{"id":1719,"date":"2020-05-22T16:52:03","date_gmt":"2020-05-22T16:52:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ukgamblingsites.com\/?page_id=1719"},"modified":"2023-01-13T10:22:07","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T10:22:07","slug":"league-betting","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ukgamblingsites.com\/sports-betting\/football\/league-betting\/","title":{"rendered":"League Betting in Football: Outright Winner, Promotion & Relegation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"League<\/p>\n

Football betting is not all about the crash, bang and wallop of the in-play action and instant gratification from bets that payout straight away. Some punters prefer to make the most of the long term opportunity presented by the ante post markets. The various league betting markets are amongst the most popular of these and offer another great option when it comes to betting on football.<\/p>\n

The bookies are always working to increase their market offering in this potentially lucrative area of football gambling. To help you keep a handle on what to look out for, we\u2019ve set out the details of the most popular markets along with some more niche options worth considering in our league betting guide below.<\/p>\n

Outright League Winner Market<\/h2>\n

\"Trophy\"<\/p>\n

Whatever the league, the Outright League Winner Market is the simplest and usually the most popular betting option available. Punters place bets on the team they believe is going to win the league and are paid out when the title is decided. Except, it\u2019s not quite as simple as that.<\/p>\n

To make the most of the swings in momentum throughout the season and the variation in prices available on the leading contenders, savvy punters will often dip in and out of the market. Perhaps the most popular time for league winner bets to be placed is before the season begins. Not only does the summer bring with it a lot of excitement for the campaign ahead, including the potentially pivotal transfer window, but it provides some great opportunities for punters with generous prices on offer.<\/p>\n

The early stages of the season can bring some volatility to the outright betting markets. The biggest swings in the prices are often saved for the final couple of months though, providing there is a genuine title race between two or more teams.<\/p>\n

The other complication for Outright League Winner betting is the availability of each way betting. The bookmakers will often differ from one another both in terms of the number of places they pay out on and the fraction of the odds they pay out on places so it is well worth shopping around.<\/p>\n

Each way bets on who will win the league are usually only offered during the early part of the campaign. Pre-season and until the picture really starts to take shape, an each way bet will usually pay out on a top two finish. However, whilst most bookies stick to that parameter, there is less consistency when it comes to the fraction of the odds you will receive. Lots of top sites will pay out at 1\/3 of the odds but equally many others will pay out at 1\/4, which is quite a big difference.<\/p>\n

To Finish In \u2026 Markets<\/h2>\n

\"Real<\/p>\n

Many of European football\u2019s biggest leagues have only a small number of teams with a genuine chance of being crowned champions. That often makes the Winner Market a less than appealing proposition. In this scenario one of the best options is heading to the various To Finish In \u2026 markets.<\/p>\n

The best bookies will have a selection of these markets subject to the individual league. Generally speaking, you\u2019ll find the markets laid out as the To Finish In the Top Four, Top Six, Top Half and Bottom Half. That said, with the best bookies around competing ever harder against each other, you now find an even wider range of options on the biggest leagues, meaning you can back just about any outcome for a side if you shop around.<\/p>\n

The increase in the number of teams competing for a place in the top four, top six, and so on is very welcome in leagues which are otherwise fairly noncompetitive. Additionally, there are always teams who surprise whether by over or under performing so there\u2019s always plenty of betting value.<\/p>\n

If you have been particularly impressed with a side\u2019s summer transfer activity then picking an outsider or a newly promoted side for a top half finish can be a great bet. On the flip side of that, backing a team who are usually top eight material for a bottom half campaign can offer real value if you get in quickly, for example after the loss of a key player or even the manager.<\/p>\n

Relegation Betting Market<\/h2>\n

\"Unhappy<\/p>\n

The Relegation Betting Market is another hugely appealing option for many punters. There are always a large number of teams who could quite easily find themselves dragged into a relegation battle at the start of the season, so punters have a lot of choice and often some very good value to pick from.<\/p>\n

Whilst teams will often find themselves cut adrift at the bottom of the table, it\u2019s rare for all three of the shortest priced teams in the Relegation Market to be relegated. Relegation battles also often go right down to the last few weeks of the campaign where the odds can move significantly in either direction. These bets, therefore, regularly offer season-long entertainment for a small stake. Equally, more experienced punters can trade the markets as things hot up and the odds fluctuate in the final month or so of the season.<\/p>\n

Like the League Winner Market, the transfer window can have a big impact on a team\u2019s chances of avoiding the drop so this is a good time to enter the market. The other time it could pay to take a position is when a team changes their manager which is often the case with those fighting the drop.<\/p>\n

As with just about all the markets we\u2019re looking at here, during the closing part of the season the fixture list can also be crucial. When it comes to backing a side for the drop, knowing who they still have to play is vital. If a team has 35 points and looks all-but safe there could be real value to be had backing them to go down if their last five games are all really tough ones and it is perfectly conceivable they won\u2019t collect any more points.<\/p>\n

Note that within this realm of betting there are lots of alternative markets worth considering. Related betting options include the following:<\/p>\n