15 Best Football Betting Sites of 2024
Are you on the lookout for the top football betting sites you can find on the internet? Read on for our list with a thorough examination of the best offers every punter needs.
New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+
New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply.
New Players Only. Free bet – one-time stake of £30, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from receipt. Limited to 1 sport & 5 casino brand/s within the network.. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms Apply. 18+ | BeGambleAware | #Ad
New Players Only. Free bet – one-time stake of £10, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from receipt. Limited to 1 sport & 5 casino brand/s within the network. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms Apply
New Players Only. Free bet – one-time stake of £30, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from receipt. Limited to 1 sport & 5 casino brand/s within the network. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms Apply.
18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: £10, max £10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. Neteller,Skrill and Paypal not eligible. T&Cs apply
For New Customers. 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. View Significant and Full Terms and Conditions
18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply.
New customers only. Make a first deposit of £10 or more. Within 14 days of your registration as a Member, place a “Qualifying Bet”, which is a bet of £10 or more in one go on Virgin Bet sportsbook that is placed at minimum odds of 1/2 (decimal price 1.5). T&Cs Apply.
Min deposit £10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days and expires after 14 days • Bonus can be used on selected games only & winnings are capped at £500, excluding jackpot wins • Bonus winnings can only be withdrawn after wagering requirements have been met • Full T&Cs apply.
New online customers only, min £10 stake, win only, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 X£15, 30 day expiry, free bet/payment method/player/country restrictions apply.
Affiliate Disclosure
We believe that every online player deserves a safe and secure sports betting environment, and that is exactly what we aim to provide here at Bettingmate.uk. We create unbiased and honest reviews of UK’s best betting sites so that you can easily find the top names in the industry. With no external interference, our ratings and reviews are made independently by our team of expert reviewers and gamblers. Additionally, all of the operators on our site are licenced and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission so they can be trusted that they offer a fair and safe platform. We accept compensation from the operators that advertise on our pages which may affect their positioning. Also, we regularly update this list in order to bring you the newest and best betting sites, however, we cannot review every operator on the market.
Here’s how we did it:
1. Opened accounts with football betting sites in the UK
2. Claimed any welcome bonuses we were eligible for
3. Checked the range of their football markets
4. Looked for in-play, livestream, and cash out options
5. Checked whether we could pitch our own bet to the platform
6. Compared odds
7. Rated the websites accordingly.
Finding the Best Way to Bet on Football
Since we take football betting very seriously, we’re committed to finding only the best offers in the market for punters who know what they want. This means picking out the providers with the best odds, the biggest number of markets, most league variety, and bonus options that can take your betting experience to a whole new level.
One thing to keep in mind: there is no single correct way to bet on anything. After all, implying there’s a magic formula would suck out the fun of it. There are, however, some basic rules that can be applied to many situations to maximise your chances of winning without going for the lowest odds—otherwise, what’s the point?
There is one thing every punter should remember that not every football betting guide will tell you: never bet more than you’re willing to lose. Even the most seemingly obvious choices can go awry, and Manchester City may well lose to Watford at home. What may seem like an amazing turnaround for a casual football fan can seem like the end of the world for someone who was holding out for that bet. Here are a few other tips to remember.
Pick your own football betting strategies.
This may seem to defeat the point of our article here, but it is the best way to be sure you’re making the best of it. This will include setting your budget, knowing how much you’re willing to risk, and what sort of return you’re expecting. If you know all the ins and outs of your own club, betting on corners and cards will get you great odds instead of just going for the usual win or lose. But if you have a great general overview of European football, you can always bet on the Belgrade city derby if things aren’t going great at home.
Know your way around football bet types.
You may already know what full-time result, total goals, first/last goalscorer, and even scorecast bets are. But you should also be aware that there’s a distinct difference between European and Asian handicaps which can mean the difference between losing a bet and getting your money back in the event of a draw. In other words, don’t forget to do your homework.
Don’t trust UK football betting tips if you can’t follow their logic.
Or any tips, really—it may be tempting to believe that someone has insider information that can offer you an edge, but all too often it turns out to be a scam, especially if they want you to pay for the tips. Tips based on predictions from public events are a completely different matter, but this means you could come to those conclusions yourself. The same holds true for football betting prediction sites—some are legitimately analysing all available data, turning betting into a science, while others are peddling misinformation and half-baked rumours to naive people.
Choose your platform wisely.
There are platforms that offer great bonuses but average odds, and then there are those without any bonuses, but the best markets you can find. Figuring out what you’re looking for and what you can do without should point you in the right direction, but don’t forget due diligence. Reading a few football betting reviews for the platforms you’re interested in can offer you insight into things you wouldn’t even think to check yourself.
American football, Gaelic football, Aussie rules, soccer… know the difference!
Not everything with “football” in its name is the game where 22 men “chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win,” as Gary Lineker once famously put it. Although in Europe, most football-related searches will point you towards soccer, this is not the case on some other continents. This means that, while college football betting might catch your eye, you may be surprised to learn that it has nothing to do with soccer.
Play responsibly.
Stay aware of the harm that irresponsible gambling may cause. Take advantage of all the Responsible Gambling features your bookie might offer, and check in with yourself often. No amount of winning is worth the harm gambling addiction can lead to.
Reviews of Football Betting Sites
10bet
8 / 10- Very user-friendly website
- Edit My Bet feature
- Multiview feature
10bet has 17 years of experience in offering one of the best online sports betting platforms, and they keep adding new sports with incredible frequency. When it comes to football, you’re likely to find everything you’re looking for and more at competitive odds. Unfortunately, live streaming is one thing missing from this platform, and the absence is sorely felt.
The 10bet sign up offer is pretty decent: your initial deposit and bet will be matched 100% for a bonus of up to £50 when you use the PLAY10 bonus code. For existing customers, 10bet always has some sort of promotion going on, like an acca boost of up to 50% depending on the type, or an event-specific bonus where you can get a free bet for more than a certain number of goals at a competition final, for example.
But without live streaming, many of those options lose their flavour, as any 10bet sports betting review has to concede. Although football has a decent number of markets for both pre-match and live betting, the latter is made harder without the option to partake in the excitement through the platform directly. But for those who don’t consider this a dealbreaker, the league and market variety at 10bet can more than make up for it.
New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+
Betfred
9.4 / 10- Decades of experience
- High winning limits
- #PickYourPunt builder
Betfred is another big name that has to be included when talking about the best football betting sites in the UK. Although their offer far surpasses football, the world’s most popular sport is very well represented. Aside from online and mobile betting, you’re also able to visit one of more than 1,300 betting shops throughout the UK and place your bets there.
They also have a decent bonus for newcomers: place your first bet of a minimum £10 and get £30 in free bets within 10 hours of placing the bet. However, the Betfred sign up offer is the only one offering free bets as of the time of writing. Other promotions include Double Delight & Hat-trick Heaven (if your player scores the first goal of the match then goes on to score either a brace or a hattrick, your first goalscorer price is doubled or tripled, respectively), and acca insurance.
The already huge number of football markets is further increased by the Pick Your Punt feature, which lets you mix and match all the strangest odds – or request a price if you can’t find what you’re looking for. All Betfred football betting options can be found in their mobile app as well!
New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply.
Betiton
8 / 10- Good loyalty program
- Great odds boosts
- Huge number of football markets
Betiton is a very new bookmaker, founded in 2020, but it is already prepared to offer the best bookmakers a run for their money. In spite of their youth, this should come as no surprise, as their founder is the ex managing director of Karamba Arnoud Serour.
When it comes to taking care of their customers, they don’t disappoint: the Betiton welcome bonus requires you to bet at least £15 for your first bet to receive a bonus of £10. They also have a loyalty program where you get reward points for wagering, which you can later redeem for cash and reach new levels with extra perks. The top two levels are by invitation only, adding a special layer of exclusivity. Other than odds boosts on select markets, Betiton does not offer much in terms of bonuses, presumably due to the bookie’s age.
Betiton football betting is an especially well-established market. Along with the usual pre-game and in-play betting options, they also have a Fast Market feature, which lets you bet on events you expect to happen within the next minute to five minutes, like corner kicks, throw-ins, goal kicks, and others—plus, Fast Market bets are settled instantly so you can keep going without worry. The only downside is the lack of livestream, since that would definitely complete this fast betting experience.
18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: £10, max £10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. Neteller,Skrill and Paypal not eligible. T&Cs apply
Bet365
10 / 10- Great bonuses and promotions
- Wide number of payment options accepted
- Among the best football bookmakers
Since it’s one of the leading bookies in the UK, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Bet365 football betting is one of the best options in the market. The combination of an incredible number of football-related options, both pre-match and in-play, and high-quality live streaming take the whole betting experience to a whole new level of excellence. It is therefore almost a given that for many newcomers, this is a great one-stop shop for all things football.
For the punter who needs an extra nudge, the bonuses and promotions section offers exactly that. The Bet365 sign up offer matches your initial deposit up to £100 (minimum £5), meaning beginners will get a decent amount of extra funds to play with while they’re getting used to the way the platform works.
The number of football leagues and competitions covered is incredible: from your usual top leagues, like the Premier League, Serie A, or the Australian A-League, right down to the Mongolian Premier League, most enthusiasts are guaranteed to find something that catches their eye. The Bet Builder lets you make your own bet that Bet365 assigns the odds to, Bore Draw guarantees you your stake back — either as Bet365 bet credits or withdrawable balance — if the match ends in 0-0, and if your team is two goals ahead at any point, you get paid out a winner. All of this means punters often come out on top at Bet365.
For New Customers. 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. View Significant and Full Terms and Conditions
Ladbrokes
9 / 10- #GetAPrice feature on any match
- Both betting exchange and fixed odds betting available
- Huge number of leagues and competitions
Ladbrokes has been in existence, in one way or another, since 1886, so it shouldn’t surprise that they’re one of the UK’s most popular bookmakers—after all, they’ve had more than enough time to secure that spot. Their online service started back in 1999. They offer the usual fixed odds betting, but also an exchange that eliminates the bookie and sets people against each other, as long as they agree on the odds.
The Ladbrokes welcome bonus is decent enough: when you sign up and stake £5 on sports, you get £20 in free bets to be used within the following seven days. This is a great way to check out their offers and place some bets without worrying about money, just to get a feel for the way they do things. Additionally, you can get a daily odds boost for any sport. Although most of their promos are geared towards horse racing, football fans can still pick out some nice bonuses for themselves.
As far as their football betting market goes, Ladbrokes offers a great variety to choose from. Aside from the relatively usual fixed odds betting, which includes all the great options like requesting a price on any match, you can also get on the exchange, which opens up a whole new world of possibilities. While the sportsbook odds are nothing special, Ladbrokes does not have much of a say in terms of exchange odds, which means you may find some real gems there if you want to dig.
18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply.
Virgin Bet
9.4 / 10- Daily price boosts
- Great football coverage
- Decent deposit and withdrawal limits
The Virgin Bet platform is one of the most trusted bookmakers in the UK thanks to its association with the Virgin conglomerate—although it doesn’t actually belong to them. Since its launch in 2019, it has established a name for itself among the best online football betting sites, and with good reason. They offer competitive odds, especially important since they’re a newcomer to the space, and in-depth coverage of all major football events. You will also find detailed statistics of each team’s performances in the past five games, which can significantly help you when you’re making betting decisions.
Punters new to this platform also have a lot to look forward to: the Virgin Bet sign up offer gives you £20 for your £10 deposit in the form of two £10 free bets. However, aside from this, you’re not likely to find very many offers here. When it comes to football, there’s only a regular price boost on select daily events where your maximum bet is £20.
But when it comes to betting, this bookie offers a great selection of bets at competitive odds, as well as a cash out option if your bet seems to be going pear-shaped. If a popular match catches your eye, watch out for a price boost on some aspect of it — no Virgin Bet bonus code needed. The in-play betting section also offers great options with constantly updating bets, so you can follow the action and react in real time.
New customers only. Make a first deposit of £10 or more. Within 14 days of your registration as a Member, place a “Qualifying Bet”, which is a bet of £10 or more in one go on Virgin Bet sportsbook that is placed at minimum odds of 1/2 (decimal price 1.5). T&Cs Apply.
888sport
9 / 10- Incredible wagering limits
- Constant promotions
- UK- and Ireland-centric
888 sports betting is actually the only thing offered on the platform—since the parent company of 888sports already has separate websites for their casino and games. This makes for a cleaner experience for many fans who prefer to separate the two. When it comes to football, 888sport call themselves “football fanatics” and add that they offer great live betting with a wide variety of markets.
When it comes to bonuses and promotions, they offer it all. The 888sport new customer offer means that placing your first bet of £10 or more will get you £30 in free bets. Winning a bet with odds 4/1 or higher will get you a £5 free bet once per day. Every big game will have price boosts and match multiples with great odds, and acca insurance means you can get a refund if you lose on only one leg. The only thing you should keep in mind is that your 888sport free bet expires after a while, so be sure to use it before it happens.
One of the key selling points of 888sport is their speed in paying out their customers. Your wins will be deposited quickly to your account, and it takes only a couple of days until your withdrawal is fully processed. However, if you request a withdrawal in a currency different from the one you deposited in, they will charge you a conversion fee.
Min deposit £10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days and expires after 14 days • Bonus can be used on selected games only & winnings are capped at £500, excluding jackpot wins • Bonus winnings can only be withdrawn after wagering requirements have been met • Full T&Cs apply.
William Hill
9.6 / 10- Local payment methods available depending on location
- Great range of sports with offers and bonuses
- Free bets expire relatively slowly
If you’re looking for a well-respected bookie with a tightly run ship, William Hill football betting has everything a punter needs. In existence since 1934, they offer a great selection of sports, although football always remains one of the most prominent options on their website. With great 24/7 customer support and an incredible mobile app, you can take your betting on the go without worrying about running into unsolvable problems.
Their promotions and offers are also among their biggest strengths. The William Hill sign up offer gives you £30 in free bets once you place your first bet of at least £10, but don’t forget to use the code P30. Other perks include bet boosts for accas, flash odds on weekly select events, and double the price for select #YourOdds events, i.e. those you tweeted to the bookie and got a price for. There are more offers that are temporary and depend on the current events, so check back often for those.
Major football leagues also have profitable odds, which is why fans consider William Hill a great place for live football betting. For those who like to be kept fully in the loop, there is the WHTV feature, which lets you watch the best matches in real time with the option for in-play betting. Plus, their physical stores let you either top up your online account or withdraw your funds there.
New online customers only, min £10 stake, win only, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 X£15, 30 day expiry, free bet/payment method/player/country restrictions apply.
FAQ
When it comes to football betting, most bookies that offer early payout offers do so as long as the team you bet on leads by two goals at any point during the match. This means that, regardless of whether they win or lose, your slip is considered a winner and you can get paid out immediately. Among the latest football betting sites to offer this feature are Bet365 and Paddy Power.
There is a saying that the house always wins. Bookies hold to this first and foremost when calculating odds, meaning they first set their own margin (the profit they’re taking either way, which is usually a certain relatively low percentage). They calculate the odds of something happening either way, then they subtract that margin (also called a vig, vigorish, or juice) and post the odds.
The majority of odds are calculated through past events and professional opinions, and many new football betting sites use specialised software for this. The odds also move in response to betting—if one outcome is the more popular one and more people bet on it, the bookie will increase their margin there and decrease the margin on the less popular option, to encourage people to move towards the other option. But if the higher margin odds remain more popular, the bookie still gets their profit.
Another popular way to get people to bet on less popular options is through football free bets, as many of them are restricted in a way that they can only be used on higher odds.
When building an accumulator bet, or acca, you place several bets together for bigger profits than had you placed them separately from each other. This also means that a single lost leg brings your whole slip down like a house of cards. Many platforms offering football betting online are aware of this possibility, so they offer acca insurance: if only one leg on your acca loses, you get your stake back, which is still better than losing it completely.
There are usually some restrictions in place, like not being able to use this feature as much as you want, but only once per day or even week. Additionally, not every bookie offers this: if this sort of safety net is important to you, check which football betting sites offer this when you’re choosing where to open your account.