Although there are hundreds of leagues and competitions taking place on a weekly basis, the majority of football bettors will tend to stick to what they know. In the UK, accumulators will typically consist of Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two fixtures, with the occasional Serie A or La Liga contest sneaking its way into the bet.
However, wagering on the MLS has exponentially increased in recent years, and it has proved particularly popular with punters. We have picked out three reasons why Major League Soccer is one of the best options for bettors who are looking for something different and want to get involved with this hugely exciting and entertaining division.
Regular Goalscorers
This league has a habit of reviving the careers of shot-shy strikers, with the likes of Bradley Wright-Phillips and Jozy Altidore both having thrived following disappointing spells in Europe. Forwards tend to embark upon long goalscoring sequences, which is ideal for punters who enjoy dipping into the first goalscorer market.
In 2019, Carlos Vela netted in seven of his first ten matches for Los Angeles FC, and only failed to find the net in seven Major League Soccer games throughout the course of the campaign. Although the Mexican was relatively short in the betting during the second half of the season, he provided a decent potential return of investment to those who had backed him on a regular basis. Twelve months earlier, Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez, whose exploits saw him linked with a move to Everton, netted 35 times and was another strong option when it came to anytime goalscorer bets.
HISTORY FOR CARLOS VELA
His 31st goal of 2019 ties the single-season scoring record. #MINvLAFC pic.twitter.com/U70wP8W1Ku
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) September 30, 2019
Goals Galore
Although there are a large variety of different wagers available to bettors, the majority of MLS punters tend to focus on goals. In 2019, the average match produced 3.08 goals, and despite having slightly decreased over the years, this figure remains abnormally high. By comparison, the Premier League saw just 2.72 goals per game last year, whereas the Spanish top-flight yielded a slightly more conservative 2.48.
Many bookmakers have adjusted their odds accordingly, and as a result, bettors are unlikely to find much value in the ‘both teams to score’ market these days. However, savvy supporters have chosen to look elsewhere, and whether it’s backing over 1.5 second-half goals or over 3.5 match goals, there are always ways for bettors to capitalise on this high-scoring division.
Leaving it Late
Although pre-match wagers on the MLS are understandably popular, this frenetic division is also ideal for in-play bettors. Late goals are a common occurrence in Major League Soccer, with a number of teams making the breakthrough in the dying embers of the game.
Thrilling goals ?
A handful of debuts ?
A dramatic late winner ?The second day of the 2020 @MLS season was just as enticing as the first…?
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) March 2, 2020
In 2019, 55% of Toronto FC games saw both sides find the back of the net during the second half, with the Canadian side proving far more entertaining after the break. Overall, 81% of matches last season featured a second half goal, with a number of teams including Philadelphia Union and LA Galaxy regularly delivering for those who were hoping for action-packed second periods.
The joy of in-play betting is the ability to get involved at any point and backing further goals at the 70-minute mark has proven a profitable way to wager on the MLS.
Football bettors have been following this topsy-turvy tournament for a number of years, and although the Premier League and La Liga tend to take centre stage, Major League Soccer is undoubtedly worth wagering on. With a tendency for late goals, regular goalscorers as well as end-to-end contests, there are a myriad of reasons to begin betting on this absorbing competition.