Sports betting

Celtic Odds explains football betting

Placing bets on your favourite football team is one way of making a match more fun, although some people use football betting as a way to make money. Either way, there are many aspects to consider before taking the plunge. Questions to ask include:

  • What are the odds? - Different bookies give different odds, depending on how likely they think the outcome is. This is usually based on a team's past form, so swotting up could help you decide what are good and bad odds.
  • What type of bet? - As well as a win, lose or draw bet, you could bet on who will be scoring the goals, what the score might be, or who will win the league. What's more, there are lots of spread betting options that could make your wins more lucrative.
  • Which bookmaker? - To avoid getting stung, it's best to go for a name you trust, or at least a licensed UK bookie with good reviews and good odds. For more information about choosing an online bookmakers, read on...

Sports betting history

The first recorded bookmakers was opened in the 1790s by Harry Ogden in Newmarket, although casual wagers had been placed on horse racing for many years before that. Gambling was made illegal for a long time, but fortunately UK prime minister Harold Macmillan decided to legalise and regulate the industry in 1961. Ever since, sports betting has gone from strength to strength, becoming a major UK industry and growing to include sports such as greyhound racing, rugby, boxing and of course our beloved football.

Bookmakers used to be based in or around sports venues, and later became a high street mainstay with the sports events televised to the punters in the shop. Now that so much of our daily life is conducted online, it's no wonder sports betting is going the same way. This is in fact proving fortunate for fans of the pastime. An online bookmaker can provide features like live betting during a game or match, and sometimes a wider variety of betting options and spread bets.

Moreover, lower overheads and a more competitive market mean bookies are battling to offer punters the best odds on football and other big sports. Another tactic frequently used to tempt new players is a sign-up bonus, offering free bet credit or a cash match on your first deposit. The power is in your hands, so take your time choosing an online bookmakers.