Guide To The Football Booking Points/Card Market

The booking points / card market is a market that has been very profitable to me in recent times. The booking point system works by assigning points to yellow and red cards during a match, making it a popular betting market in football.

I have studied this market for a number of years and I must stress, experience and thorough research is essential. I have seen lots of people bet blind on this market just because they “think” there should be cards. Booking point betting involves placing bets on total booking points within a half of a match or predicting which team will accumulate the most points.

There are lots of pointers and scenarios to take into consideration when approaching this kind of bet.

I will break it down simply and demonstrate what I specifically look for in order to place a booking points bet confidently.

What Are Booking Points in Football Betting?

Booking points are a unique market in football betting that offer punters an alternative way to wager on matches. Instead of simply betting on the outcome of a game, you can bet on the number of points accumulated through yellow and red cards shown to players. Typically, bookmakers assign 10 points for a yellow card and 25 points for a red card. This answers the common question of how many points are associated with each card type. If a player receives two yellow cards, which results in a red card, it counts as 35 points. These points are tallied for all players on a team throughout the match, providing a dynamic and engaging betting experience.

How Booking Points Work

Booking points provide an exciting dimension to football betting by focusing on the disciplinary aspect of the game. Bookmakers calculate booking points based on the number of yellow and red cards shown during a match. Only cards shown to players actively participating on the field count towards booking points. A yellow card is worth 10 points, a red card is worth 25 points, and if a player receives two yellow cards leading to a red card, it totals 35 points. The total number of booking points is the sum of all points awarded to players on both teams. This system allows bettors to predict not just the outcome of the game, but the intensity and discipline of the match as well.

Factors to Consider When Betting on Booking Points

When diving into booking points betting, the number of cards shown in a match is a crucial factor that can significantly influence your success. First, consider the teams involved and their historical performance regarding discipline. Some teams are known for their aggressive play, leading to more yellow and red cards. The context of the match is also crucial; high-stakes games like derbies or title deciders often see more cards. Additionally, the referee’s style is a critical factor. Some referees are stricter and more likely to issue cards, while others are more lenient. Researching the referee’s past performances can provide valuable insights into how many booking points might be expected.

Understanding Yellow Cards and Their Impact

Yellow cards play a pivotal role in the booking points market. Each yellow card is worth 10 points, and if a player receives two yellow cards, resulting in a red card, it counts as 35 points. Understanding the impact of yellow cards on a match can enhance your betting strategy. For instance, if a team has players who frequently receive yellow cards, they are more likely to accumulate higher booking points. This knowledge can help you make more informed decisions when placing your bets.

Team Statistics: Team Cards

We at Play The Percentage have the Card Shark which is a very good tool, and way to compare teams.

This feature allows you to filter and choose from leagues all around the world. There are several boxes that can be selected to narrow down your preferred betting preferences.

This Stat Ninja is also very good for finding Over 0.5/1.5 cards each half. Additionally, it can be used to analyze half booking points, focusing on the total booking points within either the first or second half of a match. The 'Team Cards' feature can be used to analyze the number of cards shown to one team, helping you target weaker teams that tend to receive more bookings.

Basically, this is the holy grail for card betting selections.

Previous H2H Meetings:

Although I always check previous H2H meetings, I don’t always rely on this feature. There are a number of reasons for this; maybe a different manager with different ideas. There will always be a difference in teams that play a high intensity game, to a team that plays defensively. Also, when going back several years to assess stats, players and personnel will obviously change. That needs to be taken into consideration too.

The intensity of knockout games can significantly influence the number of red and yellow cards shown, as the pressure often leads to more aggressive player behavior and strategic decisions regarding suspensions.

The Referee: Yellow and Red Cards

I cannot stress enough how important this part of compiling your bet is. This is absolutely crucial for your analysis.

There are notoriously more cards shown in Spain and Italy, and the referee tends to be card happy and very strict. The number of cards, including yellow and red, can significantly influence betting markets. Also, if you want to extend your range of betting, look no further than South America.

Bolivia, Uruguay, Ecuador and Argentina are renowned for lots of cards, and again, their referees don’t take any messing and are very strict. The strictness of referees can significantly affect the card handicap in a match, providing various betting opportunities.

Play The Percentage Members can view the referee stats here - https://playthepercentage.com/members/referee-stats

These are my simple, but effective methods in researching my booking points/card bets. Yes, there are lots of other statistics you could delve into; and although I go quite deep in my research, it’s also pretty simple in its application.

I will also add, the individual player card market can be useful too. Although it is widely used, I tend to keep my bets to the actual teams, as I’ve found I’ve had more success that way; but each to their own.

Best Games to Bet on Booking Points

When it comes to betting on booking points, some games are more appealing than others. Local derbies, high-stakes matches, and games between teams with a history of intense rivalry tend to generate more booking points. These types of matches often feature a higher number of yellow and red cards, making them ideal for booking points betting.

In addition to derbies and high-stakes matches, games involving teams with a physical and aggressive playing style can also be good candidates for booking points betting. These teams tend to accumulate more yellow and red cards, increasing the likelihood of a high booking points total.

It’s also worth considering games that are crucial for a team’s season, such as relegation battles or title deciders. These matches often feature a higher level of intensity and competitiveness, leading to more bookings and a higher booking points total.

Booking Points Markets and Statistics

Booking points markets offer a range of betting options, including total booking points, half booking points, and team cards. When analyzing these markets, it’s essential to consider various statistics, such as:

• Average yellow and red cards per game for each team

• Home and away form for each team

• Head-to-head statistics between the two teams

• Referee statistics, including the number of yellow and red cards shown per game

By analysing these statistics, you can gain a better understanding of the teams’ and players’ tendencies, allowing you to make more informed betting decisions.

Betting Strategies for Booking Points

Developing a solid strategy for booking points betting can increase your chances of success, especially when considering the number of cards shown in matches. One effective approach is to analyse the teams and their past performances, focusing on their disciplinary records. Using statistics and data can help you predict the likelihood of a team accumulating a certain number of booking points. Another strategy is to consider the referee’s style and tendencies. Some referees are known for issuing more cards, which can influence the total booking points in a match. You can also choose to bet on the total number of booking points or focus on the booking points for a specific team, depending on your research and insights.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When betting on booking points, there are several common mistakes to avoid:

• Not researching the teams and players involved: Failing to research the teams and players can lead to uninformed betting decisions.

• Not considering the referee: The referee’s style and tendencies can significantly impact the number of booking points in a match.

• Not analysing team and player statistics: Failing to analyze team and player statistics can lead to a lack of understanding of their tendencies and behavior.

• Not considering the context of the match: The context of the match, including the teams’ positions in the league table and the importance of the game, can impact the number of booking points.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can increase your chances of success when betting on booking points.

How Many Booking Points to Expect

Predicting how many points in terms of booking points to expect in a match can be challenging, but certain factors can guide your expectations. On average, a football match might feature around 20-30 booking points. However, this number can vary based on the teams involved, the match’s context, and the referee’s style. High-stakes matches or games involving teams with aggressive playing styles tend to have more booking points. Researching the teams’ disciplinary records and the referee’s past performances can help you make more accurate predictions about how many booking points to expect in a given match.

Total Booking Points/Card Betting Sites:

There are no shortages of betting sites you can use to create your own bet.

The ones I use more than others are:

Sky Bet, which is user friendly and great to compile each team booking points and acca’s (which are not profitable in the long term, just good for a bit of fun).

Bet Victor, I like using as it offers both the overs and under card lines, along with over and under in each half.

William Hill does pretty much the same as Bet Victor and Bet 365, but it also offers odds on less high profile leagues.

And finally, Bet365 - this site offers pretty much the same markets as Bet Victor and William Hill. They are good for over 0 cards/over 1 cards and each half cards. One big plus to this site is that it also offers an excellent alternative in the Asian card line.

Placing booking points bets on these sites can be quite exciting and involves strategic considerations, such as understanding referee behavior and match context to increase the success rate.

Below is a link that explains that angle in simplistic terms:

https://playthepercentage.com/blog/asian-betting-explained

So, wrapping this all up, the markets I prefer and the markets that have provided me with the most success are:

20+ each team booking points

20+ booking points

Over 0 cards each half

Over 0 cards 1st/2nd half

I hope my explanations and reasons above, have provided you with a better understanding of the booking points and card market, including booking point betting.

Conclusion

Booking points betting offers a unique and exciting way to bet on football matches. By understanding how booking points work, analyzing team and player statistics, and avoiding common mistakes, you can increase your chances of success. Remember to consider the context of the match, the referee’s style, and the teams’ and players’ tendencies when making your betting decisions. With the right approach, booking points betting can be a lucrative and enjoyable way to bet on football.