Written By:
Jason Ence
About Author
Jason Ence has been giving betting and fantasy advice for nearly a decade, and is extremely familiar with the Premier League, Serie A, and the Champions League. He is a strong advocate for responsible betting and bankroll management, and always recommends utilizing multiple sports books in order to shop for the best lines in order to maximize your bankroll.
Fact Checked By:
Jelena Kabić
About Author
Jelena Kabic is a sports betting writer that focusses on responsible gambling. A psychologist by vocation, Jelena volunteered in a rehab facility, where she worked with gambling addicts. She now reviews all our content to ensure it discusses betting in a socially responsible way.
Last Update
December 13, 2023
Last Update:
Betting on the Premier League: Bet Types and Odds Explained
Premier League Betting
Premier League has returned, and there is no league in the world – regardless of sport – that I enjoy watching more.
The passion of the fans is nearly unmatched, as many of the best players in the world compete to win the toughest domestic soccer league in Europe. With packed stadiums full of loyal fans, it’s second to none in my eyes.
But even the most ardent supporters of the Premier League may need a bit of a refresher regarding betting on the Premier League.
Is Betting on the Premier League Legal in Canada?
Online betting is perfectly legal in Canada, and betting on the English Premier League is no exception.
If you’re in Ontario, make sure you’re betting at sportsbooks with a valid iGaming Ontario license, as any other sportsbook isn’t legal.
And while you won’t be suffering any consequences even by opting for illegal sportsbooks, you won’t be protected in case anything goes wrong with your money, either.
In the rest of Canadian provinces, online betting markets aren’t as well-defined, but we still recommend opting for iGO-licensed sportsbooks, as they offer the safest Premier League betting experience.
Premier League Overview
The Premier League is the top-flight competition in England’s soccer pyramid system. Consisting of 20 teams, participants vie for the Premier League trophy as well as a Top-4 finish.
League play begins in August and runs through the end of May. The 38 “match days” typically take place each week between Friday and Monday, with breaks taken for international play, domestic cups, and major holidays.
don’t be surprised
Matches can be postponed if a team has other obligations, such as a domestic cup match, and the fixtures will be rescheduled later in the season to usually occur during the middle of a week.
Each team plays the others twice – once at home and once away. Winners earn three points in the table, while losers earn zero points. A draw sees each team gain one point.
The team that earns the most points at the end of the year will be crowned Premier League champion. If teams are tied on points, then the tiebreaker is goal differential – which takes the goals a team has scored and subtracts the number of goals they’ve conceded.
Finishing in the top four positions earns teams a spot in the UEFA Champions League the following season, which is Europe’s top club competition and worth quite a bit of money.
However, the teams residing in the bottom three places on the table will realize their biggest fear – relegation to the EFL Championship, England’s second-tier.
While soccer in England has been played well over a century, the Premier League as we know it didn’t come into existence until 1992.
must know!
Teams control players’ rights via contracts, and unlike other major sports leagues around the world they acquire those rights by buying and selling, rather than trading.
These moves, known as transfers, are allowed during two periods of the season: the summer transfer window, which runs from the beginning of July through the end of August, and the winter transfer window, which takes place during the entire month of January.
You can bet on soccer transfers — read all about it in LBC’s dedicated guide!
Although the teams involved change somewhat every year, the competition has consistently had what is known as the “Big Six” clubs:
- Arsenal
- Chelsea
- Liverpool
- Manchester City
- Manchester United
- Tottenham
Manchester United is the biggest team in the league, and their 13 titles won are the most of any club. However, their last title came in 2013.
Manchester United goals performance during season 2023/24 so far
Their rivals, Manchester City, have won five of the last six titles and have taken over as the best team in England.
keep an eye on them!
One of three of the “Big 6” clubs based in London, Arsenal finished runners-up last year, nearly ending a search for their fourth title that dates back to 2004.
Rivals Chelsea have five titles, the last coming back in 2017, and hope a new manager will lead them back to the summit this year.
The third side in London, Tottenham, has never claimed a Premier League crown and is in somewhat of a decline.
Their goal trends during the season so far show as much.
Liverpool have just one Premier League title to their name, won in 2019-20. However, their 19 top-flight trophies are just one behind Manchester United for the most in England’s history.
Many of the other clubs in the league have long histories, but typically reside in the middle of the table each season.
The three new clubs promoted after last season are Burnley, Sheffield United, and Luton Town.
While Burnley and Sheffield United have recently been in the league, Luton Town are making their first-ever appearance in the competition.
For a newcomer, Luton Town is doing decently in terms of goals scored.
Given the amount of television money they earn, it’s no surprise the Premier League attracts the biggest stars and the best managers in the world.
Man City has stockpiled an amazing roster with the likes of Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne, while manager Pep Guardiola is considered the greatest manager in the game today.
Erik ten Hag at Manchester United manages players such as Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, while Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold lead Jurgen Klopp’s side at Liverpool.
Chelsea recently hired Mauricio Pochettino to manage a side including Enzo Martinez and Christopher Nkunku, while Mikel Arteta is in charge at Arsenal. Under his tutelage, young players like Bukayo Saka are thriving and becoming superstars.
Premier League Odds & Bet Types
When placing a bet on the Premier League, you’ll need to know the odds that you’re playing. Decimal odds make understanding your payout very simple.
It’s easy!
Take the amount that you’re betting, and multiply that by the odds of your wager.
The resulting number is your payout – the money the book will pay you back should your bet be ruled a winner.
It’s important to note this payout includes your original stake. So if a wager is 1.40, then you’re risking $100 to make a $40 profit.
For example, Arsenal are heavily favored to defeat Nottingham Forest when they meet on Matchday 1.
Betano is offering odds of 1.28 for Arsenal to win, meaning a $100 bet would return you $128 – or, you’re risking $100 to make $28 profit.
On the other hand, should you correctly wager that Nottingham Forest will pull the upset, you would return $1000 on a $100 bet – adding $900 to your bankroll!
Want to know more about soccer odds and finding value bets? Visit our dedicated page!
When it comes to betting on the Premier League, or soccer in general, it’s important to differentiate between single-event wagers and long-term bets.
Let’s start with the most common single-match bets that you’ll typically encounter as you dive into the betting markets.
Three-Way Moneyline
This is the most common type of bet in soccer. You will wager on which of the three outcomes will take place in regulation: the home team to win, away team to win, or a draw.
Total
The Total sees you betting on whether the total number of goals scored will go Over or Under a specific number.
The usual Total will be 2.5 goals, although some matches will see that number go to 1.5 or 3.5 depending on the teams involved.
Asian Totals can also split the numbers in multiples of 0.25 goals, or even allow you to bet on whole numbers such as 3 goals.
Two-Way Moneyline
For bettors who want to take away the possibility of a draw, the two-way moneyline allows you to do just that.
Also known as “draw no bet”, the market offers the choice of which team will win, with a draw grading all bets as no-action and a refund of your original stake.
Spread
The spread handicaps the match in a manner where you can bet on how much a team will win by, or how little they’ll lose by.
Favorites will typically be “laying” goals, such as -0.5 or -1.5 goals, while the underdog will get “getting” the opposite amount.
You can learn all about Asian handicap betting in soccer in our expert piece.
The bigger the disparity between the two sides, the bigger the spread.
When the match ends, the spread is subtracted or added to the final score. So if Manchester City is -1.5 and win 2-0 or more over Burnley, then your wager would win.
As expected, that was exactly what happened.
But if the score ended with Manchester City winning 3-2, the spread would take that down to 1.5-2, and thus Manchester City would fail to “cover the spread” and your stake would be lost.
Conversely, those taking Burnley +1.5 would win their bet!
Double chance – You get to select two of the three money line outcomes
With the double chance, bettors get to select two of the three outcomes on the three-way moneyline, such as home team win and draw or home team win and away team win.
While the odds on these bets will be much higher than betting the individual outcomes, it can be a great way to bet on an underdog to get a result without having to risk two separate wagers!
Premier League Odds to Watch Out For
The opening weekend of the Premier League will see a showdown between Bournemouth and West Ham United, one of the more even matchups of the slate.
As you can see at bet365, West Ham are favored to win at 2.40 while they’re offering 2.80 on a Bournemouth victory. You can get odds of 3.40 for the draw, paying $340 on a $100 wager.
The Total for the match is set at 2.5 goals, and both the Over and Under pay out evenly, with a $100 bet returning $190 for a correct selection.
Pay close attention to the Double Chance market. Because this match is between two teams of similar talent, they’ll have similar payouts.
However, they all present a significant risk as the lines contain a lot of juice.
But let’s take a look at what bet365 offers in the Burnley vs Manchester City match, where the Citizens are heavily favored.
As you see, the double chance for Burnley to win or draw pays $340 on a $100 bet. Because both offer better than 6.00 odds on the money line, you can cover both options without risking two separate bets.
These types of bets are not just offered for the full-time result, but also for the first half. They will be listed as “halftime” options.
Prop bets are a popular wagering option as well. These props can involve individual player performances, team statistics, or match totals.
The most common prop bets you’ll encounter include:
- Goals – including exact number of goals
- Both teams to score
- Exact score
- Corners – whether the total will go Over or Under a specified number
- Player to score anytime
- Bookings – whether the total will go Over or Under
Some of these prop bets can be very specific and hard to predict, but they will usually offer a handsome reward for those who are successful.
For example, Chelsea and Liverpool will face off on Matchday 1, and a 1-1 exact score would pay out $650 at Bet99 on a $100 stake.
And perhaps you feel Chelsea will be leading at halftime before capitulating after the break, which Bet99 would pay you a handsome $1400 on a $100 bet should that happen!
While team and match props will usually be available early, as they are currently, player props typically won’t be given out until a day or two prior to the fixture.
This is to ensure injuries, team news, and rotation are all taken into effect when setting the odds.
As for wagers that cover the entirety of the season, futures markets allow you to bet on the specific outcomes.
Many of these are only offered prior to the opening match, but some – such as the league winner and the league’s top scorer – will be offered and updated each week.
We will discuss some of these in detail later in the guide.
One other major type of bet is the parlay, also known as an accumulator or a bet builder.
parlay betting
This is where you combine multiple selections from the same match – or across multiple matches – to get a bigger payout.
Parlay odds will go up exponentially depending on how likely the individual wagers are to hit. The lower the odds of the selections, the lower the parlay odds will be.
But if you combine a few underdogs to win, for example, the reward could be substantial.
Both Aston Villa and Fulham are underdogs in their opening matches. But should you bet on both to come out victorious, you could win more than $1500 from a $100 wager at Betano!
Not every wager offered can be put into a parlay, and each book will have different rules for what they do and don’t allow. Typically they’ll have a section specifically for building these types of bets.
Bet99 has a “Bet Builder” for many soccer matches, where they allow you to combine bets on such markets as the 3-way result, the Total, and both teams to score.
In this example at Bet99, you can combine the following wagers:
- Chelsea to win the 3-way line
- Over 1.5 goals to be scored
- Both teams to score in the match
Rather than placing them separately, you can combine them for 4.75 odds and win $475 on a $100 bet. But remember, all three bets must hit; if any of them fail, you lose your stake.
Premier League Betting Strategies
To read more about Serie A betting strategies, go to LBC’s dedicated guide.
While there’s no sure way to win when betting on the Premier League, there are some simple betting strategies that can help you win a bit more often and give you an advantage over the books!
Closely monitor your bankroll.
Few things can derail you faster than placing 15 bets on the same match, especially if it turns out your read on the outcome was all wrong.
While it can be tempting to play numerous props per match, I recommend playing one or two that you like the most.
Pay attention to team news.
Managers typically hold a press conference one or two days prior to each match, where they will give updates on player injuries, possible rotations, and tactics.
Knowing which players may miss the match is vital for handicapping the action.
It can also allow you to get in early on their replacements to score before the market adjusts.
Quote
Expert Quote
For example, if Haaland is going to be out of Man City’s next match, then it’s likely Julian Alvarez would start in his place. It may only take an hour for the lines to quickly change, which can be the difference between getting Alvarez to score at 4.50 versus 2.50 on the prop market!
Get to know the referees.
Well-known names like Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor can be controversial, but they’re often in charge of the biggest matches.
Knowing how often they hand out yellow cards allows you to find some value on the booking markets.
Do your research on the teams.
Know which teams like to keep possession versus those who love to absorb pressure and get out on the attack.
If their styles contrast, it can give you a key insight to how the match will play out, depending on which side can impose their will the most.
This also can give you an edge on some prop bets. Does a team like to take shots anytime they present themselves, or do they prefer to wait for the best chances?
If they like to shoot on sight, they could earn more corners as shots get blocked out of bounds!
You should also know who takes free kicks and penalties for each team, as they’ll have an added chance of scoring a goal.
Don’t forget about the weather!
While this is important in any sport you bet on, it’s particularly vital with the Premier League.
England’s weather tends to be quite rainy, and when combined with wind it can lead to mistakes.
It also tends to hurt the more technically-skilled teams, and can level the playing field for underdogs!
How to Bet on the Premier League From Canada
Betting on the Premier League from Canada is simple to do, and you have two ways to do so.
Your first option is to bet in-person. Retailers around the country offer the ability to place in-person wagers, and it’s legal in every province and territory in Canada.
The other option is to wager online. Online wagering is legal in all 10 Canadian provinces!
legal betting
In order to bet online in Quebec, Manitoba, or Alberta, you must be at least 18 years of age. In all other provinces, only those 19 years old or over can do so.
You can find out more about choosing the website and placing your first bet in LBC’s dedicated guide!
FAQs
Is betting on the Premier League legal in Canada?
Yes, you can legally bet on the Premier League in Canada. Just make sure to pick one of the licensed sportsbooks to enjoy a safe betting experience.
How to bet on the Premier League?
In order to start betting on the EPL in Canada, you need to pick a licensed sportsbook and create an account with them. After placing a deposit, you will be able to pick a game and betting markets to wager on.
Who is the best striker in the Premier League 2023?
Erling Haaland is by far the best striker in the Premier League, and he’s challenging Kylian Mbappe for the top striker in the entire sport. His first season at Manchester City saw him rewrite the record books as he took the Premier League by storm..
The man Haaland displaced as the Premier League’s top center forward, Harry Kane, is still among the best in the world. The Tottenham talisman became the first player to ever record consecutive 30-goal campaigns last season, and while he’s being linked with a potential move away to Bayern Munich there’s still a strong possibility he remains with Spurs this season.
Who is the highest scorer in the Premier League?
Haaland and Kane were far and away the top scorers in the Premier League in 2022-23. Both eclipsed the 30-goal mark, while Ivan Toney was third-best with 20 tallies.
Toney won’t be involved in the golden boot race this season, as he was handed an eight-month suspension for gambling by the FA.
Jason Ence
Jason Ence has been giving betting and fantasy advice for nearly a decade, and is extremely familiar with the Premier League, Serie A, and the Champions League. He is a strong advocate for responsible betting and bankroll management, and always recommends utilizing multiple sports books in order to shop for the best lines in order to maximize your bankroll.
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