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Alternative Goal Line – Learn How to Bet on Goal Lines

Alternative goal line markets give you the flexibility to bet on football totals. It works on other sports with more points scored per game. This betting guide explains how this versatile betting market works and how you can find the best alternative goal line for every game.

The best sports betting exchanges and bookmakers have added the alternative goal line to their portfolio. In football, it provides a convenient substitute for the classic 2.5 goals. You can use it to mitigate the risks by betting on the under 3.5 or over 1.5 goals market. On the other hand, you can boost the odds and accept the higher risks of the bets for over 3.5 goals and under 1.5 goals.

What does alternative goal line mean?

So, what is alternative goal line bet? In order to answer this question, we need to talk about different types of sports betting and explain how goal line bets work. Goal-line betting requires you to correctly guess the total number of goals scored in a match when you play at any betting sites. However, based on how you make this correct score betting guess it has many variants. In total, we can say that there are three main types of goal line bets. These are:

  • Win to nil betting: You are placing two bets: The first one says one of the teams will score at least one goal and win the match (the number of goals is not important). The second one says the other team won’t score even a single goal. So if the match ends with a score like XX – 0, you win this bet. 
  • Over/under betting: You bet that the total number of goals will be above or below a certain number. For example, “over goal line 2” means you bet that more than 2 goals will be scored in that match. You can also place a bet for “over 0.5 goals” or even “over 6.5 goals”, a single-digit number is not mandatory. 
  • Alternative goal line betting: And here is the most important part, alternative goal line meaning. This is similar to over/under bets but it has half and quarter goals too. For example, you can place a bet for “over 1.5” or “under 1 – 1.5” (1.25). Now, as we all know, there are no “half” or “quarter” goals in football or any other goal-based sport: So what do they mean?

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Alternative goal line outcomes

Moving the goal line in either direction allows you to adjust the risks and payouts. You can change your objectives based on your money management strategy and preference for straight betting or accumulators. You can use the safety net of a refund for exact alternative goal lines or make a clean-cut decision with half goal lines. Expert punters can consider the quarter-goal option.

Exact goal number

👉 Very similar to over/under bets: You try to guess the exact goal count and bet that this number will be above or below another certain number.
👉 It doesn’t matter which team scores the goals or what the outcome of the match is.
👉 Unlike traditional goal line bets, however, if your number is equal to the total number of goals, you get a refund. 

Here is a simple example:

  • In order to win an alternative goal line over 2.0 bet, at least 3 goals must be scored in that match.
  • If 1 goal is scored you will lose.
  • If 2 goals are scored, your bet will be refunded: This is what alternative goal line 2.0 means.
  • When live betting, this bet can be placed on different phases of the match.
  • For example, you can also place an alternative 1st half goal line bet, and try to predict the total number of goals in the first half of the match.

Half goal number

👉 This is the most common type of alternative goal line bets.
👉 This option eliminates the “tie/push in betting” possibility if you play a single bet, because no match ends with a half goal.
👉 You can either win or lose, there is no other option. In other words, there are no refunds.

For example, if you place an alternative goal line over 1.5 bet, there must be at least 2 goals scored in that match to win: You will lose with any other score less than this number.

Quarter goal number

This one is actually two bets in one. For example, with an alternative goal line 1.0 1.5 bet (1.25), you are actually betting for an exact goal (1.0) and a half goal (1.5).

👉 When you understand the alternative goal line over 1.0 1.5 meaning, you will also understand what this means: You are dividing your budget into two parts
👉 Place an exact goal bet with the first half.
👉 With the second half, you are placing a half goal bet.

In this example, let’s say you have a budget of 100 EUR or any other betting currency. This means: 

  • You are placing an “over 1.0” exact goal bet for 50 EUR. If more than a single goal is scored in that match, you will win the bet. If only one goal is scored, you will get a refund. If no goals are scored, you will lose this part of the bet. 
  • You are also placing an over 1.5” half goal bet for 50 EUR. If more than a single goal is scored in that match, you will win the bet. With any other score, you will lose this part of the bet. 

So even if you lose the “over 1.5” part, for example, you can still win the “over 1.0” part: These bets cover multiple outcomes at the same time. Please note that some mobile bookies (including Asian bookies) also offer a variant called “Asian goal line”. This variant of the alternative goal line bets, may include only half and quarter bet options or exact goal bet option too. It depends on how bookies display them. 

Alternative goal line betting examples

This popular market can be used pregame or at live betting sites. It works for exact, half, and quarter goal lines with different potential payouts. Check out these examples to distinguish between alternative goal lines with two and three possible outcomes.

In an alternative goal line over 2 bet:

TOTAL NUMBER OF GOALS

BET RESULT

1 (or less)
BET RESULT
LOSE
2
BET RESULT
REFUND
3 (or more)
BET RESULT
WIN

In an alternative goal line over 2.5 bet:

TOTAL NUMBER OF GOALS

BET RESULT

2 (or less)
BET RESULT
LOSE
3 (or more)
BET RESULT
WIN

In an alternative goal line over 2 – 2.5 bet (2.25)

TOTAL NUMBER OF GOALS

BET RESULT

1 (or less)
BET RESULT
LOSE
2
BET RESULT
REFUND FOR THE FIRST PART
3 (or more)
BET RESULT
WIN

In an alternative goal line under 2 bet:

TOTAL NUMBER OF GOALS

BET RESULT

1 (or less)
BET RESULT
WIN
2
BET RESULT
REFUND
3 (or more)
BET RESULT
LOSE

In an alternative goal line under 2.5 bet:

TOTAL NUMBER OF GOALS

BET RESULT

2 (or less)
BET RESULT
WIN
3 (or more)
BET RESULT
LOSE

In an alternative goal line under 2 – 2.5 bet (2.25)

TOTAL NUMBER OF GOALS

BET RESULT

1 (or less)
BET RESULT
WIN
2
BET RESULT
REFUND FOR THE FIRST PART
3 (or more)
BET RESULT
LOSE

Tips & tricks for alternative goal line market

We explained how does alternative goal line works above, so it is time for some tips & tricks. While there is no guaranteed way to make money betting on football, we can recommend the following for alternative goal line bets:

Tip

  1. Do your research. The best football betting strategy is to learn everything possible about both teams. Keep track of the season and create a table for the average number of goals for the teams. This way, you can make a more consistent prediction for the total number of goals that can be scored in a given match.
  2. Consider special conditions. Whether a team is home or away affects both their performance and the number of goals. This is especially important for the under 1.5 goals strategy: Away teams score fewer goals. However, in general, it is possible to say that most matches result in a score higher than 1.5 goals, so over 1.5 bets are ideal for beginners.

What to expect from alternative goal line bets

PROS

  • Some options offer a refund
  • Higher odds than over/under bets
  • Betting on multiple outcomes is possible
  • A big bankroll is not required

CONS

  • It may be too complex for beginners
  • Requires extensive knowledge about football + betting

Stay in Control with Alternative Goal Line Bets

Bookmakers will present you with the standard goal line option and average odds. You can increase the risks and aim for higher payouts by increasing the alternative goal line. By contrast, you can reduce the risks and settle for low odds with a subtle slide lower. The over 2.5 goals market is no longer a restrictive barrier but an informative line that you can move in either direction.

Excellent bankroll management is needed to tinker with the alternative goal line. Used properly, it helps with value hunting by unlocking better odds on high-confidence matches. It is also a great tool for parlay bets, as it allows you to greatly reduce the risks on individual selections. Find the perfect balance between risk and reward and use the alternative goal line to maximize winnings.

FAQ about alternative goal line betting

This bet allows you to adjust the standard goal line up or down to bet on a different spread. You can choose to increase the risk and benefit from high odds or play it safe and settle for lower odds.

Success depends on finding value in the alternative odds compared to the original line. You can make a profit with proper research, excellent bankroll management, and some experience.

Alternative goal line betting can be used in any sports that have a goal-based score system, so you can use it for handball, ice hockey, bandy, and lacrosse too.

In alternative goal line betting, you can place a bet for the exact goal count, half and quarter goals, as explained above. In Asian goal line bets, only half and quarter bet options are available. However, some bookies display alternative goal line bets only as “Asian”: It depends on how the bookmaker displays its odds.

Alternative match goals are one of the outcomes of alternative goal line betting. You are trying to guess the exact number of goals and whether they will be above or below a certain number. There can be a tie, unlike the other outcomes (half/quarter).