How Soccer Betting Odds Work: A Beginner’s Guide

If you want to follow the Premier Soccer League (PSL), Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, or international tournaments, knowing how to read odds is very important and can help you understand different soccer betting markets and make more informed decisions.

What Are Soccer Betting Odds?

The odds on a soccer bet represent the possible return on investment and provide an indication of the bookmaker’s opinion on the likelihood of an outcome.

The decimal odds are common in South Africa. They are simple because the potential return is worked out by multiplying your stake by the odds.

For example, if you bet R100 on a team at odds of 2.50, your possible return is R100 × 2.50 = R250. This R250 includes your original R100 stake, meaning the potential profit is R150.

When odds are lower on a certain team, it shows that it is likely to win the match; when they are higher, it means that the team’s chance of winning is slim. However, odds should not be treated as a guaranteed win. Soccer matches can be unpredictable, and even strong favourites can lose.

Understanding the 1X2 Soccer Betting Market

One of the simplest soccer markets that is easy to understand, especially for beginners, is called the 1X2 market. It gives you three possible outcomes:

• 1 – Home team wins
• X – Match ends in a draw
• 2 – Away team wins

Imagine a hypothetical match with these odds:

• Team A – 1.80
• Draw – 3.50
• Team B – 4.50

The odds show Team A is the market favourite. If you bet R100 on Team A at odds of 1.80 and you win the bet, your total return would be R180, including your stake.

At 4.50, if you had picked Team B instead, a winning stake of R100 would pay out R450.

The market says the implied probability is lower, but the potential return is higher.

How Do Bookmakers Set Soccer Odds?

Sports bookmakers like Bet.co.za look at several things when setting soccer odds. We look at things such as recent team performances, home advantage, injuries, suspensions, player availability, historical results, league position, and other statistical information.

Market demand can also influence prices. As new information becomes available, odds may move before kick-off.

Bookmakers also build a margin into their markets. This means the combined implied probabilities of all possible outcomes can exceed 100%. This margin helps account for the bookmaker’s operating costs and risk.

Common Soccer Betting Markets

Common soccer markets that people like to use when they are betting on football include both teams to score, over/under goals, and the correct full-time score. There are also handicap markets that can give one team a virtual advantage or disadvantage before the game starts.

At Bet.co.za, you can explore a wide range of soccer markets for both local and international competitions. These markets are easy to understand, such as match results, total goals, handicaps, corners, and live betting.

What Happens to Odds During a Live Match?

The odds can change dramatically during the match. A red card, goal, penalty, injury, or any event can affect the game. For example, if a team that was a favourite before the game starts concedes an early goal, its odds may increase as its chances of winning have changed. However, if the favourite scores first, its odds may be shortened further.

Live betting needs extra care as markets can change quickly. Odds shown during the match are in-play and may change until a bet is confirmed.

How to Calculate Potential Soccer Betting Returns

The basic decimal-odds calculation is easy:

Potential return = Stake × Decimal odds

Suppose you place R50 at odds of 3.00:

R50 × 3.00 = R150 total return

Your potential profit would therefore be R100 after deducting the original R50 stake.

Remember that this calculation shows the potential return, not a guaranteed outcome.

Bet on Soccer Now with Bet.co.za

With the PSL, Premier League, and other famous football competitions across the globe having returned for the new season, you can explore available markets and competitions on Bet.co.za. Before placing any bet, make sure that you have a better understanding of how soccer betting odds work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do soccer betting odds mean?

Soccer betting odds indicate the potential return from a bet and reflect the bookmaker’s assessment of how likely an outcome is. With decimal odds, your total potential return is calculated by multiplying your stake by the odds.

What does 1X2 mean in soccer betting?

The 1X2 market has three possible outcomes: 1 means the home team wins, X means the match ends in a draw, and 2 means the away team wins.

How are soccer betting odds calculated?

Bookmakers consider factors such as recent form, injuries, suspensions, home advantage, league position, player availability, and statistical information. Market activity and the bookmaker’s margin can also affect the odds.

Why do soccer betting odds change during a match?

Live odds can change when important events occur, such as a goal, red card, penalty or injury. These events can alter the perceived likelihood of each outcome, so in-play odds may move quickly.