Knowing how to bet on football can add a ton of fun and excitement to your viewing experience, and can be a potentially lucrative pastime to participate in. And the best part is that betting on football for real money is simple, and is an easy form of sports betting that new bettors can try out.
If you are looking for tips on how to bet on football games, along with the best online betting sites, then you have come to the right place. Keep reading below to get started on your journey to learning real money football betting.
| Rank | Gambling Site | Deposit Bonus | Get Started | |
| #1 |
BetOnline Sports
|
60% Up To $1,000 | Visit Site | |
| #2 |
Bovada Sports
|
50% Up To $250 | Visit Site | |
| #3 |
BetUS
|
125% Up To $2,500 | Visit Site | |
| #4 |
Everygame
|
100% Up To $500 | Visit Site | |
| #5 |
MyBookie
|
100% Up To $1,000 | Visit Site | |
If you are planning on making a large initial deposit after signing up in an attempt to start with as big of a budget as possible, then BetUS is the football betting site for you. They offer a 100% deposit match of anything up to $2,500, meaning you could potentially start with a betting budget of $5,000!
BetUS offers the most intriguing deposit bonus on our list, so if you plan on depositing more than $1,000 initially, you can not pass up BetUS.
The more variety, the better. And if you are planning on testing out a bunch of different bet types, then MyBookie is the football betting site for you.
MyBookie features all of the standard bets you would expect to find on a football betting site, as well as an abundance of futures and props bets. They are guaranteed to have at least one bet type that you can call a favorite, and that can be lucrative for you throughout the season.
SportsBetting.ag is one of the biggest football betting sites in existence. And as a result of being so popular among sports bettors, they offer some of the best betting odds that you will find.
So, if you are looking to be sitting on the edge of your seat during every game you bet on, then SportsBetting is the football betting site for you. Sign up now and get in on the lucrative betting odds that they have available.
Betting promotions are one of the most exciting aspects of a football betting site. They offer a great opportunity for bettors to earn even more from their real money bets and help keep things fresh and exciting for both new and experienced bettors.
And if you are looking for a football betting site that frequently offers different betting promotions, then BetOnline has the sportsbook for you. With such a wide variety of promotions run throughout the year, you are guaranteed to find one that intrigues you the most.
If you are new to football betting, or have never bet on football online in the past, then you may be wondering what the process of signing up for an online sportsbook looks like.
Luckily, the process is simple and only takes a few minutes to complete. Follow along with these steps to get signed up and start betting on football today:
The first and most obvious step to signing up and betting on football is to choose a football betting site or sites that you are most comfortable with. This step can sometimes take the longest, and is the most important in terms of what kind of football betting experience you will have.
There are many factors that should play into this decision, and it is crucial to choose a football betting site that has banking options that are compatible with what you plan to use. For this example, we are choosing BetUS as our football betting site.
Now that you have selected which football betting site you are going to use, you are going to need to create an account. This usually does not take long, and requires some basic information from you, such as:
When you have entered in all of this information, the football betting site should automatically redirect you to the next page where you can choose a deposit method that best suits you. If you are not redirected, simply look for the site’s banking page, or navigate to your user profile to find where you can load funds into your account.
The next step toward learning how to bet on football online for real money is choosing your deposit method. The list of deposit methods that the site accepts should be easily found on their banking page in list format, and may contain upwards of dozens of different options to choose from.
All you need to do is select which deposit method you want to use to load money into your account (you can always choose a different method later on when you want to add more funds).
Most football betting sites make sure to accept some of the more common payment methods, such as:
Once you click on your desired deposit method, you should be taken to another page that asks for additional information along with how much money you would like to deposit.
With your desired deposit method selected, you will be asked to provide some information, such as the amount you want to deposit along with the personal details for your deposit information.
Let’s say you have decided to deposit money into your football betting account using a credit card. The amount you want to deposit goes at the top like shown below:
Once you enter in the amount you want to deposit, you will need to provide additional information, such as your card number and its expiration date, at the bottom of the page. After that information is entered, you can click the deposit button and wait for your funds to be added.
It is important to note that most football betting sites have a minimum and maximum deposit allowed at one time. Typically, the minimum deposit allowed is $50, with the maximum varying greatly between different online sportsbooks.
Try not to spend too much time on this step trying to calculate how much money you will need in your account. After all, you can always make more deposits later on. The best thing you can do before you bet on football is establish a budget that you are not in fear of losing. This will keep you from overspending, and can help you determine what you want your starting bankroll to be. If you do well enough, you can grow your bankroll naturally through winning bets.
Now that you have money loaded into your betting account, you can actually start making your bets. If you were planning on betting on the weekend’s upcoming NFL games, your betting page may look something like this:
This list shows you everything you need to know about the games you want to bet on, including the point spread, moneyline, and totals. It even shows you what day and time the games are being played.
When you see a game you want to bet on, all you need to do is click on the square that you want to wager on. For example, let’s say that you wanted to bet on the totals and take the over on both the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals. All you need to do is click on the boxes to add them to your bet slip.
Once you click on those bets, they will be added to your betting slip where you can choose how much you want to wager on each. Once you feel satisfied with all of your selected bets, you can click on the “Place My Bets” button.
At this point, you have selected your football betting site, created an account, selected a deposit method, added funds to your account, and placed your bets. What else could be left? That’s right – you need to collect your winnings.
Once the games are over you should check back into your account to see how much money you either won or lost. If you won your bets, you will be able to claim them and have the winnings transferred to your betting balance. If you lost, then you unfortunately will have to swallow your losses and plan your next bets carefully.
When it comes to betting on football for real money, there are a ton of options for what types of bets you can place. While some are as simple as predicting the winner of a matchup, others are more difficult to win.
Some different types of football bets includes:
Parlays, also known as accumulator bets, are some of the most attractive that a football betting site can offer in regards to payouts. But they are also much more difficult to win than other bets.
A parlay allows you to make multiple bets as one. For example, if you were making an parlay bet for real money on NFL games, you would pick multiple winners from the different matchups that week. In order to win, you need to get every selection correct.
For example, your parlay may look like this:
| Bet | Odds | Stake | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings over Lions | +100 | ||
| Raiders over Chargers | +275 | ||
| Bills over Jets | -350 | ||
| Ravens over Steelers | -100 | ||
| Bears over Packers | +225 | ||
| Total | +15569 | $100 | $15,569 |
Your parlay betting payout odds will be determined by combining them all from the collective games. And your original stake will be based off of that. Again, you will need to get every bet correct in order to receive a real money payout on a parlay.
Moneyline bets are one of the most simple to understand and are often popular among newer football bettors who are just learning how to bet on football and getting used to things.
For moneyline bets, all you need to do is place a real money wager on who you believe will win the game. Each team will be given payout odds that represent what your reward would be for winning your bet.
For example, let’s say that you are looking to bet on a game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Arizona Cardinals. The payout odds may look something like this:
In this scenario, the Arizona Cardinals are favored with payout odds of -205 (the team with a negative payout is always the favorite to win, meaning you will make less off of that wager than you would off the winning bet for the underdog team).
For example, let’s say that you placed a $100 wager on Arizona winning the game. If they won, you would win an additional $48.78, making your total payout $148.78.
However, let’s say that you made the exact same wager, but for Cincinnati. If they won, your winnings would be $205, or a total payout of $305.
This example featured some tight payout odds, meaning that the game has no clear and obvious winner that can be predicted.
For extremely uneven matchups, it is not uncommon to see the winning team have payout odds greater than -500. The higher the number after the negative symbol, the less that bet will pay out due to its ability to be easily predicted.
Either way, all you need to do when you bet on football is pick which team you predict will be the winner. Then, you can sit back and watch.
You have likely heard of over and under bets before but may not be exactly sure what they mean. Let’s take a closer look at these football bet types.
Online sportsbooks will provide projected total points for every football game. For example, let’s say that you want to bet on the upcoming game of the Cleveland Browns against the Baltimore Ravens, and the sportsbook provides a total of 28.5.
This means that if you were to bet on the under, the total score of the game would need to be 28 or less for you to win. Alternatively, those betting on the over will require a total score of 29 or higher to win. Sportsbooks always provide total scores with a decimal to ensure a tie cannot take place.
Once you place your bet, all you need to do is watch the game and try not to yell at the television.
Also known as “betting the spread,” spread bets are another extremely popular type of football bets.
The “spread” refers to the number of points that an individual team is expected to win or lose by. For example, let’s say that you want to be on the upcoming game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Miami Dolphins. The spread may look like this:
In this example, the Raiders are favored to win by 6 and a half, meaning that if you place a wager on them winning, or “covering the spread,” they need to win by at least 7 points for you to win your bet.
Even if you bet on the Raiders winning, and they manage to pull off a last-minute field goal to win, you would lose your bet because they failed to cover the spread.
Half-points are added to eliminate the possibility of a tie happening.
Football prop bets, also known as propositional betting, are unique wagers that add a lot of fun and excitement to football betting. And the best part is that both new and experienced sports bettors can wager on them because many are based on pure luck and do not require any football knowledge in order to be successful.
For example, one of the most popular types of prop bets is betting on which team will win the coin toss at the beginning of the game. Obviously, this is a 50/50 bet, and there is no way to accurately predict how the coin will land.
Other examples of prop bets include:
Prop bets are typically placed on their own ticket, and you can add as many as you like to spice up your real money football betting.
Futures bets are ideal for patient sports bettors who have a good sense of how something will go long before it happens.
For example, one extremely popular futures bet is betting on who will play in the Super Bowl before the new season even starts. Obviously, these are some of the toughest outcomes to predict, so the payouts for guessing correctly are typically very attractive.
If you take it a step further and can manage to predict who will win the season before it starts, then you will really be making bank. And this payout only increases with the more details you can accurately predict, such as:
Live betting is one of the most popular forms of betting and is loved by many sports bettors out there. As the name suggests, live betting allows you to make wager on several aspects of the football game while it is live.
The betting lines for these types of bets are always shifting, so timing is everything. If you are an avid football fan and are good at predicting upcoming plays or trends in a game, then live betting will suit you perfectly.
The National Football League (NFL) is the most popular professional football league for both football watchers and bettors. It features some of the most lucrative and popular bets on the market!
Almost any online sportsbook that you find will offer NFL betting, as its popularity provides them with the opportunity to create an unbelievable amount of different prop bets that they can offer. For example, some of the most popular aspects of the NFL that people bet on includes:
The list goes on, and new prop bets are popping up on NFL betting sites each and every season as the dynamic of the league continues to shift.
The NCAA is another great football league to bet on and has more teams total than any other football league on this list.
NCAA football betting also features really loose betting lines, meaning you can find some extreme value in simple bet types if you take the time to search around and find them.
College football betting for real money is extremely popular throughout the country, and features some of the most exciting games that fans could ask for throughout the year. If you consider yourself a true football fan, you should try betting on college football.
Although the CFL (Canadian Football League) is not nearly as big as the NFL or NCAA, it still draws a lot of attention from bettors. And CFL betting sites are always packed with great value betting odds and exciting prop bets.
However, if you are planning on betting on the CFL for real money, you should be aware that the game is played a bit differently than it is in the NFL. For example, any football fan can tell you that in the NFL, the offense has 4 plays to gain 10 yards in order to secure a first down. In the CFL, there are only 3 downs, which will obviously have a huge effect on the way you bet on their games.
Other key differences between the CFL and NFL include:
Making a bet on a football game requires much more consideration other than just who you think will come out on top. In fact, there is a long growing list of factors that will affect the outcome of the game.
Injuries can make a huge difference in a football game at any level. This is especially true when one of the star players from a team has to sit the game out.
Certain positions will affect the game more than others. For example, losing a tight end to injury would not impact a team as much as losing their starting quarterback would. An injured running back could mean that a team is going to throw more, creating opportunities for higher scoring, more interceptions, and even other injuries. When you’re learning how to bet on football, staying updated on players’ injuries can net you more accurate predictions in the long run.
A little bit of rain or snow can make a massive difference in not only the total points scored in a game, but the outcome of it as well.
Bad weather forces football teams to alter their game strategy. For example, a football game being played in the pouring rain will likely cause the following shifts in gameplay:
It is unfortunate when bad weather influences a football game, but that is part of the sport after all. And you need to take that into consideration when betting on football for real money.
Take this one with a grain of salt because every home stadium has its own unique advantages and disadvantages, but it still always makes a little bit of a difference in every game. This can be especially true during even matchups, where not one team is considered a clear favorite.
If you are completely new to football betting, then you may be a little nervous starting out. After all, real money betting can be intimidating for those that have never tried it, as the idea of losing money is always a cause for concern in everyone.
However with some basic betting tips, you can get yourself on the fast track to becoming an experienced bettor. Here are some tips on how to bet on football online for those of you that are new to betting:
When it comes to gaining experience and finding the best possible payouts for your wagers, there is no better course of action than creating more than one account with different football betting sites. Creating more than one real money betting account has several perks, such as:
If you decide to create more than one betting account with different sportsbooks, the biggest thing you will need to keep track of is your real money budget.
One of the worst mistakes you can make when getting started with football betting for real money is not having an established betting budget for all of your wagers. You would be surprised how quickly your funds can disappear when you are not tracking all your wins and losses.
This is why you should only deposit what you are willing to lose into your real money betting account, and come up with a strategy each week for how much of your budget will go to each bet. While some bettors prefer to spread their budget over several bets, others swear by putting all your eggs in one basket and placing a large wager.
Whatever you choose to do, just make sure you are keeping track of your wins and losses, and never wagering more than what you can afford to lose.
Do not try and over complicate your football betting strategy. Instead, keep it simple and learn about the different bet types individually.
It goes without saying that you should never place a wager that you do not fully understand. And although this may seem obvious, you would be surprised how many new bettors get confused when filling out a prop bet or accumulator bet and end up betting on something that they have never heard of. This may be harmless if you only wager a small amount, but you could be making a huge mistake if wagering large amounts of money.
Research is one of the best ways to find good value bets as a new football bettor, and there are many great resources out there that can help you. Even just a quick Google search can help guide you in the right direction.
Some of the best things to research as a new football bettor include:
The internet will provide you with all of the football betting strategy that you could ever need, so take advantage of it and improve your bets immediately.
The most important thing to understand about real money football betting is that losing bets is natural and is going to happen. This is why it’s so important to make sure you have a proper budget in place that you’re not afraid to lose in the event that it happens.
Do not get discouraged if you lose a few bets. Instead, be patient, and use your losses as a learning experience for your future betting. Even the best bettors in the world still lose bets but have learned enough to make up for it with their winnings.
Aside from your basic beginner football betting tips, there are some general do’s and don’ts that you should know about.
This should go without saying, but you always want to make sure you’re using a reputable football betting site when placing a wager using real money.
Some predatory fake online sportsbooks out there are only looking to scam you. Once you play your bet, that money might just be gone forever. Luckily, we have taken the hassle of finding reputable football betting sites off of your plate and provided you with the best gambling sites at the top of this page.
It is always wise to set aside a football betting budget before you start placing wagers. And this can be said about any type of real money gambling.
Losing money is a natural part of real money sports betting, so it should be expected. However, the last thing that you want is to be putting a financial strain on your personal life.
Although some online bettors get nervous at the thought of linking their payment information across multiple football betting sites, it’s actually a great way to find the best value bets from week to week.
First of all, once you know how to bet on football games, there’s absolutely nothing to fear when signing up for multiple sites – especially if they’re from our top recommended list at the top of the page.
Live betting is one of the best ways to add some flare and excitement to your real money football betting. It can also be a great way to win some quick cash to use on some later bets. So, if you’re a true football fan and have a good sense of which direction the game is heading, you could benefit greatly from live betting.
We get it. You want the best for your team. Nothing would make your year better than to watch your favorite football go on an undefeated streak and leave all the other teams sitting on the ground staring at their participation trophies. However, this is rarely the case.
As a result, it’s not good practice to get into betting on football simply so you can rely on your favorite team to make you extra money.
Don’t get us wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with betting on your favorite team. After all, that is part of the fun of real money football betting. We simply don’t advise you to solely bet on them and expect a great return on your betting investment.
What is the point in doing something without purpose or knowledge of what you are doing? That’s right, there isn’t one.
So, if that’s the case, why would anyone want to wager real money on football games just for the sake of it? The risk of losing real money alone should be reason enough for you to have purpose behind your bets. And just because all of your friends bet on football games does not mean that you have to do the same.
On the flip side, if you are someone who places many bets on football games because you love the sport and are good at analyzing it, then understand that you do not have to bet on every game every week. In fact, there’s no set number of bets that you have to make at all. Just take your time and always have a good reason for placing your bets.
We have seen it before: Some football bettor hits a hot streak, begins to think they know more about the game of football than anyone else, places a massive wager on a risky bet, then loses it all.
You hate to see these scenarios. But unfortunately, it happens to more than just rookie football bettors. Therefore, always keep yourself in check when you start to hit a hot streak, and do not forget how quickly that money can disappear during a cold streak. This is where establishing a sports betting budget can really come in handy.
| Betting Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Against the Spread (ATS) | A betting result that involves the given point spread for a game. |
| Bad Beat | Bad luck; someone on a losing streak. |
| Chalk Team | The team that is the favorite to win a matchup. |
| Cover | Also known as covering the spread. Refers to a winning bet, meaning you “covered.” |
| Dime | A $1,000 wager. |
| Dog | The underdog in a matchup. |
| Hedge | Betting on the favored side of the wager to try and guarantee a small payback. |
| Juice | Commission collected from bets by the football betting site’s sportsbook. |
| No action | A bet that is cancelled for any reason. Bettors are returned their original wager. |
| Parlay | A bet type; also known as an accumulator. |
| Side | Short for a side bet, where you simply choose a team to win a matchup. |
| Total | The total projected number of points scored in a game. You can bet over or under on this figure. |
Yes, you can win real money betting on football online the same way you can betting on any other sporting event. All you need to do is choose an online football betting site, create an account, deposit some money, and then begin making your wagers.
There are many great football betting sites out there, but you can find the best ones at the top of this page. We take time to carefully review different online sportsbooks to ensure that each one we recommend will provide you with a fun and unique experience.
Generally, you would bet on football during the season when games are being played. However, futures bets means that you can bet on aspects of a football season at any time! Even better, live betting allows you to place bets while a game is being played.
Yes, you can bet on football for real money from your iPhone and other Apple devices. As long as you have an account with an online sportsbook along with a strong internet connection, you can make bets at any time. A lot of football betting sites also have apps, making betting from your iPhone even more convenient.
Yes, you can place bets on football from your Android device. All you need is a good internet connection and an online football betting account. Many online sportsbooks even offer their services through an app compatible with Android devices.
