Millions of fans around the world tune in to watch the English Premier League (EPL). Many of them have such great faith in their teams that they also try their luck with English Premier League betting. If you’re new to the EPL scene and would like to learn how to bet on football and the Premier League, this is our beginner-friendly soccer live betting guide.
What is the English Premier League?
English soccer had been in decline for many decades in the 20th century. But in the 1990s, it experienced a resurgence. The Football League, founded in 1888, was considered the best English football league at the time. However, many English teams felt that they were being short-changed by agreements under the then-dominant Football League.
This dissatisfaction with the status quo led to the formation of the EPL in 1992, which was originally named the FA Premier League. This new league saw the top 22 teams from the Football League break away, allowing the new league to sign its own licensing agreements with television broadcasters and increase the money available to the teams. This gave the league a better chance to compete with foreign soccer clubs and improved contracts for players. Today, the EPL has become the world’s most-watched league and the best premier league players of the century prove that the league draws the best talent.
How English Premier League games work
Before you place your first soccer bet, you need to understand how EPL tournaments work. The EPL has over 20 clubs that compete. The League uses a double round-robin system, with each team playing every other team, resulting in a total of 380 games. Teams will always get to play one of their two matches against their opposition at their own stadium, ensuring they have the home-ground advantage in half of their games.
When it comes to scoring, a team will receive three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a loss. The final ranking, and the winner, is determined by the total points scored by each team. In the event of a tie, other metrics are used to decide the final rankings, the first being goal difference, and then goals scored. If a tie still exists, a play-off match takes place. This match is on neutral ground at a stadium that doesn’t belong to either club playing in the tie-breaker.
The Big Six – The powerhouse EPL teams
Not all teams are created equal in the EPL, and some squads regularly dominate the scoreboard. In the last decade, what is more commonly known as “The Big Six” has emerged. These are the six teams that most regularly produce the best results and are considered the most successful in the league overall. These are the teams you should keep an eye on when you’re reading soccer betting odds.
- Arsenal
- Chelsea
- Liverpool
- Manchester City
- Manchester United
- Tottenham Hotspur
Now that you’ve finished the EPL crash course section, are you ready to make your first bet? Let’s show you how.
How to bet on the Premier League
It’s only natural that players started betting on football games in the EPL. When we look at the history of soccer betting, the first soccer betting establishment also came from Liverpool, England. It was inevitable that England’s love of soccer would be blended with its love for betting. Now that you know how the EPL works and what you can expect from some of the teams involved, it’s time to get onto the good stuff: the soccer bets!
The different types of soccer bets
Within these popular classes of wagers, you get different types of bets. These are some of the most popular types of bets.
1X2 bet
This is a match outcome wager that has three options, which are referred to in the wager name. The one in the name refers to the home team winning, the X in the name refers to a draw, while the two in the name refers to the away team winning. You choose whether to back the home team or the away team, or whether the match will end in a draw. Different odds are available for the home team, away team or a possible draw. There is also a halftime version of this wager where bets are paid out on halftime scores as opposed to the end-of-game scores.
Double chance
This type of wager offers you a greater chance (hence the name double chance) of winning. The bet covers a win or a draw for the home team, a win or a draw for the away team, or a win for both the home and away team. In the third wager, you lose if there’s a draw.
Draw no bet
In a draw no bet, players bet on the home or away team to win. However, in the event of a draw, it’s a “no bet” and stakes are returned in full.
Handicap
In this wager, each team is given a handicap, depending on whether they are the stronger side or not. The stronger team starts behind in goals, while the weaker team starts ahead. If you wager on the stronger team, they must win by more than their handicap value. If you wager on the weaker team, they must either win the game or lose by less than the handicap they were given. This makes for more exciting bets between two teams that are mismatched in terms of skill.
Over/Under
An over/under works similarly in soccer as in other sports. The sportsbook sets an over value and an under value, and bettors wager on whether they think the score will be above the sportsbook setting, or below it. If it’s greater than the over value and you wagered on over, you win. If it’s less than the under value and you wagered on under, you win.
Both teams to score
If both teams make it onto the scoreboard, you win the bet. If a team fails to score a goal, you lose your stake.
Parlay bet
Many novice bettors wonder, what is a parlay bet? Instead of choosing one match or outcome to bet on, parlays allow bettors to bet on different outcomes to increase their chances. In a parlay, you place two or more selections on the same game. With every selection or bet you add, your odds multiply. Your chances of winning are higher, but so is the risk involved. Parlay bets require a lot of research, and players sometimes have to place bets with different websites and platforms to avoid being banned.
The different categories of EPL bets
Sportsbooks will not only offer different types of bets, but these bets will differ from sport to sport and even from league to league. Here are some of the most popular wagers you can make when betting on the EPL:
- Individual matches – In this wager, you place a bet on which team will win, or whether it will be a draw.
- Title/League winner – Only one team can walk away with the title. In this wager, you place a bet on which team you think will end up in first place.
- Team to finish top four – In this wager, you place a bet on which teams will finish in the top four spots in the EPL.
- Team to finish top six – In this wager, you place a bet on which teams will finish in the top six ranks in the League.
- Relegation – In the EPL, the teams that finish in the bottom three spots are relegated to the EFL Championship. In this wager, you place a bet on which teams will be knocked out of the EPL.
- Top goal scorer – Some players perform incredibly well, even if they aren’t on the best teams in the League. This wager lets you bet on individual players and how many goals you think they will score in individual matches or even over the entire season.
Things to consider when betting on EPL games
When you’re creating your EPL betting strategy, always remember that the EPL is incredibly competitive. This means that the smaller underdog teams often upset the soccer odds and beat respected clubs. This is why doing your research and betting with caution is much more important when betting on the EPL. Even though you can bet without watching games, you will make better decisions if you watch EPL games before you bet. This way you can spot underdog teams and players that may just defy the odds.
Another thing to consider is betting on value. Don’t just pick the favorite team to win every time. This strategy might work most of the time, but the payout is much less. Look at other factors to choose a team that can give you a high-value bet. This could be considering things such as the players’ form, head-to-head records or the home-field advantage. Betting on football is not as much fun if you’re just choosing the favorite and betting on them. Put your analytical skills to the test and research players and teams to make an unconventional high-paying bet.
Enjoy the best soccer bets and more at Borgata Online
With this EPL betting guide, you’re ready to place a wager with great soccer odds. Our platform brings you the best soccer betting stats and tips to help you make an informed football bet. If you’re interested in betting on other sports online, you can find great online sports betting at Borgata Online! Our long list of sports includes soccer, football, basketball, MMA and many more incredible sports. Don’t just watch the game, start live betting with Borgata Online. Register to place your first wager!