How to Read Football Odds for Detailed and Easy Betting

Understanding how to read soccer odds is one of the fundamental skills you need to start online soccer betting. In this guide, 1x2 soccer tips will explain how to interpret odds and provide clarity on the most common soccer betting options.

Bookmakers offer a wide variety of betting odds. However, for the purpose of this guide, we will focus on three main types of bets, which are the most frequently encountered on sports websites and in newspapers. These are:

Asian Handicap (Handicap betting)

European Odds (1X2)

Over/Under (Total Goals)

How to Read European Football Odds

European odds, commonly referred to as 1X2 odds, present bettors with three possible outcomes: a win for the first team, a draw, or a win for the second team. Each of these options comes with its own specific payout ratio. By carefully analyzing Premier League predictions , bettors can make more informed choices regarding which outcome to wager on, as these predictions provide insights into the strengths and weaknesses of each team. This way, understanding the nuances of European odds becomes even more effective when combined with reliable forecasting and strategic decision-making.

Explanation of European Football Betting Odds:

For instance, in the match between England and Panama as shown in the example, the disparity between the two teams is evident, and so is the difference in payout odds. If you bet on option 1, meaning you bet that England (ENG) will win, the payout rate is only 1.20. Betting $100 will return $100 x 1.20 = $120, resulting in a $20 profit. On the other hand, if you’re bold enough to bet on option 2, meaning Panama will win, the payout is 21 times your bet. A $1 wager would return $21. For the draw (X), the payout odds are 7.00.

How to Read Asian Handicap Odds

Asian Handicap betting, also known simply as Handicap, is a very familiar betting style for bettors. Unlike European odds, in Asian Handicap, there is no option for a draw; you only bet on one of two teams: either the stronger team (the favorite) or the weaker team (the underdog).

The stronger team (the one deemed more likely to win) must give the weaker team a certain number of goals, which is called the handicap.

For example, in the England vs. Panama match, the handicap is recorded as 0:1 1/2, meaning England is giving Panama a 1.5 goal advantage.

This is displayed in a format similar to a score. You can think of it as Panama starting the match with a 1.5-goal lead before the game even begins. After the match ends, the handicap is added to the final score, and the winner is determined accordingly, with payouts based on the corresponding odds.

If, for example, the final score is England 2–0 Panama, England’s handicap of 1.5 goals means England wins the bet. Those who bet on England will be paid 1.85 times their stake, meaning a $100 bet would yield a total payout of $185 (including both the initial stake and the winnings).

Explanation of Common Asian Handicap Bets:

Level Ball (Draw No Bet):
This is a no-handicap bet where neither team gives any goals to the other. If the match ends in a draw, your stake is refunded regardless of which team you bet on. If the team you bet on wins, you are paid according to the odds.
Example: The Asian handicap odds for the Wolverhampton vs. Everton match are shown below:

If the result is a draw, your stake is returned.

If Wolverhampton wins, a bet on Wolverhampton will be paid at 1.76 odds. Betting $100 would yield $176.

If Everton wins, a bet on Everton will be paid at 2.155 odds. Betting $100 would yield $215.50.

Quarter-Ball Handicap (1/4 Handicap):
In this case, the favorite must give a 1/4-goal advantage to the underdog. However, the bookmaker typically does not write 1/4 explicitly. Instead, it’s written as 0.0, -0.5 for the favorite and 0.0, +0.5 for the underdog. If the match ends in a draw, those who bet on the favorite lose half their stake, while those who bet on the underdog win half their bet. If one team wins, those who bet on the winning team are paid in full according to the odds.
Example: Below is the Asian Handicap for the Japan vs. Senegal match, where Senegal gives a quarter-goal advantage:

If the match ends in a draw, betting on Senegal will result in a half-loss, while betting on Japan will win half the stake.

If Senegal wins, a bet on Senegal will be paid at 1.930 odds.

If Japan wins, a bet on Japan will be paid at 2.00 odds.

Half-Ball Handicap (0.5)

In this type of handicap, the favored team (the stronger team) gives a 0.5-goal advantage to the underdog. This means that if the match ends in a draw, the favored team loses the bet.

For example, in the Asian handicap for the match between Japan and Poland, Poland is the favored team and gives a 0.5-goal handicap:

If the match ends in a draw, betting on Poland will lose, while betting on Japan will win at odds of 1.675.

If Poland wins, betting on Poland will pay out at odds of 2.325.

If Japan wins, betting on Japan will pay out at odds of 1.675.

Three-Quarter-Ball Handicap (0.75)

Here, the favored team gives the underdog a 0.75-goal advantage (sometimes shown as 0.5, 1.0). This means if the favored team wins by exactly one goal, the bettor wins half of their stake. Full winnings are given if the favored team wins by two goals or more. Conversely, the underdog only loses half of the bet if they lose by one goal.

For instance, Portugal is giving Iran a 0.75-goal advantage in the following Asian handicap:

If Portugal wins by a one-goal margin, betting on Portugal results in winning half the stake, while betting on Iran results in losing half.

If Portugal wins by two goals or more, betting on Portugal will pay out at odds of 1.94, and betting on Iran will lose the full amount.

If Portugal draws or loses, betting on Iran will pay out at odds of 1.99.

One-Ball Handicap (1.0)

In this scenario, the stronger team gives the weaker team a full 1-goal advantage. If the stronger team wins by exactly one goal, the bet is refunded. The favored team only wins if they achieve a margin of two goals or more.

For example, in the match between Argentina and Nigeria, Argentina is giving a 1-goal handicap:

If Argentina wins by a single goal, both bets are refunded.

If Argentina wins by two goals or more, betting on Argentina will pay out at odds of 2.02.

If Argentina draws or loses, betting on Argentina will lose, and betting on Nigeria will win at odds of 1.91.

Handicaps can go even deeper, such as 1.25-goal handicaps (1.0, 1.5) or 1.5-goal handicaps, and the rules remain consistent with the examples above.

How to Read Over/Under Betting (O/U)

Over/Under (O/U) bets, also known as Totals, involve wagering on the total number of goals scored in a match, regardless of which team wins or loses. If the set total is X goals, betting on "Over" means you expect more than X goals to be scored, while betting on "Under" means you expect fewer than X goals. If the total goals match exactly X, the bet is refunded.

Explanation of Over/Under Odds:

In the example below, the Over/Under betting for the Nigeria vs. Argentina match is set at 2.5, 3 (equivalent to 2.75). This is similar to Asian handicap calculation:

If the total number of goals is exactly 3, betting on Over will win half the stake, while betting on Under will lose half.

If the total number of goals is 4 or more, betting on Over will win at odds of 2.04, while betting on Under will lose entirely.

If the total number of goals is 2 or fewer, betting on Under will win fully at odds of 1.86, and betting on Over will lose.

Examples of Other Over/Under Bets:

O/U 2: If the match ends with exactly 2 goals, the bet is refunded. To win on Over, there must be 3 or more goals, while Under wins with fewer than 2 goals.

O/U 2, 2.5: If you bet on Over and there are 2 goals, you lose half your stake; with 3 goals or more, you win the full amount. For Under, 2 goals means winning half the stake, and fewer than 2 goals results in a full win.

O/U 2.5: If you bet on Over, 3 or more goals are needed to win; fewer than 3 goals results in a loss. For Under, 2 or fewer goals will result in a win.

Besides total goals, you can also place Over/Under bets on the total number of corner kicks.

Final Thoughts

This guide has outlined essential football betting strategies and provided detailed information on how to read a variety of popular odds. While important concepts have been covered, the scope of this article limits the ability to explore all possible bet types thoroughly. Therefore, if you want to learn more, you can search for the best premium soccer tips , which can provide you with additional knowledge and strategies, as well as expert advice on different types of bets.