Football

Football is the most popular sport in the United Kingdom, which naturally makes it a favourite for bettors, with millions of bets placed across various leagues and matches every weekend. 

At Sky Bet, we've been at the forefront of online football betting for over 20 years. Whether a cold rainy night in Stoke or a Champions League final, we’ve been there for every fixture, offering you an unrivalled sports betting experience, for every game. 

Betting with Sky Bet means you will have access to a wide range of markets, covering matches from leagues all over the world. You will also be able to take advantage of our popular Products like BuildABet, or Free-To-Play game Match5. Plus, we’re big on rewarding loyalty, which is why we offer generous ongoing promotions through our Sky Bet Club.

Most importantly, our commitment to safer gambling provides you with a variety of tools to help you bet on football responsibly. 

Popular fixtures that are in progress or upcoming include Crystal Palace v Liverpool in which you can bet on Crystal Palace to win at odds of 5.0, Ipswich v Bournemouth in which you can bet on Ipswich to win at odds of 3.8, Brighton v Brentford in which you can bet on Brighton to win at odds of 1.85.

You will find a wide variety of markets and football odds across the Sky Bet website and app. Here are some of the most popular markets to choose from.

● 1×2 Betting: The 1×2 betting market allows you to bet on the match outcome over 90 minutes. You can pick from a win for the home team, a win for the away team, or a draw.

● Outright Winner: The outright winner market allows you to bet on which team will win a specific tournament or league. You can either place an outright winner bet before the competition starts, or once it is in-play. 

● Top Goal Scorer Betting: The top goal scorer market allows you to bet on the player you believe will score the most goals during a tournament.

● Player to Score: The player to score market allows you to bet on which player you think will score at any stage during a specific match. 

● First Scorer: The first scorer market allows you to bet on which player you think will score the first goal in a match.

● Both Teams to Score (BTTS): The both teams to score market allows you to bet on whether both teams will score a goal during a match.

● Under/Over Goals: The under/over goals market allows you to bet on whether the total number of goals scored in a match will be above or below a specified number. 

You also have the option to combine multiple markets into a single bet, by using the BuildABet function.

From the bright lights of the Premier League to the rugged grounds of Argentina’s Primera División, you have the option of over 100 different tournaments to bet on. Here is a rundown of some of the most popular.

Premier League

The Premier League is the pinnacle of men’s football in England and home to the wealthiest clubs and best players. Throughout the action-packed 38-game season, you can bet on various markets that include which club will win the title, or who will finish Top 4. As well as which teams will qualify for European competitions, including the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League, and which teams will face relegation to the Championship. 

Championship 

The Championship is the second tier of English football and one of the most unpredictable leagues in the world. With 24 teams in the mix, you can bet on the race for the title, the battle for promotion to the Premier League, as well as who might face relegation to League One at the end of the 46-game season.

Champions League 

The Champions League sees the best 36 teams in Europe compete for the honour of being crowned the best team on the continent. Here, you can view multiple markets across both Outright and individual matches. Popular Outright markets include tournament winner, and top goal scorer.

FIFA World Cup

The FIFA World Cup takes place every four years and will now see 48 teams compete for the ultimate international honour. Some of the the most popular markets include outright winner, group stage winners and Golden Boot (Top Scorer). 

In-Play Football Betting 

In-play football betting allows you to place live football bets after a match has begun. In essence, the in-play market enables you to monitor the ebb and flow of a game before backing your hunch as you weigh up real-time analysis of the match so far. You can choose to bet on football in-play, either on this page, or by navigating to the specific in-play section.

To give yourself the best chance of your football bet landing, it’s important to stay informed.

Consider the below aspects to provide yourself with the information you need to place a bet.

Team vs. Team Head-to-Head Record

Analysing the head-to-head record between two teams can provide invaluable insights into whether one team has historically outperformed the other. 

Player & Team Form

Always consider the form of both players and teams before placing a bet as it can offer clues about how a match may unfold based on recent evidence.

The Influence of Referees

It’s essential to consider whether a particular referee has a reputation for being a disciplinarian or prefers to let the game flow. In short, the actions of a referee can influence the overall rhythm of the match and, ultimately, the outcome.

Contrasting Playing Styles

When assessing a match before betting, it’s always wise to pay close attention to contrasting playing styles. For instance, a team that likes to “park the bus” can frustrate a high-pressing side which might potentially lead to a match short of genuine chances and goals. 

In football betting, 1x means a bet on the home team to win or the match to end in a draw. 

A handicap bet in football gives one team a virtual advantage or disadvantage to level the playing field for betting purposes.

A football acca bet, or accumulator bet, combines multiple selections into one wager and requires all selections to win for a payout

New customers can get £30 in free bets (credited as 3 x £10 tokens) when they sign up via the welcome promotion and place a minimum first bet of £0.05 on any football single or each-way market at odds of 1/1 or greater. Free bets are credited once your qualifying bet settles, are valid for 30 days, and can be used on any single or each-way market excluding virtuals. Free bet stakes are not included in returns. Min deposit £5. Customers using Neteller or Skrill do not qualify. 18+. New customers only. T&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org.