Since its incorporation in 1992, the English Premier League has been one of the most widely bet sports leagues on the planet. Because of this legacy, EPL betting has a wide presence at the majority of sportsbooks and remains a go-to option for soccer fans.
Here you’ll find a tutorial on reading soccer odds, betting breakdowns and where to find the news you need to make educated soccer picks.
What’s the Difference Between English Football and Soccer?
The difference is … not much. Americans and their northern neighbors, Canada, call the game soccer. Europeans, South Americans and pretty much the rest of the world call it football. When you check out an EPL betting site, you’ll probably see the sport listed by league, making it easier to place your bets.
EPL Football League General Info
Unlike the big North American professional sports, each team within the EPL operates as a private entity instead of a franchise. The season runs from August to May with all 20 clubs playing 38 matches –19 at home, and 19 away. The teams themselves are all located within the United Kingdom.
The EPL is similar to the NFL in the sense that certain teams tend to dominate year-over-year. A top team will remain excellent for years because of monetary investments in player development and coaching. The 2000s saw the emergence of super clubs – kind of like the New England Patriots or New York Yankees. Keep this in mind when betting because on the Prem — matches can be so uneven that it’s important to do your research before taking a side. Don’t worry, our soccer experts will help with that.
Man City has been on a tear the last few years, but it'll still take a number of titles to claim the first-place spot from their in-city rivals, Man U.
Scoring and Competition
Clubs are awarded three points per win and one point for every draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points. Should clubs be tied for points, goal difference and goals scored are used to determine where they sit in the standings. If teams are still occupying the same ranking, a playoff game at a neutral venue is used as the deciding factor.
Relegation and Promotion
At the end of the regular season, the three lowest-ranked teams in the EPL are moved to the EFL Championship, the second-tier league. The two top teams from the EFL are, in turn, promoted to the Premier League. The next four teams in line from the EFL compete in playoffs to determine which will take the third spot in the EPL.
Understanding Premier League Betting Odds
At Odds Shark, we use American odds (-500). However, you can use Fractional (1/5) or Decimal style (1.20) if you prefer. Your region will usually dictate the odds type you use. In the U.K., odds are usually displayed as fractions, whereas in the United States and Canada, you’ll commonly see American style.
The majority of soccer sportsbooks display their betting odds like this:
Tottenham -150
Bournemouth +280
In this case, the Spurs are the favorite. This is shown by the minus sign (-). The Cherries are the underdog, which you can tell by the plus sign (+).
Learn to Bet on the English Premier League
As one of the most popular sports for any sportsbook, you’ll almost always see soccer odds for the following bets. Review our odds calculator before taking on a bet to make sure you're getting the best value possible!
Futures Bets: Taking Early Odds on the Championship
Futures are bets made on events that will take place weeks or even months from the day you place your bet. Instead of betting on a single match right before it happens, you can make a futures wager on a club’s chances of winning the entire EPL and the Champions League.
A team may be favored to take the EPL but a dog to take the UEFA crown — keep in mind that odds will change as the season progresses, so make sure to place your future bets early before those odds slip away.
Soccer Betting Guides & Resources:
Check out a few of our other soccer guides across the site if you're still curious about other soccer bets. We've got odds, matchup analysis and expert picks for every professional league that bettors care about — check it out!