Football punters will be in their element later this year as the 2022 World Cup takes place in Qatar during November and December.
Odds are already available on the World Cup and there will be thousands of betting opportunities available when the tournament gets underway.
Knowing which football betting sites to use is no easy task, with the internet currently awash with hundreds of different sportsbooks.
To save you time and effort, we have come up with five handy tips to help online punters maximise their enjoyment of betting on the World Cup.
Licensing & regulation
Before you sign-up for an account with any online bookmaker, it is imperative to check whether they are fully licensed and regulated to offer their services in your jurisdiction.
This information can generally be found in the footer on the website and should contain verifiable links to the relevant information.
Wagering with a legitimate online betting site gives you peace of mind that your personal details will be kept safe and secure during every transaction.
You can also be sure that your winnings will be paid in a timely manner if you use sportsbooks that are fully licensed and regulated by the appropriate authorities.
Offers & promotions
Another important thing to assess before opening an online betting account are the welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions on offer.
The best online sportsbooks offer generous sign-up deals for new customers, which effectively gives you free money to wager with during the World Cup.
There should also be a wide selection of offers available for regular punters, which are designed to reward you for regularly betting on the site.
Pay particular attention to the terms and conditions on any offers, to make sure there is no hidden small print that makes it difficult to unlock any winnings.Ā
Betting odds & markets
If you are betting on the World Cup, it makes sense to choose a site that offers a vast array of different markets before and during the tournament.
These should include ante-post, match result, over/under, first goalscorer, last goalscorer, both teams to score and many more.
You should also spend time comparing odds between different bookies, to ensure you are maximising your potential returns when placing bets.
Do not be afraid to open accounts on more than one site, as this will allow you to access the most competitive odds and a wider range of markets.
Special features
Online bookmakers have special features on their sites which are designed to significantly enhance your experience of betting.
Some of the most common features include cash out, acca boosts and live scores, while some sites even have live streaming of World Cup games.
Another hugely popular feature is Bet Builder, which allows you to build bespoke bets based on different markets from the same game.
The potential returns on this type of bet can be massive, although it often pays not to be overly ambitious with the number of markets you include.
Live betting
Live betting ā also known as in-play betting ā has increased massively in popularity in recent years and will be huge during the World Cup.
By using the live betting platform on a sportsbook, you give yourself the opportunity to take advantage of market fluctuations as the action unfolds.
Betting in-play on big favourites that concede an early goal is a great way to grab extra value odds, as statistics still point to the fancied team making a comeback.
If you get your timing right in the in-play markets, they can be path to making a significant profit from your World Cup betting activities.