Football Betting - January 2026

Match Result (1X2)

This is the most basic football bet: home win (1), draw (X), or away win (2). It’s available on nearly every match and is easy to understand, even for beginners. Millions of punters place their first bets on this market.

• Simple three-way choice;
• Often used in accumulators;
• Suitable for both pre-match and live betting.

Double Chance

If you want to play it safe, Double Chance is a solid option. It covers two possible outcomes:

• 1X – home win or draw
• 12 – win for either team
• X2 – draw or away win

Odds are lower than standard 1X2, but the chance of winning is higher. Especially in close matchups without a clear favourite or unexpected underdog performance.

Both Teams to Score (BTTS)

A go-to market for open matches or teams with weak defences. You’re betting on whether both teams will score at least once.

Both teams to score options:

• BTTS “Yes” means both teams score;
• BTTS “No” means at least one team fails to score;

The outcome and predictions of the match don’t matter; only the goals do.

Goal Totals (Over/Under)

It doesn’t matter who wins here, but the main thing is how many goals are scored. Example: the bet “TB 2.5” (more than 2.5) wins if 3 or more goals are scored in the match. There are other thresholds: 1.5, 3.5, 4.5, etc. Here are the main advantages:

• You can bet even if you don’t know the strength of the teams.
• Particularly effective in matches with attacking clubs.
• Very popular in live football betting.

Correct Score

One of the riskiest bets. You’re predicting the exact scoreline, such as 2-1 or 0-0. The odds can be very high, especially for uncommon results. Here’s what to look at:

• Head-to-head stats.
• Current form.
• Scoring and conceding trends.

Many punters combine this market with others to reduce risk.

Asian Handicap

Asian Handicaps level the odds between favourites and underdogs by adding a virtual goal advantage or disadvantage. There are both whole and fractional values. Here’s an example:

• -1.5 means the favourite must win by two goals or more.
• +1.0 means the underdog can lose by one goal, and your stake is refunded.

This market is popular among experienced punters and is used in many professional strategies.

Accumulator / Parlay

Looking to boost your potential return? Accas combines multiple selections into one bet. Every pick must win for the bet to land.

Pros:

• Big payouts even from small stakes.
• A large variety of books for accumulators.
• Good way to back several favorites with short odds.

Cons:

• One wrong decision and the whole bet is lost.

Bet Builder

A feature that lets you build a personalised accumulator within a single match. For example:

• Home team to win.
• Both teams to score.
• A player to get a yellow/red card.

It offers more flexibility and control. Many bookmakers provide boosted odds for Bet Builder combinations.

Cards Betting (Yellow/Red)

A less common but increasingly popular fun market. Nothing special, but very fun to watch and even more fun when you hit the right spot. You can bet on:

• Total number of cards.
• First team to receive a card.
• Specific players to be booked.

Research is key here. Knowing the referee’s style and the teams’ discipline records can make a big difference. For example, based on testimonials, if Granit Xhaka is starting for Arsenal, many punters keep an eye on the “player to be booked” market, since his reputation for tough tackles speaks for itself.

First Goalscorer / Player to Score

If you believe a certain player will find the net, you can bet on them to score first or anytime during the match. Options include:

• First goalscorer.
• Last goalscorer.
• To score or not to score.

These markets work well in games featuring standout attackers or as part of an in-play strategy.

Welcome Bonus

Accrued after the first registration and deposit. There can be one package, or the bookmaker can split it for the second, third, and fourth deposits. A mandatory condition is a fresh-new (and only one) account. If you want to create another account and get the welcome bonus again, expect a ban on all accounts.

Reload Bonuses

Repeat bonuses for active users. Often on Fridays or weekends, so that you have time to fulfill the wager requirements. Available permanently, but once every 7 days.

Free Bets

An opportunity to place a bet without the risk of losing your money. The winnings are yours, and the bookmaker will give you the bet. The conditions may include a certain event, odds, minimum bet, and maximum winnings.

Cashback Deals

Return of a part of losses, usually 5-15% of the amount of bets lost per week. To receive cashback, it’s necessary to reach the minimum amount of loss. The larger the amount, the more final cashback you can expect.

Profit Boosts

Increased odds for individual events or combinations. The bonus is mostly event-related, for example, only for Champions League betting.

Odds Boost Promotions

Temporary promotions, when the football betting sites directly increase the odds for specific outcomes. These aren’t crazy percentages, but just a few good numbers that no one will refuse.

Credit and Debit Cards

Still, the most popular method across the UK. Visa and Mastercard work almost everywhere, and most deposits land instantly.

Neteller

An e-wallet, convenient for international transactions, especially in countries with restrictions. There’s a modern mobile application for monitoring all transactions and deposits on football betting sites.

Cryptocurrencies

Not every bookmaker accepts crypto, but it’s becoming more common. Great for privacy and speed, but just make sure the platform is legit.

Bank Transfers

Slower than other methods, but good for moving larger sums. Some punters prefer this for big wins or security.

Prepaid Cards

Services like Paysafecard let you deposit without sharing any banking info. A handy option if you’re keeping things tight or want more control over spending.

E-Wallets

Options like PayPal, Skrill, or Neteller are quick, secure, and ideal if you don’t fancy linking your bank directly. Many punters go this route for faster withdrawals.

UK Gambling Commission

The gold standard for British punters. If a bookmaker is licensed by the UKGC, it’s fully legal to use in the UK and follows strict rules on fairness and player protection. But be prepared for GamStop and other similar systems.

Curaçao eGaming

Popular with newer or crypto-focused bookmakers. It’s easier to get, but doesn’t offer the same level of oversight as UKGC or MGA. Good for variety, but use with caution.

Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)

One of the most respected regulators in Europe. MGA-licensed bookies are generally safe and well-regulated, especially for players across the EU.

Gibraltar Regulatory Authority

Many big-name UK bookmakers operate under Gibraltar licences. It’s reliable, trusted, and works closely with UK authorities.

GamStop

A free self-exclusion service that blocks access to all UK-licensed betting sites. Once you sign up, you won’t be able to log in or create a new player profile for the set period.

Gamcare

One of the UK’s leading organisations for gambling support. Offers live chat, counselling, and practical tools if you need help or advice. Works more as a platform for consultation than control.

Gamban

A software tool that blocks access to thousands of gambling websites and apps. Works across devices, easy to set up, hard to bypass, so use only as a last resort.

Gamblock

Similar to Gamban, but with stricter blocking features. Often used by families or employers to restrict gambling access on shared devices.