Legal soccer betting is available in most states today via licensed sportsbooks and mobile apps.

On this page, BettingUSA explains in simple terms where it is legal to bet on soccer online, ranks the best soccer betting sites, and discusses everything fans need to know to get started.

Readers in states that lack legal soccer betting have alternatives in daily fantasy sites, including some with pick’em contests that are remarkably similar to over/under parlays. BettingUSA will also discuss those alternatives for readers who do not have access to licensed soccer betting apps.

Best Soccer Betting Sites

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*The options available in your state are fantasy pick’em apps and social sportsbooks, not technically sports betting.

States With Legal Soccer Betting

Sports betting is already legal in most states, but the following map shows exactly which states have legal online sportsbooks and which do not. Readers can also see BettingUSA’s state sports betting guides for recommended sportsbooks or pick’em fantasy sites in every state.

States with Legal Sports Betting Placeholder
States with Legal Sports Betting

Map Key

  • Blue: States where online sports betting is legal.
  • Red: States with retail sportsbooks only.

In the shrinking number of states where online sports betting has not been legalized, soccer fans can usually participate in daily fantasy sports contests.

DFS sites like DraftKings and FanDuel provide wide soccer coverage, spanning multiple leagues and contest formats. Meanwhile, pick’em fantasy apps like PrizePicks offer over/under contests where users select multiple athletes and predict whether they will exceed their projected stat totals.

Best Soccer Betting Apps

Where a bettor chooses to give action can have an enormous impact on their sports betting experience. Luckily, the widespread legalization of online sports betting has significantly improved the quality of mobile sportsbooks available to US bettors.

State-level regulatory commissions hold licensed operators to high standards of conduct and do not issue licenses to low-quality sportsbooks. As a result, bettors can ward off most problems concerning trust and integrity by simply sticking with licensed sports betting apps exclusively.

Bettors who want to ensure fair treatment, easy deposits, and fast withdrawals will find licensed operators their best bet.

However, there is still a great disparity among legal US sportsbooks with regard to online soccer betting in particular. Soccer bettors should seek sportsbooks that provide the following:

  • Extensive league coverage
  • A big betting menu covering numerous wagering formats
  • Fair odds and respectable house limits
  • A strong desktop and mobile betting interface
  • A high-value welcome bonus for new customers and quality recurring promotions
  • A generous loyalty program

Fans will naturally gravitate toward the biggest sports betting brands because they provide in-depth soccer coverage. However, it’s important not to rule out mid-tier and smaller sportsbooks that often offer better pricing and more promotions.

Here’s a look at the soccer betting apps that tick off the most boxes:

Caesars Sportsbook Soccer Betting

Caesars Sportsbook is a giant in the sports betting industry, so it’s hardly surprising that its soccer betting menu is massive. Bettors will find markets across more than 60 leagues and events, and Caesars offers an average of 140-150 betting options per game.

The vigorish on 3-way moneylines and draw (no bet) wagers tends toward the lower end, hovering right around 5.5%. Caesars also offers highly competitive pricing on totals, spreads, and select props.

The Caesars Sportsbook bonus changes on occasion, but all past instances have been offers that should appeal to soccer bettors. Typically, the current Caesars betting bonus provides a combination of immediate returns plus tie-ins to Caesars Rewards, which gives new customers a significant boost in its highly-rated loyalty program.

Add it all up, and Caesars Sportsbook is a solid home for soccer betting online. However, the app has yet to integrate same game parlays into its soccer betting menu, and the in-play vigorish is on the high side, clocking in at around 8.5%.

FanDuel Soccer Betting

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FanDuel Sportsbook is the undisputed marketshare leader, but its online soccer betting options are merely “good.”

FanDuel doesn’t offer a wide range of soccer bets, sticking mostly with the basics. Players will find standard moneyline, totals, spreads, and common props like “First to Score”, but not too many niche wagers. This strikes as odd considering FanDuel is operated by Flutter, which also owns some of Europe’s largest sports betting brands.

However, FanDuel does have respectable soccer coverage, with over 60 leagues represented. Also, moneyline and in-play pricing are competitive, lagging just ~1% behind FanDuel’s fiercest competitors. However, the totals and spread pricing can be a turn-off, soaring as high as 9%.

FanDuel doesn’t have an exciting sports betting loyalty program, but it offers a fair cashback rate. Its recurrent promotional schedule is pedestrian, as is its welcome bonus for new customers.

Overall, FanDuel Sportsbook is a decent choice for soccer bettors, but it feels like the app is resting on its laurels due to its industry-leading status.

BetMGM Soccer Betting

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BetMGM Sportsbook is one of the biggest names among soccer betting sites and is known for offering more options than nearly any other sportsbook. BetMGM has a tendency to take its own positions at times, opening up opportunities for line shoppers to find some fantastic odds.

However, soccer betting doesn’t really appear to be BetMGM’s strong point. The pregame lines are certainly not bad, but there are better options. Prop pricing is mediocre, and in-play vigorish is extremely high. Also, BetMGM doesn’t display the odds for its same game soccer parlays, which feels a bit predatory. Bettors have the right to know what they’re getting into, especially on formats where the vigorish is often 20%+.

BetMGM does have some other high points though, like its integration with MGM Rewards, extensive league and bet coverage, spot bonuses, and quality promotional offers (even if there aren’t too many targeted soccer betting promos). It’s worth checking out during major events like the FIFA World Cup and Premier League final, but generally speaking, BetMGM is a better online sportsbook for other professional sports.

DraftKings Soccer Betting

DraftKings Sportsbook is the nation’s second-most popular sports betting app and provides markets for over 70 soccer leagues. Its coverage spans the entire globe, covering dozens of smaller niche leagues and international competitions.

Every game, whether it be a high-profile English Premier League contest or a midseason Bulgaria First League game, receives the full DraftKings treatment, with the number of available soccer bets averaging over 150 and often soaring past that number.

Still, most sportsbooks provide extensive league coverage. What really sets DraftKings apart is its pricing. The vigorish on popular wagers like 3-way soccer moneylines, draw (no bet), totals, and select props are industry-best, as is its in-play moneyline pricing.

The DraftKings soccer betting interface is also a strong point, with bets compartmentalized into intuitive categories and sub-categories, and alternative spreads and totals condensed into an easy-to-use rolling toolbar.

Topping things off is a relatively strong promotional schedule, a multitude of same game parlay options (with odds displayed), and a highly rewarding player loyalty program. The only real drawback is the prop pricing, which is not terrible but no better than the industry norm.

Every soccer bettor should include DraftKings Sportsbook in their rotation.

BetRivers Soccer Betting

Online soccer betting at BetRivers is something of a mixed bag, but the highs exceed the lows.

BetRivers Sportsbook covers fewer leagues than its closest competitors and doesn’t offer as many bets. The in-play vigorish is astronomical, coming in at around 9% on live soccer moneylines, and there is too much emphasis on juiced-up same game parlays and Quick Picks.

That being said, the pregame vigorish is significantly lower than average, and BetRivers has respectable pricing on its soccer prop bets. It also sports a highly functional and modern interface that makes finding and placing wagers a breeze.

When it comes to customer rewards, BetRivers is one of the most generous sportsbooks. Its promotional menu is long and varied, and the iRush Rewards program is extremely lucrative, especially to VIPs. At its highest levels, iRush Rewards provides soccer bettors thousands of dollars in value, spanning deposit matches, bet & get promos, point multipliers, and other special perks.

ESPN Bet doesn’t offer as many soccer props and derivatives as other sports betting apps, and it’s hesitant to post early lines. Yet, it excels in many other areas.

In particular, the vigorish on 3-way soccer moneylines is second lowest among larger books, trailing only DraftKings. ESPN Bet also offers low juice on soccer totals, spreads, props, and really just about any other bet. Avid line shoppers will often land on ESPN Bet for their soccer betting action.

The in-play soccer betting odds aren’t quite as good, but it’s still better than average at about 7% – 8%, depending on the wager.

ESPN Bet offers bettors a plethora of soccer odds boosts and other recurring promos, personalized offers, and tie-ins with the Penn Entertainment loyalty program.

Soccer Betting Bonuses and Promotions

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Fans can claim two types of soccer betting promotions from legal online sportsbooks.

First are welcome bonuses, which soccer betting apps offer to new customers who sign up for accounts. Welcome bonuses provide the most value, but they are one-time-only offers. Fortunately, fans in most states have access to multiple licensed betting sites and can claim welcome bonuses from each.

Second are recurrent soccer betting promotions for existing customers. Fans who keep accounts open with several soccer betting apps can find regular promotions such as odds boosts, enhanced parlays, and bet insurance, often tied to games involving their local MLS teams or high-profile events like the FIFA World Cup.

In all cases, it pays to understand how the various types of soccer betting bonuses and promotions work to take full advantage of them. Read on for overviews of the three main categories of soccer betting bonuses for new users, followed by explanations of the most common promotions for existing customers.

Second Chance Soccer Bet Promos

Most soccer betting sites offer second chance bet promotions to all new customers. Although the details of each offer vary, the basic idea is that new users can register and place their first wager on any soccer market to qualify.

If the first wager wins, the bettor collects their winnings, and nothing else happens. However, if the wager loses, the sportsbook refunds the customer with a bonus bet of equal size to use on the soccer market of their choice. The maximum refund also varies but is usually around $1,000.

The advantage of these promos is that they give fans a chance to bet on soccer online and get a refund if their first wager doesn’t pan out. On the other hand, the downside is that betting sites usually pay refunds as bonus bets instead of cash. Additionally, second chance bet promos don’t benefit customers who place first bets that win.

Bet and Get Soccer Bonuses

“Bet and get” soccer bonuses reward new customers for signing up and placing their first cash wagers. The average bet and get promo awards a flat bonus to all new customers for signing up and placing a minimum qualifying wager.

For example, a sportsbook might offer $100 in bonus bets to anyone who registers, deposits, and places a first cash wager of at least $10. The size of the offer varies, but most soccer betting apps award something in the range of $100 to $200 in bonus bets.

Bet and get bonuses are inevitably smaller than other types of new customer promotions, but they offer two advantages. First, all new customers receive bonus bets, not just those who place first wagers that lose (as with second chance soccer bet promos).

Second, bet and get soccer betting promotions have favorable risk-vs-reward ratios. The qualifying wager for a typical bet and get bonus is usually $10 or $20, while offering upwards of $200 in bonus bets. That’s very little upfront risk for a sizable reward.

First Deposit Soccer Betting Bonuses

First deposit soccer betting bonuses give site credit or bonus bets to new users upon registering and funding their accounts. Typically, the size of the customer’s first deposit determines how much they receive in bonus bets or site credit.

Soccer fans can tell they’re looking at a first deposit bonus when the sportsbook’s headline offer uses language like “100% up to $200.” In that case, a bettor who deposits $100 will receive $100 in bonus funds they can use to bet on soccer games online.

The advantage of first deposit soccer betting bonuses is that all new users receive a bonus, regardless of the outcome of their first wager. That’s in contrast to second chance bets that only pay when bettors lose their first wager.

The biggest disadvantage of these types of soccer betting promotions is that they usually have low match rates or low maximum caps. For example, a sportsbook may offer 20% up to $1,000 or 100% up to $200, but fans will almost never see a 100% up to $1,000 sportsbook bonus. Additionally, first deposit bonuses may encourage some soccer bettors to deposit more than they’re comfortable losing, a big no-no in responsible gambling.

Note: Some soccer betting sites require customers to enter promo codes when registering or depositing to claim their welcome offers. See BettingUSA’s big list of sports betting promo codes for more information.

Recurring Soccer Betting Promotions

Legal online sportsbooks don’t issue as many soccer betting promotions as they do for other sports, but fans will have the best luck at high-profile sportsbooks with big marketing budgets.

Bettors should also check for soccer betting promotions near the start of the MLS season, during the MLS Cup Playoffs, and during the men’s and women’s World Cups.

  • Soccer Odds Boosts: Soccer odds boost promos give customers tokens to use on all soccer betting markets or short-term boosts on specific wagers. For example, a sportsbook might temporarily increase the odds on a star player scoring at least one goal in his next game from -150 to +100.
  • Stepped Up Soccer Parlays: These soccer betting promos give customers bigger payouts based on the number of legs in the parlay. For example, a common theme for enhanced soccer parlays is to give 3-leg parlays a 20% payout boost, 4-leg parlays a 25% boost, and so on.
  • Bonus Bets for Every Goal: Another popular type of promotion during major soccer events like the World Cup and MLS Playoffs is to invite customers to place a wager on their favorite team to win the competition outright and give them a bonus bet for every goal their team scores along the way.
  • Random Soccer Bonus Bets: Some soccer betting sites occasionally issue bonus bets to all customers who log in on a specific day, usually for no particular reason. The best way to catch these soccer betting promotions in time is to open accounts with a few online sportsbooks and opt in to promotional e-mails and alerts.
  • Free Soccer Betting Pools: DraftKings hosts frequent free-to-enter soccer betting pools with thousands of dollars in guaranteed prizes. Fans can launch the DraftKings app, visit the “Pools” tab, and use the filter to find all upcoming soccer betting pools. Each pool features different rules, but the basic format involves answering prediction-style questions about an upcoming game to win a cash prize.
  • Free Soccer Betting Bracket Contests: Occasionally, online sportsbooks host free World Cup bracket contests that offer substantial prizes to fans who can predict the outcomes of matches during the Men’s and Women’s World Cups. For example, BetMGM hosted a World Cup bracket challenge during the last FIFA Women’s World Cup, featuring a $250,000 perfect bracket prize and a guaranteed $50,000 top score payout.

How to Bet On Soccer Online

Soccer betting is straightforward, and bettors with experience in other sports will have no problem getting started.

The best starting point for anyone completely new to sports betting is to understand how moneyline bets work and expand outward from there.

Almost all soccer wagers use the 3-way moneyline odds format, which in American Odds is a three-digit number that explains how much bettors stand to win and lose.

The term 3-way moneyline also refers to the most basic type of soccer wager: a bet on either team to win or a draw. Ties are so common in the low-scoring games of soccer that the 3-way moneyline takes precedence over standard moneylines.

It’s critical to note that most 3-way moneylines are graded at the end of regulation + stoppage/injury time. This rule typically applies even if extra periods and penalty kicks are permitted. Players should check the sportsbook’s house rules for the specifics.

A typical soccer moneyline looks something like this:

  • SJ Earthquakes: -125
  • Draw: +275
  • VAN Whitecaps FC: +360

The odds displayed next to each outcome tell bettors how much they stand to win relative to their bets.

When soccer betting sites price teams with negative moneyline odds, bettors can assume those teams are favored to win their matches. Additionally, negative odds tell bettors how much they need to risk per 100 units of profit.

On the other hand, positive odds next to a soccer team indicate it is the underdog. The positive odds tell bettors how much they stand to win per 100 units of risk. However, when the draw is factored in, it’s possible for both teams to have positive odds. In that case, the team with the larger positive odds is the underdog.

In the above example, the sportsbook has priced the SJ Earthquakes at -125. Bettors can look at that and understand two things:

  • The SJ Earthquakes are the favorites
  • Bettors must risk $125 for every $100 in net profit (or $1.25 for every $1.00)

For example, a $125 bet on the SJ Earthquakes will return $225 to the bettor if the Earthquakes win the match. That payout includes the return of the original $125 wager plus $100 in profit.

Likewise, the sportsbook in the above example has priced the Whitecaps at +360, indicating the Whitecaps are the underdogs. Additionally, the +360 tells bettors they stand to win $460 for every $100 they risk, comprised of $360 in winnings and the initial $100 stake.

Soccer betting differs from most sports with the inclusion of the draw outcome. In sports like the NFL, online sportsbooks do not include the draw outcome and simply refund bettors if the game ends in a tie. Sports like the NHL have 3-Way Moneylines, but they’re not as prominently featured as their two-way counterparts.

In soccer betting, bettors lose if the match ends in a draw unless they specifically bet on that outcome.

“Draw no bet” markets work like standard moneylines, as they remove the draw outcome. If the game ends in a draw, the sportsbook refunds all outstanding wagers.

Draw no bet wagers provide the advantage of being less volatile because sportsbooks refund wagers on either team if the game ends in a draw. However, winning draw no bet wagers pay less than standard 3-way moneylines.

This wager type is usually graded at the end of regulation and stoppage time, but it’s not a given. Some soccer games must determine a winner. A good example would be the World Cup Finals. In these “knockout” games, teams that are tied after regulation play two additional 15-minute halves. If a winner is still not decided, the match goes to a shootout.

Some soccer sportsbooks still grade draw no-bet wagers on knockout games at the end of regulation, while others grade them only after a winner is determined. In the latter case, the odds reflect the impossibility of a draw outcome.

Players should be keenly aware of how their favorite sportsbooks handle this wagering format.

Handicap (or spread) wagers are the equivalent of point spreads in other sports but aren’t offered by all soccer betting sites due to the low-scoring nature of the game.

However, most sportsbooks post handicaps in matches featuring heavy favorites versus weak underdogs. Some offer handicaps for nearly every match.

For example, a match between Team USA and Germany in the World Cup might heavily favor Germany. In that case, some soccer betting sites might give Team USA +1.5 goals.

If a sportsbook prices Team USA at +120 +1.5, it means bettors stand to win $120 on a $100 wager if Team USA wins the match outright, ties, or only loses by one goal. Likewise, any bets on Germany at -1.5 only pay if Germany wins by two or more goals.

The biggest soccer betting apps also offer alternative handicaps. In the example above, bettors may be able to take Team USA or Germany at +0.5, +1.5, +2.5, -0.5, and so on. Because goals are so valuable in soccer, the odds shift dramatically with each half-point taken or given.

Double chance wagers allow bettors to cover two of the three possible outcomes in a soccer match. The bet wins if the game ends in either of the two outcomes chosen by the bettor.

There are three ways to place a double chance bet:

  • Team A win/draw: Wins if Team A wins or the match ends in a draw (1x)
  • Team B win/draw: Wins if Team B wins or the match ends in a draw (2x)
  • Team A/Team B: Wins if the game does not end in a draw (12)

Double chance wagers are easier to win but come at the cost of reduced payouts, and are often subject to increased vigorish.

If bettors place a double chance wager on a knockout game, the outcome is decided at the end of regulation.

Soccer totals involve predicting how many goals will be scored in aggregate by both teams. The sportsbook sets the total, and the bettor predicts whether the actual number of goals scored will be greater or less than that number.

For example, the sportsbook might set a total of 2.5 goals in a game between Atlanta United and OKC Energy FC. A bettor who picks the OVER would win if the final score was Atlanta United 2 OKFC Energy FC 1 because the combined total of three goals is greater than the projected total (2.5).

Most sportsbooks offer alternative totals, typically ranging from 0.5 goals to upwards of 6.5. Usually, alternative totals are offered in one-goal increments and always end in .5 to avoid draws.

Soccer prop bets typically deal with things other than predicting which team will win an upcoming match.

Some examples of soccer prop bets include wagers on the first player to score a goal, the number of corners in a game, whether both teams will score at least once, and much more. The two most common soccer props are “Both Teams to Score” and “First/Last Goal (Team)”.

Soccer betting sites typically organize props into three categories: Player Props, Team Props, and Game Props. In each category, there may be just a few props listed or hundreds. It really depends on how big the event is, and how ambitious the sportsbook is feeling.

Examples of exotic props include:

  • Goal scores between 76th and Full Time (Yes/No)
  • Exact goals scored
  • Correct score
  • Asian corners
  • Team to score second half

Be careful with player props as they’re sometimes subject to different rules. For instance, a “player to score” prop may not be graded until after any extra periods, while the standard 3-Way Moneyline is graded at the end of Full Time.

Asian handicap betting is unique to soccer and applies to spreads. The format may look a little strange to the uninitiated because Asian spreads either end in 0.25 or .75.

Basically, when bettors place an Asian handicap wager, they are splitting their wager between two outcomes. For example, let’s say that Manchester United is listed at -0.75 (-110). A wager on this line is divided into one wager on Man U -0.5 and a second wager on Man U -1.

So if Man U wins by exactly one goal, the first wager loses and the second one pushes, and players would get half their stake back. If they win by two or more goals, both wagers win and the bettor is paid at the listed odds. If the game ends in a draw or Man U loses, then the entire bet is graded a loser.

Now, imagine if Man U was instead listed at +1.25. In this scenario, half the wager is on Man U +1, and the other half on Man U +1.5. The wager wins if Man U wins or ties, but if Man U loses by one goal, then half the bet pushes and the other half (+1.5) pays. On a $10 bet at -110 odds, bettors would receive $5 back as a refund, and $5 + $4.55 = $9.55 on the winning portion, for a total return of $14.55.

Some soccer betting sites also offer Asian totals, which function similarly to Asian handicap, except the wager is on the total goals scored, not the spread.

Soccer parlays combine multiple bets into one with a bigger payout. For example, a bettor might build a three-leg parlay predicting the winners of three upcoming MLS games.

Parlays provide substantial payouts, but they are difficult to win because the bettor must get every leg correct. If the bettor gets just one prediction wrong, the entire bet is lost.

Soccer betting parlays are almost the same as betting on one game, rolling the winnings over to another game, and so on. However, doing so would be impossible if some of the games in question start simultaneously. Parlays allow bettors to cover multiple games, even if some start at the same time.

Players should be warned that parlays are taxed more heavily than straight bets. That’s because there’s already a tax on each individual parlay leg, so each tax gets lumped on top of each other.

A popular recent trend is for books to offer same game parlays, which as the name heavily implies, are parlays built around one game. Due to some bets being positively or negatively correlated, same game parlays lines vary widely, depending on how they’re constructed. They’re also heavily juiced, and the bigger the parlay, the higher the tax.

Soccer future bets function the same way they do in other sports. Bettors make a long-term prediction on who is going to win a group, a league, or emerge victorious as a champion of a major spectacle like the Premier League or World Cup.

Soccer betting sites typically post the odds prior to the beginning of a league or tournament and update them as the event proceeds. The upside of futures is that there is a lot of uncertainty involved, making for some valuable betting opportunities. Also, appealing longshots will often defy the odds and generate massive payouts for their backers.

There are two downsides when betting on soccer futures. One is that bettors have to keep their money locked in until the wager settles. Additionally, futures are juiced fairly heavily, with bigger events typically taxed less than smaller-scale competitions.

In-Play Soccer Betting

In-play soccer betting takes traditional wagering and turns up the intensity a notch by allowing fans to place short-term wagers throughout the match.

Live soccer betting provides a more compelling experience because fans can watch games live and place rapid-fire wagers from start to finish. Fans can also use in-play betting to hedge their pregame positions or jump on opportunities later in the game.

Online sportsbooks close their pregame markets when a game begins and switch to live betting with real-time soccer odds. From there, customers’ options range from standard full-time soccer bets such as who will win to short-term wagers such as who will score the next goal.

Due to the fast pace of games, don’t expect legal soccer betting sites to offer nearly as many in-play bets as they do pregame. Also, because in-play odds are far less efficient, online sportsbooks tend to compensate by increasing the juice.

Watch Live-Streaming Soccer

Soccer is an excellent fit for in-play betting because the best sportsbooks cover dozens of events every day. Some of the most popular betting apps also provide live-streaming broadcasts so customers can watch the action on-field while placing their soccer bets.

BetMGM Sportsbook, DraftKings, and BetRivers are three of the best options for fans who would like to watch games live as they bet. Each provides numerous soccer streams every day at no cost for customers who have verified and founded accounts.

Most sportsbooks are limited to streaming smaller, international events for now, but it is likely just a matter of time before they acquire broadcasting rights to higher-profile matches.

Major Soccer Betting Events

Soccer is the world’s most popular sport, with rabid fans from nearly every part of the globe, and hundreds of teams representing their homelands. It follows that there are a lot of major betting events, and the best soccer betting apps cover them all.

During special events, online sportsbooks tend to offer more promotions and bigger odds boosts, presenting great opportunities for value-hunting bettors. They also give bettors a chance to wager on a wider array of props and futures, similar to how the Super Bowl offers many more betting variants than regular NFL games.

Keep an eye out for these soccer events:

  • FIFA World Cup: The granddaddy of all soccer tournaments, the World Cup is played every four years and the winner boasts the ultimate bragging rights during their reign.
  • UEFA Champions League: This league pits Europe’s top-division clubs against one another in a round-robin group competition followed by a double-legged knockout stage, and the grand finale. The finals usually take place in late May or early June.
  • UEFA European Championship: Otherwise known as the Euro, this tournament is considered the world’s second most prestigious soccer event, only trailing the World Cup. Like the Cup, it takes place every four years, in even-numbered years between Cups.
  • Copa America Finals: A competition of South America’s finest, the Copa America Finals consists of 16 teams.
  • Copa Del Rey: An annual staging that pits 115 Spanish teams against one another in a brutal six-month season, with the winners guaranteed a spot in the UEFA Europa League group stage.
  • Africa Cup of Nations: A celebration of African soccer, the Cup of Nations consists of 54 eligible teams, with 24 of them competing in the biannual tournament.
  • Olympic Games: Although the Olympics aren’t considered as prestigious as the World Cup, it’s an opportunity for younger and second-string players to represent their country and potentially bring home gold.
  • MLS: Major League Soccer is America’s professional soccer league. Despite its meager beginnings, the MLS has grown into a well-regarded league that now consists of 26 American and three Canadian teams. The MLS Cup is the culmination of the annual league, and the championship match typically takes place in late November or early December.

World Cup Betting Guide

Soccer fans in the US have only experienced two World Cups since the Supreme Court overturned the federal sports betting ban in 2018, and just one where there were more than three states with operational sportsbooks.

Between the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, more than twenty additional states legalized sports betting to make the tournament accessible to a significant segment of the US population. Now, World Cup betting is within reach of more people than not, and online sportsbooks pull out all the stops whenever the tournament approaches.

Every four years, online sportsbooks roll out new World Cup betting promotions and expand their soccer markets to court new customers and reactivate established bettors. As a result, World Cup season is a great time to be a soccer bettor.

Soccer fans can read more and find the latest World Cup betting promotions in BettingUSA’s guide here:

Soccer Betting Tips

Soccer is a well-known sport with fairly simple rules. However, just as soccer teams employ a bunch of different strategies to win, bettors must do the same if they hope to become more profitable.

Here are a few simple soccer betting strategies to get you started:

  • Know the house rules: All legal and licensed soccer betting sites are required by law to post and abide by their house rules. Soccer rules tend to vary a bit more between sportsbooks than other sports, so it’s recommended that bettors read through them before placing wagers. For instance, FanDuel Sportsbook has rules regarding where the Home Team is listed, when bets are settled, and how bets on players who don’t participate in the game are handled.
  • Always shop around: Most states with legal sports betting have launched multiple, if not dozens, of soccer betting apps. Take advantage of this by downloading as many as you feel comfortable managing. By simply pairing the best line on one side of a bet with the best line on the other side, bettors can often reduce the effective house edge from 5-6% to 1-2%. That’s obviously not enough on its own to make you a winner, but it’s a big head start.
  • Know the sharp lines: Most US soccer betting sites copy lines from sharp sportsbooks, but sometimes they’re slow to react. If a line on a non-sharp sportsbook varies from the line posted by a sharp betting site, it may be worth sniping.
  • Keep up with lineup news: As a general rule, lineups are posted on social media about an hour to 75 minutes before a game starts. Over time, bettors can use this information to anticipate lineup trends. Also, if a lineup differs from expectation, you may be able to get a wager in before the sportsbooks adjust their lines.
  • Bet smaller markets and exotic props: There are so many smaller market soccer games offered by sportsbooks, that it’s nearly impossible for them to post sharp lines for all of them. It’s well worth considering following 1-2 smaller markets and seeing if you can eventually outsmart the books. The same goes for exotic prop bets that sportsbooks may price incorrectly due to their obscurity.
  • Know when to place in-play bets: Soccer is a fast-moving sport, but momentum and scoring develop very slowly. It’s therefore not in a bettor’s best interest to place in-play bets during the first few exchanges, as not enough time has passed to establish a position, and the in-play vig will be higher than if you just placed an equivalent pregame wager. Instead, wait until patterns emerge and look to different books to see if any are offering favorable odds.
  • Take advantage of promotions: One of the easiest ways to get a temporary edge over the house is to cash in on soccer betting promotions. This doesn’t mean blindly claiming every promo, as some promotions only offer marginal value. However, promotions that offer significant profit boosts, or provide a deposit match with a low wagering requirement are often worth exploring.

How Legal Sports Betting Impacts MLS

The legalization of sports betting has provided multiple opportunities for Major League Soccer, both directly and indirectly.

For one, MLS has gained increased viewership and new sponsorship opportunities. Most industry studies focus on the other major US sports, but it takes little imagination to extrapolate their findings.

For example, a Horowitz Research study conducted in 2020 concluded “sports bettors tend to be more fans of sports overall, and heavier viewers of sports.” The study also found that more than 70% of sports bettors say they are more likely to travel to a jurisdiction where sports betting is legal.

The findings translate to increased viewership for MLS, more ticket sales, and better advertising contracts for its broadcasts. Additionally, MLS can benefit directly from sports betting by partnering with sports betting operators.

Major League Soccer was an early adopter in that regard. In 2019, MLS named MGM Resorts International its official gaming partner.

Later that year, MLS became the first league to authorize sales of jersey sponsorships and stadium naming rights to sports betting operators. MLS officials explained the benefits in clear terms in a press release:

Major League Soccer is proud to partner with MGM Resorts to bring existing and new fans close to our sport in innovative and immersive ways. MGM Resorts is a leader in sports betting, and they recognize the progress of our league and the growth of the sport in the United States and Canada. Together, we will deliver cutting-edge data and analytics to MLS fans, and fan engagement will be the driving force behind every initiative in our partnership.

Individual soccer teams also have much to gain. For example, D.C. United named FanDuel its exclusive sports betting sponsor in 2020 and opened a retail sportsbook at Audi Field in 2021.

The legalization of sports betting could ultimately provide massive financial rewards for MLS, but the league must also tread with caution. One need only look to the UK, where sports betting has been legal for decades, for a preview of potential stumbling blocks.

Sports betting and soccer are closely intertwined in the UK, where nearly half of the 20 biggest Premier League clubs have sold jersey sponsorship rights to sportsbook operators. Additionally, commercial breaks are dominated by sports betting advertisements.

The preponderance of sports betting advertisements and sponsorships in UK soccer has prompted the UK Government to consider banning such agreements. As lawmakers increasingly express concerns about problem gambling and the potential for corruption, UK soccer faces a difficult situation.

MLS Position On Sports Betting

MLS foreshadowed the position it would take on sports betting a full year before the Supreme Court issued its impactful decision.

In March 2017, MLS Commissioner Don Garber told GeekWire the league was already actively investigating the potential impacts sports betting would have and what opportunities it may present:

We have a project going on now to really dig in deeply and understand it. I’ll be the third commissioner (along with NBA’s Adam Silver and MLB’s Rob Manfred) in and say I’m very open to understanding how we can get more engaged in this market in a way that I think if done properly, can be regulated and managed and controlled. I’ll join the chorus of saying it’s time to bring it out of the dark ages. We’re doing what we can to figure out how to manage that effectively.

That statement made it clear early on that MLS recognized the reality of the situation: sports betting was already happening despite prohibition, so lawmakers might as well regulate it to ensure consumer safety, responsible gambling, and support integrity efforts.

The Supreme Court overturned the prohibition the following year, and MLS issued this statement in response:

Although Major League Soccer is supportive of today’s Supreme Court decision, we also believe that it is critical that state legislatures and other regulatory bodies work closely with the professional sports leagues in the United States to develop a regulatory framework to protect the integrity of each of our respective sports. We look forward to being a part of that process.

Soccer Betting FAQ

Yes. Soccer betting sites are legal and licensed in more than half of US states.

The sportsbook with the best odds varies from one match to the next. DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, and FanDuel are reliably competitive.

All mainstream soccer betting apps cover individual games and offer MLS Cup futures from Spring through Fall each year. The top soccer betting sites also offer increasingly granular in-play betting markets, faster data feeds, and more in-depth statistics thanks to a data distribution partnership between MLS and IMG ARENA.

Yes. Most online sportsbooks cover a ton of soccer leagues from around the world, including the Premier League.

The “pk” in a soccer betting line is short for “pick ‘em.” It means the listed team is neither giving nor being given any points. If the selected team wins straight up, the bet wins. If the selected team draws, the sportsbook grades the wager a push and refunds the bettor.

Yes, it’s possible to be a winning soccer player, but the path isn’t always easy. Players looking to make a hobbyist income can take advantage of promotions and profit boosts when they’re available. They can also try to pick off stale lines or find edges in smaller markets.

However, in order to make a career out of betting soccer, you’ll probably need to create analytical data models or advanced software that automatically “snipes” bad lines. You’ll also need to learn how to increase your longevity, as US sportsbooks are prone to limit sharp bettors.

Usually, a soccer bet is graded at the end of the 90-minute regulation period plus any stoppage or injury time. In a knockout game, where the possibility of extra time looms, they’re still typically graded at the end of Full Time but certain wagers may not be graded until a winner is declared.

The 3-way moneyline is a good starting point. The vigorish on this wager is usually pretty low, and the bet is easy to understand. Simply pick a team to win, or if you think the matchup is really close, then bet on a draw.

Same game parlays may seem like fun bets to start out with, as they are easy to place and pose the allure of large payouts, but the vig is so high that new bettors will get eaten alive.

Stoppage time is the amount of time added to each half of a soccer game, beyond the intended 45 minutes. The time is added by the game’s referees, who will estimate how much time should be added. Typically, stoppage time is added due to injuries, excessive celebration, penalties, and substitutions.

It usually lasts at least a minute, and while there is no upper limit, stoppage time rarely extends beyond a few minutes.