(Photo: Action Images via Reuters)
Online gambling is bigger than ever before and football betting is leading the way. Many bookmakers price up hundreds of matches each and every day including Non-League offerings such as the Northern Premier League and Isthmian Cup and bettors are enjoying these extra opportunities to find value.
Online gambling continues to gain momentum as sports fans are able to enjoy placing wagers without having to traipse down to their local betting shop. The Gambling Commission released figures for 2016 which indicated that 97% of online gamblers place their bets from the comfort of their own home and with so many markets and matches available, this trend is unsurprising.
With Premier League, La Liga and Champions League matches arriving thick and fast, why would punters opt to bet on the likes of Shaw Lane, Whitby Town or Farsley Celtic? Many bettors believe they can unearth value and improved odds at this level as the traders know significantly less about these teams and their current situation. Smaller crowds and grounds often result in fans and observers getting closer to the action allowing subtle clues to be picked up. One high profile example came in 2009, when local residents and fans got wind of the disgruntled Weymouth squad going on strike shortly before a home match with Rushden and Diamonds and quickly bet against their side. A youth team was fielded and they were beaten 9-0. There were plenty of celebrations amongst their fans that evening despite the heavy defeat.
Travelling between grounds is often difficult and funds at the clubs are generally limited. Players are also juggling day jobs with mid-week clashes and if key players are sidelined by work commitments or only half a team makes it to the ground, punters and fans can quickly get hold of this information and bet accordingly. Traders price up these matches and odds will rarely change once submitted. With so many leagues to oversee, betting companies will always prioritise and focus on high-profile matches.
Bet365 are one of the many online bookmakers who have a team of traders feverishly pricing up football matches ranging from the FA Cup final to the Czech Republic Youth League. Non-League markets feature quite prominently in their offering with at least 29 markets available on the Northern Premier League alone, this is the seventh tier of English football. The Bet365 App is one of the most popular services with hundreds of Non League markets available and additional incentives such as a 100% welcome bonus and live streaming of thousands of games each year. The recent addition of the cash-out feature has also given gamblers even greater control over their own bets. In 2016, 43% of gamblers used a mobile or tablet device to place their bets according to the Gambling Commission and Bet365's offering makes it easier than ever to place a wager on the National League South or perhaps even the latest round of FA Cup Qualifying matches.
Betting on Non League football continues to prove popular as punters seek value. Those who follow the travails of their local sides will be able to assess the current situation and bet accordingly and this has proved profitable for many bettors who relish being one step ahead of the traders.
