The footballing world has become so big and with the quality improving all of the time across the continents, it’s becoming even harder to predict the winners of games. The void has certainly closed at domestic and international level, and the underdogs aren’t so apparent anymore. We only have to look at the last World Cup and the result of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63631779" target="_blank">Argentina vs Saudi Arabia</a>&nbsp;group game.

30 years ago or even 10 years ago, nobody would of ever seen that result coming and I very much doubt it would of happened. I remember a quote from the late great&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/37634085/africa-turn-win-world-cup" target="_blank">Pele</a>&nbsp;saying in 1977 that before 2000 an African nation would win the World Cup.

He didn’t quite get this right but he was close.

Since this prediction the African game as rocketed with players such as Roger Milla, Didier Drogba, El Hadji Diouf, Samuel E’to, Diop, Mane and of course Mo Salah. We only have to look at Morocco in the last World Cup making it to the semi-finals only to lose&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/61047895" target="_blank">2-0 to France</a>. They then lost the 3rd place playoff against&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63926145" target="_blank">Croatia 2-1</a>&nbsp;so finished 4th in the tournament and took their rightful place as highest ever African placed team at a World Cup.

Billions and billions of pounds has been put into the Premier League including players' wages, transfer fees and TV rights means the quality of players has improved exponentially in relation to this. This investment and the increasing amount of foreign players in the Premier League means the money has been able to be passed on to other countries as well and improved the teams within them.

Training facilities and the improvement in science and dietary studies has also had a massive impact in the way the game is viewed and the style of play and types of player we now see.   Who would have thought a young Argentine lad who only grew to just 5ft 7inch or a Portuguese boy who didn’t complete his education and had a heart operation at just 15 would become arguably the best two players the world has seen at the same time?

<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Messi" target="_blank">Lionel Messi</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristiano_Ronaldo" target="_blank">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>’s records are beyond anything that has been seen. Ronaldo with 970 club appearances and 715 goals, 146 competitive internationals and 102 goals 5 Ballon d’ors and a European Champions medal. Lionel Messi 885 club appearances 715 goals, 121 competitive internationals and 54 goals and 7 Ballon d’ors to go with his World Cup winners medal.

We only need to look at the recent investments into Manchester City, Newcastle and Manchester United from the Saudi Arabian billionaires to see that there is money to be made if it is invested wisely. Manchester City with the treble win in 2022/23, isn’t just a coincidence that with the money invested has had a massive impact on this achievement.They didn’t have the highest spending on players by a long way, but the players they bought in and with the great&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pep_Guardiola" target="_blank">Pep Guardiola</a>&nbsp;in charge, the money was spent wisely and spent on developing a squad not just signing big-name players.

So what does this all mean for the matched betting community?  It will hopefully mean that we are able to get closer matches as the games will continue to be more competitive domestically and on an international level.

This is because “outsiders” have more chance of going two goals ahead and being pegged back for the&nbsp;<a href="https://outplayed.com/news/football/want-more-profits-from-matched-betting-2ups-are-key" target="_blank">2up early payout</a>&nbsp;offer run by Bet365 and Paddy, so we can place our bets on these for a higher turnover of profits. It will mean there are more boosts available on players for shots on target and first goal scorers, and hopefully mean that we will get more&nbsp;<a href="https://forum.outplayed.com/topic/24109/betfred-double-treble-winnings-football" target="_blank">Double delight or Hattrick Heaven</a>&nbsp;offers from Betfred.

Chris

The Changing World of Football

Sports betting is more popular than ever before. In the recent past, the industry has grown steadily. Football betting in particular has always enjoyed great popularity. Here, both a large number of sporting events and a huge variety of different bets attract people.

Major sporting events cause great enthusiasm worldwide, also in the world of sports betting. Last year, of course, the focus was on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Such a tournament is not only a real highlight for all sports fans, but also for all friends of sports betting. Bookmakers offer special&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gambling.com/uk/betting-sites/football/world-cup-2022-offers" target="_blank">World Cup betting offers</a>&nbsp;and lucrative odds. In addition, an extremely broad spectrum of betting markets opens up a great variety of different types of bets. The Women's World Cup in 2023 will likely be no different.

Those who think that betting on victories are too boring will find their luck in so-called special bets. Although such bets offer a high entertainment factor, special bets are not financially promising in the long run.

When we talk about a special bet, we usually mean bets that are not presented at the first sight. Among other things, classic result bets are considered to be the standard offer. In&nbsp;contrast, special bets include the quite popular goal bets, half-time bets or also half-time and final score bets.

In addition, special bets on first events in the match are becoming increasingly popular. These include bets on the first goal scorer or simple events such as the first free kick. With regard to special bets, there are no limits to the inventiveness of the numerous betting providers. Compared to a classic standard bet, the possible winnings of a special bet are particularly high, but at the same time such types of bets are considered to be significantly riskier.

Special bets on cards and corner kicks are among the most lucrative and riskiest types of bets. Bets on corner kicks are placed on the exact number of corner kicks taken during a match. It is also possible to bet on an even or odd number of corners per&nbsp;<a href="https://outplayed.com/news/matched-betting" target="_blank">match</a>. And there is also the possibility to place a bet on the number of goals scored in a head-to-head comparison between the two teams.

With regard to special bets on cards, over and under bets are usually offered by the betting providers. Thus, a bet is placed on the number of yellow and red cards distributed within a match. For this purpose, bets can be placed on the first card or the total number of caution points. In this case, all cards of both teams are added up.

The great advantage of special bets is the immense fun and entertainment factor. In many cases, people are already laughing when they place the bet. Some such bets promise almost impossible chances of success. If a bet is still won in the end, the joy is naturally all the greater. All in all, the attraction of a Special bet lies above all in the variety of bets on offer and the sometimes crazy betting markets, which never make sports betting boring.

However, the entertainment value is almost the only benefit of such special bets. Because purely on an objective level, this type of betting makes for a financially secure negative business in the long run. It is almost impossible to make specific forecasts and to predict the sometimes absurd events exactly. Rather, special bets are completely a matter of luck. With a player bet, one is completely dependent on the form of a single player. In contrast, with a team bet, the entire team can compensate for individual weaknesses in form.

Of course, due to the arbitrary nature of special bets, it is not necessary to make a detailed betting analysis. Accordingly, a special bet can be placed at any time and at one's own whim. However, this supposed advantage immediately turns into a disadvantage, as such bets are associated with a considerable risk. On the one hand, the available betting markets are difficult to research, on the other hand, the chances of winning are usually very low and particularly dependent on the luck factor.

Strategy and expertise play no role in special bets. Whereas with classic bets the chance of winning can be maximised through one's own preparation, in the case of special bets only&nbsp;the luck factor helps. For all those who want to achieve long-term success with sports betting, special bets are not recommended in the long run. Here, bets are placed on completely random events, the occurrence of which is purely a matter of luck. Special bets are useful as a pure entertainment tool. For lucrative sports betting, however, this type of betting is not particularly helpful.

The Lucrative Alternative: With Strategy And Value Bets To Success!

It can be observed, especially among inexperienced sports betting beginners, that in addition to special bets, bets are usually placed exclusively on one's own favourite teams. However, this quickly leads to financial losses. Sports betting in connection with one's own emotions is rarely crowned with success. Rather, it is important to place one's own bets exclusively rationally and against the background of profit maximisation. Reason and logic should dominate here. Bets tend to be most promising when they are part of a larger strategy.

In this sense, so-called value bets have in some instances proven to be lucrative in the past. This type of bet promises an attractive opportunity to those deeply interested in sports and sports betting.

Value bets benefit from the fact that the bookmakers' subjective probability of occurrence is lower than the actual probability of occurrence in reality. Potentially a profit can be made from the discrepancy between estimated and real probability. Basically, value bets represent a kind of odds outlier for bookmakers. All in all, therefore, a promising type of bet.

In the final analysis, it must be said that special bets are purely for entertainment and personal enjoyment. The risk of completely random events is too high. Such special bets are purely a matter of luck and promise only your own losses in the long run. Anyways, people enjoy sports betting more than ever before.&nbsp;<a href="https://mercurius.io/en/learn/value-betting/what-it-is" target="_blank">Value bets, on the other hand, are much more promising</a>. As part of a well-planned strategy, it is possible that profits could be achieved with this type of sports betting.

Matched Betting doesn't rely on special bets or value bets, but rather on mathematical strategy and an ability to cover all outcomes of a bet. Useful reading:&nbsp;<a href="https://outplayed.com/what-is-matched-betting" target="_blank">What Is Matched Betting</a> You can start learning Matched Betting for free with Outplayed today.

Goal scorers, side selection at kick-off & others: Why it makes no sense to try to win those special bets!

Everyone has a smartphone these days, which makes the matched betting process even more accessible than before.

With so many options on the market, it can be hard to decide which ones are right for you. That's where our four must-have betting apps come in. We've compiled a list of four essential apps for <a href="https://outplayed.com/what-is-matched-betting/">Matched Betting</a> based on their features, customer service, and overall usefulness. So whether you're an experienced matched bettor or just starting, we have the perfect app for you in this article;

The Betfair app is quintessential for matched betting while on the go. They are an <a href="http://outplayed.com/" target="_blank">Outplayed</a> partner and provide a fast and well-designed experience.

Being both a standard bookmaker AND an exchange means you have a fully matched betting platform in one place, although we don't recommend betting and lay bets on the same app. By putting your lay bets on your phone, you won't miss out because it has all of the functionality of the desktop site.

Like all the apps in this list, it is free, has a friendly UI and has quick deposit methods such as card, PayPal, Skrill etc.

Proclaimed as the world's most advanced betting exchange, Smarkets hasn't been around as long as Betfair, but already it's considered a must-have for all your lay betting needs. Much like Betfair, Smarkets is also very easy to use, offering reasonable commission rates and better or equal odds than the other exchanges.

There are as many in-play football games to choose from as Betfair, and so far, they've been known to pay out instantly, which is rare among exchanges. The liquidity is constantly increasing, and there is much more than Betdaq and Matchbook.

Having quick access to your favourite bookmaker's apps is incredibly useful. It should go without saying that you need to have them on hand.

We're choosing to include the Bet365 betting app for slightly different reasons. There are other advantages to utilising the Bet365 app besides the ability to place bets on their platform.

The range of markets available on Bet365 is enormous and by far their most significant selling point. It's infrequent not to be able to find an obscure match in the Israeli Liga Alef, for instance. Access to a bigger market makes matched betting easier as there are more options to lay. It's also pretty rare not to see bonuses from Bet365, there are consistent loyalty bonuses, and in-play offers that far exceed that of other bookmakers.

The Bet365 betting app is swift, intuitive, and well-designed overall.

FotMob has always dominated football scores, scorers, statistics and even fantasy team points. The personalised news and notifications make it easy to follow your favourite teams and players.

The speed at which notifications arrive and scorers are identified when you're not watching a game is second to none.

The app has a super clean design and is very simple to use. When you're in the stadium watching your team live, you can be confident that most fans standing next to you have FotMob installed, monitoring the rest of the league!

Horse racing is critical for matched betting, and we have included a football app in this list; it's only fitting to include a key horse racing one too. The At The Races app provides the most recent race cards for horse racing worldwide, including events in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, France, and South Africa.

Our last app and another special mention must go to the tennis fans. This tool will significantly help whether you're matched betting on tennis tournaments or putting mug bets on. Where it shines, though, is in providing you with a wide variety of player stats and biographies for each contest, which makes it easier for you to form an opinion on a particular match. When you're interested in more minor games, this is extremely helpful.

Start Earning Money Today With Matched Betting For FREE.

That's right; you can earn money via Outplayed today by <a href="https://www.outplayed.com/free-trial" target="_blank">clicking here for your free trial</a>.

4 Must Have Betting Apps To Own In 2023

The days when football betting was considered a game of chance are long gone. With the evolution of statistical data analysis tools and the passage of time, betting has become more of a science that demands proper data analysis tools such as the Outplayed profit tracker dashboard available with a premium membership.

Tracking your wagers is a crucial component of the statistical analysis of football data. This article will instruct you on the significance of tracking your football wagers, the elements you must track, and the considerations you must make when tracking your wagers.

In the modern era of football betting, staying organised in wagering is crucial. Clearly, a bettor will not only interact with a single bookmaker. As a bettor, you will interact with several bookies in order to increase your chances of winning. Now, it is only normal that you cannot recall all your wagers and which were placed with which bookmakers. Consequently, keeping track will allow you to maintain a valuable record of the bookies that are advantageous to you and those that are not.

Monitor Your Finances To Enhance Competitiveness

Keeping tabs on your finances provides you with a fair notion of how much you have already invested in a team, league, match, or bookmaker. In addition, keeping track of your finances will always provide you with an advantage over your rivals, since having your entire track record at your fingertips will be advantageous at vital moments of a football game.

In addition, with accurate tracking of your wagers, you may design a crystal-clear betting plan that will maximise your profits. If you continue to gamble without a defined betting strategy, you will find yourself losing more money and making the same error repeatedly. In contrast, if you keep track of your wagers and design a plan based on your betting statistics, you will have an advantage and be able to maximise your returns.

Now comes the all-important question of which of the ways available on the market to track your wagers would best suit you.

If you are a traditionalist who prefers to work with pen and paper, this is fine, however, it is far easier to use a computerised method going forward. This is due to the fact that betting has become more competitive over time. And now, you cannot manually scroll down to find an entry you made on a given date. You can instead utilise basic tools such as a spreadsheet or, if you choose, professionally created software that can intelligently analyse your wagers.

You should preferably keep track of the following information:

Keeping note of all these elements will provide important data entry points while searching for a certain wager. In addition, these factors will assist you in identifying the trend of your betting strategy and the areas that require improvement.

For instance, if you observe that a football club you have bet on in the past performs poorly during a given period of the year, you will be able to recognise the trend that the team may not be playing well due to the weather conditions during that time of the year. Similarly, when reviewing the record utilising these data points, you will be able to identify various performance trends among the teams.

Another intriguing option in this area is to colour-code your results and stakes so that you can make a better analysis at a glance. Mark your positive outcomes with green and your bad results with red, for instance.

This will allow you to quickly assess your performance over the past few days. On both the Tipit platform and the alerts window, the same colour-coding method is utilised.

Keeping track of your wagers is crucial in the modern betting world. Check out our <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1I0s_3FK3R_RtqSh_k4Jc9znVoPTjR_RI6KfxMshweKc/edit#gid=1198900915">matched betting spread sheet</a> developed by our sister company <a href="https://www.teamprofit.com">Team Profit</a>.

A smart football bettor, however, understands that not only is it worthwhile to invest in a football statistics tool such as Bet Dynamo, but in order to maximise the likelihood of winning a pre-game or in-play wager, keeping track of your bets is a must.

Start Earning Money Today With Matched Betting For FREE. That's right; you can earn money via Outplayed today by <a href="https://www.outplayed.com/free-trial">clicking here for your free trial</a>.

Read more about&nbsp;<a href="https://outplayed.com/news/matched-betting/matched-betting-spreadsheet-free-download-organise-and-track-profit" target="_blank">matched betting spreadsheet</a>

Why You Should Track Your Football Bets

In the UK, betting on football is the most popular sport. And with good cause! In addition to being the most popular sport overall, there are hundreds of various betting options accessible due to the game's versatility.

Here are some really basic football betting advice for those new to football betting;

When you visit an online bookmaker for the first time or as a newbie, it's really simple to feel overwhelmed. There is a lot to see. Not to mention the thousands of distinct markets, many of which are difficult to comprehend.

This is annoying because the majority of bettors start out because their friends are doing it and purportedly winning. They merely want to partake in the action! However, it's crucial to keep in mind that many people make a big deal out of their victories while being very silent about their defeats. However, the majority of people do lose. It's not by accident that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_betting#English_football">gambling businesses</a> are multi-million pound enterprises.

Also read about&nbsp;<a href="https://outplayed.com/what-is-arbing-or-arbitrage/" target="_blank">arbitrage betting</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://outplayed.com/news/matched-betting/matched-betting-spreadsheet-free-download-organise-and-track-profit" target="_blank">match betting spreadsheet</a>

This has given some people a business opportunity because there is a perception that many people are making money through betting, despite the fact that the majority of people aren't.

You probably have interacted with purported "professional" tipsters on social media if you have even the remotest interest in online betting.

But in actuality, there aren't many experts. They spread football betting advice like a net to grab anyone who might be seduced by the promise of quick cash.

You may not be aware that many of these tippers actually EARN money when you lose.

When they provide links to a bookmaker so that their followers can register an account, they get a cut of each customer's winnings. Why then would they provide advice that cost the bookmaker money and cost them money as well?

The best chance you have to win is to disregard football betting advice from tipsters and focus on conducting independent research without the cloud of a tipster providing teams which they will win on regardless. This isn’t easy either.

In all actuality, aside from Matched Betting this is the only possible way to bet. Did you realise that if you put in the time and effort necessary to succeed, the bookmakers would just prohibit you in the end?

So the best course of action is to give your money a final goodbye, conduct some research to marginally improve your chances, and then simply gamble for fun.

When you take on the bookmakers with your own football opinions, it is much more entertaining. However, watching wager after wager fail might get discouraging after a while.

Actually, there is. We mentioned it above and&nbsp;<a href="https://outplayed.com/what-is-matched-betting" target="_blank">it's called Matched Betting</a>. A method for getting money from the bookies that involves mathematical strategy to extract a return regardless of the result. Yes, the agonising hunt for football betting advice is over.

With the use of matched betting, you can finally turn the tables on the bookie and start earning extra money.

The process is straightforward. Are you aware of the free bets that bookmakers provide to new customers? Thought so, using these along with some clever strategy, you can convert them into real money that you can deposit directly into your bank account.

Bookies have a variety of continuing deals that you can take advantage of. This is a betting strategy that might displace conventional gambling and develop into something you can work with regularly. Oh, and there is no tax on it! Good right? Check out the Outplayed article on Matched Betting &amp; Tax for more information.

Additionally, to learn more about Matched Betting, check out the plethora of information available on our website as well as our extensive video library, which walk you through how to make extra money using this method step-by-step.

Start Earning Money Today With Matched Betting For FREE. That's right, you can earn money via Outplayed today by <a href="https://www.outplayed.com/free-trial">clicking here for your free trial</a>.