Football Betting in India

Indians love cricket. Nonetheless, there's another sporting variation with a gigantic fanbase all over the country — football. Due to the popularity of this sport, it's no surprise that multiple football betting sites are opening their doors in this jurisdiction, giving players access to multiple betting markets to bolster their winning chances.

On the surface, football betting might seem all shades of easy. After all, your chances of winning increases once you place wagers on the stronger side. Nonetheless, there's more than meets the eye with this wagering format as players seeking decent to seismic winning combinations resort to football betting markets like handicaps and other special bets. 

But not to worry, we've got you COVERED! 

This in-depth guide examines all you need to know about football betting in India. For context, we'll run you through how to use football betting sites, prerequisites vital in choosing a related platform, betting markets bound to edge you closer to winning margins you crave, and so on.

Rest assured, getting to the summit of this article should see your football betting endeavor takeoff with aplomb.

Enough talk. Let's hit the ground RUNNING!

How to Use Football Betting Sites

While football betting might seem great, hitting the ground running might seem somewhat challenging for newbies. But don't fret. 

Here's a rundown of how to use football betting sites in five simple steps:

Step 1: Pick a Football Betting Site That Tickles Your Fancy

Although we'll grant context into this segment in-depth as the article progresses, the first step you'd need to take as a newbie football betting punter is finding a site that suits your preferences to the "T." With thousands of Indian bookmakers all claiming to getting you started on a high, making an informed decision might seem impossible.

Nonetheless, by integrating metrics like security, betting market availability, bonuses, and odds, you should be able to narrow down the list and pick a football betting site that'll prove beneficial in the long run. 

Step 2: Create a New Account

Once you've made a pick from the sea of football betting sites available, visit the platform and create an account. Going through this process doesn't present hassles. To get started, head to your preferred site's URL and click on "Sign Up" or “Register.”

To register at a football betting site, you'd need to insert data bits across these categories:

• Personal information
• Contact details
• Address and postcode

Most Indian football betting sites require an extra bit of KYC verification before granting you 100% access to their offerings. For context, you'd need to submit documents validating your identity. After you've submitted them, your preferred football betting site will commence verification. If your information is correct, you'll get unfettered access to the platform within 24 to 72 hours.

Step 3: Make a Deposit

Your adventure as a punter is to sift out incentivizing football betting markets garner "real money" wins. To facilitate this endeavor on your chosen platform, depositing is a must to curate those betting tickets likely to propel you towards wins. 

Most Indian football betting sites have numerous payment alternatives to suit players' needs. For context, you should find the following mediums at the platform you've chosen:

• UPI
• PhonePe
• Neteller
• Skrill
• Google Pay
• PayTM
• AstroPay
• MasterCard
• Visa
• Eazypay
• Netbanking
• Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ripple, Doge, Tether, and Ethereum)

NOTE: If you crave anonymous and swift transactions at an Indian football betting site, we recommend the cryptocurrency path as they guarantee stealth, all thanks to blockchain technology. 

Step 4: Select a Welcome Bonus

You needn't register on a football betting platform on Christmas day to receive a Welcome Bonus. As a newbie, you've got access to one anytime you register on these sites. On most sites, you'd most likely find a 100% match bonus.

What does this bonus mean?

For every amount you deposit, you'd receive 100% extra to wager. So, if you deposited ₹1,000 via MasterCard, your chosen football betting site will inundate you with an extra ₹1,000 — making your total balance ₹2,000. 

While bonuses might set the tone for your wagering adventure, remember that all that glitters isn't gold. Thus, it'd be best to consider the offer's wagering requirements before opting in. This caveat showcases how many times you're required to go through the bonus to withdraw your winnings. For example, a ₹1,000 football betting Welcome Bonus with a 25x wagering requirement means you'd have to wager ₹25,000 to unlock wins associated with the promotion. 

Generally, we recommend football betting bonuses with playthroughs hovering around 25x to 30x. Another thing to consider is the timeline you have to fulfill these requirements. If these areas suit your interests, go ahead and OPT-IN!

Step 5: Place Bets on Footballing Events

After you've chosen a bonus, it's time to put your funds into great use by wagering on football events. Go through this process to successfully curate a ticket based on available picks:

• Head to the site's "Football" area to access related events. 
• Choose a match and sieve through the available betting markets alongside their odds.
• Click on odds that tickle your fancy. Once you tap any, they're automatically added to your bet slip.
• When you're satisfied with the number of picks you've made, open your ticket and insert a wagering amount.
• Click "Bet" to complete the process. If all your picks are successful, you'll win the wager and should be able to withdraw and receive funds from the football betting platform within 24 to 36 hours (depending on your payment medium).

How to Choose Football Betting Sites

The Indian virtual gambling space is saturated. Thus, it isn't uncommon to find multiple football betting sites opening their doors to players every fortnight. However, the "many are called but few are chosen" phrase comes to the fore as most of these platforms are just fronts for sinister activities. 

So, can you avoid these shady football betting platforms? 

While it might seem unattainable at first glance, considering these factors during your search should help you sieve out the perfect site for your football betting needs:

1 Indian-Themed Payment Alternatives

To facilitate bets on your favourite football events, seamless site-related transactions are non-negotiable. The football betting site you set sail with must have alternatives in place to foster quick and secure deposits and withdrawals. 

However, there's a nagging issue. While some sites feature excellent mediums for these payments, they don't support the Indian Rupee (₹). Although these football betting portals accept USD and EUR, conversion rates might seem a tad daunting for newbie gamblers to understand. 

Thus, pick a football betting site with Indian-themed payment alternatives like UPI and PhonePe. That way, you'll be able to transact without requiring calculators to ascertain conversion charges. 

2 Great Odds

Odds are everything in football betting events. The odd value attached to the match-ups featured on your bet slip determine your winning margins. Regardless of the competition or tournament, your choice betting site should feature great odds. 

To do this, we recommend drawing up a list of top Indian football betting platforms and comparing their odds on varying events. If you find one with values higher than the rest, you know where to pitch your TENT!

3 Variety of Betting Markets

Football betting isn't just about weighing the inner workings of competing teams and placing "outright winner" bets on the stronger side. Although this route might work the trick on several occasions, there are tons of football betting markets that'll boost your gambling bankroll. Most times, these options aren't dependent on the match's result but specific metrics during gameplay. 

For context, the markets available at your preferred football betting site should include:

• Both Teams to Score (BTTS)
• Double Chance
• Correct Score
• Draw No Bet (DNB)
• Over & Under Bets
• Goal Scorer
• Number of Bookings or Dismissals

P.S: The aforementioned markets rank amongst the most popular amongst Indian football betting platforms. Your site you choose must feature these options and more, granting you access to decent or astronomical winning combos. 

4 Safety and Security

The buzz around new football betting platforms is deafening. However, you've probably encountered reports of some sites shutting down and making away with customers' hard-earned funds a few months after launching. Most times, these funds are irreversible to players as the site didn't have a regulatory body to be accountable to, hence their sinister acts.

This scenario should serve as an eye-opener to those venturing into sports betting, especially football betting. Thus, before choosing a football betting platform for your wagering aspirations, ensure it's licensed by one of these revered regulatory organizations:

• United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC)
• Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
• Curaçao eGaming 
• Government of Gibraltar

Sites licensed by the aforementioned bodies are subject to stringent and regular checks to ensure they deliver the goods in terms of safety and fairness. Once a betting site reneges from their guidelines, it's placed on a "blacklist." That way, existing players can safely remove their funds while newbies can avoid these football betting platforms entirely.

5 Responsible Gambling Tools

According to a recent report, the number of Indians seeking help for issues related to problem gambling has increased by 15 to 20%. This report gives illustrations of how certain individuals incurred debts due to their gambling addiction and the lengths people go to keep the "wagering wick" lit. 

To avoid entering the web of problem gambling on a football betting platform, it'll be best to go with sites that integrate responsible gambling tools like:

• Deposit Limits: This tool allows you to set restrictions on how much you can deposit into your betting account. You can place daily, weekly, and monthly limits depending on your preferences.
• Time Limits: This responsible gambling add-on gives you the luxury of placing a timer on your gambling activities. For example, if you set a 20-minute timer, you'll be restricted from wagering acts once this period elapses.
• Loss Limits: Similar to the deposit limits tool, loss limits place a restriction on your account once you've lost a specific amount of money. Once your account reaches this mark, the football betting site automatically logs you out of your account for that day or week (depending on the restrictions you set).
• Time Outs: Your gambling adventure won't be rosy all through. When the going gets tough, you can take a step back for a month or two. This period is usually for reflection, especially if you've lost a hefty sum. 
• Self Exclusion: The difference between time outs and self exclusion is that the latter is for an extended period. Self exclusion periods usually range from 6 months to 5 years. You could even opt for a lifetime ban if you'd like to steer clear from gambling a 100%. 

NOTE: While using responsible gambling add-ons is great to avoid entering the stables of "problem gambling," it's vital to seek context before setting a variant. For instance, going through with a self exclusion can see you excluded from football betting activities for a distinct period; even if you rescind on your decision, you need to wait till the set timeline elapses.  

6 Customer Support

At one point or the other, you're bound to encounter some hitches as you navigate an Indian football betting site. At this juncture, you'd require assistance. 

A top-notch wagering platform should have 24/7 support channels like live chat, email, and a phone number to contact service representatives vital in resolving issues. Your preferred football betting site should also field a comprehensive FAQs segment that grants context into the site's major aspects, including registration, bonuses, and payments.

Still on customer support, it'll be best to ascertain the knowledge of service representatives. Regardless of your query, these individuals should offer in-depth context on them and not deflect to other inconsequential issues. If your choice football betting platform doesn't employ helpful representatives, you'll find yourself in a sting of frustrating "back and forths."

7 Promotional Offers

As we've established, the Indian iGaming market is saturated. To rank above the competition, gambling platforms are curating mind-blowing bonuses to attract new players. 

The best football betting platforms in India theme their offers around ongoing tournaments. For example, with the 2022 World Cup coming up, some platforms are offering incentives such as Free Bets, cashbacks, and reloads. 

Although these football betting bonuses might seem too alluring, not all that glitters is gold. To ascertain their purity, it'll be best to check their wagering requirements and expiry timelines. Sometimes, you might see a bonus field a 70x playthrough to be fulfilled within 7 days — a feat that's almost impossible to attain. 

Choose sites that integrate reasonable bonuses. If you'd like to be a part of a football betting site's time-limited incentives, subscribe to their newsletter to rank amongst the first recipients.

8 Mobile App Availability

When iGaming became a thing in the latter parts of the 20th century and the start of the 21st century, most people relied on their bulky desktops to facilitate wagers. However, most individuals didn't have access to these devices, limiting their wagering aspirations.

Fast forward a decade later and smartphones are available to simplify the process. Although most football betting sites integrate HTML5 and CSS coding to make their platforms accessible on mobile devices, some have gone the extra mile to create proprietary Android and iOS apps for their clientele.

The availability of football betting apps is great as it gives users the chance of getting a personalized adventure. For context, these apps issue notifications on upcoming football events and associated odds. Additionally, you can place fingerprint or password locks on these apps, hindering unauthorized parties from getting a whiff of your wagering activities. Quite NIFTY!

DID YOU KNOW: The global online gambling sector's value increased from $73.42 billion (2021) to $81.08 billion in 2022. Thus, it's no surprise that most Indian football betting sites are leaning towards mobile solutions to retain patrons. As it stands, this marketing technique is WORKING!

Football Betting Markets: A Peek at Notable Alternatives

Before we examine the notable betting options available at Indian football betting platforms, it's important to understand what the term "betting markets" entail.

These markets simply refer to the outcomes obtainable from a particular match-up. Online bookies use these options to guide you towards making informed and rewarding bets. 

There's a wide misconception that employing all (or almost) betting alternatives at your favourite bookie is what's needed to score wins. This assertion is incorrect. Rather, going with the options that you understand is bound to edge you closer to the winning combos you seek. 

Out of the many sporting variations available at Indian betting sites, football ranks as the category with the most betting markets. Here are some notable options to note:

Outrights

Outrights is a common football betting market. Going with this alternative means you're backing a particular team to win a tournament, event, or championship. For example, you can back current EPL league leaders, Arsenal, to win the English Premier League. Another example is placing bets on France to win the 2022 World Cup hosted by Qatar.

To score a win, the team you wagered on must trump the rest at the event's or tournament's closing.

Over and Under

The over and under football betting market involves giving an accurate estimate that'll be scored during a match. One thing most Indian punters love about this betting option is that specificity isn't a must. For example, if your wager indicates that there'll be "over 2.5" goals in the Arsenal Vs. Chelsea match-up, the total goal tally reaching 3 or more goals means you've won the bet. 

Conversely, if you place an "under 2.5" bet, both teams not scoring up to three goals cumulatively indicates a wager win. 

At most Indian football betting sites, you'd find over & under variations like 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, and 8.5.

Both Teams to Score

This football betting market might look easy on the eye. However, it isn't and requires in-depth research into the past results of both teams in a match-up. The BTTS bet indicates that both teams will score in a footballing event. If the event ends and both teams score (i.e., Manchester United 2:1 West Ham), you win the bet.

Asian Handicap

The Asian handicap football betting market refers to a bet that grants a predetermined advantage to one team before the match commences. This market fetches high odds, especially if it's placed on the underdog. 

For instance, let's say Arsenal and Bournemouth are slugging it out in the Carabao Cup. If you give Bournemouth (the weaker side based on statistics) a 2-goal headstart before the game starts and the match ends 2:1 in the favor of Arsenal, Bournemouth wins with the Asian handicap (3:2) in play — granting you access to the deserved returns associated with that game.

Note that if your Asian Handicap results in a draw, your initial bet will be refunded by the bookie you wagered at. 

Double Chance

The double chance football betting market, as the name suggests, grants you a win if two outcomes — home/away team to win or draw — materializes. 

Suppose France Vs. The Netherlands are fighting for a place in the Qatar 2022 World Cup final. If you place a 1x bet, it means you've picked France to either win or draw. If they achieve either of these outcomes, you win that event. 

NOTE: x2 means you're placing wagers on the away team (using our example, the away side is The Netherlands). 

Draw No Bet

The draw no bet (DNB) football betting market doesn't cater to draws. This market means you're either banking on the home or away side to win the match. 

However, if the match ends in a stalemate, you'll receive your initial wager. You'll lose the bet if the team you placed a "draw no bet" on loses the matches. 

ACCA Betting

Also known as accumulator betting, placing an ACCA means indoctrinating numerous selections into one bet. To win, all your selections must be accurate. If you lose one, you lose ALL!

Score in Both Halves

The "scoring in both halves" football betting market means betting on a team to score in the first and second half. If they do, you'll win the bet. However, if they don't, you'll lose regardless of whether they win the match or not.

Football Live Streaming

Live streaming can be defined as an add-on a football betting platform provides to grant players access to events as they happen. Live streaming has become a vital prerequisite for players who seek decent to seismic wins via in-play events. 

Why?

They can see what's happening in a match and make informed live bets that'll most likely earn them a win. For context, let's say AC Milan Vs. Inter Milan are competing for a spot in the quarter finals of the Champions League.

If you resort to football live streaming and you notice that a player from Inter Milan has been sent off, you can quickly make a bet promoting AC Milan as the match winner. This bet is bound to pay off as AC Milan has a numerical advantage over their opponent.

On most Indian football betting sites, you'll encounter live stream action on the following tournaments: 

• English Premier League
• Spanish La Liga
• Italian Serie A
• Major League Soccer (MLS)
• UEFA Champions League
• UEFA Europa League

Football Betting Apps: Leading the Modern Gambling Charge

Gone are the days where Indian players had to stand for long hours at land-based bookies to place bets. Times have changed and due to the advent of smartphones, iGaming platforms are stepping up the anté with proprietary football betting applications for Android and iOS devices.

Here are some notable benefits of mobile football betting applications:

• Seamless deposits and withdrawals
• Fingerprint and password lock add-on
• Notifications on events alongside odds attached to their major football betting markets
• Monitoring bets
• Access to special in-app bonuses 

Final Words About Football Betting

Although cricket might seem like a staple sport in India, football takes the reins in the gambling scene. With incentivizing betting markets available, Indian punters can facilitate decent to astronomical winnings.

Since numerous Indian football betting sites exist, use the markers featured in this article to sieve out an alternative that tickles your fancy. While the wins attached to your football betting stints might seem alluring, remember to gamble RESPONSIBLY!