Best Football Betting Sites UK

New football betting sites should be treated with caution, but can also be one of the most high-value places to place your bets. 
When you look at the best football betting sites, most of them will have a long history of being at the top of the game and will have thousands of happy customers. There are tonnes of UK football betting sites already, so any newbies need to bring something new and exciting if they want to grab your attention.

And that’s where you can take advantage of new football betting sites. While it’s true that you should be weary of new bookies – in case they’re scammers – you can also find plenty of legitimate outfits who will have incredible odds and great introductory offers in an effort to create a client base.

When choosing the best football sites, there are a number of elements to consider. Most online bookmakers in the UK will prioritise football as it’s extremely popular with punters, however not every one of these football betting sites is likely to suit your needs.

First of all, you’ve got to make sure that the site is legitimate and safe. All of the football betting sites listed at BetonSports are fully licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and will have to adhere to a number of rules which offer fair play to punters.
If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of your chosen site, you can simply browse through the list on our site or check with the UK Gambling Commission. 

Secondly, you need to make sure you’re getting good value for money. And that’s not an easy thing to do. After all, have you considered how long it would take to compare the odds of a correct score bet across dozens or even hundreds of different online football betting sites?

Here are some of the things you should look for to find the best betting sites for football:

• Excellent odds
• Stellar promotions
• Innovative features
• Money-back and cashback deals
• Varied markets
• Extensive sports
• Positive player feedback

That’s a lot to remember. And it will take you a long time to analyse each football betting website individually.
Fortunately, we’ve put together a list of what we believe to be the best football betting sites based on the above criteria, taking away the hard work for you. Just browse the bookies listed on this page if you want to see what we think are the best football bookmakers.

Taking place every four years, the FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of world football and there are always hundreds of markets priced up by football betting sites in the UK. This tournament will take place over the course of a month and it showcases the best talent that the game has to offer. It is one of the most popular betting events on the calendar, especially with every single game shown live on TV.

Let's take a closer look at the top betting sites:

Here at BetonSports we want you to be a winner, so this guide will cover everything you need to know about football betting, from the basics to more advanced tips.
With so many different football betting sites offering online bets, it can be hard to know where to start, but you can also check out our bookmaker reviews to help you decide which account to open.
Read on for details of types of betting on the glorious game, as well as information about odds, tournaments and tipping, in our BetonSports guide to football betting in the UK.

We go through Top Football Betting sites daily, making sure our punters receive the best bonus offers, security & betting experience, plus our own system of live football betting odds on a huge number of markets, and our daily football betting tips.

We Compare the Best Football Betting Odds From Top Bookmakers

BetonSports UK is The best place to start when talking about football betting is odds, as these can be confusing for anyone who is brand new to gambling.

How Do Football Betting Odds Work❓

Football betting odds can be calculated in two main ways – decimal or fraction – and the latter is the one most commonly used by the UK’s biggest bookmakers, although you can usually choose between them.

In fraction odds, the number on the left is how much you win for your stake, represented by the number on the right.
So, for example, in Premier League betting if a team is priced up at 2/1 it means your winnings are £2 for every £1 you decide to stake and for a 5/2 bet, you win £5 for every £2 that you want to place on that selection.

Decimal odds are used on exchange markets such as Betfair and some people find them an easier way to see how much they could be in line to win.
Odds of 2.00 would be 1/1 when displayed as a fraction, which is typically known as evens.
In other cases, they are easy to work out as they are simply the fraction odds plus one – to represent the stake – so 4/1 as a fraction would be converted into 5.0 in decimal terms.

Not all players like to use football betting apps, but there are a lot of advantages to them. As long as you don’t mind taking up a little extra space on your phone, or having a visible presence that you’re gaming at the site on your home screen, it’s tough to pinpoint any reason not to use one.

Here are some of the reasons to consider downloading a football betting app:

•  Easy access: Once you download and set up a football betting app, you can get access much faster than you would by using your mobile browser. Often, you’ll be able to log in using either a four-digit pin code or even FaceID. That means you can open up the app in one tap and then log in in seconds.

•  Exclusive offers: From time to time, you’ll spot mobile-exclusive offers which can sometimes only be accessed via the app. Additionally, once you download a football betting app, you can choose to permit push messages. You’ll then get updates and reminders about key matches and new offers, and can use them to open the app in a single tap. 

•  In-play betting: If you’re a fan of placing in-play bets, football betting apps should be on your radar. The best bookies prioritise in-play betting on football as it’s a very popular way to place bets – especially on your phone, when you may be on the move.

Realistically, most UK punters who bet on football will stick to 4-5 leagues with the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A and the Championship amongst the most popular. However, there may be other divisions and tournaments which offer better value and even if you’re the only person wanting to place a bet on the Nigerian second tier, it’s nice to know that it’s possible.
It’s always advised to choose football betting sites which offer a decent range of competitions as you never know which games you’ll want to include in your accumulator.

•  Market Coverage

Most punters will utilise a handful of markets including 1X2 (or 90 mins as it’s sometimes known), Both Teams to Score and First Goalscorer.
However, there is now an increased appetite for more specific offerings such as Shots on Target and Player to be Carded markets. Many football betting sites are starting to slowly add these markets to their current crop, however sites such as 888Sport and Bwin lead the way when it comes to these types of markets.

•  Accumulator Enhancements / Incentives

Many UK punters who regularly bet on football enjoy placing a Saturday afternoon accumulator and it’s strongly advised to look for UK betting sites which offer something for those who routinely try and win big with a weekend multiple.
Some football betting sites will offer money back on accumulators that fall short by a single selection and others may boost your returns should each of your picks come in. These are ideal for those who regularly bet in this way.

•  Other Offers and Incentives

If you regularly bet on football, it’s nice to know that your loyalty could be rewarded. We strongly advise looking for UK betting sites who offer their customers the chance to boost their odds, to increase their returns and to enjoy enhanced prices on popular selections.

•  Cash Out / Live Streaming

Many football betting sites will also give punters the chance to cash out their bets throughout the course of the contest. Sometimes, a punter may find themselves in a winning position and it’s nice to have the option to cash out before the inevitable last-minute goal scuppers your accumulator!
Likewise, if you’re betting on top European leagues, it’s nice to be able to dip in and follow the action. Many betting sites for football now offer their customers the chance to stream matches from a variety of competitions and it’s a great way of keeping across all of your bets.

•  English Premier League

The top flight of English football is generally regarded as ‘the best league in the world’ and attracts an extremely high calibre of player. The best football betting sites will likely
prioritise the Premier League and televised games in the UK tend to have the largest number of betting markets available. Occasionally abbreviated to the EPL, it is a league which attracts worldwide interest and runs from August-May each year.

•  Serie A

Serie A first rose to prominence in the UK back in the 1990s courtesy of Football Italia. However, it remains extremely popular with punters and football betting sites offer hundreds of markets on the Italian flight each weekend. With household names such as Juventus, AC Milan, Inter and Napoli all plying their trade in Serie A, there is always plenty of interest.

•  La Liga

The top flight of Spanish football remains very popular in the UK with El Clasico always attracting a decent worldwide audience. Many of the best betting sites for football will place La Liga prominently on their site and although games involving the likes of Osasuna and Levante may not get the pulse racing, there are always ways of finding value in this league.

•  The Championship

With over £90million and a place in the Premier League at stake, it’s little wonder that the second tier of English football is full of drama and excitement on a weekly basis. The Championship league always delivers on entertainment and it is a reliable source of goals. UK bettors enjoy backing goals at this level.

•  MLS (Major League Soccer)

The MLS is constantly expanding and with players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Frank Lampard having played in the states over the last decade, there is plenty of interest from UK punters. Most football betting sites will offer various markets on each and every game and with many goal-heavy games taking place on a regular basis, this is a division is extremely popular with bettors.

When shopping around for the top football betting sites, one of the most prominent things you’ll notice are the different bonuses and promotions available. That’s because it’s a great way to convince players to sign up.
But what you’ll notice as you check out more and more football betting sites is that many of these promotions recur across different bookies. So, if you want to pinpoint the best sites for football bets, you need to understand the differences between the most common promotions.

Here are three popular promos at footy sites:

Free Bets

A free bet is exactly what it sounds like – the chance to place a bet for free. The obvious benefit is that you can use it without risking your own funds. There are some loopholes, and this is something you should compare between sites. For example, nearly all bookies will not pay out the free bet stake if you win, but there could be significant differences in the wagering requirements. Some will pay out the free bet winnings immediately, some will have 1x wagering requirements, and others will have even higher play through requirements.

Bet X Get X

Another popular promotion at the top betting sites for football is the ‘Bet X Get X’ offer. In this instance, you’ll be required to place a qualifying wager in order to unlock a free bet. The value of the free bet may be more than, less than, or equal to the amount you have to wager. Again, make sure you check the terms and conditions before you steam in.

Deposit Bonus

A more flexible promotion is the deposit bonus, where you receive a percentage-based bonus dependent upon the value of the funds you deposit. This could be a 50% deposit bonus, a 100% bonus, or even more. The great thing about deposit bonuses is that it doesn’t fence you in to a single option; you can place your bonus funds on a wide range of markets.

•  1X2 / 90 Minute Market

The simplest of all football betting markets. All UK betting sites will have these markets available and it is simply a case of predicting which team will win. Or if the game will end all-square. These are extremely popular with accumulator bettors.

•  Over 2.5 Goals / Under 2.5 Goals

Another staple of football betting sites is the Under/Over market. This will ask punters to predict how many goals will be scored in the game. Football punters will need to look for teams who score lots of goals or sides who regularly concede sloppy goals if they are betting on Over 2.5 Goals.

•  Anytime Goalscorer

In the UK, there are a variety of goalscorer markets available, however, backing a player to find the net at any time is arguably the most popular. Although in-form strikers tend to be shorter in the football betting odds, this market is perfect for backing goalscoring midfielders or defenders in a set-piece heavy side. The player can find the net at any point in order for this bet to pay out.

•  Total Corners

Most football betting sites now offer punters the chance to predict the number of corners per game. This is ideal for sides who deploy wingers or a team that are chasing the game. Many UK betting sites offer punters the chance to predict which team will have the most corners as well as match totals.

•  Handicap Markets

These are particularly handy for seemingly one-sided matches. If a team is expected to dominate, and the football betting odds reflect this, handicaps are an ideal way to find some value. Favourites can be backed -1, -2 and -3 and these allow the dominant team to win with plenty to spare. -1 would require your chosen side to win by a 2-goal margin or greater (subtract 1 from their score and they’ll still be winning).
Underdogs can also be backed on the handicap markets. UK football betting sites will offer +1 and +2 markets on the perceived outsiders and this suggests that they can keep it tight and will not be easily beaten.

There is no guarantee of picking winners when it comes to betting on football, however by simply doing your research and knowing how that affects the betting markets can give you a significant advantage. Here are important things to look for:

•  Check Team News / Injury List

Every team will have a star player and their absence can significantly change the course of a contest. If you’re willing to wait until an hour before kick-off, then it’s advised to check team news before placing a wager. However, it’s fairly straightforward to find a list of injuries and suspensions online, so always check this before betting. Most football betting sites will react accordingly, however, if you can get there before them, this is your chance to grab the value!

•  Check Schedule / Analyse Priorities

With an increasing amount of competitions being played each year, teams are now being forced to prioritise specific matches in order to keep their key players fresh. It’s always best to avoid backing a side domestically following a tough midweek Europa League fixture whilst many sides in the UK will forego a cup in order to prioritise the league. Fan forums are quite a good way of gauging the mood, and this should always be considered.

•  Spot a New Manager Bounce

When a new manager arrives at the club, the majority of players will often buck up their ideas. An incoming boss may also deploy a back-to-basics approach which enables the team to build from the back and keep things tight. If you can spot a side that have/will benefit from a managerial change, then this is one way of getting ahead of the bookies.

•  Stacking Up Statistics

Statistics can also be very useful for following trends and finding patterns in a team’s results, so a look at the numbers can often be beneficial when making football betting predictions.
But remember that the beauty of football is that anything can happen and results are sometimes very unpredictable, so there is only so much good that studying the form book will do for bets.
It is for this reason that accumulators are not always the best type of football bets to go for as well, with predicting the result of a few different games something that is very hard to get right.
Instead, it can be a better idea to simply pick out a couple of solid bets rather than chasing a big win by putting 10 bets into an accumulator that only has a very small chance of coming in for you.
Value is always the key to success in gambling, as taking a good price from a betting site, even if you do not necessarily think the outcome will happen, is likely to result in profits in the long term compared to just going with your gut.

Ante-post Explained

Ante-post is a phrase used for bets that are placed at least a day in advance of the event and while the term is more commonly associated with greyhound betting and horse racing, betting on the winner of a competition before it begins falls into the same bracket.
A popular long-term ante-post bet in the UK is to pick out the winners of different leagues and add them into an accumulator, which can often result in massive odds being offered. A football tipster may well suggest a four or five-team accumulator to be placed.

For instance:

•  Selecting the winner of the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two could result in a four-selection accumulator offering odds more than 100/1, depending on which teams have been picked, but these bets are very hard to get right.
The major downside to ante-post betting is the long wait you have until you can collect your winnings, of course, but on the other hand it can also be a good feeling to know a large amount of money could be coming your way in the future.