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In what is the hugely popular and continuously growing world of online betting, in the UK, one sport dominates. Football reigns supreme and it is of course the biggest competitions that draw the biggest betting crowds. Naturally, both the Champions League and Premier League are massively popular with punters, though that’s not to say that other divisions are forgotten about, far from it. For example, the Championship – England’s second tier of professional football – isn’t far behind the biggest competitions in terms of online betting popularity, so we bring you the top ten Championship betting sites.
Having a punt on the Championship is something that most football punters in the UK are accustomed to. Given the popularity of the league, lots of bookmakers cover it. Choosing one can be a tough task, especially for the newcomer. Below you can see our top ten.
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.
These Open Account Offer Terms and Conditions apply to new customers who open an account from 12:00 UK Time on 2nd March 2023.
How the offer works:
Sign up, make a qualifying deposit and then claim the offer. If you deposit between £5 and £10 you will receive three times that value in Free Bets, upon settlement of qualifying bets. For example, if you make a qualifying deposit of £5, you will be able to release £15 in Free Bets or if you make a qualifying deposit of £10 or more, you will be able to release £30 in Free Bets. To release your Free Bets, place a qualifying bet(s) to the value of your qualifying deposit and allow the bet(s) to settle. Bets must be placed from your deposited funds to count towards the release of Free Bets. Once your qualifying bet(s) has settled, you can use your Free Bets by selecting 'Use Bet Credits' in the bet slip. Once you have met the qualifying conditions, you can use your Bet Credits to stake bets without risking your own cash. Bet Credits can be used on any sport across a wide range of markets. Any returns from bets placed with Bet Credits are added to your Withdrawable Balance, returns exclude your Bet Credits stake. You can also fund a bet with a combination of Bet Credits and cash.
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.
Open a new account using promo code YSKWDX Deposit a minimum of £10 using cards Place a Sportsbook bet on Football. For the purposes of this promotion, your first ever settled bet will be counted as the qualifying bet. Qualifying requirements must be completed within 90 days of account opening. If your qualifying bet is settled as a loser we will refund you stake in CASH Maximum refund is £20.
The offer's open to new customers, aged 18 or over, in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland using promo code VAL225. Deposit using a Debit Card or ApplePay. Place a qualifying bet of maximum £20, within 7 days of account opening. Your bet must settle in this period too. If your bet loses, we will refund your stake in cash, up to a maximum of £20. Refund will be processed within 72 hours after your bet has settled.
Receive £20 worth of free bets (4x £5 tokens) when you sign up and stake £5+ on sports markets at Ladbrokes. Free bets are valid for 7 days, with stakes not being returned, while deposits made using prepaid cards, Moneybookers, Paypal, Paysafe, Neteller or Skrill will not qualify.
To claim this Sports Promotion, you must register a NEW account, making a deposit of £/€5 or more and the first bet on your account must be a Qualifying Bet/s. If you don’t follow these steps the free bets will not be applied to your account. 7. The Qualifying bet/s will be made of a real money sports bet of at least £/€5 win or cumulative stakes of up to £/€5 , at fractional odds totalling 1/2 or greater. For a single line accumulator bet, each individual selection of the bet must at fractional odds of 1/2 or greater to be deemed a Qualifying Bet. Please note that only the win parts of win/each-way bets will qualify.
18+. Play Safe. 3x £10 free bets. Free bets expire after 30 days. New customers signing up through mobile or tablet device only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Further terms apply. #ad
Sign up using H30 in the Promo Code section. Once registered, place a £10/€10 bet (at odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater). Once the qualifying bet has settled, to access your free bet add a new selection to your bet slip. The free bets will be available in the Rewards section. Free bets will be paid as 2 x £15/€15 denominations once the first qualifying bet has been settled; free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed. This Promotion is not available to new accounts depositing funds with Paypal, Neosurf, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill, ecoPayz, Kalibra/Postpay, William Hill PLUS Card;
Min deposit £10 with promo code: GET40 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 using Bet Builder • Min odds 2/1 (3.0) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement, expire after 3 days and valid for football markets only • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Withdrawal restrictions, payment methods, country & full T&C’s apply.
You can earn £40 in Free Bets by placing a qualifying bet. You must enter the following promotional code when making your first deposit: GET40. A qualifying bet is your first ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 at odds of 2/1 (3.0) or greater placed using Bet Builder. Bets placed using a Free Bet, Cashed Out, Voided and Permutation bets. Members making their first deposits with PayPal, Muchbetter, Paysafecard, Neteller or Skrill. Free Bets will be credited upon qualifying bet settlement; occasionally, this may take up to 72 hours after bet settlement but no longer. Once credited, Free Bets expire after 3 days. Free Bets will be credited as four separate £10 tokens.
Free Bets can only be used on football markets.
New bettors get 50% of deposit up to £50; Once per household; Min deposit £15 (no Skrill/Neteller); Wager a total of 5 times deposit + bonus, with max qualifying bet stake equal to your initial bonus amount; Bonus expires after 60 days; Min odds of 4/5 on singles, or 2/5 per leg for acca; Some bet types excluded; See full terms
This offer is available until stated otherwise. If we decide to withdraw this promotion, this will not impact any Qualifying Bets you have placed during the promotional period before such withdrawal.
If you have already made a real-money deposit into your 10bet Account you will not be eligible for this promotion.
The minimum qualifying deposit for this promotion is €15.
Deposits via Skrill, Euteller or Neteller shall not be a qualifying deposit.
To qualify for the bonus, you must register your 10bet account exclusively and directly from the affiliate site(s) carrying a promotion of the offer.
To be eligible for this promotion, players must input BET50 in the "Bonus Code" field when making a qualifying deposit into their Sports Cash Account.
The bonus amount of 50% of your qualifying deposit, up to €50, shall then be credited to your Sports Bonus Account immediately after the qualifying deposit has been made.
Your qualifying deposit and bonus must be wagered five (5) times on: (1) settled single sports bets with odds of at least 1.80; or (2) settled combo bets with odds of at least 1.40 per selection before you can withdraw your bonus and any winnings resulting from it.
Upon satisfying the wagering requirements, the bonus and any winnings resulting from it shall be transferred from your Sports Bonus Account to your Sports Cash Account.
The following type of bets shall not count towards the wagering requirement: Starting price bets (SP), any type of handicap, Draw No Bet, system bets, Forecast/Tricast, Over/Under bets, Void/Cancelled/Draw bets, Cashed-Out bets or bets placed with a Free Bet.
Qualifying bets up to the value of your bonus will contribute towards meeting the wagering requirement. The value of any stake placed which exceeds this amount (including multiple bets placed on the same selection) will not contribute towards the wagering requirement. For example, if you receive a €50 bonus and place a bet for €75 on a single sports bet at odds of 1.80, only the first €50 of that bet will go towards meeting the wagering requirement.
Sports cash funds are always used to place wagers/bets before bonus funds
In case of multiple bets placed on the same market and event by a Customer, only the first settled qualifying bet on this market and event will count for the wagering requirement.
The wagering requirements must be met within 30 days of your first deposit, otherwise the bonus shall expire and any funds in your Sports Bonus Account will be forfeited.
Withdrawals requested before the bonus wagering requirements have been met shall result in cancellation of the promotion and any funds in your Sports Bonus Account shall be forfeited.
All customer offers are limited to one per person, family, household address, email address, telephone number, same payment account number (e.g. debit or credit card, Skrill and etc.), shared electronic device (e.g. school, public library, workplace, mobile phone) and shared IP.
Where we have reason to believe that you have placed a wager or series of wagers (either yourself or in conjunction with other customers) which results in a guaranteed profit from the bonus (irrespective of the outcome), we may reclaim the bonus, void the wager(s) and reclaim any winnings that resulted from such wager(s).
This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with, or to contribute to the eligibility for, any other promotion.
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Bet £10 Get a £20 Free Bet
11/02/23
Bet £10 Get a £20 Free Bet
Combined odds of just 3/1 required to qualify for acca insurance offers
New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Payment method restrictions. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply
Players must be 18 or over to participate. Place a bet of £10 or more at odds of EVS (2.0) or greater and receive a £20 Sportsbook Free Bet. Minimum stake of £10 and minimum odds of EVS (2.0) or greater required to qualify. All acquired free bets gained through other promotions will be removed from this offer.
For multiple bets the combined odds must be EVS (2.0) or greater. Qualifying bets which are Cashed Out will be excluded from the promotion. Free bet stakes will not qualify for this offer. Free bets will not qualify for any other special offers such as Cash Back Specials, BPG & Extra Places, etc.
Qualifying bet must be placed within 30 days of account opening. Offer applies to UK mobile customers only (Excluding Northern Ireland). One Free Bet offer per customer, household and IP address only. Customers depositing with Skrill/Moneybookers, Neteller, PayPal or prepaid cards will not qualify for this offer.
Free bet will be applied as 1 x £20 free bet. The free bet will be applied within 1 hour of the 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. Free bets cannot be transferred. Free bets will expire within 7 days. Free bet stakes will not be included in any free bet returns. Standard BoyleSports Terms & Conditions apply.
Get £20 when you bet £5
23/03/21
Get £20 when you bet £5
Generous promotions for new and existing customers
Place a bet of £5 within 14 days of signing up at Coral and claim £20 worth of free bets (4x £5 tokens). Minimum odds of 1/2, free bets are valid for 7 days, with stakes not being returned. PayPal and some other payment methods are excluded.
Sign up today and place a £5 on any sport and Coral will give you an instant £20 in free bets. Open a new online, mobile or telephone account with Coral. Deposit and bet £5 on any sport. Coral will give you an instant four x £5 free bets. Your account will be topped up automatically as soon as you place your bet. All Coral ask is that you choose a sport market at odds of 1/2 (1.5) or bigger.
Money Back As a Bonus Up To £40, if your 1st bet loses + £10 Casino Bonus
11/11/21
Money Back As a Bonus Up To £40, if your 1st bet loses + £10 Casino Bonus
18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first 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. No deposit required for NI customers. Call 08081699314 to claim. Full T&Cs apply.
Place a sports bet of minimum £1 with odds 2/5 (1.40) or greater. Each leg of a multiple bet must be over 2/5 (1.40) for the bet to qualify. Bets placed on horse racing, greyhound racing, trotting and/or virtual sports will not qualify for the money back as bonus offer. If your first sports bet wins, you have completed the bonus, you will receive your winnings and your stake. If your first sports bet loses, you will receive your stake back up to a maximum of £40 in bonus money. If you received £40 bonus money you need to bet £120 to complete the bonus conditions.
How we rank Championship betting sites
Safety – In our minds, safe betting is paramount. As a result, we only recommend Championship betting sites that are tried and tested. They must have a track record of using the latest encryption technology to protect customers, while they must be known to act fairly when it comes to both deposits and withdrawals.
Markets – Championship betting sites need to offer punters a wide range of betting markets, or at least they need to if they’re to be recommended by us. Make no mistake about it, each site on our top ten ticks this box.
Promotions – Bonuses are essential in today’s ever-changing world of online betting. Quite simply, a Championship betting site that offers great bonuses and promotions is likely to do better than one that doesn’t. As a result, only sites that perform well in this area feature in our top ten.
Odds – Offering plenty of markets is one thing but offering consistently good odds is something else altogether. Not only do sites need to fit the bill in terms of markets, but they must offer good Championship betting odds.
Features – Given the competitive nature of the industry, innovative features are how sites can distance themselves from the crowd. Championship betting sites with useful features such as cash-out, stats, great content and live streaming will rank highly.
Usability – Safety aside, usability is arguably as important as anything else when it comes to ranking Championship betting sites. A site can offer everything under the sun in terms of odds, markets, bonuses, but if it is a site that is difficult to use then punters will be turned off. Only sites that are easy-to-navigate and designed with the user in mind feature in this list.
Popular Championship betting markets
Win/Draw/Win
‘Win/Draw/Win’ is one of the oldest and one of the most common football betting markets. As one would expect, this market allows punters to bet on either a home win, an away victory, or a draw.
Both Teams to Score
Unlike the above, ‘Both Teams to Score’ betting doesn’t involve the result. This market allows punters to bet on whether both teams will find the net during the match. If ‘BTTS – YES’ is chosen, both teams need to score at least once for the bet to be paid out as a winner. If ‘BTTS – NO’ is taken, then at least one of the teams must fail to score.
Under/Over
Popular with Championship bettors, ‘Over/Under’, is all about goals. It’s a case of opting for either more, or less than a certain number of goals, the most popular being over or under 2.5. If going for over, then three or more goals must be scored. Similarly, under requires less than three goals.
League Winner
Punters can also bet on which team will win the league. In general, most bets in this area are placed either before the season starts or during the early weeks, though players can still select the league winner right up until the last game of the season.
Double Chance
This is where bettors can bet on two of three outcomes. For example, both a home win and a draw. In other words, if Nottingham Forest are playing Reading and you choose to take ‘Reading/Draw Double Chance’, you’d be paid out as a winner in the event of a draw or a Reading win. A Forest win would result in a loss.
Draw No Bet
‘Draw No Bet’ also allows bettors to cover two parts of a three-way market, though not quite to the same extent. Essentially, ‘Draw No Bet’ means to bet on a team to win with the insurance of a refund in the event of a draw.
First Scorer
A player-focused market, ‘First Scorer’ is where punters select a player to score the first goal of the match. Only goals scored in 90 minutes (plus injury time) count.
Anytime Scorer
Another player-focused market, ‘Anytime Scorer’ allows punters to bet on a player to score at any time during the match. In knockout/cup matches, only regular time (+injury time) counts. Goals scored in extra-time do not count.
Automatic Promotion
In the Championship, teams are fighting for promotion to the Premier League. This market allows punters to bet on a team to win automatic promotion by finishing in one of the first two places.
To make the play-offs
There are three promotion places available, two go up automatically for finishing 1st and 2nd, while the third promotion place is decided by the winner of the play-offs. Teams finishing 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th battle it out to pave a way out of the division. Usually done at the start of the campaign, punters can bet on a team to make the play-offs.
To be Relegated
In the Championship, three teams go down at the end of each season. ‘To be Relegated’ allows punters to bet on a team to finish in the bottom three. It’s often a bet that is placed early on in the season, though the market remains available until the final day.
How to succeed at Championship betting
In general, Championship football betting is a bit of a fun. For instance, an accumulator on a Saturday afternoon can make checking the scores more exciting, while a few bets when watching a televised game with friends is another way to add extra enjoyment. On the other hand, there are people out there who take Championship betting far more seriously. If aiming to make a long-term profit from betting on England’s second division is your goal, then there are a few things to consider first.
Information. Using information is vital. There’s no shortage of information that is relevant to the Championship punter, so harness this info, factor it into betting decisions. Whether it be underlying numbers, market info, team news, or stats and trends, there’s plenty to get stuck into. Amongst a sea of opinions, there are also some experts, many of whom provide Championship betting tips. Such people can be learnt from.
Team news. Team news is crucial when it comes to Championship betting. When weighing up Championship betting odds, team news must be considered. For example, you notice the Championship betting odds ahead of a big match and, based on what you know already, feel that one price is too big. However, you’ve failed to see that the team with an attractive-looking price-tag is missing two key players, which has already been factored into the odds. Keeping abreast of team news will mean that you may even know that a hugely influential player is set to miss a match that is still five days away. Such news hasn’t yet been factored into the price, which may allow you to strike early and obtain value for money. Either way, team news is something to pay close attention to.
Keep a record. Serious punters keep a record of their bets. Not only does this let them stay on top of the profit and loss, but it helps to provide an insight into what is going well and what isn’t. When recording Premier League bets, note down bet types to get a fuller picture.
Specialise. You can’t focus on everything, so specialise. Even when focused on just one competition, for example the Championship, there are too many markets for us to bet widely. Pick an area, such as ‘Over/Under’ or ‘Asian Handicap’ and focus on finding value bets in that area. If you want to go even more niche, then you could, for example, specialise is betting on under-valued home teams, or betting on home underdogs on the handicap markets.
Performance patterns. As the season wears on, there is more and more data to get stuck into. Make a note of how teams tend to perform under certain conditions. Do they set up differently away from home against top six teams, are they likely to thrive playing against opposition that adopts a certain playing style. Noticing performance patterns can really help the punter to make better informed betting decisions.
Team objectives/motivation. In every league we see a variety of ambitions, but perhaps even more so in the Championship. There are lots of moving pieces. Some teams are looking for a top-two spot, some seek the play-offs, some want merely to remain in the division. It’s always important to be aware of objectives a team may have. For example, late in the season you may notice that a top team has an attractive price away against a side sitting just above relegation, but you’d failed to notice that the visitors had already secured their place in the play-offs, and can no longer reach the top two. As a result, they’re likely to be resting key players and winning is no longer a must for them. In contrast, it’s a case of all or nothing for the hosts.
Value. The principle of value should be at the forefront of the serious punter’s mind. Value is a much spoken about term, and with good reason. If you’re going to be successful betting on the Championship, then you must be able to identify value and exploit said value. Value can’t really be covered in a few lines, but to cut a long story short, value exists when the odds of a selection are greater than the true probability, or rather the perceived true probability, as in football probabilities can vary depending on who does the calculating. There are lots of information about value out there, using such resources and learning how to spot and use value to your advantage is critical.
Work hard. Three teams are promoted from the Championship each year. These three replace the three teams relegated from the Premier League. 1st and 2nd go up automatically, while the final promotion spot is reserved for the winner of the play-offs, which are contested by the teams that finish 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th.
# 1 UK Bookie for the Championship
Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365
02/03/22
Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.
These Open Account Offer Terms and Conditions apply to new customers who open an account from 12:00 UK Time on 2nd March 2023.
How the offer works:
Sign up, make a qualifying deposit and then claim the offer. If you deposit between £5 and £10 you will receive three times that value in Free Bets, upon settlement of qualifying bets. For example, if you make a qualifying deposit of £5, you will be able to release £15 in Free Bets or if you make a qualifying deposit of £10 or more, you will be able to release £30 in Free Bets. To release your Free Bets, place a qualifying bet(s) to the value of your qualifying deposit and allow the bet(s) to settle. Bets must be placed from your deposited funds to count towards the release of Free Bets. Once your qualifying bet(s) has settled, you can use your Free Bets by selecting 'Use Bet Credits' in the bet slip. Once you have met the qualifying conditions, you can use your Bet Credits to stake bets without risking your own cash. Bet Credits can be used on any sport across a wide range of markets. Any returns from bets placed with Bet Credits are added to your Withdrawable Balance, returns exclude your Bet Credits stake. You can also fund a bet with a combination of Bet Credits and cash.
Previous Championship Winners
Season
Winner
Runner-up
Play-off winner
2021-22
Fulham
Bournemouth
Nottingham Forest (4th)
2020-21
Norwich City
Watford
Brentford (3rd)
2019-20
Leeds United
West Bromwich Albion
Fulham (4th)
2018-19
Norwich City
Sheffield United
Aston Villa (5th)
2017-18
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Cardiff City
Fulham (3rd)
2016-17
Newcastle United
Brighton & Hove Albion
Huddersfield Town (5th)
2015-16
Burnley
Middlesbrough
Hull City (4th)
2014-15
Bournemouth
Watford
Norwich City (3rd)
2013-14
Leicester City
Burnley
Queens Park Rangers (4th)
2012-13
Cardiff City
Hull City
Crystal Palace (5th)
2011-12
Reading
Southampton
West Ham United (3rd)
2010-11
Queens Park Rangers
Norwich City
Swansea City (3rd)
2009-10
Newcastle United
West Bromwich Albion
Swansea City (6th)
2008-09
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Birmingham City
Burnley (5th)
2007-08
West Bromwich Albion
Stoke City
Hull City (3rd)
2006-07
Sunderland
Birmingham City
Derby County (3rd)
2005-06
Reading
Sheffield United
Watford (3rd)
2004-05
Sunderland
Wigan Athletic
West Ham United (6th)
Bottom line on Championship betting sites
With the Championship being a league that is hugely popular among UK bettors, most firms cover the competition extensively. However, not every site is the same. In fact, there are plenty of sites that don’t cut the mustard when it comes to Championship betting. We believe that the ten sites listed in this article are the best Championship betting sites, in terms of safety and overall quality.
FAQ
When does the Championship take place?
The Championship season usually starts one or two weeks before the Premier League, so in early August. There’s often more than one list of fixtures per week, with games often on Saturday’s and Tuesday’s. Unlike many European leagues, which take a winter break during December, the Championship runs all the way through Christmas and into the new year.
Can I place a Championship accumulator?
Accumulator betting is a big thing in the Championship. With lots of matches taking place each week, mainly at the same time as each other, lots of punters get stuck into Championship accumulators. For those who don’t really know what accumulator betting is, here’s an example. An accumulator bet involves grouping together several single bets. If you bet on three teams to win at odds of 11/10, 7/5 and 13/8. Now, a winning £10 bet on either of those three teams as a single would return £21, £24 or £26.25. Three separate £10 winning bets would yield a combined return of £71.25, leaving a profit of £41.25. In contrast, a winning £10 bet on the three teams in an accumulator would return £122.30. Each leg of the accumulator is multiplied as follows: £10 x 11/10 x 7/5 x 13/8 = £122.30
How do I receive my free bet?
To receive a free bet, you must meet the requirements set out by the bookmaker offering the free bet. Be sure to check the free bet criteria and terms and conditions before depositing/betting to obtain a free bet.
Can I bet on the league winner after the season has started?
It is possible to bet on the league winner at pretty much any point between the start of the season and just before the final ball is kicked. Many punters prefer to bet on the winner earlier rather than later, as the more teams left in the title race, the larger the odds.
How many teams are promoted from the Championship?
Three teams are promoted from the Championship each year. These three replace the three teams relegated from the Premier League. 1st and 2nd go up automatically, while the final promotion spot is reserved for the winner of the play-offs, which are contested by the teams that finish 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th.
Bradley Gibbs
Pro punter
Freelance sports betting writer, focusing primarily on football in the form of match previews and betting strategy. Over the last few years, Bradley has written for numerous publications, including popular UK newspaper Racing & Football Outlook.