With the World Cup less than two months away, the soccer betting scene is gradually developing. Online sportsbooks and casinos have been offering odds on European matches since last fall, but the allure of the biggest single sporting event in the world naturally does draw a bigger, more general audience. For those not too familiar with international soccer or even casual bettors looking for a secondary sport this summer during the light season, the World Cup does offer a really good moneymaking platform.

It's a fair assumption that most bettors in the States don't follow the European leagues closely enough to know which players and teams are the right bets this summer. With that in mind, we lend you a few basic concepts andoffer several key tips to apply to Brazil's tournament in June and July.

Do consider future bets prior to the tournament beginning

We at Doc's Sports take our futures bets seriously . Just because you can't cash a bet within a 24-hour period doesn't mean it's not a good opportunity to make some money. The World Cup is a 32-team tournament with the best countries in the world participating. That means there are a handful of instances when you have two really good teams playing against each other, thus making the margin for a value bet too slim. Some of the best wagers this summer can potentially be a bet on a team to win their group or even to advance to a certain stage of the tournament. Make sure you do your homework to see what valued situations are available prior to the World Cup starting on June 12.

Don't be impatient when looking to score a winner

Once the tournament does start, it's not like a daily slate of NBA games or MLB betting choices. During the group stage there are only three matches per day. And considering the group stage is where the big favorites will play heavy underdogs, a lot of days some matches won't even seem plausible with such moneyline prices as -400 or -500. The good thing about the World Cup is that every match is on national television. Use that to your advantage. Watch teams' first match and see how they look before you jump on someone just because you read about them in Sports Illustrated or online at ESPN. The eye test can go a long way for a big sporting event such as the World Cup.

Once the Knockout Round begins, Do consider 'bet to advance' wagers

When the World Cup ups the stakes with the elimination round after the group stage, teams feel the pressure. Underdogs go for broke to make sure they can keep playing for another round, while favorites may play guarded so as not to be dealt a shocking loss. This can mean a very passive style of play, as teams almost try to avoid losing instead of trying to win. In a major tournament, unlike the European domestic leagues, if a match is tied after the normal 90 minutes, teams play an additional 30 minutes (split into 15-minute halves). If still tied even after that, on to penalty kicks. However, if you bet a team to win, that wager is valid for the only the initial 90 minutes. Nothing is worse than seeing the team you bet on celebrate an extra-time goal or win via PKs only for your bet to be deemed a loser. Consider wagering on a team 'to advance' to the next round, thus cashing a winner no matter how your side scores a 'W'.

Don't be afraid to create a parlay or two on a daily basis

Parlays are for squares. Yes, that isn't wrong. However for a specialized event such as the World Cup where teams are playing three group-stage matches with everything on the line, results do shake out a bit differently. Simply put, it's a bit different than a regular-season NBA game over the course of an 82-game schedule or even an MLB game during an even more dragged out 162-game season. In the World Cup these matches really matter. And as we mentioned above, a lot of times matches don't offer a price that makes sense if you like a favorite. Sometimes parlaying a heavy favorite with a totals play or another wager is the way to go. It's situational, that's for sure, but definitely a viable option for this sporting event.

Strike Point Sports has established themselves as one of the top soccer handicappers with their success on the big tournament stage. From the 2006 World Cup, Euro 2008, 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, SPS earned $100 clients over $8,200 in profit from these four major events. This summer's World Cup is going to be another moneymaking opportunity, and they are looking forward to their soccer selections and another winning tournament.

Visit Doc's Sports for coverage of the 2014 World Cup and more articles leading up to this summer's major soccer tournament.