How to Bet on Euro 2024 Matches

Posted by Harry Kane on Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Euro 2024 finally gets underway in earnest on June 14th, as hosts Germany take on home nation Scotland at the Fußball Arena München in Munich. This match will see the commencement the 17th iteration of the UEFA European Championship, while it’s the first of 51 games that will be contested throughout the duration of the tournament.

A picture of the Euro 2024 logo

Clearly, there’s ample opportunity to engage in match betting ahead of the 2024 Euros. However, not all games are created equal in the tournament, while this betting market becomes increasingly challenging as the competition progresses. So, here’s a guide to Euro 2024 match betting and how to get the most out of your starting bankroll!

Get Started by Understanding Match Betting

When most people hear the term ‘match betting’, their minds are immediately drawn to predicting a match winner or the final result in a particular game. However, there are many subsets of match betting, including even money markets that offer improved implied probability values and enable you to create combination wagers. These include:

  • Both Teams to Score (BTTS): In addition to picking the winner of a particular game, you can also bet on both teams to score or not. This is an even money wager type that will typically unlock an implied probability of around 50%, except in instances where one side has a significant statistical advantage over their opponents. You can inform your selections in this regard through analysis of form and scoring statistics, paying close attention each team’s attacking and defensive performances.
  • Over/Under Betting on the Number of Goals Scored: You can also access the over/under on how many goals will be scored in a particular game. In this instance, sportsbooks set different totals as individual betting lines, and you’ll have to make your selection before predicting whether the actual total will be over or under this threshold. This is also an even money wager type, and you can also inform your selections through statistical analysis and the goals-per-game ratio in a particular tournament.
  • First, Last and Anytime Goalscorers: Match betting also unlocks individual player markets, such as the identity of a first, last or anytime goalscorer. These markets tend to unlock competitive odds due to the number of potential outcomes, although picking an anytime scorer arguably strikes the optimal balance between minimising risk and maximising rewards. You can inform your selections here through analysis of scoring stats and an individual player’s historic record in a tournament or against a specific opponent.
  • ‘Draw No Bet’: As all Euro 2024 betting markets will be settled after 90 minutes, the draw is a viable outcome throughout the tournament (even beyond the round robin stage of the competition). In order to negate this, you could access the ‘Draw No Bet’ market, which renders you wager null and void if a particular match ends tied after 90 minutes. This effectively turns your win market bet into an even money wager, although the odds will be adjusted accordingly.
  • Winning Margin Betting: You can also wager on the winning margin in a particular match. This may be particularly popular during the group stages, during which several mismatches may encourage you to predict sizable wins for the heavy betting favourites. This enables you to back such favourites at significantly enhanced prices, although you’ll need to be precise when picking winning margins as there’s minimal room for error. You’ll have to be sure that the favourites don’t rest or rotate players ahead of much sterner challenges.

Our Match Betting Tips – How to Leverage These Markets Successfully

Now that you understand some of the most popular subsets of match betting, the next step is to leverage these as efficiently as possible ahead of Euro 2024. This is easier said than done, especially given the numerous variables that impact the outcome of competitive football matches. Here are some expert tips and insights to help you on your way!

#1. Favour Handicapping Over Winning Margin Betting

Handicapping is also a popular subset of match betting, and one that can be used as a more flexible alternative to winning margin markets when looking to wager at enhanced odds. Handicapping requires you to apply a theoretical disadvantage to a betting favourite (such as –1.5 goals), allowing you to wager to incrementally longer odds. Your selection will then have to win by a margin that beats the handicap (such as two clear goals).

In this case, you don’t have to predict the precise winning margin, so this market tends to unlock more favourable implied probability values. If you are going to use handicapping, just remember to be extremely selective when choosing matches and prioritise group stage games with a significant favourite.

#2. Consider Combination Betting

Another way of creating value in match betting is through combination wagering. This means combining two or more match outcomes in a single bet, as this also unlocks enhanced odds without necessarily compromising your chances of winning. The key is to inform your selections with analysis and prioritise even money wagers where possible.

For example, let’s say that you wanted to bet on Spain to beat Albania in Group B at the Düsseldorf Arena on June 24th. Spain will be the heavy betting favourites here, while they’re likely to dominate possession and restrict their opponents in transition. So, you could consider backing Spain to win and both teams not to score at slightly enhanced odds. You could even include the over/under on how many goals you think will be scored.

#3. How to Pick Anytime Goalscorers

Anytime goalscorer betting is an excellent way to unlock enhanced odds. However, this is also a tough market to crack, due to the number of variables in play and variety of potential outcomes. Your first step should be to check the latest injury and team news, to ensure that a particular player is fit and likely to play some part in an upcoming game.

Form is another key consideration here, with players who have recently scored heavily or in consecutive matches more likely to net in a subsequent game. Some players may also have a track record of scoring against specific opposition, so be sure to check historical performances through trusted sites such as Transfermarkt.