Can you think of any sport that’s more popular than football? Probably not. Football isn’t only the most popular sport in the UK, it’s also got one of the biggest following practically anywhere in the world. British football fans not only love to watch their favourite football teams on the big screen, but they also enjoy betting on the biggest football events and leagues.
For many punters in the UK, betting on football takes the game experience to a new level when there’s real money and potential rewards on the line. If you pick the right site, football betting in the UK can be a really exciting pastime to enjoy from time to time. On this page, we’ll make the often tedious task of choosing the right UK football betting site easy and straightforward with a complete guide to the best football betting sites. So, whether it’s choose a new UK betting site or you’ll just be settling for one of the more well-known names in the industry, you’ll walk away an expert after reading our guide.
More Recommended Betting Sites
Football betting is the most common type of sports betting at practically any online betting site or sportsbook, beating cricket betting, rugby, and tennis, which is why there are literally hundreds of UK betting sites to choose from. Every sportsbook will market itself as the best betting site for football, but we all know that not all betting sites are created equally. The top UK betting brands set themselves apart in several ways, which we’ll look at closer further on this page. For now, let’s take a look at the top 10 best football betting sites in the UK in 2022.
| Rank | Betting Site | Welcome Offer | Number of Sports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ladbrokes | Bet £5 get £20 in Free Bets | 40+ |
| 2 | Boyle Sports | Bet £10 get £20 in Free Bets | 40+ |
| 3 | 888 Sport | Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets + £10 Casino Bonus | 30+ |
| 4 | Betiton | Bet £10 get £10 | 40+ |
| 5 | BetFred | Bet £10 get £30 | 25+ |
| 6 | BetVictor | Bet £10 get £40 in Free Bets | 30 |
| 7 | Grosvenor Casino | Bet £10 and get Double the Odds | 30+ |
| 8 | Coral | Bet £5 get £20 | 45+ |
| 9 | Betfair | Bet £10 get £30 | 20 |
| 10 | Parimatch | Bet £5 get £30 | 30+ |
Best Football Betting Websites in Focus
Let’s take a closer look at the top three football betting sites available to punters in the UK.
1. Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes is one of the oldest betting brands in the UK, having been around since 1886! If you want to choose a betting site that’s stood the test of time and has built a rock-solid reputation over the years, you absolutely can’t go wrong with Ladbrokes. This UK betting site is one of the leading betting brands in the country and has been so for a very long time, offering one of the biggest selections of sports betting markets and a great Welcome Offer too.
2. Boyle Sports
Boyle Sports is another established betting brand in the UK that most punters will be familiar with. Founded in 1989, Boyle Sports now has over 300 betting shops in UK and Ireland, plus an online sportsbook with more than 40 betting options and great promotional offers.
3. 888 Sport
888 Sport is a more modern betting site, so if you’re looking to try a newer sportsbook with a more modern feel, we highly suggest checking out 888 Sport. Despite being relatively ‘new’, they still offer more than 14 years of experience in the betting industry, making them one of the most trusted sites in the UK.
4. Betiton
Betiton is a well-known and respected betting brand in the UK, offering a wide range of sports betting markets and a user-friendly platform. With over a decade of experience in the industry, they have established a reputation for providing excellent customer support and a variety of promotions and bonuses. If you’re looking for a top-notch betting site, Betiton is definitely worth considering, especially when considering Nigerian bookies online.
How we Review UK Football Betting Sites
Now that we’ve gone over some of the best UK football betting sites, it’s time to talk about how we review and select our sportsbook recommendations. What makes a great football betting site and what sets apart a high-quality sportsbook from one that you should avoid?
| Criteria | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Licensing and safety | The first thing you should look out for before you sign up with any betting site is the site’s licence and safety features. Never bet at a sportsbook that isn’t licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, and make sure to look out for the eCOGRA stamp of approval too. |
| Number of betting markets available | A high-quality betting site should offer betting opportunities on all the major football leagues, but punters should also have the option to bet on other markets too. |
| Mobile app | Most punters enjoy the ease of betting on football through a smartphone or app, which is why every betting site we recommend offers a dedicated, user-friendly betting app for all mobile devices or an optimised mobile version of their site. |
| Features | Any top football betting sites should offer different features that you can use to make the most out of your bets, such as the Bet Builder, the Cash Out option, and the Acca Edge option. |
| Bonuses | When reviewing a UK betting site, we always look out for a great Welcome Offer and other promotions available to existing players. We also check for reasonable wagering requirements and fair terms and conditions. |
| Payment options | Before you sign up at a betting site, make sure your preferred banking methods are supported. |
How to Sign Up to Football Betting Sites
Signing up at a football betting site is an easy process that any newbie punter can complete within just a few minutes, even without any sports betting experience. Follow the steps outlined below to get started at any football betting site in the UK.
- Click the ‘Join’ or ‘Sign Up’ button on the homepage.
- Complete the registration process by filling in your details and information.
- Verify your account by clicking on the link that will be sent to the email address you provided in the registration process.
- That’s all there is to it! Once your account is open, you can then make your first deposit to claim a Welcome Bonus or simply start betting.
- Eventually, you’ll need to upload a few documents to verify your identity before you can withdraw any winnings, but new customers typically have at least 100 days to do so.
New Football Betting Sites
The majority of the most well-known football betting sites in the UK have been around for several years, even decades, so it’s no surprise that many punters like to try out new sportsbooks from time to time as well. If you’re looking for a modern sportsbook where you can bet on football, check out our top recommendations below.
| Betting Site | Welcome Bonus | Date of Establishment |
|---|---|---|
| Bet Storm | Bet £10 get a £10 Free Bet | 2021 |
| FansBet | 200% bonus up to £200 | 2017 |
| BetMorph | Bet £10 get a £10 Free Bet | 2021 |
Online Football Betting Apps
Many punters would agree that betting on football through an app or simply through a mobile device is much easier and a lot more convenient than desktop betting. Many gamblers in the UK are switching to mobile gambling to play games like slot machines or table games, but football betting is particularly suitable for mobile devices. For this reason, most betting sites and UK sportsbooks have a specific app that punters can download to bet on their favourite football markets wherever they are with just a few taps. Make sure to check out the list of the best betting apps in the UK below to get the best mobile betting experience.
| Betting App | Description |
|---|---|
| Betfair | Betfair has one of the most user-friendly betting apps on the market, ideal for both new and experienced punters alike. Available to download on both iOS and Android devices. |
| Sky Bet | Available for download on both iOS and Android devices, Sky Bet is an advanced betting app ideal for football betting and other sports too. The user-friendly features on this app allow you to keep track of open and settled bets easily. |
| Paddy Power | Paddy Power’s betting app is also very easy to use, offering a variety of features that make for a really fun and smooth betting experience. There’s also a great offer that new customers can get their hands on which involves betting £10 and getting it back as cash if the bet loses. |
Features of the Best Bookies for Football
Different sportsbooks offer different features, but there are a number of standard features that every top-quality online football betting site should offer. These include the Cash Out feature, the Acca Edge option, and the Bet Builder, all of which you can learn more about below.
Cash Out
The cash out option is typically offered at every football betting site or app, and it allows you to get your money back while the game is still in play. If your bet is likely to lose, you can take the opportunity to cash out your bet or part of your bet instead of risking it. Many times, you can also cash out a profit too if your bet is likely to win.
Acca Edge
The Acca Edge applies to accumulator bets that consist of a minimum of three selections. When you apply the Acca Edge, you get slightly lower odds but if one of your selections loses, you get all of your bet back and you can then play it on a new bet.
Bet Builder
The Bet Builder is another feature that all of the best bookies offer when it comes to football betting. This allows you to combine different bets from the same event that you wouldn’t be able to combine in a normal accumulator bet.
How to Cash Out on UK Football Betting Sites?
Just like depositing funds into your betting account, cashing out any winnings is also a very simple process if you’ve picked the right bookie. To cash out all or part of your winnings, go to the cashier section and choose ‘withdraw’. Select the payment option you’d like to use to get your winnings, enter the amount you wish to withdraw, and click ‘Confirm’. Your funds will then appear in your account shortly, depending on the bookie’s payout processing times.
Enhanced Odds
To encourage punters to place a bet on a specific football event, bookmakers may sometimes artificially boost odds. For example, if the odds of Liverpool winning against Arsenal are 2.0, the enhanced odds may be 5.0 instead, which means a bigger return for you if you place that bet and win it.
Types of Football Betting Markets
Like any other sport, there are multiple betting markets available to you when betting on football. Depending on your betting experience, you can choose a straightforward, simple bet, or try your hand at a more complex bet that might yield a bigger return.
1×2 Betting
1×2 betting is the most straightforward form of football betting and it involves betting on either of three possible outcomes in a football match: a home win, an away win, or a draw. The match score is irrelevant in this type of bet because you’re simply predicting which team will win or if the match will result in a draw.
Both Teams to Score (BTTS)
BTTS, which stands for Both Teams to Score is a type of football that involves trying to predict whether both teams will score in the match or not. Once again, you don’t need to guess the exact score with this type of bet, making it a safer bet to try out.
Total Goals Over/Under
Another popular type of bet that you can try out when betting on football is predicting whether the number of goals in the match will be over or under a specific number. For example, you can bet that the total number of goals in the match will be over two. In this case, you’ll win the bet if there are at least two goals scored.
Handicap Betting
Handicap betting can also be referred to as spread betting and it’s a little more complex than the bet types we’ve described so far. This involves putting a virtual disadvantage on one of the selections with lower odds and a virtual advantage on the stronger team. This is done to even out the odds between two teams with uneven odds.
Corner Betting
Corner betting is another option that’s usually available at most online bookies. Similar to the Total Goals Over/Under bet, cornet betting involves betting within a range and betting on the number of corners that will be played throughout the match. For example, you can bet on the number of corners being between one and four, or that it will be under five.
Double Chance Betting
Double Chance betting is an advanced football betting strategy where you bet in a way that gives you a higher chance of winning from a single football event. This can be done by covering multiple outcomes in one bet, for example by betting on a draw and a home team winning at once, which means that whether the home team win or end in a draw, you win your bet. The only scenario where you would lose the bet is if the away team win. If you were to bet on just one scenario, such as the home team winning, then your overall chances of winning would be lower, hence the name ‘double chance.
Promotions Offered by Football Betting Websites
Like online casinos in the UK, football betting sites also offer promotions and bonuses to both new and existing players. In fact, these promotions are often one of the ways by which bookies attract new players, retain existing ones, and set themselves apart from the crowd. Before we get into the different types of promotions that are typically offered by online bookies in the UK, we have to stress the importance of reading the terms and conditions.
Terms and conditions apply to every promotion or bonus that punters can claim and it’s very important that you read through these carefully to make sure you know everything regarding the qualifying bet you need to make, the min odds that you can bet on, and any wagering requirements, and how many days you have to use your bonus bet before it expires, among other things.
Free Bets
As you can see from the table of best football betting sites at the top of this page, the most common type of bonus you can get is a Free Bet. Free Bets are bonuses that can be used to bet on a specific football market without using your own funds. You can think of Free Bets as the sportsbook version of Free Spins in online casinos, if you’re familiar with this.
Bet X Get X
The Bet X get X promotion is the most common type of Welcome Offer that new customers can find at UK bookies online. This offer gives you an amount of bonus cash based on a min deposit, for example, you bet £5 and get a bonus of £20 in Free Bets. It’s important to understand that to get your bonus cash, you need to wager the qualifying amount, not only deposit it.
Deposit Bonus
A deposit bonus can also be a Welcome Offer that most online sportsbooks and casinos in the UK offer. This is simply a bonus which gives you bonus cash, Free Bets, or Free Spins upon a deposit. An example would be a 100% deposit bonus up to £200, which means that if you deposit £100, you get a bonus of £100 which means you’ll have a total of £200 in your account.
Online Football Betting Tips
Unlike games of chance, such as online slot machines, football betting requires a level of skill and plenty of knowledge if you really want to be successful at it. Of course, chance and luck also play a big role in football betting, but there are several common mistakes that you can avoid to increase your odds of success when betting on football online. There’s no way of guaranteeing an outcome in any scenario, but the tips listed below will help bet on football in the best way possible.
Compare Odds to Get Best Prices
The first rule of football betting is to do a little shopping around. Instead of settling on the first bookie you come across, it’s important to compare the odds on multiple betting sites to get the best prices. The advantage of betting on football online is that you can easily compare the odds on several different sites in a few minutes to find the best ones.
Follow Team News and Latest Stats
When you play casino games like slots, the results are all down to chance and there’s no way to influence this outcome. On the other hand, betting on football requires plenty of effort and research if you want to be successful. New punters might be tempted to take the easy route and place their bets on the favourites, but betting on the favourite doesn’t necessarily mean a win. Not only that, but the favourites always pay the least since the odds of winning are higher.
Before placing your bet, make sure you’re up to date on all the latest stats and news about the teams playing. Do your research about the recent scores, any injuries, and read about the current form of the team so you can use this knowledge to your advantage. Tools such as this head-to-head checker are fantastic at getting key team information in just a few clicks.
Watch Matches and Bet In-Play
Watching matches yourself is the best way to gain useful knowledge that you can then use to inform your betting decision. We also recommend considering the live betting option which refers to placing bets when the match has already started. The odds might be lower once the game starts because there’s more information available based on the results so far, but you’ll also be able to make better decisions according to what happens in the game.
Combine Short Prices in Accumulators
One of the best tips that you can experiment with once you’ve gained some experience with football betting is to combine short prices in one accumulator bet. Accumulator bets, or accas, as they’re often referred to, are made up of at least two selections up to 10 or even more, depending on the rules of the particular bookie. Once you’ve finished building your ACCA, the sportsbook will combine all the individual odds and give you better odds for the whole ACCA.
This way, you can combine multiple selections with small odds to give you much better overall odds. However, don’t get carried away with adding selections because the bigger your ACCA is, the harder it will be to win on all of your selections. Additionally, don’t forget about the Acca Edge option which we highly recommend using to lower the risk level a little bit.
Always Gamble Responsibly
Finally, the most important tip of all is to always gamble responsibly. Without responsible gambling habits in mind, your football betting experience can quickly turn from fun to frustration. The best way to play responsibly and bet safely is to stick to a budget and take frequent breaks from betting too. For example, when a tournament is over, take a break from betting until the next one begins, and limit the total amount of money you can bet on one event.
You can set several limits on your betting account such as deposit, wager, and loss limits which is the easiest way to stay in control of how much you’re betting. Another useful tip is that if you get lucky and win a big bet, withdraw all or most of the winnings rather than gambling them again. Remember, you won’t always win, even when the odds of winning are very high. Many times, surprises happen, and a match turns out completely different than the way experts predicted it to go. You can read more about responsible gambling at gamcare.org.uk, begambleaware.org, and gamstop.co.uk.
Popular Competitions for Football Betting
All the best football betting sites have dedicated sections specifically for football tournaments and competitions because these are some of the most popular events to bet on. There’s something about betting on a tournament that’s played over several months that opens up some really exciting betting opportunities. Here’s a list of the biggest football tournaments in the UK that you can bet on at any online bookie.
Premier League
The Premier League is perhaps the most prestigious football tournament that’s watched by millions all over the world, not only in the UK. The English Premier League involves 20 teams battling it out for the title of English champions over a total of 380 matches which are usually played between August and May.
FIFA World Cup
Established in 1930, the FIFA World Cup also has a massive fanbase and it’s one of the most popular tournaments to bet on. The FIFA World Cup takes place every four years only, so the anticipation that builds up in between is big, to say the least. Punters start betting on this popular tournament very early on and there are several World Cup betting options to choose from here, such as the outright winner, and the top goal scorer.
UEFA European Championship
The UEFA European Championship, as you can probably understand from the name, is open to football teams from all over Europe, not only English teams. This football competition is played between 55 national teams who compete to reach the finals, where the remaining 24 teams compete for the title.
UEFA Champions League
Any football fan from anywhere in the world will be familiar with the Champions League, an exciting competition that’s played between the biggest clubs in Europe. The UEFA Champions League takes place every year and the betting options for punters are very vast.
UEFA Nations League
The UEFA Nations League is a relatively new football tournament that punters can bet on because it was only established a few years ago in 2018. This competition was previously a number of unofficial friendlies played between national teams, but it’s now an official competition. So, if you want to bet on something different, you definitely can’t go wrong with the UEFA Nations League.
FA Cup
The FA Cup is probably the oldest football tournament not only in the UK, but all over the world. Established in 1871, the FA Cup is a knockout competition that’s open to more than 700 teams in total and takes place every year. What’s interesting about the FA Cup, especially when it comes to betting, is that there are always plenty of surprises along the way and it’s also interesting because you can have a match where a non-league team plays against one of the top clubs in the UK.
FAQ
Which is the best football betting site?
To find the best football betting site in the UK, you need to keep an eye out for several elements and features such as a UKGC licence, a list of reputable banking methods, and a good variety of football betting markets. The best football betting sites should also offer other sports markets to choose from, a good Welcome Bonus, and other promotions and offers from time to time. Some of the best online bookies right now include Ladbrokes, Betiton, 888Sport, and Boyle Sports.
How do you place a bet on football online?
To place a bet on football, you first need to create an account with a trusted sports betting site. Once you’ve signed up for an account, or logged in if you have one already, you can make a deposit or top up your funds, depending on the bet amount you’d like to wager. When you have enough funds in your account, go to the football category in the list of available sports markets and make your selection. Choose how much you want to bet on that selection and confirm your bet.
How do bookmakers calculate football betting odds?
Bookmakers have a team of experts who analyse the available data to compile their odds. This data includes everything from the current form of both teams, the individual players’ form, any recent injuries that players may have sustained, the latest results of both teams, and so on. When this data has been analysed, bookmakers try to estimate how much punters will bet on average and then put margins in place to ensure they always make a profit, even when punters win their bets.