by Marcus Lawrence on 04.01.2023

Football Betting Sites

Football betting sites are places where punters place wagers on the beautiful game. Whether you’re a fan of the fluid football of Spain’s La Liga, or the physical showdowns of the English Football League, football betting sites offer a chance to get in on the action. Read on to find out more.

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1

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How We Review Football Betting Sites

Here are some of the elements we focus on when assessing whether a site is worthy of recommendation.

Range of Football Betting Markets

As the world’s most popular sport, football has top-class leagues all over, from the English Premier League to the Brazilian Série A. We don’t think punters should be limited when it comes to what they can bet on, which is why we think the best football betting sites in the UK should cover a wide spread of markets from all over the globe.

Market and Odds

No matter if you’re picking Arsenal to thrash Spurs or for Real Madrid to win the Champions League, getting the best odds is key to getting the highest payouts. We will always look for sites that give the most competitive odds, as well as those that can provide plenty of betting markets on their sportsboooks.

Payment Options

These days, the top football betting websites offer a medley of different banking options, ranging from e-Wallets like PayPal to bank transfers and debit cards. This is important because every punter will have their own favourite payment method; the more options on offer, the better.

Offers and Promotions

Both well-established and new football betting sites come with some great deals for would-be bettors. These often include matched deposit bonuses, where bookmakers offers give punters an amount in bonus credits proportional to how much has been deposited into their betting account. You may also see an influx of football promotions when big tournaments swing around, like odds boosts on the Champions League or early payout offers if your team scores early in the Euros.

Live In-Play Betting

The best football betting sites also run in-play betting sections ‒ a market that allows bets to be placed after the game has already kicked off. In-play odds reflect the real-time action, and punters can place wagers on anything from the next goal scorer to whether Erik Lamela will be sent off.

Mobile and Desktop Experience

Betting at home on your desktop is one thing, but what if you want to bet on Bale scoring from outside the box while you’re waiting for the bus? Good mobile functionality is key to this, and we pay careful attention to the user experience across the bookmaker’s platforms.

Customer Service

When it comes to football betting, every second counts. That’s why it’s essential your bookmaker delivers efficient, helpful, and friendly customer service. The best sites will offer 24/7 live chat for urgent queries, but we also want to see timely email and phone support, a detailed FAQs section, and the use of social media channels.  

Unique Features

Great UK sportsbooks, from new football betting sites to ones that have been around for a while, have handy perks like bet editing tools, live streaming of matches, and the ability to cash out while play is underway. Our reviewers also keep an eye out for unique features that make certain sites stand out from the crowd.

Best Football Betting Sites

NameBonusClaim BonusReviewTerms and conditionsInformation

50% Matched Deposit Up To £50 Welcome Bonus

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10bet offers new customers a 50% matched deposit bonus up to £50 with the promo code PLAY10. Then as an existing customer, football bettors will be offered the chance to win a free bet on the beautiful game every week. 10bet has betting markets open in 129 different footballing nations, with detailed stats on each league and the form of every team. All of this and more is also available on the dedicated 10bet app. 

New Customers Offer 100% matched deposit up to £50. Min. deposit £15 (no Skrill/Neteller); Wager the qualifying deposit and bonus amount 8x within 30 days. Wagers must be on min. odds of 4/5 on singles or acca bets with min. odds of 2/5 per selection to qualify. 4/5 Min. single odds or 2/5 min. acca selection odds. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.

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One of the standout features of Mr Play’s sportsbook is the Play Bot, an automated source of betting tips that becomes particularly useful in-play, alerting punters to goal frenzies and dramatically changing odds. Punters can even customise the Play Bot to bring them only the most relevant information. New customers will receive a £10 free bet when they place a £10 wager of their own, and there’s also an opportunity to take on fellow members in betting competitions to win rewards. 

New Customer Offer Bet £10, get £10. £10 minimum deposit. Max £10 free bet is only valid for 14 days. Bet must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.

100% Up To £100

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Alongside its online casino and poker offering, 888sport is one of three betting options from the 888 brand, each with their own dedicated app. On the sports side of things, new customers can make use of £30 in free bets — plus a £10 casino bonus — when they place their first £10 bet. There are lots of other promotions available too, well-suited to football betting: a £5 free bet every week in the Acca Club; another £5 free bet when a wager at 4/1 or higher comes off; and plenty of daily price enhancements and odds boosts. And through the bet builder feature, you can customise your own bet slip however you like. 

New Customer Offer 100% up to £100. £10 minimum deposit. New customers only – £10 min deposit - The bonus will be applied once the full deposit amount has been wagered at least once with cumulative odds of 1.5 or greater. Wagering must be cleared within 90 days. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
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Casumo allows users to tweak the sportsbook however they see fit, meaning you can keep your favourite sports and leagues and remove the clutter. This bookie also offers the bet builder option, allowing users to handpick their preferred football betting markets. At the time of writing there’s no dedicated welcome offer on the sports betting side of things, but Casumo does have its own dedicated app. 

Get Double The Odds

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£30 in free bets are to be claimed when you sign up and bet £10 at Grosvenor, and these will be delivered in the form of three separate £10 wagers. Or if you’d prefer, you can choose any bet at any odds for a 100% boost when you place your first wager. Fans of accumulators are also well catered for here: every week you can boost your accas odds up to three times if the bet slip contains three or more legs. With dedicated apps for both its sportsbook and online casino, Grosvenor is one of the biggest betting brands in the game. 

NEW CUSTOMERS. MAX £10(EXC PAYPAL). 100% ODDS BOOST TOKEN. T&CS APPLY.

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If you’re a fan of in-play betting, Betiton’s partial cash out feature gives you that one extra decision when things are getting nervy. Rather than cash out all your winnings, you can choose to take a portion of it, and keep the rest where it is in case you’ve made the wrong choice. As a new customer, you’ll receive a £10 free bet once you’ve placed a £15 wager of your own, and there are also boosted odds available on accumulator bets. Betiton was only launched in 2020, but already offers football betting markets in 41 different countries. 

1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: £10, max £10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. Neteller,Skrill and Paypal not eligible.

Bet £10 Get £40 Welcome Bonus

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One of the longest standing bookmakers in the UK, Betfred offers new customers £60 worth of betting bonuses when they use the promo code WELCOME60 and play £10 of their own money. You’ll find football betting offers relevant to any current international tournaments, and acca insurance is available for any bets with five or more legs. What’s more, if you bet on a goalscorer either in-play or pre-match, you can double your returns if they bag a second, and triple them if they score a hat-trick. All of this and more is available on the Betfred native app. 

New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required. Full T&Cs apply.

Deposit £10, Get £20 Free

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If you hold a competitive streak, Ruby Bet offers punters the chance to take on fellow members. Through its Wager Wars, bettors are ranked on specified leaderboards following each wager they place: if it’s a success, you’ll score points and be in with a chance of earning extra cash prizes. With the bonus code SCORE, there’s also an opportunity to claim up to £500 cashback on football betting events, as well as a £10 free bet for new players when they bet £10 themselves. 

New Players Only. Minimum stake £10, minimum odds 1.5, stake not returned. 10X wagering the winnings from the free bet. Wagering occurs from real balance first. Wagering requirement is calculated on bonus bets only, wagering starts from real funds. Free bet is valid for 7 Days from issue. Max conversion: £20. Excluded Skrill deposits.

How to Sign Up at a Football Betting Site

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can wager on everything from the German Bundesliga to the Bulgarian Third division.

  1. Compare Football Betting Sites
    Use our handpicked list of the best football betting sites to get a feel for what’s out there. You can immediately compare welcome bonuses, or delve deeper by looking at our individual reviews.
  2. Click Through to the Betting Site
    Once you’ve settled on your preferred site, follow our link that will take you straight over to the registration page.
  3. Enter Your Details
    You won’t be able to put your football betting strategy into action unless you’ve got an account with a football betting site. Becoming a member is a straightforward process – just enter your personal details as prompted, and create your username and password.
  4. Verify Your Account
    You’ll need to first verify your identity before you can place a bet, which will include providing your date of birth and address, and submit an official document like a passport driver’s licence. This is entirely standard as part of the UK Gambling Commission’s licensing requirements.

How to Place a Bet at a Football Betting Site

Once you’re all signed up and have access to your betting account, it’s time to place your first wager. Here’s how to go about that.

  1. Deposit Money
    Unless you’re using a no deposit bonus, you’ll need to deposit money into your betting account. Just click over to your account area, select the payment method that suits you, enter the required details, and that’s it. Most deposit methods are instant once verification checks have been completed.
  2. Select a Market
    You probably have some idea of what you’d like to bet on, but even if you don’t that’s not an issue. The football markets section of a site should provide plenty of inspiration; since football is such a popular sport, you’ll usually find all the available markets close to the top of the navigation menu. Click over and you’ll be greeted with lists of leagues and competitions, all of which are open to wagers. You can then select from those on offer or choose more specific bets from individual matches ‒ on anything from the number of corners to the number of cards.
  3. Build Your Bet Slip
    Football betting sites in the UK work by showing a bet slip. It’s basically a part of your screen that keeps a tab on what you’ve chosen to bet on, so you can review your selections before confirming the wager. If you’re betting on just a single outcome, there’ll only be one line in your bet slip; if you’re placing an accumulator, each component will be listed one after the other.
  4. Enter Your Stake and Bet
    With every bet you click or tap on, you simply enter your stake in the box provided. This amount will need to be equal to or less than the amount you have in your account, plus any bonus bets you might have accrued. Then, simply press confirm.

How to Withdraw Your Winnings From a Football Betting Site

The top football betting websites make it easy to withdraw your winnings. Here’s how it’s done.

  1. Head to the Cashier Page
    The cashier or banking page on a betting site doesn’t just deal with deposits ‒ it’s also the place to go when you want to cash out your funds. Head over there to request a withdrawal.
  2. Select a Withdrawal Method
    Choosing a withdrawal method is important if you’re concerned about when you’ll actually get your hands on the money. Some banking options take longer than others, with e-Wallets tending to support the fastest withdrawal times. But timings do differ between football betting sites, so check the help section or FAQs if in doubt.
  3. Cash Out Your Money
    At this stage, you just need to type in the amount you want to withdraw. Remember, there may be a minimum withdrawal amount, so you might want to double check that before cashing out. You’ll then have to wait for the processing of the payment to complete, which could take anything from a few minutes to a few days depending on the withdrawal method.

Football Betting Advice

Having a solid football betting strategy is dependent on a decent knowledge of the game and the teams and players involved. Don’t worry if you’ve not been keeping up with the latest developments, as there are lots of places online where you can source in-depth information and football betting tips. Remember though, that your own first-hand research is always the best preparation. Here are some general factors to keep in mind when betting.

Form Guide

If you’ve not managed to catch much of a particular league in the last few weeks but fancy backing a team, it’s very helpful to check the form guide. This will give you an indication of the form of those involved, but bear in mind that form guides are no guarantee of future results.

Home and Away

They call it the ‘12th player’ – the sense that there’s an extra teammate on the pitch generated by the noise of the home fans. Playing at home usually provides a morale boost that can spur players to perform better in the heat of the moment, and can even influence decisions made by the referee. Obviously it’s no guarantee of a win, but it’s a factor that’s definitely worth keeping in mind before placing a wager.

Fixture Congestion

The fixture schedule plays an important part in a team’s season, especially for the better teams that qualify for multiple tournaments and leagues. For example, when things are in full flow in the UK around March, the best teams might be competing in the league, the Champions League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup at the same time. Key players will be rested for some matches, while others might be playing at limited capacity ‒ these factors are likely to have an impact in the short-term.

Injuries and Suspensions to Key Players

Another way that teams can get depleted is through injuries and suspensions. Think about whether that bet on your forward scoring a hat-trick is as likely to come off if they’ve been struggling with a hamstring problem. Bear in mind as well that the loss of certain players due to suspensions can have a major effect on the big games.

Finding the Best Betting Options on Football Betting Sites

Football betting is often more complex than a prediction on which team is going to win the game — but it doesn’t have to be! Here are some of the most popular football betting options. 

Match Betting

There are loads of markets available, but this one represents football betting in its simplest form: just pick the winner of any given match. In tournament football, one thing to look out for here is whether your bookie considers wins earned through extra-time or penalties as a legitimate result for the purposes of your bet. 

Match Result

With match betting, there are just three propositions — win, lose or draw — but with match result, punters will need to pinpoint the exact final score. It’s much harder to do, so you’ll find the odds reflect this.

Over/Under

The over/under market is a great betting option when you have a general feeling about a match. Punters select an area of the game — goals is the most common, but cards and corners are also popular — and then decide whether they want to wager over or under a specified number. For example, if you think Spurs and Leicester will continue their gung-ho approach to that fixture, then you might bet on over 5.5 goals in the match. Here are some other examples of when to select the over/under market:

  • A cagey scrap for survival towards the end of the season might favour an under goals selection, such as under 1.5 goals in the match
  • An open game against two evenly matched sides might favour an over corners selection, such as over 11.5 corners in the match
  • A feisty Merseyside derby might favour an over cards selection, such as over 6.5 cards in the match

Goalscorers

Simply pick a goalscorer in the game. If you want to enhance your odds here, you can opt to pick the scorer of the game’s first goal — football betting offers might boost the odds in this market in the build-up to the match, so keep an eye out for this. 

Both Teams to Score

Two evenly matched teams? Then it might be worth wagering in this market, where a bet is made on both teams to score at any time in the match. 

In-Play Betting

For those watching the game, in-play betting markets add tension and drama, allowing punters to respond to the changing dynamics of the match and to make predictions on what will happen next. For example, England are heading for a disastrous 1-0 defeat against the USA at the World Cup, but Jack Grealish has finally been brought on with 15 minutes to go and looks like changing the game — a perfect time to bet on an England goal. 

Accumulators

Also known as accas, accumulator bets combine multiple wagers into a single bet. Selections must usually be from different sporting events, though some of the best online bookies offer a Bet Builder feature, which allows you to craft accas for some sports from the same event. Whether you create your acca with picks from the same game or from multiple clashes, the odds for each pick on an accumulator bet are combined into one price. This makes accas a good way to roll up short prices to create a better potential payout — the more legs you pick, the better your possible return. The caveat here is that each leg must win for the overall acca to come good. Losing out because of one bad bet can be frustrating, so it’s worth looking out for acca insurance offers. These promos typically return your stake as a free bet if one leg lets you down, and, since accas are particularly popular in football betting, you can expect plenty of them to be around as Gareth Southgate and the Three Lions head to Qatar for the World Cup 2022.  

Welcome Offers and Betting Bonuses

Online bookmakers look to sweeten the deal for new customers by offering enticing welcome bonuses, and the top sites feature plenty of sports betting offers for returning bettors too. Remember that all these offers will come with terms and conditions, which you’ll need to read in full to gain a complete picture of the bonus. Here are some of the football betting offers you might receive. 

Free Bets

Free bets are by far the most common sign-up bonus at online sportsbooks. These offers are usually straightforward, with most sites requiring you to bet a certain amount of your own money to unlock the freebie. At BetUK, for example, newcomers get £30 of free bets after making their first minimum bet of £10 at minimum odds of 1.5 or greater. Many bookies also run a weekly free bets club, which allow existing customers to get in on the action too. Bet clubs work in much the same way as sign-up bonuses, in that you’ll need to wager some of your own cash to net a free bet. While free bets are generally available for a huge range of sports, betting sites may also offer free bets for specific markets as part of a special promotion for a big event. 888sport’s World Cup Winner promo offers an example. This World Cup betting offer requires you to place a £10 pre-tournament bet on the team you think will win the World Cup 2022. From then on, each time your chosen team is victorious in a World Cup match, you’ll get a £5 free bet. 

Odds Boosts

With odds boost bonus offers, the bookmaker will artificially enhance the odds of your chosen betting event to generate greater potential returns. These offers are not as common a sign-up bonus as a free bet but do pop up from time to time. When you register a new online betting account at Grosvenor Sport, for example, you’ll receive an exclusive ‘Double the Odds’ token to use on any bet, up to £10 max. This boosted bet can be laid on any sport and at any odds, presenting the perfect opportunity to get started with your World Cup wagers. Odds boosts are usually far more plentiful for existing customers, with some of the top online bookies offering daily odds boosts. At Paddy Power, for example, punters can enjoy enhanced ‘power’ prices on a range of selected bets every day, and at Ladbrokes, customers get a free daily odds boost token to use on any sport.

Matched Deposits

Matched deposit welcome bonuses see the bookie match a portion of your first deposit up to a set limit. Deposit match offers like these are actually much more common at online casinos than betting sites, but, like odds boost offers, do show up occasionally. An example of a matched deposit bonus at an online sports betting site is 100% up to £100. Here, the bookie will match your first deposit of up to £100 with an equal amount of bonus cash. In practice, both the value and percentage match for matched deposit offers can vary quite a bit. As a new customer at 10bet, for example, you can claim a 50% deposit match up to £50 when you deposit £15+ and use the promo code PLAY10. Matched deposit bonuses for sports bettors are even rarer for existing customers than they are for new sign-ups, though, as before, they’re a regular guest at online casinos, where they are often called reload bonuses. 

Which Football Competitions Can You Bet On?

Here’s a look at some of the most popular football competitions among bettors.

Qatar World Cup 2022

Held every four years, the World Cup usually takes place during the summer, although 2022’s competition — the 22nd edition — will be in November and December in Qatar. All the action is just around the corner now, and we’re here to tell you what to expect.

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 runs from 20th November to 18th December. 32 teams compete in the group stages, with these teams split into eight groups of four, as shown below. The top two teams in each group progress to the knock-out rounds, held between the 3rd and 6th December. The quarterfinals are on the 9th and 10th December, with the semi-finals held on the 13th and 14th. The losing teams will take part in a playoff for third place on 17th December, before the World Cup Final unfolds on the 18th at Lusail Stadium. 

Group AGroup BGroup CGroup D
  • Qatar
  • Ecuador
  • Senegal
  • Netherlands
  • England
  • Iran
  • USA
  • Wales
  • Argentina
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Mexico
  • Poland
  • France
  • Australia
  • Denmark
  • Tunisia
Group EGroup FGroup GGroup H
  • Spain
  • Costa Rica
  • Germany
  • Japan
  • Belgium
  • Canada
  • Morocco
  • Croatia
  • Brazil
  • Serbia
  • Switzerland
  • Cameroon
  • Portugal
  • Ghana
  • Uruguay
  • South Korea

England’s World Cup Journey

If you’re excited about seeing the England team in action on the pitch, you won’t need to wait long. England’s first game of the tournament — a matchup against Iran — will play out on 21st November at Khalifa International Stadium. It will be the first time the two football teams have met, and, despite pundits expecting some ‘feeling out’ time, our boys are favourites to win.

Here’s what the remainder of England’s Group B matches look like:

  • England vs USA – 25th November at Al Bayt Stadium. 
  • Wales vs England – 29th November at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium

If England finish in first or second place in Group B, they will progress to the knock-out rounds to play either the runners up or winners of Group A. 

The Group of Death

Which group is the toughest to win — the so-called group of death — is a matter that’s up for debate. Some pundits have Group E down as the toughest group due to the presence of World Cup winners Spain and Germany. Others feel that political problems off the pitch between the UK, USA and Iran makes Group B the toughest group. Only time will tell how things play out. 

World Cup Wagers and Betting Odds

The World Cup 2022 will feature an incredible 64 matches across eight venues, so you won’t find yourself short on World Cup betting options. Here’s what World Cup odds are looking like for popular bets ahead of the tournament:

  • England to win Group B: 1/3 
  • Harry Kane to be England Team Top Scorer: 4/6
  • England to win the World Cup: 15/2 
  • The favourite to win the World Cup: Brazil at 4/1

The World Cup betting odds listed above were live on Paddy Power at the time of writing and give you a good idea of the sort of bets on offer. However, betting odds can change quite significantly in the run-up to an event, and after it gets underway, so remember to compare the latest prices for your World Cup bets before you place your wagers. 

Premier League

The Premier League is the highest football league in England. It was formed back in 1992 as the successor to the former First Division. Also known as the Prem and the EPL, it comprises 20 teams, some of which are household names around the globe: Manchester United and Liverpool, for example, are two of the best supported teams in the world. Every year, three teams are relegated from the EPL and three teams are promoted from the Championship below. The top four finishers qualify for the pan-European Champions League. The Prem currently attracts some big-name talents, with the likes of Paul Pogba, Kevin De Bruyne, and Mohamed Salah all plying their trade here.

La Liga

Also comprising 20 teams, La Liga is the premier football division in Spain and can trace its history all the way back to the 1920s. You’re sure to recognise some of the clubs associated with La Liga, which include the superstar rosters of Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid, with top players including Lionel Messi, Karim Benzema and Luka Modrić. Real Madrid are the current record holders of the league, having been crowned champions a whopping 34 times in all. The four top places of the league also qualify for the Champions League, while the bottom three places get relegated to Spain’s Segunda División.

Serie A

Twenty teams also compete in Serie A, the top league in Italy. They include some of the great veterans of European football – Juventus, Internazionale, AC Milan, and Roma. One of the highest rated football leagues in the world, Serie A has been running since 1929 and has provided European Cup winners on multiple occasions. Today, four teams at the top of Serie A get qualification to the Champions League, while the bottom three teams are sent back into Serie B. Faces you’ll recognise while watching this league include the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo and Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku.

Bundesliga

The pinnacle of the German football hierarchy is the Bundesliga. Made up of 18 teams, it’s been going for almost six decades, having been first founded back in the early 1960s. The Bundesliga is again allocated four qualifying spots for the Champions League, with two of these sports usually going to Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund ‒ these are the biggest clubs in Germany, with players like Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland currently in their ranks. Finish in the bottom two spots of the Bundesliga and the team gets put back into Germany’s second tier.

Ligue 1

Ligue 1 is the premier football league in France. There are 20 teams involved, three of which will qualify for the UEFA Champions League by finishing in the top trio of positions. The league was known as National since its inception in 1930 but changed its name in 2002. In recent years, Ligue 1 has been dominated by Paris Saint-Germain, who now field the likes of Kylian Mbappé and Neymar. The three bottom-finishing teams are relegated down to, you guessed it, Ligue 2.

Champions League

The best teams in their respective domestic leagues will qualify to compete for the following season’s Champions League — Europe’s premier cup competition. 32 teams qualify for the group stages, with the top two going through to the knock-out rounds, where ties take place over two legs.

Euros

Also held every four years, the Euros crowns the best footballing nation in Europe. 24 teams qualify for the finals, and the format is the same as the World Cup. The only difference is that the four highest third-placed finishers in the group stages will also progress to the knock-out rounds. 

Women’s Euros

England played host to the 2022 Women’s European Championships, in which 16 teams competed for the crown. The tournament was delayed by a year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and England’s Lionesses took the title, beating Germany 2-1 in the final. 

Best World Cup Betting Sites

Looking for the best bookies to bet on the World Cup? Here at Gambling Deals, we’ve got plenty of top betting sites for you to choose from. Here are five of our favourites: 

NameBonusClaim BonusReviewTerms and conditionsInformation

50% Matched Deposit Up To £50 Welcome Bonus

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 Established in 2003, 10bet is one of the UK’s most trusted bookies. There’s a 50% up to £50 matched deposit bonus up for grabs when you sign up, and plenty of World Cup promotions to get stuck into after that. Along with various free World Cup bets, 10bet is currently offering the UK’s best odds for England to win the World Cup, with customers able to bet a maximum of £10 at the enhanced price of 10/1.

New Customers Offer 100% matched deposit up to £50. Min. deposit £15 (no Skrill/Neteller); Wager the qualifying deposit and bonus amount 8x within 30 days. Wagers must be on min. odds of 4/5 on singles or acca bets with min. odds of 2/5 per selection to qualify. 4/5 Min. single odds or 2/5 min. acca selection odds. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.

Bet £15, get a £10 free bet

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Launched in 2020, Betiton is an up-and-coming new bookmaker that will give you a £10 free bet when you bet £15 on sports. As a Betiton customer, you can take part in the site’s World Cup predictor game. All you need to do is make free predictions as to the group stage winners to earn a £5 free bet for Qatar vs Ecuador, 10 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza and up to 20% cashback on losses from your World Cup group stage betting. 

1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: £10, max £10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. Neteller,Skrill and Paypal not eligible.

Bet £10 Get £40 Welcome Bonus

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A no-nonsense bookie first established as a single betting shop in the 1960s, Betfred has long since cemented its place as a top UK bookmaker. There’s a whopping £30 in free bets available when you sign up and place your first bet of £10 or more. World Cup fans will find an exciting line-up of World Cup bets to choose from on the site, including World Cup Winner/Top Goal Scorer doubles, Name the Finalists and the Golden Glove. 

New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required. Full T&Cs apply.

Bet £5 Get £20 Free Bets

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With a history that goes all the way back to the 1800s, there’s little wonder that Ladbrokes is a favourite with UK bettors. New customers can bet £5 to get £20 worth of free bets, which is ideal if you fancy a handful of free World Cup bets. The Ladbrokes promotions page promises to be packed with World Cup betting offers, so it’s the perfect time to sign up for your new online betting account.

18+ New UK+IRE customers. Paypal and certain deposit types and bet types excluded. Min £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4 x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 4 days on sports, stake not returned, restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.

Deposit £10, Get £40

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Launched in 1997, Unibet celebrates its 25th year in 2022. UK bettors can get started with this popular online bookie by claiming a money back sports offer. Just place your first bet of £1 or more, and if it loses, you’ll get your stake back as bonus cash, up to £40 max. As an extra treat, you’ll also receive a £10 casino bonus. World Cup fans enjoy various different ways to bet on the big event at Unibet, including Both Teams to Score, Half Time Score and Draw No Bet.

18+ begambleaware.org. New Customers only. Minimum Deposit £10 and Get £40 in Casino Bonus Funds. Debit card only. Up to 50x wagering, game contributions vary, max. stake applies, new customers must opt in and claim offer within 24 hours and use within 30 days. See full terms.

Mobile Betting on the Go

Mobile betting is par for the course at UK bookmakers, but how should you approach it? There are two options which we’ve broken down below.

Mobile Betting Apps

Not all bookies offer a dedicated app, but the ones that do provide faster loading times and slicker interfaces. And when notifications are turned on, you’ll be able to keep up to date with all the latest price boosts and betting bonuses. The downside is that you’ll need to have space on your mobile device for the download, and using the app may also rinse your battery life.

Here’s a snapshot of the pros and cons of mobile betting apps:

plus What we like

  • Designed specifically for certain operating systems such as Android and iOS

  • Apps offer faster loading times, which can prove crucial for in-play betting

  • Two-factor authentication and biometric logins like Face ID can improve security

  • Optional push notifications ensure all the latest bonus codes land on your home screen

minus What we don't like

  • Apps take up space on your device

  • Like any app, mobile betting apps can drain your battery life

Mobile Betting Sites

If your bookie doesn’t offer an app, or you’d prefer not to download one, don’t fret – mobile betting will still be possible using your browser. These sites are optimised precisely for this reason, adjusting to smaller screens and different touchpoints, but you may find that performance is not as complete compared to a dedicated app. 

plus What we like

  • Work on most mobile phones and tablets with an internet browser

  • Most mobile sites will adjust their display to fit your screen size perfectly

  • No data is stored on your device, so you won’t use up any of your space

minus What we don't like

  • More steps required to log in compared to clicking on an app

  • Slower loading times compared to mobile betting apps

Payment Methods on Football Betting Sites

There are loads of ways to fund your football betting account. Here are some of the most popular. 

Debit Cards

Always accepted at UK betting sites, and always eligible to pick-up welcome bonuses, debit cards are a tried and trusted payment method. The only downside is that withdrawals are slow, taking somewhere between 2-5 working days. 

e-Wallets

There are lots of options in this payment category, such as PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, ecoPayz, and MuchBetter. All of these methods offer similar benefits, the most notable of which is their ability to offer fast or even instant withdrawals. In addition to this, you won’t need to share your bank details when making a transaction, adding an extra layer of security. Check your bookie’s T&Cs to see whether e-wallet deposits qualify for welcome offers.

Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards like Paysafecard and AstroPay use vouchers to load up betting accounts. As a result, these payment methods are known for their inherent money management perks, since only preloaded funds can be spent. However, it’s likely that you won’t be able to make a withdrawal of funds via this method, and higher rollers will be put off by the deposit limits. 

Trustly

Through Trustly’s open banking technology, two bank accounts are directly connected, so there’s no need to create a separate account. This makes deposits and withdrawals fast, but use of the service depends on whether your bank has signed up. Watch out for any associated fees too — this information will be available in your bank’s T&Cs.

Get Started with a Top Football Betting Site Today

Ready to place your wagers on Neymar scoring a double or Kane smashing a header in? Compare the very best football betting sites right here, weigh up the welcome bonuses, and follow our links on how to sign up.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which football betting site is the best?

    This can be a pretty subjective issue. Some punters like certain sites because of the way they look and feel, while others will favour those with the most frequent promotions. Here at Gambling Deals, we lay out the football betting websites that are licensed and offer a great spread of markets, so you can pick and choose between the best.

  • Which betting site has the most football matches?

    These days, the best football betting sites cover all the markets that you could possibly want ‒ everything from obscure worldwide leagues to the biggest international competitions. We do consider market coverage when we list our top choices, so you should find you can bet on most games if you go with one of our picks.

  • Do all football betting sites offer free bets?

    No, but you’ll find that both new football betting sites and older stalwarts on the scene will offer bonuses of one kind or another. That could be a free bet, but could also be a matched deposit or an odds boost, for example.

  • Can you withdraw your football free bet winnings straight away?

    That’s not likely. Most of the time, free bet winnings from any sort of sports bet will need to be wagered a certain number of times before they can be withdrawn into your bank account.

  • Which betting site offers cards in South American football?

    Most will. Football betting sites, even those in the UK, typically cover football from all around the globe. However, if you do want to bet on Bogota beating Cali and other matches from South America, be sure to check that South American football markets are included before you sign up.

  • Which football betting sites offer the best World Cup betting odds?

    You can always count on top bookies like 888sport, Ladbrokes, William Hill and so on to offer competitive World Cup odds. However, you never know what’s going to pop up in the way of special offers once the action gets underway. We recommend keeping an eye on the promo pages of your favourite betting sites to stay up to date with all the latest deals.

  • What are the odds for England to win the World Cup?

    The odds for England to win the World Cup 2022 in Qatar are currently sitting at around 15/2. However, for those bettors who believe that the Three Lions can bring it home, 10bet is offering an enhanced price of 10/1. Customers can bet a maximum of £10.

The people behind this page

Online gambling content experts helped write, edit and check this page:

Marcus is Head of Content at Gambling Deals, overseeing the site's overall content development, planning, and application. Along with working to improve the site's overall quality and thereby increase its usefulness to our users, he is always looking for ways to uncover new elements of the online gambling landscape and highlight how they may benefit players. Outside work Marcus splits his time between playing basketball and chess, listening to as much music as he can, and forcing himself into the gym.
Alice is a Content Editor at Gambling Deals and has a major hand in writing, editing, and planning the copy that ends up on the site. She's always on the lookout for new ways to bring the site to life, and regularly catches up with industry experts to get the latest on where things are heading. Outside work Alice plays lacrosse, knuckles down with French, and keeps close tabs on Arsenal FC.
With several years experience in the online gambling industry, Guy is a Writer for Gambling Deals. Outside of work he loves sport, in particular football and cricket.

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