The quality of Rugby Union betting varies from one platform to the other. Here are the important factors we considered when highlighting the above betting sites.
Range of Rugby Union Events/Markets
Rugby Union is a dynamic and high-action sport; hence contains a variety of events and markets to bet on. A Rugby Union betting platform can only compete for a diverse customer base by ensuring they've covered all markets. Whether a punter is looking to bet on outright, handicap, specials or in-play bets, they should never be left out.
Moreover, Rugby Union is a popular format across the globe. This means there are plenty of international matches taking place at any given time. A worthy Rugby Union betting site should always have these games featured among their offerings.
Live Betting/Streaming Options
Rugby is among the few sports where punters can take advantage of in-play betting. The relentless pace of this high-intensity contact sport means there are bound to be scrums, infringements, lineouts or other forms of action at regular intervals. All these are great opportunities to benefit from smart live betting.
This is only possible if your rugby betting platform allows you to watch the live action before recognising a value bet and acting on it. In case a favourite is already up and running in the game, you can take advantage of the handicap in-play bets, which tend to have decent odds and are low risk.
All the featured Rugby Union betting platforms have a user-friendly in-play interface that allows you to punt easily. Even better, they have a wide variety of in-play betting markets. Most of them have HD quality live streaming services that allow you to follow the live rugby action on your desktop or on your mobile device through a dedicated app.
Mobile Options (Apps or Just a Mobile Site)
Mobile betting has become the norm. If you're looking for the best betting site, ensure it has dedicated native betting apps for iOS and Android users.
For web-based operators, they should still ensure their sites are optimised for mobile users with the same interface, ease of use, range of sports, betting features, and promotions.
Rugby Betting Site with Cashout
Cash-out is an important feature on any betting site because it allows you to settle your bet early for a profit. All the betting sites listed above have this option.
The value of the cash-out amount falls or rises depending on how well your bet is doing. When you see the amount exceed your wager, you can cash out. Some of these betting sites offer a partial and full cash out.
Betting sites with the cash-out option are more attractive than those with fewer opportunities for cashing out.
Rugby Union Promotions
The sports betting industry in the UK is already crowded, with hundreds of betting operators competing to make a name for themselves. This has made it very difficult for new entrants into the market, let alone be the best Rugby Union betting site.
To win customers over, rugby betting sites run a series of promotions and offers aimed at rewarding new and existing customers. These promotions can help punters save on their betting expenses when smartly taken advantage of.
Bookies such as Betfred pay double odds, Betway have an ACCA price boost, while Ladbrokes and William Hill have generous welcome offers.
Generally, promotions aim to retain existing customers, while bonuses are driven towards attracting new punters. The most popular promotions and bonuses include
- Matched deposit; In this promotion, the bookmaker matches your deposit up to a certain value. For instance, a match-up deposit of 100% up to £100 means you get an equal bonus from the betting site if you deposit any amount above the minimum deposit.
- Free bets; Free bets are usually floated around for new and existing customers.
That said, punters need to look out for the terms and conditions that apply to these bonuses and free bets. An offer might look similar across different platforms, but a keen look a the terms will reveal which offer has more value. Look at the wagering requirements, the minimum odds you can bet, and the minimum deposit.
Legal and Licensed
Gambling is legal in the UK, but all betting operators must hold a license issued by the UK Gambling Commission to provide gambling services in the UK market.
Rugby Union bookies that the UKGC licenses are regulated to ensure they conform to fair gambling practices. They are also required to provide punters with responsible gambling. In this regard, all the Rugby Union betting platforms listed here have a Responsible Gambling section that helps bettors deal with gambling addiction and other harmful gambling behaviour.
High Rugby Union Odds
Odds make all the difference when it comes to any type of betting, and rugby betting is no different. Before placing your bets, you must be extra vigilant when comparing odds between different platforms.
Each bookmaker listed above can boast of having the highest odds prices for any Rugby Union market.
We compared the odds offered for Argentina to win the 2023 Rugby World Cup and found the following results.
- Unibet 80/1
- Betfair 40/1
- Betway 40/1
- Paddy Power 40/1
- William Hill 33/1
- Ladbrokes 33/1
However, after running a thorough odds comparison in general, we found that Betway has the best payout for Rugby Union bets while Ladbrokes, Paddy Power, William Hill and 888Sport offer similar odds as outlined below.
- Betway 93.79%
- Paddy Power 91.98%
- 888sport 91.28%
- William Hill 91.03%
- Ladbrokes 90.03%
By comparing odds, punters can take advantage of the best odds offered. This is also an important criteria to consider because certain bookies offer an odds boost — you'll be able to tell if there's value in it or if better odds exist elsewhere.
Customer Support
Customer support is a critical representation of the online betting site because it helps you know whether you can easily get help from their representatives when necessary. Whether it's a simple clarification or resolving complex issues related to your betting account, customer support needs to be prompt and available 24/7 in various formats. All the sites listed here avail their customer support through the following channels.
Some of these platforms even for a step further to provide a dedicated social media page for customer support. In addition, you should be able to contact Gambleaware for help with gambling responsibly.
Payment Options
Last but not least, it is important to consider the different banking options a betting site supports. This is especially crucial since the ban on using credit cards on gambling sites. This change became effective as of April 14th 2020. However, betting sites are allowed to use all other payment methods, with the more established ones even going as far as accepting cryptocurrencies.
Betting operators may also allow debit cards. However, this payment method takes up to 5 working days to process transactions, so you should consider a site with faster payment methods.
Moreover, E-wallets are also rapidly taking over as the preferred payment since they process transactions faster. In our ranking, we considered betting platforms that support e-wallets to allow punters to make instant deposits and withdrawals. These payment options include PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, MuchBetter, and Paysafecard, among others.