Sports betting is one of the oldest pastimes out there… and there’s a reason for it! It’s a thrilling way to add a little extra excitement to a game, especially when you’re not one of the players. With the FIFA World Cup starting on June 14th (it’s right around the corner!) now’s the best time to get your foot in the game. So just follow this guide and start showing your support for your favourite teams with the perk of potentially winning some big bucks.

Bet on a Winner

Okay, this may seem like an obvious one, but what we mean here is how you bet. When it comes to sports betting you can bet on several different things, points, difference in score, individual players, teams, etc. The simplest and most basic - and popular - bet you can place is on the winner, also known as the fulltime or match result. With this form of betting, you can either pick a winning team or say the match will result in a draw - each team and the act of drawing will have a different odd, so make sure to read up on betting tips for upcoming football matches before you take your pick!

Tally up the Totals

If you want to like the idea of making a generalized bet, such as the win/lose/draw combo we’ve just described, you might like the idea of betting on the total goals as well. Known as an under/over bet, you can place a wager on whether or not the total goals will be higher or lower than a given number. Most betting houses use 2.5 as a standard line, however, some will offer a range from 0.5 to 7.5 goals (the 0.5 makes it easy to know if they went over or under). This is a fun style of bet if two teams have similar patterns of play and are suspected to be very equally matched

Pick the Point Maker

If you know your strikers well and get a kick out of goal-scoring moves from the likes of Messi and Ronaldo, then a goalscorer bet might be the perfect bet for you! With goalscorer bets, you commonly wager on who will get the first bet, although there are variations such as who will score the last goal or even who will score anytime in the match. A great way to bet when you know your players and there are some all-stars on the teams you’re watching.

Take it up a Point or Two

If you’re ready to get a little more involved with your bet, know both teams well and are keen to battle the odds, you can start betting on actual scores in the game. These are the most difficult bets, as you often have to be exact (or can have a small handicap on either side of your wagered scores). Make sure to do plenty of research, thoroughly check the betting odds and predictions and know your teams like the back of your hand before getting into this form of betting. However, once tapped, it can be extremely thrilling and has the potential for some nice payouts!