Soccer betting in North America doesn’t come any bigger than when taking a look at the MLS season. It is the top competitive action from the USA and Canada. The excitement extends from the pre-season friendly fixtures, through the regular season and then the MLS Cup play-offs before it all boils down to the big MLS Cup finale.
Whether it is taking a pre-match wager on Toronto FC to win their latest home game, or looking longer term at the Columbus Crew winning the MLS Cup, punters have plenty of variety in a sportsbook for soccer betting.
The competition has come a long way since the inaugural season back in 1996 when ten teams participated. Spanning the length and breadth of North America, it now brings club level soccer action like no other.
As one of North America’s major sports, MLS betting offers punters plenty of soccer betting opportunities. The different types of wagers that can be taken up for soccer betting are wide-ranging.
Picking out futures for MLS betting, like trying to predict the MLS Cup winner before the season has even started, is one of the most popular soccer markets in North America. Punters try to make the ultimate season-long call on the outright winner before having had a chance to look at any form for the current season.
Other long term picks that are popular for Canada soccer betting are the winners of the Divisions and Conferences in the MLS. Picking out futures soccer bets is some of the most exciting challenges that punters can dip into for the MLS.
Thanks to technology opening new doors of betting opportunities for soccer odds, in-play MLS betting has become hugely popular. A good reputable, trusted bookmaker will have live options on matches that are currently in action, on their website.
The dynamic form of soccer betting has a lot of appeal because it allows punters the chance to form some strategy. Like trying to offset losses by backing the underdog who has just gone 1-0 up after 20 minutes, after having a bet on the favorite in the pre-match Moneyline.
It could be through placing another bet, this time live betting - in-play on the favorite to fight their way back to a victory, doing so at in-play odds better than they had been at in the pre-match Moneyline. It could be correct score calls, the next team to score or rapid action picks like whether or not a yellow card will be shown in the next five minutes.
There are many ways that punters can take a bet on MLS soccer. Some of the most popular markets for soccer odds include the straight Moneyline selection of who will win a match, Over/Under Totals for how many goals may or may not be scored in a match and Anytime Goalscorer picks. Understanding the market that you are betting on, will help pull an MLS soccer betting strategy together, so always take the time to study stats, which are commonly integrated into a sportsbook.
One other massively popular way to bet on the MLS is building parlays. By pulling together at least three selections, for example all match-winning MLS Moneyline picks into one bet, then a parlay can be created.
This is where all of the odds from the different selections are linked together to form cumulative odds. The winnings from the first selection will go forward as the stake on the next selection and so on, rapidly raising the potential return.
For newcomers, the best way forward for soccer betting is to keep things simple. To that end, making a selection on the Moneyline of a match-winner is a great entry point. Bet on markets that you understand.
Soccer is a global game and along with MLS betting, there are extensive soccer betting markets like the English Premier League, Italy's Serie A, the UEFA Champions League and of course the pinnacle of the game, the FIFA World Cup.
In-play betting is a hugely popular form of placing wagers on soccer, just because it is so dynamic and engaging. Being able to make predictions while the game is happening, such as the Half Time Score, or the Next Team To Score adds new angles to wagering.
The key element for the best soccer betting bookmaker is finding a trusted and regulated operator. Not only to get strong MLS odds and market variety, but also peace of mind in placing wagers at a renowned bookmaker.