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?
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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.
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.
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.
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
In an alternative goal line over 2.5 bet:
TOTAL NUMBER OF GOALS
BET RESULT
In an alternative goal line over 2 – 2.5 bet (2.25)
TOTAL NUMBER OF GOALS
BET RESULT
In an alternative goal line under 2 bet:
TOTAL NUMBER OF GOALS
BET RESULT
In an alternative goal line under 2.5 bet:
TOTAL NUMBER OF GOALS
BET RESULT
In an alternative goal line under 2 – 2.5 bet (2.25)
TOTAL NUMBER OF GOALS
BET RESULT
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
- 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.
- 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).