This guide to Russian Premier League betting will help you discover one of Eastern Europe’s most competitive football leagues, home to well-known clubs like Zenit, Spartak, CSKA, and Lokomotiv. While coaches like Spalletti and Mancini and players like Marchisio have already experienced Russian football firsthand—now it’s your turn. Let’s begin with the top bookmakers to place your bets.
Top 5 Online Bookmakers for the Russian Premier League
Top Bookmakers for the Russian Premier League
| Bookmaker | Bonus Up To |
| Emirbet | $500 |
| Efbet | $515 |
| Beteum | $550 |
| Kingmaker | $400 |
| 2Wonaco | $600 |
| Ivibet | $1,007 |
| BDMbet | $250 |
These five bookmakers were chosen for their excellent payouts, competitive odds, and the variety of markets available for Russian Premier League matches. Special attention was given to their live betting sections, promotions, and streaming options.
About the Russian Premier League
General Overview
- Name: Russian Premier League
- Headquarters: Moscow
- Founded: 1991
- Sponsor: TINKOFF
- Website: https://eng.premierliga.ru
- Teams: 16
- Champions League spots: 2 direct + 1 in qualifiers
- Europa League spots: 3
- Relegation: 2 automatic + 2 playoff
The Russian Premier League consists of 16 clubs that play a 30-match season in a round-robin format. The top two teams qualify for the Champions League, the third for the qualifiers, and three more for the Europa League. The bottom two are relegated, while the 13th and 14th teams face playoffs against the second-tier challengers.
League Format and Calendar
Since 2011, the RPL has aligned its calendar with UEFA tournaments to better integrate with European competitions. The winter transfer window (Jan 23 – Feb 22) is slightly extended due to the league’s longer winter break.
The Most Iconic Teams in the League
Most Successful Clubs
| Club | Titles | City | Stadium |
| Spartak Moscow | 10 | Moscow | Otkrytie Arena (44,190) |
| Zenit St. Petersburg | 7 | St. Petersburg | Krestovsky Stadium (68,130) |
| CSKA Moscow | 6 | Moscow | CSKA Arena (30,600) |
| Lokomotiv Moscow | 3 | Moscow | Lokomotiv Stadium (28,800) |
| Rubin Kazan | 2 | Kazan | Kazan Arena |
| Alania Vladikavkaz | 1 | Vladikavkaz | Spartak Stadium (32,464) |
A League of Moscow Giants
Moscow-based teams dominate the league historically, with Spartak Moscow being the most celebrated. Known as “the people’s team,” Spartak rose to fame during the USSR era for not being tied to government institutions, unlike Dinamo.
Historical Records Worth Knowing
Most Consecutive Championships
Spartak Moscow holds the record with 6 consecutive titles between 1996 and 2001.
Most Points in a Season
Zenit St. Petersburg earned 72 points in the 2019/20 season under coach Sergei Semak.
Most Consistent Participants
Lokomotiv, Spartak, and CSKA Moscow have never missed a season since the league’s inception in 1992.
City with Most Titles
Moscow clubs have won 19 out of all Russian championships.
Player with Most Appearances
Sergei Ignashevich (CSKA) holds the record with 489 appearances in the league.
🎯 Betting Markets on the Russian Premier League
Understanding the Most Popular Bets
Knowing your betting markets is key. Below are the most used bet types by punters placing bets on RPL matches.
Single Match Bets
These include pre-match and live wagers on:
- Match result (1X2)
- Total goals (Over/Under)
- Both Teams to Score
- Cards
- Corners
Whether it’s a heated Moscow derby like Spartak vs Lokomotiv, this market gives you plenty of options.
Final Result Market and Its Key Stats
What Is the “Final Result” Market?
As expected, the Final Result market is the most popular when betting on the Russian Premier League. It simply involves predicting whether a match will end in a home win (1), a draw (X), or an away win (2).
Let’s take a closer look at the 2020/21 season to understand the trends. Compared to other leagues—like the Dutch Eredivisie—the home-field advantage in Russia plays a different role.
- Home Wins (1) – 115 matches ended with a win for the home side, equal to 48.52% of all games.
- Draws (X) – Occurred 50 times, making up 21.10%.
- Away Wins (2) – 72 matches were won by the away team, for 30.38% of all results.
Both Teams to Score: Gol/No Gol Market
How Often Do Both Teams Score?
The Both Teams to Score (BTTS) market is another staple among football punters. But before placing bets on this market in the RPL, it’s worth checking out the data from the 2020/21 season:
- Both Teams Scored (Yes) – 46.84%
- Only One or Neither Scored (No) – 53.16%
This shows that low-scoring matches are slightly more common in the RPL compared to leagues like the MLS, where the “Yes” outcome dominates more often.
Over/Under Goals Market: Russian PL by the Numbers
Fewer Goals Than You Might Expect
Weather and tactics play a part in the RPL’s lower goal average. Based on the 2020/21 data, here’s how often games went above or below the standard 2.5-goal line:
- Under 2.5 Goals – 53.16%
- Over 2.5 Goals – 46.84%
So, betting on Under is statistically more successful here than in leagues like Portugal’s Primeira Liga, where matches are often more open.
Futures (Antepost) Bets in the Russian Premier League
Now that we’ve broken down single match bets, let’s look at futures markets—known as antepost. These are long-term wagers covering entire seasons, and they offer thrilling opportunities if timed correctly. We’ve selected the four most popular futures markets for the Russian Premier League.
Who Will Win the League?
In 2020/21, Zenit St. Petersburg claimed their 7th title with 65 points. Predicting the champion is never easy, especially in a league this balanced. Clubs like Spartak, Rubin Kazan, Rostov, and Krasnodar are always in the mix. Just like in Turkey’s Super Lig, summer transfer activity can change everything—keep an eye on rosters before making your pick.
Betting on the Second Place
This “Without Team X” market is designed to predict who will finish second, excluding the dominant favorite. In 2020/21, Spartak Moscow secured second place. Given that Russia sends three teams to the Champions League, second place is still very valuable—both for visibility and prize money.
Who Will Be Relegated?
In the 2020/21 season, Rotor Volgograd and FC Tambov were directly relegated. Russia’s relegation system is quite complex: two teams go down automatically, while the 13th and 14th face playoffs against teams from the National Football League.
These bets are risky but often come with very attractive odds, perfect for experienced punters who follow lower-tier teams.
Top Goalscorer of the Russian Premier League
For goalscoring markets, look out for lesser-known stars. In 2020/21, Sardar Azmoun and Artëm Dzyuba of Zenit shared the top scorer title, scoring 39 goals combined. These players might not be household names globally, but they regularly top the charts and can earn you a solid return on long-term bets.
🎯 How We Picked the Best Russian Premier League Bookmakers
At the beginning of this guide, we introduced our Top 5 Bookmakers for betting on the RPL. Now it’s time to explain the key criteria behind our selection:
What We Considered:
- Payouts and average odds
- Market variety for both pre-match and live betting
- Promotions specific to the Russian Premier League
- Live streaming availability
- Mobile app experience
Choosing the right bookmaker isn’t just about big bonuses—it’s about consistency, tools, and reliability over time. That’s why only a few platforms truly stand out when it comes to betting on the Russian Premier League.
Criteria for Choosing the Best Russian Premier League Bookmakers
Key Aspects That Guide Our Selections
When evaluating betting sites for the Russian Premier League, we considered several important elements:
- Competitive payout levels and overall profit potential.
- The availability of promotions specifically dedicated to this league.
- A solid number of live betting options and streaming services.
- A wide range of pre-match, live, and futures markets.
Of course, many other variables could be considered, but these four stood out as the most influential. While some criteria are tied to maximizing potential winnings—such as higher payouts or special promos—others help refine your betting strategy, like the variety of markets or live betting features.
Payout Levels for Russian Premier League Betting
What Are Payouts and Why Do They Matter?
In simple terms, a payout is the percentage of your stake that a bookmaker returns to players. The closer this percentage is to 100%, the better your return. It’s a crucial metric when choosing a bookmaker for Russian Premier League bets.
Here are the minimum and maximum payout rates offered by top operators:
| Bookmaker | Payout Range |
| SNAI | 92.3% – 94.9% |
| Eurobet | 93.4% – 95.1% |
| Planetwin365 | 92.6% – 94.5% |
| Sisal | 91.9% – 94.2% |
| 888sport | 93.7% – 95.6% |
Promotions for Russian Premier League Betting
While the RPL doesn’t always get as much promotional attention as major leagues like the Premier League or Serie A, top bookmakers sometimes surprise punters—especially during big matchups like the Moscow derbies.
Even when dedicated promotions are scarce, most of these operators allow you to use:
- Welcome bonuses
- Multiples bonuses
- Occasional enhanced odds
…on Russian Premier League events. So, even if flashy promos aren’t guaranteed, there are still plenty of opportunities to add value to your wagers.
Live Betting and Streaming on the Russian Premier League
Quality In-Play Features That Enhance the Experience
Live betting is booming worldwide, and the Russian league is no exception. Here’s what we considered when evaluating this feature:
- Number of live betting markets
- Quality of live stats and scores
- Real-time odds updates
- Availability of live streaming
One standout operator here is Sisal Live, which offers high-quality live broadcasts of every match, creating a dynamic and immersive betting experience.
Market Variety for RPL Betting
Market diversity is a big deal. Betting isn’t just about predicting the winner or the total number of goals—it’s also about accessing unique bet types that align with your strategy.
With the Russian Premier League, top operators offer between 80 and 120 betting options per match, including:
- Cards and corners
- First/last goalscorer
- Exact scorelines
- Double chance, draw no bet, and more
This wide variety is available on both desktop and mobile, giving you flexibility and more chances to profit from your insights.
The History of the Russian Premier League
The roots of the Russian Premier League trace back to a major geopolitical shift—the fall of the Soviet Union. The first official season took place in 1992.
In 2001, under President Vladimir Putin’s initiative, the league underwent major restructuring and adopted its current format. In 2016, the Russian government introduced TsUPIS, a centralized system to monitor legal sports betting in the country.
This combination of sport and state oversight has helped shape a stable, modern football league and a regulated betting ecosystem.
Winning Strategies for Betting on the Russian Premier League
Let’s be honest—luck always plays a role in betting. But when it comes to the RPL, studying stats can really boost your edge.
Here are some strategic tips:
- Start with single or double bets to get used to the teams.
- Know that “Under 2.5 goals” and “No Goal” are statistically more frequent than in many other leagues.
- Keep an eye on team news and transfers, especially around the January–February window when the league is still on pause.
The Russian league might be unfamiliar, but a sharp punter can still profit from its unique patterns.
Experience Matters: Trust Seasoned Bookmakers
Russia is both geographically and culturally distant for many bettors. That’s why we recommend using only licensed, experienced operators. These bookmakers know how to approach the RPL with the right tools, coverage, and respect for legal frameworks.
All the platforms we’ve recommended are fully regulated and licensed—unlike illegal sites that don’t hold ADM certification. Stick with the trusted names and avoid unnecessary risks.
