Best UK Football Betting Sites (2022)

  • BetTarget Bet £15 get £10
    • New Betting Site (September 2021)
    • Competitive Betting Margins
    • Wide range of betting markets
    Visit Site
    18+, New customers only. Min wagering on sports £10. Max one £15 free bet. Qualifying bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater. Paid as bonus token with min 4/5 odds req. Selected payment methods only. Bet expires after 14 days of being credited.
  • Betzone Up To £60 In Free Sports Bets
    • Low Betting Margins
    • New Online Betting Site UK (2021)
    • Great iOS & Android Betting Apps
    Visit Site
    T&C Apply, 18+, Please gamble responsibly
  • thepools Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets
    • Revamped New Sportsbook (2021)
    • #1 Best Pool Betting Site
    • footie5 Free-to-play £25k Prediction Game
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    18+, UK only. Deposit and place a minimum £10 cash bet at single or accumulated odds of 1/1 or greater and we will give you 1 x £5 in free bets plus an extra 3 x £5 Free Bets the following day. Applies to first cash bet only. Free bets credited as 4 x £5 bets to use on 3x Any sport & 1x Virtuals. Cashed Out, Void or Draw No Bet wagers do not qualify for this promotion. 1 x £5 Free Bets are credited upon qualifying first bet settlement, other free bets credited by midday the day after your first bet settles. 7-day free bet expiry. Available once per customer. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion. Full T&C's apply.
  • BetUK Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
    • New Betting Site (2018)
    • 30+ Sports
    • High Betting Odds
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    Full T&C’s Apply. New customers on mobile only. 7 days to claim and stake £10 minimum bet at odds of 1.5 or greater to qualify. Free, void, cashed out or partially cashed out bets do not qualify. Max 3x £10 free bets credited on bet settlement. Free bets must be used on 4 or more selections with selection odds of 1.3 or greater. Free bets are non-withdrawable and stake not returned with winnings. 7-day expiry. 18+ BeGambleAware.org
  • 888Sport Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets +£10 Casino Bonus
    • High Betting Odds
    • Top-tier Gambling Products
    • BettingGuide Exclusive Bonus
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    £/€10 deposit using promo code "10FREE" - Minimum stake £/€10 at odds of 1/2 (1.5) - Free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days - Free bet stakes not included in returns - Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days • To withdraw bonus/related wins, wager the bonus amount 40 times within 14 days • Casino Bonus expires after 60 days - Withdrawal restrictions, payment methods, country &full T&Cs apply
  • Ladbrokes Bet £5 to get £20 in Free Bets
    • Wide Selection of Betting Markets
    • Fantastic Betting Apps
    • Great Promotions
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    18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £/€5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply.
  • Coral Bet £5 Get a £20 Free Bet
    • Great Betting Apps
    • High Betting Odds
    • Wide Range of Unique Promotions for All Customers
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    18+ New UK & ROI Customers only. Min deposit £5. Min first bet £5 at minimum odds 1/2 to qualify for 1x20 free bet. Certain deposit methods and bet types excl. Free bet valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply.
  • highbet Bet £15 Get £10
    • New Sports Betting Site (October 2021)
    • BettingGuide Exclusive Free Bet Bonus
    • Good Betting Odds
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    18+, New customers only. Max one £10 free bet. Qualifying bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater. Paid as bonus token with min 4/5 odds req. Skrill, Neteller and Paypal not eligible. T&Cs Apply 18+
  • Betway Get £10 in Free Bets
    • Trusted Bookmaker
    • High Betting Odds
    • Fantastic Betting App
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    New customers only. Min Deposit: £10. First deposit matched up to £10. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card deposits only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. Terms apply
  • Betfair Get up to £100 in Free Bets
    • Fantastic Sign Up Bonuses
    • High Odds
    • Top Rated Betting Apps
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    New customer offer. Place 5 x £10 or more bets to receive £20 in free bets. Repeat up to 5 times to receive maximum £100 bonus. Min odds 1/2 (1.5). Exchange bets excluded. Payment restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.
  • Fitzdares Bet £30 Get £30 + £5 Chips
    • Fantastic for Horse Racing Betting
    • Great Mobile Betting Apps for iOS & Android
    • Fast Withdrawals
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    New customers only aged 21+. Minimum deposit £10. Qualifying bet must be placed at odds of evens (2.0) or greater. Free bet is matched up to £30, credited within 24 hours and expires after 7 days. £5 Casino Chips for Blackjack and Roulette games with 5x playthrough awarded on first deposits until 04/07/22. Additional T&Cs apply. Please bet responsibly.
  • Paddy Power Bet £20 & Get it Back in Cash if it Loses
    • Plenty of Promotions for Exisiting Customers
    • Great Mobile Betting Apps
    • BettingGuide Exclusive Bonus
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    New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any Football market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using cards will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply.
  • Betfred Bet £10 get £60 in bonuses
    • Exclusive BettingGuide Bonus
    • Great Betting Apps
    • High Betting Odds
    Visit Site
    New UK customers only. Register using the promo code BETFRED60, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £20 in Free Bets to be used on Sports, £10 in Free Bets to be used on Lotto and 50 Free Spins (20p per spin) credited within 48 hours of bet settlement. Further £20 in Free Bets credited 5 days after settlement. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required. Full T&Cs apply.
  • Unibet Up To £40 Money Back +£10 Casino Bonus
    • 35+ Sports & High Odds
    • Live Streaming
    • Mobile Friendly
    Visit Site
    18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first sports bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. Visit Unibet.co.uk for full T&C's.
  • bet365 Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets
    • World's Biggest Bookmaker
    • The Best Betting App
    • Free Live Streaming
    Visit Site
    *New customers only. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.
  • Spreadex Sports Bet £10 Get £30
    • BettingGuide Exclusive Bonus
    • Spread & Fixed Odds Betting
    • Best Odds On All Premier League Matches
    Visit Site
    Plus Best Odds On All Premier League Matches
    (fixed odds Match Odds, pre-match v top 5 bookies on Oddschecker).
  • Parimatch Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets
    • 30+ Sports
    • New Sports Betting Site (October 2020)
    • Top-tier Sports Betting App
    Visit Site
    18+ New Customers opt in, bet £5 & get 2x £10 Free Bets for set events (odds 2.00+) + £10, Slots Bonus, selected games, 20x wagering to withdraw max £250. Bonuses expire in 7 days. Card Payments only. Additional terms for existing BetVictor customers apply. T&Cs Apply, see below. | begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly
  • Kwiff Bet £10 Get a £20
    • New Sports Betting App
    • BettingGuide Exclusive Bonus
    • No Wagering Free Spins
    Visit Site
    New Customers 18+ Only. Min Deposit of £20. Qualifying real money bet of £20, min odds greater than or equal to 2.0 required. Each way bets excluded. Offer credited within 48 hours. Additional T&Cs apply, Please gamble responsibly.
  • Hollywoodbets Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets
    • New Betting Site (2019)
    • Racing Live Streams
    • High Odds
    Visit Site
    T&C’s apply. £10 min deposit required. 1x min £10 qualifying bets required. Qualifying bets cannot be placed on the same event. Qualifying bets must be placed on selections with min odds 1.8 (4/5). 4x £5 Free Bets will be credited once qualifying bets have been resulted. 1 x £5 Free Bet will available for use on any Football Match Result Market, 1 x £5 Free Bet valid on any Football Correct Score Market, 1 x £5 Free Bet on any Horse Racing selection , 1 x £5 Free Bet on any Tennis Selection. Free Bets valid for 7 days. BeGambleAware.org #ad
  • Betgoodwin Join BetGoodwin!
    • New Betting Site (2021)
    • Great for Horse Racing Betting
    • Fast Payments
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  • Quinnbet £25 Free Bet Plus 10 Free Spins
    • High Odds
    • 100's of Betting Markets
    • Pool/Tote Betting Available
    Visit Site
    If your account has Sportsbook losses at the end of your first day's betting, QuinnBet will refund 50% of your losses as a Free Bet up to £25 (min 3 bets) Plus 10 Free Spins on Asgard Warriors. Even if your account is up, you're guaranteed a £5 Free Bet Plus 10 Free Spins provided you place at least 1 bet of £10 or greater at the minimum odds. T&Cs apply | 18+ New UK Customers Only | BeGambleAware.org
  • Fansbet Bet £10 Get £10 in Free Bets + 5 Free Spins
    • No Wagering Welcome Bonus
    • 24/7 Customer Support
    • 30+ Sports & 100's of popular casino games
    Visit Site
    Offer for new customers who register via Mobile; Place first £10 bet on sports with 3 legs at odds of 1.3 or greater per leg; Free Bet credited after the qualifying bet has settled; Free Multiple Bet must contain 3 legs at odds of 1.3 or greater per leg; Free Bet stakes not returned; No wagering requirements on winnings; £100 max win; T&C’s apply; 18+
  • Luckster Bet £10 Get £10
    • New UK Betting Site (2022)
    • Competitive Odds
    • BettingGuide Exclusive Bonus
    Visit Site
    New customers only. Max one £10 free bet. Qualifying bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater. Pais as bonus token with min 4/5 odds req. Skrill, Neteller and Paypal not eligible. T&Cs apply 18+

Top 10 Best Football Bookmakers

Football betting in the UK roughly dates back to the early 20th century, when bookmakers such as Littlewoods offered pool betting at Old Trafford. However, it was not until the internet explosion in the late 90s that football betting was truly revolutionised. That’s when we started seeing the likes of bet365 and Betfair.

Today’s online football betting sites offer a whole new world of bet types that seemed impossible just a couple of decades ago. Talk about betting on yellow cards, penalties, first or last goalscorer, corners, and even custom bets, among others. They also provide live streaming services and in-play betting, not forgetting a wide range of payment options that have been made possible by online transactions.

There are at least 50 betting sites in the UK, making the spots for top betting sites highly competitive. They have to provide multiple betting markets, extensive deposit and withdrawal options, promotions, attractive margins, customer support, mobile apps, streaming, virtual sports, and more.

This review gives information on the best UK football betting sites and why they make this list. We also discuss the bookies with the best betting apps and those nailing virtual football.

#1 Best Football Betting Site

Launched in 2000, Bet365 is the standout choice for football betting. It offers extensive markets, up to over 90, for thousands of football games in most seasons. This bookie also distinguishes itself through the bet builder and edit bet offers, live streaming, great mobile app, and partial cash-out support.

Read full review

Pros

  • Large betting selection of football
  • More Competitive margins than most sites
  • Audio and video live streaming
  • Great layout and interface
  • Amazing customer service
  • Low minimums
  • Cash-out feature on many markets

Cons

  • Has limited promotions for existing customers
  • The website may appear too cluttered for new users
  • Known to put limitations on some accounts

Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets

*New customers only. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.
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#2 Best Football Betting Site

Paddy power started in 1988 and is one of the biggest betting sites in the UK. It has many exciting offers, but the bet builder, #What Odds Paddy, stands out most. The feature allows punters to craft custom bets by mixing and matching unique markets. You can get in touch with the company on its official Twitter page using #WhatOddsPaddy, and they’ll respond with the odds once they have updated it on the site.

This bookie also provides the latest on betting news, a betting accumulator, live streaming, Acca insurance, and the same game multi-bet. The latter is a feature exclusive to PaddyPower. It allows users to wager on related options within a single football game. You can rack as many as 20 options, increasing the odds each time.

Read full review

Pros

  • Competitive odds
  • Easy sign-up
  • Constant supply of new and exciting promotions
  • No withdrawal limits
  • Accumulator insurance
  • Live to stream
  • Very highly rated mobile app

Cons

  • Live streaming is not supported on the mobile app
  • The betting app appears slightly clumsy

Bet £20 & Get it Back in Cash if it Loses

New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any Football market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using cards will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply.
YSKAEE
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#3 Best Football Betting Site

Founded in May 1999, Betfair has been crowned the best and largest online betting exchange worldwide. It has a sportsbook with fixed odds, but their sweet spot is the football exchange that allows players to bet against other peers. It provides punters with better odds alongside a larger palette of betting markets.

Among other key offers on the site are cash-out, live streaming, in-play betting, bet builder, and Same Game Multi-Feature for football. Betfair’s odds are competitive, especially for exchange players. As for the markets, you get at least 60 in football.

Read full review

Pros

  • Allows punters to make bets against each other or use the sportsbook
  • Competitive odds
  • High maximum limits
  • Numerous markets and payment options
  • Highly rated mobile app
  • Daily odds boosts
  • Play prop betting markets

Cons

  • High premium charges for career punters, such as 60% on wins of £250,000 and higher
  • 5% commission on other wins
  • Too many betting markets on the exchange may be confusing for new players

Get up to £100 in Free Bets

New customer offer. Place 5 x £10 or more bets to receive £20 in free bets. Repeat up to 5 times to receive maximum £100 bonus. Min odds 1/2 (1.5). Exchange bets excluded. Payment restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.
ZBBC01
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#4 Best Football Betting Site

This bookie is relatively new to the scene (2008) compared to the others. However, that has not stopped it from making this list. It boasts the coolest, futuristic website. The bookie has a predominant focus on European markets, for which they offer competitive odds and bonuses.

888Sport offers daily price enhancements, a football bet builder tool, and daily free bet offers. Besides, its price boosts go up to 100%, and the profit boost token (PBT) make for a unique selling point.

Read full review

Pros

  • Great website design and navigation
  • Competitive odds
  • Well rated mobile app
  • Wide range of fast deposit methods
  • Mobile bonus
  • Quick bets on the mobile app
  • Informative blog

Cons

  • Often decreases its limits on sharp bettors.
  • Not very responsive customer support

Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets +£10 Casino Bonus

£/€10 deposit using promo code "10FREE" - Minimum stake £/€10 at odds of 1/2 (1.5) - Free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days - Free bet stakes not included in returns - Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days • To withdraw bonus/related wins, wager the bonus amount 40 times within 14 days • Casino Bonus expires after 60 days - Withdrawal restrictions, payment methods, country &full T&Cs apply
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#5 Best Football Betting Site

Launched in 1997, Unibet has its headquarters in Malta. It has over 1400 employees and stations in Australia, Denmark, Estonia, Malta, Belgium, France, Italy, Gibraltar, the US, and the UK. They have a major emphasis on South American markets in football.

Unibet has a relatively novel bet builder called Same Game Multi, which allows you to combine several game outcomes into a single bet. However, it is only available for selected top-tier matches. 

Unibet also has live streaming for football and daily uniboost bet boosts of up to 3x. The odds are rarely the best but still fall on the competitive side and even beat some bookies on this list, including Paddy Power and 888sport.

Read full review

Pros

  • In-play betting
  • Live Streaming
  • Competitive odds
  • Amazing Promotions and welcome offers
  • Reputable software and mobile products

Cons

  • The cash-out option comes off as unreliable
  • Not very excellent customer service
  • Long sign-in process

Up To £40 Money Back +£10 Casino Bonus

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#6 Best Football Betting Site

UK's very own, London-based William Hill is a global online gambling company that makes for a solid option for any football punter. William Hill has Acca insurance, in-play cash-out, and live streaming. It also gives commentary on high-profile games.

William Hills easily makes the top ten list of best odds for football matches, but it undisputedly tops for most betting options. You can expect about 100 unique betting markets for football.

William Hill sets itself apart in promotions and has been dubbed the “bonus king” for a good reason. The bookie also offers existing customers a wide selection of football promotions. 

Read full review

Pros

  • Impeccable mobile app
  • Quality odds
  • Large game selection
  • Cash-out in-play support
  • Acca insurance
  • Live Streaming
  • Wide selection of deposit and withdrawal methods

Cons

  • Meagre welcome bonus
  • Live streaming is not available on the mobile app
  • Discourage arbitrage bets

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

18+. Play Safe. New customers using Promo code H30 only, Min £10/€10 stake,  min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. See full terms below. #ad
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#7 Best Football Betting Site

Betfred is one of the oldest bookies in the UK, having started in 1967. It is the property of Lightcatch Limited, and its headquarters are in Warrington, UK. This bookie has long been an authority in the football betting niche.

Their outstanding products are exciting promotions, especially the Betfred Goals Galore Bonus. It is a promotion that offers an amazing bet accompanied by three coupons. The bet only involves picking a match where both of the teams score. Another is the PickYourPunter feature, which allows bettors to build unique bets and receive instant prices.

Betfair also provides great daily bonuses, a cash-out feature, live streaming, and in-play betting. Their odds make the top ten list, although their markets fall a little short when compared to most of the other bookies on the list.

Read full review

Pros

  • Mobile apps for Android and iOS
  • Live Streaming
  • A fair number of deposit and withdrawal options
  • Competitive odds
  • Bonuses and promotions for new and existing punters
  • Reliable customer support
  • Acca insurance
  • Cash-out

Cons

  • Live streaming is only supported in Ireland and the UK
  • Not very many sportsbook betting markets

Bet £10 get £60 in bonuses

New UK customers only. Register using the promo code BETFRED60, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £20 in Free Bets to be used on Sports, £10 in Free Bets to be used on Lotto and 50 Free Spins (20p per spin) credited within 48 hours of bet settlement. Further £20 in Free Bets credited 5 days after settlement. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required. Full T&Cs apply.
BETFRED60
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#8 Best Football Betting Site

Another of the newer entries, Betway is one of the bookies that meets all the requirements that matter the most to football punters. Betway provides great promotions, including free bets, regular bet boosts, and Acca. Live streaming and in-play betting are covered, too.

Its markets are only second to William Hill and bet365 on this list. It has at least 70 betting options for international and lower league matches. William Hill also boasts the #BetYourWay feature that allows punters to mix and match markets. Punters use the #BetYourWay on the Twitter page - @Betway to create a unique bet and request a price.

Read full review

Pros

  • Live streaming and in-play betting
  • Bet builder (#BetYourWay)
  • Mobile app for Android and iOS
  • Great odds
  • Adequate betting markets
  • Cashout is limited to select games

Cons

  • Cluttered desktop app
  • The mobile app lacks some features

Get £10 in Free Bets

New customers only. Min Deposit: £10. First deposit matched up to £10. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card deposits only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. Terms apply
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#9 Best Football Betting Site

Also known as The Football Pools, this is one of the oldest pool makers for football games. The bookie’s major unique selling point is its vast range of football pool betting options. Among its most exciting pool betting offers is footie5, a free option where you could win £25,000 by predicting five matches correctly.

ThePools is also famed for their Question of the Day promotion. It rewards bettors with small prizes of £1 free bets by answering specific questions correctly. These could be challenges such as the expected score in the EFL League One matches.

Read full review

Pros

  • Numerous markets, up to 200 for high profile matches
  • In-play betting
  • Bet builder (Create a Bet)
  • Partial cash out
  • Extensive pool betting offers

Cons

  • Lacks live streaming
  • Meagre sign-up bonus
  • Limited payment options
  • No loyalty program

Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets

18+, UK only. Deposit and place a minimum £10 cash bet at single or accumulated odds of 1/1 or greater and we will give you 1 x £5 in free bets plus an extra 3 x £5 Free Bets the following day. Applies to first cash bet only. Free bets credited as 4 x £5 bets to use on 3x Any sport & 1x Virtuals. Cashed Out, Void or Draw No Bet wagers do not qualify for this promotion. 1 x £5 Free Bets are credited upon qualifying first bet settlement, other free bets credited by midday the day after your first bet settles. 7-day free bet expiry. Available once per customer. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion. Full T&C's apply.
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#10 Best Football Betting Site

Betvictor Ltd is an independent bookmaker founded way back in 1946 by William chandler. It has its headquarters in Gibraltar and remains a privately owned company. The bookie is famous for its sportsbook, which includes a bet builder that football punters can customise bets.

BetVictor also provides in-play betting, bet boost, quick bets, a bet calculator, coupons, and a blog. It has diverse leagues and bets, including managerial positions. The site supports cash-out, too.

Read full review

Pros

  • Good reputation since 1946
  • Attractive promotions and bonuses
  • Extensive betting markets
  • Great odds (beats Unibet, William Hill, 888Sport, Betfred, and Paddy Power)
  • One of the best mobile apps
  • Lots of withdrawal methods
  • High withdrawal limits

Cons

  • Live chat only available for English speakers
  • Long verification process
  • Live streaming is not available for football

Bet £5 Get £30 in Bonuses

18+ New Customers only. Deposit, opt in and place a £5 qualifying bet at odds of 2.00 or greater within 7 days of opening a new account; excludes cashed out bets. Receive 2x £10 Free Sports Bets, valid on set events only at odds 2.00 or greater, expires in 7 days.  Plus a £10 Game Show Bonus, selected games, wager 40x to withdraw a max of £250. T&Cs Apply, See Below. Please Gamble Responsibly.
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Top 5 New Football Betting Sites

New betting sites are launching all the time in the UK, but, how do their football betting products compare to the best football bookies.

A lot of the new betting sites launching in the UK are currently coming from various different White Label Solutions such as Progress Play Limited. Unfortunately, the products are pretty much identical with the same designs, markets, functionality, bonuses, and payment methods.

But, there are some unique new football betting sites launching under their own licences and better technology such as SBK, Betiton, BetTarget and more.

BetTarget

BetTarget is a new sports betting site that launched in 2021 and is powered and operated by Aspire Global International. Players will find a great range of sports, betting markets, payment methods, and competitive betting odds.

Read full review

Pros

  • BettingGuide Exclusive Bonus
  • 100's of Betting Markets
  • Fast Withdrawals
  • Free Tips using "Target Tip Tool"
  • Tournaments with Cash Prizes

Cons

  • Slow Loading Times
  • No Bet Builder

Bet £15 get £10

18+, New customers only. Min wagering on sports £10. Max one £15 free bet. Qualifying bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater. Paid as bonus token with min 4/5 odds req. Selected payment methods only. Bet expires after 14 days of being credited.
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BetUK

BetUK is among the new bookies leading the way. It is especially popular with punters for its bet accumulators. There are also prize boosters through the Acca Club. Although this bookie does not provide live streaming for football matches, it offers in-play betting and real-time game updates.

Read full review

Pros

  • BettingGuide Exclusive Bonus
  • Trusted Owners
  • High Betting Odds
  • Great Betting Apps
  • Daily Odds Boosts

Cons

  • No Live Streaming

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

Full T&C’s Apply. New customers on mobile only. 7 days to claim and stake £10 minimum bet at odds of 1.5 or greater to qualify. Free, void, cashed out or partially cashed out bets do not qualify. Max 3x £10 free bets credited on bet settlement. Free bets must be used on 4 or more selections with selection odds of 1.3 or greater. Free bets are non-withdrawable and stake not returned with winnings. 7-day expiry. 18+ BeGambleAware.org
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SBK

The second youngest bookie on the list, SBK, came into the betting scene in 2019, thanks to UK’s betting exchange Smarkets. It is delivered in the form of cutting edge betting apps for Android and iOS that help SBK stand out. SBK also offers some of the best odds in football matches.

Read full review

Pros

  • BettingGuide Exclusive Bonus
  • Best Odds in the UK (in our tests)
  • Unique Betting Markets
  • Top-tier Betting Apps
  • Follow Tipsters/Tips for Free

Cons

  • App-Only (No Desktop Site)

Deposit £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

New UK, IE & Malta users only. Min. £10/€10 first deposit only using Debit Card or Trustly. Free bets expire in 90 days.T&Cs apply.
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Betiton

BetItOn is the newest betting site on this list, entering the betting industry in 2020. It has great football coverage, decent odds, and cash-out as well as partial cash-out. The site also offers Acca prize boosts through Boostiton. However, BetItOn is yet to introduce in-play betting.

Read full review

Pros

  • 100+ Betting Markets
  • Competitive Odds
  • Exclusive Welcome Bonus
  • 30+ Sports

Cons

  • Slow Loading Times
  • No Betting Apps

Bet £10 Get £15

18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: £10, max £10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. Neteller,Skrill and Paypal not eligible. T&Cs apply
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2KBet

This sportsbook went live in 2020. 2Kbet offers a traditional sportsbook that allows punters to back outcomes of games. It supports full and partial cash-out and a few promotions for new and existing customers. However, this bookie lacks a mobile app and support for live streaming.

Read full review

Pros

  • Competitive Odds
  • 300+ Betting Markets on Popular Events
  • Safe & Legal New Betting Site
  • Wide Range of Payment Methods

Cons

  • Slow Loading
  • Bad Welcome Bonus Terms and Conditions
  • Cost for Deposits and Withdrawals

Join 2kBet

New players only. Minimum stake $/£/€ 10, minimum odds 1.5, stake not returned. 10X wagering the winnings from the free bet. Wagering occurs from real balance first. Wagering requirement is calculated on bonus bets only, wagering starts from real funds. Free bet is valid for 7 Days from issue. Max conversion: $/£/€ 20.Excluded Skrill deposits.

Best Football Betting Apps

When shopping for a football betting app, you want to look at user experience, promotions exclusive to the app, ease of installation, markets, and other tools. The ratings of the app speak a lot, too. Here are the top 5 football betting apps in the UK.

William Hill Mobile Apps (4.4/5)

William Hill just recently updated their mobile app for Android and iOS. It features exclusive promotions, bet boosts, Acca insurance, in-play betting, live scores, full account management, customer service, and trending markets (top bets).

Bet365 Apps (3.5)

The Android and iOS mobile apps for Bet365 is simple yet powerful. It features over 200,000 live streams, betting stats and data, promotions, live chat support, touch ID, and cash-out, among others.

Betfair Mobile Apps (4.7)

Betfair has great apps for both Android and iOS. The app supports live betting, account management, live scores, stats, cash out, touch/ face ID, live streaming, notifications, and Acca edge, which refunds those who lose by just one selection.

Betfred Mobile Apps (4.0)

Betfred’s Android and iOS apps are comprehensive with friendly user interfaces. It supports live streaming and betting, cash-out. Betfred also has a Goals Galore App, which allows you to bet on both teams and comes with offers on selected games. It also has a Messenger app that can be used to place bets through Betfred’s team.

Paddy Power Mobile Apps (4.4)

Among the highlights of Paddy Power’s highly-rated Android and iOS mobile apps are fast login with Touch ID, in-play betting, live streaming, cash-out, Acca insurance, and live chat support. You also get access to all of the site's promotions and bonus codes.

Top Virtual Football Betting Sites UK

Virtual sports betting is the type done on computer-simulated games. In football, the matches are often not full-length. You also get new events starting nearly every minute. Moreover, each match’s outcome is determined by random number generators (RNG), as in casino games.

How to Wager on Virtual Football

Wagering on virtual football is similar to placing a bet on conventional football matches. You only have to log into your account, browse to find a bet you like, and click on the odds. Once the wager is transferred to the bet slip, you put in your stake and finalise. The results will be out quickly because the matches don’t last long.

Popular Virtual Football Bookmakers

The top sites are often the ones that offer the most betting options. Therefore, it is no surprise that the same names dominate the lists on this review. Here are the top sites for virtual football betting:

Bet365

Bet365 virtual football compresses entire seasons into an hour, allowing punters to bet on 38 weeks of about 48 unique leagues in just 60 minutes. The betting options include individual match results, multiple bets, outright competition winners, and more. A new season begins every hour of the day.

William Hill

William Hill recreates the most popular sporting events in the form of virtual football. The matches are joined by live commentary, providing a life-like high-definition simulation. Matches last two minutes, so they go for half time every 60 seconds. 

After the competition, the bookie shows game highlights, including scoring, near misses, corner kicks, and free kicks. There are extensive betting options such as correct score, total goals, double chance, over/ under, and Asian handicap.

Betfred

The matches here kick off every three minutes 24/7. It is always time to bet on virtual football via Betfred. Punters can wager on results, correct scores, score casts, winning margins, and more. The matches have realistic commentary and great graphics, too.

Betvictor

Betvictor structures its virtual matches around real leagues globally, but outcomes are not replicated. They follow a knock-out tournament style. Each event takes 90 seconds, including a five-second interval. The betting options include total goals O/U, double chance, Asian Handicap, 1×2, HT/F, and correct score.

Coral

Coral offers about seven virtual sports, football being among the top-tiers. The games here kick off every three minutes. It has all of the usual markets as in conventional football events. Punters can wager on games up to five hours in advance.

Football Betting Markets Explained

It is not uncommon for a big game in a competition like the English Premier League or the Champions League to have hundreds of different markets on sports betting sites.

However, here are some of the most common football betting markets - and what they mean:

1x2 (full-time result): A simple one to start off, 1x2 is the match odds market. 1 refers to the home team, 2 to the away team, and the x is the draw. Backers have to predict the final result.

Accumulators: Very popular with football fans and around the world, accumulators are cherished as they offer a chance to win life-changing money from relatively small stakes. Backers combine a number of bets into the same wager in order to bump up the odds by a lot.

Draw no bet: This bet does exactly what the name suggests. Backers pick a team to win and, if the final result of the game is a draw, their stake will be returned back into their betting account. 

Double chance: Again, this bet is what bettors would expect. Double chance bets give players two opportunities to win. An example of a double chance bet would be backing the result to be either a draw or a win for the away team. It is particularly useful when backing the underdog. 

Correct score: Predicting the correct score in football betting is famously difficult, but that does not stop a lot of fans of the game from trying. The correct score bet is only valid for the first 90 minutes, in the event of a match in a cup competition going to either extra time or penalties. 

Halftime/fulltime: Similar to 1x2 bets, the extra facet of halftime/fulltime bets is that backers have to guess the result at both the break and the final whistle. For example, fans might want to bet on the away side to be in front at halftime but for the home team to turn it around by the end. 

Halftime/fulltime correct score: This is the same as the above betting market, but the backer has to pick the score for the break and the end of the game, not just the result. 

Goalscorers (first, last, and anytime): Very popular for football betting, goal scorer markets can provide a lot of value. It is possible to bet on who scores the first goal in the game, or the last goal, or even just betting on a player to score at any time in the game. Additionally, a lot of the top betting sites offer similar markets such as to score and win the game.

Both teams to score: This bet is handy for games where goals are expected. As long as both teams in the game can find the net, then the BTTS bet will be a winning wager. 

Result/both teams to score: A useful combination bet, backers pick the result of the match as well as betting that each side will be on target during the game as well. 

Over/under goals: Goals markets are a very popular choice, with over/under the main choice. It is usually the case that over/under 2.5 goals is the default. This means if there are three or more goals in the game, over 2.5 wins, and if there are two or fewer, then under 2.5 goals wins. This bet works the same whether the number is 2.5 or 0.5, 1.5, 3,5, 4.5 and so on.

Win to nil: If a backer thinks a team will win a game and keep a clean sheet, then the win to nil market on sportsbooks is going to be the right selection for them to make.

European handicap: Handicaps are increasingly popular for football betting. Essentially, the handicap means teams have goals either added to or taken away from the number of goals they actually score in the game. For example, if Chelsea are -1 against Tottenham, they need to win by two clear goals or more for the bet to be a winner. Handicaps work in the other direction too. If a fan bets on Tottenham +2, then the bet wins even if Spurs actually lose the game by a single goal. Handicaps can provide a lot of value in matches where there is a strong favourite to win the game, with their odds to win very short as a result. European handicap markets are sometimes shown as EH for short on sports betting sites.

Asian lines: Asian lines are another type of handicap. They are named as such as they originated in Asia, but these markets can now be found at sportsbooks all over the world, including in Ireland. The difference between European and Asian handicaps is that in Asian lines, the number can be a fraction, whereas it is always a full number on the European handicap. Chelsea -1.5 on the Asian handicap would be the equivalent to Chelsea -1 as an EH bet. The half goal means that the draw is eliminated from the potential outcome of the bet, whereas in EH the draw can result in a push and the stake being returned to the player as a result. The Asian and European handicaps are effectively a form of spread betting, but with sport. Asian lines can be used on various markets, including total goals scored, as well as for which team will win. 

Specials: Among the ways that the top betting sites try to beat their competition in the industry is through the use of special bets. These can be a variety of markets, including request-a-bet wagers where customers can effectively build their own accumulators. Enhanced odds and price boosts are some of the other special bets that are widely available at bookmakers. There might also be special football markets offered at times, for example offering the chance to bet on which manager will be the next to be sacked in the English Premier League. Many online bookmakers also allow bets on football transfers nowadays, with wagers taken on which club a particular player will sign for before the end of the transfer window.

Tips and Strategy for Betting on Football

There are no shortcuts to success when betting on football. After all, if it was easy to make a lot of profit from football betting, everyone would be able to do it. The bookmakers would go bust!

However, following a football betting strategy can be a good way to increase the chances of getting one over the bookies. Many people find that sticking to a certain type of market, such as both teams to score, is their best way of maximising earnings as a result of placing football bets.

Research is the key. With so much information out there, much of it in the form of data and statistics that is easy to digest, there is no excuse for not being clued up before having a bet. It is also crucial to know all the latest news from the world of football, as an injury or illness to a key player is likely to have a big impact on a team's chances of winning their next games.

Football betting tips can be found all over the internet these days, but it is hard to know which ones are worth following. The best football betting tipsters are open about their records.

Many football fans also use strategies such as matched betting in order to profit. In theory, matched betting provides a guaranteed profit as a result of all potential outcomes being covered. This tactic relies on using free bets from bookmakers and then betting on exchanges as well.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Football Betting

Some of the most common mistakes to avoid in football betting are relevant for other sports.  For example, chasing losses is almost always a bad idea. It is also important to remain in control by ensuring a budget is maintained - never bet more than you can afford to lose.

On a similar note betting while emotional, or while under the influence of alcohol, is never a good idea. There is nothing wrong with taking a break from football betting when on a bad run.

Having unrealistic expectations over how much money can be won through football betting is another common mistake. The vast majority of accumulators lose. While they offer the chance to win big, the likelihood is that at least one result will let down this type of bet. It is often better to stick with singles and doubles that bettors have full confidence in.

Missing out on the best odds is also a mistake many bettors make. Even when a bookmaker has enhanced odds for a certain bet, this is not necessarily the best price that is available. It is usually worth taking a bit of time to shop around with various bookmakers in order to ensure the top value is taken from a wager. A small difference in odds might not seem like it makes a big impact. However, those who regularly bet on football will see it all mounts up in the long run.

Linked to the above is the need to have accounts with a range of different football betting sites. There is nothing wrong with doing this, in fact, it is recommended. While some bookmakers do try to reward the loyalty of their customers, usually the number of free bets that are offered across the industry means that it just makes a lot of sense to have many more options.

Lastly, placing too many wagers is something football fans should avoid when betting. It is usually more profitable to carry out deep research on a few well-chosen bets rather than spreading money around a large number of wagers. While it might seem as though more bets equals more chances to win, this is not the case if they are bad bets.

Football Betting - FAQs

Which are the Best Football Betting Sites?
How does football betting work? 
What is over and under in football betting? 
What is virtual football betting? 
How to make money betting on football?  
What is a push in football betting? 
What is the best betting app for football betting?
Steven Hubbard
Steven Hubbard steven@bettingguide.com

Steven is responsible for all content on BettingGuide UK. He is an experienced iGaming content writer that has been working in the industry since 2018. If you have any questions regarding online gambling in the UK, don't hesitate to contact him.

Last updated: 12/15/2021