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Peter Addison

Welcome to our guide to the best football betting sites which takes a look at the UK top bookies for May 2024.

We run the rule over the best sites to bet on football online, analysing which platforms to trust for the best footy odds, product features, free bets and promotions.

Table of contents

Best Football Betting Sites

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[17087,17083,17093,17132,17096,17080,17114,17224,17111,17175]
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Bet £10 Get £40 In Free Bets

08/05/24

Bet £10 Get £40 In Free Bets

  • Trusted US brand now available in the UK
  • Ideal for sports on both sides of the pond
  • Numerous promotions and free bet deals
9.9
5 Stars
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New customers only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.

Bet £10, Get £40

22/03/24

Bet £10, Get £40

  • Offers both fixed odds and spread betting
  • Ideal venue for live betting
  • Best value fixed odds bookie for Premier League
9.8
5 Stars
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18+ begambleaware.org. Spread betting losses can exceed deposit. Place a qualifying £10 fixed odds bet at odds of 1/2 or greater. Qualifying bet cannot be placed in-play or cashed out early. Free bet stakes not included in any winnings from the free fixed odds bets. Free bets expire in 28 days if unused.

Bet £10 Get £50 In Bonuses

22/04/24

Bet £10 Get £50 In Bonuses

  • Get Best Odds Guaranteed from 08:00
  • Promotions galore from "the Bonus King"
  • Home of the Lucky 15
9.8
4.5 Stars
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WELCOME50
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New UK 18+ customers only. Register 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.

£35 Free Bet + 10 Free Spins

05/04/24

£35 Free Bet + 10 Free Spins

  • Free bet worth 5% of your total bets
  • Min odds of 6/4 needed
  • 1x free bet available daily
9.7
5 Stars
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We’ve enhanced our UK Sportsbook Welcome Offer. Get 50% Back as a Free Bet up to £35 (normally £25) plus 10 Free Spins! A minimum of 3 bets at odds of evens (2.00) or greater is required to qualify for the max free bet, which is based on 50% back of first day losses. Even if your account is up, a single £10 Bet at the minimum odds, secures a £5 Free Bet & 10 Free Spins. UK 18+T&C’s

Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365

02/04/24

Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets for new customers at bet365

  • All feature races eligible
  • Applies to win and each-way bets
  • Available to new and existing customers
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Registration required. 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.

Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets

22/04/24

Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets

  • Easy to explore thousands of betting markets
  • Football betting specialist
  • Plenty of specials and Price Boosts
9.7
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T&Cs apply. New cust only. Deposit & Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 Horse Racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 Football. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.

Bet £20 and get it back as cash if it loses

26/03/24

Bet £20 and get it back as cash if it loses

  • Widely regarded as the punter's friend
  • Extensive horse racing coverage
  • Famous for its novelty betting markets
9.6
4.5 Stars
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YSKWEX
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Place your FIRST bet on any Sportsbook 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

Bet £10, Get £20 In Free Bets

01/05/24

Bet £10, Get £20 In Free Bets

  • One Of The Newest Bookies On The Market
  • Regular Price Boosts On Big Events
  • Live Horse Racing Streaming
9.6
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New members only. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of the E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance (ex E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. 18+

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Football Bet Builders

05/01/24

Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Football Bet Builders

  • Comprehensive coverage of sports worldwide
  • Multiple markets for almost every event
  • Betting Exchange lets you bet like a bookie
9.5
4.5 Stars
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New Customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly

Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets

02/04/24

Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets

  • Covers all major sporting events
  • Live betting and cash out features
  • Superb app for mobile betting
9.5
4.5 Stars
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*New members. Offer not available 15/04/23 £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Rules & Exclusions apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. T&Cs apply, 18+

Football Betting This Week: Some Highlights

Every week brings scores of fresh football betting opportunities. Deciding which ones to bet on can sometimes be daunting, so here we spotlight a handful of matches over the next seven days that we’re particularly interested in.

Aston Villa vs Liverpool – We’ll start the week with this match between English Premier League table neighbours on Monday, May 13. Liverpool are the favourites to win, according to the bookies, but both teams have won only two of their last five games, so don’t let that put you off if you’re a Villa fan. Kick-off is at 20:00.

Tottenham vs Man City – This is another EPL match, and it kicks off at 20:00 on Tuesday, May 16. We think that this match is a bit more clear-cut, with Man City having won all five of their last five matches and Tottenham winning just one and losing four.

Brighton vs Man Utd – We think this will be an interesting match on Sunday, May 19. The bookies seem to fancy Brighton to win, so anyone who fancies United to do the business can get odds of around 2/1. The kick-off is at 16:00.

The Leading Football Betting Sites UK

  1. BetMGM – A US site that’s now doing nicely over here
  2. SpreadEx – The UK’s number one site for spread betting
  3. Betfred – Been around since 1967, one of the best for footie
  4. QuinnBet – Ireland’s leading betting site, excellent for football
  5. Bet365 – Pays out early if your backed team goes two goals up
  6. BetUK – A UK site for UK (football) people
  7. Paddy Power – Controversial site, but now behaves itself
  8. LiveScore Bet – Add betting when you check the latest football scores
  9. Betfair – The UK’s top betting site for exchange betting
  10. Virgin Bet – The betting arm of the vast UK media empire

Our Top 10 Best Football Betting Sites For May

Our betting experts have rated, reviewed and ranked the UK’s top 10 football betting sites. We’ve compared factors such as best odds, free bets and offers, number of markets, best app and features such as Bet Builders to come up with our list.

1. BetMGM – UK’s Best New Football Betting Site

At number one on our list of the best football betting sites in the UK we have placed BetMGM. This is a relatively new site for the UK, but it has been running in the US for several years. The UK version of BetMGM launched in 2023, run by those betting experts who also run LeoVegas and BetUK.

betmgm hp

The football betting options at BetMGM are brilliant, and you will be relieved to hear that they are not based on American football! There’s full coverage of the UK’s Premier League, plus all the top global, continental and national football competitions. One real bonus though is the free-to-play £2 million Golden Goals competition – win the massive prize if you correctly predict the final score in six games, with weekly prizes for near misses too!

What We Like:

  • Free-to-play £2m Golden Goals promotion
  • Slick football betting app on iPhone and Android
  • 100s of markets on top games, including Bet Builder

Room for Improvement:

  • Market coverage not as comprehensive as some rivals but improving all the time

2. SpreadEx – Best Football Site For Spread Betting

Fixed odds betting may be the number one betting market in the UK, but there are alternatives. There’s exchange betting which usually gives you betting odds, and spread betting. SpreadEX is long-established as the top spread betting football betting site in the UK.

spreadex hp

If you really know your football, then spread betting with SpreadEx could be your way to go. Spread betting rewards you for the accuracy of your predictions, far more than fixed odds betting. The only downside is that you are punished, financially, if your prediction is wildly inaccurate. SpreadEx offers plenty of information about spread betting and the risks involved, so make sure you are informed before your first spread bet at Spreadex.

What We Like:

  • Choose spread betting or fixed odds
  • Rich offering of football betting markets
  • Mobile app is great to use

Room for Improvement:

  • More reload offers and promotions would be welcome

3. Betfred – Reliable And Trustworthy Football Betting Site

Betfred is one of the best-known names for sports betting in the UK, so there is absolutely no surprise that it has made the cut for the leading UK football betting sites. Fred Done established his first betting shop in 1967, and has gone from strength to strength ever since.

betfred hp

This betting site was one of the first to embrace the internet era, and some critics might say that it does not look as if the site has been updated since! That’s a mere quibble, as for football betting you can bet on Betfred. Coverage of both the EPL and UCL is outstanding, and you often get special bonus deals on specific matches, so keep an eye out for top promotions when the big teams are going head to head!

What We Like:

  • Great for outright football betting markets
  • PickYourPunt Bet Builder offers
  • Enhanced accas

Room for Improvement:

  • Traditional layout and design could be updated

4. QuinnBet – Strong Football Service From Leading Racing Site

People familiar with QuinnBet may be surprised to see its inclusion on our top football betting sites top ten. That’s probably because, in Ireland at least, QuinnBet is synonymous with horse racing. QuinnBet was created in 2017 by leading Irish entrepreneur Seán Quinn but is now run by his son, also called Seán.

quinnbet hp

Just because QuinnBet is synonymous with horse racing does not mean that its football betting options can be ignored. QuinnBet is ideal for football, with full coverage of football from all corners of the globe. Decent offers too with the Create-A-Bet bet builder which will inspire most football betting fans to give this site a chance.

What We Like:

  • Strong welcome offer with free spins included
  • Comprehensive in-play offering
  • Create-A-Bet on almost all football matches

Room for Improvement:

  • Horse racing is still clearly the main event here

5. Bet365 – Best For Football Coverage

Bet365 is simply the biggest betting site in the UK. More people bet at Bet365 than any other site in the UK, and the company is one of the UK’s biggest … and they are British, remaining in the UK while other companies have moved their operations abroad. Bet365 is synonymous with sports betting in the UK, so you may be asking why it only makes number five on our list.

bet365 hp

Well, for a start bet365 commits the heinous sin of calling football ‘soccer’. Secondly, the site just looks … ugly. Navigation is hardly a breeze, either. All this is something of a shame as bet365 often has good deals, including the (almost) unique offer of paying out football bets should your backed team go two goals up.

What We Like:

  • Early Payout Offer – 2 goals up
  • Unrivalled selection of football markets
  • Bet Builder and Bet Builder+

Room for Improvement:

  • Site design is arguably outdated

6. BetUK – Best For Football Bet Builders

BetUK is one of those sites that seems always to be new, but actually it’s not. BetUK has been around for over a decade, although it has only really come to prominence in the last few years, thanks probably to a well-deserved makeover.

betuk hp

If you have been paying attention you’ll know we’ve already mentioned BetUK once, as it’s run by LeoVegas, the same people who run BetMGM. The football options at BetUK are exceptional, and the brand is an official partner of EPL dominators Manchester City. Look out for the daily BetUK football specials, offering enhanced odds on specific top games.

What We Like:

  • Daily BetUK specials
  • Wide selection of pre-built Bet Builders
  • Fast payouts

Room for Improvement:

  • Website could be more navigable

7. PaddyPower – Best For Football Price Boosts

What’s this? Another Irish site more famed for football betting in our best football betting sites UK list? Whatever is going on? Well, truth be told it is very hard to ignore PaddyPower, and we found ourselves unable to ignore PaddyPower when constructing our top ten football bookies list.

paddypower hp

Never ones to shy away from controversy, PaddyPower seems to have calmed down of late. But there’s still plenty to like about the site, such as their ‘power prices’. These are selected combo bets which, if wagered upon, will give you significantly powered-up odds! They are also one of the very few sites to offer multi-match bet builders!

What We Like:

  • Most Popular Accas
  • Lots Of Daily Price Boosts
  • Best Odds Guaranteed on football

Room for Improvement:

  • Refund welcome offer only applies to losing bets

8. LiveScore Bet – Best Site For In-play Football Betting

For many years people have used LiveScore to keep in touch with football events, no matter which event, and where they happen to be. If you wanted to know the latest happenings in any football game, then consulting the LiveScore site was your best choice. You could even set notifications so if a goal goes in during a match you have a keen interest in, you’d be quickly informed.

livescore home

It seemed only natural for LiveScore to branch out into sports betting, which it did early in 2021. This is an excellent site, with plenty of opportunities that will thrill football betting enthusiasts. Odds boosts are always available, as is the free-to-play Squads game in which top-notch performances from your elected EPL players really pay you dividends.

What We Like:

  • Truly mobile betting app
  • Live audio and video on many matches
  • Free to play Squads game

Room for Improvement:

  • Mobile-first means it’s not great on web

9. Betfair – Best For Requested Odds

We’ve mentioned fixed odds betting several times in our top ten list, and touched on spread betting, but now we come to the third main football betting option – exchange betting. This is where you exchange your bet with a fellow punter or punters who is/are betting the opposite way to you. The key aspect of exchange betting is that you get better odds (usually) than with fixed odds betting.

betfair hp

Betfair is by far the most popular exchange betting site available in the UK, and its football coverage is exceptional. You can literally bet on anything at Betfair as if a bet is not available at the site, you can contact them and they may offer you odds for it. Oh, and just in case exchange betting confuses you, fixed odds betting is available too.

What We Like:

  • Football bets paid out on 90 minutes – before stoppage time
  • Daily odds boosts
  • User requested prices with #OddsOnThat

Room for Improvement:

  • Clunky layout a hangover from the Exchange

10. Virgin Bet – Best Football App For Beginners

Virgin Bet now has nothing to do with Richard Branson (the company that purchased Virgin Bet from the beardie entrepreneur did so on the understanding that they could retain the Virgin name and logo), and indeed is run by the same people behind LiveScore Bet. There are many similarities between the two sites, but there are many important differences too.

virgin homepage

One similarity is the coverage of football on Virgin Bet, which is very, very good. You can check out the site’s price boosts at any time, and the extensive football in-play markets. Virgin bet also has the free-to-enter FIVES game, which – to be fair – is LiveScore Bet’s SQUADS game, just with a different name!

What We Like:

  • Beginner-friendly mobile betting app
  • Strong welcome bonuses
  • Great for in-play football betting

Room for Improvement:

  • Not so great on desktop

How We Pick The Top Football Betting Sites

To compile our 10 top football betting sites, we’ve looked at multiple aspects of every UK bookmaker. Here’s the criteria we use to choose our best online betting sites for football.

Best Football Odds

An important ranking factor is to look at which site has the best football odds. While free bets and bookie bonuses get football fans through the door, we’re looking for the sites that offer value long-term.

Best For In-Play Football Betting

Live football betting has never been more popular as fans increasingly look to bet on the go from their iPhone or Android device. Therefore, we consider the best sites for in-play football betting as a key part of our review criteria.

Best Bet Builder Apps

Football Bet builders are big business and now pretty much all the top UK football betting sites offer them. Bet builders let fans completely customise their bet with same-game selections on everything from passes completed, to red cards and goals from outside the box.

Best Football Accumulators

Accumulators – or accas – are often the main reason fans bet on football online. To find the best site for football accumulators, we look at how easy it is to quickly build accas, best acca odds and bookmaker offers such as acca insurance or acca boost.

Markets And Competitions

This criteria looks at the breadth and depth of each bookie’s offering. We’re looking for a wide range of competitions and matches to bet on but also a deep offering of market type, such as player props, outrights, specials and stats betting.

Mobile and App Experience

An estimated 70% of online betting revenue came via mobile devices in 2020, meaning bookmakers that don’t offer a slick mobile experience are missing out badly. Our rating system judges the best apps to bet on football, looking at user experience, reliability, speed and many other factors.

Easy To Deposit And Withdraw

Getting money into and out of your account is clearly a priority for football bettors. We take into account the betting sites with easy deposit and withdrawal flows, including choice of payment methods, time taken to process withdrawals and security.

Promotions

No bookie review would be complete without a look at the promotions and offers, including free bets and bonuses. We consider new customer offers but also existing customer bonuses when picking our top football betting websites.

Most Trusted Sites

Last but certainly not least is a look at the betting sites for football you can trust. All the bookies in our reviews are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.

Why Trust Our Football Betting Site Reviews

At Safest Betting Sites we have an experienced award-winning team of football betting industry experts, who have reviewed and rated hundreds of UK bookies over the years. We don’t mean to brag, but we really do know what we are talking about. Most of us like the Saturday acca at the bare minimum, but we all have experience in placing bets. We are always looking for new football betting sites too, as we like to keep on top of the UK football betting industry.

It’s our aim therefore to be the kind of football betting information site that we would like to find ourselves. We’d want news on new sites, plus information about the latest deals, bonuses and promotions from established bookies, and useful advice on football betting strategy. It’s our aim to be so useful to the average football betting punter, that such people head back to our site, time and time again.

We want to be number one, and we can only do that if we establish a genuine sensation of trust, which is precisely what we always strive to do.

Best Football Betting Free Bets And Bonuses

Whether it’s a new football betting site or an established brand, almost all bookies offer bonuses such as free bets. Football betting bonuses are typically created to attract new customers but many bookmakers have existing customer offers to keep their players betting on football.

The Best Football Betting Offers Compared

Compare the best football betting offers, with details and promo codes of the UK’s top 10 sites.

Bookie Free Bet / Bonus Promo Code
BetMGM Bet £10, Get £40 No code needed
SpreadEx Bet £10, Get £40 No code needed
Betfred Bet £10, Get £40 WELCOME40
QuinnBet £35 Free Bet + 10 Free Spins No code needed
Bet365 Bet £10, Get £30 No code needed
BetUK Bet £10, Get £30 No code needed
Paddy Power £20 losing bet refund YSKWEX
LiveScore Bet Bet £10, Get £20 No code needed
Betfair Bet £10, Get £30 ZSKAHD
Virgin Bet Bet £10, Get £20 No code needed

New Customer Bonuses

Here’s some examples of football betting offers for new customers:

  • Bet and Get: This offer rewards a settled bet with free bets as a bonus. For example, Bet £10, Get £30 in free bets. Usually the qualifying bet will have restrictions such as minimum odds or multiple legs of an accumulator. There will also be conditions on the free bets, such as what you can use them on. Commonly, the stake will not be returned from the free bets.
  • Deposit/Bet Percentage Bonus: This offer usually rewards a first deposit or first bet with a percentage of the amount in free bets. For example, with 100% deposit bonus, a £10 deposit would be rewarded with £10 in free bets. Again, there will be terms and conditions applicable to both the qualifying criteria and the bonus.
  • No-Deposit Free Bet On Football: This offer is far less common and usually only pops up when new football betting sites are looking to be aggressive during key events such as the World Cup. As the name suggests, the free bet is awarded on registration, without you having to deposit or bet. The free bet will almost certainly be small and have quite restrictive T&Cs.
  • Odds Boost Welcome Offer: This promotion typically offers inflated odds on a very likely outcome in a prominent football match. For example 10/1 on Harry Kane to have a shot in an England Euros match. It’s almost akin to a risk-free football bet, where the bookie is willing to give away a certain value to attract new customers. The max bet is usually low, such as £1 and there will often be restrictions on how you can use the winnings.

Existing Customer Bonuses

Many bookies also offer existing customer bonuses in an effort to retain your loyalty and keep you playing. Sometimes referred to as “reload offers”, here’s some examples of the types of existing customer offers from UK bookies.

  • Weekly Bet Club: Bet a given amount of money in a week to earn a free bet. For example, bet £25 between Monday and Sunday to get a £5 free bet. Usually you will need to opt in to this and remember to check the terms and conditions on how to qualify and how you can use your free football bet.
  • Bet and Get: Just like the new customer offer, bookies will sometimes offer existing customers a ‘bet and get’ offer. Sometimes this is to coincide with major events or matches and it’s often to reactivate players who haven’t bet with them for a while.
  • Bet Builder Free Bet: Bookmakers – particularly new football bookies in the UK – like to shout about their features and will often incentivise players to try things out using free bets. This is why Bet Builder free bets are quite common at the moment. Usually the maximum stake is £1 and other terms and conditions will apply.

Football Free Bets: Claim Your Bonus

When opening an account with a new football bookie in the UK, you’ll almost always be able to claim a bonus.

Browse offers in our list of top football betting sites and check if you need a promo code – usually you don’t. Then it’s as simple as following the steps to get your free football bet added to your account. Typically the flow looks like this:

  • Register for your account and include your free bet promo code if necessary.
  • Make your first deposit – make sure it matches the minimum amount to qualify for the promotion.
  • Place your qualifying bet – again make sure it meets the requirements, such as minimum odds or minimum accumulator legs.
  • Wait for your bet or bets to settle.
  • Check your balance for your free bets.

Sometimes you will have to wait for your free football bet to be credited but if you are in any doubt, contact the bookie’s customer support.

Using Your Free Football Bet

Depending on the bookmaker and the offer, your bonus will vary. It might be a single free bet, it could be split into smaller free bets such as 4x £5 or even a bundle of different bet types such as £5 free football bet and 50 free casino spins.

In-play Football Betting: Live And Direct

In-play football betting is offered by pretty much all UK football betting sites. As the name suggested, it’s a feature that offers live football betting while the match is ongoing. Depending on the football betting app or site you’re using, the options will vary.

Some bookies offer a rich in-play betting experience that almost mirrors their pre-match offering, whereas some only provide a limited selection of in-play markets, such as next goalscorer or match result.

The best sites for in-play football betting also provide stats and graphic visualisations in close-to real time, meaning you can follow the action closely even if you’re not able to watch the game.

And then there’s live streams – many competitions have deals with UK football betting apps to provide live streams of matches embedded in the betting experience.

Football Bet Builders: A Creative New Era

Football Bet Builders are big business in the industry these days, with most UK bookies introducing the feature since around 2021.

Depending on the bookie you’re with, the name will vary – whether it’s Build-a-Bet, Create-A-Bet, Bet Builder, they’re essentially the same thing. The option to combine same-game multiples into a single bet. Some sites such have expanded to include multi-game Bet Builders.

The options are vast, with selections ranging from player props such as “to have a shot on target” to team totals such as “more than 4 bookings”. Some top UK football betting sites also offer the option to combine multiple Bet Builders into your football accumulator.

Football Betting Markets: A Short Guide

The addition of player props and stats betting means the best football betting apps and sites offer hundreds of markets on matches in most of the top leagues.

One thing to bear in mind is that most football betting markets apply to regular time only – not including extra-time or penalties unless stated otherwise.

Here’s our guide to the top betting markets offered by all UK football betting sites.

Match Result Betting

The match result is the straightforward, go-to market and it’s often called ‘1X2’ at online football bookies. It’s just a bet on the final outcome of a match.

Goalscorer Betting

This player market lets you bet on the first goalscorer, last goalscorer, or a player to score at any time during the match. There’s also markets such as “to score a hat-trick” and “to score twice”.

Correct Score Betting

Correct score is one of the most straightforward football betting markets. Just predict the exact score at the end of the match.

Both Teams To Score

Short for ‘both teams to score,’ with BTTS, you decide ‘yes’ or ‘no’ based on your preference. There are also BTTS markets for each half of the game.

Over/Under

Over/Under can be applied to various scenarios. Usually, a line is set on goals, corners, or cards. Simply choose whether there will be more or less than the line set by the bookie.

Double Chance

Double chance lets you bet on two outcomes of a match. For example, one side to win or draw, making either result a winner for your bet.

Handicap Bets

Handicap betting involves the bookmaker giving one team an advantage or disadvantage to level the playing field. For example, if Team A has a -1 handicap, they must win by two or more goals for your handicap bet to win.

Half Time/Full Time

HT/FT lets you combine the result at half-time with the full-time outcome. For instance, if a team is expected to dominate, you can back them to lead at both half-time and full-time.

Getting Mobile with Your Football Betting

Pro gamblers might spend hours seated in front of their PCs searching out the best football betting odds for their predictions. But that’s not something we don’t have the time to do, and we suspect it might be something that you don’t want to do either! To this end, we always look for sites where the mobile betting betting experience is exceptional.

All the top football betting sites make their mobile-optimised version of their site an exceptional, user-friendly experience. We champion those that make mobile betting simple, speedy and rewarding. If a site has a downloadable app that you can install to your iOS or Android-powered phone or tablet, then that’s cause for a Peter Crouch-style robot dance!

The best football betting apps on iPhone and Android devices now match or better their desktop equivalents, with purpose-built products offering a great user experience. Features supported by the top football betting apps include:

  • In-play mobile betting
  • Live streams / live graphic visualisation
  • Biometric security (Face ID or fingerprint login)
  • Apple Pay and Google Pay
  • Notifications on events and promotions

Premier League Betting And Beyond

Unsurprisingly, Premier League betting is by far the most popular choice among UK fans but there are competitions all over the world and throughout the year to enjoy. Here’s a quick overview of some of the most popular.

Domestic Club Competitions To Bet On

England

  • Premier League
  • EFL Championship
  • EFL League One
  • EFL League Two
  • FA Cup
  • EFL Cup

Spain

  • La Liga
  • Segunda División
  • Copa del Rey

Germany

  • Bundesliga
  • Bundesliga 2
  • DFB-Pokal

Italy

  • Serie A
  • Serie B
  • Coppa Italia

France

  • Ligue 1
  • Ligue 2
  • Coupe de France

Argentina

  • Argentine Primera División
  • Primera Nacional

Brazil

  • Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
  • Campeonato Brasileiro Série B

Netherlands

  • Eredivisie
  • Eerste Divisie
  • KNVB Cup

Portugal

  • Primeira Liga
  • Liga Portugal 2
  • Taça de Portugal

Continental Club Competitions

  • UEFA Champions League: The premier club competition in Europe, featuring the top teams from various European leagues. The competition starts with a group stage and progresses to knockout rounds.
  • UEFA Europa League: The second-tier European club competition, featuring teams that finish lower in their domestic leagues and those eliminated from the UEFA Champions League group stage.
  • UEFA Conference League: The third tier of UEFA club competition featuring teams that finish lower in their domestic leagues.
  • FIFA Club World Cup: Annual club competition featuring the champions from each continental confederation.

International Competitions

  • FIFA World Cup: Held every four years, featuring national teams from around the world.
  • UEFA European Championship (Euro): Held every four years, featuring national teams from Europe.
  • Copa America: Held every four years, featuring national teams from South America.
  • AFC Asian Cup: Held every four years, featuring national teams from Asia.
  • Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON): Held every two years, featuring national teams from Africa.
  • CONCACAF Gold Cup: Held every two years, featuring national teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean.
  • OFC Nations Cup: Held every four years, featuring national teams from Oceania.

Football Betting Tips

New to football betting? Want to get some top tips on how to get the most out of your football betting endeavours? Then you’ll hit the back of an onion bag with these tried and tested nuggets of advice when betting on football.

  1. Start with Small Stakes

    If you are new to betting on the round ball game and placing wagers at football betting sites, then it’s best to keep your wagers small at first. Once you’ve tasted success with your football betting, then it is time to, literally, raise the stakes.
  2. Stick to What You Know

    There is no point betting on the Lithuanian Under-13s Development League if you don’t know anything about it. If you’re in the UK, then start off with EPL betting. Add in the EFL when you’ve tasted success, then branch out further afield if you continue to be successful.
  3. Expand Your Betting

    When placing football bets, most people stick to ‘1X2’, backing the winners of a match or the draw. There are a great number of options when it comes to football betting, from BTTS (both teams to score), over/under, draw no bet and so on. Why not expand your betting horizons with other football betting options and see how you get on?
  4. Bet With Your Head, Not Your Heart

    Football is a game of passion, we all know that. If you are betting on football, there’s a 99.9 percent chance you’re a football fan. Don’t back your favourite teams, players and nations just because your heart tells you to. Football betting is a game of probability and statistics, not emotions and feelings-based decisions.
  5. Manage Your Bankroll

    It’s easy to become unstuck with football betting. If you don’t keep a hold of your betting, then you may find yourself losing more money than you intended, and it’s a slippery slope that can lead to ruin. Never bet with money that you cannot afford to lose. If you are no longer enjoying your football gambling, then stop. And if you need help, ask for it.

The Final Whistle

It’s no surprise that there are so many bookmakers catering to fans of Britain’s favourite sport. What might have surprised you is just how good the best football betting sites are. For example, the American brand BetMGM has adapted beautifully to the British market, and the other sites featured here are similarly impressive. Have fun picking your teams and good luck with your bets!

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08/05/24

Bet £10 Get £40 In Free Bets

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New customers only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.

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Peter Addison
Peter Addison

Peter is one of the most well-known and well-respected names working in the field of online sports betting today. Having a Bachelor of Arts degree, Peter has worked for many high-profile publications in the industry, both online and in the real world. He joined the SafestBettingSites team in 2021 and has provided millions of words ever since. When not writing, Peter enjoys performing and writing music, gaming, reading and he is a massive movie buff, with a particular love of Japanese cinema and anime.