Betting exchanges, such as Betfair, give us the ability to trade football in-play and this has completely changed football betting.
Football trading and betting are often lumped into the same category, but they are actually very different approaches.
Rather than place a bet and then hope it wins, football trading means you can let games kick-off and then decide whether or not to bet based on the action on the pitch.
For example, if you plan to back the home team to win, you can make sure that they are creating chances before risking a penny of your money.
There are plenty of other benefits to trading as well. You can take advantage of better prices, reduce liabilities as goals are scored and secure profits before the final whistle.
In the rest of this guide, I'll explain more about how football trading works and I'll share some great resources to help you get started.
What is football trading?
Football trading is a way of betting on football where you place back and lay bets on a betting exchange like Betfair. As the odds move before kick-off and during a match, you can lock in a profit or cut your losses before the game even finishes.
This means that you are not solely relying on the final result. You can also often back teams at better prices and avoid the agony of late goals spoiling your bets.
You can think of Betfair trading as a '90 minute stock market'.
Let’s say that Dave is a financial trader looking to buy shares in Coca-Cola.
He checks the financial history of the company, strength of the competition, current market conditions and so on.
Based on all the data he can find, Dave makes an informed judgement about future profit and growth potential.
He looks at the share price and, if it shows some value, he decides to buy.
If Coca-Cola release some good news – perhaps a new flavour that starts selling very well – the price rises and Dave can sell his shares.
The difference between the price Dave bought his shares at and the price he sold them for is his profit.
Switch out Coca-Cola for Manchester City and the same criteria apply.
As a football trader Dave checks previous performance, strength of the opposition, recent form and any other useful statistics that he can find.
In exactly the same way, he makes an informed judgement about Manchester City’s likely performance in their next match and looks for value in the various markets.
It may be that Dave expects Manchester City to score the first goal of the game during the first half. He then has a number of markets he can choose to trade in.
Each of these markets lasts for a maximum of 90 minutes and Dave will know the outcome of his investment either when or before the final whistle blows.
It’s as if a stock market has been condensed into a very small amount of time.
As football traders, we have complete control over our risk/reward.
For a more detailed look at the differences, read our guide to football trading vs betting.
Football trading strategies
Football trading strategies give you a clear plan of action when approaching a trade.
At Goal Profits, we mostly focus on first and second half trading, correct score trading and other goal-based strategies.
The best results come from combining a good strategy with strong match selection, discipline and bank management.
You can use football data tools such as Team Stats to dig into upcoming matches and find selections that suit the strategy you want to trade.
We also have built-in strategy qualifiers at Goal Profits, with everything in one place on the Today’s Qualifiers page. This makes it easy to see which matches qualify for each strategy every day.
Lay the Draw has been one of the most popular football trading strategies over the years and was how many traders first got started.
The idea itself is simple. You lay the draw and then look to back it again later at higher odds, usually after a goal.
Some traders have done very well with Lay the Draw, while others have struggled. The difference is often the matches they choose, the prices they take and how they manage the trade, rather than the strategy itself.
Football trading has also moved on over the years.
While it remains one of the better known strategies, traders need to be able to adapt as the markets and the way matches are played evolve.
That is why we are always reviewing and improving our strategies when needed.
A good strategy provides the starting point and as you gain experience you will learn how to get the most from each opportunity.
In-play football trading
Once a football match has kicked off, the odds begin to move, reacting to everything that is happening on the pitch.
Goals create the biggest odds movements, but shots, pressure, cards and even just the clock running down all have an effect on the market.
This is where in-play trading differs from placing a traditional bet before kick-off. You can enter or exit a trade as the match develops, rather than waiting for the final result.
For example, you might wait to see if a team is creating enough chances before entering a goals trade. The important thing is to follow a clear strategy rather than reacting to every attack or shift in momentum.
Liquidity is also important, especially in Correct Score markets, as there needs to be enough activity for your back and lay bets to be matched at suitable prices. On busier football days, there are often many opportunities across a wide range of leagues.
At Goal Profits, our in-play trading strategies include planned entry and exit points, along with guidance for different match situations. Alongside our goal-based strategies, we also use several strategies focused on the Correct Score market.
Team member Bryn Roberts has also used the Assured Soccer Profits strategy to produce an impressive set of results.
Why Goal Profits?
Football trading can feel overwhelming when you are trying to research matches from a huge fixture list and then monitor them in-play.
This is where Goal Profits aims to simplify the process.
We provide everything you need in one place.
Find Matches Faster
The Today’s Qualifiers section helps traders quickly identify matches that fit specific football trading strategies and filters, saving hours of manual research each day.
Track Your Results
With our Results Tracker you can log your trades in seconds with no spreadsheets needed. See what's working and what isn't, so you know where to improve.
Monitor Games In-Play
The Live Stats Module allows you to track matches in real time using live in-play statistics and alerts. See when teams are pushing for a goal so you know when to enter and when to stay out of the market.
Learn Proven Strategies
The Goal Profits Academy contains tutorials, strategy guides and real examples to help traders better understand how football trading works in practice.
Football trading guides
Want to learn more?
These guides explain how football trading works and what Goal Profits is all about:
A beginners guide to the basics of exchange trading. This explains how backing and laying work, with simple examples to show the difference between them.
Learn about the main betting exchanges available to UK traders, including liquidity, commission and how to avoid the Betfair Premium Charge.
Learn why prices move before kick-off and during football matches. Understand the factors that cause odds to shorten or drift and it matters when trading football.
It's an exciting way to trade football on Betfair, but how does it work? Learn about correct score trading, how to find target score trades and profit expectations.
See how the Live Stats Module tracks in-play football action, highlights attacking momentum and alerts you when matches meet your trading criteria.
Research teams, trends and match data before placing a trade. This guide shows how you can use Team Stats to make more informed football trading decisions.
Learn how to manage the mental side of football trading, from profit expectations and FOMO to handling losses, losing runs and emotional decision-making.
Learn how to trade football with Goal Profits. Follow structured training on the tools, strategies and mindset needed to become a confident football trader.
