How to Bet on Football
Football betting is about choosing a match, predicting the outcome correctly, and placing a wager. Want to learn how to bet on football? Our guide covers online football betting in Kenya. Learn more about the most popular markets to bet on and the best practices for successful outcomes.
What is Football Betting
Football betting is the practice of predicting football match events and placing wagers at a sportsbook. The sportsbook highlights available football matches for betting on and their respective markets. Examples of markets available at a sportsbook include Match Result (1X2), Over/Under Goals, Both Teams to Score, Double Chance, and more.
The bookmaker allocates appropriate pricing for each market after their market analysis in odds format, like 1.40 or 3.00. The odds reflect the potential returns after a successful prediction. For example, if you place a bet on a market with 3.00 odds with Ksh 1,000. Your potential returns after a win will be 1,000 x 3.00 to make the Ksh 3,000 bet win.
How to Bet on Football Online in Kenya
Kenyan bettors can bet on football in three ways: the bookmaker’s website, mobile app, or mobile site. Each option allows bettors to view available markets and their odds pricing.
Placing a bet through the bookmaker’s official website is a popular method among Kenyan bettors. It is similar to the mobile site version. Here is a simple process of placing bets using our football betting tips:
- Choose a licensed bookie – Select the bookie that suits your needs best.
- Visit the site or download the app – Visit the selected bookie website or use the app if it’s offered.
- Create and verify your account – Register an account and go through a verification procedure.
- Add funds to your balance – Deposit using any of the available payment methods listed on the website.
- Choose a match and market – Select a fixture and compare the markets and odds.
- Enter your stake and place a bet – Choose how much you want to wager and confirm your bet.
- Track your results – Make sure that you follow the match in your open bets section.
Most Popular Types of Football Bets
Kenyan bettors go through different football bets, each with its unique strategy and potential payout. Here is a look at different types of football bets available on the market:
- Match Result (1X2) – This is a simple wager when you predict whether a game will end in a home win (1), a draw (X), or an away win (2). The bet applies to regular 90 minutes plus stoppage time and not extra time or penalty shootouts.
- Double Chance – A double chance bet allows you to cover two out of three possible outcomes in a football match with one bet. It is a popular bet due to the high winning percentages, but comes with lower odds. It is a good option in tight matches where it’s hard to pick an outright winner or when betting on underdogs to avoid losing.
- Over/Under Goals – An over/under goals market involves predicting whether the total number of goals scored in a football match will be over or under a set number by the bookmaker. It is a popular betting type since it doesn’t involve predicting the winning team. For example, an Over 2.5 Goals bet means you’re predicting more than three goals from both sides in the match to win.
- Both Teams to Score – A BTTS bet is where you predict both teams will score at least one goal each during the match’s regular time. You can win regardless of who wins the match as long as both teams score. It is a beneficial bet, especially when two high-scoring and evenly matched teams come together. Also, you can bet on the opposite outcome (BTTS -No).
- Handicap betting – Handicap betting works by giving one team a virtual goal or points deficit to level the playing field. This is particularly popular when there is a clear favorite, as it creates more balanced and competitive betting options. For example, if Team A were given a one-goal handicap of -1, they would need to win by at least two clear goals for a successful bet.
- Single bets – A single bet is where you predict one selection on one event. If it wins, so does the bet. You can place single bets on a dozen markets such as full-time, correct score, half-time, and corners. For example, picking a match winner in a high-stakes match can be risky. However, you can try single bets like first goalscorer or player bookings. Only one selection is required to win the bet.
- Accumulators (Acca Bets) – A football accumulator bet combines several individual bets into one. All the selected bets must win for an accumulator to win. The odds for each selection are multiplied while allowing for much larger payouts than single bets. It is a risky bet, as when even one bet is lost, the entire accumulator fails.
- Bet Builder – Also known as same-game multis, a bet builder offers a more personalized betting option focused on one match. It allows bettors to create a custom bet within a single game by combining different markets. This gives them feedback to customize the bets based on their predictions for how the match will play out in different aspects.
- Football pools – Football pool betting refers to when bettors contribute to a collective pool of money. Afterward, the winnings are distributed among those who make correct predictions or selections. You enter a pool by paying a fee, and all the fees collected from entries make up the total prize pot.
Pre-Match vs. Live Betting
You’ll find both pre-match and live betting available at sportsbooks. Pre-match betting involves placing wagers before a football match starts, while live betting occurs during the live event with real-time odds.
Pre-match betting is the traditional model where all bets are placed before a football match begins. In-play betting allows bettors to place bets during the event itself with odds updating in real time based on the current state of play.
Most beginner bettors prefer pre-match due to the predictable betting margins. You have more time to research match stats such as player injuries, team form, and head-to-head records. There are much more stable odds to make your selections without haste.
However, live betting has significantly higher betting volume per event with wider margins on multiple markets than pre-match. But it comes with more volatility due to different events affecting odds pricing. Another common trait associated with live betting is suspended markets and rapid odds movements.
How to Bet on Football and Win
Many Kenyan bettors ask us how to win football bets. The honest answer is that we can’t guarantee a 100% winning bet. Football is an unpredictable sport with loads of unexpected outcomes, making accurate predictions impossible.
However, what we can do is analyze statistics, markets, odds, and more relevant information to help you make informed betting decisions. That’s why we rely on our tool to comb through different football matches to find match selections with high probabilities of use evaluated by AI.
Common Football Betting Mistakes
A quick look at how bettors lose with football betting shows a common pattern. It’s not the big mistakes that cost bets, but the small and repeated ones.
The first mistake is letting emotions guide your betting decisions. It’s common to feel a range of emotions like excitement, frustration, and overconfidence when betting. That’s why bettors bet on their club, bet more after a frustrating loss, or back a team due to public hype. These are all emotions guiding your decision-making more than logic.
Apart from emotional betting, other bettors chase losses. It’s normal to run into a losing streak when betting. How you react to the losing streak determines your betting longevity. The only result of chasing losses is another cycle of disappointment that spills over into other areas of your life, such as relationships and work.
Poor bankroll management can undo all your positive betting strategies. Sticking to your betting budget means even a single bad day or losing streak won’t affect your finances. It means sticking to your small stake sizes and avoiding sudden increases after a win or loss. It reduces the chances of making irrational choices that hurt your bankroll.
Most beginner bettors often fall for market hype with their odds pricing. You don’t need to bet on every high-stakes match that others are involved in without proper research. Blindly following picks can prove risky. Most times, value bets sit on the less obvious outcomes. You need proper research to identify these less popular teams with consistent performances over time.
FAQ
How to place a bet on football?
You can place a bet on football through the official bookmaker’s site, mobile app, or mobile version. Start by creating an account, depositing, finding markets, and placing a bet.
Is betting on football easy?
Yes and no. Football betting is easy when your betting decisions are backed by research. It can be difficult when you don’t have a strategy to identify value markets for consistent hits.
Can You Win Every Day in Football Betting?
No. Football betting isn’t a daily income-generating activity to depend on. It is a form of entertainment similar to swimming, hiking, or watching a movie.
