If you didn’t already know How To Bet on MLS Games or need a brush up on your previous
knowledge, this article can help.
Major League Soccer popularly known as the MLS is the USA’s biggest soccer league,
consisting of 28 teams who compete each season for a chance at a title.
This sport is greatly patronized by bettors, as there are numerous MLS games that take place
globally, making this league to grow in popularity too. Following the overturn of the federal ban
on sports betting by the US government; allowing states to legalize and regulate sports betting,
legal sportsbooks can operate freely in many US states and they all offer MLS betting.
The MLS is an interesting and great league to wager on, as it offers near non-stop action with its
952 games per season, you’ll never run out of markets to bet on. Furthermore, with the way it is
set you’d be getting lots of betting opportunities and betting markets too.
Finally, for the bettor who is just starting on MLS betting or is looking to reconnect with a once
beloved sport, this guide breaks down and builds up the essentials you should know on MLS
betting.
Getting Started on MLS
The legalization of sports betting in the US, made available many sportsbooks for you to bet
with. However, selecting the right sportsbook is important because it decides the types of odds
you’ll get for different MLS games, and also the bonuses you’d be getting.
Betting sites like Matchplug offer the best MLB Predictions, which is a good place to base your
consideration. Here are other things to look for in a sportsbook:
- Reputation
In terms of reputation, check if the website is safe for usage, licensed, and and trusted by other
bettors. - Soccer Odds
Odds play a huge role on the amount of profit you can make from bets. Although small
differences in odds offered by bookmakers don’t seem like a big deal, it can affect your winnings
if you succeed. So, check the odds on soccer before joining a sportsbook. - Offers and Promotions
US sportsbooks offer bonuses to new bettors which will in turn provide you with more funds to
bet with. This helps you bet more but spend less, and if you utilize your bonuses massively, you
can profit from them.
The Best MLS Soccer Odds?
Despite being considered weaker than European leagues, MLS is growing in popularity, causing
soccer betting sites to offer more MLS betting odds to give bettors a chance to win huge amounts
in cash.
An online sports betting site serious about MLS, will have odds like this on display:
MLS Club Moneyline
New York City FC -125
Los Angeles FC +230
As is with most sporting events and sportsbooks globally, soccer clubs with a minus sign in front
are the favorites, while the clubs with plus sign in front are the underdogs.
These odds we sampled are displayed as American moneyline or odds, which are used mostly by
North American clubs. Odds can also be displayed as Fractional (4/5) or Decimal (1.80) which
are used by UK bettors.
Best Time to Bet on MLS
MLS odds are released a week to the games, giving you enough time to scope for injuries or how
team practice is going. There are two best times to bet on the MLS.
If you’re backing favorites, place your bet immediately the lines open. This is because the public
mostly supports the favorites, so the moneyline shifts accordingly.
For example, if everyone supported New York City FC , then – 125 becomes -135, but placing
this bet at -125 saves you $10 and reduces the juice too. On the other hand, if you backed Los
Angeles FC, +230 could shift to +240, but you don’t have to rush to the betting window for an
underdog.
The second best time to bet on MLS is an hour before kickoff because this is when clubs post
their starting lineups and formations, this gives you the advantage to see which players are
involved in a game.
How Are Bets Scored in the MLS
Bets in the MLS are scored on the result after regulation (full)-time, 90 minutes plus injury time
is complete. Most sportsbooks will advertise ”Full Time”.
If a New York City FC vs Los Angeles FC game moves into extra time and New York City FC
wins, then you didn’t win your bet. After Full Time, the game was tied so that a Draw Bet would
win.
Note that you are only betting on 90 minutes. If the game is suspended then your bet may be
canceled, read the sportsbook rules regarding bets before placing one.
How to Bet on MLS Moneyline
In a moneyline bet all you need to do is pick a team to win, but in MLS there is a chance that a
match will end in a draw, this tie is represented using a third line underneath the matchup.
MLS CLUB MONEYLINE
New York City FC -125
Los Angeles FC +230
Draw +260
If you backed New York with $100, your payout will be $180 which is the $100 you placed plus
your $80 winning. A bet of $100 on Los Angeles will give you a $330 payout, your $100 back
and $230 winnings.
Underdogs bets carry more risk and pay more, while favorites have less risk and as such won’t
pay you as much.
MLS Betting Markets
Understanding how MLS sportsbooks work and the rules governing them is one thing, knowing
which MLS betting markets are available to you and understanding them is another. We’ve
explained this part below:
Totals or Over/Under
Totals AKA Over/Under betting is a bet where you decide if the total number of goals scored by
Los Angeles FC or New York City FC will be greater or less than the oddsmaker’s set number.
Before you make your MLB Picks and Parlays, note that the average total scores in soccer is 2.0
goals.
Although most sportsbooks offer one line goal for games which could be Over/Under 0.5, 1, 1.5
or up to 3.5,4, or 4.5 goals. If you bet $100 on Over 25. (-185) and the game ends NYCFC 2-1
LAFC, you win $54.05. But if it ends NYFC 2-0 LAFC, you lose your bet.
If you bet $100 on Under 2.5 Goals (+145) and the game ends with NYFC 1-1 LAFC, you win
$145, but if it finishes with NYFC 3-0 LAFC you lose your bet.
There are times when sportsbooks Total Goals/Over/Under offers will be 3 goals. If the game
ends NYCFC 2-1 LAFC, whether you backed Over or Under 3 goals, both bets become a push
and the amount you wagered will be refunded.
Point Spread (Against the Spread)
In Point Spread Bet, oddsmakers put the underdogs at an advantage and disadvantage the
favorite. MLS spreads are usually small.
NYFC -1.5
LAFC – +1.5
In this scenario, NYCFC will need two goals or more to win, to cover the spread. For LAFC to
cover, they would win the game outrightly or lose by no more than one goal.
Against The Spread in point spread shows the wins based on picks made against a spread set by
oddsmakers. In MLS, spread is the number oddsmakers use to give bettors better options than
wins and losses.
Props
Props are bets made based on the occurrence or non-occurrence of certain events in a game,
which may not be the outcome of a single match.
Prop bets can be made on the probability of a shutout happening, if a player will score a goal,
total corner kicks, yellow and or red cards, number of goals in the second half.
Live Betting
Live Betting offers you the option to bet on soccer matches as they happen live. These bets are
created and made public when a game begins. You can wager on events like first to score,
penalty kicks, goals scored between 20th and 30th minute. Live bets disappear as fast as they
appear, so if you see one, take it immediately.
Parlays
Parlays are bets that combine multiple straight bet wagers on one betting slip. Typically, you
could pool straight-up bets with spreads and totals, however you can have multiple versions of
the same wager as long as it is one different MLS game.
For instance, New York City FC’s moneyline parlayed with Over 1.5, for this to be a winning
bet, New York must win and would need the match to have two or more goals. Parlays increase
the potential payouts and difficulties too.
MLS Future Bets
MLS Future Bets is a bet you place in advance on an event that would occur in weeks or months.
Some sportsbooks can take future bets on who wins the MLS cup final, teams that’ll qualify for
playoffs, who wins the Golden boot, or who emerges a MVP.
The payout for future bets are huge in the long run, but they take a long time to cash.
Draw No Bet
A Draw No Bet is basically a Moneyline with its draw option canceled. Here, you’d need to stake
$500 on NYCFC (-500) to win $100 and bet $100 on LAFC (+350) to get $350 if this team won.
If the game ends in a draw, your bet becomes a push and your money will be refunded.
Double Chance
In Double Chance you can combine two Moneyline outcomes into a single bet. If you predict an
underdog to pull off a shock result against a big favorite, this bet is your best option as opposed
to backing them to win a Moneyline.
NYFC Or Tie -650
Tie or LAFC +145
NYFC or LAFC -380
Total Team Goals
Totals Team Goals is you predicting the number of goals you think a team will score in a game.
If you backed LAFC Over 2.5 Goals (+135) and they score 3 or more goals you win. If you
wagered on NYCFC under 1.5 Goals (-270) and they score 2 or more goals, you’ll lose.
Halftime/Fulltime
For Halftime/Fulltime you bet on what the result of a game will be at halftime or full time.
Picking LAFC at (+1100) means they’ll need to win at half-time and at full-time to win your bet.
If you predicted Tie/LAFC, the result at half-time will be a draw and Los Angeles winning at
half-time to win your wager.
If you picked NYFC/LAFC (+4000), NYFC would win at half-time and LAFC would win at
full-time to win your bet.
Half-time/full-time is a good bet for when you expect a favorite to dominate the underdog early
in the game and emerge winners. Or if the favorite is playing against a team with a strong
defense and will break them in the second half.
ShutOut/Win To NIL
ShutOut/Win To NIL is when you predict a team to win a game without conceding a goal. For
example, backing NYCFC (+195), you can cash your bet if they won the match 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-
0.
This bet has better odds than Moneyline and is good for when a big favorite is playing an
underdog that plays defensively but doesn’t score many goals.
MLS Betting Strategies and Tips
A strategy that works and a system are two important things you must have if you want your
MLS wagers to be successful. MLS betting strategies is something you should pay attention to as
you would other sports, if you want to find value daily.
● Research clubs and matchups for team form.
● Note that you bet only on the result after full-time (90 minutes + Injury time).
● Follow the transfer window.
● Read daily MLS media coverage for current news and injuries.
● Compare teams in the Eastern Conference vs Western Conference.
● In MLS home teams have a unique advantage.
● Shop for the best MLS sportsbook odds in the market and bet with them.
● Analyze odds and bet to maximize your profits.
