There are many football betting sites available to UK players these days, though not all football betting sites in the UK are created equally, that’s for sure. Some are better than others. We’ve run the rule over several football betting sites and are now here to talk about the best. In this article we’ll lay out the top football betting sites as we see them, explaining what makes each site a possibility for eager football bettors.

The table below shows the top 10 football betting sites that are currently open to players from the United Kingdom, showing also the best offer from each of these sites, plus sign-up bonus and best features.

The Best football betting sites – The top picks for the UK in 2024

T&C’s:

• Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.
• 18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022 Maximum bonus £30. Bonus expires 72 hours from issue. New customers only. Minimum stake £10 on selected games. Wagering requirements apply. Online only. Virtual markets excluded. Further terms apply. #ad
• New customers only. Register (excl. 13/04/24) with WELCOME50. First bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get Free Bets: £20 In-Play, £20 Acca & 50 x £0.20 (£10) Free Spins on Fishin’ Frenzy within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply.
• 18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excluded. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cashout, restrictions + T&Cs apply.
• 18+ New UK+IRE customers. PayPal and certain deposit and bet types excluded. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4 x £5 free bets valid for 4 days on sports, stake not returned, restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.
• 18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 (odds 2.00+) on any football market within 7 days of registration. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. Debit Card/Apple Pay payments only. Click for T&Cs. begambleaware.org
• 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.
• Free bet stakes are not returned. Free bet is non-withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions apply. Further T&Cs apply. 18+.
• Commit £20 via the promo hub on Sportsbook to qualify. Buy-in and Bonus must be wagered 10 times within 90 days. Min odds 1.6. Debit/credit card deposits only. Full T&Cs.

Qualities that define an industry-leading football betting site

It’s hugely important to us that readers have a full understanding of how we judge football betting sites. Therefore, we need to explain what we’re looking at. Below you will find a list of important factors that need to be considered when reviewing and ranking the best football betting sites.

Legitimacy

High on the list is legitimacy. We need to know if a football betting site is fully legit. Otherwise, we could be putting our readers at risk of getting scammed. Part of this process is to ensure that we only recommend tried and trusted sites that conform with gambling regulations and hold recognised and reputable gambling licenses. For example, top football betting sites all hold official licenses from either the United Kingdom Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority. We will only feature online football betting sites UK that hold proper licensing.

User Experience

Also high on the list of priorities when looking at and ranking the best football betting sites is user experience. It’s no good being an online football betting site that offers lots of markets, offers competitive odds and generally provides a sound betting product if the website is users don’t have an easy or enjoyable time using the site. Therefore, we’re looking to see if sites are well designed if they function properly and speedily without lagging. Does the layout make for a simple user experience? Is everything easy to find? To find out what sort of user experience a football betting site offers, we must test sites thoroughly, but we also look to gain an understanding of user experience from speaking to other users, as it’s always helpful to hear what others have to say about a site.

Promotions & Bonuses

Promotions are a big one. Naturally, the welcome bonus that a football betting site offers is hugely important. If a site offers a particularly appealing bonus, then they’re well on their way to ranking well, but we’re also considering other types of bonuses. We want to get a full picture of how a football betting site performs in terms of overall bonuses. Do they regularly update their bonuses? Do they offer great promotions aimed at existing customers as well as new players? Answering these types of questions helps us to gain a better understanding of what sort of football betting site we’re dealing with.

Market Choice/ Betting Options

Market choice is hugely important. A football betting site may have laid on a wonderful user experience, plus they may have a great bonus offer, but if they offer a lack of markets or don’t offer many options in terms of competitions and leagues, then that’s not great. We’re looking to see if there’s a wide variety on offer in terms of betting markets, bet types, leagues/competitions and matches.

Banking

Another important area is banking. Quite simply, the best football betting sites offer the best in terms of deposit and withdrawal options. Nowadays, with so many different people placing football bets online, it is important that sites cater to everyone by offering a diverse range of banking options. Of course, VISA and MasterCard will always be popular, but in this day and age, we need to see the level of variety that offers multiple payment options, such as Google Pay, Apple Pay, Neteller and Skrill.

Customer Support

Football betting sites can easily fall down if they offer poor customer support. This is where we want to see a range of customer support options available. For example, we’re asking questions such as does the site offer a live chat service? Is the live chat open 24/7? Is there an email service with a reasonable response time? Are there useful FAQs that can be easily found? Asking and answering these questions allows us to review and rank the top football betting sites more accurately.

Mobile

Mobile betting is big business now, especially when it comes to the UK football betting market. Users want to be able to gamble on mobile devices, which means that football betting sites need to have developed easy-to-use and reliable mobile websites. We look at the mobile sites and see how they perform. Moreover, the best football betting sites offer dedicated mobile betting apps. We’re looking to see what the app is like, where it’s available, whether it works smoothly, whether it offers the same as the desktop site and whether or not other users like it.

Uniqueness

Of course, in a highly advanced football gambling market such as the UK, with all the top brands competing against each other for a slice of the online football betting pie, most sites offer something similar when it comes to football betting, but we want to see if any sites do anything slightly different to their competitors. If they do, then this is something that we take into consideration when reviewing and ranking the best football betting sites UK.

bet365 – All-round football betting giant

Undoutbedly one of the most popular football betting sites in the United Kingdom, Bet365 is one of the first ports of call for football betting for the majority of UK bettors. You only need to spend a few minutes on the website to know that you’re in the hands of people who take football betting very seriously. For starters, the website is super slick and incredibly easy to use, while it is packed with football betting options. If you’re looking for a football league/competition, even a niche one, then you’re almost guaranteed to find it at bet365. The bet365 is also second to none. Again, it’s very well-designed, looks great and works like a dream. bet365 is licensed by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission.

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Special Offer & Promotions

The new customer offer at bet365 is quite appealing, there can be no denying that. New players can join, deposit and bet £10 and they will get £30 in bet credits to spend how they see fit. These bet credits can of course be used to place football bets. What’s good about the bet365 welcome offer is that it is not as restrictive as at some other sites, e.g. there are no stipulations as to what players must use the free bets for.

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Promotions for existing players

There are also some very good promotions for existing players at bet365, make no mistake about that. The ‘2 Goals Ahead’ payout is a particular standout as it guarantees that bettors will be paid out early if they bet on a team to win and that teams go 2-0 up. The ‘Soccer Substitute Guarantee’ is another very good existing player promo, which means that if you bet on a player pre-match and they’re substituted for whatever reason in the first half, say due to injury, you’ll get your stake refunded in bet credits.

bet365 football betting market review

Overall, bet365 is easily one of the best football betting sites and offers one of the best deals – and you can attain it with the Bet365 Bonus code 365MOLE. The amount of markets on offer is very good, while the guys at bet365 provide fantastic coverage in terms of leagues and competitions. bet365 also leads the way in terms of bet-builder bets, which have become more and more popular in recent years. See below how we rate bet365 in the following areas:

• Football betting market depth – to be honest, you won’t find better football betting market depth than you do at bet365. There are loads of markets for a huge variety of games, spanning competitions across the globe. You definitely won’t struggle for choice.
• Live betting options – Again in terms of live betting options, there are loads to choose from at bet365. The in-play range is one of the most extensive out there, with most of the pre-match games that are offered going in-play right after kick-off.
• Streaming services – bet365 offers very good streaming services, providing streams for more leagues than most other football betting sites, including Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga, LaLiga, Laliga 2, Serie A, Serie B and much, much more.
• Competitive odds? – The odds on offer aren’t always the very top of the market, but there are plenty of occasions when they are and overall, the odds offered by bet365 are certainly competitive.
• Betting limits – the betting limits are quite generous, so much so that 99% of bettors are unlikely to have a problem of this nature.
• Mobile betting experience – bet365’s mobile app is second to none. The design is flawless, while there’s all the same choice that is available to desktop users.
• Virtual betting experience – There’s a wide range of virtual betting available at bet365, including several different virtual football betting options.

William Hill – highly trusted football betting brand

Part of the old school as far as UK gambling goes, William Hill offer something of a complete football betting experience. The welcome offer is competitive, while the desktop site is packed full of football betting goodies, such as huge competition/match/market choices. The ‘Build #YourOdds’ feature allows players to create their own custom bets and this feature is available across a wide range of competitions and games.

There are some excellent promotions, especially for existing customers, while customers can also expect all the usual features such as live streaming and enhanced odds. There’s great banking variety too, while William Hill offers very good customer service. WH also holds a United Kingdom Gambling Commission license. One small criticism would be the fact that the website doesn’t look as modern and slick as some other sites, but it is still easy to use and runs smoothly.

Special Offer & Promotions

The welcome offer and promo code is decent, but what is even more appealing is the ‘EPIC Boost’ offer, which allows players to dramatically increase the odds of their #YourOdds bets that contain 3+ selections.

Promotions for existing players

Other interesting promotions for existing players include being able to get ‘Non-Runner, Money Back’ on the Grand National as early as March, while there’s also a daily boost for #YourOdds bets. Existing players can also tweet William Hill will quirky bet choices and get them priced up.

William Hill football betting market review

When it comes to football betting, William Hill ranks among the best football betting sites, for sure. The website may not be as immediately striking as say the bet365 site, but the substance is there. There’s a fantastic choice in terms of leagues, tournaments, matches and markets, while there are some great features which give players that little bit extra such as daily odds boosts. See below how we rate William Hill in the following areas:

• Football betting market depth – Finding a competition or match to bet on at William Hill will not be a problem. There is fantastic variety in this sense, though a couple of other sites do offer a little more in terms of niche/less popular competitions.
• Live betting options – The in-play section is comprehensive. Even on football fixtures that are far from high profile, there are lots of in-play markets to choose from.
• Streaming services – William Hill does offer live streaming, though it doesn’t cover as many games or competitions as some other sites, such as bet365.
• Competitive odds? – The odds at William Hill are competitive, while they also offer lots of odds boosts, which definitely helps.
• Betting limits – The betting limits are quite good. Bettors can get quite hefty stakes, while the winning limit is higher than a lot of other operators.
• Special features – There are some cool features at William Hill. WH Radio has always been a nice touch, while the enhanced odds are some of the best in the business. The ‘EPIC Boost’ are great too, allowing each customer to hugely increase the odds of their #YourOdds bets every week.
• Mobile betting experience – The mobile app provides bettors with the opportunity to easily bet anywhere on the move. In fact, in terms of user experience, the mobile app is very good, so much so that it probably comes out smelling slightly better than the desktop site does.
• Virtual betting experience – There’s a rather solid amount of choice in terms of virtual betting options, many of which have a football theme.

Betfred – big boys of football betting

Clearly one of the top 10 football betting sites is Betfred. Another of the old boys of the United Kingdom gambling scene, Betfred has flown into the modern football betting world by producing an excellent site, while also offering a great mobile app. Both the desktop site and the mobile app have been very well designed, both are easy to use, and both run smoothly and reliably. In terms of what they offer football betting-wise, customers can choose from a wide variety of competitions, markets and matches. Compared to some other sites, the range of markets for each game isn’t quite as extensive, but they still offer plenty in this respect, covering all of the primary markets, plus some niche ones.

Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, Betfred currently offers one of the best welcome offers, while they also have great tote betting and virtual betting options too. Last but certainly not least, the support channels are excellent, featuring live chat, email and phone options.

Special Offer & Promotions

Right now, Betfred has a welcome offer that is hard to beat, illustrating that they are one of the best football betting sites UK. New players at Betfred can register with the Betfred promo code, deposit, bet £10 and get £50 in free bets.

Promotions for existing players

Among the best existing customer offers is the ‘Acca Flex’, which allows football bettors to place a pre-match football accumulator with five legs or more and if it wins, Betfred will add a 50% cash bonus to the winnings. If the bet loses by just one leg, players will get a stake refund of up to £10 in cash.,

Betfred football betting market review

Football bettors really won’t be disappointed with the football betting product laid on by Betfred. The league and competition coverage is excellent, while there are plenty of markets to choose from. The odds are typically quite competitive too, with Betfred being the best-priced on several occasions. One of the standout features is the coupon tab, which lays out all of the prices for the day’s games according to a wide variety of markets, which are easy to change. See below what we have to say about Betfred in varying areas:

• Football betting market depth – The market depth is certainly acceptable, with plenty of markets for the big games. However, you can find a few more markets elsewhere, while for smaller games, there’s not a huge amount of variety.
• Live betting options – The in-play betting section is quite sizable and there are certainly plenty of games to bet on, though the in-play market options aren’t as good as at some of the other football betting sites in this list.
• Streaming services – This is perhaps a bit of a letdown as there aren’t too many football live-streaming options at Betfred.
• Competitive odds? – From an odds point of view, there isn’t too much to complain about. Betfred’s odds are certainly competitive, while they are even sometimes the best.
• Betting limits – Betfred’s betting limits fall within what is generally deemed to be the industry standard, while their winning limits are about average too.
• Special features – The fact that Betfred details the TV channel for every TV game is a very cool feature as it saves users from having to go elsewhere to find this information.
• Mobile betting experience – The mobile betting app is nicely designed, and everything is well-positioned and easy to find. Only more markets and better live streaming could improve what is a very tidy mobile betting app.
• Virtual betting experience – There are loads of virtual sports, including football. The virtual football matches are all streamed as and when they take place, with a new game starting every three minutes. The virtual football market choice is about average.

Ladbrokes – One of the football betting originals

If you’ve ever even the slightest amount of football betting in the UK, then chances are, you’ll know all about Ladbrokes. Another of the gambling old guard in the United Kingdom, Ladbrokes is a big name in the betting industry. Thousands of football punters use Ladbrokes every day. The website is nice and simple, and it’s certainly not difficult to use, though it’s not as stylish or elegant as some sites, while the same can be said for the mobile app. The welcome offer isn’t as pleasing either, though it does require only a £5 deposit, whereas some others require users to deposit £10, so that’s not too bad. The ‘Specials’ in the football section are usually quite good, while there are no security of safety concerns, as Ladbrokes is a highly trusted betting brand, one that is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. The news and blogs section at Ladbrokes is particularly good if you like to consume sports betting content.

Special Offer & Promotions

The welcome offer at Ladbrokes isn’t as high as it as at some other bookmakers, but then again, the deposit required to activate the bonus is nice and low at £5. Moreover, the way that the £20 in free bets is paid as four separate £5 free bets, all of which can be used freely with the Ladbrokes promo code which is a nice touch too.

Promotions for existing players

One of the best existing customer offers allows players to benefit earlier than usual from bets on football teams to win. If you bet on a team to win and they go two goals up, even if it’s jsut five minutes in, Ladbrokes will pay you out early as a winner as part of their ‘2UP’ offer.

Ladbrokes football betting market review

The football betting product at Ladbrokes is far from poor, so much so that we’re talking about one of the top football betting sites. The coverage in terms of leagues and matches is far-reaching, while the market choice is great too. To be honest, for most matches, there are loads of markets, including several more niche ones. Check below to see how Ladbrokes comes out in different areas:

• Football betting market depth – There are no complaints from us in terms of market depth. Even for games that aren’t huge, there’s a very healthy selection of markets to choose from.
• Live betting options – The in-play betting is incredibly plentiful, so much so that if you can think of a game taking place, then it’s likely available for in-play betting at Ladbrokes.
• Streaming services – This is where Ladbrokes falls down slightly. While they have great live streaming for other sports such as horse racing and Greyhound, they don’t offer much in terms of football live streaming, certainly not compared to a site such as bet365.
• Competitive odds? – Ladbrokes come out as being relatively average in terms of odds. Sometimes, they may be the best price, but in general, they offer the industry average.
• Betting limits – Again, the bet limits are far from out of the ordinary. The vast majority of players will have no issues with bet limits or winning limits.
• Special features – The ‘1-2-Free’ game, which is free to play, is a nice feature, as it allows users to predict football scores for free and be in with a chance of winning £100 in cash. ‘Ladbrokes Live’ is also great as it allows users to win tickets to live entertainment events. This is a unique and quirky feature.
• Mobile betting experience – The mobile betting experience at Ladbrokes is very acceptable indeed. In truth, the mobile app is probably superior to the desktop in terms of design and easy of use. It currently has a 4.4 rating on the App Store.
• Virtual betting experience – The virtual betting at Ladbrokes is fairly similar to what is on offer at most other places, with virtual football matches kicking off every three minutes.

Coral – big-name brand synonymous with football betting

The old-school names just keep on coming, such is the rich history of the UK’s gambling market. Coral is definitely one of the old boys of UK football betting, which means that they know a thing or two about putting together a football betting product that hits the spot. The desktop site is quite pleasing to the eye, as is the mobile betting app, though it doesn’t really have the sophisticated and stylish feel of some other sites. Bettors can choose from a wide variety of football competitions to bet on, while there are thousands of matches to choose from. Likewise markets.

The choice of markets for the top games is right up there with the best on offer in the industry, but outside of the top games, the market choice isn’t quite as plentiful. There are some very nice live streaming options, including on quite a niche leagues such as the US Open Cup. There’s a fully fleshed out ‘Safer Gambling’ section which is great to see, while the customer support isn’t bad either. Coral is licensed by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission.

Special Offer & Promotions

Coral’s sign up offer is relatively appealing, especially to small-stakes players. Not everyone wants to deposit £10, so the fact that this welcome offer only requires a £5 deposit is great. The fact that the £20 in free bets is split up into four £5 free bets, which can be used to place a variety of football bets, is also great.