Under 1.5 Goals Betting Market Explained

Written By: Conor Rafter
Last Updated: August 1, 2024

Nobody really likes low-scoring football matches. Some viewers claim to enjoy slow, tactical battles between teams and managers with neither side capable of breaking the other down. For most fans of the sport, unless there are multiple opportunities to score and the game itself is hard-fought there’s often little to enjoy. 

You can change that. ‘Under 1.5 Goals’ provides football supporters and bettors with the chance to earn profit from low-scoring, boring, tedious and downright obnoxious football. Where, in the past, you hated tuning in to see the likes of Burnley take on someone such as Stoke City, you now hear the chimes of a cashier each time you think of the fixture. Betting on goals is hugely popular, and a variety of football betting markets focus just on goals.

That’s because Under 1.5 Goals bets reward punters that take a leap of faith. Not only are you potentially sacrificing your enjoyment of goals, but you’re also taking a risk.

Under 1.5 Goals Meaning

Under 1.5 goals is a football betting market. You are betting on there being less than two goals in the match. Bets on this market will win if the match finishes with zero or one goal. If two or more goals are scored, the bet will lose.

The most common scoreline in football is, at the time of writing (according to FootyStats.org) 1-1. That’s two full goals, one more than you can afford – the maximum number of goals that can be scored in a match for your bet on Under 1.5 Goals to earn returns is one. 

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To claim the bonus, deposit at least R20 using a valid method within 7 days of registering. You can get up to R3000 bonus money, but you need to wager it 7 times on sports (odds 1.9+), slots, or specific live games within 7 days. Only a portion of bets on some games contribute to wagering requirements.

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To claim the bonus, deposit at least R20 using a valid method within 7 days of registering. You can get up to R3000 bonus money, but you need to wager it 7 times on sports (odds 1.9+), slots, or specific live games within 7 days. Only a portion of bets on some games contribute to wagering requirements.
1 Bookmakers match your criteria

Here’s a description of Under 1.5 Goals by William Hill.

William Hill Definition Of Under 1.5 Goals

Predict whether the total number of goals scored in a match will be under the number specified.

Under 1.5 Goals Betting Market Explained - William Hill description
William Hill Definition Of Under 1.5 Goals.

The “number specified” in this instance is 1.5. As it’s not possible to score half a goal in football and only whole goals are allowed (1, 2, 3, etc), the threshold at which your bet loses is two. As such, bets will win as long as there are fewer than two goals on the board.

The opposite of this market is the over 1.5 goals betting market. The next unders market is the under 0.5 goals market, which is the equivalent of a 0-0 correct score bet. Going up a level, we have the under 2.5 goals betting market.

Example Under 1.5 Goals Winning Scorelines

  • 0-0
  • 1-0

Strategy & 3 Tips For Under 1.5 Goals Bets

The ‘.5’ decimal in Under 1.5 Goals bets prevents any possibility of a ‘push’ (refund/return of stake). This is because football statistics are not counted in halves or decimal points, so sportsbooks round up to the nearest whole number in markets where a decimal point is included. 

Now that the fundamental mechanism of the market is out of the way, we can get started with our betting strategy. Utilising a strategy, whether it be step by step or a simple idea, will greatly improve the odds of coming away with a profit. Many bettors ignore strategies when it comes to football betting – resulting in unnecessary and avoidable losses every day of the week.

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The offer is limited to one per customer, family, address, shared computer/IP, and account details. 1xBet requires KYC documentation from bettors for identity verification. 1xBet has the right to alter or cancel the bonus at any time. Misuse or fraudulent activity may result in account closure and forfeiture of funds. Misuse can refer to bonus abuse, such as matched betting, in order to try and maximise winnings from the bonus.

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The offer is limited to one per customer, family, address, shared computer/IP, and account details. 1xBet requires KYC documentation from bettors for identity verification. 1xBet has the right to alter or cancel the bonus at any time. Misuse or fraudulent activity may result in account closure and forfeiture of funds. Misuse can refer to bonus abuse, such as matched betting, in order to try and maximise winnings from the bonus.
1 Bookmakers match your criteria

Developing a strategy for ‘Under 1.5 Goals’ is relatively easy. The market is incredibly simple, accessible and boasts good odds. As the sole requirement to win is that there are below two goals within a 90-minute timeframe, you need not concern yourself with any other pieces of data (corners, bookings, etc).

1. Take Advantage Of Big Games

The bigger the occasion, the more likely players are to freeze. It’s happened countless times throughout football’s history. Two imposing outfits keen to impress under the bright lights of worldwide viewership, cheered on by thousands of supporters. Yet, when the lights come on and the whistle blows for kick-off, otherwise confident players seize up and recede into their shells. 

It’s the reason behind so many finals ending with a whimper. Football is one of the sports where the saying “it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey” rings truer than ever. Often, the road to the final is more entertaining than the final itself.

Don’t just take our word for it. Let’s examine the last three Champions League Finals.

  • 2021/22: Liverpool 0 – 1 Real Madrid
  • 2020/21: Manchester City 0 – 1 Chelsea
  • 2019/20: PSG 0 – 1 Bayern Munich

Three of the last five FA Cup Finals have ended with under two goals. The same goes for three of the last four League Cup Finals. It’s a pattern that’s repeated time and again across different competitions, particularly in recent history. In each of the finals mentioned, you’d have won money on a bet on ‘Under 1.5 Goals’. This is less about analysing particular statistics and more about acknowledging that statistics racked up from matches earlier in the tournament matter much less when it comes to finals.

2. Bet On Low Scoring Leagues

Given its popularity, you may feel inclined to bet solely on Premier League games. However, England’s top-flight is far from the best option when using the ‘Under 1.5 Goals’ market. Instead of crushing your bankroll by investing in bets that are unlikely to take place on teams you’re familiar with, why not branch out and expand your horizons?

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This offer is only valid to New Customers who reside in the United Kingdom. Min stake: £5. Maximum Matched Free Bet: £30. Debit Card deposits only. No other payment method will qualify. Qualifying bets must have 3+ legs on any Football or Horse Racing market. Both pre-match and in-play bets qualify for this promotion. The accumulator must have an overall odds of 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Multiple bets on any other sport will not qualify. No system bets (Lucky 31, Canadians, Accumulator-4 with 5 selections, etc.) Bet builder bets will not qualify for this offer. If one leg is void, then providing there is at least one losing leg, we will honour the Free Bet. Bets involving cash-out will not qualify for this offer. Real money bets only. We will aim to credit your Free Bet within an hour of the bet settling. The Free Bet will expire 7 days upon being credited. General Free Bet Terms The Free Bet cannot be used to place multi-line multiple bets (e.g. Trixie’s, Patents, Yankees etc.). Should the Free Bet be placed on a selection that is later voided, the stake will be returned to your account as a Free Bet. The Free Bet is non-refundable and the Free Bet stake is not included in any returns. Placement of a Free Bet on an each-way market is considered one bet (including the win and place portion). The return from this bet must be greater than the total value of the Free Bet placed for winnings to be paid out. A redeemed Free Bet will not count towards qualification to view streamed events. The following terms apply to all Betway promotional Free Bets (excluding the Free Bet Welcome Offer). Should you require assistance with any of these conditions, please do not hesitate to contact Customer Support. The general terms & conditions shall apply to all interactions with Betway and must be read with all relevant promotional terms and conditions. Unless specifically stated otherwise, all deposits have a playthrough of at least once (1), before a Free Bet specifically related to the deposit will be activated. Betway Sports Promotions department will be the sole judge in respect of honouring any and all promotional offers. Betway Sports reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to amend any offer and its terms at any time, including the cancellation of the promotion without any prior notice. Any customer deviating from the promotional rules may be disqualified without notice. Before any withdrawals are processed, your play will be reviewed for any irregular playing patterns. In the interests of fair gaming using a combination of bets which include both a Free Bet and cash on the same event to place equal, zero or low margin or hedge bets, shall all be considered irregular gaming for bonus wagering requirement purposes. Should Betway Sports deem that irregular game play has occurred, it reserves the right to withhold any withdrawals and/or confiscate all winnings.

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This offer is only valid to New Customers who reside in the United Kingdom. Min stake: £5. Maximum Matched Free Bet: £30. Debit Card deposits only. No other payment method will qualify.
1 Bookmakers match your criteria

For example, according to statistics gathered by WinDrawWin.com, the best leagues to bet on for 0-0s at the start of the 2022/23 campaign include the following:

  • Italy Serie A 
  • France Ligue 2
  • Spain Segunda Division
  • Brazil Serie B

Similarly, the divisions listed below are the best for games where you can expect a 1-0 scoreline:

  • England League Two
  • Wales Cymru Premier
  • Germany 3. Liga
  • Ghana Premier League
  • Denmark Superliga

Not only are most of these leagues located miles from the UK, but they’re in the lower tiers of their respective footballing pyramids. Therefore, you should carry out some analysis to differentiate the good teams from the bad, the high-scorers and low-scorers, as well as which teams perform better away and at home. With all this data at hand, you should be capable of making an informed, winning bet on the Under 1.5 Goals market.

3. Examine Recent Results

In league matches, a team’s form can matter more than talent alone. Take Liverpool at the start of 2022/23’s Premier League season as an example; the Reds were Champions League Finalists the season before, had won a domestic cup double and lost out on the Premier League title by a solitary point. 

Yet, upon the curtain-raising fixtures in 2022/23, Jurgen Klopp’s side failed to win any of the opening three matches. Although each of their outings saw over 1.5 goals, their form was a far cry from what many onlookers had become accustomed to seeing. Such poor form can lead to value being found in bets on bigger clubs.

West Ham and Chelsea also struggled to get off the mark, sitting bottom and 12th in the league standings respectively. Of the Hammer’s first three matches, you’d have won on a bet on ‘Under 1.5 Goals’ once, while the same is true for Chelsea. The London Stadium side did not add to the scoreline in any of these games, Chelsea hit the net just three times. In these results, there is plenty of value to be found in ‘Under 1.5 Goals’. Keep an eye out for teams with similar runs of form in your research.

Best Bookies For Under 1.5 Goals Betting 

As we always say, it’s virtually impossible to define the ‘perfect’ bookmaker. Some bettors like bookies that offer a wide selection of bets despite poor odds, whereas other punters prefer to indulge in sportsbooks with a variety of bonuses but very few selections to choose from. There are multiple ways to judge a bookie – the important thing is that you feel comfortable betting with yours.

In terms of the best bookmaker for Under 1.5 Goals selections, we can recommend the following sites:

  • SkyBet
  • Paddy Power
  • Betfair
  • Bet365

Each of the above offers a vast array of unique odds for almost every match day. You can create accumulators on Under 1.5 Goals with all four bookies to increase your potential winnings, or stick to singles, doubles or trebles for smaller punts. Accessibility and personalization of bets are key to everything these popular bookies offer.

Here’s how the Under 1.5 Goals market looks at each of the four sports betting sites we recommend.

SkyBet – Long List & Betslip

Under 1.5 Goals Betting Market Explained - SkyBet Long List & Betslip
Sky Bet’s under/over 1.5 goals markets.

Paddy Power – Viborg vs West Ham (Europa League)

Paddy Power - Viborg vs West Ham (Europa League)
Paddy Power’s list for total over/under match goals.

Betfair – Long List & Match Odds (Sportsbook)

Betfair - Long List & Match Odds (Sportsbook)
Betfair’s market for under 1.5 match goals.

Bet365 – “Alternative Total Goals” 

Bet365 - Alternative Total Goals
Bet365’s market for under 1.5 total goals.

Under 1.5 Goals Betting Terminology

If you’re new to the world of online sports betting, this market is a perfect starting point. It’s not too difficult, not too easy, and pays out quite nicely on winning punts. Before throwing everything you’ve got at a wager in excitement, it’s important to precisely understand what it is you’re betting on. To do this, read our breakdown of each term in the market title.

1 Bookmakers match your criteria

First, ‘Under’. It’s the opening line of the market’s name and tells us one of the most crucial pieces of information concerning our bet; that the statistic we are betting on must be below a specified threshold. We’re not yet aware of which statistic we’re betting on at this point. 

Following ‘Under’ is ‘1.5’. This is equally as important as the previous word, as it lets us know how many of a certain statistic may take place for the wager to win or lose. In this case, the word ‘Under’ preceding ‘1.5’ means that whatever the statistic we’re betting on, it must not occur more than 1.5 times. Effectively, this sets a maximum limit of two occurrences. 

The final word in this phrase is ‘Goals’. While the two words that come before ‘Goals’ described what can, will and should happen, as well as the maximum number of occasions in which it can take place, this one defines the exact statistic we’re betting on. ‘Goals’ are the ultimate aim in football, with both competing teams striving to score as many as possible within a 90-minute game. 

Goals are scored when the ball crosses the opposition goalkeeper’s goal-line. A point is credited to the attacking team, and the side with the highest number of goals takes the win. In this betting market, you are hoping for no more than a single goal. Your bet wins if the match achieves this feat.

So, now we know that when we bet on ‘Under 1.5 Goals’, we’re betting on the following:

  • That there will be fewer than two goals scored in a football match.
  • If the above is true, the bet wins.

Conor Rafter
Conor Rafter

I’m a freelance writer who loves all things sports & betting related. Having worked in this field since 2018, I’ve experienced a wide range of intriguing bookmakers and online casinos. With this expertise, I strive to create helpful, honest articles. My primary goal is quite simple: to guide and inform readers using facts and analysis.

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