Under 0.5 in betting means that you are wagering on an event or stat not occurring in a match. In football betting, the under market refers to the number of times an event or stat will not happen in a match. If that number is zero, it means the event did not happen.
The most popular Over/Under market in football betting is the goals market, so people who use “Over/Under” without specifying the market are often referring to the goals market. However, this market covers anything with a number line, from cards to corners to shots and even throw-ins. As long as there is a number line, sportsbooks can have an Over/Under market for it.
Many people still get confused by the under 0.5 betting market. In fact, no betting option is more confusing and misunderstood. That is why I decided to break it down for you with this guide. Ready? Let’s get right to it.
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What Is the Meaning of ‘Under 0.5’ in Betting?
When you bet anything under 0.5, you are betting that the final count of the stat or event in question will be zero. Since no match stat or event can be “half”, betting under 0.5 means you're predicting that the event will not happen. As soon as the total of that event reaches 1, your bet loses.
You can place an under 0.5 bet on a full match or just a specific half. For example, you can bet under 0.5 goals in the first half. It also applies to teams and individual players. Just as you can bet on under 0.5 goals in the match overall, you can also bet on a specific team or player to score under 0.5 goals, whether in the whole game or just one half.
The idea of a sports event happening “0.5” times can be confusing, but the key thing to understand is that bookmakers use the “.5” to set a threshold that guarantees a win-or-lose outcome. In this betting market, only whole numbers count. There’s no possibility of a tie or push situation, so you won’t get your stake back as you might in a football handicap or draw no bet market.
To better understand the under 0.5 bet, think of the “.5” as a tiebreaker, which exists to ensure every Over or Under bet either wins or loses. So, depending on your bet, any whole number above or below the “.5” decides whether you win or lose.
In this case, “Under” means you’re predicting the event won’t reach the next whole number. Since the next number after 0.5 is 1, an under 0.5 bet means you’re backing the outcome to be zero. So, every under 0.5 bet comes down to two possible outcomes: 0 and 1. If the stat ends on 0, the bet wins. If it gets to 1 or more, the bet loses.
For instance, if you bet that Getafe will score under 0.5 goals against Real Madrid, you are backing Madrid to keep a clean sheet. If Getafe do score a goal, the bet is lost.
You’ll find the under 0.5 betting market on the top betting sites in Nigeria, and it is typically available for sports beyond football, including Tennis, Basketball, and Rugby. For example, in Tennis, you can bet on under games and sets. In Basketball, you can bet on under points.
In Nigeria, punters often use this market in football, especially for goals. However, under markets like Under Cards can be quite profitable when researched properly.
Under 0.5 Meaning in Betting: Football Examples
In football betting, there are many under 0.5 markets that you can explore and win from. Here are some examples:
- Under 0.5 Goals (Match, Team or Individual): There will be no goals in the match or a team will not score a goal or an individual will not score a goal.
- Under 0.5 Corners: There will be no corners.
- Under 0.5 Cards: There will be no cards.
- Under 0.5 Offsides (Team or Individual): A player or team will not be caught offside throughout the game.
- Under 0.5 in Halves (1st or 2nd Half): The statistic will be zero for the 1st half or the 2nd half. Therefore, it will not happen.
- Under 0.5 Shots (Team or Individual): A player or team will register 0 shots in the match.
- Under 0.5 Shots on Target (Team or Individual): A player or team will register 0 shots on target in the match.
- Under 0.5 Throw-ins: There will be no throw-ins.
How Under 0.5 Betting Compares to Other Totals
Betting Market | What it Means | When it Wins |
---|---|---|
Under 0.5 | The event will not happen, i.e. zero. | Event outcome/total is 0. |
Over 0.5 | There will be at least 1 instance of the event/stat. | Outcome is 1, 2, 3, 4, etc; any figure but 0. |
Under 1.5 | There will be less than 2 instances of the event/stat. | Outcome/total is 1 or 0. |
Over 1.5 | There will be at least 2 instances of the event/stat. | Outcome/total is 2 or more: any number but 1 or 0. |
Under 2.5 | There will be less than 3 instances of the event/stat. | Outcome/total is 2, 1 or 0. |
Over 2.5 | There will be at least 3 instances of the event/stat. | Outcome/total is 3, 4, 5, 6, etc, any number other than 2, 1 and 0. |
What Under 0.5 Bets Look Like
Let us now examine the Under 0.5 markets. I have put together some examples for you so you can get an accurate picture.

- Goals: If you bet Palmeiras under 0.5 goals in a game vs Chelsea, it means you believe Palmeiras cannot score against Chelsea in the game. If they fail to score, your bet is won. If they score, your bet is lost.
- Cards: If you bet Under 0.5 Cards for William Saliba, it means you don’t think he will pick up a card in the game. If he gets booked, your bet is lost.
- Shots: If you pick Under 0.5 shots for Lamine Yamal, it means you don’t think Yamal will register a shot in the game. If the opponents manage to keep him from shooting, then your bet is won.
- Corners: If you bet Under 0.5 First Half Corners for Barcelona, it means you don’t think they will get any corner in the first half of the game. If they don’t, your bet is won.
Tips for Winning Under 0.5 Bets
Your strategy will determine just how much you can profit from this market. If you don’t build a solid strategy, you won’t make much. I’ve prepared some tips to help you boost your winnings.
- Look for low-scoring teams or leagues: For goals, low scoring leagues like the French Ligue 2 and many South American leagues are good leagues to bet Under 0.5 goals on.
- Use stats: Data will significantly increase your chances of winning. Depending on the type of Under 0.5 you want to play (goals, corners, cards etc.), check the relevant stats on apps like Sofascore, WhoScored and Fotmob before making selections.
- Use first-half markets for a greater success rate: More goals are scored in the second half of games, so you will make more money betting Under 0.5 on first halves.
How to Place Under 0.5 Bets
Here’s how to place Under 0.5 Bets:
- Log in to your preferred betting site or app (e.g. Bet9ja, SportyBet, 1xbet).
- Navigate to your preferred sport.
- Select the match you're interested in (e.g. Arsenal vs Chelsea).
- Go to the “Markets” section.
- Select the category you want: Goals → Over/Under → Under 0.5 Or Cards / Corners / Team Totals, depending on what you’re betting on.
- Tap on Under 0.5.
- Enter your stake, review your potential payout.
- Place your bet.
Best Nigerian Betting Sites for Under 0.5 Markets
For this market, these are the best betting sites that will give you the best advantage and value. I have broken it down for you so you can make your choice easily.

- 1xBet: Has a search bar that makes it easy to find any market you want. Cashout opportunities as well.
- Bet9ja: The most competitive odds in the market and many Under 0.5 options.
- Sportybet: Fastest payout when you win your Under 0.5 bet. Allows you to view your live slip. Also gives you statistics you can use to make your selections.
Common Questions About Under 0.5 Betting
What is under 0.5 in betting?
Under 0.5 means you are betting on an outcome happening less than 1 time. In other words, you're betting that it will not happen.
What is the meaning of 0.5 U in betting?
This is the same thing as Under 0.5 in betting.
Is under 0.5 a good bet?
It depends on what you are betting on and what the data says. If you've done your research and the stats show that a match is likely to produce under 0.5 goals for instance, then you should bet on it.
How many goals are needed for under 0.5?
Under 0.5 goals means you're betting on no goals being scored either in a match, by a team or by a player. So, no goal is needed for under 0.5.
What does it mean by under 0.5 goals?
It means no goal will be scored.
Does under 0.5 apply only to goals?
No. It covers anything with a number line in a game that is on a betting site, from cards to corners to shots, even in sports, other than football.
What does 1 under 0.5 mean?
1 under 0.5 means you're betting on the home team not to score or to get zero for any event or stat line.
What does under 0.5 bookings mean in betting?
It means you're betting that they will be no yellow or red cards shown in the match.