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How to Bet on American Football : Betting Guide 2024

American football is a hugely popular sport that has captured fans from all around the world. The NFL* stands out as the most popular and commonly recognised tournament. This can be bet on by Irish users of popular betting sites, including Ladbrokes and Boylesports that are both very successful and fully licenced to operate in the Republic of Ireland. American football provides great betting opportunities, as well as amazing entertainment for its enthusiastic fans.

 

Best American Football Bookmakers for 2024:

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As you'd expect, you're going to get some very competitive odds here. The best ones are on the most popular sports, such as football and horse racing. Even on the more niche sports you're going to get some good odds though, so you'll see that you're in the right place when you want the best prices.

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Terms & conditions apply >
New Customers only. Bet €10* & Get €30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between €5* and €10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply.
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In this article, we will provide our guide to betting on American football, covering everything from betting markets to our top strategies.

How American Football Works – The Rules:

Players can score a range of points by getting the ball across the goal line and into the end zone. The ball can be thrown in, kicked in, or ran through the posts.

  • When the ball crosses the goal line, the team will earn 6 points.
  • Following a touchdown, players can kick an extra point or go for a two-point conversion. (When they score another touchdown but this time from the 3-yard line.)
  • Kicking a field goal is worth 3 points.
  • Tackling an opposing player in the end zone is worth 2 points.

Like most other sports, the team with the most points wins!

Betting Markets Available for American Football Games:

American Football has increased in popularity amongst Ireland during recent years to reflect this, betting sites offer their users a huge range of betting markets. This allows Irish punters to have similar opportunities to American bettors when wagering on American football. In the table below, we will explain the most common betting options offered by almost every betting site available to Irish users.

MoneylineThis bet is very straightforward. You must choose the overall winner of the game. This market is also the most popular.
Total PointsFor this bet, you must decide if the game will go over or under a certain number of points. Therefore, this bet requires a deeper understanding of the game, offering higher rewards.
Handicap (Spread)This is when one side is given a point advantage, so that both teams are closer to even money. This market offers the highest rewards if your bet is successful.
PropsThis is where you bet on a player or game propositions separate from the final score and outright winner.
FuturesFor this bet, you can wager on events in the future. This is extremely common for betting on the Super Bowl as the best odds are offered extremely early in advance.
ParlaysThis is where you combine multiple bets into one wager. Whilst this is obviously higher risk, it is reflected by its much higher rewards!

Strategies for Betting on American Football Games:

Developing a great strategy is crucial to any sports bet. It helps you to make the most out of your wagers by winning higher profits. In this table, we will be exploring some great strategies:

Understand the Betting Types/MarketsFor any sports bet, it is integral that you understand the markets offered by any betting site. There are a vast variety available today, so we suggest specialising in a few. This also helps you narrow your research – meaning that it also takes less time!
Bet with ResearchResearch is crucial. Many punters will just bet on their favourite players or team, no matter who they think will win. This can include home advantage, players’ recent performances, injury reports and so much more. Make sure that your research is relevant to your chosen betting market.
Shop Around for the Best OddsBetting sites vary in their odds offered. This creates competition and excitement. It’s important that you find the best odds to win maximum rewards from your wagers!
Bet on Underdogs at HomeBetting on the underdog can be an amazing strategy in terms of profits on any betting site. They offer great odds as these teams/players are not often bet on due to the high risk. However, it’s no secret that home advantage exists – and influences almost every American football game. Whether it’s due to familiarity or the huge cheering crowds, players usually perform best on their home grounds.

Betting Sites that Offer American Football Betting:

  • Unibet – Offers great odds to Irish users as well as live streamed American Football games.
  • Ladbrokes – One of the biggest betting sites in Ireland, offers competitive pricing and great welcome bonuses to new users.
  • Bet365 – Bet365 is one of the most popular betting sites in the world, due to its great odds and range of betting markets.
  • BetVictor – Offers some of the best odds on American football available to Irish punters and high-quality live-streaming.

Understanding the Odds Available on Each Betting Site:

Being an American sport, the odds are usually expressed using the American format, even on UK betting sites. This is where odds are expressed relative to a $100 wager. They are either positive or negative depending on the size of your potential winnings. As you’d probably assume, it’s best to avoid placing wagers with negative odds.

  • For example, a team with odds of +315 means that if you bet €100 and your bet is successful, your pay-out would be a €315 profit.

Popular odds on any betting site include:

  • Enhanced odds: This is where betting sites increase the odds for specific players or teams. This occurs most during the build-up to a major American Football event such as the NFL.
  • Free Bets: These promotions are most commonly featured on top betting sites, specifically (again) during the build-up to major events. This generates excitement and anticipation for the games. Free bets are typically given as welcome bonuses or as part of loyalty programmes to attract customers to a given betting site.

Games Available to Bet on from Ireland:

International betting sites tend to favour major events in order to cater to the widest group of fans. In terms of American Football, these include:

  • The NFL Regular Season
  • The NFL Play-Offs
  • The Super Bowl
  • The American Football World Championships
  • The Rose Bowl

So How Do You Place a Winning Bet on American Football?

  1. Research the game and the players. For example, who performs best under pressure, is it a home or away game, are you sure you understand the rules or betting market? Make sure that you are familiar with the game and teams’ previous statistics before placing any bet!
  2. Choose your favourite betting site, look for great welcome bonuses, regular promotions, great and competitive odds, and a wide range of betting markets available.
  3. Decide on your strategy, for example shopping for the best odds.
  4. Place your wager, this can be as little or as high as you wish.
  5. Confirm your bet!
  6. Sit back and watch the game play out, keeping a close eye on your chosen winners!

In conclusion:

American football provides a great betting opportunity for avid Irish punters. It has grown to become globally popular, attracting fans and interest from international betting sites keen to expand their offerings and surpass their competition. Each site offers different betting markets, odds, and promotions, so it’s important to choose the perfect site for you. The key to any successful bet is thorough research and a great strategy!