Sportsbet Blog

Online betting has become massive since the last World Cup and with many more online bookies and exotic bets to choose from.

After looking at all the main Australian bookies Sportsbet has come out on top for range of betting markets and for the best odds.

They cover every World Cup match and include all the usual bets like half time/full time, number of goals and wining margin. They also have a full range of special bets for all of the Socceroos matches.

See our top 5 best World Cup free bet offers here

Here are my top 5 tips when betting on the 2010 World Cup

1. Remember the Draw. If you back a team to win remember if its a draw after 90 minutes you lose your bet even if the game goes to extra time during the finals.
2. Live betting. If your pre-game bet is looking bad it may be worth making an in-play bet to minimise your losses.
3. Most teams will start the group stage matches pretty conservatively so take a careful approach to half time/full time bets.
4. Multi bets. Group stages make for great multi bets. Stick with the favourites in a 3 or 4 leg multi and get some decent odds.
5. Bet on New Zealand to finish bottom of their group. I’m tipping this will happen and at $1.20 its as safe as houses!

The reason I like Sportsbet the most for this World Cup is for the unusual bets that can be placed. They make a match very exciting and keeps you on edge for the full 90 minutes.

Here are some of the more unusual betting options available at Sportsbet for the 2010 FIFA World Cup

First Socceroo to be shown a card

Tim Cahill 7.00

Lucas Neill 7.00

Craig Moore 8.00

Brett Emerton 9.00

More players here

I’ll be backing Lucas Neill here, he will be much more busy than any striker and more likely to be chasing the player with the ball.

Australian top goal scorer

Tim Cahill 3.75

Harry Kewell 4.50

Josh Kennedy 4.50

No Goals scored by an Australian 8.00

I think Timmy’s a safe choice here, Harry could easily miss a game or two with injury and the Socceroos will depend on him much more.

More players here

Australia’s stage of elimination.

Group Stage 1.33

Second Round 4.50

Quarter Finals 12.00

Semi Finals 23.00

Runner Up 81.00

You would be a game man to back anything past a 2nd round elimination. Remember top 2 to through so there’s some value in $4.50.

Double Chance

Germany and Draw 1.08

Germany and Australia 1.20

Australia and Draw 2.40

Australia will be very happy with a draw in this match and will most likely playing for one. The Aussie and draw could be a worthy option here.

Sportsbet have a World Cup promo running at the moment giving new customers up to a $200 free bet. Simply make an account with Sportsbet and make your first deposit. Sportsbet will then instantly match your first deposit up to $100.

The 2nd part of the bonus is given after 10 bets have been placed. Sportsbet work out the average amount waged and refund that amount up to $100.

See the Sportsbet site here for more info in this great soccer offer and to make an account.

Coach Pim Verbeek has named his squad for the 2010 World cup with very few surprises. 14 of the squad that did Australia proud in 2006 are there with a couple of new younger faces such as 18 year old  former Brisbane Roar winger Tommy Oar. But while the backbone of the team looks good on paper with Lucas Neill, Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell all picked do they really have what it takes to reproduce the form of four years ago.

There is no doubt that the side has done well to even gain a spot in South Africa having navigated it’s way through a tough Asian qualifying section. Trips to the likes of Bahrain and Iraq are always tough but lets be honest they are games that we would expect to come out on top in and facing these teams is nothing to facing the likes of Germany, Spain or a rampant England.

The truth is that the Socceroo’s are an aging side and barr Tim Cahill they have no world class talent. Mark Viduka has retired, Lucas Neill is not performing at the same level that saw become one of the most dominant centre backs in the English Premier League, while Harry Kewell at 31 is past his peak and will probably start the tournament just  70% fit. And as for the young talent coming through, well there isn’t any. Tommy Oar is raw and could be one for the future but I am afraid that this World Cup Campaign is going to be something of an embarrassment.

Despite my pessimistic view on the Socceroos hopes there are some good bets involving them that you should get on to. As I have already said Tim Cahill is the Aussies superstar and with his ability to get in to the box and score goals he must be a shoe in to finish as his countries top goal scorer. Sportsbet are offering $4.00 for him to do so, odds that are too good to miss out on in my opinion.

I feel that we could get something out of the Germans, yes the Germans. We will be up for the first game, Kewell will be well rested and out to prove his fitness and we could just catch them cold making $3.55 at Centrebet for a draw worth a punt. But going up against the likes of Germany, Serbia and Ghana the most likely result is that they wont even pick up a point. So go to Centrebet now and take them up on their free bet offer with odds of $7.75 you can’t lose.

Everton and Chelsea will face off in the worlds oldest domestic football competition, the F.A. Cup, on the 30th of May. The tie will be 128th final and as always it promises to corker. This year both sides go in to it in top form. Everton are still on high after disposing of city rivals Liverpool early on in the competition and then claiming the scalp of Premier league winners and Champions League finalists Manchester United at the semi final stage. Chelsea on the other hand will be looking to end the season well after failing to challenge for top honours. They will also want to give a fitting send off to coach Gus Hiddink who is likely to be replaced by Carlo Ancelotti in the summer.

There is no doubt that Chelsea will go in to this match as hot favourites. In fact sportsbet have Chelsea at $1.80 to take out their fifth F.A. Cup. This is mainly because they have a far superior squad packed with world stars that have lost only once in thier last 22 league and cup matches. They are captained by England’s Frank Lampard, and boast the premier leagues joint top goal scorer, Nicolas Anelka, but their depth of talent doesn’t end there.  Portugese legend Deco, England Captain John Terry and Ivory Coast forward Didier Drogba will all be vying for a spot in the starting line up.

Everton will be hoping that the magic of the F.A. Cup, and the fact that they have a better record than Chelsea (having appeared in the final 12 times winning it five times) will help them a massive upset. On their day Everton have proved to be a tough nut to crack. Not only did they beat Liverpool and Manchester Utd to reach the final but they  also recently held Chelsea to a 0-0 draw after wasting a number of their own chances. In form Australian Tim Cahill is an definite match winner. Cahill has a habit of popping up in the right place at the time to score the most important of goals and he loves the big stage. Everton have also finished the season strong after what was something of a sluggish start meaning that they have a lot of momentum going in to the final making them worth a $4.65 punt at Sportsbet

There are also alot of other ways to get your money on the game including betting on the final score, first goal scorer and the half time, full time result.

If you sign up to Sportsbet you will receive a $50 free bet on the game. Here are some of my recommendations on where to place your money.

Chelsea to be leading at half time and full time is $2.75 at Sportsbet. Another good one is $8.50 for it to be a 0-0 draw after 90 mins.

The two that I will be placing my money are Everton to be winning at half time and then Chelsea to be winning after 90 mins, Sportsbet are offering $26.00 for this. Well worth the free $50 punt in my opinion.

But most of my money is on draw half time then Chelsea to win at $4.50. I feel that Everton will come out all guns blazing in the first half and will push Chelsea back. But Chelsea have too much class and that will show late on.