Best Football Betting Sites - Top Bookmakers For Footy Bets & Accas
- Written by Simone Bettarini
Football is one of the biggest sports in athletic culture and media that is streamed across our screens consecutively each year without fail! It is watched by millions and is one of the sports that really have a community for itself, especially when betting is concerned.
There are so many UK bookmakers that punters need to choose between; we understand completely how it may be difficult to make your choice. For that purpose alone, we have ranked our best football betting sites that we believe deserve your attention and time. It is important to know that all the betting sites for football will be selected based on a criterion that we have set, to single out the football betting site that is safe, trustworthy, but most importantly, fun to bet on and gamble with!
We have done all the work for you, all the research, and all the tests, so you need never try online gambling with any risks to yourself. Continue reading to find out more information.
Top 20 New Football Bookies
Below are our recommended sites that will provide you a football betting experience like no other! These football bookmakers give you full access to all the football leagues that occur across the UK, Europe, and internationally too. From La Liga to the Bundesliga for example - these football sites have you sorted.
Bet £10
Get £30 in Free Bets
Bet £10
Get £30 in Free Bets
Stake £5 & Get a £5 Free Bet
Free £10 Sportsbook Bet
Up to £30 Back as Free Bets + 20 Free Spins
Bet £50
Get £25 in Free Bets + 10 Free Spins
Bet £25
Get £40 in Bonuses
50% Back as a Free Bet
up to £60 + 60 Free Spins
Bet £10
Get £20 in Free Bets
Bet £10
Get £50 in Bonuses
50% Back As A Free Bet Up To £25
Bet £10
Get £30 Free Bet
Bet £20 &
Get a £40 Free Bet
Bet £15
Get £10 Free Bet
How We Choose The Best Football Betting Sites
Our team of experts will put all the work into determining whether new bookmakers online and general football UK gambling sites are worth the punter's time (you). All of the betting sites listed are licensed and completely safe for you to entertain yourself in the best possible way.
Of course, football is very competitive within the industry, so you will come to understand that there are many new additions that either made the cut or did not within our tables, due to our team of experts being very strict in their selections. If one thing did not match up to our criteria, it is pretty much out and not an option.
Our criteria and choices are based on the following features listed below:
The reputation of the online bookmakers
All online bookies must have a good reputation. For that reason, we make sure to look at the gambling community reviews that are available on the internet. Existing player experience is a very easy indicator to understand whether an online football betting platform weighs up as it should.
Your safety is very important to us and for that reason we make sure that the sites also have a license to operate in the sportsbook market, along with the appropriate online casino additional services the site may provide. Usually for the UK, the licensing and regulation organisations that should be involved for safe gambling include the UK Gambling Commission. So, if the correct bodies of player safety are not involved, it will be out of consideration completely.
Site navigation and user experience
Of course, site features included and how that affects overall experience for football punters is imperative too. Many new UK betting sites are the sites that particularly showcase new features and technological additions to try and attract football fans from other sites that may perhaps have been in the market for longer.
However, a top betting football site will make sure to have in-play betting, Acca Insurance, Enhanced Odds and cash out features. If an online betting site does not feature these basic necessities, it means the site is not as updated and great for user experience as it would first initially seem. We take all these features into consideration.
Also, one more thing we look out for, is if the football betting sites also cater to all leagues and tournaments that you would want to support as a football fan. Popular favourites such as European football's prestigious UEFA Champions League and Europa League amongst other popular sport variations will be needed by any sports betting site to make the cut for us. However, being that it is football platforms you are after in particular, having a range of football leagues is what we scrutinise very closely.
The bonuses and promotions
Welcome bonuses for new punters that enter a football betting sportsbook has now become a huge attractive feature and reason for joining any new betting site. For that reason, we really do evaluate how exclusive these deals are and how much they will affect your experience overall. Of course, the best offers out there are ones that are unique and cannot be found anywhere else. This is how we distinguish the great sites from the average and acceptable. The best betting sites for football will make sure to provide you with great bonuses to ehance your online experience. It's as simple as that.
Football Betting Industry Experts In Our Team
Our team is made up of a variety of sports experts that know everything there is to know when football is concerned, amongst other sportsbooks. We also know a lot about casino sites and how important the entire experience is in making memorable gambling memories. Having a team that is spread across the field of the sports betting market, amongst iGaming and casinos, allows us to have the foundations needed to test the best online that is available to you.
Our football betting sites are regularly tested and updated for all the latest additions to the reviews that are published on our site. We take the time to address the pro gamblers, the new gamblers and all gamblers in between. The reviews are carefully worded so everyone with little to no experience can still enjoy a round of football betting.
Our experience within the industry is renowned, as we really do know exactly what new punters are looking for on their journey to find their next new online bookmaker. Our transparency means we are completely honest with our rankings and make sure to highlight the things that are not particularly good about the certain sites that we have suggested- so definitely take note of it all. We are committed to giving you the most true and honest insights that the betting industry provides you because we understand everything you go through when searching for the next best site out there on the market.
What Do the Best Football Betting Sites Offer?
The best football betting sites offer you different qualities, as after all they are sportsbooks, so they will cater for a different online experience from site to site. That is a given. One thing to expect is that there will be different bets that vary across all the sites available on the market, which will allow you to have a different form of entertainment, depending on what your style of betting actually is. No matter what betting opportunities that a football betting site will offer you, having exceptional customer service is a must that cannot ever be compromised. This is something that is right up there for us when we make an informative selection amongst the many options out there.
However, to be more specific, we do want you to understand the betting features that do equate to the best available out there on the market for football betting sites.
Mobile compatibility
Of course, today's betting community much prefers to have the option of gambling from their mobile device, why? Because it is flexible and easily incorporated within everyday life. If a football betting site is available through desktops and PCs only, it will be somewhat limiting. Punters will of course prefer the mobile compatible football betting options, as they can literally take it anywhere they like.
Live betting
Live streaming is another popular feature because it will allow you to bet and watch real-time football matches that occur in that very moment. This makes basing your bets so much easier and it will be a well-informed one at that, will all the resources you need be accessible within one browser and platform.
Payment methods
Of course, every punter will have their own preferences when it comes to the banking methods they use to fund their gambling. The best football betting sites are the ones that provide many alternative banking options, in addition to speedy and fast payouts that do not exceed the usual time estimates of 48 hours for E-wallets, and 2-5 days for bank transfers. Speed is always the most desirable factor for punters, as when you make a winning, you want to pocket it as soon as possible.
Football betting markets
The sportsbook needs to make sure that there is market availability when it comes to betting i.e. 'both teams to score' bets, 'anytime goal scorer', win, draw and lose bets.
In-play sports bets
In-play sports bets are the most exciting for a great betting experience. It's because you are essentially able to place a bet through live stream and as soon as the football kicks off on the pitch. It will be up to you and your football skills to understand the features in a match that deserve a bet to commence. It could be who will receive a yellow card, a red card, or someone that may have an injury and so on, for the true football fans out there!
Competitive odds
The competitive odds are ones that are fixed prior to a football match. Most sportsbooks will try and be as fair and as lenient as possible, without giving too much away as for the win, due to profit reasons. Nevertheless, there are some bookmakers in our list that provide punters with a great shot of making the best buck for your bank balance.
Football promotions
Promotions at football betting sites make sure that your experience can go a long way, especially when you are joining an online community and site that you have never ventured to before. You could find a great number of free bets, alongside some enhanced odds that will give you more for what you are wagering. These types of promotions are specifically for new players and will expire after a certain period of time from triggering them upon your registration. It is still a great opportunity to snap up though when you join any new online bookmakers!
Best Sites For Football Betting Odds & Prices
The new gambling sites offered in our lists above will provide you the best and latest odds that are out there in the gambling industry today. Paddy Power and Bet365 are perfect examples of how punters will be able to access the latest live matches being played, alongside the odds that you can wager against. The live betting industry is something that allows in the moment play football betting offers to be made, by you the punter. This technology is new and exciting, and if anything, can be really enjoyed if you set your mind to it.
Other competitors in the football betting market include BetVictor, who present specific team odds and coupons that can be applied across different football leagues. A personal favourite of theirs is the Champions League, which appeals to punters and fans all over the world; not just the UK.
The prices and odds will always be similar, from one site to the next, so punters will need to make sure that they pay attention to differences and take their picks from the features that are up for grabs from one site to another!
Top In-Play Betting Services
In-play betting is a service that has only been introduced to the betting realm within the past couple of years. It's super popular and really rose to attention and fame very quickly. It resonates with players that like to watch live sports and bet at the same time. There is a different form of entertainment that is presented to punters, who bet and watch football simultaneously. You will find that there is a whole new level of commitment and you get to see the fate of your bets unfold right in front of your eyes - which is intense to say the least.
The great thing about these kinds of in-play bets is the fact you can change your preferences as you go along. You may have noticed how a player is showing signs of great flair and possession, with multiple attempts at scoring goals. So that gives you the confidence to bet on that particular player's chance of scoring a goal. The odds will continuously change in real time, so you should make sure to pay attention to how the bookmaker thinks that the games will progress.
Best Footie Sites For Live Streaming
The best kind of football sites that provide live streaming also work harmoniously with in-play betting too. You will have the opportunity to witness your bets unfold before your very eyes. In addition to this, you only need to play with the same minimum bets as you would need to play any other types of bets that the bookmakers offer - meaning the service is a plus to you and your gambling experience.
To be able to operate live means the betting sites need to have a number of sports licensing agreements to be enabled to do so, so not every site has access to this feature. It usually is the bigger sites within the industry that offer this service, such as Betfred, Bet365, Paddy Power and Unibet for example.
Betfair was one of the first providers in the industry to provide such a premium service to punters interested in making football bets, in particular to the UK's Premier League. Most sites that still have a great reputation, are essentially in the process of attaining their licenses. So, it will just be a matter of time before you see more and more sportsbooks hitting the live stream sports event betting market.
Another plus factor to consider when you are using the live stream function is the live commentary feature. Punters will be able to listen to the live sports updates without having to watch the match in real time. In the car, on the train to work, in the queues at a supermarket, the live streaming option has your back.
Cash-Out Feature For Football Betting
The cash-out option that is available in all prestigious betting platforms and is one of the many options that online betting sites provide to punters. The cash-out feature has now become one of the most highly prominent features within any sports betting platform - not just on football. This essentially allows you to get your money back on any bets you make, before there has been a finalisation on any bets that you have made i.e. a result has been declared. Of course, if a team you bet on was winning, you will be able to receive a portion of the expected winning bet you would have received when the game has been played in full. This could be a fail-safe to any punter that is happy with the results and does not want to risk anything greater to happen than what they ultimately predicted in the first place.
You will always need to sacrifice some of your profit if you happen to decide to cash-out before full time has passed, so although you will find peace of mind, a sacrifice from your part will need to be made.
Currently in the market today, the best betting companies out there to offer the best cash-out services, is none other than Bet365. This feature allows you to set limits from the moment you place your bets. So essentially the system will immediately cash-out for you without you having to manually put in for it, when the football matches commence live. This is perfect for any punters that cannot commit to watching the full football match in real time, due to commitments of work etc. occurring at the same time.
Big Matchday Promotions & Bonus Offers
As we mentioned briefly above, promotions that are available within any betting site for football, will have incentives that can make any punter yield - that's for sure. Throughout the year, sports betting houses like to alter the varieties of promotions based around the season of sports and the gaming calendar that is about to start.
The most usual types of bonuses and promo code offers that you can discover, involve the usual enhanced odds and price boosts. Usually the top sportsbook bonus will give you larger prices than any other in the market, leading up to the football game. Ladbrokes is the usual suspect to promote these great offers to entice the football community out there.
In addition to this, there will be large odds that are often advertised very close to the big matches, to target potential players that are new to the field of gambling. Betting stats released for the US Super Bowl for example, showed how effective their promotional campaigns are in pushing the last influx of gamblers prior to any big game. It successfully grabs and immerses players into sport events betting - even when the new customers never expected to be.
The offers change up very often, and it is our job to keep on top of everything that there is to access in the market, for you and your football passion. Making sure to read the terms and conditions is something we will advise to anyone who is looking to find the best promotions in the sports market today. Betting houses can often sneak in terms that can be game changers to the way you use your promotions and ultimately withdraw any winnings too.
Customer Service
Finding an attentive customer service is not just a desirable feature - it is a necessity. Punters need to rest assured, especially when they are new customers to the scene and betting is not something they have great experience in.
The best kind of customer service on new gambling sites is the kind that is ready to offer you support for any given situation that you find yourself in. Be it a live chat support function, where they walk you through your issues and problems, to a live hotline that will address your concerns there and then. Having a support system when you join any football betting facility is essential.
The new form of contact that has emerged today within the gambling community is the use of social media support. Many bookmakers today will have access to a social media platform that players can easily extend a hand to for an answer to their enquiries. In fact, now more than ever, this has become a hugely popular choice for many punters today, as who doesn't have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram these days?
Keeping all this in mind, we always make sure to take an in depth understanding of each betting platform and the support they provide punters. If the sites do not have the usual and recommended forms of contact, we do not include them within our UK betting sites list.
The Different Football Bets Available
In case you were not aware of the kind of football bets that are actually available to you, we thought we would provide a snapshot. Find below, the most popular kind of football bets that are available for you to wager on when you opt for any particular site from our list.
Over/Under Total Goals
This type of bet will have you bet from the number of goal possibilities that the bookmaker has made prior to the game. Examples of odds for this kind of bet could be something like 8/13 for there to be over 2.5 goals in the entire game. There will be different odds for under 2.5 goals. It will be up to you to wager for over or under.
Match Outcome
The match outcome is of course betting on who will win, lose, or if it is a draw overall. This bet is often the most common, and you will not need to specify by how much a team will win by - just what their outcome will be in the end.
Half Time and Full time
This bet is just like outcome betting. You will be able to place bets on what will happen exactly at full-time and half-time periods. It is a pretty straight forward betting option that bookies tend to have as an option.
Popular Football Tournaments For Betting On
There will be no doubt about it, the football tournaments we are about to list below are ones you will be very much aware of as a football fanatic. Nevertheless, here are some of the most popular football events to bet on:
Premier League
The top flight of English football, and arguably the most popular league in the world. Over 4 billion people tune in to watch the matches worldwide, so it is not a sport that is just kept and enjoyed by the Brits.
Italian Serie A
The Serie A is another league of football from Italy that is appreciated by the world. It is considered one of the top five best leagues internationally; also laying home to some of the best players in the world, with the likes of Christiano Ronaldo at Juventus and Romelu Lukaku at Inter Milan.
La Liga
Who's not heard of La Liga? With the two sworn enemies Real Madrid and Barcelona. This is arguably everyone's second favourite league in the world for football, as Spanish football is very physical, making it opportune for betting markets.
German Bundesliga
The Bundesliga is an example of strategic football. Great teams like Bayern Munich have made football in Germany an amazing spectacle for people all around the world.
French Ligue 1
The French have a top division called 'Le Championnat' by the locals. However, around the world it is more commonly known as the French Ligue 1. There is no doubt about it, that current champions, Paris Saint Germain are the highlights of this league.
We Only Recommend Licensed Football Betting Sites
This is an obvious must for us - a priority. A bookie needs to operate under the correct licensing to be considered legally able to trade its gambling services to you. For that reason, if you come across a site that we have not suggested or recommended, we would suggest that you be cautious and not give it your immediate trust. We take a long time in selecting football betting sites for your entertainment, so it will be very unlikely that we have missed out any candidates that allow you to bet on all types of sporting events.
New bookmakers will continuously be updated into our football betting sites list, so it would be better to just keep checking with us to make sure you are completely safe.
Football Betting FAQs
What is the best football betting site?
There are so many betting sites that are available for you to try out for yourself. Having to select just one will be difficult, as every punter will have their own preferences and gambling goals that they will base their choices around. Everything that we have to offer within our site is some of the best available within the industry, meaning you already have hit the jackpot in whichever sports bettors you end up going with.
How do you place a bet on football?
When you place a bet on football, initially from afar, it can be very intimidating, however that is not true at all. All the betting sites located on our list have different odds and wagers that you can select from. To place a bet on any given one, you will need to make sure you are registered with some credit in your account to bet with. Then from the odds selection, it will be up to you to make the decision on which kind of bets you want to go for via the selection of categories. By clicking 'Place a Bet' you will be confirming your choice and wager. It is pretty much as simple as that.
How do bookies work out football betting odds?
Factors such as current team and player form, previous matches throughout history and general statistics are used by bookies to calculate the odds prior to a match.
Is betting on football online legal?
Of course it is. It's completely legal, as long as there is a licensing that provides the regulation and order for player and business safety. Betting has gone on for centuries as it is something that can be easily picked up and enjoyed by anyone. The legal age is the one thing that matters in the UK to participate. You have to be 18 years and above.
What is a football accumulator?
An accumulator football bet is one that allows a bet to be made from four or greater options. All factors will account for one bet, meaning you have more to count on and odds will be significantly higher and harder to achieve.
Can I use a free bet on an accumulator?
Yes, just as long as the terms and conditions state so. While many of the bookie options we have within our lists do cater for this, you will not be able to withdraw the stake you used, just the winnings. So, keep that in mind when you gamble with your free bet on anything at all.
What is the best football odds checker?
The best odds checker is us - Bet & Skill. Our lists will allow you to frequently check the top sites within this industry and ultimately base your odds selections based on the best promotions currently shown. The great thing about our platform is all the new UK betting site options are constantly updated, so you can use our site as the universal access to the best hotspots in the gambling market right now.
What are the best live football betting tips?
When you try in-play for yourself, make sure to keep on top of the game and its momentum. Watch the strategy of the games and keep an eye on the best performing players, possession overall and any foul play during the game (for red/yellow card indicators).
Should I use the cash-out function on football betting?
This feature is perfect to use if you have a betting strategy. If, however, you are unsure how things could develop - you may be a beginner, it may take some time to get used to. You need to make a good judgment during the game to make that decision to cash-out. Therefore, it comes with practice.
What is Acca Insurance when betting on footie?
Many brands offer punters an insurance for when they bet on football. The Acca Insurance allows you to refund your stake partially, but will only be accepted if you meet the specification and requirements of the selections needed to qualify.