⚽Football Betting 101: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Bet Types

Football betting can feel overwhelming when you're just getting started. Moneylines, props, parlays—what does it all mean? Don’t worry. This guide is built for beginners who want to understand every major football betting option without all the confusing jargon.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how each bet works—and which ones fit your style. Let’s turn confusion into clarity and get you ready to bet smarter, not harder.

Types of Bets Covered:

• Standard Game Bets

• Same Game Parlays (SGP)

• Quarter/Half Bets

• Player Props

• Team Props

• Game Props

⚽ Standard Game Bets

Simple bets based on match outcomes, goals, and regulation time performance.

Bet Type	Meaning
Moneyline / Game Result (90 mins + Stoppage)	Bet on the team that will win after regulation time and stoppage (not extra time).
Double Chance	Bet on two of the three possible outcomes (Win/Draw, Win/Win, or Draw/Win).
Spread / Handicap	Bet with a goal handicap applied to one team (e.g., -1.5 or +1).
Winner (Push if Tied)	Bet on a winner; if it’s a tie, you get your money back.
Draw No Bet	Pick a team to win; a draw results in a refund (push).
To Win Either Half / Win Both Halves	Bet on a team to win at least one or both halves.

📌 Examples: 

• You bet Manchester City ML vs. Arsenal. Final score: 2-1 ✅ (Win)

• You bet Barcelona -1.5 handicap and they win 2-0 ✅ (Win)

🗺️ Same Game Parlay (SGP)

Combine multiple bets from the same match into a single ticket.

Bet Type	Meaning
SGP	Combine multiple bets from one game (e.g., result + goals + scorer).

📌 Example: 

• SGP: Real Madrid ML + Over 2.5 Goals + Vinicius Jr. to score ✅

⏳ Quarter & Half Bets

Focus on just one half of the game for faster results.

Bet Type	Meaning
1st Half Result	Who wins the first half (or draw).
1st Half Spread	Spread only for the 1st half.
1st Half Total Goals / Exact Goals / Odd or Even	Bets based on number of goals in 1st half.
1st Half Both Teams to Score	Will both teams score in the 1st half?
1st Half Team Total Goals	How many goals one team scores in 1st half.
1st Half Correct Score	Predict the exact 1st half score.
1st Half To Score Goal 1	Pick the first goal scorer in 1st half.
1st Half Clean Sheet	Bet on a team keeping a clean sheet in 1st half.

📌 Example: 

• You bet 1st Half Over 1.5 goals in PSG vs. Marseille. Halftime: 2-0 ✅

• You bet Marseille to score in 1st half. Halftime: 1-0 PSG ❌ (Loss)

👨‍🏫 Player Props

Focus on individual players and their stats.

Bet Type	Meaning
Anytime Goalscorer	Bet on a player to score at any point.
First Goalscorer	Player to score the first goal.
Player to Score 2+ / Hat Trick	Player to score 2+ or 3 goals.
Player Assists	Player records an assist.
Player Shots / Shots on Target	Bet on player shot stats.
Player Passes	Bet on number of passes by player.
Player Tackles	Bet on tackles made by player.
Score 1st Goal (SGP)	First scorer as part of SGP.

📌 Example: 

• You bet Haaland Anytime Goalscorer. He scores in the 2nd half ✅

• You bet Messi First Goal, but Mbappe scores first ❌

🧾 Team Props

Stats and outcomes focused on each team.

Bet Type	Meaning
Exact Team Goals	Predict exact goals for a team.
Odd or Even Team Goals	Odd/even total goals by one team.
Clean Sheet / Win & Clean Sheet	Team doesn’t concede / wins without conceding.
No Bet (Team)	Conditional bet on specific team outcomes.

📌 Example: 

• Bet Real Madrid to win & clean sheet. Final: 1-0 ✅

• Bet Liverpool Over 2.5 team goals, they score 2 ❌

🌼 Game Props

Unique bets tied to match stats and odd events.

Bet Type	Meaning
Total Corners	Bet on total corners by both teams.
Exact Corners	Exact number of corners.
Corner Spread	Corner handicap per team.
Odd vs Even Total Corners	Total corners odd or even.
Team To Take Most Corners	Which team takes more corners.
To Take Corner 1	First team to take a corner.

📌 Example: 

• You bet Over 9.5 corners. Total corners: 12 ✅

• You bet Manchester United to take first corner, but Chelsea takes it ❌

  
  

🧠 Pro Tip

Start with simple bets like Moneyline, Double Chance, or Over/Under—these are easy to follow and help you understand the rhythm of betting without taking unnecessary risks. Avoid jumping into exotic props or multi-leg parlays until you’ve tracked a few matches, studied team styles, and built some intuition. Keep a betting log—your biggest edge as a beginner is learning from every win and every mistake.

🔍 Final Thoughts

Football betting isn’t about guessing—it’s about strategy, timing, and discipline. Once you know the different bet types, the game becomes way more fun and way less random. Stick to your system, look for value (not just favorites), and bet responsibly—this should add excitement to the game, not stress.