Philippine soccer fans rejoice! The 2018 World cup is here. Betting on the 2018 World Cup is a lucrative opportunity for both amateur and seasoned sports gamblers. The tournament comes with hundreds of different betting lines. With a total of 64 games played over the course of a month, the World Cup is a betting frenzy. The Philippines Men’s National Team is not in the tournament, but there are still 32 other teams to rally behind, at the very least from a betting standpoint. It is important to stay within the legal guidelines established by Philippines law regarding sports gambling. This page centers on 2018 World Cup betting in the Philippines and provides information into safe and legal online options as well as insight into the tournament favorites and more.
Is It Legal To Bet On The 2018 World Cup In The Philippines?
Yes. Philippines based online sportsbooks are allowed to accept domestic wagers, but access is strictly limited and exclusive. MegaSportsWorld (MSW), the local Philippine sportsbook operator, also doesn't have the same robust features as licensed offshore betting sites, but it is a sound legal option nevertheless.
Luckily, Filipinos are legally able to bet with licensed offshore sportsbooks. There are numerous online sportsbooks catering to Filipinos. If the sportsbook you are using is both licensed and regulated by a respected international authority, you are not in violation of any Filipino gambling laws.
Best Available Sportsbooks For Betting On The 2018 World Cup In The Philippines
The amount of online sportsbooks is staggering. It is important to remember that not all of these sportsbooks are considered legal options. A sportsbook must possess both legal licensing and regulation in order to be of legitimate status. Our team of legal online soccer betting analysts compiled a list of the best available sportsbooks accepting Philippines residents. Each of these sportsbooks has been vetted for licensing, regulation, betting line selection, wagering type variance, security features and more. Check out the table below to find links that will redirect you to the sites.
| Site Name | Bonus Offer | Age | Accepts Filipinos? | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 50% Max $1,000 | 18+ |  | Visit Site Review |
 | Up To 7 BTC | 18+ | | Visit Site Review |
 | 50% Max $1,000 | 21+ | | Visit Site Review |
 | 50% Max $1,000 | 18+ | | Visit Site Review |
 | 100% Max $500 | 21+ | | Visit Site Review |
Teams Featured In The 2018 World Cup
This year’s World Cup has some of the classic greats like Germany, Brazil, England and Spain. There are also some ambitious newcomers like Iceland and Panama, making their first-ever World Cup debuts. If you look at Iceland’s performances from the 2016 Euros, you will see that even unfamiliar teams can make a significant impact. No one expected Iceland to perform as well as they did and there a lot of expectations for them this year. The main takeaway from this is that despite teams’ odds, they can surprise both analysts and oddsmakers. This is why it is important to follow along to see how certain teams are performing. We’ve included a list of the 32 teams in this year’s tournament based on their chances of winning below:
- Germany +450
- Brazil +450
- Spain +600
- France +700
- Argentina +900
- Belgium +1100
- England +1600
- Portugal +2500
- Uruguay +3300
- Croatia +3300
- Colombia +4000
- Russia +4000
- Poland +6600
- Denmark +8000
- Mexico +8000
- Switzerland +10000
- Sweden +10000
- Senegal +15000
- Egypt +15000
- Iceland +15000
- Serbia +15000
- Japan +20000
- Nigeria +20000
- Peru +20000
- Costa Rica +25000
- Australia +30000
- Iran +30000
- Morocco +30000
- South Korea +40000
- Tunisia +50000
- Panama +10000
- Saudi Arabia +10000
Teams To Watch In The 2018 World Tournament
It goes without saying that the most favored teams are there for a reason. Germany, Brazil, Spain, France and Argentina are all incredibly talented squads. Let’s break down why these teams are expected to do so well this year.
Germany
Germany are the defending world champions. Their squad is deep and possesses some of the world’s best. This year is interesting partly because there are a number of younger players available. The next generation of German top-flight soccer are looking to impress and they have the quality to do so. It is more likely that Germany will feature stars like Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos, Mesuit Ozil, Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng and Joshua Kimmich, however there could be some new faces like Marco Reus (missed the last World Cup due to injury) and Timo Werner up top. There is also Leroy Sane, Julian Draxler, Leon Goretzka and Sebastian Rudy to consider. The biggest question for Germany comes with the goalie position. #1 option Manuel Neuer has been out for a long time recovering from a broken foot. The squad has yet to confirm whether he’ll be available. Luckily Ter Stegen makes for a quality backup.
Brazil
Brazil is hands-down the flashiest team in the tournament. The team has (almost) their full squad available and is looking to make up for their embarrassing loss in the 2014 World Cup. Neymar, the squad’s best player, is back in the rotation. Brazil also has Gabriel Jesus, Willian, Phillippe Coutinho, Casemiro, Marcelo, Danilo, Thiago Silva and more. The squad unfortunately lost Dani Alves to injury, but there is some depth to help them out. Brazil shut down after Neymar was injured with a back injury during the last World Cup. If he can remain healthy, expect Brazil to make a serious run at winning the whole thing.
Spain
Spain has a new look to them and it seems to be working. This new generation of players performed well in qualifiers. Alvaro Morata, Isco and Asensio make up the young offensive trifecta. Experienced players like David Silva and Sergio Busquets shore up the midfield. The backline is made up of veterans Jordi Alba, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique and Dani Carvajal. Spain also has the best goalkeeper in the world right now in David De Gea. The squad has some exciting depth at each position that presents a nightmare for opposing teams. If they can establish an early rhythm, Spain could be a sleeper team to knock out Germany or Brazil.
France
France is one of those teams that is always projected to go far but comes up short. They almost realized their full potential by winning the Euros on their home turf, but ended up losing to Portugal. With talented players like Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe, N’Golo Kante, Adrien Rabiot, Ousman Dembele, Blaise Matuidi, Anthony Martial and Olivier Giroud, their offense is a powerhouse. France has endured some problems in the locker room, but if the team can shake off the negative press around their supposed egos they can play some magnificent soccer. The World Cup is a bit more serious than the Euros, but if France repeats the same type of play they should do well.
Argentina
Argentina possesses arguably the world’s best soccer player in history with Lionel Messi. However, they have yet to win a major international title. Argentina has repeatedly come up short in the World Cup and Copa America. Their squad is loaded with talent besides Messi including Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Otamendi, Gabriel Mercado, Marcos Acuna, Lucas Biglia and Ever Binega. Messi may be considering retirement from international soccer, so this tournament presents his last chance of World Cup glory. Spanish teams tend do well throughout the tournament and Argentina leads the pack. Expect them to coast through the group stages and hit obstacles once the quarterfinals hit.