Best League To Bet On Soccer

La Liga is the only other league that challenges the Premier League regarding popularity and quality of play. Some might argue the Spanish league has an edge when it comes to star power with Messi and Ronaldo competing against each other every year. German Football – Bundesliga. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will not be considered the Premier League’s best-ever team until they complete a clean sweep of trophies including the Champions League, according to Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta. City equalled their club record unbeaten run of 28 matches when they beat Wolves 4-1 on Tuesday, which was also their 21st successive win. Not only are Englishmen electric soccer fans, but they’re also avid soccer betting enthusiasts too. That said, it’s no wonder their top tier domestic competition, the Premier League, attracts a huge amount of attention, both domestic and international.

Soccer betting is continuing to become more popular in the US every year.

The sport might take a backseat to NFL football and basketball, but with so many different leagues, soccer markets are expanding at American sportsbooks.

With more states offering legalized online sports betting than ever before, most are home to multiple online sportsbooks that feature a variety of soccer betting odds.

Most popular leagues to bet on at legal US sportsbooks

Soccer is, by far, the world’s most popular sport overall. More than 4 billion fans follow soccer worldwide.

In Europe, there is no question of which sport is tops in popularity. Every country in Europe includes multiple professional leagues. These consist of the English Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga.

Besides the most wagered-on leagues, European teams play in club and international tournaments. The best club teams every year compete in the UEFA Champions League. The Euro is another top competition consisting of international clubs.

Domestically, many in the US wager on Major League Soccer, along with the top leagues in the world. The World Cup is another top event bet on everywhere.

For those who love soccer, most legal sportsbooks include odds on additional leagues. There are hundreds of soccer leagues to bet on when you consider the subdivisions and every nation with the sport.

Soccer betting during coronavirus shutdowns

Soccer is one of the select sports watched and gambled on in this country. It also helps that there are a lot fewer markets to bet on at the moment.

Since many US sports are postponed, soccer is one of the few live sports remaining for bettors. Several other countries around the globe are still playing matches regularly. Not to mention, these leagues are most likely available at your favorite online sportsbook.

Soccer in Belarus is now one of the favorites at some of the top books. The league gives betting platforms plenty of options for weekly matches.

Soccer matches are playing in Nicaragua as well, and Germany’s premier level, the Bundesliga, is also back.

Mobile betting apps provide a variety of betting options for every soccer match. Leagues that are showcased will include multiple markets, like game and player props, in addition to standard lines.

In which states can I legally bet on soccer?

The following shows the states where soccer betting is legal and markets are available at sportsbooks:

StateIs sports betting legal?Is online sports betting legal?
ArkansasYesNo
ColoradoYesYes
DelawareYesYes, launch undetermined
IndianaYesYes
IowaYesYes
MississippiYesYes, on-property only
MontanaYesYes
NevadaYesYes
New JerseyYesYes
New MexicoYes, at multiple tribal casinosNo
New YorkYesNo
North CarolinaYes, pending launchNo
OregonYesYes
PennsylvaniaYesYes
Rhode IslandYesYes
TennesseeYes, pending launchYes, pending launch
Washington DCYes, pending launchYes, pending launch
West VirginiaYesYes

Like with most sports, soccer matches can include a wide variety of betting markets. All sportsbooks should provide the basics: moneylines, goal lines and totals.

Odds can get much more extensive, though. Depending on the sportsbook and which match you’re looking to wager, you may find player, team, and game props.

Player props could include:

  • First goalscorer
  • Last goalscorer
  • Will a player score?
  • Will a player be carded?
  • How a player scores

Team props have odds for team totals, match results, whether the team total will be odd or even, if a team wins both halves or if a team wins in a shootout.

Game props consist of picking the correct score, halftime/full-time results, winning margin or if there will be a goal in both halves.

These will vary on which betting app you’re using, and the popularity of the league and teams. MLS, along with Europe’s top leagues and tournaments, will usually feature a wide selection of betting options.

Soccer betting apps

Like with most legalized sports betting, the majority of soccer wagers are placed through mobile sports betting apps. These online sportsbooks are convenient because you’re able to bet at any time while located anywhere in your state.

Instead of traveling to the nearest retail sportsbook, you can access soccer markets from your mobile device.

Depending on which state you live in, there are plenty of great online sportsbooks. The best mobile platforms have an abundance of betting markets, including live in-game wagering.

Some of the best options available are DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM.

DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKings was one of the first mobile betting apps to launch in the US. It’s had success in several states and delivers a quality sports betting product.

The DraftKings mobile app is very user-friendly and offers competitive lines for every sport. DraftKings showcases as many betting options for soccer matches as any other book in any market.

You will find every game from every league, with a range of markets for each. The online sportsbook also features extensive live betting options.

FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel is another top sports betting app and is among the best online sportsbooks available in any market.

Like DraftKings, FanDuel has had a lot of success and is continuing to expand. It is also available in multiple states across the US.

FanDuel’s soccer markets are intricate as well. The online sportsbook lists a bunch of odds for every game, including lots of prop bets. It even gives alternate lines for total goals.

Live betting on soccer with FanDuel is great too. You’re able to choose from plenty of markets with highly competitive odds.

BetMGM Sportsbook

BetMGM has also been successful and is popping up in additional states around the US. The mobile betting app is great for wagering on soccer, as well as many other sports.

Similar to the other apps mentioned, BetMGM provides soccer bettors everything they need. It includes odds for all types of leagues and competitions.

You can choose between many betting markets, too. Beyond the standard lines, BetMGM includes a long list of props for every game.

Its live in-game betting markets are among the best, as well.

How does betting on soccer work for US sports bettors?

Betting on soccer is a little more confusing than betting on a lot of other team sports. While you can wager strictly on a match’s outcome through a moneyline bet in most sports, that isn’t the case with soccer.

Because matches can (and often do) end in a draw, most sportsbooks provide three-way moneylines for soccer.

You’re eligible to bet on either team playing, as well as a draw. Therefore, if you pick one of the teams’ moneylines to win a match and it ends in a tie, then you lose your bet.

Even if you’ve taken the underdog with long odds, you have to bet on a draw to occur in order not to lose your wager.

In a lot of other sports, typically, a draw means that your bet pushes. However, since sportsbooks give you that option in soccer, your selection must be correct to win.

Best League To Bet On Soccer Today

Some books will give you alternate two-way moneyline odds. Of course, the odds for each side are slightly reduced. However, a draw results in a push rather than a loss.

Another interesting part is the point spread for soccer matches, also known as the goal line.

While sports like baseball and hockey always feature the same spread for each game (-1.5) with adjustable odds, soccer is different. Despite some matches being low scoring, goal lines can drastically differ.

Usually, they’re listed around 1-2 goals, but in some cases, a team could be laying as many as 5 goals.

Like with all sports, the favorite giving the goal line must cover the spread in order for you to win the wager. It’s possible to push in this scenario as well, only if the spread is an even number (-1, -2, etc.).

Soccer

Betting on totals in soccer is about the same as other sports, too. You’re able to wager on how many total goals are scored in the match by both teams.

The over/under will be set at a specific number. If there are more goals scored than the set total, then the over cashes.

Another nuance of soccer betting is that most bets are designated for full-time results. So, this means that only the scoring and outcomes from the first 90 minutes of the game count.

Best Soccer Leagues Ranking

While this usually marks the conclusion of most matches, certain games could be eligible to go to extra time. Matches that occur in competitions, like the World Cup or Champions League, could include two extra periods of play or a penalty shootout. Typically, anything that happens during the extra time will not count toward any of the betting lines.

Outside of these common bet types, soccer wagering can include a lot of other options like team, game and player props.

Player props mostly consist of just the top players for each game. You can put action down on if a player is the first goalscorer, if they’ll score at any point in the game, or if they’ll score multiple goals.

Other props involving assists, cards and how a player scores exist.

These types of soccer bets have much better odds than the regular lines provided for matches. Obviously, it depends on the player, but the majority of goal props have plus odds and can even range well over +1000.

Live betting in soccer is just as popular as it is in other sports and sportsbooks provide more than enough options.

You’ll be able to bet on updated odds for the moneyline, goal line, total and more with most mobile platforms. A lot of the best apps include a lot of other markets, like alternates for the standard lines along with some props.

Live betting for soccer should be available at every legal online sportsbook. More important matches in the elite leagues around the world will probably have more options than others.

Which soccer leagues can I bet on right now?

Since the majority of pro sports are on hold at the moment, there aren’t nearly as many soccer markets to wager on. Sportsbooks now offer betting odds for the remaining soccer leagues still playing, even if they are not nearly as popular.

Currently, these leagues are active and available to wager on at sportsbooks:

  • Belarus Pro League
  • Chinese Taipei
  • Nicaragua
  • South Korea
  • Turkmenistan

Although these leagues are helping fill the void in gambling markets, soccer fans are anxious for the major leagues to return. Here are the most recent updates for the most popular leagues in the world:

UEFA Champions League

The Champions League, probably the biggest event in soccer, consists of Europe’s best club soccer teams. The competition often includes some of the best clubs in the world like Barcelona, Real Madrid, PSG, Juventus and Bayern Munich.

The tournament plans to come back in the quarterfinal round in July. If all goes to plan, the Champions League final will play in Istanbul on Aug. 29.

English Premier League

England’s top-flight league is one of the most popular and competitive soccer leagues anywhere. With Liverpool on the brink of their first league title since 1990, it is uncertain of when the Premier League will come back.

EPL restarted in June 2020.

La Liga

Spain’s top league has an uncertain future, as well. Barcelona and Real Madrid are both eager to return in their attempt at another title.

La Liga returned in June 2020.

Serie A

All

Italy’s premier league has already been cleared to begin training on May 18. Serie A restarted in June 2020.

Bundesliga

The top German league is back on the field after a lengthy shutdown delay.

Bet on the Euros/World Cup 2022

Besides betting on individual games, a lot of soccer bettors place futures wagers on big tournaments. Two of the biggest upcoming events are the European Championship and the 2022 World Cup.

You’re able to bet on both tournaments several months in advance. Futures will include multiple options when the competitions are closer to starting. However, some sportsbooks already have odds posted for which team will win the title.

These odds are favorable since there are a lot of teams in each tournament and because they haven’t started yet. Most sportsbooks will continue to provide updated odds to win the matches as they progress, too.

Both events include several qualifying tournaments and matches teams must play in order to make the field. Once the teams are set, both competitions begin with every squad formed in groups.

Those teams play each other to determine which can advance. The group winner, as well as the runner-up, move on to the knockout stage. The standings are based on points and goal differential.

Euro 2020

The Euro 2020 won’t play until 2021, but will still be regarded as the Euro 2020 Championship. Twenty-four teams will play in 12 different host countries. The final is set for July 11, 2021, at Wembley Stadium in London.

World Cup 2022

The next World Cup is set to play in 2022; however, the location is still up in the air. It was originally scheduled to take place in Qatar, but bribery allegations have opened up discussions about relocating.

The tournament will include 32 teams. If Qatar remains the host country, the World Cup final is scheduled for Dec. 18, 2022.

Betting on MLS

The most popular soccer league played in the US is Major League Soccer. MLS first started in 1996 and has come a long way since then.

It now features 26 total teams and is attracting a lot more attention from fans and bettors. While wagers on MLS don’t reach the handle generated for NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, they have closed the gap.

MLS is now regarded as a respectable soccer league with a lot of quality players throughout it.

It’s currently in its 25th season, with all matches postponed at the moment. Every team has only played two games, thus far. The league recently extended its stoppage until at least June 8.

Several MLS teams play in states where sports betting is now legal. Here is a list of cities with MLS teams:

  • Atlanta, Georgia
  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Columbus, Ohio
  • Commerce City, Colorado
  • Dallas, Texas
  • Foxborough, Massachusetts
  • Harrison, New Jersey
  • Houston, Texas
  • Kansas City, Kansas
  • Los Angeles, California
  • Miami, Florida
  • Montreal, Quebec
  • Nashville, Tennessee
  • New York City, New York
  • Orlando, Florida
  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • Portland, Oregon
  • San Jose, California
  • Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Seattle, Washington
  • St. Paul, Minnesota
  • Toronto, Ontario
  • Vancouver, British Columbia
  • Washington, DC

Legal betting sites vs. offshore

Outside of offshore sportsbooks being illegal, there are a lot more benefits to betting with a regulated sportsbook.

The most significant factor is that you know your money is safe and secure at a legal sportsbook. You’re able to deposit and withdraw funds in a wide variety of convenient ways and you know that your money is safe doing so. Regulated sportsbooks also pay out in a timely manner and you have legal recourse should something go wrong.

You also have quality customer support options at legal sportsbooks. If you have an issue on an offshore account, you don’t have many choices.

Best League In Soccer

Contents

How to bet Soccer

Soccer is an emerging betting market in the United States as more and more people are becoming interested in it. If you're looking to learn more about the game of soccer and how to bet soccer, you've come to the right betting guide.


Understanding Soccer Odds

In the United States, soccer odds are shown in 'American' format and listed in a money-line format which is the same odds that both Baseball and Hockey produce.

There is always a favorite, designated with a plus (+) symbol and an underdog that is represented with a minus (-1) symbol.

The different from Baseball and Hockey is that soccer games often end in ties or what is more commonly referred to as a draw.


Best Soccer Betting Sites

RankSoccer SportsbooksWelcome OfferLegal StatesBet Now
1.
BetMGM
Visit Review
Risk-Free Bet up to $600
T&C’s Apply, 21+
Available in
CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, NV, PA, TN, VA, WV
2.
PointsBet
Visit Review
2 Risk Free Bets to $2,000
T&C’s Apply, 21+
Available in
CO, IA, IN, IL, MI, NJ
3.
WynnBet
Visit Review
Up To A $500 Risk-Free Bet
T&C’s Apply, 21+
Available in
CO, MI, NJ

Updated on :

Best League To Bet On Soccer

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Three-Way Line

In soccer, a money line takes the place of a point-spread but there is a twist. Bettors will always have the option of playing a favorite or an underdog, but you can also bet that the game will end in a draw, which is a tie.

Barcelona -145
Manchester United +400
Draw +240

In the above example, Barcelona (-145) is the favorite and bettors would stake $145 to win $100 on Barcelona. Sticking with this example, you can see that Manchester is the underdog (+400). Bettors would win $400 if they placed $100 on Manchester and they won. In the event that the game ends in a Draw/Tie, bettors who wagered on Barcelona or Manchester would lose their wagers.

In the above example, the Draw (+240) pays out $240 based on a $100 wager. The Draw is a loser if either Barcelona or Manchester wins. The Three-Way Line is valid for 90 minutes of action only.


What is the Two-Way Line (Goal Line)?

Barcelona -1.5 (-140)
Manchester United +1.5 (EVEN)

The Goal Line in soccer is comparable to a point-spread wager in football. It allows bettors to minimize their risk on heavy money-line prices or even better reward them with generous payouts. In the above example, Barcelona is -1.5 goals (-140) on the Goal Line. Bettors would risk $140 to win $100 on Barcelona to win by two or more goals. If Barcelona loses or wins by one goal, the wager is a loss. If you grab the 1.5 goals with Manchester, bettors would wager $100 to win $100 (EVEN) if Manchester won the game outright or lost by one goal or less. The Goal Line is valid for 90 minutes of action only.


How to Bet Soccer Totals

Over 2.5 (+100)
Under 2.5 (-140)

The 'O/U', also known as Over/Under or Total, is the number of combined goals that the oddsmakers expect to be scored in the matchup. Bettors can either wager Over or Under on the goals listed. In the above example, 2 1/2 goals, bettors taking the Over would win if Barcelona and Manchester score 3 or more goals in the game. Bettors taking the Under would win if the two teams combine for 3 goals or less. If the game ends with the exact number of goals listed in the total, the result is considered a push (tie) and all wagers are refunded.

Oddsmakers often associate a money line with 'O/U' lines, which means bettors would have to lay extra money in some cases. Ex. Under 2 1/2 (-140) -- Bettors would wager $140 to win $100. The Total is valid for 90 minutes of action only.


Future Wagers

Similar to other sports, soccer futures betting is often popular and it caters not only to daily and weekly bettors, but the masses too.

The most discussed future wagers in soccer circle around the top-flight leagues globally and also major events.

Popular Soccer Betting Leagues

Best
  • Premier League (England)
  • La Liga (Spain)
  • Bundesliga (Germany)
  • Serie A (Italy)
  • Ligue 1 (France)
  • MLS (United States)

Popular Soccer Events and Tournaments

  • FIFA World Cup
  • UEFA Champions League
  • UEFA European Championship (Euro)

How to Bet the World Cup

The World Cup is an International soccer competition that takes place every four years, usually played in the summer. The tournament features 32 teams that went through a thorough qualifying process in order to reach the event. The World Cup is run by FIFA (International Federation of Association Football), who is the international governing body of soccer or what many countries call football. The first World Cup tournament took place in 1930. The tournament features 32 teams, who earn bids via a qualification process in different regions.

World Cup History

Group Stage

The 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four and those teams will play a round-robin tournament among themselves and the top teams based on records will advance to the knockout stage.

Knockout Stage

After the field is cut in half from 32 to 16, those teams will square off in a single-elimination tournament in one-off matches. If the games are tied after 90 minutes, two 15 minute extra time sessions will be played and if still tied then a penalty shootout will take place to decide the winner.

  • Round of 16 (8 matches)
  • Quarterfinals (4 matches)
  • Semifinals (2 matches)
  • Final (1 match)

Below are the best betting sites and betting options in states with legal sportsbooks to get you started with soccer betting. There is also sports betting with other sports besides soccer available at these sportsbooks. Remember to bet on soccer responsibly and check out the Vegas Insider soccer pages for insight on your different types of soccer bets.


Soccer Rules for Bettors

All sportsbooks and bookmakers follow their own regulated house guidelines, but the rules listed below are widely considered industry standards:

  • Regulation Time Only Unless otherwise specified all soccer matches are based on 90 minutes of play plus added injury and stoppage time only.
  • Extra Time, Golden Goals and Shootouts do not count towards the wager.
  • Matches must go to full time or all wagers will be graded no action

Hoped you learned a thing or two on how you can win real money by betting on soccer. There are many kinds of types of soccer bets so it makes sense to try a few soccer betting sites out first to see which is the right fit. Remember your bonus code as you get started betting on different soccer matches!