How to Start From Scratch in Football Sports Betting

Football sports betting is a great opportunity to combine a passion for the sport with the potential for financial gains. However, for those starting from scratch, the world of betting can seem complex and full of challenges. This guide was created to help beginners take their first steps in sports betting in a structured, safe, and strategic way. By following this step-by-step process, you will have a solid foundation to start your bets on the right track and avoid the most common mistakes.

Step-by-Step Guide to Starting in Football Sports Betting

1. Understand How Sports Betting Works

Before you start with sports betting, it’s essential to understand the basic concepts that make up the structure of this market. Having solid knowledge will help you avoid common mistakes and assist you in developing a more consistent strategy.

Odds:
Odds represent the probability of an event happening and determine the potential return on a bet. There are three main types of odds:
- Decimal Odds (most common): Used in most betting sites. For example, an odds of 2.00 means that for every £1 bet, you will win £2 if the bet is successful, including the stake.
- Fractional Odds: Common in the UK. Represented as fractions, such as 3/1, where the first number is the profit and the second is the stake.
- American Odds: Used in the US. These can be positive (+150) or negative (-150), indicating the profit on a £100 bet or the amount needed to bet to win £100.
Understanding how odds work is crucial for evaluating the value of a bet, i.e., identifying whether the odds offered by bookmakers are advantageous in relation to your analysis.
Types of Bets:
There are various betting markets you can explore. Knowing the main types helps identify which one best suits your profile and analysis method:
- 1×2 (Final Result): Bet on the home team’s win, a draw, or the away team’s win.
- Over/Under Goals: Bet on whether the match will have more or fewer goals than a set number (e.g., Over 2.5 or Under 3.5 goals).
- Both Teams to Score: Bet on whether both teams will score during the game.
- Asian Handicap: A market where “virtual goals” are added to balance the technical difference between teams.
- Corners: Bet on the total number of corners, corners per team, or which team will have more corners in the match.
- Cards: Bet on the number of yellow and red cards shown in the match.
- Goals in the First Half: Focus on the number of goals scored in the first half only.
Choosing the ideal market depends on your level of knowledge, analysis method, and betting style. Test different markets to find which one you feel most comfortable with.
How Bookmakers Work:
Bookmakers are platforms where you place your bets. To succeed, it’s important to understand how they operate and choose a trustworthy bookmaker:
- Reliability and Licensing: Check if the bookmaker is regulated by a recognized betting authority, such as the Malta Gaming Authority or the UK Gambling Commission.
- Variety of Markets: A good bookmaker should offer a wide range of markets, including results, corners, cards, goals, and live betting.
- Competitive Odds: Compare the odds between different bookmakers to find the best prices.
- Payment Methods: Prefer bookmakers that offer a variety of deposit and withdrawal options, such as cards, transfers, PayPal, and e-wallets (Skrill, Neteller).
- Bonuses and Promotions: Bookmakers offer welcome bonuses and promotions for live or pre-match betting. However, always read the terms and conditions to understand the rollover requirements.
- Extra Features: Features such as cash out (early bet settlement), live streaming, and real-time statistics help inform your decisions during live betting.
Choosing the right bookmaker is crucial for a safe and smooth experience. Evaluate reviews and reputations before signing up.
Value Bet:
In addition to understanding markets and odds, it’s important to identify value bets. A “Value Bet” occurs when the odds offered by the bookmaker are higher than the actual probability of the event happening according to your analysis.
Example: If you believe Team A has a 60% chance of winning, but the bookmaker offers odds of 2.20 (which corresponds to a 45% probability), this is a value bet.

Understanding these basic concepts helps avoid common mistakes, such as betting without planning or choosing markets without proper analysis. With this foundation, you’ll be better prepared to develop strategies and make more informed bets.

2. Set Your Initial Budget

Before you start betting, setting an initial budget is essential to avoid financial problems and ensure that your bets are placed responsibly. This budget will be your initial bankroll, meaning the amount allocated exclusively for betting.

Set an amount that won’t affect your personal finances:
The bankroll should be an amount you are willing to lose, without affecting your day-to-day life, bills, or standard of living. Never use money allocated for essential expenses, such as rent, food, bills, or savings.
Define your mindset:
Understand that sports betting involves risks, and there are no guarantees of immediate profit. Accept that losses are part of the process, and your initial bankroll should be seen as an investment in learning and developing your skills.
Choose your bankroll format:
- Fixed Bankroll: A total set amount that you won’t increase or decrease over time. Ideal for beginners who are developing discipline.
- Variable Bankroll: Increases or decreases based on gains or losses. This approach is more advanced and should be used by bettors with proven methods.
Divide the bankroll into units:
To facilitate management and control of your bets, divide your bankroll into smaller units. For example, a bankroll of £500 can be divided into 100 units of £5. This helps maintain strict control and avoid impulsive bets.

Important: Keep in mind that betting responsibly is the foundation for long-term success. If at any point you notice that you are compromising your finances or betting more than planned, take a break.

3. Choose a Reliable Betting Site

Choosing a reliable betting site is a crucial step in ensuring a safe and positive experience. The platform you choose should meet your needs and offer features that facilitate your betting process.

Licensing and Regulation:
Check if the betting site is licensed by recognized regulatory bodies, such as the Malta Gaming Authority or the UK Gambling Commission. Regulated platforms ensure transparency, security, and user protection.
Ease of Use and Navigation:
A good betting site should have an intuitive website or app, making it easy to navigate between markets, live tracking, and placing bets.
Deposit and Withdrawal Methods:
Prefer platforms that offer practical and secure methods such as credit/debit cards, PayPal, bank transfers, digital wallets (Skrill, Neteller), and cryptocurrencies. Also, check the withdrawal times and fees.
Variety of Markets and Competitive Odds:
Choose betting sites that offer a wide range of markets (goals, corners, cards, etc.) and competitive odds, as this directly impacts your long-term winnings.
Bonuses and Promotions:
While welcome bonuses and promotions are attractive, it’s important to read the terms and conditions. Be aware of the rollover (amount needed to unlock winnings) and any usage restrictions.
Customer Support:
Customer support should be accessible, fast, and efficient. Test out support channels, such as live chat, email, or phone, to ensure a good experience should any issues arise.

Research reviews from other users and check ratings on specialized sites before creating an account on a betting platform.

4. Learn to Manage Your Bankroll

Bankroll management is one of the most important pillars for success in sports betting. Even if your analysis is excellent, without proper management, it’s easy to lose control and compromise your long-term results.

Set a fixed percentage for each bet:
Avoid betting random amounts. The standard recommendation is to bet between 1% and 5% of your bankroll per bet, depending on your level of confidence in the analysis. For example, if your bankroll is £500, your bets should range from £5 to £25.
Avoid going “All In” (betting everything at once):
Betting your entire bankroll on a single bet is extremely risky. Even in situations that seem “certain”, football is unpredictable, and an unexpected result could wipe out your bankroll.
Set daily and weekly limits:
Set a limit for how much you are willing to bet in a day or week. This helps prevent you from entering a series of impulsive bets to recover losses.
Maintain discipline to avoid tilt:
Tilt occurs when a bettor loses emotional control after a series of losses, leading to irrational decisions and even greater losses. Stay calm and stick to your plan.
Increase your bankroll gradually:
As your results improve, you can gradually increase the size of your bets, keeping them proportionate to your total bankroll. This helps you grow sustainably without taking excessive risks.
Track your bets:
Maintaining detailed records of your bets is essential for understanding what works and what needs adjustment. Record the following:
- Bet market (e.g., Over 2.5 goals, Team A to win).
- Odds of the bet.
- Bet amount and the return.
- The reason for the bet and your pre-analysis.
This record will help you identify patterns, learn from mistakes, and adjust your strategies based on real data.

Important: Success in sports betting depends on patience, discipline, and consistency. Focus on building solid results over time and avoid impulsive decisions that could jeopardize your bankroll.

5. Understand Different Betting Markets

Football sports betting offers a wide variety of markets, allowing bettors to choose options that align with their knowledge and strategy. Knowing the main markets is essential to avoid confusion and bet with more confidence.

Below are some of the most popular markets, especially recommended for beginners:

1X2 (Final Result):
This is the most traditional and simple market. You bet on three possible outcomes:
- 1: Home team win.
- X: Draw between teams.
- 2: Away team win.
Example: If Flamengo is playing against Santos, you can bet on Flamengo winning (1), a draw (X), or Santos winning (2).
Total Goals (Over/Under):
Bet on whether the match will have more or fewer goals than a set number determined by the bookmaker.
- Over 2.5 Goals: The match must have 3 or more goals.
- Under 2.5 Goals: The match must have 2 or fewer goals.
Tip: This market is great for beginners as it offers simple options with good probabilities, especially in games between offensive or defensive teams.
Both Teams to Score (Yes/No):
In this market, you bet whether both teams will score at least one goal during the match (Yes) or if one or neither will score (No).
Example: In a match between Real Madrid and Barcelona, you bet “Yes” if you believe both teams will score.
Tip: Analyze recent team histories, especially the number of goals scored and conceded.
Corners:
The corners market allows you to bet on the number of corners during the match. Some variations include:
- Total Corners: Over/Under a specific number of corners.
- Corners by Team: Number of corners one specific team will take.
- Race to Corners: Which team will reach a set number of corners first (e.g., 5 corners).
Tip: Games with offensive teams that use the flanks a lot tend to generate more corners.
Asian Handicap:
This market levels the technical difference between two teams by adding a virtual “advantage” or “disadvantage” to one of them.
Example: In Handicap -1.0 for Team A, they must win by 2 or more goals. If they win by just 1 goal, your bet is refunded.
Why is it useful? Ideal for games with clear favorites but low odds in the 1X2 market.

There are many other markets, such as cards, goals per half, exact score, and special player markets. In the beginning, focus on simple markets, and as you gain confidence, explore more complex options.

6. Study and Do Pre-Game Analysis

Success in sports betting doesn’t depend on luck, but on knowledge, study, and analysis. Before placing a bet, you should perform a complete pre-game analysis, considering the following factors:

Recent Form:
Analyze the last 5 to 10 games of both teams. See if they are in good form, accumulating wins and solid performances, or if they are on a losing streak.
Injuries and Suspensions:
Check if important players will be missing. The absence of a star forward or a key defender can drastically influence the match outcome.
Playing Style:
Understand how the teams play. Offensive teams tend to create more goal and corner opportunities, while defensive teams play to avoid risks.
Head-to-Head:
Check the historical results between the teams. In some cases, one team may dominate the head-to-head, even if they are in poor form.
Home/Away Factor:
Teams tend to perform very differently at home and away. Check how the teams fare when playing at home and on the road.
Importance of the Game:
Decisive games, such as finals or relegation battles, tend to be more intense and can affect markets like goals and cards.

Tip: Use statistics from reliable websites and combine the factors above to make your betting decisions more accurate.

7. Start with Simple Bets

Avoid complicating your bets at the beginning. Focusing on simple markets is the best way to build confidence and experience. Here are some suggestions:

1X2: Bet on the final result (win, draw, or loss).
Over 1.5 Goals: A safe market where only 2 goals in the match are required to win.
Both Teams to Score (Yes): Bet on games with attacking teams and vulnerable defences.

As you get used to betting, you can explore markets like Asian handicap, corners, and cards.

8. Use Statistics and Data

Statistics are indispensable tools to increase your chances of success in betting. Instead of betting based on guesses, use concrete data to support your analysis. On our website, you can find valuable information such as:

Average Goals Scored and Conceded: See which teams have the most effective attacks and defences.
Home and Away Performance: Compare teams’ performances when playing at home and away.
Statistics on Corners and Cards: Check which teams generate more corners or receive more cards.
Trends and Sequences: Identify teams that are on good winning streaks, scoring in the first half, or both teams scoring.

Using statistics allows you to make more informed decisions and avoid betting based only on emotion or support for a team.

Conclusion: By understanding different markets, conducting pre-match analysis, and using reliable statistics, you’ll be much better prepared to make informed bets and increase your chances of long-term success.

9. Avoid Impulsive Bets

Betting impulsively, whether by intuition or emotion, is one of the biggest mistakes made by beginners. Decisions made without analysis, based only on support or “gut feeling”, often result in financial losses and frustration. Maintaining discipline is crucial for long-term success.

Avoid emotional influence: If you support a team, you’re more likely to make biased and irrational decisions. Never bet on your favourite team without a cold, impartial analysis.
Don’t bet impulsively after a win: The excitement after a winning bet can lead you to make hasty and risky bets without prior study.
Avoid desperation after a loss: Many people try to “recover” their lost money quickly by increasing the size of their bets or venturing into unfamiliar markets. This only worsens the situation.
Follow a pre-defined strategy: Have a clear and well-defined betting plan. If a bet doesn’t fit your method, don’t place it.

Tip: Keep a simple rule: never place a bet without prior analysis or a logical reason. Impulsiveness is the enemy of success in sports betting.

10. Keep a Record of Your Bets

Keeping a detailed record of your bets is essential for long-term success. This habit allows you to track your performance, identify patterns, and adjust your strategy based on real data.

A good betting record should contain the following information:

Date and time of the bet: To understand when you tend to place bets and check how your betting evolves over time.
Market and odds: Record the chosen market (e.g., 1×2, total goals, handicap) and the odds offered by the bookmaker.
Stake (amount bet): Write down the exact amount invested in each bet. This helps you control your bankroll management.
Bet result: Indicate whether the bet was won, lost, or refunded (for example, in Asian markets).
Profit or loss: Calculate the return or accumulated loss for each bet.
Reason for the bet: Briefly explain the rationale behind the bet. This can help you evaluate the quality of your analysis over time.

Additionally, use tools like Excel spreadsheets, Google Sheets, or betting management apps to make organisation easier. Analyzing your betting history will allow you to:

Identify markets where you’re most profitable.
See which types of bets or stakes yield better results.
Avoid repeating recurring mistakes.

Tip: Make a habit of reviewing your record weekly. This will help you get a clear view of your progress and quickly adjust your strategies.

11. Maintain Emotional Control

Emotional control is one of the most important pillars for success in sports betting. The ability to make rational decisions, even in situations of wins or losses, makes all the difference in the long run.

Don’t bet under the influence of emotions: Avoid betting when you’re euphoric after a win or frustrated after a loss. Strong emotions can lead to impulsive betting and decisions outside your plan.
Avoid “Tilt”: The term “tilt” is used when a bettor loses control after a series of losses and starts betting without criteria, irrationally increasing the stake. Learn to recognise this behaviour and take a break.
Respect limits and breaks: If you reach a daily or weekly loss limit, stop betting. Taking breaks is necessary to regain focus and avoid greater damage to your bankroll.
Focus on the long term: Understand that success in betting is not immediate. Your goal should be to achieve consistent profits over time, not to win everything in a single day.

Tip: Treat sports betting as an investment. Discipline and emotional control are more important than any specific bet.

12. Keep Learning

The sports betting market is always evolving, and knowledge is a powerful tool to stand out. To succeed, it is important to stay updated and continuously seek improvement.

Study new strategies: Research and test different methods to find what works best for you. Markets like goals, corners, or handicap have specific approaches that can be studied in-depth.
Learn from mistakes: Every lost bet can be a learning opportunity. Analyse where you went wrong and adjust your strategy.
Follow sports news: Staying up-to-date with news about injuries, suspensions, line-ups, weather, and other factors can improve your analysis and decisions.
Consult statistical sources: Use reliable websites to check data on recent performances, head-to-head history, goal averages, and other important indicators.
Join betting communities: Sharing ideas with other bettors can help you discover new strategies and avoid common mistakes. Forums, social media groups, and blogs are great options.
Invest in education: Read books, watch videos, attend courses or workshops. Betting with knowledge increases your chances of success and reduces reliance on luck.

Tip: Never stop learning! The betting market is dynamic, and those who adapt more quickly have a significant advantage.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Starting out right in sports betting means avoiding the most common mistakes made by beginners. Here are the main mistakes you should avoid at all costs:

Betting without analysis or research: Betting based on guesses, intuition, or fandom rarely works. Always back up your decisions with data and statistics.
Using money intended for important expenses: Never use money that you cannot afford to lose. Bets should only be made with a separate bankroll.
Ignoring bankroll management: Betting large amounts without control can lead to quick losses of your entire bankroll. Always respect your stake limits.
Betting on too many games at once: Focus on the quality of your analysis, not the quantity of bets. Overbetting can dilute your focus and increase risks.
Trying to recover losses quickly: Avoid increasing your stakes or chasing random games after a losing streak. This will only make things worse.

Conclusion

Getting started in football sports betting can be an exciting and profitable experience, as long as you adopt a disciplined and strategic approach. By following the steps outlined in this article, you’ll be better prepared to make informed bets and achieve consistent long-term results. Remember: success in betting relies on patience, continuous learning, and emotional control. Good luck and happy betting!