Best Football Betting Sites - The Most Trusted Bookmakers
If you are serious about punting, it's essential to find the best football betting sites. There are hundreds of bookmakers out there, but how to recognize the best ones? Our expert bettors test, rate and review bookmakers to recommend the most reputable and trustworthy options.
At Topfootballbettingsites.co.uk we are regularly checking for free bets and promotions, available competitive odds, better in-play and mobile experience and more. All of the football betting sites we rank are licensed and have a strong reputation in the UK. Now, let's get straight to our top rated website ranking!
Top Football Betting Sites in the UK for 2024
# | Bookie | Advantages | Markets | Bonus | Rating | Review | Bet | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Betway |
|
100+ | Get Up To £10 in Free Bets | 10/10 | Betway Review | Claim Now | |
2 | Betrino |
|
10+ | Bet £25 Get £50 Free Bets | 9/10 | Coming Soon | Claim Now | |
3 | Unibet |
|
90+ | Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses | 9/10 | Unibet Review | Claim Now | 18+. BeGambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Min £10 debit card deposit. Place a £10+ bet at Evens or greater (2.0) each leg on Sports within 7 days. Opt in for £20 in free bets and £20 Casino Bonus. Valid for 7 days. Geographical restrictions and T&C’s apply. #AD |
4 | bet365 |
|
110+ | Up to £30* in Free Bets | 8/10 | bet365 Review | Claim Now | Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. #AD |
5 | Betfred |
|
40+ | Bet £10 get up to £50 | 8/10 | Coming Soon | Claim Now | |
6 | 10bet |
|
110+ | 100% up to £50 |
8/10 | 10bet Review | Claim Now | New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+ |
7 | Grosvenor |
|
60+ | 100% Odds Boost Token | 8/10 | Coming Soon | Claim Now | |
8 | 32Red |
|
50+ | Get up to £150 | 8/10 | Coming Soon | Claim Now | |
9 | William Hill |
|
130+ | Bet £10 and Get £30* in Free Bets | 8/10 | William Hill Review | Claim Now | *New customers using Promo Code P30 only, min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15 (30 days expiry), free bet/payment method/player/country restrictions apply. |
10 | Casumo |
|
40+ | 50% back on your first bet up to £25 | 8/10 | Coming Soon | Claim Now |
Ranking Criteria
This is the criteria we use in order to ensure that only the best football betting sites are featured on TopFootballBettingSites.co.uk.
Licensing and securityIt goes without saying that licensing and security are of paramount importance. If a bookie doesn't have either of these, they are not worth touching with a bargepole.
Competitive oddsYou will never find football betting sites who offer the best odds on every market, but it would be fair to say that overall, some operators are more generous than others.
Market varietyThis is an important factor which enables punters to take advantage of different market conditions and use their knowledge to get an edge over the bookies.
Bonuses and promotionsThe online gambling industry is well known for offering incentives to tempt new customers, but we also put emphasis on the bonuses and promotions that existing customers can also take advantage of on the online football betting sites because they can often prove to be lucrative.
Customer supportMost punters want general enquiries or problems to be resolved quickly and without any fuss. They don't want to have to wait ages to get connected or have to deal with a support operator who is rude or lacking in knowledge.
Live betting and streamingLive betting is becoming increasingly popular in the football betting markets and even though live streaming is more for entertainment purposes, it is still an important factor that many recreational punters place a great deal of importance on.
Betting appsGone are the days when a football betting app was all bells and whistles; now, the measure of a quality app is that it is quick, not clunky and easy to navigate.
Payment options and payout speedA wide choice of payment options is essential in order to cater to the needs of every player. In these days of punters placing bets with different football online betting sites, payout speed is also an important factor to take into consideration so that funds can be utilised quickly.
Betway
Pros:
- A huge range of games and odds
- Football-specific offers and promos
- You can earn free bets
Cons:
- Some of the popular live markets are missing
- Live streaming options are limited
- Some pages are difficult to read
The Betway brand covers many different ways of betting, so it’s no surprise to see football well-represented here. You can find all the top leagues and tournaments from around the planet, so you’ll almost always find a selection of live games to choose from. Enter a game and you’ll see many ways of betting, with markets like total goals scored, first goalscorer and so on. The Cash Out button gives you the option of collecting your current winnings and closing the bet.
There’s a wide range of promotions to help you get started smoothly when you join. A welcome offer lets your first deposit go further, while you can also pick up ongoing deals. Their offers include free bets and accumulator deals. Since football is so popular on this site, it’s no surprise to see that many of their best promotions are based on this sport.
Since the site is packed with information, it can take a moment to find what you’re looking for, but once you’re up and running you should find it easy to use and get around. The Betway mobile app is a smart choice if you want to be able to access their bets anywhere you go.
In terms of banking, many of the most trusted online payment methods are accepted for deposits and withdrawals. If you have doubts about this or any other part of the site, you can find the information you need in the online help section.
Unibet
Pros:
- Odds boosts available
- Attractive website
- Lots of football on their live-streaming service
Cons:
- Lack of football promotions at the time of writing
- Some of their offers are of limited value
- Not all banking methods are accepted
If you decide to look for the latest football odds on the Unibet site, you’ll find an attractive layout where each of the sports they cover is listed down the side of the screen. There’s no surprise in the fact that football has the largest number of bets of all sports, and you just need to click on this category to see live and upcoming games.
All the major leagues are here, from the EPL to the Bundesliga and more. You can also gamble on Champion’s League games and internationals. As you’d expect, there are many ways of betting on these games, from the outright winner to specific details such as corners awarded and cards given out.
Getting started with Unibet football betting is simple, as you just need to follow a short signup process and then make your first deposit. At this point, you’ll be asked to accept the welcome bonus that gets you off to a flying start with the chance to make a free bet. The list of payment methods isn’t particularly long but pretty much all of the most popular banking methods used by British gamblers are accepted.
This is a good all-around betting site that should appeal to football fans as well as people who want to bet on other sports.
bet365
Pros:
- Range of promos for 18+ players, T&Cs apply
- Football is strongly featured
- Bet builders can be used
Cons:
- Can be awkward to locate some information
- Some 18+ offers where T&Cs apply require high odds on wagers
- Bank transfer withdrawals may be slow
Another of the biggest names in the UK sports betting market, bet365 covers just about any football game you might want to look for odds on, with a wide selection of live betting on games going ahead just now. They cover many other sports, too, but it’s football that might catch your eye thanks to the big selection of games from different leagues and cups.
The process of signing up and placing the first bet I found to be extremely simple. In next to no time, I was ready to place my first wager. They offer numerous ways of betting, with the bet builder option proving to be a good way of creating interesting wagers with different elements.
Live-streamed games are available, which you might find makes it easier to bet on live games. In addition, they have useful cashout and bet boost offers that you might like to check out. The site is easy to get around and their customer support team can be contacted 24/7 in several ways whenever you need a helping hand.
Overall, it’s a slick and professional approach to sports betting, with an emphasis on safety and security, that’s likely to give you something you’re interested in gambling on.
Betfred
Pros:
- Many sports, including football
- Daily price boosts are available
- Good range of bonuses
Cons:
- Mobile access can be slow
- Not a lot of football-specific promotions
- Withdrawals can take up to 48 hours in processing time
The Betfred website is one of the easiest to use, with the home page giving you links to the latest football bets, their current promotions and all the other information that you need quick access to. A bar at the top of the screen lets you go directly to the rest of the betting options they offer, while footie fans can just look for that sport on the sidebar.
Once you enter the football betting section, you’ll find the Champions League, the Europa League and all of the other top games coming up. As you’d expect, the options include betting on live games taking place at the time and others that will be getting played later.
All of the key features that are important in the online sports betting market are present here, meaning that you can cash out early and will find a good variety of live streams offered at all times. The first thing you need to do is register, which only takes a moment and leads you to the deposit process and the chance to collect a welcome bonus.
Betfred has an intuitive layout where you can quickly and easily find any open bets and cash out if it suits you. They also have a solid welcome offer where you can collect free bets, followed by other promotions, with football accas included.
10bet
Pros:
- Good-looking website
- Sizable welcome bonus for newcomers
- Easy-to-use mobile app
Cons:
- Some deposit methods may be slower than others
- Not many football promotions listed
- Not all e-wallet deposits are eligible for the welcome offer
The 10bet home page has a strong focus on football, letting you see right away that they offer plenty of ways of betting on this sport. Choose the live bets tab and you’ll see the matches that are in progress or just about to kick off.
At the time of writing, the welcome bonus gives newcomers 100% extra, up to £50, with 8x wagering requirements and you have 60 days to use it. Other offers you might like the look of on their promotions page include boosts to winning accumulators and the chance to pick up free bets if more than a certain number of goals is scored in selected games.
There’s also currently a deal that encourages you to try their mobile app, as it gives you a £5 free bet when you wager £30 in this way. The live streaming is based mainly on horse racing, but you’ll also find some footie games, and all you need to enjoy live action is an account with funds in it.
Instant deposits can be made from £10 upwards using any of the typical methods such as debit cards and e-wallets. Withdrawals have a processing time of up to a couple of days and they can be carried out with many of the same methods.
Grosvenor
Pros:
- Lots of information for new members
- Their blog has news and tips
- No free bet welcome offer
Cons:
- The responsible gambling section is rather short
- Live streaming options are limited
- Just a few banking methods accepted
It’s easy to find the latest football odds at Grosvenor, with all the top leagues from Europe and beyond included on the list of games. The handy guides on the site let anyone completely new to sports betting understand right away what it’s all about.
The promos are split between casino and sports offers. For new members, the welcome bonus gives double the regular odds on any sports bet rather than a free wager. After that, ongoing offers are split between sports, with not a lot based on football games. However, they have a prediction game where you can win prizes by guessing how certain matches will end.
The site has all the details you need to know in terms of practical issues like how to make deposits and how to carry out responsible gambling. You should also find some interesting news and betting tips on their blog that lets you work out what wagers you might want to place next.
Make your first deposit using debit cards like Visa or Mastercard or e-wallets, including PayPal and ApplePay. The paysafecard gives you the option of using a prepaid card to fund your account, although you need to consider how you’re going to get out your winnings if you use this method.
32Red
Pros:
- A bright and attractive website
- Cash out lets you grab profits before the game ends
- Excellent customer support
Cons:
- Not all payment methods qualify for the welcome bonus
- Few promos for footie fans
- Lack of football on live-streaming
The 32Red brand is well-respected in the online gambling world, so it’s no surprise to find that their sports betting site is well-designed and easy to use. Everything is done professionally here, from the registration process to the ways they offer instant answers with 24/7 customer support.
Banking can be done using e-wallets and a variety of different debit cards. It’s worth noting that bank transfers can only be used for withdrawals and not for depositing money, while the prepaid paysafecard is only for deposits and not withdrawals. With a UK license, you can trust this site to look after you.
When you look through the live and upcoming odds, you’ll find a handy search facility that lets you look through the teams and leagues listed. Games and tournaments from many countries are included, and you just need to click on any of them to open up a betting slip.
The 32Red promotions are fairly limited at the time of writing, with an odds boost available on horse racing but not on football games. However, their use of competitive odds and the way you can build bets makes it a worthwhile site if you love betting on sports.
William Hill
Pros:
- Lots of ways of betting
- Ask for any odds you want
- Various promos boost football odds
Cons:
- Not many free bet options at the time of this review
- You might get a chatbot rather than a human on live chat
- Some people might find it difficult to navigate
This major betting brand has a site that’s packed with ways to bet and useful information but remains user-friendly and relatively uncluttered. Their football section is filled with all the biggest games as well as many relatively minor matches from around the different corners of the planet.
There are quite a few promotions listed, and a few of them are based on footie matches. You can even contact their team to ask them to create a price for any wager you have in mind. There’s also an odds boost and an acca boost available for football games.
Banking is always a key issue when betting online, and William Hill accepts deposits from a variety of sources, with many of the same methods accepted for withdrawals, too. Their banking process is fast and smooth, but you should bear in mind that each of these methods takes differing amounts of time.
Customer support is important in any betting site and William Hill has an extremely comprehensive help section that’s neatly divided into sections. Live chat is the quickest way to speak to someone and it’s open on a 24/7 basis. As a UK-regulated operator, they’re going to ask you to verify your identity but they make it as easy as possible to do so.
Casumo
Pros:
- Numerous ways of betting on football matches
- Welcome bonus refunds 50% of losing bets
- Good, responsible gambling information
Cons:
- Just a few deposit methods
- No live streaming
- No ongoing sports betting promos
With Casumo, you get a bright and welcoming where the live events are listed on the home page for you to jump straight into. Their football betting is comprehensive, with many different bet types like outright winner, total goals and next goal some of the most popular options.
To get started, you’ll need to go through a short registration process, and then you’ll get 50% up to £25 if your first bet doesn’t win. As with all sports betting offers, you should be sure to check the T&Cs carefully before going ahead. At the time of writing, there are no other sports betting offers for you to grab.
They’ve clearly worked hard to make this a welcoming site that’s simple to get to grips with. The wealth of responsible gambling information is also good to see. Live sports are one of Casumo’s strong points and it’s easy to place a bet as the action is taking place.
Banking is done through a relatively small number of accepted deposit and banking methods. However, the positive aspect of this is that you can be sure that they only use the most reputable cards and e-wallets for moving money in and out. As an operator that’s historically been focussed on their casino, we might see their sports betting offering improve over time.
The Variety of Football Betting Markets
Value in everyday markets should be matched with choice, and when it comes to online football betting, that means a wide range of markets from each bookmaker. Moreover, the best online bookmaker for football should provide variety in both the types of bets and the available championships.
What Are the Most Popular Football Bets?
We have listed here the most popular football bets in no particular order. Some of these wagers are just popular with football fans, while others are unique to the sport.
Straight resultAlso known as 1X2, this is the simple case of betting on a win or a draw.
Individual goalscorers These bets have been around since before the Internet had even been dreamt of. We’re talking about separate bets for first, last and anytime scorers. In addition, the rise of live football betting sites has given us the new option of ‘next goalscorer’.
Total goals Football betting sites list a number of goal lines, starting at 0.5 and finishing at around 10.5 or possibly higher. Punters must then decide whether to go over or under a line and stake accordingly. There is an additional option for the exact number of goals, but this is much harder to predict and, as a result, is less popular.
Correct score It can be challenging to predict the exact outcome, but this type of bet is popular because the odds for an accurate prediction can be very high. When it comes to football betting sites, UK-based firms are very competitive on this particular bet, and it's widely available across sportsbooks.
Both Teams to Score (BTTS) This wager requires the bettor to decide whether both teams to score during the match in question. It's also possible to stake on either side to score in that game. As with any market that is related to goals, a quick look at a team's scoring record over recent matches offers strong indicators as to whether the bet will be successful.
Discipline bets You can’t bet on whether there will be a yellow card in a specific match, as they are incredibly common, but it is possible to bet on the odds of a send off. A small selection of football betting sites also publish a market on whether a specific player will get a yellow card.
Handicap bets Handicap bets are good to leverage both risk and profit. Additionally, they are excellent for betting on matches where the winner is evident.
Top Football Championships and Leagues to Bet On
In addition to bet types, there is another aspect of markets which is very important to football punters – the availability of championships and leagues. Nowadays, the best football betting sites offer competitions from all over the world, and there is coverage of games even in the most remote parts of the planet. However, some leagues and tournaments will always be more popular than others. Here are the competitions that remain the main focus for all football betting sites:
At the start of the 1992/93 season, the best teams in England broke away and formed the Premier League. More than 25 years later, the league has grown to become one of the best. When it comes to football betting, UK sportsbooks always give the EPL extensive coverage.
The FA Cup is much older than the Premier League, but it's just as prestigious. Every club under the auspices of the Football Association takes part, and when the teams reach the finals in May, it’s one of the highlights of the sporting year.
The top division in Spain features two giants of world football – Barcelona and Real Madrid. Some of the greatest players in the game compete in this league. Since it's such a big draw for spectators, it also gets a lot of attention from football betting sites across the web.
This is the biggest domestic cup competition in Spain. Once again, Barca and Real feature heavily. The nation’s football is competitive, with Atletico Madrid and Sevilla providing stiff opposition, so this is an important area for the online football betting industry.
This is the top Italian division, and the best football bookies have hundreds of markets available. In the modern era, Juventus have been a dominant force, but there are challenges from top teams such as Inter and AC Milan.
This is the biggest knockout competition here, and the sportsbooks are particularly active when this competition reaches its later stages. Its first edition was held in 1922. Juventus is the competition's most successful club with 13 wins.
The Champions League (UCL) features the winners of European divisions and the top-placed teams below them. This event is highly significant for football betting sites UK, as it is one of the biggest events in the entire sporting calendar and when they are busiest.
This tournament features strong teams that finished just outside the Champions League qualifying places. Once again, this competition proves to be a big draw for the best football betting sites, offering numerous betting opportunities throughout the long tournament.
These are the main markets to look out for, so let’s now take a look at the top football betting sites marketwise:
Which are the Best Betting Odds and How to Assess Them?
Obtaining the best betting odds can make a big difference to the overall profit of a person's betting activities, but there are a few things that you should bear in mind. Many punters make the mistake of always going for selections with higher odds in the hope of generating a big 'pay day', but in order to make your betting pay, the emphasis must be placed on value.
We could talk about value betting all day long, but to sum it up, let's look at an example. If Arsenal are playing Spurs and you calculate that Arsenal have a 50% chance of winning, the odds for that result should be evens (2.0). If bet365 are offering odds of 6/4 (2.5) and you place a bet on those odds, you will be placing a value bet. Over the long term, placing value bets like this will give you an advantage over the football betting sites UK.
How to Find Value Bets
Fortunately for online punters, there are ways that you can use the top football betting sites to find value bets.
- Shop around - The football betting sites operate in an extremely competitive market, and to put it in a nutshell, they want your business. They can achieve this by offering higher odds on particular selections, so it makes sense to spend a little time looking around to see what is available.
- Take advantage of 'Bet boosts' - It's not unusual for the UK football betting sites to offer bet boosts on some of the weekend matches as well as midweek European fixtures. This is where the odds on a popular section are boosted for a period of time but you should bear in mind that there is usually a limit on the stake.
- Choose alternative markets - Instead of the usual 1x2 markets, consider placing a bet on the overs/unders or 'player shots on target' as an example.
- Specialise - There are now so many markets offered by the best football bookies it would be impossible for them to be on top of them all.
Most of the odds are compiled using complicated algorithms, but if your knowledge lies in Championship football as an example, you will be aware of any injuries, rumours and gossip, so you will be able to take advantage of any odds that could represent value betting.
- Use a betting exchange - It is often the case that you can get better odds on betting exchanges such as Betfair as opposed to the football betting sites. Even taking into account the commission that is charged on winning bets, exchange betting is always worth taking into consideration.
Best Betting Offers & Promotions
We all love a good promotion being offered by the best betting sites for football and luckily for us, we are spoilt for choice. These betting offers range from odds being boosted for the big matches, bonuses for placing multiple bets (Lucky 15, Lucky 31), acca insurance, goalscorer bonuses, to name but a few.
Football Betting Offers at Betway
-
Free bets and price boosts
Various promotional offers
Top rated by bettors and experts -
Sign-up Offer
Get up to £10.00
in free bets -
Free Bet Club
Bet £25 in trebles or higher
and get £10 Free -
Betway Boost
Daily Price Boosts to increase
your winnings
Before we continue, you should take into account that there are usually stake restrictions on these types of bets, not all of them, but more often than not. The restrictions will be stated in the terms and conditions of the offers, but if you try and put on a £100 bet on a bet365 bet boost, for example, the bet will be declined and the betting slip will state the maximum stake you are allowed.
The most popular football betting offers and promotions include the following.
- Bet boosts - The most generous bet boosts are usually available on featured matches over a weekend. They come in all shapes and sizes, but the most common are 'Player to score' and 'Players' shots on target.'
These Bet boosts can be used for value betting purposes but also for matched betting, where the boost can be layed off at a betting exchange to ensure a profit before the match has even started.
- Two goals ahead early payout - This is a great offer if you are placing a bet on the home or away win market because if your team goes two goals up in the match, the bet is paid out as a winner even if the match finishes as a draw or the other team ends up winning.
This offer also applies to matches that are part of an accumulator.
- Deposit match reload bonus - These offers pop up every now and then, usually in the form of bet £10, get a £10 free bet.
Minimum odds apply, but offers like this can be used as a speculative bet or layed off at an exchange to guarantee a profit.
- Acca offers - There are two types of Acca offers: Acca Insurance, where you will get your stake back if one of your selections loses and Acca Bonus, where you will get a percentage bonus if all of your selections win, the bigger the bonus for the more legs of the Acca.
There are plenty of other promotions offered by the football betting sites. Bonuses come in various formats, so it's essential for customers to carefully review the terms and conditions of each offer.
Security and Licensing Information You Must Know
All trusted football betting sites are very open about their licencing, security and collaborating organisations. There are four main types of logos you will see at the bottom of a site’s homepage, and they all serve an important purpose in your betting experience:
- Regulators. In the UK, the text at the bottom of the homepage should confirm that the company is regulated by the Gambling Commission and that they are allowed to take on qualifying British customers. Most bookmakers also display the logo of the Gambling Commission. If you click on it, you will likely be redirected to the regulator's home page, and very often you will see the sportsbook licence as well. If the licence is not immediately visible, you can search for it in the website's database.
- Auditing and security agencies. Bookmakers undergo gambling-specific audits to ensure the fairness of their services. These audits are performed by organisations such as eCOGRA and iTechLabs. In addition, sportsbooks may list their security encryption providers and various certificates related to personal and financial data-handling.
- Alternative dispute resolution (ADR). When issues arise with bookmakers, punters may choose to solve them with independent adjudicators instead of bringing them to court. All UK-licensed bookmakers are required to work with at least one ADR organization, such as IBAS, eCOGRA, ADR Group and others. These organisations can help punters a great deal with legal disputes.
- Responsible gambling groups. Problem gambling can be a serious issue for all involved parties. Therefore, responsible sports betting sites make sure to include at least one support organisation that deals with it. You will soon learn to recognise the logos of GAMSTOP, GamCare and BeGambleAware.
In-Play LIVE Football Betting
In-play betting has grown in popularity over the past few years and it is not difficult to understand why. It often becomes apparent during a football match which team is gaining the upper hand, so live betting enables you to place a bet in real time as opposed to placing a bet before the match starts and hoping for the best. It is important that there is not too much of a time delay in the stream you are watching and remember that there is a ten-second buffer between the time you place the bet and the time it is accepted.
In-play betting using a betting exchange is preferable for many punters as the bet is placed straight away as long as there is enough liquidity in the market. Live betting and live streaming offer great value. We've compiled helpful information on the top choices for both options. Make sure to check out our 'Live Betting' and page for additional details and tips.
Football Betting Apps Usability
It's taken a long time for the best football bookmakers to realise it, but the betting apps should be simple and easy to use. Nobody is bothered about an app that looks pretty when you login; it just needs to do the job it is intended for and that is to enable us to quickly and easily place a bet.
Biometric login, e.g., fingerprint, is a big help, so you don't have to mess around with typing in your login details, but apart from that, a mobile app which allows you to place bets whilst on the move is a great tool in the quest to win money off the football betting sites.
Nobody wants to be tied to their computer when watching a football match for betting purposes so a mobile app allows you to go about your day, keeping an eye on a football match with a view to spotting any lucrative betting opportunities.
Popular Deposit Options
It's in the best interests of all UK football betting sites to have various deposit options available for their customers.
- Debit cards (Visa/Mastercard): The most widely accepted method, debit cards allow instant deposits directly from your bank account with no fees. It's secure and easy to use.
- PayPal: A popular e-wallet option that offers fast and secure transactions. PayPal adds an extra layer of protection by not sharing your card details with the bookmaker.
- eWallets: NETELLER and Skrill are favoured for their speed and privacy. Deposits are instant, and they can help you manage your betting budget separately from your bank account.
- Bank transfer: A secure but slower option, bank transfers are ideal for larger deposits. However, it may take a few days for the funds to appear in your betting account.
- Apple Pay/Google Pay: Mobile payment options that offer fast deposits directly through your smartphone, with no need to enter card details.
Interesting Football Betting Facts & Tips
The best football betting site for bonuses and promotions.
bet365, as well as the welcome bonus of Bet £10, get £30 in free bets, the real gold is in the Bet Boosts and ongoing promotions that are offered on a weekly basis.
It is possible to place risk-free bets.
Using bet boosts to back a selection and laying the same bet on a betting exchange can result in a risk-free bet.
Top 5 most popular betting markets on online football betting sites.
- Match Result (1X2)
- Both Teams to Score (BTTS)
- Over/Under Goals
- Correct Score
- First/Anytime goalscorer
Top 3 football betting strategies.
- Value betting (obtaining best prices)
- Matched betting (placing bets with a bookie and laying on a betting exchange for a guaranteed profit).
- In-play betting (Placing a bet once the match has started).
If you think a football match will end in a draw, consider a correct score bet of 1 -1.
Roughly 42% of all football draws in leagues like the Premier League result in a 1-1 scoreline.
Before placing a bet on a scoreline of 0 - 0, consider placing the bet on 'No Goalscorer' instead.
The odds on both markets are usually the same, but own goals do not count, so if a match ends 1 - 0, for example, and it is an own goal, the 'No goalscorer' bet would have won, but the 0 - 0 scoreline would have lost.
Other Popular Sports to Bet On
Football betting is the most popular sport to bet on in the UK, but for those with no interest in the beautiful game, there are a number of other sports to get involved with from a betting point of view.
Horse racing - Betting on the 'gee gee's' has always been a popular pastime in the UK and when you take into account that horse racing takes place every day of the week, it is not surprising why punters love it.
Just like football online betting sites, there are numerous betting markets to get involved with and many punters love to place a Yankee or Lucky 15 on the horses to small stakes in the hope that they will be rewarded with a life-changing payday.
Golf betting - This type of betting is increasing in popularity, tournaments in Europe and across the pond usually begin on a Thursday and run through until Sunday, offering entertainment to punters who decide to get involved.
Greyhound racing - Whilst not as popular as horse racing in the UK, betting on the dogs is still loved by many punters, especially the older generation.
Greyhound racing takes place every day of the week, with meetings starting in the morning and going on through the afternoon and evening, so there are plenty of opportunities to get involved.
Make sure to check our Betting Strategies page for more info on how to keep the ball turning in your favour.
Alternative Markets: Fantasy Vs. Virtual Football
As we have already seen, the betting industry is a very fluid one. To survive and thrive in such an environment, the best football gambling sites have to stay ahead by innovating. New trends are coming online all the time, and there is a host of new betting opportunities for punters to enjoy.
One of the more popular options is fantasy football, and while this concept has been around for many years, online sportsbooks are only now starting to embrace it. The game originated from national newspapers in the 1990s, and in football terms, it involves picking a national team from the hundreds of players available across a division.
Players assemble their imaginary squads and earn points for goals, assists and clean sheets. In time, the concept was picked up by specialised football betting sites. Now, it's a big hit in the United States, where a number of daily fantasy sites (DFS) have cropped up. With American laws on gambling just starting to be relaxed, we can expect the best football betting sites in the UK and Europe to pick this trend up and develop it further.
The game of virtual football is sometimes confused with the fantasy version, but it's important to understand that these are two completely separate entities. Virtual football games are played between computer-generated characters, and they were initially picked up by physical betting shops before being transferred online.
Conclusion
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that UK punters have never had it so good when it comes to the top football betting sites. Generous welcome bonuses are available to tempt punters to open bookie accounts and the reload bonuses can be quite extraordinary. Some of the best football betting sites offer bet boosts and BetBuilder bonuses along with various other incentives for existing customers, which add a great deal of value to the overall betting experience. These bookmakers are all highly regulated and provide a customer experience which is second to none.
Football bettors have literally several hundred markets to choose from in a Premier League match so anyone with an interest in the game can often find a betting angle to potentially exploit. It doesn't matter if you are a recreational punter or someone who takes their betting activities a little more seriously; there are lots of opportunities to get involved and due to the immense competition between the football betting sites, the quality in terms of promotions and customer satisfaction will continue to break new barriers.
Football Betting Sites FAQs
🎁Q: What Are the Best Bookmakers for Bonuses & Promotions?
💬A: At the time of writing, that would have to be bet365 who offer generous promotions on a regular basis.
There is obviously more to a bookie than just promotions, but bet365 ticks all of the right boxes. All in all, a very impressive organisation that comes very highly recommended.
📱Q: Can I Have Accounts at Several Football Betting Sites?
💬A: Yes, you can. Opening accounts at several football betting sites is a good idea so that you can shop around for the best odds as well as taking advantage of the promotions on offer.
👫Q: Can My Partner/Husband/Wife Open Accounts with the Same Bookies?
💬A: Each one of the football betting sites has its own rules when it comes to people from the same address opening accounts, so if you are unsure, it would be a good idea to jump onto live chat and ask, just to be on the safe side.
🤔Q: Bet Boosts Sound Too Good to Be True, Is There a Catch?
💬A: The only catch is that there is usually a maximum stake of £10 allowed when placing a bet on a featured bet boost.
✔️Q: Are All of the Top Football Betting Sites Properly Regulated?
💬A: Yes, they are regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, so you can be assured that these bookies operate to a very high standard.
📞Q: What Is the Best Way to Contact the Best Football Bookmakers If I Have a Problem?
💬A: We always recommend live chat. The live chat operators are helpful and knowledgeable, any queries can usually be resolved straight away and you will have a record of the chat in case you need to refer to it at a later date.
⚖️Q: Do Betting Apps Offer the Same Odds as Sportsbook Websites?
💬A: Yes, they do and don't forget you will have the added advantage of being able to place bets whilst you are out and about if you need to.
🔑Q: Can You Open Multiple Accounts at the Same Sportsbook and Claim Multiple Welcome Bonuses?
💬A: No, you are not allowed to do this, one account per customer and this rule applies to all of the football betting sites.
Reviews of The Best Football Bookmakers
Betting Tips & Match Predictions
Manchester United v Chelsea
This was always going to be a big match, but now that Ten Hag has finally been given hi...
Arsenal v Liverpool
The twists and turns of the Premier League continued on Saturday evening, with Arsenal ...
Liverpool v Chelsea
What a game we have in store for the first Sunday after the international break and fro...