The NFL has blossomed into one of the most popular team sports to watch in the U.K., with a surge in interest in recent years aided by the wide variety of betting markets it offers.
Each year, the thrilling road to the Super Bowl gives extensive opportunities for fans to profit from the drama by placing successful bets on North America’s favourite sport
In this guide, we’ll explain how online NFL betting works, from understanding the different types of NFL bets on offer, to betting on the action itself, including the key strategies to nailing your NFL betting.
We’ll have you ready to make game-changing plays on some of the best betting sites for the NFL.
MORE: Get all the latest NFL news | Full NFL schedule for 2025/26
Different types of NFL betting
There are a host of different ways to bet on the NFL, from simply picking the winner to betting on the points spread or the points total. Here are the main types of bets you’ll come across when you look at betting on the NFL online.
Moneyline
This is American sports betting parlance for picking the winner of a game by any margin. You simply have to decide on who you believe will emerge victorious. The odds for that team will determine how much you get in return if they do indeed go on to win.
Point spread
Probably the most popular form of betting when it comes to the NFL. For every game, bookmakers decide on a point spread. In other words, installing a team as a favourite by a certain margin. Bettors can pick the favorite or the underdog to ‘cover’ that spread.
For example, if a team is favoured by seven points, then they would cover the spread by winning by a greater margin. The underdog covers by losing by fewer than seven points or winning the game. If the margin of victory or defeat matches the spread exactly, then it is considered a ‘push’ and the bettors’ stake is refunded.
Total Points
Also referred to as over/under. Betting on the points total works in a similar fashion to spread betting. A bookmaker will set a total for the number of points likely to be scored in a game, and bettors can pick whether the game will go over or under that total. The result will be considered a push if a game matches the total exactly.
Futures
Essentially the American term for outrights. Bettors can profit from season-long predictions with an array of markets available.
You can bet on teams to make or win the Super Bowl, to make or miss the playoffs and pick the winner of a given division or conference. Another popular futures bet concerns win total. Every team is given a win total well before the start of the season, and bettors have the chance to predict whether a team will go under or over that amount of wins.
MORE: Super Bowl 60 outright odds and early favourites for 2026
Prop bets
Prop bets are very popular, particularly for the Super Bowl. You can bet on the amount of passing, rushing or receiving yards for a player or team, and bet on other markets such as first touchdown scorer.
Among the favourite single-game props are the alternative handicap and points total, which allow you to move the points spread and over/under, with the odds adjusted accordingly. It can be a very profitable market if you have the impression that the spread or over/under is not in line with the likely result.
There are also more outlandish prop bets, with a bet on the length of the national anthem at the Super Bowl always popular.
In-play betting on the NFL
A lot can change over the course of an NFL game. Though it features only 60 minutes of game action, the stoppages through timeouts and commercial breaks mean a contest typically lasts around three hours.
That can make for a lot of ebbs and flows, and the regular breaks provide opportunities for bettors to cash in through in-play betting.
When deciding to make a bet on the NFL in-play, a sports betting site that offers online NFL betting will present constantly changing odds on the teams involved. You can track the game, placing your bets when you think the odds represent the best value on your favourite.
If a team expected to win the game has a slow start, you might have the chance of taking them at higher odds to produce a turnaround and ultimately prevail.
Alternatively, if game appears to only be going in one direction, you could place a bigger wager on a team to cover the points spread, or if a lot of points have been scored early, a game to go over the points total.
There are several other more specific in-play markets, which provide the chance to bet on which team or player will score next and the specific outcomes of a certain drive or play.
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NFL betting strategies: Key tips
Do your research
It’s hugely advised to avoid betting when you don’t have enough information to garner a strong opinion on the outcome of an event. You should always do your research before placing your NFL bets. Check the form of both teams, their head-to-head records and how they have typically fared at home or on the road.
Be on the lookout for potentially critical variables such as key injuries, teams coming off a bye week or playing on a short week with little rest. The weather is an important factor, as is travel. Teams travelling cross-country across timezones can often be at a disadvantage.
Shop around for the best odds
While most betting sites tend to offer similar views in terms of who they think will win specific games, there are often differences in the odds from bookmaker to bookmaker.
With that in mind, it always pays to have a shortlist of reputable bookmakers, with accounts set up for each, so you can shop around and bet with the site that offers you the biggest payout for your chosen bet. Make sure you understand how sports betting odds work before placing a bet.
Keep an eye for bonuses
As well as the best odds, sports betting sites often run promotions and bonuses around big sporting events to stimulate increased betting activity.
In the same way we suggest shopping around for the best odds, it’s also worth checking our shortlist of trusted NFL betting sites to see if any are dishing out offers around your chosen game. You might be able to get your bet on, and bank a free bonus in the process.
Only bet what you can afford to lose
Only stake money you’re comfortable losing, because not every bet will be a winner. If you recognise the gamble you take is that you may not win a penny, then everything you do win will be a bonus, and you’ll stay on the right side of your gambling. In the same vein, avoid betting with pure emotion, and never chase your losses.
Key NFL betting terms
| Moneyline | A market where you back a team to win a game outright. |
| Spread betting | Betting on a favourite or underdog to cover a points spread set by a bookmaker. |
| Over/under | Refers to the points totals for a certain game or, in futures betting, win totals for a certain team. |
| Parlay | Another term for an accumulator. A bet where you place a stake on several results all coming to fruition. Moneyline parlays and spread betting parlays are both popular in NFL betting. |
| Two-way betting | Betting on the outcome of a game with the possibility of a tie removed from the equation. |
| Three-way betting | Betting on a game with the tie included as a potential outcome. |
| Push | When the a game hits the point spread or points total exactly. |
| Touchdown | When the ball successfully crosses the plane of the goal-line. It is worth six points. |
| Extra point | A kick attempted after a touchdown, worth one point. |
| Two-point conversion | Attempted after a touchdown instead of an extra point. The offense must again cross the plane of the goal-line to score an additional two points. |
| Field goal | Attempted by the offensive team. A kick through the uprights that is worth three points. |
| Interception | When an attempted pass from the quarterback is intercepted by the defensive team |
| Fumble | When a player drops the ball to the turf before he is taken to the ground. Either the offensive or defensive team can recover the ball. |
| Safety | Recorded by the defense when they bring down a ball-carrier inside his own endzone. It is worth two points. Defenses can also score a safety if the offense is penalised inside their own endzone or if an offensive player with the ball steps out of play while in the endzone. |
| Onside kick | A short kickoff by the team that most recently scored, designed to give them a chance to field the ball and retain possession. The ball must go 10 yards for a legal onside kick. |
| Overtime | A 10-minute period at the end of the regulation four quarters that takes place if the two teams are tied. Each team has the opportunity to possess the ball once in overtime, with sudden death enforced if the team getting the ball first does not score. |
NFL Schedule 25/26
| Week/Round | Dates |
| Week 1 | September 4-8 |
| Week 2 | September 11-15 |
| Week 3 | September 18-22 |
| Week 4 | September 25-29 |
| Week 5 | October 2-6 |
| Week 6 | October 9-13 |
| Week 7 | October 16-20 |
| Week 8 | October 23-27 |
| Week 9 | October 30-November 3 |
| Week 10 | November 6-10 |
| Week 11 | November 13-17 |
| Week 12 | November 20-24 |
| Week 13 | November 27-December 1 |
| Week 14 | December 4-8 |
| Week 15 | December 11-15 |
| Week 16 | December 18-22 |
| Week 17 | December 25-29 |
| Week 18 | January 4 |
| Wild Card Round | January 10-12 |
| Divisional Round | January 17-18 |
| Conference Championships | January 25 |
| Pro Bowl Games | TBA |
| Super Bowl 60 | February 8 |
Best NFL betting sites
1. Bet365
One of the most well-known and prominent bookmakers in the United Kingdom. Bet365 offer an extremely extensive collection of NFL markets for individual games, while their range of season-long futures markets stands as arguably the most exhaustive in the UK. With bet builders and bet boosts available and an easy-to-use website and app, Bet365 are the best around for NFL betting.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ Clean easy to use website and app | ❌ No obvious VIP or loyalty rewards |
| ✔️ 25 years in the industry and have been a solid reputation as one of UK's industry leaders | ❌ PayPal’s minimum deposit being £25 |
| ✔️ Odds are very competitive and NFL markets are vast | ❌ Customer service live chat is a virtual assistant rather than a real person |
| ✔️ The ‘Super Boosts’ make creating an account great value. Bet builder and accumulator bonuses also a huge plus | |
| ✔️ In-depth live markets are also available |
Bet365 sign-up offer, review, ranking, step-by-step for new customers and welcome bonus
2. Sky Bet
The broadcast rights holder for NFL in the UK also boasts a top-class bookmaker that offers an impressive array of NFL betting markets. Sky Bet's season-long futures markets rival those of Bet365 for their variety, and they also don't lack for tempting bet boosts and specials. With an outstanding app and clean user-friendly website, there's plenty of reasons to consider Sky Bet as the place to do your NFL betting.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ App is one of the best in the marke | ❌ First deposit via app has to be a debit card (no Apple pay to begin with) |
| ✔️ Huge range of NFL markets | ❌ Google pay and PayPal not supported anymore |
| ✔️ Excellent in-play offerings | ❌ Sign up offers can seem a tad longer than competitors |
| ✔️ Loads of bonuses and offers | |
| ✔️ Good responsible gambling tools |
Sky Bet sign-up offer, review, ranking, step-by-step for new customers and welcome bonus and promo
3. Paddy Power
Another of the country's most popular bookmakers, Paddy Power's list of markets is impressive. They offer a lot of NFL specials and their website and their app are both easy to use. However, their price boost offerings are a little underwhelming compared to those of Bet 365 and Sky Bet.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ Extensive range of NFL markets available | ❌ No e-mail support for customers |
| ✔️ Bet builders and price boosts also offered | ❌ No telephone support for customers |
| ✔️ Top-rated, easy to use betting app | ❌ Price boosts don't compare well to Bet365 and Sky Bet |
Paddy Power sign-up offer, review, ranking and step-by-step for new customers
4. Betfair
Known for their groundbreaking betting exchange platform, allowing punters to bet against each other rather than the house, Betfair also offer fixed-price odds on a wide range of NFL markets. The website is a little basic, but still easy to use, and there's an extensive list of NFL futures markets available to bettors. As with Paddy Power, the price boost options leave a little to be desired.
| Pros | Cons |
✔️ Excellent odds across both sportsbook and the Exchange | ❌ Site design can appear rudimentary |
| ✔️ Wide range of NFL markets available | ❌ Price boost options for NFL are underwhelming |
✔️ Industry-leading cash out functionality | ❌ Limited welcome bonus compared to some competitors |
✔️ Strong mobile app with full Exchange integration | ❌ Rewards programme could be stronger |
Betfair sign-up offer, review, ranking and step-by-step for new customers
5. Spreadex
Spreadex makes the cut because their focus on spread betting makes them an appealing option given how prevalent it is in US sports. They also offer fixed price odds on games and long-term NFL futures, but there's a distinct lack of options in terms of price boosts. The website has a very basic look. Whether that's a positive or a negative is a matter of personal taste, but you'll still find plenty of satisfy your NFL betting needs.
| Pros | Cons |
✔️ Spread betting specialists, making it a perfect fit for NFL markets | ❌ Website and app could do with a face lift |
| ✔️ Also offers large fixed-price odds on games, props and futures | ❌ Options for price boosts conspicuous by their absence |
✔️ No frills site may appeal to some | ❌ Limited banking options upon sign up |
✔️ Top-rated, easy to use betting app |
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