Soccer is the most widely bet sport in the world. Billions of dollars move through soccer markets every week, from Premier League Saturdays to Champions League knockouts, La Liga title races, and MLS playoff battles. Yet for new bettors, soccer markets can feel overwhelming fast. Why are there three outcomes on a moneyline? Why does the draw make you lose? When does extra time count? What on earth is an Asian handicap?
This guide answers all of it. You'll learn every major soccer bet type, how decimal odds work, which markets suit which situations, and the strategy fundamentals that separate informed bettors from guesswork. By the end, you'll know exactly what you're betting on, and why.
Before anything else, one rule underpins almost all soccer betting and catches more new bettors out than anything else:
Most soccer bets are graded on the result after 90 minutes of regulation play plus injury time. Extra time and penalty shootouts do not count unless explicitly stated in the market.
If a Champions League knockout match goes to extra time and you've backed a team on the standard match result market, your bet is already settled, based on the score at the end of 90 minutes. This is not sportsbook-specific. It is the global standard for soccer betting.
The second fundamental: draws are a real, priced outcome. In the NFL, NBA, or NHL, there is always a winner. In soccer, the match can end level, and it happens often, accounting for roughly 25-28% of results across top-flight leagues. A three-way moneyline always has three options: Team 1 wins, draw, Team 2 wins. Backing a team to win and watching the game end 1-1 is a losing bet, not a push.
Odds on Duelbits are displayed in decimal format. At odds of 3.00, a $10 bet returns $30 total, $20 profit plus your $10 stake. Odds below 2.00 indicate a favourite; above 2.00 indicates an underdog.
Duelbits offers an early payout feature on selected soccer matches called 2 Up, You're Up. If you've backed a team to win on the match result market and they go two goals ahead at any point during the game, your bet is settled as a winner immediately, regardless of the final score.
Look for the 2 Up icon when browsing soccer fixtures in the Sportsbook to identify which matches are eligible. Not every fixture carries the feature, but coverage spans a wide range of football competitions available on Duelbits.
It's a straightforward edge for match result bettors: you win the moment your team builds a two-goal cushion, removing all risk of a comeback in the final minutes.
The most common and most straightforward soccer bet. You're choosing one of three outcomes after 90 minutes: Team 1 wins (1), the match draws (X), or Team 2 wins (2).
If you back a team to win and the match ends level, you lose. The draw is a separate, independently priced outcome. Because draws occur so frequently in soccer, they're never priced as longshots, they're competitive odds that reflect genuine probability.
Example: Manchester City host Brentford. City are favourites at 1.40, the draw is 5.00, and Brentford are 8.50 to win. If you back City and the match ends 1-1, your bet loses regardless of City's dominance.
Best used for: competitive matches, home favourites with strong form, or situations where you want a clean win/lose outcome on a clear favourite.
Draw no bet removes the draw from the equation entirely. Back a team to win, and if the match ends level after 90 minutes, your stake is refunded. It's a safety net that costs you some return versus the standard 1X2 but eliminates the most frustrating outcome in soccer betting.
This market is also how two-way moneylines are typically labelled in soccer betting. It functions exactly like a moneyline in other sports, there are only two possible outcomes.
Example: Using the same City vs Brentford match, City at Draw No Bet might be priced at 1.22 instead of their 1.40 three-way price. Lower return, but a draw no longer makes you lose.
Best used for: when you're confident a team won't lose but the draw is a genuine risk, or in tight, defensive fixtures where both teams keeping a clean sheet is realistic.
Double chance lets you cover two of the three possible 1X2 outcomes in a single bet. The three options are Team 1 or Draw (1X), Team 2 or Draw (X2), and either team wins (12). You only lose if the single uncovered outcome occurs.
Because you're covering two bases, the odds are shorter, but it's a powerful market when you want protection. Notably, unlike Draw No Bet, a double chance covering the draw doesn't refund your stake if the draw hits, it wins outright.
Example: You like an underdog to get a result against a stronger side. Instead of backing them to win at 4.50, you take Team 2 or Draw at 2.10. You win if they win or draw, and only lose if the favourite wins.
Best used for: underdog plays where you want coverage against the draw, or big mismatches where a straight win on the underdog carries too much risk but you want to be on their side.
You're betting on the combined number of goals scored by both teams in the match. The most common line in soccer is Over/Under 2.5 goals. Over 2.5 wins if three or more goals are scored; Under 2.5 wins if the match ends with two or fewer.
The .5 line prevents a push, meaning there's always a definitive result. Other frequently available lines are 1.5, 3.5, and 4.5. Some competitions and matchups also offer team totals, betting on a single side's goal output in isolation.
Soccer totals are set significantly lower than in other sports because of the sport's nature. While the NBA runs totals in the 220s, most soccer matches line up between 2.0 and 3.5 goals. When studying a fixture, look at both teams' recent scoring and conceding records, how they've performed against similar opposition, and whether the match has high stakes or rotation implications.
Best used for: when you have a strong read on the tempo and style of a match but aren't confident in a specific winner.
For a deeper breakdown of how totals betting works across all sports, check out our Over/Under Betting Guide.
Handicap betting adjusts the effective scoreline to close the gap between mismatched teams or to offer better value on clear favourites. A team given a -1.5 handicap must win by two or more goals; a team at +1.5 can lose by one and still cover.
European Handicap uses whole numbers (-1, +1, -2). A one-goal margin win on a -1 handicap results in a push and your stake is returned. Win by two or more and the bet wins. Any other result loses.
Asian Handicap eliminates the push entirely using half-goal or quarter-goal lines. With a -1.5 line, the favourite must win by two or more, no push possibility. Quarter-goal Asian handicaps (like -0.75 or +0.25) split your stake across two adjacent lines, for example, half your bet is on -0.5 and half on -1. This reduces variance and can return a partial win if the result lands exactly on one of the two lines.
Asian handicaps are extremely popular globally because they eliminate the draw from the equation, provide better odds on clear favourites, and offer more granular pricing than a straight 1X2.
Best used for: big mismatches where a straight win pays very little, or when you want to back a strong favourite at better value by accepting a two-goal cushion for the underdog.
A Yes or No bet on whether each team scores at least one goal. The final result is entirely irrelevant, you're only tracking whether both sides get on the scoresheet.
BTTS Yes wins on a 2-1, 1-1, 3-2, or any other scoreline where both teams have scored. BTTS No wins on a 1-0, 2-0, 0-0, or any clean sheet result for either side.
The market is widely available and is one of the most popular soccer bets globally because it removes the need to predict a winner. You're simply assessing whether both attacks can break down the opposition defence.
Best used for: matches involving two attack-minded teams with leaky defences, or derbies and rivalry fixtures where both sides typically find the net based on historical data.
You predict the exact final scoreline. It's the hardest common bet to land, which is why the odds are high. Common scorelines like 1-0 and 1-1 carry much lower odds than less likely results like 3-2 or 2-0.
Best used for: small-stake speculative plays in defensive, tactical matches where low-scoring, predictable scorelines are historically common. Never the backbone of a serious betting strategy given the inherent variance.
Player prop markets built around who scores. Anytime goalscorer wins if your selected player scores at any point during the match. First goalscorer requires them to open the scoring specifically.
These markets are heavily influenced by team selection, a player not starting has significantly reduced scoring probability. Confirmed lineup news is essential before placing any goalscorer market.
Look for strikers or attacking midfielders in strong individual form facing opponents with weak defensive records or known high-line defensive shapes that create space in behind.
Best used for: form attackers in favourable tactical matchups, especially when you have confirmed starting lineup information.
A double result bet covering both the half-time and full-time outcome simultaneously. You're selecting one of nine possible combinations, for example, Draw at half-time / Team 1 at full-time. Because you need to correctly call both checkpoints, the odds are longer than a standard match result.
Best used for: matches where you expect momentum to swing, a strong team going behind or level at the break before coming back, or a defensive side holding firm early before the game opens up.
Long-range wagers on tournament or league outcomes, who wins the Premier League, which club lifts the Champions League, who finishes as top scorer. The odds span the full competitive field, rewarding bettors who identify value early in a season or tournament before markets sharpen.
Best used for: pre-season or early-tournament plays, especially when you've identified a team the market is undervaluing relative to their actual squad quality or schedule.
Multiple markets from a single match combined into one bet. All legs must win for the parlay to pay out, but potential returns multiply with each added selection. In soccer, same-game parlays can combine match result, both teams to score, total goals, first goalscorer, Asian handicaps, and player props.
Example: Team A to win + both teams to score + over 2.5 goals. Each individual leg might be modest odds, but combined they produce a significantly higher payout on a $10 stake.
The trade-off is compounding variance. Adding legs multiplies potential return but also multiplies the chance the whole ticket loses on a single leg. Use same-game parlays as entertaining higher-risk plays rather than as the core of a steady betting approach.
Multiple matches combined across a single bet slip. All selections must win for the accumulator to pay. Five matches at average odds of 2.00 per leg pays 32.00x, far more than any single match bet. But one wrong result voids the entire ticket.
Most experienced soccer bettors treat accumulators as occasional entertainment rather than a primary strategy. The appeal is clear; the variance is brutal over time.
On Duelbits, all odds are displayed in decimal format, which is the standard across European and international sportsbooks.
Decimal odds represent your total return per unit staked, including your original bet:
Odds of 2.50 on a $20 bet → $50 total return ($30 profit + $20 stake back) Odds of 1.60 on a $50 bet → $80 total return ($30 profit + $50 stake back) Odds of 4.00 on a $10 bet → $40 total return ($30 profit + $10 stake back)
Odds below 2.00 = implied favourite (the market believes this outcome is more likely than not) Odds of 2.00 = implied 50/50 probability (accounting for the sportsbook's margin) Odds above 2.00 = implied underdog
To convert decimal odds to implied probability: divide 1 by the decimal odds. Odds of 1.80 = 1 ÷ 1.80 = 55.6% implied probability.
Duelbits Sportsbook covers a wide range of competitions. Major markets include:
Odds, markets, and available bet types vary by competition and fixture. High-profile matches in top European leagues typically carry the widest market selection including player props, corners, cards, and half-time totals.
Duelbits also offers Simulated Reality League (SRL) markets, virtual soccer simulations running around the clock. If you're new to it, read our guide on what Simulated Soccer and the Simulated Reality League is before placing your first SRL bet.
New bettors consistently underweight the draw. In the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, and most major European leagues, draws account for roughly a quarter of all results. The market knows this, the draw is always competitively priced. When you back a team to win without considering the draw probability, you're effectively accepting a result you haven't priced.
In a low-scoring sport, one player matters more than in high-scoring American sports. A missing striker or an injured goalkeeper shifts the totals line by half a goal and can move the match result odds meaningfully. Confirmed team news typically drops 60–90 minutes before kickoff. Bettors who identify the value gap between the pre-news line and the post-news line, and act before the market adjusts, find edge more consistently than almost any other method.
A manager rotating seven players ahead of a Champions League second leg is not the same team that played last weekend. Mid-table Premier League sides have no incentive to grind for points in late-season fixtures when they're safe from relegation and can't reach European places. Cup competition results involving heavy rotation tell you almost nothing about league form. Match importance and squad selection change everything about what a team's line should be.
Home advantage is statistically real in soccer. But the magnitude varies sharply by team and league. Some clubs are dramatically stronger at home; others travel well. Study home/away splits separately rather than overall form tables before placing match result bets. A team fifth in the league table might be third-best at home and bottom-half on the road.
The goal line doesn't just reflect who's good at scoring. It reflects both teams' defensive records, the style of play each manager prefers, the match's competitive significance, weather (for outdoor venues), and recent head-to-head goal tallies. Two attack-heavy teams facing each other in a must-win fixture might actually produce a tight game, pressure and defensive organisation often suppress scoring in high-stakes encounters. Context always matters more than raw attacking stats.
The same fixture can carry meaningfully different odds across platforms and market types. If the standard 1X2 on a team you like is priced at 2.10, checking Draw No Bet (removing draw risk), Asian handicap, or Double Chance might offer a better risk-adjusted return for the same underlying read. Understanding all available market structures, not just the headline 1X2, gives you more tools to express the same view at better value.
In-play markets change how you can engage with soccer. Lines update in real time based on the score, time remaining, momentum, and in-game events.
The most impactful in-play events in soccer:
What is the most common soccer bet? The most common soccer bet is the match result (1X2 or three-way moneyline). You pick Team 1 to win, a draw, or Team 2 to win. Bets are graded on the result after 90 minutes plus injury time, extra time and penalties are excluded unless otherwise stated.
Does extra time count in soccer betting? No. The vast majority of soccer bets are graded on regulation, 90 minutes plus injury time. Extra time periods and penalty shootouts are excluded unless the market explicitly says otherwise. Always check the rules before placing.
What is a draw no bet in soccer? Draw no bet removes the draw as an outcome. Back a team to win and if the match ends level, your stake is refunded. It returns less than the standard 1X2 win price but eliminates the risk of losing to a draw.
What is an Asian handicap in soccer betting? An Asian handicap adjusts the effective scoreline to remove the draw from the market. Half-goal lines eliminate any push. Whole-goal lines create a push if the favourite wins by exactly the handicap margin. Quarter-goal lines split the stake across two adjacent bets, reducing variance.
What does over 2.5 goals mean? Over 2.5 goals means three or more goals must be scored in the match for the bet to win. Under 2.5 wins if the final combined total is two or fewer. The 2.5 line is the most common totals market in soccer.
What is BTTS in soccer betting? Both teams to score (BTTS) is a Yes/No bet on whether each team scores at least one goal. BTTS Yes wins if both sides score. BTTS No wins if either team is kept scoreless. The final result does not matter.
How do decimal odds work? Decimal odds show your total return per unit staked including your original bet. Odds of 3.00 on a $10 bet return $30 total, $20 profit plus your $10 stake back. Odds below 2.00 indicate a favourite.
Can I bet on soccer live on Duelbits? Yes. Duelbits Sportsbook offers live in-play betting across major soccer competitions with markets updating in real time as the match unfolds.
What soccer leagues can I bet on at Duelbits? Duelbits covers a wide range of competitions including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, MLS, and major international tournaments.
