Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has once again proven their dominance in French football, clinching the Ligue 1 title for the 2024–25 season. With a mix of tactical discipline, squad depth, and standout individual performances, PSG secured their 13th Ligue 1 title in club history — and with it, stirred significant attention not only among football fans but within the global sports betting community.
While titles are won on the pitch, a parallel game was unfolding off it: the betting game. This season, PSG was not just a favorite on the field but also a central figure in one of the busiest football betting markets across Europe.
Preseason Odds and Expectations
Bookmakers opened the season with PSG as firm favorites to win Ligue 1, offering outright title odds ranging from 1.20 to 1.35 across major platforms. Given the squad’s strength — with stars like Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, and Gianluigi Donnarumma — the expectation was high.
Still, not all bettors were convinced early on. Marseille, Monaco, and Lille had bolstered their squads, offering long-odds appeal for those willing to take a risk. That hesitation cost some bettors dearly — PSG surged ahead mid-season with a 12-game unbeaten run that left little doubt.
The Betting Landscape Around PSG Matches
Each PSG match this season drew hundreds of thousands of bets globally. Industry insiders report that some high-profile games — like Le Classique versus Marseille — saw betting volumes exceeding €25 million globally when combining all markets (match winner, over/under, goal scorers, etc.).
Popular betting markets included:
- PSG to win and both teams to score
- Anytime goal scorer: Kylian Mbappé or Dembélé
- Correct score (notably in games against lower-table sides)
- First-half goals market, where PSG often started aggressively
Notably, several betting syndicates reportedly profited handsomely from exploiting overlooked prop bets, such as PSG scoring in both halves or winning with a clean sheet.
Biggest Wins of the Season
Some of the largest publicized betting wins tied to PSG this season included:
- A bettor from Germany placed a €1,000 accumulator across five PSG matches with various over/under and both teams to score bets — and walked away with €94,000.
- A UK-based punter correctly predicted the final Ligue 1 standings in a €20 outright bet placed in August 2024 — returning £28,500.
- On a smaller scale, many casual bettors won from in-play bets during PSG’s frequent early goals and dominant first halves.
The club’s consistency made them a “safe pick” for conservative bettors but still allowed room for creative strategies using combination markets and exotic bets.
How Bookmakers Responded
With PSG being such a consistent performer, oddsmakers had to adjust. By mid-season, value in backing PSG to win outright diminished. This shifted bettor focus toward:
- Asian Handicap markets (e.g., PSG -1.5, -2.0)
- Double-result bets (win both halves)
- Live betting on PSG to score first or dominate possession
Bookmakers also began limiting some accounts that were consistently profiting from niche markets related to PSG’s games — a sign of how tight the margins became.
Lessons for Bettors
Betting on dominant teams like PSG can seem “safe,” but value is key. This season offered strong reminders that:
- High-volume favorites require smarter strategy, not just blind loyalty.
- Alternative markets like handicaps or player props offer better ROI.
- Tracking team form, injury reports, and rotation policies is critical, especially with a club involved in multiple competitions.
PSG’s latest Ligue 1 triumph was expected — but the journey provided plenty of betting intrigue. From dominant performances and bold in-game plays to massive payouts for those who timed their bets right, the 2024–25 season proved that when top teams perform, smart bettors can profit.
