In certain instances, we may earn revenue when a reader makes a purchase or completes a form through our pages or on a partner’s website. We adhere to a strict Football betting sites are hugely popular, with the beautiful game attracting almost half of the total bets placed in the UK every year.
We will show you the best football betting sites in the UK, including information on bonuses, payment methods, markets, odds, and more.
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Benefits of UK Football Betting Sites
In this section, we will examine the benefits of using football betting online sites and show why accessing these types of sites is preferable to the competition.
Bigger Bonuses
The best football gambling sites will have lucrative bonuses you can claim with new and existing accounts. Welcome offers, such as deposit match bonuses and risk-free bets, are the most common, with reload bonuses and VIP/loyalty programs accessible to existing players.
A caveat is that bigger is not always better. You need to note the terms and conditions for the promotion, paying specific attention to the wagering requirements (the lower, the better) and inclusive sports/markets (must be accessible with football betting).
Wide Range of Markets
Football betting UK sites generally have a massive range of markets on which to bet. These will start with the match result, which is the most popular, but also include the likes of draw no bet, double chance, both teams to score, Asian betting lines, and correct score.
Unlike the welcome bonus, bigger is always better here. You can never have too many to choose from. The same goes for odds; the more competitive they are, the more profit you can potentially make in the short and long-term.
Features
When we talk about features, we want to see things like bet builders and combo bet tools. These allow you to create your bets from the range of available markets. It’s possible to do this with most football online betting sites and can create huge value if you get your picks right.
Pros 
- Huge welcome and existing player bonuses
- Hundreds of markets to bet on
- Live betting and streaming
- Features such as bet builders
Cons 
- Can be limiting with other sports
- Football bets don’t always contribute to wagering for bonuses
Bonuses at Football Betting Sites in the UK
Bonuses and promotions can make or break football online betting sites. The value often lies within the bonus terms and not always the size. Below, we’ve outlined the range of bonuses you can claim and explained how each works, paying close attention to the T&Cs you must look out for.
Welcome Bonus
The welcome bonus can be claimed when you create a new account. The best bookies for football have some lucrative offers, including deposit match bonuses, free bets, and odds boosts.
These bonuses can only be claimed once (when you create your account), and you may need to opt in to trigger them.
A typical offer would be a deposit match. This is where the best football bookmakers match your first deposit up a certain amount and apply this as a bonus. For example, a 100% deposit match up to ￡500 means that, for every deposit up to ￡500, you get double your money as a bonus.
The bonus then has terms attached. The main ones to note are the wagering requirements (the amount you need to bet to release the bonus as cash), expiry date (time before the bonus expires if wagering has not been met), max qualifying bet, excluded sports/bets (not all sports or markets will count toward wagering) and minimum odds (odds can only be so short and bets made under this limit will not count for wagering).
Free Bets
Some of the best football betting sites offer free bets. You can place these bets up to a set amount throughout the sportsbook. They are usually triggered by making your first deposit over a set amount.
For example, a sports betting site might offer you a ￡20 free bet when you stake ￡20 or more. You can then use this free bet through the sportsbook to place it on a market of your choice. Any winnings are often paid in cash, with no wagering, making them highly lucrative.
It’s worth noting that you won’t get your stake back with any winnings. These promos are smaller than a deposit bonus but much easier to claim and use.
Risk-Free Bets
A risk-free football bet UK is like a free bet but works slightly differently. The football betting site will say that you can place a bet on any match, and only if it loses will they refund your bet. If it wins, then the bet will pay out as usual.
Any refunds from this are usually paid as a bonus, but it’s not uncommon to find some of the best UK football betting sites that refund the stake as cash.
Odds Boosts
An odds boost is when the football betting sites boost the odds for a particular market. For example, they might decide that the current odds for Manchester United to win a game are 2.00, and they will run a promo to boost the odds to 2.50.
There are no significant T&Cs linked to these offers, and they can offer extremely good value, often boosting the best price in the industry for that market. The only thing to note is the maximum amount you can bet or win from the boosted. Some sites will cap these, so make sure you know what they are before placing the bet.
It is also sensible to compare the boosted odds to the original odds of that bet; both with that specific bookmaker, and some of their competitors. This can help ensure that you avoid being lured into betting on what is essentially a marketing tool, rather than genuinely enhanced value.
Make sure you also check out the best betting sites that are not on GAMSTOP.
How to Sign Up to a Football Betting Site in the UK
We will now guide you through how to sign-up to a football betting platform in the UK. You can create your account using a desktop, tablet or mobile device. The process should be straightforward which ever football betting site you choose to join.
Open your Selected UK Football Betting Site
Open the sportsbook on your desktop or mobile. Next, click the ‘Register’ or similarly-named button/icon. This is usually towards the top right to begin creating your account.Create Your Account
Enter your email address, password, and currency. Click “Continue” once done. On the next page, complete all the sections of the form. This will include your name, mobile number, date of birth and address.Make a Deposit & Claim the Welcome Bonus
Choose from any of the payment options on the screen. Enter your deposit amount and use the drop-down menu to choose which bonus you want to claim.Place a Bet
Return to the sportsbook and use the main navigation menu to find “football”. Choose from any of the leagues or markets on offer. Once you’ve found a bet, click the odds to add to the bet slip and enter your stake. Confirm the bet and the amount, then click “Place Bet.”
UK Football Betting Markets Explained
Online football betting has grown exponentially over the last decade, and as a result, the range, depth, and markets available to bet on have also increased. Below, we’ve included a list of the most popular ones and more information about how they work.
- Match Result (1×2): The match result is the most basic and commonly used football betting market. You choose from one of three game outcomes: home win, away win or draw. If you bet on the home team and they win, your bet wins. If you bet on the home team and they draw or lose, your bet loses.
- Double Chance: This gives you more flexibility in the match result, where you choose two possible outcomes. These are home win and away win, home win and draw, and away win and draw. Your bet wins the same regardless of the combination of results you’ve picked. However, the odds will usually be much less generous than the 1×2 market.
- Over/Under Goals: The best UK football betting sites set a series of goal lines, and you need to choose over or under that line. For example, if the line is 3.5 goals, then for the under bet, you need three or fewer, and for the over, you need four or more for your bet to win.
- Both Teams to Score (BTTS): In this market, you bet on whether both teams will score in the match. It’s a yes or no question, then the final result of the game is irrelevant, as you just need goals (or not). You can also combine this market with other ones, such as match result.
- Goalscorer Markets: Here, you can choose a player from either team to score in the match. The most common market for this is anytime, but you can choose the first and last goalscorer. You can also choose players to score within a specific timeframe, such as the first 20 minutes or the last 10 minutes.
- Correct Score: A risk-reward bet is the correct score. You must choose the exact correct score at full-time for the bet to win. The most common results are 1-1, 2-1 and 1-0, but the odds are generous even for these given the unpredictability of football.
- Accumulators: Accumulators are an absolute staple at football betting sites in the UK. This is where you can combine multiple selections into one bet, with the odds multiplying each time for potentially massive returns. Most people keep it simple with multiple 1×2 selections, but most UK football betting sites will allow you to combine most markets.
- Bet Builder: Bet Builder works similarly to an accumulator, but it is on one specific match. For example, you could bet on Arsenal to win, Bukayo Saka to score, Over 2.5 Goals, and Over 3.5 Cards for total accumulated odds. Some UK betting sites for football now allow you to combine multiple bet builder’s into one wager.
- Outright Betting: Outright betting is where you can bet on the end result of a football season, such as wagering on a team to win the Premier League. This can maintain your interest across the entire season. You can also combine multiple outright selections into one bet like a regular accumulator.
In-Play Betting at Top Football Betting Sites
With more and more people looking to bet on football in-play, the best UK football betting sites have responded by improving their live service during matches. This includes in-play betting, live streaming, cash out, and much more to aid your overall experience.
In-Play Betting
In-play betting involves betting on the game as it occurs. All of the best online football betting sites offer live betting, which is often accompanied by a match centre, pre-game and in-game statistics, and dedicated markets, such as the next player to score or the next player to be booked.
You should be able to find the majority of regular markets, such as match result and total goals. However, be aware that odds will regularly change and markets will regularly be suspended in reaction to key events. This is to protect the betting football sites from being exploited.
Live Streaming
The perfect link to in-play betting is live streaming. Most of the best football betting websites have some form of streaming service. However, be aware that it’s rarely English leagues, especially the higher you move up the league ladders. This is because these matches are exclusively broadcast on TV channels such as Sky in the UK.
Cash Out
The chances are if you are betting during the action, you are going to want to keen an eye on cash out as well. Most of the best betting sites for football in the UK have their own cash out tab, whether you are using the desktop or mobile version. This allows you to view all of your open bets and any potential cash out offers available.
Cashing out is a form of gambling in itself, as you are still taking on the football betting site. Ultimately you are weighing up your options and deciding whether to stick or twist. However, it can be a very useful tool to ensure that you walk away with some profit, or no loss.
Find the best sports betting apps to bet, stream, and cash out on the go.
Popular Competitions at Football Betting Sites in the UK
One of the best things about using football betting sites is the range of leagues and competitions you can bet. Below, we’ve outlined some of these most notable divisions.
Payment Methods at UK Football Betting Websites
Getting money in and out of an online football betting site is one of the most critical features, and it often separates the best from the rest. We’ve included an overview of the types of payment methods you can access and added information about how each works.
Traditional Payment Methods
Traditional payment methods include debit and credit cards like Visa and Mastercard. These work with the vast majority of new and existing player promotions and bonuses and, for most, will be the preferred method to deposit and withdraw.
Most sites don’t charge fees, but be warned that if you’re using a credit card, you won’t be able to withdraw using this method and will incur any fees or interest from your card issue. Withdrawals back to debit cards will be within five working days with most football betting online sites.
Bank wire is usually reserved for larger deposits and withdrawals. Usually, fees are attached, which can be fixed per transaction or be a percentage of the withdrawal. Processing times can be as long as 14 working days, so bear this in mind before requesting a transaction.
Cryptocurrencies
Crypto is quickly becoming the best way to move money into and out of football betting sites in the UK. Popular wallets include Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum and Dogecoin.
If you already have access to a wallet, you can link it to the site. Some online football betting sites, such as Lucky Block, allow you to buy coins directly from them using traditional payment methods, as well as Apple and Google Pay.
One of the benefits of using crypto is that withdrawals are processed instantly, so you get your money much quicker than debit cards or bank wires. Some football betting websites have specialist welcome offers when using crypto, which can be more lucrative than the standard offer in some cases.
eWallets
eWallets (Electronic Wallets) can quickly move money in and out, with processing times being impressively quick; especially when you withdraw, only taking hours rather than days. Some will have fees attached, although these involve the provider and not the football bookies.
Some of the more prominent brands include Neteller, Skrill and PayPal. It’s worth noting that most sites will prohibit you from claiming any of the bonuses if you deposit with an eWallet.
Tips to Win Real Money at Football Betting Sites
There is no guarantee of winning in any form of gambling, and betting on football is no different in this regard. However, you can improve your chances of profiting long-term by implementing a strategy. We have provided five useful football betting tips below to consider:
Maximise Football Betting Bonuses and Promotions
As we have explored at some of the best football betting sites in the UK, you can benefit from generous welcome bonuses when you first sign-up.
This can provide you with a significant bankroll from the outset when football betting. You might decide to lump larger stakes at smaller odds than you otherwise might with your bonus funds, or chase bigger odds for bigger returns.
Likewise, different betting sites for football offer varying promotions to incentivise you to keep coming back for more. This can include free bets, cashback, bet boosts, and much more. It makes sense to utilise these on applicable bets as much as possible to enhance your overall football betting experience.
Compare Odds Between Different Football Betting Sites
In a similar vein, there is nothing stopping you from shopping around multiple football bookmakers to make sure you are receiving the best possible odds on a particular wager.
For example, you might want to bet on Arsenal winning the Premier League in an outright bet. One football betting site has the Gunners priced at 4/1 (5.0 in decimal odds), but another has enhanced them to 6/1 (7.0). A ￡10 bet with the former would see you returned with ￡20 less than the latter. Over time, these negative discrepancies can significantly eat into your profits.
However, you might decide to stick to your favoured betting site for football for a multitude of reasons, such as loyalty, simplicity, or ensuring you reach certain staking thresholds for a particular promotion. And that’s absolutely fine, too. Find what works best for you.
Analyse Team/Player Form & Performance
“Football isn’t played on paper,” goes the old cliché. Of course, that’s true. World-class teams lose to opponents with inferior individual quality all of the time.
In a sense, you are the underdog when using a football betting site. It is harder to consistently win than it is to consistently lose when football betting. You might have the sharpest football mind in the world, but football betting is partly a number’s game.
As such, you should look to analyse and research as much as possible. A certain team might feel a shoe-in, and you should listen to your gut as well. But do the odds reflect the likelihood of them winning?
How have they fared on the road in recent months? What have their recent performances actually been like from a statistical standpoint? These are the types of questions you should ask yourself and look to answer to some extent before committing your hard-earned money to a wager.
Explore Football Betting Markets
Everyone loves the match result market, particularly when building accumulators. Likewise, it is easy to stick to leagues you watch most regularly, and it is sensible to do so given that your knowledge of this division is almost certainly much better.
However, popular markets and popular competitions may have less value. Football betting sites attach more importance to them because they receive more money on them, and therefore trading mistakes are much rarer.
Sometimes it pays to look further afield, whether on a more obscure market or less-watched league. You might spot a real gem in terms of odds, whether from stumbling upon a match on a random channel, or doing some research on a statistical site.
Create a Staking Plan
Here at Techopedia we are always keen to promote responsible gambling. Implementing a staking plan is an important part of this, as well as setting deposit/loss limits.
We recommend having a maximum bet amount in mind, and working backwards from this. Apply this maximum bet amount on wagers you are most confident about and/or with the shortest odds, and work down in units (eg 1, 0.75, 0.50, 0.25). This will help you remain in control and track your profit/loss much more effectively.
Best Football Betting Sites in the UK – Our Verdict
Ultimately, it is up to you to decide which football betting site best suits your needs. You should look out for a huge volume of games and markets to bet on, as well as competitive odds so that you can maximise your potential profit.
Of course, you should also seek to benefit from a generous welcome bonus when you first sign-up, as well as attractive ongoing promotions to reward your loyalty thereafter. This can enhance your football betting experience when following the beautiful game.
How We Test and Review Sportsbooks
100+ Sports Betting Sites Reviewed
200+ Hours of Research Every Month
150+ Sportsbook Promotions Verified
1,000s Betting Markets & Odds Analyzed
We follow a proven methodology when reviewing sports betting sites that highlights the pros and cons of each platform.
Our process enables us to rate sportsbooks on key features so you can compare sites with ease.
We cover:
- Sports and betting markets
- Competitiveness of odds
- Reputation and licensing
- Bonuses and promotions
- Payment methods
- Customer support
…and more.
Check out our complete guide to learn how to rate sportsbooks featured on Techopedia.
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References
- https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/ (UK Gambling Commission)
- https://safergamblinguk.org/ (Safer Gambling)
- https://www.gamcare.org.uk/ (Gam Care)
- https://www.gamstop.co.uk/ (GAMSTOP)
