Common Football Betting Markets

Written and researched by Samantha Lee

Football betting markets allow eligible adults to place wagers on different possible outcomes within a match. Instead of covering only which team will win, markets may focus on goals, handicaps, corners, cards, players, or specific periods of play.

Some markets are straightforward, such as 1X2 and match winner. Others, including Asian Handicap and quarter-goal totals, require a clearer understanding of settlement rules.

This guide explains the most commonly used football betting markets, how each one works, and what bettors should check before confirming a wager.

Football Betting Markets at a Glance

Football Market	Main Question	Typical Selections
1X2	What will the match result be?	Home, Draw, Away
Double Chance	Which two results can be covered?	1X, X2, 12
Draw No Bet	Which team will win if the draw is refunded?	Home or Away
Asian Handicap	Can a virtual handicap balance the teams?	Team A or Team B
Over/Under Goals	Will the total goals exceed the line?	Over or Under
Both Teams to Score	Will both teams score?	Yes or No
Correct Score	What will the exact score be?	1–0, 1–1, 2–1
Half-Time/Full-Time	What will happen in both periods?	Home/Home, Draw/Away
Team Totals	How many goals will one team score?	Team Over or Under
Corners	How many corners will occur?	Over, Under, Handicap
Cards	How many cards will be shown?	Over, Under, Handicap
Player Markets	What will a selected player achieve?	Score, assist, shots
Outright Markets	Who will win a competition?	Team or player
Live Betting	What will happen during the match?	Changing in-play markets

Markets with similar names may have different settlement conditions. The complete betting rules should always be reviewed.

What Is a Football Betting Market?

A football betting market is a defined question about a match, competition, team, or player.

Every market normally contains:

• A sporting event
• A settlement period
• One or more possible selections
• A betting line where applicable
• Displayed odds
• Rules for determining the result
• Conditions covering postponements, abandonment, and void bets

For example, a market may ask:

Will the match produce more than 2.5 goals?

The available selections are:

• Over 2.5
• Under 2.5

The final total during the applicable settlement period determines which selection wins.

Essential Football Betting Terms

Term	Meaning
Market	The question or outcome being offered
Selection	The result chosen within a market
Odds	The price assigned to the selection
Stake	The amount placed on the wager
Betting Line	A handicap or total used for settlement
Regulation Time	The standard match period, usually 90 minutes plus stoppage time
Extra Time	Additional playing periods after regulation time
Push	A tied settlement in which the stake is normally refunded
Void	A cancelled wager that is generally returned
Half Win	Half the stake wins while the other half is refunded
Half Loss	Half the stake loses while the other half is refunded
Live Betting	Markets offered while the match is taking place

Understanding these terms helps prevent errors when comparing football betting markets.

Regulation Time and Extra Time

Many football markets are settled using regulation time only. This normally includes:

• First half
• Second half
• Added or stoppage time

It commonly excludes:

• Extra time
• Penalty shootouts

For example, a cup match may finish regulation time at 1–1 before Team A wins 2–1 in extra time.

Possible settlements could include:

Market	Possible Result
Regulation-time 1X2	Draw
Team to Qualify	Team A
Match Winner Including Extra Time	Team A

The same match can therefore produce different winning selections under different market rules.

1X2 Football Betting

The 1X2 market is one of the most common football betting markets. It covers the result at the end of the stated settlement period.

Symbol	Selection
1	Home team wins
X	Match ends in a draw
2	Away team wins

Suppose the match is:

Team A vs Team B

The possible selections are:

• 1: Team A wins
• X: Draw
• 2: Team B wins

If the final regulation-time score is 2–1, the winning selection is 1.

If it finishes 0–0 or 2–2, the winning selection is X.

What to Check in a 1X2 Market

A bettor should confirm:

• Which team is playing at home
• Whether settlement uses regulation time
• Whether extra time is excluded
• Whether the market covers the full match or one half
• The final odds accepted on the betting slip

A favorite can still draw or lose. Short odds do not guarantee a winning selection.

Match Winner Betting

Match winner markets require the bettor to select the winning team.

They may be offered as:

• Two-way match winner
• Three-way match result
• Winner including extra time
• Team to qualify
• Winner of a specific half

A two-way market commonly removes the draw as a final outcome. However, its rules may include extra time, penalties, or a refund condition.

"Match winner" should not automatically be assumed to mean the same thing as 1X2.

Double Chance Betting

Double chance combines two of the three possible 1X2 outcomes.

Selection	Winning Results
1X	Home win or draw
X2	Draw or away win
12	Home win or away win

For example, a wager on 1X wins if:

• The home team wins, or
• The match ends in a draw

It loses if the away team wins.

Double chance covers more possible outcomes than a standard 1X2 selection. As a result, its odds are usually lower.

Draw No Bet

Draw No Bet removes the draw as a losing result.

The bettor selects:

• Home team
• Away team

Possible settlements are:

Match Result	Home Draw No Bet	Away Draw No Bet
Home wins	Win	Loss
Draw	Refund	Refund
Away wins	Loss	Win

If the match ends in a draw, the original stake is normally returned.

Draw No Bet may also be displayed as an Asian Handicap line of 0.

Asian Handicap Betting

Asian Handicap applies a virtual advantage or disadvantage before the result is settled.

The market commonly offers two selections and removes the traditional draw as a full losing outcome on many lines.

Common handicaps include:

• 0
• ±0.25
• ±0.50
• ±0.75
• ±1.00
• ±1.25
• ±1.50
• ±2.00

Asian Handicap 0

A handicap of 0 works similarly to Draw No Bet.

Result	Selected Team −0
Selected team wins	Win
Match is drawn	Refund
Selected team loses	Loss

Asian Handicap −0.50

A team at −0.50 must win the match for the wager to succeed.

Match Result	Team −0.50
Team wins	Win
Draw	Loss
Team loses	Loss

Asian Handicap +0.50

A team at +0.50 can win or draw.

Match Result	Team +0.50
Team wins	Win
Draw	Win
Team loses	Loss

Asian Handicap −1.00

A team carrying −1.00 begins with a virtual one-goal disadvantage.

Winning Margin	Settlement
Wins by two or more goals	Win
Wins by exactly one goal	Refund
Draws or loses	Loss

Asian Handicap +1.00

A team receiving +1.00 has a virtual one-goal advantage.

Match Result	Settlement
Team wins or draws	Win
Team loses by exactly one goal	Refund
Team loses by two or more goals	Loss

Quarter-Goal Asian Handicaps

Quarter lines split the stake equally between two neighboring handicaps.

Examples include:

Handicap	Stake Split
−0.25	Half on 0 and half on −0.50
+0.25	Half on 0 and half on +0.50
−0.75	Half on −0.50 and half on −1.00
+0.75	Half on +0.50 and half on +1.00

Because the stake is divided, a result may produce:

• Full win
• Half win and half refund
• Full refund
• Half loss and half refund
• Full loss

Quarter handicaps should be understood before a wager is placed because their payouts are less straightforward than ordinary win-or-lose markets.

Over/Under Goals

The over/under market covers the total number of goals scored by both teams.

Common lines include:

• 0.5 goals
• 1.5 goals
• 2.5 goals
• 3.5 goals
• 4.5 goals

Over/Under 2.5 Goals

Final Score	Total Goals	Over 2.5	Under 2.5
1–0	1	Loss	Win
1–1	2	Loss	Win
2–1	3	Win	Loss
2–2	4	Win	Loss
4–1	5	Win	Loss

Because half-goal lines cannot finish exactly on the published total, they do not produce a push.

Whole-Goal Totals

Whole lines can result in a refund.

For Over 2.0 goals:

Total Goals	Settlement
3 or more	Win
Exactly 2	Refund
0 or 1	Loss

For Under 2.0 goals:

Total Goals	Settlement
0 or 1	Win
Exactly 2	Refund
3 or more	Loss

Quarter-Goal Totals

Quarter totals split the stake between two neighboring lines.

Total Line	Stake Split
Over 2.25	Half on Over 2.0 and half on Over 2.5
Under 2.25	Half on Under 2.0 and half on Under 2.5
Over 2.75	Half on Over 2.5 and half on Over 3.0
Under 2.75	Half on Under 2.5 and half on Under 3.0

For example, Over 2.25 with exactly two goals produces a half loss:

• Over 2.0 is refunded
• Over 2.5 loses

The bettor therefore loses half of the original stake.

Both Teams to Score

Both Teams to Score is commonly shortened to BTTS.

The standard selections are:

• Yes
• No

A Yes selection wins when both teams score at least one goal.

Final Score	BTTS Yes	BTTS No
0–0	Loss	Win
1–0	Loss	Win
1–1	Win	Loss
2–1	Win	Loss
3–0	Loss	Win

The number of total goals does not determine the market by itself. A 4–0 result contains four goals but still settles as BTTS No.

Correct Score Betting

Correct score requires the bettor to select the exact final score.

Common selections include:

• 0–0
• 1–0
• 0–1
• 1–1
• 2–0
• 2–1
• 1–2
• 2–2
• Any other home win
• Any other draw
• Any other away win

A selection of 2–1 loses if the match finishes:

• 1–0
• 2–0
• 3–1
• 1–2
• 2–2

Correct-score markets usually carry higher odds because each possible score has a relatively low individual probability.

Half-Time Result

A half-time result market uses only the score at the end of the first half, including first-half stoppage time.

The common selections are:

• Home
• Draw
• Away

Second-half goals do not affect its settlement.

If the home team leads 1–0 at half-time but loses 1–2 at full-time:

• Half-time result: Home
• Full-time result: Away

Half-Time/Full-Time Betting

Half-Time/Full-Time combines the result at half-time with the result at full-time.

The nine common selections are:

Selection	Meaning
Home/Home	Home leads at half-time and wins
Home/Draw	Home leads at half-time; match ends drawn
Home/Away	Home leads at half-time; away wins
Draw/Home	Level at half-time; home wins
Draw/Draw	Level at half-time and full-time
Draw/Away	Level at half-time; away wins
Away/Home	Away leads at half-time; home wins
Away/Draw	Away leads at half-time; match ends drawn
Away/Away	Away leads at half-time and wins

Both parts of the selection must be correct.

Winning Margin

Winning-margin markets focus on how many goals separate the teams.

Possible selections may include:

• Home by one goal
• Home by two goals
• Home by three or more goals
• Draw
• Away by one goal
• Away by two goals
• Away by three or more goals

A home winning-margin selection of exactly two goals wins on results such as:

• 2–0
• 3–1
• 4–2

It does not win if the home team succeeds by one or three goals.

Team Total Goals

Team totals cover the number of goals scored by one specified team.

Examples include:

• Home Team Over 1.5 goals
• Home Team Under 1.5 goals
• Away Team Over 0.5 goals
• Away Team Under 2.5 goals

Suppose the selection is Home Team Over 1.5 goals:

Final Score	Settlement
1–0	Loss
2–0	Win
2–2	Win
1–3	Loss

Goals scored by the opponent do not count toward the selected team's total.

Clean Sheet Markets

A clean sheet occurs when a team concedes no goals.

Common markets include:

• Home team to keep a clean sheet
• Away team to keep a clean sheet
• Either team to keep a clean sheet
• Both teams to keep a clean sheet

A team can keep a clean sheet in results such as:

• 0–0
• 1–0
• 2–0
• 3–0

A 0–0 draw may qualify for both teams, depending on the precise market wording.

Win to Nil

Win to nil requires a team to:

1. Win the match
2. Concede no goals

Examples of winning results for the home team to win to nil include:

• 1–0
• 2–0
• 3–0

A 0–0 result loses because the selected team did not win. A 2–1 result also loses because it conceded a goal.

First Team to Score

This market asks which team will score the opening goal.

Selections may include:

• Home team
• Away team
• No goal

Later goals do not change which team scored first.

If the selected player or team's goal is overturned after a review, it normally does not count as an official goal.

Last Team to Score

The bettor selects which team will score the final goal of the match.

Possible selections may include:

• Home team
• Away team
• No goal

This market remains undecided until the match finishes because another goal can change the result.

Odd or Even Total Goals

This market asks whether the final total number of goals will be odd or even.

Total Goals	Result
0	Even
1	Odd
2	Even
3	Odd
4	Even
5	Odd

Zero is mathematically even, so a 0–0 result usually settles as even.

Exact Total Goals

The bettor selects the exact combined number of goals.

Possible options may include:

• 0 goals
• 1 goal
• 2 goals
• 3 goals
• 4 goals
• 5 goals
• 6 or more goals

If the selection is exactly three goals, results such as 2–1, 3–0, and 1–2 can qualify.

Highest-Scoring Half

This market compares the total goals scored in each half.

Selections may include:

• First half
• Second half
• Both halves equal

For a match with one first-half goal and two second-half goals, the winning selection is Second half.

Stoppage-time goals count toward the half in which they are scored.

Goal-Time Markets

Goal-time markets focus on when a goal will be scored.

Examples include:

• Goal before a stated minute
• Goal after a stated minute
• Time of first goal
• Goal in both halves
• No goal during a selected interval

Minute-based settlements can depend on the sportsbook's official time convention. For example, a goal shown as 15:20 may be treated as occurring in the 16th minute.

The applicable rules should be checked.

Corner Betting Markets

Corner markets apply to officially awarded corners rather than goals.

Common options include:

• Total corners over/under
• Team corner totals
• First team to take a corner
• Corner handicap
• Most corners
• First-half corners
• Race to a stated number of corners

A corner awarded but not taken before the referee ends the applicable period may not count, depending on the settlement rules.

Official data corrections can also affect corner results.

Card Betting Markets

Card markets cover disciplinary actions during a football match.

Common markets include:

• Total cards over/under
• Team card totals
• Player to receive a card
• First team to receive a card
• Card handicap
• Most cards
• Red card in the match

Settlement rules may differ regarding:

• Yellow cards
• Straight red cards
• Second-yellow dismissals
• Cards shown to substitutes
• Cards shown to coaching staff
• Cards issued after the final whistle
• Card points

A red card does not always count as a fixed number of cards. The sportsbook's scoring system must be reviewed.

Player Betting Markets

Player markets focus on an individual footballer's performance.

Popular selections include:

• Anytime goalscorer
• First goalscorer
• Last goalscorer
• Player to assist
• Player shots
• Shots on target
• Player passes
• Player tackles
• Player to receive a card

Anytime Goalscorer

The selected player must score at any qualifying time during the applicable period.

Own goals normally do not count toward the player's goalscorer settlement.

First Goalscorer

The selected player must score the first official goal.

Special rules may apply when:

• The player does not start
• The player enters as a substitute
• The match ends 0–0
• The first goal is an own goal
• The selected player leaves before the first goal

Player Participation Rules

A player wager may be void if the selected player does not participate. However, some markets require the player to start, while others remain active once the player enters the match.

The individual market rules should be checked before placing a player bet.

Outright and Futures Markets

Outright markets cover results decided across a tournament, league, or season.

Examples include:

• League champion
• Tournament winner
• Team to qualify
• Group winner
• Top goalscorer
• Team to be relegated
• Player to win an award
• Country to reach a tournament stage

These markets can remain open for weeks or months.

Settlement may be affected by:

• Team withdrawals
• Competition cancellation
• Point deductions
• Player transfers
• Rule changes
• Dead-heat conditions
• Official governing-body decisions

Bet Builder Markets

A bet builder combines several selections from the same match into one wager.

An example could contain:

• Home team to win
• Over 1.5 total goals
• Both teams to score
• Selected player to have a shot on target

Every required component must normally succeed.

Selections may also be related, so the combined odds are not always calculated by simply multiplying the individual prices. The sportsbook usually determines the final offered odds.

Adding more selections can increase the potential payout, but it also increases the number of conditions that must be correct.

Single Bets and Accumulators

Single Bet

A single contains one selection.

If that selection wins, the bet wins according to the accepted odds.

Accumulator

An accumulator combines multiple selections. Every required selection must normally win.

Feature	Single Bet	Accumulator
Number of selections	One	Two or more
Required winners	One	Normally all selections
Potential return	Usually lower	Can be higher
Combined risk	Lower	Higher
Effect of one loss	Bet loses	Entire accumulator usually loses

A larger possible return does not mean the accumulator is more likely to succeed.

Pre-Match and Live Football Markets

Pre-Match Markets

Pre-match markets are offered before kickoff.

They may include:

• 1X2
• Asian Handicap
• Over/Under
• Correct score
• Player markets
• Corners
• Cards
• Outrights

Live Betting Markets

Live or in-play markets are offered while the match is underway.

The odds and lines may change based on:

• Current score
• Match time
• Possession
• Shots and chances
• Corners
• Cards
• Injuries
• Substitutions
• Video reviews
• Match momentum

A price displayed on the screen may change, be suspended, or require confirmation before acceptance.

The final accepted odds and market line should always be checked on the betting receipt.

Similar Markets That Should Not Be Confused

The market title and complete selection should be read before a wager is confirmed.

How Football Wagers Are Settled

A football market may be settled as:

• Win
• Loss
• Refund or push
• Void
• Half win
• Half loss
• Dead heat

Void Bet

A market may be void because of:

• Match cancellation
• Postponement beyond the permitted period
• Incorrect market information
• Player non-participation under the stated rules
• Venue changes
• Abandoned matches
• Data or pricing errors

The exact outcome depends on the sportsbook's published rules.

Dead Heat

A dead heat may apply when two or more participants share a finishing position in certain outright or player markets.

The stake can be divided by the number of tied winners before the payout is calculated.

Common Football Betting Mistakes

Ignoring the Settlement Period

A regulation-time selection may exclude extra time and penalties.

Confusing the Line With the Odds

In Team A −0.50 at odds of 1.90:

• −0.50 is the handicap
• 1.90 is the price

Selecting the Wrong Team

Home and away positions should be checked carefully, particularly at neutral venues.

Misreading Over/Under Markets

Over 2.5 match goals and Over 2.5 home-team goals are different selections.

Assuming the Favorite Will Win

Short odds indicate a higher implied probability, not certainty.

Ignoring Quarter-Line Settlements

Lines such as −0.25, +0.75, and Over 2.25 split the stake.

Overlooking Player Participation Rules

Some player markets require a start, while others remain valid after substitute participation.

Treating High Odds as Better Automatically

Higher odds provide a larger potential return but usually represent a lower implied probability.

Chasing Losses

Increasing stakes to recover previous losses can quickly exceed an affordable budget.

Football Market Checklist

Before confirming a football wager, the bettor can check:

• The correct match has been selected
• The home and away teams are correct
• The market type is understood
• The selection is correct
• The handicap or total line is correct
• The odds format is understood
• The accepted price has been checked
• The settlement period is clear
• Extra-time and penalty rules are understood
• Player participation rules have been reviewed
• Postponement and abandonment rules are known
• The stake remains within an affordable limit
• No essential or borrowed money is being used

If the market cannot be clearly explained, it should not be selected until its rules are understood.

Football Betting Markets and Lottery Statistics

Football Sports Betting and lottery participation are separate game categories.

Detail	Football Betting	Lottery
Main outcome	Sporting-event result	Randomly drawn numbers
Common markets	1X2, handicaps, goals, corners	Draw and prize categories
Key identifiers	Match, team, market, line	Date, region, province, number
Historical information	Scores, form, and performance	Previous draw results
Settlement source	Sportsbook rules and event data	Lottery-company rules
Guaranteed future outcome	None	None

Football statistics can describe previous team performance, but they cannot guarantee the next match result. Likewise, historical lottery results cannot determine a future draw.

Responsible Football Betting

Understanding football betting markets does not remove the risk of losing money.

Eligible adults who participate should:

• Follow applicable laws and minimum-age requirements
• Treat Sports Betting as paid entertainment
• Set a fixed spending limit
• Use only money that can be comfortably lost
• Protect money intended for bills and necessities
• Never borrow money to place a wager
• Avoid chasing previous losses
• Keep stakes consistent and affordable
• Read the complete settlement rules
• Avoid impulsive live betting
• Set time limits and take regular breaks
• Keep a record of wagers and results
• Use account limits where available
• Seek support if participation becomes difficult to control

Football betting should not be treated as employment, an investment, or a dependable source of income.

Further information is available on the Responsible Gaming page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Guides

• Sports Betting Guides
• Understanding Sports Betting Odds
• How Asian Handicap Betting Works
• Understanding Over and Under Markets
• How 1X2 Football Betting Works
• Both Teams to Score Explained
• Single Bets and Accumulators Explained
• Sports Betting Terminology
• How to Verify Sports Results
• Responsible Gaming
• Frequently Asked Questions

Final Reminder About Football Betting Markets