Best Football Betting Sites – Find Reliable Bookmakers & Honest Reviews

Ranking Criteria

Our ranking criteria for the best football betting sites focus on key factors that enhance the betting experience. We evaluate:

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.

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.

Bet Type:

Normal Free Bet (SNR) Free Bet (Stake Returned)

Back Stake:

£

Back Odds:

Lay Odds:

Lay Commis.

%

CALCULATE

Betway

£30 Matched Free Bet if your first Acca loses + 100 FS

BET NOW

*18+; T&C’s apply;

Results

At odds of 2.5, your lay stake is £44.90

Your liability will be £67.35

If the Bookmaker Bet wins, your overall position will be £12.35

If the Exchange Lay wins, your overall position will be £12.35

Your match rating for this bet is 77.55%

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.

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.

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:

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.

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 UK 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.

Interesting Football Betting Facts & Tips

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.

FAQs

Betting Tips & Match Predictions

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