With football specials, you can bet on player transfers, managerial changes, top scorers, and more. In our comprehensive guide to football specials betting, you’ll discover what specials are, the most popular markets, how to understand the odds, and key strategies for betting.
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What is Football Specials Betting?
Football specials are bets outside the standard match outcome (win/lose/draw), focusing on other factors in and around the game. Popular specials include player transfers, managerial sackings, relegation and promotion, and final league rankings.
They are usually very popular for major tournaments and competitions like the Premier League and the FIFA World Cup. Often, they come tied in with promotions like Odds Boosts and Enhanced Odds.
Popular Types of Football Special Bets
Below you’ll see some of our most common football special betting markets. Remember, markets can change, depending on the stage of the season.
1. Player-Focused Bets: Bet on Premier League Top Goalscorer or the Golden Boot from the World Cup. Wager on whether a player will win a personal award, like Player of the Season. Or bet on a player’s total goals for the campaign being over or under a certain amount.
2. Manager-Focused Bets: Predict the next manager to be appointed or sacked.
3. Team-Focused Bets: Bet on markets like a Top 4 Finish in Serie A, EFL Championship relegation betting or wager on a team’s performance in a cup competition.
4. Transfer Specials: Predict which players will move to which clubs by the end of the transfer window.
5. In-Game Combinations: Combine match bets, like Over 2.5 Goals, Over 2.5 Cards & Over 9.5 Corners as an advanced special.
Understanding Football Specials Odds
At BoyleSports, you’ll see our football specials odds written as fractional odds – the most common odds format in the UK.
If you place a bet on an FA Cup football special with 10/1 odds, the 10 represents the profit and the one represents the stake. So, a £10 bet at 10/1 would pay out £100. You also get your original stake back for a total of £110. To understand potential payouts for different odds, check out our BoyleSports betting calculator.
You might also see our football odds written as decimal odds. They are simple to understand – just multiply your stake by the decimal odds. So, a £1 bet with odds of 2.5 would pay out £2.50 – this includes your £1 stake and £1.50 profit.
How to Place a Bet on Football Specials
It’s simple to bet on football specials with BoyleSports.
1. Navigate to the football betting section and find the Specials tab for a competition or league, like the Champions League, La Liga or World Cup
2. Choose your bet and add it to your betslip
3. Enter your stake
4. Confirm and place your bet
If your bet is successful, your winnings are returned to your account. If your bet is unsuccessful, you lose your stake.
Key Strategies for Specials Betting
When it comes to betting on football specials, it helps to:
- Do thorough research: Specials often rely on news, rumours and team or player form. It’s essential to thoroughly research the latest news from the world of football, using a variety of different sources – from social media to mainstream media.
- Understand the bet you’re making: Often, football specials can be complex. It’s vital to understand exactly how your bet works, including the odds and what constitutes a successful outcome.
- Manage your bankroll: Whenever you bet on football, set a budget and stick to it. Don’t bet more than you can afford to lose.
- Avoid emotional betting: Always bet with a clear head without emotion. Avoid simply betting on your favourite team without doing your research.
For more football betting tips, check out our BoyleSports football blog.
Finding the Best Specials Promotions
At BoyleSports, we regularly run special promotions including free bets, enhanced odds and accumulator bonuses that you can apply to specials.
Check out our football betting promotions to discover our latest offers and bonuses.
Bet Responsibly on Football Specials
Sign up to BoyleSports or log in to your account and check out the latest football specials odds.
BoyleSports is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, and we have a dedicated responsible gambling page to make sure your time betting with us always remains fun.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are manager and transfer special bets settled?
Your chosen bet will be settled if the outcome you wager on occurs. Say, for example, you bet on a certain player moving in the transfer window. If the transfer happens your bet will pay out. It will be settled in line with the odds and your stake. A £10 bet with 3/1 odds will pay out £30 plus your original stake for a total of £40.
Is Cash Out available on Football Special bets?
Yes, cash out is available on our football match special bets. It means you can cash out early before the end of the 90 minutes to protect some of your stake.
What is a Bet Builder and how does it work for football?
With our Bet Builder, you can create your own unique football bets, combining multiple selections into one single bet. Simply choose up to five selections on your preferred football game to create your unique bet.
Markets include Match Betting & Handicap, First Goalscorer, Total Goals, Both Teams To Score, Correct Score, Total Corners, Team To Take Most Corners and To Win To Nil.
How do I bet on a football manager or player transfer?
Navigate to the dedicated page for the league you want to bet on, for example the Premier League. You’ll see our selection of football specials for that competition, including both transfer and manager specials. Then choose your market, pick the player or manager, check the odds, select your stake, and make the bet.
What happens if a player in a special bet doesn't play in the tournament?
Usually, if the player doesn’t compete in the tournament at all, your bet will be void and you’ll get your stake back. Say you back a player to be the top scorer in the World Cup and they get injured before the tournament starts, your bet will be void.