Starting a Football Betting Career

As a novice to football bets, the first thing you must learn is the types of bets used. These are the basics to a successful betting career. There are various types of football bets. A few of them are Straight Wagers, Money Line Wagers, Half-time Wagers, Parlays, Future and Proposition wagers, Teasers, Reverse Wagers, etc. Gaining a basic idea about some of these would help you place bets smartly.

The Straight Wagers:

In this wager, the team wagered on has to win by the point spread specified at the time of the wager. In straight wagers, unless specified, the odds are $1.10 to win $1.00. If a game ties, it is considered as ‘no action’ and the money you have wagered is re-deposited back into your account. For example, you have wagered $110 on Team A -6 to beat Team B +7. In case Team A wins by more than 6 points, you win $100, and the total payout would be $210. If Team A wins only by 7 points, the game is considered ‘no action’ and the money is returned to your account. You would lose the wager if Team A wins by less than 7 points.

The Money Line Wagers:

In this wager, the team wagered on just has to win the game. The amount you lay or take for every game may vary. The money line that has been read to you at the time of your wager is the money line you keep. It does not depend on the line movement. For example, you have wagered on Team A -160 at Team B +260. If Team A wins, you would lay $160.00 to win $100.00. If you had wagered on Team B, you would lay $100.00 to win $260.00

The Halftime Wager:

The Halftime Wager is placed on the odds posted for the second half of a game alone. All your wagers must go the full second half for action. The wagers are calculated similar to a straight wager unless otherwise specified. You cannot play teasers or buy points on halftimes. First half lines can also be played.

A Teaser:

In a Teaser, you have to select two or more teams in one wager in which the point spread is adjusted in your favor. The number of teams selected and the number of points selected decide the payout odds. In case of a "Tie" or "No Action" and a "Win" on a two team, the teaser will be a "No Action" wager. A "Tie" or a "No Action" and a "Loss" on a two team teaser will represent a "Losing" wager.

Futures and Propositions:

A Future wager is based on the outcome of events that take place each year. All wagers you place are final. You can avail no payouts till the conclusion of the specified season. A Proposition wager is based on the outcome of events that take place each year. In this case, odds keep changing everyday and all wagers are considered as action at the odds cited at the time of the wager.

A Parlay:

A Parlay is a selection of 2 or more teams (up to 5 teams) or propositions in no particular order. All teams that you have wagered on in a parlay must win. In case of a tie, it shifts to the next lowest number for payoff. For example, you wish to make a 5 team parlay as follows:

Team A -7 Team B +3 Team C -4 Team D -10 Team E -8

In case all these games are won, you would have won at 20-1 odds. In case 1 team loses, you lose the entire parlay.

Rafa’s excited over new signings

Liverpool is all set to get bolstered with new signings. Manager Rafael Benitez is gung-ho about the possible move of major players like Javier Mascherano, Steven Gerrard and Xabi Alonso into his Liverpool squad. To add to the excitement is the speculated buy-out of ‘The Kid’ Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid. Although played down by the Madrid officials, this move is definitely in the offing.

Evidently elated that his top target is within his grasp, Benitez expressed his delight about these signings.

“You must always be excited at the start of a new season. You must also have confidence in your team and hopefully we will soon bring in the new players that we want to make the squad better.”

Benitez made no bones about the club’s intentions and said,

“We are working on new signings all the time. As I've already said, the spine of the team is in place and now we just need to add to that.”

Reliable sources have revealed that only the personal terms need to be sorted out with the Spanish Club. Anfield officials, however, are quite sure that the deal is almost through and they are apparently paying close to the £27m buy-out clause, included in the player's contract.

It is also expected that Liverpool would sell Luis Garcia to Atletico for £4m. He has been in the sidelines due to the knee injury that he has been recovering from. He was missing for most part of the last season. Although Benitez would love to retain him, the stiff competition between Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard for the midfield slot has virtually ruled out the possibility of Luis Garcia regaining his place.

The deal with Mohammed Sissoko is also a great pleasure for Benitez.

“It's good that we will be able to see the energy of Momo all around the pitch for a few more years. It's a major positive for us.”

The signings are also making the midfield a tightly contested slot after the capture of young Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva for £5m. The induction of Leiva and Ukrainian striker Andriy Voronin will mean that Craig Bellamy and Cisse would also be sold.

The record-breaking Torres deal will certainly hit Benitez’s finances. The sale of Leiva, Cisse and Garcia will help in easing it out a bit, though. The sell-out of these players is predicted to raise around £16m.

Benitez seems to be balancing his European talent buy-out with some young recruits like Bilbao defender Mikel San Jose, Bulgarian U21 goalkeeper Nikolay Mikhailov, Hungarian youngsters Krisztian Nemeth, and Andras Simon from MTK Budapest.

Additionally, the club has announced that they have signed two more 16-year-olds for the academy. They are striker Marvin Pourie from Borussia Dortmund and Alex Kacaniklic from Swedish club Helsingborgs. Liverpool seems to have its top priority sorted out for now.

Free Bets on the internet

I was looking around on the internet as I often do for free bets. Most of the time online bookies offer you free bets as an incentive to sign up. Many of these free bets could be a straight $20 or £10 and sometimes as much as £60 / $120. You will also see regular offers such as place a bet on any market and your get a free goal score bet. The site that I was looking at for these free bets was Gamble-Index. They are currently offering a free £30 bet on the Arsenal match through sportingodds.

If you look through the sites you will also see that they have some excellent reviews of each of the bookies that are offering free bets, its well worth a look.

Betfair - Betting Exchange

Betfair - Betting Exchange
Betfair is undeniably one of the largest online gambling operations in the world today. Betfair has offered services for some time that has not disappointed their clients, thus making the site the largest online. Betfair launched its site in 1999, and since this time, the site has become the greatest market share Online. Its online betting shares out rates many of Betfair’s high street competitors.

Betfair is a great place to bet on football they offer some of the best odds available.

Arsenal Football Tickets

Well, the new football season has started and what better time is there to purchase yourself some Arsenal football tickets.

Arsenal have some big games coming up and tickets are available for you to purchase.

Don't miss out on all the action, the atmosphere just isn't quite then same when watching on the television! Check out Online Soccer for more information.

Defoe frustrated with Tottenham situation

Jermaine Defoe has admitted his on-going frustrations at not being a regular feature in the Tottenham starting line-up.

After scoring for England and putting in a very impressive performances, Defoe has given his best shot and there's not much else he could do to command a decent role at club level.

However, Defoe is going to get his head down and let the football do the talking rather than speak to boss Martin Jol.

"It's frustrating, but it's the manager who picks the team," said Defoe.

"I played against Bolton, but that was a disappointing game.

"Hopefully, I can go back and get in the team now.

"It has been difficult, especially last season when there were times when I thought I would have to speak to the manager, but I suppose I've just got to let my football do the talking.

"Every time I train and every time I play, I've just got to prove that I should be in the team."

Gallas makes Chelsea feelings known

Former Chelsea defender William Gallas has criticised former boss Jose Mourinho.

Now having joined Arsenal in a deal which saw Ashley Cole head the over way, Gallas feels relived.

The France international had been phased out at Chelsea and appeared to be on very bad terms with Mourinho. Gallas feels that the gaffer was fickle with his players and the same thing that's happened to him happened to Del Horno also.

"I wanted to leave Chelsea and Arsenal was the perfect club for me. They wanted me, they are a team going for all the honours, and I am very happy in London and I have a lot of friends here," said Gallas to The People.

"I am happy that I have joined Arsenal. I'm sure I will be treated better by their coaching staff than I have been by Mourinho in the last year. I wish Cole luck and I hope he has the patience to put up with his manager.

"Mourinho is a good trainer but he is fickle with his players. What has happened to me has happened in the past to Ricardo Carvalho, Mateja Kezman, Paulo Ferreira, Asier Del Horno and Hernan Crespo.

"He uses us for his convenience. In the past few years I have had offers from Italy and Spain but I stayed loyal to Chelsea.

"But this has counted for nothing with Mourinho and that is sad. Mourinho has pressured me constantly as if he wanted to get the press and the fans against me.

"I don't understand it. In the dressing room my team-mates have been supportive but Mourinho is the boss and so nobody has spoken out for me.

"In football terms, Chelsea were great for me because I won things there but it was if I had become a nuisance for Mourinho and I don't understand why."

Lampard praises Arsenal signing

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is happy with the signing of Ashley Cole.

Lampard has played with Cole for England so he knows what he's all about and considers him to probably be the best left-back in the world.

There's a lot of pressure playing for a big club like Chelsea but Cole has experienced it with Arsenal and England so Lampard doesn't think the defender will have any problems.

"Ashley is tough enough to deal with whatever is thrown at him," said Lampard in The Sun.

"People have already been giving him stick but he's stayed very strong mentally.

"He's coped with the demands of playing at the top level for Arsenal and England so he'll have no problems coming to Chelsea.

"Ashley is probably the best left back in the world."

Henry excited by new Arsenal big signings

Arsenal captain Thierry Henry feels that the club have made signings which will help them progress.

Despite losing Jose Antonio Reyes and Ashley Cole, Arsenal have got William Gallas and Baptista, two very good players indeed.

Henry considers Gallas to be the best centre back in the whole world and also believes Baptista can become a big player for Arsenal this season.

"I have known William for a long time," said Henry.

"I've played with him and against him.

"In my opinion he's the best centre back in the world, so he's a vital signing.

"We've lost two strong players in Reyes and Cole, but football moves on and I think the players we have signed can help us to progress.

"Baptista can become a big player for us this season."

Gerrard gets international praise

England boss Steve McClaren has praised midfielder Steven Gerrard.

The Liverpool captain has been in good form for England and it's finally looking like he's transferring some of his inspiration from club level to international level.

Now McClaren feels that the best is still to come from Gerrard as he'll be on the right hand side for England.

"He's been influential for Liverpool over the years and has changed games and won European Cups by himself," said McClaren.

"Now he's doing that for England so it's great for us.

"The best is still to come from him and all the players.

"He can get better. He has been a fantastic influence in some of the games he has won for Liverpool.

"We want to transfer that to England and he's started to do that over the last couple of games.

"I've always looked at him on that right-hand side and he scored goals from there, so it's got to be a decent position for him."