The market in football betting has exploded in recent years to the point where it has finally overtaken horse racing as the most popular sport for gamblers today. It`s very likely that the growth of the internet has played its part in that increase and whereas many potential punters were put off by the thought of entering a traditional betting shop, you can now place a bet with just the click of a mouse.

This increase has also seen a number of additional forms of betting introduced and as well as speculating on who will actually win a game, you can now bet on almost any conceivable aspect of a game of football from numbers of yellow cards to the number of goals scored.

A popular football bet involves the first goal scorer in any game and this is a fun bet that can add to your enjoyment of any match, particularly televised games. Obviously, it`s more likely that a centre forward will score first and therefore the top strikers in any game will be given the shortest odds but it may be profitable to look elsewhere.

A handy tip for a first goal scorer bet is to consider defenders who have a good record for coming up for set pieces and finding the net. Good examples of this include John Terry of Chelsea or Ryan Shawcross at Stoke. You could also look at a team`s penalty taker and if they`re a defender or midfielder, this could be another good option which should get you some longer odds. For the wagering of the amount, the odds information is beneficial to enhance the betting experience. The selection of the game is done with intelligence to get massive benefits at the leagues and tournaments. Poker Online site will offer a friendly environment to the players for the placing of the stakes at the table. 

Another popular football bet is to speculate on the number of red and yellow cards in a game and this is where a bit of research can work to your advantage. 

When considering a bet of this kind, have a look at games where there is a tradition of ill feeling. A derby match is always a good contender for a high number of yellow cards but there may be other games that have yielded a high card content. Perhaps there is some `bad blood` between two opposing players that extends to their respective team mates. Either way, this is a type of bet that can be very lucrative with just a little research.

If you`re betting on who is going to win an individual match, you can make it a little more interesting by looking at the handicapping system and using it to your advantage.

For example, if the top team in the premiership is playing the bottom side, their odds will be very short – let`s say 2/5. You may therefore consider that it isn`t worth placing a bet at that price but using the handicap could make it more interesting.

 If for example, you give the bottom side a notional goal start, the odds for the top side could go out to even money or maybe higher, making it a much more attractive proposition. You can even go further and give a two goal head start or even more, thus making this a much more interesting bet.

 With the growth in football betting there is now a whole host of opportunities for the online gambler and if you`re stuck for ideas, there are plenty of experts offering free footy tips if you want to follow their suggestions.