Top 3 Recommended Bookmakers for Football/Soccer Betting Beginners

$450 billion. According to a January 2025 report by Investopedia, that’s the ballpark when it comes to money Americans have wagered since the federal ban on sports betting was lifted in 2018. That brings the yearly average to more than $60 billion. If that’s the figure for just one country, imagine what the global number would look like. While that might be a challenge to quantify, one thing is clear: people love betting on all kinds of sports. And, soccer, of course, is no exception.

Take, for example, the time Canadian rapper Drake wagered a whopping $1 million on Argentina to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup final against France (Even though Lionel Messi and Co. lifted the trophy, he ended up losing his bet due to technicalities. But never mind). Stories like these may have sparked a thought in your mind about starting your own betting journey in the beautiful game.

But the question is: where do you begin? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Here’s a look at the top three recommended bookmakers for soccer betting, specially curated for beginners.

Top 3 bookmakers for soccer that are beginner-friendly

Bet365

Bet365 is one of the most common names that you surely must have come across. Well, without a doubt, it is considered one of the favorites by ardent soccer fans because of the fact that it excels in numerous areas. For starters, it carries an extensive selection of promotions like Early Payout, Acca Boosts, Odds Boosts, Substitution Insurance, and Each-Way Odds on First Goalscorer Bets.

The platform boasts unparalleled event coverage, offering a massive range of betting markets, competitive odds, and in-depth statistical insights for both pre-match and in-play betting. It also gives access to take part in a variety of leagues and competitions from across the globe, making it an ideal choice for all soccer aficionados. Though the only notable drawback would be the absence of Acca Insurance, all the other features surely make it a go-to platform for soccer betting.

Betfair

The second on the list remains Betfair. And might we tell you, it’s impressive how its exchange operates quite differently. Simply put, it provides extensive coverage of almost every football match across the world. This helps the bettors to explore a range of markets. Though it hardly boasts promotions unlike its competitors, we shall tell you that its core features, including competitive odds, market variety, event coverage, and live stats, are enough to grab the bettors’ attention.

Then again, Betfair does offer some solid perks to its users which include Acca Insurance, Substitution Insurance for player bets, and high-quality live streaming. Perhaps the only downside that may feel like a comprise to you is that its supporting statistics aren’t as detailed as those found on some of the other leading bookmakers. But sure, it should still be considered one of the go-to choices for all soccer betting enthusiasts.

Paddy Power

Like the aforementioned as well as many other betting sites, this name must have come across you at least once. Well, that’s of course because Paddy Power is no stranger in this field. This all-rounder football betting also offers wide-ranging key features, including Acca Insurance, top-tier live streaming, Edit My Bet, Free-to-Play games, and a generous selection of odds boosts. Now, a majority of you may argue that the odds that Paddy Power aren’t always that competitive.

But the reason it still turns out to be an appealing choice for bettors is due to its wide-ranging features, while also providing a dynamic and engaging betting experience. Well, there is one drawback; its supporting statistics aren’t as comprehensive as those provided by its other rivals. Yet, we bet (pun intended) this site also ticks plenty of boxes for you, doesn’t it?

So here you go, these were some of the platforms for all the soccer/football betting enthusiasts. Which one will you fancy? Share in the comments below.