Football betting: markets to understand before you build a slip
By Ilze Krūmiņa · updated October 2026
Football is the world's most popular sport for betting, and a single match can have hundreds of markets. This page covers the main ones and their settlement rules — because settlement rules are what cause most surprises.
Main markets
| Market | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1X2 | Home win, draw or away win |
| Double chance | Two of the three outcomes in one bet, at lower odds |
| Total goals | More or fewer goals than the line |
| Both teams to score | Yes or no, regardless of the result |
| Handicap | A virtual head start for the weaker side |
Which minutes count
Most football markets are settled on regular time — 90 minutes plus stoppage time — excluding extra time and penalty shoot-outs. In knockout matches this matters: a team can go through while your bet on it to win in regular time loses because regular time ended level. If a market includes extra time, its name or rules will say so.
Margin in practice
Three-way markets tend to carry a higher margin than two-way ones. Example: 2.10 / 3.40 / 3.60. Probabilities: 47.6% + 29.4% + 27.8% = 104.8%, a margin of about 4.8%. Comparing markets on the same match shows where the margin is lower.
Postponed or abandoned matches
If a match is postponed or abandoned, bets are settled under the operator's rules: typically the stake is returned if the match is not completed within a set period, while markets already decided — such as "first goal" — may stand. A voided bet returns to the balance but may not count towards bonus wagering.
Statistics versus gambling
Football is full of statistics: shots, possession, expected goals. They create the sense that an outcome can be calculated. But bookmakers use the same data and add their margin. So even a well-reasoned bet is entertainment, not income. If you spend hours analysing matches to win back past losses, it is time for a break.
Football, bonuses and withdrawals
Sports bonuses often require minimum odds, so a favourite at 1.30 may not count towards wagering. Money in open bets cannot be withdrawn; if you plan to cash out after the weekend, wait until every bet is settled. More on Bet types, Wagering and Withdrawals.
Other sports
Ice hockey — with its regulation-time trap — basketball and tennis. Basics on Sports betting.