Football is Britain’s favourite sport, and it’s no wonder that for a country of passionate fans and bettors, it’s also it’s favourite sport to bet on as well. The market for football betting is inundated with the good, the bad and the ugly, so we’re here to help you separate the gems from the dirt and find out which football betting sites were this year’s winning playbooks.
Ranking criteria
A lot goes into determining what makes the best football betting sites. Our experts have examined these sites in detail to develop this set of criteria that we believe is essential to a good football betting site:
Range of games and leagues
Number one for us is as simple as the range of games and leagues available for betting in a sportsbook’s market. A lot of sites won’t look outside the major leagues, which is fine for the casual bettor, but the best UK bookies offer a diverse range of markets, offering bets on professional leagues across the globe, all the way down to the lowest-ranked leagues.
Betting odds
Betting odds are always on the move, and we expect the best betting sites to be rolling with this dynamism and offering up the best betting odds possible to their customers.
Betting options
Variety is the spice of life, and that goes as far as betting options too. We don’t want bookies to stop at singles and multis. We want to see all kinds of betting types, including handicaps, props and accumulators. This should also include some live betting options.
Cash-out options
When things are going bad, a good betting site gives you a hand when you want to call it quits. Good cash-out options are essential to a great sportsbook.
Mobile support
These days, everyone’s on the go, and football fans are no exception. Whether it’s at the pitch, down the pub or at work, bettors want to be able to make their bets anywhere they go without having to wait to get home. Good mobile support makes this happen.
Bonuses and promotions
No betting site is complete without a rich set of bonuses and promotions to give back to the players. This is one of the main factors that influences player choice when picking a betting site, especially the welcome bonus.
Best UK football betting sites
- BetUK
- talkSPORT BET
- Spreadex
- BetMGM Sports
- Betway
Bookies reviews: What makes these the winning playbooks?
BetUK
Pros:
- Enticing welcome bonus
- Wide coverage of the betting markets
- Streamlined mobile app
Cons:
- No great offers for existing customers
- No live streaming
When it comes to sportsbooks, nothing’s more exciting than a great welcome bonus, and BetUK has one of the best. For new players who bet just £10, they’ll be rewarded with a huge £30 in free bets. While we’d like a little more on offer for existing players, it’s worth taking a punt just for that welcome bonus. Not to mention that you can enjoy BetUK anywhere with their great mobile app.
talkSPORT BET
Pros:
- In-play bets
- Speedy withdrawals
- Enhanced odds
Cons:
- Smaller selection of sports markets
One of the UK’s most popular sports radio stations and websites has arrived in the world of sports betting, and they’ve done a stellar job with their new brand talkSPORT BET. It’s already clear that talkSport knows their sports markets from the great content they put out, but now it’s clear how that expertise can create an impeccably tailored sports betting app, offering enhanced odds, in-play bets and speedy withdrawals.
Spreadex
Pros:
- Offers award-winning spread betting
- Great mobile support
- Handy bet builder
Cons:
- No PayPal available
- Steep learning curve
Spreadex is an innovator of its kind, functioning not just as a sportsbook, but also as a trading platform for punters to build their one-of-a-kind spread bets. It can be a bit tricky for beginners to get a hang of, but for those expert bettors who want a challenging new experience, Spreadex rewards the effort with a diverse sportsbook, award-winning betting service and fantastic mobile betting app.
BetMGM Sports
Pros:
- Great welcome bonus
- Expertise in sports betting
- Strong selection of sports markets covering US as well as UK sports
Cons:
- No live chat
A famous name in the US sportsbook market, BetMGM Sports has come into the UK betting scene with a bang, offering up a fantastic streamlined betting site, impeccable customer service and one of the best welcome bonuses on the market, including £40 in free bets after only a £10 stake — certainly something you don’t want to miss out on!
Betway
Pros:
- Boosted odds
- Established brand
- Low minimum deposit of £5
Cons:
- Mobile app isn’t very user-friendly
Betway tops our charts again this year. One of the most established and highly rated brands in UK football betting, Betway comes through for the customers with boosted odds and low minimum deposits that make betting with them a breeze. We’d prefer a mobile app that was a little easier to use, but Betway is always making improvements and we’re certain that mobile app will be next.