This football betting guide explains the markets Irish punters use most, how to read the odds in euro terms and what to check before you place a bet. It covers the Premier League, the League of Ireland, European competitions and Ireland internationals. It is a guide to how betting works, not a tipping service, and no bet is a sure thing. Only bet with an operator licensed to take bets from Irish customers.
- The main markets are match result (1X2), double chance, draw no bet, both teams to score, over or under goals, handicaps, correct score and goalscorers.
- Prices include the bookmaker’s margin. Add up the implied chances of all three results and you will get more than 100%.
- Combining selections raises the odds but also the risk, because every part must win. Bet builders usually carry a bigger margin than a single.
- Check settlement rules, team news and the licence before you bet, set a limit first, and get free help on 1800 936 725 or at gamblingcare.ie.
The main football markets
Most bookmakers list dozens of markets on a big match, but a handful cover nearly every bet people place. Here they are side by side.
| Market | What it means | Things to know |
|---|---|---|
| Match result (1X2) | Home win, draw or away win | Settles on 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties do not count. |
| Double chance | Two of the three results in one bet | Home or draw, away or draw, or home or away. Shorter odds, because it covers more. |
| Draw no bet | Pick a team to win; a draw returns your stake | Safer than 1X2 on a close match, so the price is shorter. |
| Both teams to score | Yes or no, whatever the result | Settles on a 1-1 or 2-1, not on a 1-0. |
| Over or under goals | Total goals above or below a line | Over 2.5 needs three or more goals. |
| Handicap | One team starts with a goal head start or deficit | Asian handicaps also use half and quarter lines. |
| Correct score | The exact final score | Big odds because it is hard to land. |
| First or anytime goalscorer | A named player to score | Check the rules on own goals and on players who do not play. |
1X2, double chance and draw no bet
Match result is the simplest bet. Back the home side, the away side or the draw. If you fancy a team but fear a draw, double chance and draw no bet reduce the risk at the cost of a shorter price. Say a team is 1.80 to win. On draw no bet it might be 1.45. A €20 stake on 1.80 returns €36 if they win and nothing if they draw. On draw no bet at 1.45 a win returns €29, a draw returns your €20 and a defeat loses the stake. You give up some return for protection in one scenario.
Goals markets: both teams to score and over or under
Both teams to score (BTTS) and over or under goals ignore who wins and focus on goals. The usual line is 2.5, so over means three or more and under means two or fewer. Some bookmakers also offer whole-number lines such as 2 goals, where exactly two goals returns your stake. Always check which line your bet is on, because 2.0, 2.25 and 2.5 are different bets with different prices.
Goals markets depend on context: both sides’ attacking and defensive records, weather, the stage of the season and whether a result matters. A cup tie between two cautious sides can have fewer goals than the averages suggest. Our Premier League predictions and odds page shows how we use form and head-to-head records when we preview a match.
Handicaps and Asian handicaps
A handicap gives one team a virtual head start. With a -1 handicap, a team must win by two or more goals for the bet to win. On a whole-goal Asian handicap, winning by exactly one goal returns your stake. Half lines such as -0.5 remove the push: the team must simply win. Quarter lines such as -0.25 split your stake across two lines, so a draw loses half the stake rather than all of it. They look complicated, but the rule of thumb is simple: the bookmaker is trying to make each side an even chance, and the line tells you how big a favourite they think a team is.
| Line on your team | Team wins by 2+ | Team wins by 1 | Draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| -1 (whole goal) | Bet wins | Stake returned | Bet loses |
| -0.5 (half goal) | Bet wins | Bet wins | Bet loses |
| -0.25 (quarter) | Bet wins | Bet wins | Half stake lost |
| +0.5 (half goal) | Bet wins | Bet wins | Bet wins |
Correct score and goalscorer markets
Correct score and goalscorer bets pay big because they are hard to land. A 1-0 or 2-1 scoreline may be priced well above 6/1, and a striker to score first in a match is often far longer than evens, even if he is the favourite. These markets are fun, but the margin is often bigger than on the match result, so keep stakes small.
Read the rules on goalscorers: own goals do not usually count, and if your player does not play, most bookmakers return the stake. Rules differ on whether a player who comes on as a substitute counts, so check before you bet.
Reading the odds
Every price includes the bookmaker’s margin. Take a match priced at 1.80 for a home win, 3.60 for a draw and 4.50 for an away win. The implied chances are 55.6%, 27.8% and 22.2%, which add up to 105.6%. The extra 5.6% is the margin. A lower margin means a better price for you, and it is one reason to compare bookmakers on the same match.
If the odds formats are new to you, read how betting odds work. The odds converter switches between fractional, decimal and American odds and has a margin tab that does the sum for you.
Bet builders and accumulators
Combining selections raises the odds but also the risk, because every part must win. Four selections at 1.80 make an accumulator at 10.50, so €10 returns €104.98. Each leg has a 55.6% implied chance, but all four winning is about 9.5%. The return looks big because the chance is small.
Bet builders combine outcomes from one match, such as a team to win and over 2.5 goals. Those outcomes tend to happen together, so the bookmaker usually prices the bet shorter than if you multiplied the two prices. At 1.80 and 1.70, multiplying gives 3.06, but a builder might offer 2.70. Our bet types guide explains singles, doubles, accumulators and system bets, and the bet calculator shows what any combination returns.
In-play betting and cash out
In-play betting lets you bet while the match is on. Prices move with every goal, card and chance, and markets are suspended when something big happens, so the price you click may not be the price you get. Some bookmakers delay bets by a few seconds for that reason. Live streaming and statistics make in-play feel easy, but it is also the fastest way to chase losses, so set a limit before kick-off.
Cash out lets you settle a bet before the end for a smaller, guaranteed amount. The offer is calculated from the current odds and includes a margin, so it is usually worth less than the fair value of the bet. It is not available on every bet, and it can be withdrawn when the market is suspended. Treat it as a convenience, not as a way to get an edge.
Irish football: League of Ireland, Ireland and the Premier League
Irish punters bet across a wide range of competitions. The Premier League and Championship dominate the volume, but the League of Ireland Premier Division runs from spring to autumn, and FAI Cup ties and Ireland internationals attract their own following. Markets can be thinner on lower-profile fixtures, so limits and the choice of bets may be smaller.
We publish previews built from fixtures, form and head-to-head, then a match report after full time, and we log every prediction, win or lose, in our AI predictions track record. Fixtures and results as they happen are on live scores and AI predictions.
Latest previews and reports
- Coventry vs Newcastle prediction and preview
- Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest prediction
- Hull City vs Everton prediction and preview
- Sunderland vs Brighton prediction and preview
- Manchester United vs Tottenham match report
- Sunderland vs Brighton match report
- Arsenal vs Leeds match report
- Chelsea vs Bournemouth match report
- Shamrock Rovers vs Bohemians prediction and preview
- Shelbourne vs Sligo Rovers prediction and preview
- Shelbourne vs Sligo Rovers match report
- Dundalk vs Bohemians match report
- Ireland vs Israel match report
- Liverpool vs Manchester City preview
- Arsenal vs Lille Prediction and Preview
- Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United Prediction
- Galatasaray vs Barcelona Prediction
- Liverpool vs Manchester City Match Report: 0-3
- Aston Villa vs Brentford Match Report: 2-2
- Hull City vs Everton Match Report: 2-2
- Manchester City vs Paris Saint Germain Prediction
- Lask Linz vs Liverpool Prediction and Preview
- Aston Villa vs Fenerbahce Prediction and Preview
- Roma vs Real Madrid Prediction and Preview
- Shamrock Rovers vs Bohemians Match Report: 2-1
- Everton vs Chelsea Prediction and Preview
- Brentford vs Liverpool Prediction and Preview
- Leeds vs Manchester United Prediction and Preview
- Nottingham Forest vs Arsenal Prediction and Preview
- Bohemians vs Waterford Match Report: 2-1
- Drogheda United vs Derry City Match Report: 2-0
- Galway United vs Shamrock Rovers Match Report: 2-0
- St Patrick’s Athletic vs Shelbourne Match Report: 1-2
What to check before you bet
- ✓Team news: injuries, suspensions and likely line-ups can move prices. Check them close to kick-off.
- ✓Form and fixtures: recent results, home and away record, and midweek or European games that may affect rotation.
- ✓Motivation: teams with nothing to play for late in a season can behave differently.
- ✓Settlement rules: check how a bookmaker settles your bet if a match is abandoned, postponed or goes to extra time.
- ✓Price shopping: the same bet can be a different price at different bookmakers. Compare on our betting sites in Ireland page.
- ✓The licence: see how to check a bookmaker is licensed before you deposit.
Where to bet and offers
Choose a bookmaker for its licence first, then for the markets you bet on, then for price, payment methods and app. The betting apps guide compares them on mobile, and free bets in Ireland explains how welcome offers really work, including the stake rules and minimum odds that apply. Offers change, so read the operator’s own terms. See our affiliate disclosure for how this site is funded.
Keep it in perspective
Most punters lose money over time. Only bet what you can afford to lose, set a deposit limit before you start, and take a break if it stops being fun. Our responsible gambling page explains the tools available and where to get free help, on 1800 936 725 or at gamblingcare.ie.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What does 1X2 betting mean?
1X2 is match-result betting: 1 for a home win, X for a draw, 2 for an away win, settled on the result after 90 minutes plus stoppage time. Extra time and penalties do not count.
What is BTTS in football betting?
BTTS stands for both teams to score. It is a yes or no bet on whether both sides score at any point in the match, regardless of the final result.
How does Asian handicap work in football betting?
An Asian handicap gives one team a virtual head start or deficit before the result is settled. Whole lines can return your stake if the margin matches the line, and quarter lines split your stake across two outcomes.
What is a bet builder in football betting?
A bet builder lets you combine several outcomes from the same match, such as a team to win and over 2.5 goals, into a single bet. Every part has to land, and the combined price usually carries a bigger margin than separate bets.
What is draw no bet?
Draw no bet removes the draw. If your team wins you are paid, if the match is drawn your stake is returned and if your team loses you lose the stake. The price is shorter than a straight win bet.
Does extra time count in football betting?
Usually not. Match result markets settle on 90 minutes plus stoppage time. To bet on the team to qualify or lift the trophy, look for a ‘to qualify’ or outright market, and check the settlement rules.
What should I check before betting on a football match?
Team news and injuries, recent form including home and away record, fixture congestion, how the bookmaker settles your bet if the match is postponed or abandoned, and whether a better price is available elsewhere.
Is cash out a good idea?
Cash out gives certainty but the offer includes the bookmaker’s margin, so it is usually worth less than the fair value of the bet. It is a convenience, not a way to get an edge.
Sources and further reading
- GambleCare – free support for anyone affected by gambling
18+. Please play responsibly, gamblingcare.ie. This guide is independent editorial opinion; it is not a guarantee, endorsement or financial advice, and PunterIreland may earn a commission if you join an operator through our links.
Last updated 11 October 2026. Written and checked by the Punter Ireland editorial team. Offers, odds and rules change, so always check the operator’s own terms and the official sources above.
