
Get a £10 Free Bet
Code PWIN10- Min deposit £10
- Min odds 6/4 (2.5) combined
- Max conversion £100 free bet winnings
- Valid 7 days
18+ New customers only. First deposit of £10+ by Visa, Mastercard or Apple Pay using code PWIN10. Place a £10+ qualifying ACCA or Bet Builder (2+ selections, combined odds 6/4 or bigger) to get one £10 Free Bet for an ACCA or Bet Builder on the same terms; free bet stake not returned. Horse racing, greyhounds and virtual sports excluded. Qualifying bet and free bet must be placed within 7 days of the deposit. Max free bet winnings £100. One per person, household, device and IP address. 18+. T&Cs apply.
- Position 3
SaviBet SaviBet iOS app
New players: deposit £10 and place £10 in bets
Deposit £10, Get a £20 Free Bet
- Min deposit £10
- Wagering 1x
- Min odds 1.5 (1/2)
- Max conversion £200
- Valid 7 days
18+ New players only. Deposit £10+ via the sports cashier and place £10 in qualifying real-money bets. Get a one-time £20 free bet: min odds 1.5 (1/2), free bet stake not returned. Free bet winnings wagered 1x; max conversion £200. Free bet and bonus valid 7 days. Skrill and Neteller deposits excluded. One sports welcome offer per customer across the ProgressPlay network. Withdrawal requests void active bonuses. 18+. T&Cs apply.
Only one sports welcome offer can be claimed per customer across the ProgressPlay network (including SaviBet, LuckCity and BetBlink).
For every current free bet offer, see our free bets page, and before you claim one, read our seven free bet terms to check.
Betting responsibly on football
With matches on almost every day of the week, football betting can creep up on you. Decide on a weekly budget, use the deposit limits every UK-licensed bookmaker has to offer, and resist the temptation to chase a losing weekend with a bigger acca. Our guide to deposit limits shows how to set them up.
Keep it fun
Set a budget before you play, never chase losses and take regular breaks. Gambling should never be a way to make money. Free, confidential help is available from GamCare or the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.
