Like those in most countries across Europe, the people of Ukraine are notoriously sports-mad. As well as watching the likes of football, eSports, and more, Ukrainians are also famed for their enjoyment of betting. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about Ukranian betting sites. We’ll list all your top options, explain the markets and offers available to you, give you some top betting tips, and plenty more besides.
Top 10 International Betting Sites for Ukraine Bettors
- All
Get Up To €100 In Free Bets
Get Up To €100 In Free Bets
- Top betting exchange for Ukrainian users
- Huge range of sportsbook markets
- Outstanding mobile features
100% Deposit Bonus, Up To €50
100% Deposit Bonus, Up To €50
- Outstanding worldwide reputation
- Leading sports betting odds
- Virtual sports betting options
100% Match, Up to 3,000 UAH
100% Match, Up to 3,000 UAH
- Rising international sportsbook
- Ukranian language and currency supported
- Excellent live betting tools
Deposit $10 Get $30 in Free Bets
Deposit $10 Get $30 in Free Bets
- Choice of welcome bonuses
- Big range of sports betting options
- Massive selection of Casino games
Bet $10, Get $30 In Free Bets
Bet $10, Get $30 In Free Bets
- Highly respected international brand
- Specials bets on football
- Good selection of payment methods
Up to €30 Refund on Losing Accas
Up to €30 Refund on Losing Accas
- Famous Eastern European brand
- Ukranian language site and UAH deposits available
- 0% margin markets available
100% Match, Up To €100
100% Match, Up To €100
- Acca Bonus offer available
- 'One-Click' registration process
- UAH accepted
Reduced Margin Pricing Model
Reduced Margin Pricing Model
- Wide variety of payment methods
- Exceptionally high limits
- Accepts arbitrage betting
How We Rank the Best Online Betting Sites in Ukraine
Ukranians actually have a whole lot of options when it comes to choosing a sportsbook. Sorting through them all can be time-consuming, of course, which is why we’ve done the hard work for you. The table above lists your 10 top options, and – below – you can check out the most important criteria upon which this ranking was based.
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Betting Markets
The more markets a bookie has to offer its users, the better. We like to see not only the very biggest sports represented – like football and basketball – but a nice selection of less-heralded markets too. It’s also crucial that a sportsbook offers a good variety of bet types for these sports, and that their odds are at an acceptable level. Betwinner and PariMatch are just two sites which have essentially every major base covered.
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Usability
We believe a sports betting platform should be easy to use from the first time you access it, which definitely applies to 888sport and MELBet. That rule goes for both the desktop and mobile versions. Sections should be intuitively arranged, text and numbers must be easily-readable, and a good search function should be in place too. Loading speeds are also important, as is general stability across the platform.
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Special Offers
Ideally, we want to see both welcome offers and ongoing promotions in place. The former should give you a big one-time bonus to kick-start your account, while the latter must reward your continuing loyalty. In both cases, we want explanations for every offer to be crystal-clear, including for the T&Cs. This is one area in which 1xBet excel.
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Safety
Every bettor must feel confident that their hard-earned money is being protected. The sportsbook can help enormously in this respect, by ensuring various security measures are in place. These should include SSL encryption, modern firewalls, and a separation of customer and company funds. We also like to see 2FA as an option, to help users protect their own accounts. Unibet and Pinnacle both qualify as extremely safe options.
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Reputation
In addition to our own testing, we also research the wider reputation for each brand, including both critical and user reviews. By doing so, we hope to become aware of any issues which we didn’t catch during our own experiences with the platform. With their extensive track records, it’s no surprise to see that MarathonBet and Betfair score highly in this regard.
Key Features of the Best Sports Betting Sites in Ukraine
In general, the more special features a sportsbook has, the better. That’s as true for Ukranian betting sites as for those anywhere else in the world.
That being said, we’d definitely divide these features into two main categories. The first include those which are fun to have, but not crucial. The latter are actually essential, either because they appeal to so many punters, enhance your betting experience, or otherwise help to make you money.
Three main areas stand out here: in-play betting, live streaming, and eSports betting. The ability to place in-play wagers gives you countless extra betting opportunities compared to regular pre-match markets. Live streaming helps to both inform your in-play picks, and simply makes gambling more fun. eSports – as one of the fastest-growing betting markets – is also a must-have nowadays.
Below, you can check out how our top 10 best betting sites shape up in every area, and see the minimum deposit you’ll need to make in each case too.
Sportsbook | In-Play Betting | Live Streaming | eSports Betting | Minimum Deposit |
Betfair | €5 | |||
1xBet | €1 | |||
Unibet | €10 | |||
MELBet | €1 | |||
888sport | €10 | |||
MarathonBet | €5 | |||
PariMatch | €10 | |||
BetWinner | €1 | |||
Pinnacle | €10 |
Top Betting Sites in Ukraine 2023 By Category
To an extent, all of our 10 recommended Ukranian betting sites qualifies as an all-rounder. Each possesses a user-friendly interface, high quality customer service, and hundreds of fresh betting markets every day.
It’s still true, however, that each bookie has its own particular strong points. If you’re looking for a sportsbook which excels in a certain area, therefore – whether it be special offers, payment methods, or mobile features – here is your top option in each case.
Category | Sportsbook | Category | Sportsbook |
Best Overall Betting Site in Ukraine | Betfair | Best Special Offers | Unibet |
Best New Sportsbook in Ukraine | BetWinner | Top Special Features | 1xBet |
Top for In-Play | MELBet | Best Range of Payment Methods | 1xBet |
Best Mobile Features | 888sport | Best Betting Odds | Unibet |
Strongest Security | Betfair | Top Option for eSports Betting | 1xBet |
International Betting Sites that Accept Ukrainian Players
As noted in our ‘Online Gambling Law in Ukraine’ section below, any sports betting companies wishing to acquire a gambling license must pay over $1 million up front, and every five years thereafter. This has proved a major barrier for any new, domestic sportsbooks looking to launch. As such, you’re almost entirely limited to international betting sites within Ukraine.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as international sites tend to have a few major advantages over their domestic counterparts. They typically offer superior special features for example, such as live streaming, and higher quality mobile apps. They’ll also provide more choice when it comes to betting markets, customer support options, payment methods, and more. Our three top international betting sites – listed below – excel in each of these areas.
In fact, the only real downside is that they’re obviously not catered specifically towards Ukranian players. While there are several notable exceptions, this means that – in general – you won’t find a Ukranian-language version of the site. You’ll also need to use internationally-accepted payment methods – like Visa and Mastercard – and usually make deposits in USD or EUR, rather than UAH.
Top international sites
Get Up To €100 In Free Bets
Get Up To €100 In Free Bets
- Top betting exchange for Ukrainian users
- Huge range of sportsbook markets
- Outstanding mobile features
Welcome Bonuses Available in Ukraine
As a Ukranian bettor, you have a whole lot of sportsbooks who’ll happily accept you, and the vast majority of these have welcome offers in place. These deals give you far bigger rewards than ongoing promotions, but – naturally – can only be used soon after you sign up for the brand.
In Ukraine specifically, you have two main types of welcome offer available to you. Let’s investigate each in turn.
Deposit Match
This is comfortably the most common welcome offer you’ll find on Ukranian sportsbooks. As the name suggests, your first deposit with the brand will effectively be matched. Usually, this will be a full 100% match, meaning that your spending power is basically doubled immediately. Deposit 700 UAH, for example, and you’ll be given an extra 700 UAH. This will come as a bonus (a free bet), rather than as cash.
There’s a sizable catch here, which is the inevitable ‘rollover requirement’. We’ve explained exactly what that means in the next section. For now though, just know that – while Deposit Matches deliver impressively big returns – they also require a considerable investment by you.
These are the top 3 Deposit Match offers available right now:
- 1xBet – 100% Bonus, Up To 3,000 UAH
- BetWinner – 100% Match, Up To €100
*Min deposit €5. Must opt-in within 30 days of making first deposit. Must place bets equal to deposit amount to unlock bonus, min odds 1/5. Receive free bet after completing rollover. Free bets expire after 90 days.
Bet and Get
These deals – also called ‘Bet X, Get Y’ – aren’t as common as Deposit Matches in Ukraine. They’re definitely worth triggering wherever you can find them, though. That’s because they’re an excellent way to get free bets, which – in turn – can be used to either save on your cash balance, or as part of a no-risk matched betting strategy.
To trigger Bet and Get offers, you must place a qualifying wager. Do so successfully, and you’ll be rewarded with free bets, regardless of whether your first wager wins or not.
Bet and Get offers should provide rewards at least equal to your qualifying bet (e.g. Bet $10, Get $30). In the best cases though, this ratio can go up to 3:1 (e.g. Bet $10, Get $30).
Here are your best options for Bet and Get deals at the time of writing:
- 888sport – Bet $10, Get $30 In Free Bets
- Betfair – Get Up To €100 In Free Bets
Key Sportsbook Bonus Terms Explained
All special offers from Ukranian sportsbooks will come with a range of terms and conditions. Reading through these might sound boring, but it’s crucial you do so anyway, to be sure you trigger each deal successfully. Let’s take a closer look at the three main stages into which these T&Cs can be sorted.
Sign Up Phase
In some cases, you must abide by certain rules from the very moment you sign up with a new bookie. This might include using a bonus code during the registration phase. Alternatively, you may need to enter that code when you make your first deposit, and – at that point – you must usually avoid using certain payment methods too. Visa and Mastercard are generally safe options, for example, but eWallets are typically ineligible.
Triggering the Offer
Deposit Matches are usually triggered automatically. For a Bet and Get offer, however, this is the most important part. It is imperative that you follow all the T&Cs closely for your qualifying wager, or you won’t be given any free bets at all.
There will be two main requirements for this bet: minimum odds, and minimum stake. In certain cases, particular betting markets (like virtual sports) or bet types (like exotic multiples) may be ineligible.
Using Your Bonus
This phase differs drastically between Deposit Matches and Bet and Get offers.
In the first case, this is the most important part of all. That’s because of the aforementioned ‘rollover requirement’, which must be completed before you can actually withdraw any winnings from your bonus. In short, this rollover involves betting your deposit and/or bonus a certain number of times (while also meeting minimum odds). If you deposit 400 UAH, for example, and there’s a ‘3x Deposit + Bonus Rollover’, you must bet through at least 2,400 UAH.
This part is a lot easier with Bet and Get promotions, as free bets can essentially be used like real money stakes. The only real considerations are the expiry date, and any minimum odds that come attached.
How to Choose the Best Betting Site in Ukraine
The quickest way to get started with your sports betting in Ukraine is simply to go with our 10 recommended options. You’re perfectly welcome to conduct your own investigation instead, though. If you choose to take the latter route, these are some of the most important steps which you must be sure to take.
- Check whether Ukranian players are eligible to join the site
- Find out whether UAH deposits are accepted
- See if there is a Ukranian-language website available
- Check your preferred payment method is supported
- Ensure no unfair transaction fees are charged for payments
- Browse the list of markets, and ensure your favourite sports are available
- Test out the desktop platform, and assess how comfortable it feels to use
- Download and try the mobile app, and see how it performs on your device
- Ensure the most important features are included (such as in-play and cash out tools)
- Check that the prices being offered are competitive
- Find out what customer service options are available
- Research the site’s reputation, among both other users and experts
- Check that SSL encryption and other security measures are in place
- Confirm that the brand is fully licensed and regulated
Sports Markets Available to Ukrainian Bettors
Sports bettors in Ukraine nowadays have a whole lot of options available to them. You should find at least 20 different markets represented in the worst cases, and this can swell to over 30 on the very best betting sites. Let’s take a closer look at two of the biggest sports in Ukraine, then get a general overview of the other available markets.
Football Betting Sites
As in most of Europe, football is easily the most popular sport in Ukraine. We’re pleased to say, therefore, that the beautiful game enjoys universal coverage among Ukranian bookies.
Many of these sites will allow you to place both pre-game and in-play wagers on the Ukranian Premier League, plus both qualifying and finals matches for international tournaments like the Euros. The coverage goes far beyond that though, encompassing the top competitions from across Europe – including the Premier League, La Liga, and Serie A – and continental contests like the Champions League and Europa League.
In addition to pre-game and live bets, most bookies will also include outright markets. These let you make long-term calls on the likes of Overall Winner, To Be Relegated, and Top Goalscorer.
CSGO Betting Sites
As touched upon, eSports is definitely one of the fastest-growing sports betting markets right now. One of the premier titles is Counter Strike: Global Offensive, and this is certainly the case among Ukranian video game fans too.
Most modern sportsbooks will have an eSports section, and CSGO is one of the best-covered titles. All the biggest international tournaments are covered – including the Masters and BLAST World Finals – plus slightly-smaller contests like Dreamhack in Europe. As with football, you should be able to place pre-game, in-play, and outright wagers on all of these tournaments.
Other Markets
In addition to the two premium options listed above, you’ll find dozens of other sports available to bet on in Ukraine. Just a handful of the more popular ones include:
- Basketball
- Boxing
- MMA
- Athletics
- Ice Hockey
- Swimming
Backing these up, you’ll typically be able to wager on a full suite of North American leagues, including the NFL and MLB, plus the likes of golf, tennis, and motorsports.
Where to Find the Best Sports Betting Odds
Many bettors overlook the sheer quality of the betting odds being provided, instead simply accepting whatever their sportsbook gives them. This is a major mistake, which we’d advise you to avoid. After all, if you’re being given poor odds, there will always be a cap on your potential profits.
You can rest assured that all 10 of our recommended Ukranian sportsbooks provide fair and competitive prices. Arguably the best three of the bunch are shown below.
If you’re choosing to find your own bookie though, this is something you must verify for yourself. Fortunately, doing so is extremely easy. Find a few markets you’re interested in on a bookie which has caught your eye. Then, compare its prices for those markets to the ones offered by our recommended sites below. If the odds on the new sportsbook are roughly in line here, that’s fine. If they’re considerably lower though, discard that brand immediately and continue your search.
Top odds
- All
Reduced Margin Pricing Model
Reduced Margin Pricing Model
- Wide variety of payment methods
- Exceptionally high limits
- Accepts arbitrage betting
Up to €30 Refund on Losing Accas
Up to €30 Refund on Losing Accas
- Famous Eastern European brand
- Ukranian language site and UAH deposits available
- 0% margin markets available
100% Deposit Bonus, Up To €50
100% Deposit Bonus, Up To €50
- Outstanding worldwide reputation
- Leading sports betting odds
- Virtual sports betting options
Payment Methods Available on Ukranian Betting Sites
Compared to the ridiculous number of betting markets which are available, you won’t find quite as much choice among Ukranian bookies when it comes to payment methods. That said, you still have a decent amount of choice here.
Every site around will allow you to make payments using Visa and Mastercard. Bank transfer is also very common, although it’s usually enabled by a third-party service, like Trustly. While Apply Pay is unavailable in Ukraine, other eWallets – like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller – are widely-supported. These are the quickest payment methods of all to use, although they’re usually incompatible with a sportsbook’s welcome offer.
Because of a lack of domestic sportsbooks, it’s no surprise to find that popular Ukranian payment methods – like Qiwi and Yandex – are very rarely supported. That said, a pleasingly high number of sites will accept payments directly in Ukranian hryvnia, including 1xBet, MELBet, and MarathonBet.
Payment Method | Fees | Min Deposit | Min Withdrawal |
Debit/credit card | 0% | €5 (160 UAH) | €10 (320 UAH) |
Bank Transfer | 0% (banks may charge) | €10 | €10 |
Neteller | 1.9-4.95% | €10 | €10 |
Skrill | 0% (withdrawal fee may apply) | €5 | €5 |
Cryptocurrencies | 0% | 0.001 BTC (890 UAH) | 0.005 BTC |
Betting Apps and Mobile Sports Betting in Ukraine
Approximately 85% of Ukranians are now believed to own a smartphone, and – for a significant portion of these people – that phone is the only way in which they access the internet. For gamblers in the country, therefore, mobile features are incredibly important.
We’re pleased to say that most modern sportsbooks excel in this area. They provide mobile apps for both iOS and Android devices, which closely replicate the experience you get from the desktop site. Crucially, this includes porting over all the most important features, including in-play betting tools, live streaming, account management, customer support, and so on. Certain adjustments will usually have been made for a smaller screen size though, including adjusting the font of text and numbers, and rearranging the navigation.
If you don’t want to download an app for any reason, every bookie nowadays will also have a mobile version of its main website. This can be accessed directly via your phone’s browser, and – while performance may dip a little here – all the most important features will once again be included.
If on-the-go betting is a priority for you, we’d recommend checking out the three brands below, which are the best around in this area right now.
Best mobile features
- All
Get Up To €100 In Free Bets
Get Up To €100 In Free Bets
- Top betting exchange for Ukrainian users
- Huge range of sportsbook markets
- Outstanding mobile features
Bet $10, Get $30 In Free Bets
Bet $10, Get $30 In Free Bets
- Highly respected international brand
- Specials bets on football
- Good selection of payment methods
How to Open an Account at a Ukrainian Bookmaker
Getting started with a new bookmaker might sound daunting. In reality though, it’s incredibly easy, and should require only a few minutes of your time. Let’s run through the five main stages of opening an account, placing a bet, and making a withdrawal. We’ll use 888sport as our example bookie here.
Online Gambling Law in Ukraine
For most of Ukraine’s history, the government has held a fairly relaxed attitude towards gambling. This all changed in 2009, when Prime Minister Yuliia Tymoshenko passed a law which banned betting. For the next decade or so, the hobby existed in a grey area, in which – while technically it was illegal – actually catching or punishing people who were betting was rare.
Fortunately for punters, this measure was reversed in 2020, when bill 2285-D was passed by an overwhelming majority in the Ukranian parliament. Nowadays, it is completely legal to place sports bets in Ukraine, whether in-person or online.
That said, the government also imposed sizable fees on any companies looking to acquire a gambling license. Acquiring one costs 30.7 UAH (approximately $1.1 million), and the same amount must be paid to renew the license every five years. While this is no problem for industry giants like PariMatch, or Betfair, that’s a sizable sum for smaller companies, which may be the main reason why there are so few domestic Ukranian online betting sites in place.
Top 5 Betting Tips
As you surely already know, there’s no guarantee you’ll actually make money from your sports betting. By taking certain measures though, you can significantly improve your chances of doing so. Here are five important betting tips which you should definitely seek to follow.
Tip 1 – Open Multiple Accounts
There are three main benefits to doing this. The first is that it allows you to trigger a whole range of welcome offers, which deliver the biggest bonuses of all. The second is that you can also take advantage of far more ongoing promotions, pouncing on any new ones that one of your chosen bookies puts in place. Finally, this makes it much easier to shop around for the best odds on a particular market, and immediately take the highest ones being offered at that time.
Tip 2 – Mix Risk and Reward
Constantly sticking money on high-odds long-shots, with little chance of winning, is a quick way to blow up your account. That said, don’t only limit yourself to low-odds markets which provide minimal rewards. Instead, look to find a healthy mix of risk and reward. This can be done by finding a middle ground between stakes and potential returns, or regularly combining the riskier and safer picks mentioned above.
Tip 3 – Place Live Bets
In-play tools give you betting opportunities you simply can’t get pre-game, allowing you to capitalise on momentum swings – and your own analysis of the action – in real-time. Don’t be afraid to use the cash out tool when necessary though, to either bail on a bet that’s going bad, or lock in a little profit nice and early.
Tip 4 – Do Your Research
The better informed you are, the better your picks will be. There are a huge number of experts out there offering betting picks, and these can certainly be useful. Don’t blindly follow them, though. Instead, combine the statistical research they’ve done with your analysis and reading of a matchup to settle on your perfect picks.
Tip 5 – Bet Responsibly
Never forget that sports betting is supposed to be fun. The moment that genuinely stops being the case, you should step away and take a break. Be disciplined with your stakes too, only ever betting what you can realistically afford to lose. Modern bookies provide plenty of tools to help you out here, including self-exclusion in the former case, and deposit limits in the latter.
Ukraine Betting Sites – Final Thoughts
If you’re based in Ukraine, and have been interested in the idea of sports betting for a while, there has never been a better time to take the plunge. There are a whole range of international betting sites out there, who are ready and willing to accept Ukranian players. We’ve listed 10 of the very best at the top of this page, with our pick for the best all-rounder shown below.
If you prefer to find a sportsbook yourself though, we’ve also given you plenty of help in this article. Either way, we wish you an enjoyable, profitable, and safe betting experience.
Get Up To €100 In Free Bets
Get Up To €100 In Free Bets
- Top betting exchange for Ukrainian users
- Huge range of sportsbook markets
- Outstanding mobile features
FAQ
What are the best Ukranian betting sites?
We’ve listed your 10 best options right now at the top of this page. Unibet is our number one all-rounder, but 1xBet is an up-and-coming brand, and - if you want a site with Eastern European heritage - MarathonBet is an excellent choice.
Can I make payments directly in UAH?
On certain sites, yes. The likes of 1xBet, MELBet, MarathonBet, and BetWinner will all allow you to make deposits and withdrawals in Ukranian hryvnia. Elsewhere, on sites like Betfair and 888sport, you will need to use USD or EUR.
What bonuses are available?
Ukranian bettors can use two main types of welcome offer - ‘Deposit Match’, and ‘Bet and Get’. You’ll also find a wide range of ongoing promotions available, including Acca Boost, Acca Insurance, and Bet Boosts.
Is sports betting legal in Ukraine?
Absolutely. Since 2020, sports betting has been completely legal in Ukraine, both online and in-person.
What sports can I bet on?
There are dozens of markets available to you. Football enjoys the best coverage by far, but you can also wager on eSports, horse racing, basketball, golf, tennis, motorsports, boxing, and plenty more besides.