Best Football Betting Sites

Football is the national game and a way of life for many. Naturally, though, football fans can only pledge their allegiance to one club. As a result, many like to place football bets to keep an active interest in a match that doesn’t involve their favoured club.

In this guide, we’ll discuss how to make the most of betting on the beautiful game. We won’t be naming names, as things change quickly – and the title of “best football betting site” is purely in the eye of the beholder. Different punters will have varying standards as to what matters most to them.

Ready? Then don your half-and-half scarf, think of a range of rude names to call the referee and start a chant of “ole, ole, ole.” As we review the best football betting sites:

Best Football Betting Sites 2022 – The Results

From our extensive research, the below are what we consider the best football betting sites available on the market today, all having great bonuses, bet credits, a range of betting markets, money back offers and more. Simply follow the links for more information:

In this guide, we will look at what factors make up the best online football betting sites in the UK and features to look out for. Whether you’re a sports betting newbie looking to have a little fun by testing your knowledge of international football leagues or a grizzled veteran that’s aiming to find the best betting site for your needs, we have you covered.

What Makes a Good Football Betting Site?

The best football betting sites are not necessarily the same as the finest gambling sites for, say, horse racing. Online bookies and high street vendors all have their own specialities in betting markets.

There is no doubt that most online bookmakers and online sports betting sites worth their salt, will offer the opportunity to bet on football games. It would be business suicide not to. Countless people obsess over football, and we don’t just mean fans of the traditional powerhouse teams such as Manchester United and Arsenal.

With all due respect to, say, Grimsby Town, the Shrimpers are unlikely to be competing in the Champions League any time soon. This does not mean that citizens of North East Lincolnshire would not like to place a bet on PSG vs. Real Madrid, though!

When choosing the best football betting sites for your business, consider the following:

• What welcome bonus will you receive when you opt to place your first bet?
• Are there any ongoing deals from the online bookie to reward loyalty?
• Will your receive any free bet credits, betting credits or equivalent perks?
• Where can you find the best online football betting odds?
• Does the bookie have an app, so you can indulge in football betting while on the move?
• Is live streaming on offer, meaning you can watch and enjoy live betting on football matches as they unfold?
• What is the sportsbook market for football betting – only results, or can you place quirky bets?
• How can you make deposits and withdrawals – and how long will these take?
• How seriously does the betting site take its customer service?
• Can you be sure that your personal information is safe with football betting sites?

As you’ll see, there is a lot to consider when weighing up the best football betting sites and betting sites, especially if you’re new to online betting. With this in mind, let’s take a look at each of these factors in more detail, helping you find the best football betting sites for your unique needs.

Welcome Deals

Welcome deals are arguably the most important element for any punter looking to place their first bet on a sports betting site.

A welcome bonus is a perk designed to get new customers through the metaphorical door of a betting site.

Free bets, a free bet offer or betting credits are the most popular offer made to new customers.

Ongoing Deals with Online Sports Betting Sites

Why should it only be new customers that get to place a free bet? If you show loyalty to a particular bookie, you deserve to be rewarded.

Look out for any online betting sites that offer bet credits to the account of reliable, long-term punters.

Naturally, though you also need to confirm if free bets – valid ones! – will pay out in cash or more bet credits.

Best Football Odds

Just like any sports bet, getting the best football odds is all-important to enjoying a memorable win. Shop around for the most competitive odds on the market, as not all bookies play the same odds. If you find great odds on your first bet, check for the magic words “free bets valid.” Next, make sure the odds are not being artificially skewed by punter behaviour.

Let’s imagine that it’s North London Derby Day. If 1,000 Arsenal fans bet on their team to beat Tottenham at 4-1, and only 100 Tottenham fans bet on their team at the same odds, the online bookie may halve the best odds on an Arsenal win to 2-1.

That does not necessarily mean Arsenal are likelier to win. The bookie has not received insider information that Tottenham’s star player has been injured in training. It is just an act of self-preservation – the bookie doesn’t want to pay out too much money if Arsenal do win

Football Betting Apps

In the modern age, every website worthy of your time needs an app. You won’t always be sitting by a computer, able to bring up a website.

Sometimes, you’ll need to act fast to place a qualifying bet at competitive odds. The use of an app means that you can bet rapidly from your phone, tablet or smartwatch. It also means you can bet pitchside if you are luckily enough to be watching live.

Live Football Streaming Sites in the UK

Live football streaming is essential if you plan to enjoy in-play betting on football games.

No matter if you’re using a cash wager or a free bet, you’ll need to watch the action unfold so you know when to commit to using your bet credits.

If the game in question is on Sky or BT Sport, live streaming may still let you watch the action.

Options for Football Bets

There are countless different things you could bet on before or during a football match. It’s not just about the result and goalscorers. You may want to bet on:

• Both teams to score, regardless of the result
• How many corner kicks will be awarded
• Who will be the next goalscorer
• A particular player being shown a yellow or red card

These fun wagers can be an especially effective way to use any free bet credits.

Catch the best odds for live betting and you could see real rewards.

Deposit and Withdrawal options – Payment Methods

Whether you’re placing your first bet or your 1,000th, you’ll be hoping for the same outcome – to win big on the football betting markets. This means you’ll need to know what to expect if the best result arises.

All bookies have different timescales for paying out winnings, so make sure you’re aware of these. Some will repay punters within 24 hours, others may take three or four days. There may also be a minimum amount you’re allowed to deposit and withdraw.

Think about how you’ll pay for your bets, too. If you’re keen to take advantage of in-play betting, you may need to ensure you’re using a debit card or bank transfer. When indulging in live betting, especially in a game as fast-paced as football, you’ll often need to be rapier-fast.

Customer Service

If you are betting online, you’re a customer – it’s no different to shopping from an eCommerce site.

Investigate the reputation for customer service offered by the betting site in question. So you have a history of getting free bets credited to punter accounts? Do they respond to queries or complaints? Do they make it easy to get in touch, in a way that is advantageous for you?

Football Betting Website Safety

Any kind of financial transaction online can be risky. Hackers are all around us, after all.

Ensure your betting site of choice takes security seriously, taking the time to explain how they will keep your account safe. If you are concerned about data leaks and hacks but still want to indulge in football betting promotions, use an e-wallet service like PayPal or Skrill.

All sites we mention are regulated by the UK gambling commission.

FAQs about the Best Football Sites

The most popular questions we get about football betting websites are:

Where can I get the best football betting odds?

Betting odds vary from bookie to bookie, so you’ll need to shop around.

You may even find that some online bookies have drastically different odds to others. This is often due to the behaviour of punters. Do not be put out or fooled by one outlier on football odds. Look at all min odds on the market and find the best average.

Which betting site football games?

As we have mentioned a few times, you’ll need to shop around and judge that for yourself. Look for the best football odds online, and compare football betting offers. You’ll soon decide which are the best football bookmakers for you – though don’t forget, there is nothing stopping you from playing the football markets and signing up for multiple sites.

Just make sure you gamble responsibly.

Can you make money betting on football?

Football betting can be lucrative, just like any form of gambling. If you find the best odds, play the right stake and enjoy a little good luck, you may enjoy big winnings from your football bets.

All the same, the usual caveats apply – never bet more than you can afford to lose, and if a bet transaction feels wrong, walk away.

Is football betting better than horse racing?

That is like asking, “which tastes better, apples or oranges?” Some punters enjoy the blood and thunder of racing, and the short, sharp thrill of their nag crossing the post first. Others prefer the tension and the swinging pendulum of fortune that comes with football betting.

Neither is better than the other – they’re just different. As long as you gamble responsibly, you can enjoy either – or both – equally.

Is my football betting getting out of control?

We cannot stress enough how important it is that you gamble responsibly. Football betting is supposed to be fun. If you find yourself getting stressed and angry over the results of your sports betting, or are wagering more money than you can afford to lose, you need to take a break.

You should not need to rely exclusively on willpower for this. The best football betting sites will all offer the opportunity to freeze your account so you can cool off for a while. If a betting site does not offer this feature, and you’re prone to struggling with your gambling, consider signing up with an alternative.

What do I do if a bookie will not pay out my winnings?

Betting on football means entering an agreement with your bookie. This is not actually legally binding, even after money has exchanged hands. You’re essentially operating on trust. On the other hand, the bookie lives and dies by their reputation for honesty. Because of this, the best football betting sites will rarely avoid paying out.

If the football betting site is refusing to honour a bet, there has to be an extremely good reason. Maybe you placed a bet on the first goalscorer in a match and there is some dispute about who this was – the striker of Team A, or an own goal for the defender of Team B?

Equally, if you are hoping to get any winnings from free bets credited, ensure that you are abiding by all the Ts and Cs of the wager. Many football betting offers come with caveats. You may not be entitled to enhanced odds if you used a free bet as a stake, for example, or payment method exclusions apply in some cases.

Can I make a complaint about a football betting site?

Your first port of call should always be an attempt to resolve your dispute directly with an online betting site. Alas, this sometimes is not possible. If you feel that you are being treated unfairly, betting sites can be reported to the UK Gambling Commission.

Just be aware, this action will completely burn your bridges with the bookie in question. If it is widely considered one of the top football betting sites, do try to find a solution among yourselves. It’s usually possible to come to a bet settlement without too much unpleasantness.

Is football betting really safe?

That depends on what online betting site you choose. You need to ensure you are only using reputable betting sites that will take care of your data and will not attempt to welch when it comes to paying out on a winning bet.

Can anybody bet on football matches?

On paper, yes. The usual caveats apply here. You can only place a punt on a football betting site if you are aged 18 or older, and are not banned from gambling for any reason. This includes gubbing.

Also, be aware of what payment method you are trying to use. It is illegal to use a credit card for football betting in the UK. Any football betting sites that allow you to use Amex or a non-prepaid MasterCard are to be avoided – they are not regulated appropriately.

What is the best payment method for football betting?

This depends on personal preference. As a rule, using an online payment portal like PayPal or Skrill is the most secure payment method. This way, you will not be providing the bookie with any of your personal data. Your football betting site of choice may charge for using these services, though.

If you’re using one of the best football betting sites, you can consider using a debit card or bank transfer for your football betting. Major betting sites will have superior security measures in place. This approach is never without risk, though.

Which of the top football leagues is best for betting?

That all depends on what you are looking for. Bookies decide on their odds based on the market, so the Premier League can be deceptive for betting. Promotions that surround Premier League football tend to be quite limited – though if the football betting site offers live streaming, you may at least be able to watch a live game that is not televised.

On the one hand, football fans in the UK know the Premier League best. This means that the min odds for a UK league can often be a good barometer as to an expected result. Never overlook the blind loyalty of football punters though, who may just bet hundreds on their own team to win more in hope than expectation!

If you’re a real football fanatic that knows a lot about other international leagues, look at the sportsbook market for foreign football matches (most bookies have a wide online sportsbook). You may find a welcome set of enhanced odds for a match that the top betting sites in the UK have let slip, as you know something even the best betting sites do not.

Do football betting sites in the UK only let me bet on the Premier League?

Football betting sites should never restrict you to only finding football odds on domestic games. The best betting sites will be happy for punters to play a bet on Manchester United vs. Liverpool in the FA Cup final or a mid-table dead rubber in the Mexican third division.

Equally, betting on the outcome of European football – including the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League – should also be included. UK betting sites, in particular, understand the importance of European football games.

What does in-play betting mean when football betting?

A lot can happen in the 90 (or 120 in a cup game) minutes of a football match. In-play betting means placing wagers while the match is ongoing, reacting to what is happening on the pitch. You can want to back both teams to score another goal before the final whistle or take advantage of enhanced odds hoping for an unexpected turnaround when one team is losing.

Where can I find reliable football betting tips?

The beauty of football is that it is unscripted and thus unpredictable. As a result, you should never put too much stock into supposed tipsters. They are just offering their opinion and prediction about what is likely to happen, just like you.

There are supposed experts all over the web, but take their suggestions with a pinch of salt. The football betting markets are no more susceptible to manipulation than racing or any other sports betting.

Can you make money betting on football?

Choosing the online bookies offering the highest odds on football bets can return huge payouts.

You need to be 18+ and gamble responsibly because finding the winning bets can be hard to find on a weekly basis. You should always remember to only bet what you can comfortably afford to lose.

Summary of the Best Football Betting Sites

As long as you gamble responsibly, betting on football can be huge fun. It is a way to enjoy a match that does not involve your team and to add a little extra spice to football games. There is no shortage of football betting offers and football betting sites, UK-based or otherwise, out there. Football wagers on weekend matches are hugely popular across the country with millions of devoted fans.

Take a look around and see which of the top football betting sites appeal to you most.

The football markets offer plenty of chances to have fun as well as live football streaming. Football betting online is more popular than ever but make sure you find a bookmaker that works for you.

We hope you find the best footie betting site you too – enjoy!

Other Leading Sports Bookies and The Best Betting Sites in the UK

Check out these leading sports bookmakers today and our independent reviews:

For more information on the online betting websites above simply follow the links or check our menu at the top of the page and our full UK betting sites list. All of these are UK licenced bookmakers and you can open a new account with any of these today as new UK customers.