English Sports Betting Guidelines: How to Win More Frequently?
To say that England, both on its own and as a part
To say that England, both on its own and as a part of the United Kingdom, is a sports nation would be an understatement. There are not that many countries or regions in the world as crazy and passionate about sports as this one. Historically too, they have been involved in playing and doing various types of activities, betting on them, and eventually turning them into professional leagues. Football (soccer, association football) is particularly important since England is the birthplace of the most popular sport on the planet. It should not come as a surprise that London has the highest number of pro clubs in the world, nor that some of the oldest organizations are English and/or British.
Of course, the English are interested in a few other sports, mainly rugby, cricket, and tennis. Football is the way of life but there are so many other disciplines they are good at and that the fans like to watch and place bets on. If you consider yourself an enthusiast of English sports and enjoy some fun online sports betting, this article is for you. Join us as we explore the world of English sports betting through a number of guidelines that will not only allow you to win more money from your wagering but also make you a better expert and fan. Regardless of what your favorite one is, you will be better off knowing how to approach this fun hobby and reap all the benefits it offers.
It Is (Almost) All About Football
There is no denying it. English sport is mostly about football in every sense of the way. From small local clubs to Premier League giants and the national team full of stars, there is no beating it. The rest may try, but not even combined can they go head to head with everything that this sport has given the country and continues to do so every season. Football and England go hand in hand, like peanut butter and jelly, or to keep it British, like beans and toast (tea and milk?). You cannot escape it. You cannot go a day without hearing about it in the news or spotting a few articles either online or in the paper. It is a part of the culture or local, regional, and national identity. It goes far beyond the mere ball you score goals with.
As such, it is also the biggest sport for betting, now mostly done online. With every weekend from late August to May, there are amazing games to watch on both Saturday and Sunday as the best teams from the country go at it in the best domestic league on the planet, the English Premier League. While it may be the absolute pinnacle of competitive game, passion, and excitement, it is hardly everything the country has to offer. The second-tier league, the Championship, is almost equally as beloved in the country, even outside it. Then there are the third- and fourth-tier leagues, the English League One and English League Two. Nowhere else in the world do clubs of this rank have advanced stadiums, devoted fans, and televised games.
Between these four leagues, there are also plenty of cups that the teams play for, none more exciting than the EFL Cup where all of the teams play together regardless of their league’s rank, 96 of them in total. Of course, it is very difficult to repeatedly be good at because of how many upsets tend to happen and in how many other competitions some of the teams play. Two more cups draw attention, the Community Shield which is a single game between winners of the Premier League and FA Cup, and the FA Cup itself where 745 (!) teams compete. When you add to this the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League, as well as the UEFA Euros, UEFA Nations League, and the FIFA World Cup, there are hundreds of high-quality games with a lot of betting potential to go around.
How to Bet the Right Way?
Betting on football in England is easy, perhaps the easiest out of any other place in the world, simply because of how popular it is and how long it has been a fan-favorite activity. Therefore, there are plenty of locations where you can do it, as well as on the internet which is now the go-to way to do it. The first thing a fan needs to do is find the right web platform to do so. A good online betting service like Stake will have everything you need to start off the right way and never look back. All of the games in English football will be there, including their national team and European club fixtures. Once you get on the website, simply make your account, confirm/authenticate your information, and deposit some money. All of this is pretty easy and straightforward to do without any hassle.
When all of that is done, the only thing left to do is pick some games to bet on. Here is where good and bad bettors are separated. If you are a complete beginner, our advice is to stick with the more sure bets. In other words, pick the games that have a clear favorite. Favorites are teams (or other outcomes in different bets) that have lower bets. For example, if Liverpool is playing Aston West Ham United, Liverpool is the favorite because they are the strongest team. Their odds will be somewhere around 1.20 or 1.40, while West Ham will have about 3.50 or even 4.00. The smaller the number (quantifier), the more likely this outcome will happen. Combining a few of these sure things should be more than enough to get you started.
Once you get your feet under you and learn the ropes, it will be time to move to the more nuanced bets. Some of the favorites among fans include the first team or the first player to score, the over/under on goals, as well as season-long (outright) bets on who will be the top-scorer or which team will win the title. It will take some getting used to but do not worry. You will eventually get there. Another big thing to remember is to always bet on the teams and players you know more about. If you are a fan of a certain competition or team, make sure to include them in your bets because you should be more informed about their current form and track record. Start with them and then slowly build up through the rest of the league or other competitions. Stay well-informed and follow the news. Passionate sports fans usually make for better and more successful bettors because they are already full of footballing knowledge.
Upcoming Fixtures and Odds
What good would a betting guideline be without some immediate odds about the upcoming matches? If you are eager to put your knowledge to the test and start betting today, know that some great games are coming our way, first in the UEFA Nations League when England plays their final group match, and then it is back to club football. The boys are playing against a well-known opponent, none other than Ireland, and are the absolute favorites. It is a home game too, meaning the domestic crowd cheering on in the thousands. England’s odds are 1.25 to Ireland’s 12.00 in what should be target practice at Wembley Stadium in London. Harry Kane (3.60) and Ollie Watkins (4.50) lead the first goalscorer odds. Currently in first place in Group B, England will be moving onto the next stage, probably from the first spot.
There are some other interesting games in the competition, none bigger than the meetup of the old European rivals when Italy hosts France. Both of them are neck and neck in the odds with the home team at 2.70 and the away team at 2.80. Mateo Retegui and Moise Kean with 6.40 are the frontrunners for the first goal, with Randal Kolo Muani, Bradley Barcola, and Marcus Thuram following them with 7.20 each. Spain (1.49) will have an easy time against Switzerland (6.80) at home while Luka Modric and Croatia (3.00) will look to contain Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal (2.42) at home.
When the next weekend (November 23 and 24) rolls around, a new set of 10 Premier League games will be ready for kick-off. The most difficult part of the season starts with the long and tedious schedule from late November to the end of the year packed with domestic and European games. Leicester City (5.40) is playing away in London against Chelsea (1.58), where the Blues should have an easy 3 points. They are in great shape and playing very well with Cole Palmer leading the way. Expect him to score and make sure to bet on it too. Similarly to their biggest rivals, Arsenal (1.36) is playing almost equally as well this year. They, too, will have a simple job when Nottingham Forest (9.00) comes to the Emirates.
A great derby awaits us in Manchester when City hosts the Tottenham Hotspurs. Manchester needs to end their disastrous streak of losses and doing so against the team that started it all for them would be poetic justice. They are the favorites at the Etihad with 1.54 versus the Spurs’ odds of 5.40. The hottest team in Europe, Liverpool, is playing away at Southampton and is the heavy favorite with 1.33 over the 8.60 the home team got from the bookies. Sports betting is rather easy with Liverpool this year as they are at the top of the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League standings. The other Manchester team, United (1.67), has struggled mightily this year but they have a great chance when they visit Ipswich Town (4.90) to grab much-needed three points.
Other English Sports
It is impossible to meet the craze and attention that football receives in England, both in terms of support and with betting. Still, there are a few popular sports in the country that do the rounds every once in a while. For cricket, it is the final game of T20 against the West Indies and England is leading 3-1. They are looking for their 4th win to end the series today and should win it as they are the favorites. It is then on to the test series against New Zealand in the first half of December, before they go back to T20 and another 5-game series versus India in January, one of the biggest rivalries in the world.
In the National Rugby Union, England is playing a match on November 24 against Japan. Yesterday, they lost to South Africa 29 to 20, before which they suffered losses against Australia and New Zealand on November 9 and 2, respectively. They should capture another win against the weaker Japanese side after losing in three straight derbies against some of their traditional foes. Similar to cricket, rugby is played mostly in the Commonwealth countries as England matches up against countries that it still has strong relationships with. It is always the toughest to play against the biggest rivals across both of these sports.
The remaining sports England loves to watch and bet on include horse racing, especially when the most popular races are going on. Fans enjoy following Formula 1 racing and rooting for Lewis Hamilton, one of the best drivers in the history of the competition. Tennis is another big passion, especially when Wimbledon is taking place. Despite not having a lot of success individually and as a country, fans love to tune in and follow Jack Draper and Cameron Norrie, the current best they have to offer. They are the fan-favorites representing the Union Jack at the moment after the legend, Andy Murray, retired following a successful career. During the Summer Olympics, fans tune in mostly for the athletics disciplines, cycling, and horse racing and follow the national heroes battle it out for the medals.