Most popular soccer bets
The good news is that soccer really doesn’t stray from the norm when it comes to the types of bets available to you. However, there are a few subtle differences. Here are the main bet types you’ll find when you’re exploring Iowa sportsbooks.
Moneyline
This bet is potentially the easiest for beginning sports bettors to understand. The idea is simple as your only goal is to pick which team is going to win. But remember how we mentioned there are some small differences in soccer when compared to other popular sports? Well, in the moneyline for soccer, there are three options.
When you make your bet, you’ll be able to consider a draw no bet, a two-way or a three-way wager.
Draws, which are also called ties, happen quite often in soccer. If you go with the draw no bet option, you don’t have to worry about a tied game. Instead, you choose the winner — and remember that negative odds mean the team is the favorite to win and positive odds indicate the underdog — and if a tie happens, then the bet is refunded.
A two-way moneyline has you pick the winner and allows for a draw, as well. So, you can pick Liverpool to win and to draw, or its opponent to do the same. Additionally, you can place a bet on either team winning with no draw option.
A three-way moneyline allows you to pick either side to win or choose a draw. So you would pick a team like Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid to win or choose the draw. If whatever you choose is the outcome, you win. Any other outcome would be a loss.
Point spread
This bet is most common — and very popular — in American football and basketball betting, and it is available for soccer, as well. For close games, you’ll see point spreads set at 0.5 goals, but they can range up to around 2.5 when a mismatch is expected.
If you see Milan as a 1.5 goal favorite over Roma and choose to go with the underdog, all Roma needs to do is lose by a single goal or win outright and your bet will win. If Milan wins by two goals or more, then your bet would be a loss.
Totals
Also known as an over/under, a totals bet is a wager on the number of points, or in this case, goals that both teams combine to score. Soccer is usually a low-scoring affair, especially at the highest levels, and the normal range oddsmakers set for the totals is 0.5 to 3.5 goals.
You can wager on if the two teams will score over or under the estimated goal total. The soccer betting odds are almost always the same for either choice. For example, a game between DC United and the Chicago Fire has the total set at 1.5 goals, and the odds for the over and under are both -110. After you do your research, you decide the defense from DC just can’t keep up with the Fire, so you take the over. As long as the two teams combine to score two or more goals, you’ll win, including a tie at 1-1 or any score above that. If the two combine for a 1-0 game or a 0-0 draw, then your bet is a loss.
Props
These types of bets can range from having a few options in a game to having a lot of variety in an event such as the World Cup. While not every season will feature a massive tournament, that doesn’t mean you won’t find value in prop bets.
Some prop bets you might come across at various sportsbooks include things like:
- Which team will score first?
- Who will score the first goal?
- How many goals will X team score?
Live soccer betting
Live betting, also known as in game betting, is most common at online sportsbooks and apps. You place bets as the action unfolds on the pitch, and the soccer odds shift as the game goes on.
Retail brick-and-mortar sportsbooks can’t usually keep up with the shifting odds, which is why it is extremely rare to see live betting available at an in-person location.
However, using the sportsbook site or app will allow you to immerse yourself in the game you’re watching, and you can make bets throughout the contest. You can use live betting to complement your other wagers, or you can choose to bet live.
The offerings typically resemble prop bets in that they will ask you to consider such things as what the outcome of the next possession will be, or which team will be in the lead when halftime rolls around, or even which player will score the most points, or how many goals a team will tally in the second half.
Remember to stick to your budget and not make additional bets to try to recoup anything you may have lost already. Gambling is meant to be fun, and live betting adds an immersive experience to the hobby.
How to bet on soccer in Iowa
If you’re looking to start placing bets on soccer — or any other sport, for that matter — then the first thing you’re going to have to do is register at an IA online sportsbook of your choosing.
If you’re going to use a brick-and-mortar sportsbook, then you’ll show up and fill out all of the necessary information and provide your proof of identification. In Iowa, you are required to be 21 or older to place bets.
If you’re going to use an online sportsbook or an app, you’ll be able to register through the website or app of your choice. The requirement for in-person registration in the state lifted on Jan. 1, 2021, and online and mobile users can now make their account and place their bets right away.
Before you do that, however, we want to stress the importance of claiming any bonuses and bonus bets with whatever sportsbook you choose to use. These often amount to free money, and you should absolutely take advantage of them.
Once you’re registered and all set to go on your first bets, make sure you download the app for the sportsbook you’re using and allow it to use your device’s location. Iowa law requires that all bets must take place within the state lines. If you’re anywhere besides Iowa, you won’t be able to place bets at Iowa sportsbooks.
After you’ve got that squared away, you’ll need to add funds to your account in order to make your bets. Each sportsbook will have a variety of funding options, but most will accept e-check, PayPal and direct cash deposits at associated retail locations. Additionally, some will even allow for debit cards and transfers if your financial institution allows it.
Now that you’ve added funding, you get to do the fun part: place your sports bets. Make sure to do your research and be mindful of the terms and conditions for the sportsbook you are using. Remember that gambling is supposed to be fun, and you’ll need to set a budget that fits your financial situation.
Locating the soccer feed on the app
Online sportsbooks can often be confusing with the sheer amount of information available to you. There are so many sports and events to wager on that some can get lost in the shuffle — including soccer.
Thankfully, you can usually find a search function in the sportsbook app or website if you need. However, the easiest way is to find the link to all the sports and scroll until you find soccer in the list.
Through that link, you’ll find all available bets related to soccer, ranging from current and upcoming games throughout MLS and other professional leagues to futures, props and more.
Soccer betting terms and abbreviations
As with any sport, soccer has its own language. We’ve explained a few of the most common terms below:
- PK: This abbreviation, which you might see for some spread bets, means “pick” and means there is no point spread in effect. If you bet for one of the teams and it wins by any amount, your bet wins.
- 1x2: This is the abbreviation for the three-way betting for the moneyline that we discussed above. You’ll see this in sports that have the possibility of a tie to end a game.
- GG: You might see this along with NG or DNB. Betting on GG means you expect both teams to score, while NG means you expect that one or both teams will fail to score. DNB means you expect a draw and, if so, there would be a no bet and your wager would be refunded.
- Corners: If you follow soccer at all, you know corners are a big part of the game. If you see the option for a moneyline corners bet, it means you will have the chance to choose which of the teams will win the most corners throughout the game. You might see this in live betting, as well.
Top tips for betting on soccer
It’s time to place some bets and you’re wondering if there are any tips that could help you out as a beginner, right? We’ve got you covered with three beginner tips for placing bets on soccer in Iowa.
- Do Your Research: Simple enough. If you are guessing, you’re likely going to be losing. Do your research, find the important information about the teams, players and matchup and give yourself the best chance to discover an edge. The more research you can fit into your betting strategy, the better.
- Don’t Spread Yourself Too Thin: There are a lot of leagues playing a lot of soccer, and if you try to be the person who bets on all of them, you’re likely going to find yourself losing more often than winning. Focus on a single league — such as the Premier League — to start, and keep your research and betting focused. Once you understand the game better, and have a good strategy in place, you can always expand.
- Stay Informed: Injuries, weather, political unrest or even a pandemic can have severe consequences on a game and its outcome. Keep yourself up to date on the news and reports surrounding the teams, players and leagues. You don’t want to be caught off-guard when a key player is out, or a change in weather makes scoring or defending difficult.
Why should I bet on soccer?
Few sports in the world have the following that soccer does, and the sheer number of games and tournaments and availability of bets means you’ll have more than enough to choose from.
If you’re unsure if soccer is the game for you, then here are a couple of reasons why we think you should at least consider it.
- Number of Leagues: Professional sports are usually limited to one really good league, such as the NFL, MLB or NBA. The rest never quite live up to the standards set by the best. Soccer is different in that there are several legitimate leagues featuring quality teams and talent. You’ll never run out of games to watch or betting opportunities.
- Join a Community of Fans: There is a loyal and passionate fanbase in soccer, and it spans the globe. You can go into a sports bar in the early hours of the morning and find fans dressed in their soccer kits, cheering on their favorite teams that are playing overseas and well outside of the United States’ time zones. By involving yourself in soccer, you’re becoming part of a massive community of fans who share your interest in the game.
- There is a Lot of Opportunities: From mismatches to dominating international teams, you can find a lot of betting opportunities in any soccer league. Because soccer isn’t as popular in the US as in other countries, sportsbooks here will often have a bit more value in the game of soccer. Do your research, stick to your budget, find those opportunities and make money.