Fantasy Football came to life in the 1970s after being introduced in the United Kingdom. However, it wasn’t until the 2000’s that it began to gain traction and attract an audience amongst football enthusiasts interested in competitions offered by Fantasy football betting sites. While initially met with trepidation, fan participation fueled its growth, and today it is a billion-dollar alternative to traditional sports betting.
In this article, we will identify the difference between traditional and fantasy betting and provide a list of pros in favour of this unique style of betting. Moreover, we explain how fantasy football betting works, discuss betting markets and what criteria to keep in mind when betting on fantasy football.
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Which Are the Top 3 Betting Sites for Fantasy Football?
Football
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£10
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100%New customers only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. Min Deposit: £10. Free Bet awarded: £10. 1 x £10 must be wagered at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card deposits only (exclusions apply). Free bet will expire 7 days after the 1st deposit. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way. Full Terms apply | gamstop.co.uk
Football
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£40
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100%18+. BeGambleAware.org. New customers only. Min Dep £10. Debit cards only. Opt in for bonus funds. Wagering, sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Sports bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Valid for 7 days. Geographical Restrictions and T&Cs Apply. | 18+ | begambleaware.org | gamstop.co.uk | Play Responsibly
Betway
Nowadays, fantasy football is one of the most popular and exciting virtual disciplines to bet on. The British bookie Betway understands that and offers excellent options and leagues. The operator states that the FPL topic dominated all the chats and social media of the brand.
- Pros
- Excellent brand
- Reputable bookmaker
- Cool Fantasy Football Features
- Special Bonuses for Fantasy leagues
- Cons
- Limited Payouts
Hollywoodbets
Hollywoodbets is one of the fast-growing betting companies on the market. The platform offers its own fantasy football league. What’s even more admirable is that the bookmaker has put quite some effort into producing tutorials on how to bet on fantasy football.
- Pros
- Excellent betting environment
- Great odds
- Special offers for Fantasy Leagues
- Cool Fantasy-themed bonuses
- Cons
- Fantasy leagues are not available all the time
Unibet
Ever dreamed of betting go n Fantasy Premier League? Your dream can now come true if you choose to play on the Unibet platform. The bookmaker has incorporated this opportunity on its website. Now, you can compile your dream team choosing from the best clubs in the Uk.
- Pros
- One of the best European bookies
- Excellent Odds
- Great navigation of the platform
- Useful tips on fantasy betting
- Cons
- No diversity in the fantasy leagues
What Is the Difference Between Traditional and Fantasy Betting?
The difference between traditional and fantasy betting is one that involves bettering against a bookie and the other against fellow players. That is resultant of traditional football involving data that is then used to predict the outcome of a football match. Depending on that outcome, the result is either a positive gain or a negative one. As a result, the differences significantly alter the approach taken when betting on fantasy football.
However, while fantasy betting still requires data collection to make informed decisions, gaining an edge over competitors is an entirely different engine altogether. If you are relying on your skill in fantasy football, it is not always the best way to strategize, as it is easy to drop your guard and put yourself at a disadvantage.
The art of being successful with fantasy betting means your approach to selecting your picks must be meticulously analyzed. The reason is that the focus is not on a particular team, but results are based on your player picks and their overall performance. In other words, the better the player and the frequency they score, the further you will advance in the points.
What Are the Pros of Fantasy Football Betting?
The pros of fantasy football betting range from being a great alternative to traditional football betting to competing against friends and family. However, while the pros to fantasy football betting can be as discriminating as winning money to being an enjoyable form of entertainment, they also include other variables such as stimulating play and lucrative rewards.
- A More Enjoyable Alternative
Betting on Fantasy sports can be an enjoyable alternative to traditional sports betting. As fantasy football betting allows you to compete against friends, it is seen as more sociable while simultaneously offering a profitable way to utilize your pre-existing football knowledge. - Perfect for Players Who Prefer Simulating Real-Life Leagues and Fixtures
Another pro for Fantasy football betting is it is perfect for punters who prefer simulating real-life football leagues and fixtures. The reality is, some prefer the challenges and entertainment value that comes from successfully predicting simulated outcomes. The fact they can win real cash money is simply a by-product that enhances the entertainment value they experience. - Fantasy Betting Is For More Experienced / Expert Punters
The belief that fantasy betting is for more experienced punters is a myth. While they may have the edge over novice punters, fantasy football is open to all punting levels. More importantly, it is an excellent tool to learn more about football and how to be competitive with simulated betting. - Lucrative Rewards
Most fantasy football betting sites offer a variety of lucrative rewards as incentives. Not only can this include winning real money based on your cumulative score, but there is the opportunity to win tickets to hospitality events, electronic gadgets, sporting merchandise and more.
How Does Fantasy Football Real Money Betting Work?
How fantasy football real money works is similar to other betting forms. However, as you are about to discover, there are distinguishable differences. While this section doesn’t go into too much dept, it does explain the basics and how real money fantasy betting works.
- Sign Up – The first step to betting on fantasy football is to sign up with a fantasy sports betting site. The process of signing up is not unlike any other registration-based website. However, several bookmakers such as Ladbrokes and Bet365 have simplified that process. Moreover, they offer their own style of fantasy football betting and therefore provide the added advantage of fantasy-themed promotions.
- Choose your Fantasy Football Team – Before betting on real money fantasy football, you will need to choose your fantasy football team. This is a simple process but complicated at the same time as it involves being mindful of the players being chosen. Ultimate, you want to build a team that is able to contribute in such a way that you gain a strategic advantage.
- Win Points – During fantasy football competitions, the performance of your chosen team determines whether you will win points. As this is critical to winning a fantasy football league, you may want to give extra consideration to this during the fantasy team selection process.
- Pick Awards – The promotional side to fantasy football betting sites is similar to other rewards-based program. When entering fantasy leagues and competitions, you are awarded points based on your financial commitment. As fantasy football has seen an explosion in popularity, operators are increasingly offering the ability to pick awards based on the accumulation of reward points. The more points earned, the better the potential for bigger and better awards.
What Fantasy Football Markets Should I Bet On?
What fantasy football markets you should bet on depends on personal preferences but generally should focus on one of three markets. Most fantasy football betting sites feature three markets, and whilst similar, they are uniquely different due to their length of time. As such, registering with a fantasy football betting site will usually feature one of the following types of tournaments:
Player Tournaments
Player tournaments are preferable to punters who enjoy betting on which player will score the most points in a specific week. Like other fantasy football tournaments, punters earn points based on a variety of factors such as clean sheets, assists and goals.
Weekly Tournaments
Weekly tournaments are ideal if you prefer playing for shorter periods of time. This style of the tournament involves betting on a variety of fixtures that generally last for one round. Due to the style of tournament, it allows you to create new teams every week and adjust thereby your strategy based on past results.
Season Tournaments
Seasonal tournaments are the most common tournament offered by fantasy football betting sites. This type of tourney runs for the duration of the season and allows punters to edit their teams according to performance. As winners are only determined after all fixtures have been completed, they generally offer a larger prize pool.
Special Fantasy Football Bonus Offers
Fantasy football betting sites recognize to attract, retain and create a completive platform, they need to offer special fantasy football bonus offers. If you have placed bets with traditional bookies, you will be familiar with many of the offers. While they include promotional terms and conditions and a qualifying deposit, fantasy football bonuses are excellent tools to enhance your fantasy betting experience.
Typically, the type of bonus offers available mimic those featured with traditional bookie sites. More often than not, this will include welcome bonuses and free bets. However, some fantasy betting sites offer free entry into fantasy sports tournaments while also offering tournaments with minimum bet requirements.
While there are often incentives for referrals, the one consistent amongst all fantasy football betting sites is responsible gambling. In order to ensure punters do not exceed their limits, fantasy sports sites provide the option to set limits on the amounts they deposit. Likewise, as an extension of their responsible gaming initiatives, they limit the per transactional deposit maximums. Ultimately, the goal is to promote a healthy balance, and therefore this should be taken into account when choosing a fantasy football betting site.
Criteria to Keep in Mind When Betting on Fantasy Football
Like any other form of betting, betting on fantasy football requires you to consider certain criteria. Whether that includes checking player stats or for injuries, they all contribute to how your picks perform. While these are key areas to factor into the equation, there are several others to take into consideration.
- Check for Injured Players
One of the worst-case scenarios when picking a player is discovering they are on the injured player list. Most fantasy betting sites will maintain up-to-date records on player statuses, but it is worth investing the time yourself to ensure your picks are healthy and ready for action. - Create a Strategy
Creating and developing a strategy requires patience and the tracking of past performances. By evaluating your successes and failures, you can quickly determine which strategies are working and which need revising or eliminated altogether. - Check the Data
If you hope to be successful in picking players who perform well, you need to check the data. By evaluating the available data, you can track how many goals your players score, the number of assists they accumulate, and if they keep a clean sheet. It is also beneficial to study team statistics and compare their head to head records. - Observe the Points Earned
Keeping track of the points you earn is a key indicator if your selections and strategies are producing results. Make time to observe the points you earn after each fixture and, if needed, adjust your picks accordingly to help improve your success rate.
Final Thoughts
After reading our fantasy football betting sites article, you most likely have a far better understanding of how fantasy betting works. With the number of opportunities fantasy football betting offers, growth rates are at a record pace. As few things are more satisfying in fantasy sports than topping the leaderboards, applying the information and techniques discussed will set you on the right path towards success.
FAQ
How to Earn Fantasy Football Points?
Fantasy football points are awarded based on player picks, keeping a clean sheet, scoring goals and providing assists.
Is Fantasy Football Betting Legal?
Fantasy sports betting is legal in most jurisdictions within the UK, United States, Canada and Europe. This is resultant of strict licensing and regulatory oversight.
Do I Have to Deposit Money in Order to Enter Fantasy Football Tournaments?
Most fantasy football sites require depositing money in order to enter a fantasy football tournament. However, this is not a firm requirement as some sites offer free entry and therefore do not require real money deposits.
Can I Win Real Money from Fantasy Football Betting?
Yes, fantasy football leagues and tournaments provide the ability to win real money. The amounts available to be won are based on the number of participants, although they may include a minimum prize pool guarantee.
A sports fanatic and strategic wordsmith, Faith has been writing sports and gaming content for over 5+ years. Whether she is watching it, debating it, or writing it, it's safe to assume sport consumes the majority of her life - she is the ultimate student of sports, religiously following most professional league matches, with her preferences being the Premier League or FA Cup.