Football (soccer)
Football (soccer) betting: markets and odds
Football betting is built on the 1X2 market: home win, draw or away win over 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Almost every other market, from double chance to Asian handicap, is a way of reshaping those three outcomes. Here is how each one works and settles, with calculators to price them.
Football (soccer) betting calculators
All betting calculators- Double chance & draw no bet calculatorFair 1X, X2, 12 and draw no bet prices from football 1X2 odds.
- No vig calculatorStrip the bookmaker's margin from a 2-way or 3-way market to get fair odds.
- Odds converterAmerican, decimal, fractional, Hong Kong, Indonesian and Malay odds, converted as you type.
- Parlay calculatorCombine 2 to 15 legs: parlay odds, payout and the chance every leg wins.
Football (soccer) betting markets and how they settle
| Market | What you bet on | How it settles |
|---|---|---|
| Match result (1X2)No vig calculator | Home win (1), draw (X) or away win (2) in regular time. | On the score after 90 minutes plus stoppage time; extra time and penalties don't count unless the market says so. |
| Double chanceDouble chance & draw no bet calculator | Two of the three results in one bet: 1X, X2 or 12. | Wins if either of your two results happens. Shorter odds than any single result. |
| Draw no betDouble chance & draw no bet calculator | Back one team with the draw taken out. | A draw refunds the stake; otherwise it wins or loses like a match result bet. |
| Asian handicap | A goal handicap that removes the draw, in half, whole and quarter goals. | Half lines (-0.5, +1.5) can't tie. Whole lines (0, -1) refund on an exact tie. Quarter lines (-0.25, -0.75) split the stake across the two nearest lines, so half can win or refund while the other half wins or loses. |
| Over/under goals | Total goals in the match above or below a line, most often 2.5. | On regular time goals. Whole number lines refund on an exact total; quarter lines split like Asian handicaps. |
| Both teams to score (BTTS) | Yes if both teams score at least once, No otherwise. | On regular time. Own goals count for the team credited with the goal. |
| Correct score | The exact final score in regular time. | Long odds and a large margin, because there are so many possible scores. |
| Corners and cards | Totals and handicaps on corners awarded or cards shown. | Rules differ most here, for example how a second yellow followed by a red is counted, so read the market's rules. |
| Bet builder (same game parlay)Parlay calculator | Several selections from one match combined into one bet. | The legs are related, so sportsbooks price them together rather than multiplying the odds; a parlay calculator will not match the price. |
Settlement rules are the usual ones in US sportsbooks. Each sportsbook publishes its own rules, and those decide your bet.
Competitions people bet on
- Premier League: England's top division: 20 clubs, each playing 38 league matches a season.
- La Liga, Serie A: Spain's and Italy's top divisions, 20 clubs each.
- Bundesliga, Ligue 1: Germany's and France's top divisions, 18 clubs each.
- UEFA Champions League: Europe's top club competition, with a 36 club league phase before the knockout rounds.
- Europa League, Conference League: UEFA's second and third tier club competitions, with the same league phase format.
- MLS: The top league in the US and Canada; its season runs from late winter to the MLS Cup in late fall.
- FIFA World Cup and international football: The 2026 World Cup, held in the US, Canada and Mexico, was the first with 48 teams.
- Women's football: The NWSL in the US, the Women's Super League in England and the Women's Champions League.
Terms to know
- 1X2
- The three way match result market: home, draw, away.
- Regular time
- 90 minutes plus stoppage time; the basis for most markets.
- Handicap
- A head start given to one team to even up the odds.
- Push
- A tie with the line; the stake is refunded.
- BTTS
- Both teams to score.
- Accumulator
- The British word for a parlay.
Common questions
Does the 1X2 market include extra time and penalties?
No. Match result markets settle on regular time (90 minutes plus stoppage time). Sportsbooks offer separate to qualify or to lift the trophy markets for cup ties that include extra time and penalties.
What does Asian handicap -0.25 mean?
Your stake is split between a 0 handicap and a -0.5 handicap. If your team wins, both halves win. If the match is drawn, the 0 half is refunded and the -0.5 half loses, so you lose half your stake.
What is the difference between double chance and draw no bet?
Double chance wins on a draw (for 1X and X2); draw no bet refunds on a draw. Double chance pays less because it wins more often.
Is betting on football legal in the US?
Sports betting is legal in many US states but not all, and each state sets its own rules. The minimum age is 21 in most states that allow it and 18 in a few. Check the rules where you are before you bet.
Betting involves risk. Calculators show what prices imply, not what will happen. Set a budget before you start, never chase losses, and if betting stops being fun, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER for free, confidential help.