Football betting: every common market and how it settles
Football is the deepest market at almost every bookmaker, and Rabona — reviewed independently here at casinorabona.biz — is no exception in giving it centre stage. Which leagues and competitions you can bet on depends on the operator and your location; this page explains the markets themselves, from the basic 1X2 to quarter-goal Asian lines, with a settlement example for each.
Match result markets
| Market | You win if… | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| 1X2 | Your chosen result happens after 90 minutes | Extra time doesn't count |
| Double chance | Either of two results happens (1X, X2, 12) | Short prices make the margin bite |
| Draw no bet | Your team wins; a draw refunds | Same as Asian handicap 0 |
| Half-time / full-time | Both the HT and FT results are right | Nine outcomes, higher margin |
Asian handicaps step by step
Asian handicaps remove the draw by giving one side a goal head start. Whole lines (0, -1) can push; half lines (-0.5, -1.5) can't; quarter lines (-0.25, -0.75) split your stake across the two neighbouring lines. Example with a 20-unit stake on the home side at 1.95:
- -1: win by 2+ returns 39; win by exactly 1 returns your 20; draw or loss loses 20.
- -0.75: win by 2+ returns 39; win by 1 returns 29.5 (19.5 from the -0.5 half plus the 10 pushed on the -1 half); draw or loss loses 20.
- +0.25: win returns 39; draw returns 29.5 (19.5 from the +0.5 half plus 10 pushed on the 0 half); loss loses 20.
Goals markets
Over/under 2.5 goals is the most traded totals line. Asian totals add whole and quarter lines that work like handicaps: over 2.25 with exactly two goals loses half the stake and refunds the other half. Both teams to score (BTTS) is a simple yes/no on whether each side finds the net. Correct score and first goalscorer pay more but carry heavier margins and specific rules — for example, many books void a goalscorer bet if the player never comes on.
Corners, cards and other specials
Corners and bookings markets are popular for in-play betting, but the data behind them is thinner and the margin usually higher. Read the rules on how cards are counted (a yellow followed by a red may count as one or two cards, depending on the book) and whether corners awarded but not taken count.
Continental competitions and two-legged ties
Club competitions with home-and-away knockout rounds — the Copa Libertadores or the Champions League, for example — change the logic of a single match. A team leading 2-0 from the first leg may sit deep in the second, which pushes totals down. Always distinguish the match market (90 minutes of this game) from the tie market ("to qualify"), which includes extra time and penalties.
A simple discipline that helps
Log every football bet with the market, the price taken and the closing price just before kick-off. If you consistently get better prices than the market closes at, your reading of team news is adding value. If not, the margin is winning, and smaller stakes or fewer bets make sense.