June 21, 2023, 7:08 p.m.
Soccer betting in Switzerland – what you should know 2024
A few months have passed since the changes to the Swiss money gambling law, but confusion still reigns for many customers. Are Swiss people allowed to bet again? The answer to this question is: basically yes. However, it is important for one thing that online casino and betting providers operate separately. In addition, officially betting is only allowed with Swiss bookmakers. Foreign providers are often blocked, but access to sports betting providers, which often offer better betting odds, can easily be circumvented via VPN. By the way, this does not make you liable to prosecution. If you want to find out more about the legal situation, you can find a lot of information on the GESPA website.
A special issue, however, is the betting tax. This is because winnings over 1000 francs must be taxed in Switzerland. Thus, the betting tax for Swiss differ from those of neighboring countries, where a tax is already levied on the bet. This is already regulated on the part of the bookmakers and you do not have to worry about anything else. Swiss football bettors, on the other hand, may have to take care of the submission of the betting tax themselves.
But now let’s turn to the fun part: we will introduce you to betting providers and betting tips and explore the fascination of sports betting.
Why sports betting is so popular
The betting offer of providers is really numerous nowadays, there are almost no sports on which you can’t place bets. Especially big events like championships attract magically. On the one hand, it is certainly due to the fact that the excitement can be increased even more if you have a bet on. The advantage, however, is that numerous bets are quite safe with a little bit of knowledge, as long as you stick to the forecasts, which can be read from the betting odds alone. An account with a bookmaker is also set up quickly.
Of course, you usually don’t win too much money in a game where the favorite wins, because the odds are naturally low. But on the one hand, this can be compensated for by the amount of the bet, or on the other hand, you dare to place a bet or two on the outsider. Winning then brings even more fun, of course.
In addition, live bets have been added in recent years, which further intensify the thrill of watching the game on TV or on site. If you are not too greedy and hope for the one big betting result, but familiarize yourself with the odds, club and events and place your bets accordingly, you will be rewarded relatively often. And nothing brings more fun than winning often against the bookmaker.
Soccer leagues and soccer tournaments – where it is worth betting
Nowadays, bets can be placed on many events, but most football fans focus on the major leagues and soccer events, as this is also where many casual bettors try their luck:
- Super League: the Swiss Super League is mainly for fans of the local alpine clubs
- Premier League: the English Premier League is the league of the “home of football
- Serie A: the highest Italian league is known for exciting games
- La liga: in this league the famous Spanish clubs are playing
- German Bundesliga: the league of FC Bayern München, BVB Dortmund & Co
- Champions League: the best of the best compete in this league
- Europa League: the second highest European league for the European clubs
Also popular are major sporting events involving an international soccer championship: the World Cup, European Championship or Olympics, which take place every four years. In 2024, the World Cup is known to take place in Qatar and offers a great opportunity for long-term betting. More on that later.
The three most popular and successful soccer clubs
Among the most popular and at the same time valuable international soccer clubs are undoubtedly:
- FC Barcelona – the Spanish club has already won numerous championships
- Real Madrid – the main rival in the Spanish league
- FC Bayern Munich – the sports club is one of the most successful in Europe
Unfortunately, most clubs in the Swiss Super League rarely play in the concert of the greats. The most successful Swiss teams from the Super League are undoubtedly Grasshoppers Zurich and FC Basel. But even if the Super League is not comparable with the Champions League: Football remains football and League betting brings just as much fun and profits – especially for Swiss.
What bets are worthwhile in soccer
If you want to be successful in betting, you should avoid betting only on your favorite club from the Super League or the betting favorite. When betting on football in the big leagues, the favorites often promise a victory, but the betting odds of the providers are often miserable especially there. Many beginners compensate for this with a particularly high football bet, which only makes a loss all the more painful and can drain the bankroll.
Basically, you should focus on single bets rather than combination bets when it comes to soccer. Their profit is higher, but so is the risk – the bookmaker is happy. If you still like to place combined bets, you should concentrate on two or three results in the sports tip.
A look at the statistics can also help, as can finding out about injured superstars, for example.
Another final tip: betting sites offer different odds for the same sports bets. Before placing betting tips, you should check the betting providers for top betting odds for the respective game. Swiss should have several betting accounts and place their bets with the best betting provider with the best odds. Patience and discipline are therefore among our final most important betting tips.
Live betting vs. long term betting
A word about real time vs. long term: Long term betting means betting on a result in advance. This can be on the winner of the Swiss Super League before the start of the new season. Or simply on the result of the upcoming match. The odds are fixed in advance (and can therefore also be compared well from betting provider to betting provider).
Live bets are placed during the match, and the sports betting odds are adjusted every minute or second. Here, bets are placed not only on the result, but also on the next goal, the next foul and much more. Both forms of sports betting have advantages and disadvantages. At a glance:
Live Laws:
- Often a little more exciting, because the event is actively followed
- Various sports bets possible, not only the result counts
- Odds usually somewhat better
Long term bets:
- Are completed in advance, you can no longer intervene
- Somewhat lower odds
- Injuries or red cards cannot be factored in
- Sports betting mostly revolves around the result or the number of goals
Our tips for soccer weather
For all Swiss sports betting fans here again our tips in the overview:
- Familiarize yourself with the soccer betting types, statistics and team.
- Compare bookmakers or odds, do not have only one account.
- Pay attention to the bankroll: not too high stakes, not too many sports bets at once.
- Have patience and discipline!
Conclusion
I still remember my first big soccer bet at the 2004 European Championship. Of course, as a beginner, I bet on the Swiss team. But for some reason, I also bet on Greece back then. It was an underdog bet that really paid off. That feeling of luck, of having had the right hunch and getting a good payout with top odds is what drives most people. Thank goodness this is also possible for us Swiss.
Of course, there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to get more serious about sports betting. Patience is one of the most important virtues, as well as self-discipline. You should also not be afraid of numbers and comparisons. However, if you internalize our tips and advice in this article, the first step is done and you will become a betting professional in no time. On our pages you will find much more information and also numerous provider tests! We wish you a lot of fun.
❓FAQ
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📌 Do I have to pay taxes on bets in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, taxes are not paid on bets as elsewhere, but on the resulting winnings. However, the betting tax is only due when these exceed 1000 francs. According to the legal situation, each player is responsible for the taxation, it is not retained by the betting office.
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📌 Is football betting legal in Switzerland?
Basically yes. There are officially licensed betting providers in Switzerland. If you want to choose another bookmaker, you are not liable to prosecution, but you need a VPN, because many sites are blocked.
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📌 Are there any bonuses with the sports betting providers?
Of course, there are also deposit bonuses or even other lucrative bonuses (e.g. for certain sporting events) at the betting providers. A comparison can be worthwhile. It’s best to regularly take a look at our pages, we will inform you about the best bonuses and loyalty programs.