Football
Tennis
Darts
Cricket
Golf
Horse Racing
F1
Boxing
MMA
Any
Yes
No
Cash Out
Not Needed
Debit card
Paypal
Neteller
Skrill
Apple Pay
PaysafeCard
Trustly
MuchBetter
Deposit match
Enhanced odds
Free Bets
Don't want a bonus
Best Football Betting Sites UK for 2023
Our guide to the best football betting sites is designed to help you find the UK’s best bookie for you.
Safe Betting Sites boasts a team of experts, specialising in rating and reviewing gambling sites to help you compare the best football bookmakers to suit your game.
Top 10 Football Betting Websites
- All
- £30 Free Bet
- Live Streaming
- Enhanced Odds
- New!
- Paypal
- Free Spins
- patent bet
- Placepot bet
- Yankee bet
- £40 Free Bet
- £25 Free Bet
- Cash Out
- Derby betting
- Trixie
- £5 Deposit
- £20 Free Bet
- New Free Bets
- Each Way Bet
- More Filters
Bet £10 Get £40 In Free Bets
Bet £10 Get £40 In Free Bets
- Brand new bookie powered by established name
- Odds boosts, weekly free bets & Golden Acca promo
- Thousands of events/markets across UK sports & beyond
Bet £10, Get £40
Bet £10, Get £40
- No minimum deposit requirements
- Excellent platform for in-play betting
- Best Odds On All Premier League Matches
Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses
Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses
- BOG applies after 8am on race days
- Includes selected international races
- Available for horse racing & greyhounds
£35 Free Bet + 10 Free Spins
£35 Free Bet + 10 Free Spins
- Free bet worth 5% of your total bets
- Min odds of 6/4 needed
- 1x free bet available daily
Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365
Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365
- All feature races eligible
- Applies to win and each-way bets
- Available to new and existing customers
Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets
Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets
- Regular price boosts
- Good number of additional specials
- Efficient mobile app available
Bet £20 and Get it Back if it Loses
Bet £20 and Get it Back if it Loses
- Horse Racing specialist
- Most trusted UK bookie
- Frequent market based promotions
Who can take part?
New customers only. Available to residents of UK or Republic of Ireland.
How and when can I qualify?
Open a new account using promo code YSKWEX
Deposit a minimum of £10 using cards
Place a Sportsbook bet up to £20 at min odds of 2.0 (Evs). For the purposes of this promotion, your first ever placed bet will be counted as the qualifying bet.
Qualifying requirements must be completed within 30 days of account opening
What can I win?
If your qualifying bet is settled as a loser we will refund you stake in CASH
Maximum refund is £20
T&Cs apply.
Bet £10, Get £20 In Free Bets
Bet £10, Get £20 In Free Bets
- One Of The Newest Bookies On The Market
- Regular Price Boosts On Big Events
- Live Horse Racing Streaming
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Football Bet Builders
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Football Bet Builders
- Top UK sportsbook
- Extensive markets
- World's Biggest Betting Exchange
Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets
Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets
- Perfect for live football betting
- Built for mobile
- Stats and in-play graphics on most games
10 Best Football Betting Sites: Best UK Bookies Ranked
Almost all UK bookmakers offer football betting. As the nation’s most popular sport to watch and bet on, the fight to be top for football bets is fierce.
That’s good news for football fans as it means the top football bookies battle to offer the best football odds, great features such as in-play and Bet Builders, live streams and, of course, football betting offers.
Here’s our up-to-date list of the 10 best football betting sites in the UK.
BetMGM is one of the newer football betting sites in the UK and is working hard to get up to speed.
As you might expect from an established brand such MGM, it offers a classy app and website that, in our view, is the best football betting site in the UK.
Both the bookmaker site and app have clean, simple designs and there’s the full range of football betting products you’d expect, such as in-play, Bet Builder and live streams on some games.
BetMGM stands out as a top football betting website thanks to its free-to-play Golden Goals promotion, which gives you the chance to win up to £2 million by predicting six correct scores.
The BeMGM welcome offer is Bet £10, Get £40.
What we like:
- Comprehensive football betting service
- Free Golden Goals promotion with £2m jackpot
- Bet Builder and player prop markets
- Classy football betting website and app
What we don’t:
- Occasionally missing some football betting odds
Spreadex is the number one spread betting site in the UK for football but also offers fixed odds football betting.
It’s one of the top football betting sites as the number of markets and competitions is thorough and has some of the best football betting odds.
If football spread betting is still something of a mystery you can check out our spread betting guide. Check out our full review and details of the latest Spreadex bonus code.
What we like:
- The UK’s leading football spread betting sportsbook
- Returns can be better than with fixed odds betting
- Plenty of football markets
- Easily place bets via the mobile betting app
- Fixed football odds betting available too
What we don’t:
- No welcome bonus
- Promotions are not really a thing here
A long-established UK bookie, Betfred is still among the best bets for football.
Betfred has competitive football betting odds, along with in play and a number of prop markets. There’s also “Pickyourpunt” – a bet builder that allows you to combine prop markets such as “player to score a free-kick”. Betfred also has a host of football outright markets.
A nice feature is the additional info on where to catch the live streams in your country. Check out our full sportsbook review for the latest Betfred welcome offer.
Pros
- Wide choice of football outright markets
- Useful info on live streams
- Pickyourpunt Bet Builder alternative
- One of the best mobile betting apps
- Enhanced multiples available
Cons
- Layout of events and markets could be simpler
Relatively new on the scene, QuinnBet is a UK-based online sportsbook that operates with a United Kingdom Gambling Commission licence. QuinnBet is big on horse racing but also is among the strongest football bookmakers available.
There’s all the standard markets you’d expect, such as correct score, BTTS and first goalscorer. But there’s also the “create-a-bet” option, allowing you to create same-game multiples. QuinnBet offers featured create-a-bet selections – pre-built bet builders.
Check out our in-depth QuinnBet review.
Pros
- Regular enhanced odds offers on football
- Create-A-Bet on all major football matches
- In play betting options a-plenty
Cons
- Too much emphasis on horse racing!
The football coverage at bet365 is staggering – there is simply no other word for it. If there is any professional football match taking place at any point on the planet, then no doubt via bet365 you will be able to place a bet upon it. Bet365 also has one amazing benefit for football bettors – if you back a team to win and they go two goals up then bet365 will settle your bet as a win immediately, no matter what may happen during the remainder of the game.
Your backed team could lose 2-6 and as long as they were 2-0 up at some stage, your bet would be paid out as a winner. Find out more in our comprehensive Bet365 review.
Pros
- Your bet is a winner as soon as your backed team goes two goals up
- Outstanding array of potential football markets
- Bet Builder and Bet Builder +
- Easy to use site – unflashy and intuitive
- Up to 70% bonus on football accas
Cons
- Unappealing site design
BetUK enters our list of the top 10 best football betting sites largely thanks to the depth of the offering on football matches. It’s common to find 230+ markets on matches, with the option to fold many of them into bet builders. There’s also pre-packed bet builders to choose from.
The in-play football betting offering is strong, with stats and real-time graphics. BetUK’s is among the best betting apps, indeed the mobile user experience is arguably better than the desktop version. The welcome offer is Bet £10, Get £30 and you can find out more in our full BetUK review.
Pros
- Regular BetUK Specials
- Great football betting app on mobile
- Best new UK bookmaker in 2020 and 2021
- Guaranteed a swift payout
- Wagering on some bonuses is only 10x
- Keep your eye on several games at once!
Cons
- Desktop layout makes some football odds difficult to find
PaddyPower remains a top site for football betting mainly because of their ‘Power Price’ boosts. These are specific bets where the odds are boosted in to make them more appealing. When you are placing your bet on a football match at PaddyPower it is always worth checking the Power Price options to see precisely what is available.
Another strong feature is “Most Popular Accas” which lets you see football accumulators backed by other fans. These, of course, along with all the other features you’d expect from a top football betting site, such as Bet Builders, in-play and outrights. The Paddy Power welcome bonus is cash back as a Free Bet on losing bets up to £20.
Pros
- ‘Power Price’ boosts on tailored football bets
- Most Popular Accas let you see how other fans are betting
- Best odds guaranteed on all football markets
- Extensive market coverage of global leagues
- Live play betting available at all times
- ‘Beat the Drop’ – test your betting skill without spending a cent!
Cons
- Brand banter isn’t for everyone
Another relative newcomer, LiveScore Bet enters our list of the top 10 football bookies thanks to a series of impressive product improvements and features in a short space of time.
LiveScore Bet provides a really strong football betting experience, particularly on mobile, with live audio and live video streams of many matches making ideal for in-play football betting.
The LiveScore Bet welcome offer is Bet £10, Get £20 in Free Bets.
Pros
- Includes useful info including stats and where to watch matches
- Live audio and video on many football games
- Built for a seamless mobile experience
- Free-to-play daily “Squads” game
Cons
- Layout does not suit football betting site on desktop
Betfair’s sportsbook is a more fan-friendly experience than its exchange betting sister, which can be somewhat daunting at first.
The sportsbook version has more in common with other top football betting sites, including promotions and features such as odds boosts, early payout and user-requested odds. The Betfair welcome offer is Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets.
Pros
- Football bets paid out at 90 minutes
- #OddsOnThat – user-requested prices
- Daily featured odds boosts
- Quickly build accas using market type filter
- Strong football odds on all matches
Cons
- Exchange-inspired layout can be overwhelming
You might notice a similarity between Virgin Bet and LiveScore Bet and that’s no coincidence as both are powered by the same platform. It means Virgin Bet is again one of the best football bookmakers for mobile users and provides a great experience for live betting.
As another challenger brand, Virgin Bet is generous with its new customer and existing player offers, making it ideal for fans looking for a new football betting site to try. The current welcome offer is bet £10, Get £20 and you can see the latest Virgin Bet bonus code and promotions in our full review.
Pros
- Great for live football betting
- Ideal for fans preferring to bet on mobile or app
- Strong new and existing customer bonuses
Cons
- Desktop experience is less user-friendly
How We Review UK Football Betting Sites
There are numerous things to consider when aiming to rank the best bookies for football available to punters. Below is a breakdown of our primary criteria for our reviews:
-
Markets Available
For a site to ensure that it offers football punters the best experience, it must offer a range of markets across a wide variety of leagues. When selecting our top football betting sites UK, we’ve chosen those who’ve gone the extra mile in their range of markets, offering both old and new UK customers a plethora of choices, as opposed to limiting players to the traditional markets. In the UK of course, the majority of football sports bets will be placed on the EPL, with the three EFL leagues a close second. Sites should not just limit themselves to UK football though. The best online football betting sites should provide access to the major European leagues such as the Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A, as well as global leagues, youth matches and women’s football.
-
Promotions and Free Bets
Nowadays, football betting sites that do not offer consistently strong bonuses get left behind. From sign-up betting offers, to daily bonuses, to the latest football betting competitive odds boosts, we look at what is out there and select those firms that have the most to offer. We are not fooled by the notion that ‘biggest is best’ though. We like deals that are simple, and that actually give you a definite chance of coming out on top. Acca insurance deals are a good one, too.
-
Enhanced Odds
Price is often the decisive factor when placing a bet, so it is important to find those bookmakers who consistently offer the best prices. Our top football bookmakers offer best odds guaranteed on a wide variety of football matches. Even better are sites that offer enhanced odds deals – you get better odds if you bet on a team winning a specific event.
-
Cash Out
Cash out should be a given at any leading betting site. For the uninitiated, cash out is where you take out your winnings from an event you’ve bet on before the event has been completed – albeit at reduced odds. This is ideal if you’ve made a high-odds bet that’s currently up but you don’t think it’s going to last the distance. We review all sites’ cash-out offers including the ratio by which they reduce the odds in relation to the time remaining.
-
Live Streaming
You are not going to be able to watch Premier League or EFL matches at any UK football betting site due to domestic broadcasting deals, but the leading sites will offer live streaming of the top European Leagues and matches from further afield. Successful UK-based sports bettors don’t limit their betting to EPL/EFL games only and will seek about profitable bets from all global leagues.
-
Bet Builders
If you want to power-up your profits then combining bets in the way to go. True, the more single bets you chain together the more likely you are to lose, but if you find a happy balance between acca-size and risk your profits should soar, and if you do land a completed acca you could make some serious money. Bet Builders are tools where you can define and combine bets that give you the maximum chance of earning big.
-
Asian Handicap
Asian handicaps are an increasingly popular method of betting that true football experts can use to genuinely maximise their potential profits. Asian handicaps level the playing field between the two sides in any game by awarding the underdogs an artificial lead while also eradicating the possibility of a draw.
-
Security, Safety & Licensing
Obviously we make sure that any site we guide you towards is in the possession of the proper UKGC licence. We also check reviews and independent testimonials to make sure any site we promote has a decent record for keeping all customer details safe, and championing responsible gambling practices.
-
Mobile Experience
Let’s face it, we do the majority of what we do over the internet these days by using our mobile devices. All sports betting sites in the UK now provide mobile versions of themselves, some via bespoke apps and others via mobile-optimised versions of their sites that can be viewed in a mobile browser. No matter the method used, we review the mobile experience at all our promoted sites. We look for uncluttered sites that make the betting process via mobile simple and convenient.
-
Payment Methods
While it’s a given that every single betting site in the UK offers payments via debit cards (credit card payments are not available at betting sites in the UK by law) we like sites that offer as many convenient payment methods as possible, including eWallets, GooglePay, ApplePay, general ‘pay by mobile’ options and others. Not everyone wants to connect their debit card to a sports betting site, so we like to see sites that offer their customers a number of alternatives.
Key Features of the Best Online Football Betting Sites
Here, at a glance, are the most important features of the best football betting sites and which of the entries in our top 10 list have them.
| Sportsbook | Live Betting | Live Streaming | Handicap Betting | Cashout | Bet Builder | Acca Insurance |
| BetMGM |  |
|
|
|
|
|
| Spreadex | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Betfred | |
|
|
|
|
|
| QuinnBet | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Bet365 | |
|
|
|
|
|
| BetUK | |
|
|
|
|
|
| PaddyPower | |
|
|
|
|
|
| LiveScore Bet | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Betfair | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Virgin Bet | |
|
|
|
|
|
How to Sign Up to Football Betting Sites
Registering on a football betting site is straightforward. If you’ve ever signed up for any online service (gambling related or not), you’ll find the process familiar. Here are the steps:
- Complete the registration form: Start by filling out the registration form. This typically requires personal details, and some sites may ask for additional information.
- Email verification: After submitting the form, you’ll receive a verification email. Click on the provided link to confirm your email address.
- Account funding: Next, link your preferred payment method, whether it’s a debit card or another accepted option.
- Identity verification: Some sites may require you to verify your identity for security purposes. This could involve uploading documents like your passport and a recent utility bill.
- Place your bet: With registration complete, you’re all set! Browse the available markets, select an event, click on your desired odds to add the bet to your slip, choose your stake, and place your bet.
How to Bet on Football: Football Betting Tips & Strategy
Not sure how to bet on football online? Using the leading betting websites is a good starting point, as you’re guaranteed the best football betting odds and so will get the most money back for your football betting predictions. If you want to make money betting on football though, successful football betting systems are the way forwards.
Here are five tops tips to help you get the best football betting sites UK experience:
Value Football Betting
The best way to make money with football betting is via value football betting. This is where you bet on the value of the bet as opposed to the price. Sports betting companies do not always get it right, and assessing bets that have added value is a skill that successful footballer bettors develop.
Finding value bets takes time and effort, but the more you know about football and football betting, the easier they will become to spot.
Football Handicap Betting
If you enjoy betting on the actual score of football matches (which is extremely hard to get right) you are probably going be more successful with handicap betting. Handicap betting is a way of prediciting the margin of victory between two teams, but usually generates better odds and therefore potentially better winnings.
You can make money with football betting with a greater chance of success if you choose handicap betting over correct score or winning margin betting, and indeed even 1×2 betting itself.
Live Football Betting
The internet has made live football betting a possibility. Live betting is a ‘catch-all’ term for betting on any aspect of a football game that has already started. You can bet on the eventual winning team of course and any typical pre-game market once the match has kicked off, but dozens of new football markets open up with live football betting options.
Potential live football betting markets offered by sportsbooks include the scorer (team or individual) of the next goal, whether the next card shown will be red or yellow (or no further cards shown), the next substitution (team making it, player coming off, player coming on), whether a specific player will be booked/dismissed/score/create an assist, and so on. Basically, if it can happen during a game and can be measured, then you can probably bet on it.
Genuine football experts (and in particular, follows of a particular team) usually end up well in profit because of live football betting.
Virtual Football Betting
Even though there’s a pro football game taking place every minute of every day somewhere on the planet, that’s still not enough for some people. Others enjoy the thrill of betting on football but not the length of time a football match takes. For both these types of people, there’s virtual football.
Virtual football is software-based soccer where games only last 90 seconds or so (you only see the virtual video highlights, not the full game) and then there’s only a 90 second wait until the next match. With most virtual games you can only bet on 1×2, but at some sites – such as William Hill – you can bet on the correct score, total goals scored, under/over 2.5 or 1.5 goals or BTTS yes/no.
Complex algorithms determine the result of the game based on form and team strength but shock results can happen too, just as with real football. Virtual Football betting is an excellent way of entertaining yourself while waiting for your bets to come in or if you want to practice predicting the outcome of games, but heaping large amount of money on virtual football is not a good idea. You’re more likely to make money betting on football by betting on actual matches.
Spread Betting Football
Spread betting is a complicated aspect of football betting. We recommend you use Spreadex for football spread betting, and to read the football betting guide available at this excellent sportsbook.
Spread betting rewards your football knowledge with profit, with the chance you will lose more than your stake if your prediction is inaccurate. Your losses though are protected by a feature called ‘stop-loss’ which limits the amount of money you lose should you otherwise be looking at substantial losses. This limits the amount of money you can win, too. Read our in-depth guide to spread betting.
A Guide to the Most Popular Football Betting Markets
At its core, football betting is simple: you predict the outcome of a match. Every match, regardless of extra time or penalties, will culminate in one of three results: a win for Team A, a win for Team B, or a draw. This fundamental football bet type is known as the ‘1×2’ market, where ‘1’ signifies a home win, ‘2’ an away win, and ‘x’ represents a draw. Despite the myriad of betting choices for each game, the ‘1×2’ market still attracts the lion’s share of wagers.
But the world of football betting extends far beyond just predicting match outcomes. For those deeply versed in the sport, a wealth of betting opportunities awaits, allowing you to leverage your football knowledge for potential gains when placing football bets.
Football bet 1X2
The most basic bet possible. Real Madrid are playing Barcelona at the Bernabeu. Your choices are ‘1’ (Real Madrid as the home team to win), ‘X’ (a draw), or ‘2’ (Barcelona as the away team to win).
You need to be careful with knockout (i.e. cup) matches. Some sports books will declare the result to be over after 90 minutes (which includes time added on by the referee for stoppages). If the game goes to extra time and even penalties, then as far as the sports book is concerned, these minutes never happened! If a game is tied at 1-1 at the end of full time then the result is a draw, even if the game goes on and a team wins it in extra time or via penalties. Check out our guide to what 1×2 means in betting.
Both Teams to Score (BTTS Yes/No)
With BTTS ‘yes’ you are betting on neither side to keep a clean sheet by the end of full time. If either side fails to score, or if the game ends goalless, then your bet is a losing one. With BTTS ‘no’ you are betting on the complete opposite – that one team will keep a clean sheet or that the game will end 0-0.
BTTS ‘yes’ is good when two high-scoring teams with leaky defences are playing each other. BTTS ‘no’ is good when two low-scoring teams with tight defences are playing each other. Read our guide for more information on both teams to score in betting.
Over/Under 2.5
In the Over/Under 2.5 goals market you can bet on the total number of goals that both sides playing a match will score. The most common price offered is for under 2.5 goals (so 0, 1 or 2 goals in total) or over 2.5 goals (3 goals or more). It doesn’t matter which teams scores the goals – Liverpool beating Everton 3-2 is five goals, and Leicester City beating Crystal Palace 5-0 is five goals.
Again, take care with the ’90 minute’ rule for games with the potential to go to extra time. In such games, goals scored in extra time do not contribute to the over/under total. Penalties in a penalty shoot-out certainly never do!
Double Chance
Why have one chance, when you can have two? The Double Chance bet is a mystery to some, but it’s a very simple bet. It’s an extension of our old friend the ‘1×2’ bet, except that you are combining two of the possible outcomes.
Say Chelsea are playing Arsenal. You can bet on Chelsea to win or draw, Arsenal to win or draw, or even Chelsea or Arsenal to win. What you are actually betting on is one of the three possible outcomes not happening (respectively, Chelsea losing, Arsenal losing or a draw).
You’re tired of hearing us explaining this, but Double Chance bets are usually settled at the end of 90 minutes. What happens in extra time or penalties may not count.
Draw No Bet
If you come from America then you will know all about how they hate draws, or ‘ties’ as they call them. Baseball games will keep going until someone wins, and the MLB record is 26 innings as opposed to the usual 9 (and even then the game ended tied as it was too dark to play, this being 1920).
You can pretend you have the American disdain for the tie by using the ‘draw no bet’ or ‘DNB’ option. Your options are to bet on Team A to win, or Team B to win. You cannot bet on a draw. If the game you bet on does end in a draw, then you get back your stake.
First Goalscorer
A simple one this – you bet on the first goalscorer in a match. If your chosen player scores the first goal of the game (not just the first goal for his side) then your bet is a winning one. As usual, only goals scored during normal play count, if a game is goalless going in extra time, then all such bets lose. One more thing to look out for – own goals don’t usually count.
Anytime Goalscorer
Same as first goalscorer except that the player you back must score a goal at any time during the game in order for your bet to be a winner. Again, own goals do not count, neither do goals scored in extra time and definitely not during a penalty shoot-out.
One thing to note – since the introduction of VAR some online bookies will payout on ‘anytime goalscorer’ if your backed players scored a goal that is awarded by the match referee, but then subsequently ruled out by VAR.
Last Goalscorer
Just like the two bets above except that you are betting on the player who will score the final goal of the game. Own goals do not count, and neither do goals scored in any played periods of extra time, or penalties.
Correct Score
Usually considered one of the most difficult bets to get right, the correct score bet can pay real dividends if you have a real ‘hunch’ about a game. Go to the match tab on any football game and a range of correct scores is always available, and the prices attached to them. You’ll note that the prices are usually generous, because it’s such a difficult aspect of a game to get right.
If the score you think’s going to happen isn’t available, then contact the online bookies directly. Note that for knockout matches such as those in the UCL, the ‘correct score’ is typically the score before any extra time is played, if extra time is necessary.
Half Time/Full Time
A bet on the ‘result’ at half time, coupled with the actual final result (not including any extra time if it’s a knockout match). There are three possible half time ‘results’ (home/draw/away) and three possible full time results (home/draw/away), making a total of nine possible outcomes.
If you are feeling adventurous you can also predict the exact score at half time and couple it with the exact full time score (not including any extra time). The returns will be high if you get it right.
Goal Line
A bet that’s popular in North American markets that is also becoming more popular in UK markets. The typical Goal Line value is 3.0, and you can bet on their being over 3.0 goals, or under 3.0 goals in the game. This is the total number of goals that both sides score. In this case the site will return your bet if the teams score three goals in total.
Other Goal Line values should always be available, from 0.5 all the way up to 5.0.
Popular Football Tournaments for Betting
England Football Betting:
EPL football betting on the Premier League is by far the most popular, followed by football league betting on the EFL Championship, League One and League Two. There are the leading cup competitions too, the FA Cup, the Football League Cup (currently the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons), and the EFL (Papa John’s) Trophy. The highest tiers of non-league football in England are the National League, the National League North and the National League South.
Scottish Football Betting:
The majority of betting on Scottish football is done via the Premiership. The other leagues in Scotland are the Championship, League One and League Two. The major non-league competitions are the Highland League and the Lowland League, and Scotland has an FA Cup and League Cup too.
European Football Betting:
France: Ligue 1, Ligue 2. Cups: Coupe de France.
Germany: Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga. Cups: DFB-Pokal.
Spain: La Liga, La Liga Segunda Division. Cups: Copa del Rey.
Italy: Leagues: Serie A, Serie B. Cups: Coppa Italia.
Outside of the top five European countries, leagues that are also popular among football bettors in the UK are Eredivisie in Holland, MLS in the USA, Jupiler League in Belgium, Primeira Liga in Portugal, Super Lig in Turkey, as well as the each of the top divisions in Denmark, Sweden and Norway.
International Club Tournaments
Since the 1950s and the decreasing expense of foreign travel, the leading clubs on each continent have been able to compete in international tournaments. These have become some of the biggest money-spinners in football, for both teams and football bettors. Below you’ll find the leading international club tournaments for most continents.
Europe:
The UEFA Champions League (UCL), the UEFA Europa League, the UEFA Europa Conference League.
South America:
Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana.
Africa:
CAF Champions League, CAF Confederation Cup.
Asia:
AFC Champions League, AFC Cup.
North & Central America:
CONCACAF Champions League, CONCACAF League.
Oceania:
OFC Champions League.
International Team Tournaments
All football-playing countries in the world have a national football team, and there are a range of international team tournaments that football bettors can both enjoy watching and placing wagers upon. The number in parenthesis is the frequency of each tournament.
Global:
FIFA World Cup (4 years).
Europe:
UEFA European Championship (4 years), UEFA Nations League (2 years).
South America:
Copa América (4 years).
Africa:
Africa Cup of Nations (2 years), African Nations Championship (2 years).
Asia:
AFC Asian Cup (4 years), AFC Solidarity Cup (4 years).
North & Central America:
CONCACAF Gold Cup (2 years), CONCACAF Nations League (4 years).
Oceania:
OFC Nations Cup (4 years).
Which Bookmaker has the Best Football Odds?
Many sites claim they have the ‘best odds guaranteed’ when it comes to football betting and all types of sports betting, but what does this mean? It means that if your winning bet had more competitive odds at a different site, you can contact your sports book and claiming the extra.
The following sites all adhere to the ‘Best Odds Guaranteed’ mantra:
The bookies are not always right (such as when they offered odds of 5,000/1 on Leicester City winning the 2015/16 EPL) but 99% of the time they are. You might getting better odds at a sports betting exchanges as such sites make money from commission, and not losing bets.
Check out our guide to find out more about how betting odds are calculated.
The Most Popular Football Betting Promotions
All online football betting sites are in a battle for each football bettor’s custom, and the one step they all take is offering some manner of welcome offer for new customers. This acts as an incentive to get people to complete a sign up at the football betting site.
Here is a quick run-down of the most popular football betting promotions.
The welcome offer bonus matches your first deposit with the same amount of bonus cash. For example, if you made your first deposit for £30, then the football bookie will hand you £30 in bonus cash too. There are always minimums and maximums for this kind of offer. Usually, bonus cash is cash you cannot withdraw, but you can place wagers with it. You may have to meet wagering requirements too, and if a bet made with bonus cash wins, typically you only get your winnings and not the cash. Check that T&Cs apply with any offer to make sure you’re aware of what you need to do, and how to max out your options.Welcome Bonus
Free sports bets are another common promo. 2kBet has an offer of a £30 free bet, which is awarded to you should be make a £10 min deposit, followed by a minimum £10 wager. Free football bets can be a single stake, or they may be split. There may also be rules about the minimum odds you can use your free bet cash on, so check T&Cs. You’ll find your free bet cannot be cashed out, and free bet stakes are not returned when your qualifying bet settles, whether you win or lose. Some sites offer a risk free bet – if your first bet loses then your stake is returned as bonus cash.Free Bets
This offer is less common. For example, no matter how much you wager on your first day, the site will hand you back 50 percent of your losses up to a max of £25. All losses are typically returned as free bets. As ever, this type of offer is covered by ‘T&Cs apply’, so make sure you go and check them out.Cashback on Losses
Again, a less common offer, your first qualifying bet at a site offering this deal wins double what you would have won if your first bet is a winning one. It’s not all good news though – all money paid in excess of what you would have won is paid as free bet cash.Double the Odds
Don’t forget to check out the best football betting offers available to the UK punters
Learn Football Betting Strategy
Looking for the top online bookmakers for bets on the Premier League, Champions League and more? Then read on, as we give you the lowdown on most popular football leagues in the UK, our top football betting tips and football betting strategy on each league. In addition, to get you started, we highlight the best deals and promotions.
Bottom Line
To summarise, there are no shortage of UK football betting sites, though they’re not all as good as each other. The ten listed above not only fit the bill in terms of the betting on football that they offer, but they’re also the best betting sites for football when it comes to safety and security, which as far as we’re concerned, is of critical importance. BetMGM is our current favourite for best football bookie thanks to a strong product, nice welcome offer and the Golden Goals promotion.
Our Choice For Best Football Betting Site
Bet £10 Get £40 In Free Bets
Bet £10 Get £40 In Free Bets
- Brand new bookie powered by established name
- Odds boosts, weekly free bets & Golden Acca promo
- Thousands of events/markets across UK sports & beyond
Licence and Safety
You are of course free to completely ignore all our recommendations and strike out alone when it comes to find the best betting sites for football in the UK. We do have one recommendation though – stick to sites with the proper UKGC licensing. If you use a site in the UK which does not have a proper UKGC licence then you are only asking for trouble.
You must always gamble responsibly too. If you find that your gambling is getting out of hand then don’t worry, as help is available from any of the organisations listed below:
- UK Gambling Commission
- BeGambleAware
- Gamblers Anonymous
- eCOGRA (eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance)
FAQs
How many football betting sites should I use?
Can you make money betting on football?
Which is the best football betting site?
How do I bet on football?
Can I use a free bet on an accumulator?
Is betting on football online legal?
Which football betting sites should I avoid?
What are the most common football bets?
A vastly experienced sports betting specialist, Peter joined SafeBettingSites in 2021 as a sports editor. Peter has been focusing on the iGaming realm since 2013, and had written millions of words on all aspects of online casino play and sports betting since then. His articles have been featured in numerous high-profile online publications. When not writing, Peter can be found playing his electric guitar. He is such a talented guitarist that his next-door neighbours often join in, adding percussion by banging loudly on the walls.
-
Benfica most profitable club in the transfer market, with a €764m profit
1 day ago -
English League One Averages Higher Attendance Than Saudi Pro League
1 week ago -
Premier League Referees Are Giving Record-Breaking 2.25 Red Cards Every Game Week
-
Hollywood Effect: Wrexham’s social media popularity surpasses top-tier clubs
