Sergio is our CEO and betting expert. He is a big football fan. Sergio is the guy that runs it all and the one who got the BetZillion idea. Sergio’s favourite sports include football, handball, futsal, American football, and boxing.
Getting into betting on the American soccer league is fairly straightforward since you can find online MLS betting sites around any corner. However, as with any wagering endeavor, finding a bookie to accept your bets is only the beginning of the journey.
The MLS, or Major Soccer League, is a men’s professional football league representing the sport’s highest tier in the United States. Although soccer is not the most popular American sport, the MLS has many fans who support their favorite clubs and eagerly await the season to start.
While watching soccer might not be the favorite pastime for US residents, betting on sports is. Thanks to the explosive growth of gambling in the USA following the Supreme Court’s decision in 2018 to find the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) unconstitutional, MLS emerged as one of the most famous soccer leagues to wager on in the betting world.
Although weaker than the most popular football leagues, Major League Soccer odds are as accessible as markets on EFL Premier League, La Liga, Serie A or Bundesliga. However, while MLS’s relative lack of popularity won’t negatively affect your opportunity to find odds, being able to place bets and doing so well are two entirely different things.
This article will provide all the crucial information you’ll need to choose the best MLS sportsbooks.
List of the Best MLS Betting Sites
Finding fresh odds for this league is as simple as visiting any bookmaker. While many sports betting sites will accept wagers on MLS, there’s more to picking a bookie. It would be best if you never settled for the first sportsbook you find; instead, do some research and choose a site with solid market selection and competitive odds.
Above all, the bookmaker you choose needs to be legal and have a solid reputation, as only this way can you ensure a quality betting experience. Finding the top soccer sportsbook might take some time and research, but if you’re wagering this league, you can never go wrong with FanDuel and DraftKings, the US’ top sports betting bookies.
Offers & Promotions
MLS online sportsbooks offer various bonuses and promotions, which are attractive to new users and provide value to long-standing customers. Prices vary depending on the bookie you choose, but they are usually in the form of a free bet, odds boost, or even insurance on tournament betting or outright odds.
Picking one bookie over the other solely because it has better offers is not the brightest idea, as bonuses are far less valuable than competitive odds and market depth. Still, most good MLS Cup betting sites have great promotions, so picking a reputable sportsbook that offers a good gambling experience does not mean you’ll miss out on great bonuses.
All our recommended bookmakers are licensed and safe.
MLS Cup Odds
Bookies set the betting odds by looking at many factors, including the teams’ form, historical results, and statistics. They even ask for betting expert advice to understand better what odds to offer.
Not all MLS online bookmakers will offer the same odds since many moving pieces come into play when setting the odds. For example, BetUS could have Atlanta United defeat New England priced at 2/1, while Bet365 will offer 11/5.
Those price inconsistencies are normal and a product of the constantly moving market that will never be fully efficient. But, at the same time, the odds gaps are also what expert bettors look for when making their betting predictions since you might not want to bet on Atlanta United at 2/1 but are willing to wager on them at 11/5.
This example further proves why picking a MLS bookmaker with the best odds will benefit your betting journey. But before you can make money wagering, you first need to understand betting odds and all the bet types.
MLS Specials
Specials offer a unique and exciting way to wager without including the most popular bets, such as moneyline, points spread, and totals. Although specials are more scarce as fewer you can make in one season, they have their advantages.
One of the biggest advantages of specials is higher odds and better potential payouts on your wagers. Higher odds are not necessarily available with all special bets. Still, you can generally expect a lot more profits by betting on specials, which is why they’re so popular among punters.
MLS Eastern Conference
The MLS operates much differently than any other football league because it includes teams from all over the United States and even Canada. The large distances the teams would travel to visit an opponent wouldn’t make hosting a tournament with all teams included practical, so the MLS is divided into two conferences – Eastern and Western.
Despite the different formats, the betting approach doesn’t change much, but more wagering opportunities exist. For example, you can still bet on which team will win the MLS Cup, but you can also wager on which team will win the Eastern Conference.
Betting on the Eastern Conference is like betting on a league of its own. You have outright bets, promotion wagers, and more. The only difference is that there are more matches to wager on once the conference ends.
MLS Western Conference
You can bet on the Eastern Conference separately and wager on the Western Conference. From betting on single matches to outright prediction on who will win the conference or quality for the playoffs, there’s plenty to bet on.
As of 2021, the Western Conference features 13 teams, one less than the Eastern Conference. But while there are fewer matches to bet on in the West, wagering on the Western Conference is still prevalent.
MLS Playoffs
Wagers on Eastern and Western Conference will make up most of your bets over the season, but the real fun begins with the playoffs. The playoffs welcome only the top-performing teams from each conference, who duke it out in a single-elimination bracket leading to the MLS Cup finals.
Betting on the MLS playoffs is extremely popular amongst bettors because you can often find great value in the playoff odds. But besides all the great wagering opportunities the playoffs present, the playoff games also give you a better idea of which team will win the MLS Cup.
All bets are off in the playoffs as teams fight for the crown, so pay attention to the following tips.
Use the Regular Season to Your Advantage
You can use the regular season to your advantage. While it’s not a rule of thumb, the regular season can indicate a team’s chances in the playoffs. Did an underdog perform much better than expected during the regular season? That team might cause surprises in the playoffs or go all the way. In that case, its odds should be longer than the favorites, and you can capitalize on that by placing a smart bet.
Surprises happen every year. Top-ranked teams will always be favorites in the playoffs, but it doesn’t mean they will win the crown. Plus, some top-rated teams might slip in the regular season, giving you insight into how they might perform against others in the playoffs.
Study the regular season closely and use it to your advantage. It can show you a lot once the playoffs come around.
Pay Attention to Past Playoff Records
Past playoff appearances can also tell you much about the upcoming matches. For example, if two rival teams are drawn against each other, you can check their previous meetings for insight. The playoffs are not one-legged; many can happen in a few rival matches. Of course, you should also take note of the squads. Was it the same roster as last year, or are there a few additions? These can prove very useful when determining the winner of playoff brackets.
Patterns repeat themselves in sports more often than you think, and psychology plays a big role, too. If you ask us, checking past playoff records is a must. If one team performs poorly against a rival and they’re up against each other in the playoffs, compare their previous encounters for more information.
Winner
The winning market in MLS can mean many things. It can be about which team will win the conference, the conference finals, or the MLS Cup.
While all three explanations are correct, the winner market mostly refers to the MLS Cup winner, i.e., which team will emerge as the Major League Soccer champions.
You can wager at any time of the season, and often, the MLS bookies will open the odds even before the season begins. Of course, some prefer betting ahead of time to get better prices, but it doesn’t hurt to wait until the final odds open and then make a choice.
MVP & Top Goalscorer
Betting on the Most Valuable Player and top goalscorer are 2 of the most popular future bets, and it’s not hard to see why. The MVP and top goalscorer markets are prime examples of special bets that offer a different approach to wagering while offering excellent odds.
Odds on the Golden Boot winner and league MVP will often exceed double digits, and if you’re brave enough, you can even bet on players priced at 100/1 and over. So, while wagering on outsiders might not seem like the best betting strategy, it can pay off.
In 2020, Diego Rossi, who was priced at 10/1, won the Golden Boot, and he is not the only outsider to claim the award. Underdogs often deliver on the Golden Boot and MVP markets, making these kinds of bets popular and profitable.
Popular Bets
If you plan to wager you will always have something to bet on. There are countless different bet types to explore and endless ways to approach wagering on the American soccer league. But before you get too deep into betting, you should first learn a thing or two about the most common bet types.
Moneyline
Moneyline is the most common and popular way of wagering on soccer because it’s a straightforward bet type. With it, you simply predict which team will win a match, so you pick either Team A or Team B.
There is not much more to the basic moneyline bet. But there are also 2-way and 3-way moneyline bets that work on the same principle yet are slightly different.
A simple moneyline only allows you to predict which team will win without the possibility of betting on a draw. That changes with the 3-way moneyline, which includes all three possible outcomes.
Another way of betting is a 2-way moneyline, which is offered in 2 ways:
Double Chance – a wager on a team to win or draw.
Draw No Bet – a gamble that eliminates the possibility of a draw.
Note that if you bet with a draw no bet, the odds on the favorites will be inflated because a draw will refund your wager.
Point Spread
A point spread is a bet type with which you’re making a fixed-odds wager on a game, where the teams will be either handicapped by or be given an advantage of a certain amount of goals. Point spread (or goal spread in soccer) effectively allows you to bet on the favorites handicapped by a set number of goals or the underdogs given the same number of goals advantage.
So, suppose you have a game between Atlanta United and DC United, where Atlanta United is heavily favored to win. In that case, the bookie will allow you to bet on them with a negative handicap.
In this case, Atlanta United would be handicapped by -1.5 goals, meaning that if you bet on them, you expect them to win with at least two goals to spare. Likewise, you could bet on the underdogs with a +1.5 goals advantage and predict that DC. United will win, draw, or not lose by more than a goal.
The bookies set the betting line for point spread in advance based on how they believe the game will go. So, if Atlanta United is perceived to be much stronger, the spread will be greater and vice versa.
Total (Over/Under)
A total (or over/under) bet in MLS and soccer in general works similarly to any other sport. The basic idea is the same — with totals, you’re predicting whether a certain statistic in the game will be higher or lower than the offered number by the bookie.
In most cases, totals are used to bet on the number of goals in a game. A wager over 2.5 means you’re predicting that there will be more than two goals in that match. In addition to betting on total goals, over/under can indicate the number of corners, goal kicks, fouls, and even the number of cards shown.
The major difference in betting over/under on soccer and other sports is that the totals can be shown in multiples of 0.25 goals in soccer. That gives you more flexibility with your bets, which is always a welcome addition when looking for the best value.
Props
If you’re bored of the traditional bet types and want to spice up your gambling journey, props or proposition bets are an excellent choice. Unlike all other bet types, props are not affected by the game’s outcome and instead focus on an event that may or may not happen.
Its unique nature makes prop bets one of the most popular ways to wager on soccer, and while they might be tougher to predict, the odds props offer are generally much higher. Some examples of prop bets include:
Which player will be booked first?
Will a player score a hat trick?
Will a player be shown a red card?
Which half will have the most goals?
Time of the first goal
Who will be the first pick of the Draft?
There are many different types of prop bets, but the most popular include player-based and goal-based propositions. But if those are too casual for you, there’s a large selection of alternative props to make betting more exciting.
Futures
With futures, bettors place a wager on a team to win an event or tournament that will take place in the future. Many different bets fall under this category, but the most common in betting is a wager on who will win the MLS Cup. In 2024, bettors could also bet on the winner of the one-off MLS Is Back Tournament.
To bet on futures, you need to visit your bookie and navigate to the section of the site that offers odds, and you’re set to place a future bet. The odds to win the Cup will usually be much higher than you’ll find on the moneyline or total markets, which is why betting on the futures is so popular.
Most bookmakers have already started offering markets with odds of winning the MLS Cup 2024, so now is a great time to start placing future bets on your favorite clubs.
Bet of the Day
Every bettor needs help deciding what to bet on, and it never hurts to look for a second opinion before placing your wager. To aid you on your betting journey, my colleagues from BetZillion and I work tirelessly to provide you with excellent wagering guides and previews.
Here, you can find a special section of our betting picks, which includes only the best choices of the day, which I found worthy of a special mention. All choices under the “Bet of the Day” offer great value and are an excellent tool to help you on your betting journey.
Above, you can find the best predictions for today.
How to Bet on MLS
As long as you have access to the internet, know how to register at a sportsbook, and are legally allowed to place bets, you can wager on MLS. However, being able to bet and profit from it is not the same.
Achieving the status of a bettor who makes a profit from betting can be tedious, and it will require you to invest a lot of time in perfecting the craft. But while you won’t become an expert bettor overnight, you can get there quickly by following a few simple steps.
Register at a legal and reputable online MLS sportsbook.
Bookmakers with a strong brand name like Pinnacle should be at the top of your list.
Preferably create accounts with several bookies for price shopping.
Do not forget to take full advantage of bonuses and promotions.
Educate yourself on the league, teams, and players.
Live or in-play betting is one of the best ways to explore an entirely new approach to wagering without learning new things. With in-play betting, you will wager with the same bet types otherwise, but in a much more exciting way.
With live betting, you’re wagering on a game as it happens, so naturally, it makes sense that you also watch it. You can watch MLS games on your TV or via a live-streaming service, but if you’re also planning to bet on the matches, you should consider finding a bookie that has live streaming.
Timing is critical with live betting because the odds shift by a second, and they likely won’t come back if you miss them. That is why live betting is almost exclusively done via bookmakers that offer live streaming services. These services allow you to watch and bet on the games as they unfold straight from the bookie’s desktop or MLS betting app.
The second thing to know about live betting is that it can be extremely rewarding. The live odds will constantly shift, and the bookies often won’t be able to keep up with the action, so if you’re knowledgeable enough about the league and know what’s happening on the pitch, you can take advantage of the bookmaker’s sloppiness.
But you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy some in-play betting or make some profit with it. Anyone can do it, as long as you approach it the right way and, most of all, bet on in-play on a solid sportsbook.
MLS Betting Tips & Predictions
Following betting experts and their advice is one of the most important steps towards a successful wagering experience, so you must find a MLS betting website that can provide you with expert picks. Even the most successful bettors will look for a second opinion when making their wager, not to copy the bet but to see whether they might have missed something.
Information is key in wagering, so getting as much information about the game as possible is always wise. The best and most efficient way of gathering information is by reading our betting predictions.
So whether you’re a rookie bettor, a casual punter, or someone who lives and breathes sports betting – these tips and predictions are your friends and a vital tool for making a profit.
MLS Betting Strategies
There are many ways to approach betting, and you can implement countless wagering strategies to make your journey as successful as possible. With so many different approaches, picking the best is impossible.
Some bettors only bet on props, others only wager in-play, and some punters only gamble on over/under markets. All three strategies can be solid, but ultimately, it will come down to what you prefer.
Do you closely follow weather forecasts and believe they will affect the number of goals in a match? Betting on over/under goals might be your strategy. If you love watching MLS games and think you have a good idea of how the teams like to play, in-play betting should be right up your alley.
There is no limit to which strategy you can use when betting, and there is no wrong choice. As ruthless as it can be, the gambling world also offers a lot of flexibility, so you will never feel limited in your options.
So if you came here wondering which betting strategy is best, I don’t have an answer. Think about your strengths as a bettor and use them to find the system that suits you best, and you will be well on your way to making money with betting.
Preparing for MLS Betting in Preseason
How does a bettor prepare? By watching the preseason matches, of course, and keeping an eye on the following tips.
Study the Previous Season
Before you start betting, make sure to study the previous season. Sometimes, there’s a pattern to follow, which might repeat itself in the current season. If a team has won the MLS a season or 2 in a row, there’s a great chance it’ll repeat the feat. It goes double for outright bets.
Paying attention to the matches between rivals and favorites is also essential. You might spot a pattern regarding goals or other stats that can repeat in the upcoming season. The weaker teams will likely stay weak if poorly picked in the draft. Those who chose well or traded up are bound to improve.
This can be noticed during the preseason when teams practice against others. You will probably get a clear overview of what might happen in the season, resulting in more informed bets.
Assess the SuperDraft and Other Offseason Moves
The preseason is important, but so are the SuperDraft and off-season moves. With smart moves, weak teams can grow a lot in the preseason. Those who picked the top players in the SuperDraft will most likely improve their standings. Preseason moves and the SuperDraft will give you a pretty clear idea of what might happen during the season.
Keeping an eye on this news may be vital to making better bets when the season begins. If a team trades up or drafts a great player, its chances will likely be much better, no matter the past season’s results. So, when preparing to bet on the upcoming season, the preseason, draft, and offseason moves can help greatly.
Keep an Eye Out for Notable Injuries
Injuries greatly impact a team’s single-match performance and the whole season. That team might perform poorly if a star player is out for weeks or months once the season gets underway. Returning to the top will be challenging since players are not 100% from when they return from injury.
Keeping an eye on notable injuries can give you much insight into a team’s performance. Even minor injuries might derail the team’s performance in the opening weeks, significantly impacting your bets. Always follow the news for the latest injuries for the teams you want to bet on. If you don’t, you might have a surprise.
Using Stats and Trends to Bet on MLS
How to bet like a pro? Follow the latest trends and stats we’ve listed below.
Stats for Betting on the MLS Cup Winner
Stats are vital. Numerous metrics beyond goals and assists for teams and players can give you an advantage when betting on matches. For example, home-field advantage should always be checked before two rivals take the field. The same goes for their previous history and the current stats for both teams, which can make or break your bets.
Stat-driven betting is all the rage right now; you shouldn’t run away. Instead, embrace the stats available at the best MLS online betting sites and use them to make better bets that will likely result in more frequent wins.
Consider Home-Field Advantage Statistics
Home-field advantage is critical for matches, especially in the postseason. Why? Playing in front of the home crowd is a big boost for each team. Players also know every inch of their home field, giving them plenty of advantage over the opposition. Higher-seeded teams get the home-field nod; as a result, they are massive betting favorites most of the time.
Any team with home advantage can beat any other, even if we’re talking David vs Goliath. Home-field advantage matters and has been a factor in giant slayings.
Study Goals Per Game Trends
How many goals do the rivals score per game? This stat may not look much, but it’s essential, especially in goal betting markets and totals. It goes double when considering the history between the two teams in an upcoming match. Looking at how many goals per game your favorite team scores can make all the difference on your next slip.
Firepower up front matters a lot in the MLS, so consider the goals-per-game ratio and striking power to get a proper idea of what to expect in a team’s upcoming matches. If a team has scored more than 3 goals per game in the past 10 rounds, it’s in a scoring groove. You can take advantage of that, especially if it plays a weaker side.
MLS Overview
Established in 1993, MLS is one of the youngest soccer leagues, but that doesn’t detract from its rich and exciting history. Here are some interesting facts about the league you should know before betting on.
Since its inaugural season in 1996, MLS has featured 14 different MLC Cup champions, but only seven clubs have won the title more than once.
The current most successful team is the Los Angeles Galaxy, which has won 5 MLS Cup titles, followed by DC United, which has won 4.
MLS is known as a league that welcomes European football superstars at the end of their careers. Many high-profile names compete in the American soccer league – Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Beckham, Javier Hernandez, Nani, David Villa, Wayne Rooney, Kaka, and more.
This league features several excellent home-grown talents, including Josef Martinez, Luiz Araujo, Emanuel Reynoso, Ezequiel Barco, Raúl RuidÃaz, and Jordan Morris.
Retired American footballer Chris Wondolowski is the most successful goal scorer, with 171 goals across 413 matches. Behind him are Landon Donovan (145), Jeff Cunningham (134), Jaime Moreno (133), and Kei Kamara (130).
Carlos Vela holds the record for the most goals in a single season, with 34 goals in 2019. The only player who came close to the Colombian football star is Josef MartÃnez, who scored 31 a year prior.
The biggest stadium in the MLS is Mercedes-Benz Stadium (71,000 capacity), owned by Atlanta United FC. Nashville SC’s Nissan Stadium is the second-largest, with a 60,000 capacity, and is the only other stadium that can accept over 40,000 spectators.
Major League Soccer might not be the largest football league, but it’s comparable to the English Premier League, French Ligue 1, Spanish La Liga, German Bundesliga, and Italian Serie A in terms of popularity.
This league is more prevalent in the United States. American bookies such as BetUS and DraftKings tend to be the most popular bookmakers for betting on MLS.
As a bettor, you might also be interested in a few interesting statistical facts about this league.
MLS tends to be a very high-scoring league, with its games often averaging well over 2.5 goals. For example, in the 2020/21 season, there were 2.88 average goals per game, 3.07 a season prior, and 3.18 in 2018/19.
The average home team wins percentage is usually over 50%.
Most goals happen in the game’s final minutes—approximately 17% in the final 10 minutes (81-90).
Since the 2016 season, the most common final score has been 2-1. This has happened in over 1/10 (+10%) games over the last five seasons.
Bottom Line
But no matter what makes MLS interesting, this league offers plenty of good betting opportunities. You just need to know where to find them.
Sergio is our CEO and betting expert. He is a big football fan. Sergio is the guy that runs it all and the one who got the BetZillion idea. Sergio’s favourite sports include football, handball, futsal, American football, and boxing.
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