How to bet on MLS

Major League Soccer (MLS) has been the top soccer division in the US since 1996. While it may not possess the prowess of major European leagues, notable players including David Beckham, Kaka, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have all played in the MLS, helping to significantly boost its reputation in recent years.

Today, many sportsbooks offer multiple betting lines on every single MLS match, and MLS teams are worth an average of $710 million. There are also three Canadian teams that compete in MLS: CF Montreal, Toronto FC, and the Vancouver Whitecaps.

There are a few different reasons why wagering on MLS can be uniquely enjoyable for soccer fans. Firstly, the February/March to November schedule means that you can follow and bet on the action during the summer, when many other popular soccer leagues pause for their break between seasons. More notably, MLS is a rarity among soccer leagues in that it has a standard league regular season, but also excitingly has playoffs to decide that season’s champion, in a similar vein to other sports popular in Canada.

There are multiple different markets that you can bet on for every MLS game, or throughout the MLS season. While you can find out about them in more detail with BET.CA, here is a quick breakdown of the most common markets available:

• Moneyline: A simple bet on which team will win a game, or whether it will finish as a tie/draw.

• Point spread (or handicap): Whether a team will win or lose a game by a certain number of goals set by the sportsbook.

• Total or over/under: How many goals there will be in a game, or that a certain team will score within it.

• Parlays: A bet comprised of multiple selections on either one MLS game or a range of matches.

• Prop bets: Bets on stats within the game not directly linked to the final result, such as how many cards or corners there will be, or which team will get more.

• Futures: Every season you can bet on various MLS futures, such as which team will win the MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield, and which player will win the MVP award.

The MLS season normally gets underway in late February or early March, with games taking place every weekend and occasionally during the week throughout the regular season. There are several rivalries and derbies that provide highly anticipated fixtures every season, including the Canadian Classique between Toronto FC and CF Montreal, which has often had a say in which teams went on to reach the playoffs.

Following the MLS schedule is beneficial to your betting, but with a total of 28 teams (soon to be 29 from 2023) plying their trade in the league, the games come thick and fast and it can be understandably difficult to keep track of who is playing who, and when. That’s why BET.CA is here to help with all the information you need, including recent results, live scores, and upcoming games for every team.