The best football betting sites – the top picks for the UK in December 2025

Read on to see our thoughts on the best football betting sites currently available to UK players, covering several important subjects that shouldn’t be missed by those serious about finding the right site.

Bet365
5 rating
Get £30 in free bets

+ 80 football leagues

Acca Boost

Early Payout

Join Bet365
Terms & Conditions

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

Terms and conditions apply
Coral
5 rating
Get £20 free bets

Best Odds Guaranteed

Quick Bet feature

Join Coral
Terms & Conditions

18+ New UK+IRE Customers. Paypal & some deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £10 real money bet on any sport at min odds 1/2 to get £40 in Free Bets to use on selected markets. Free bets valid for 7 days after first real money bet. Stake not returned, no cashout, restrictions and T&Cs apply.

Terms and conditions apply
BOYLE Sports
5 rating
Get £30 in free bets + a £10 casino bonus

Football early payout – 2 goals ahead

Combined odds Bet Builder

Acca loyalty

Join BOYLE Sports
Terms & Conditions

18+ New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. £40 in FREE Bets (FB) as £30 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7-day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. T&Cs Apply.

Terms and conditions apply
William Hill
5 rating
Get £40 free bets

Flash Odds

Daily bet boosts

Bet builder

Join William Hill
Terms & Conditions

18+. Play Safe. Online only. For new UK register customers using promo code G40. Deposit & place £10 cash single bet (min odds 1/2 on sportsbook (excl. Virtuals). Get £40 in free bets (4x £10), valid for sportsbook (excl. Virtuals), 7 days expiry, must use in full (£10 each). Not valid with deposits via PayPal, Neosurf, Paysafe, Apple Pay, NETELLER, Skrill, ecoPayz, Kalibra/Postpay or WH PLUS Card. One per customer. Full T&Cs apply. www.begamble.aware.org #ad

Terms and conditions apply
Bet442
5 rating
Up to £50 free bets

Bet builders & multiples

Seamless gameplay

In-play betting

Join Bet442
Terms & Conditions

18+. New customers only. Opt-in required. Valid on first deposit of £20 or more. Maximum up to 2 x Free Bets. Maximum Free Bets value of up to £50 (up to £25 per Free Bet). Qualifying bets only valid on Bet Builder. Min qualifying bet selections 4. Min qualifying odds 4/1. First Free Bet applies to first eligible bet. Second Free Bet applies second qualifying eligible bet. Free Bet credited if corresponding qualifying bet loses. Qualifying bets to settle within 7 days of first deposit. Free Bets valid for 7 days. Free Bets only valid for Bet Builder with minimum 4 selections and minimum odds of 4/1. Cash-out voids qualifying bet www.begambleaware.org.

Terms and conditions apply
Grosvenor
5 rating
Get doubled odds 100% on first bet

Odds boosts on selected games

Join Grosvenor
Terms & Conditions

New members only. 100% Odds Boost on sports bets, max £10. Grosvenor may verify and amend.

Terms and conditions apply
Quickbet
5 rating
Get £10 in free bets

Bet Builder

Acca Boost (up to 50%)

Early Payout

Join Quickbet
Terms & Conditions

#AD | 18+ | Welcome bonus for new players only | Maximum bonus is 100% up to £100 | Min. deposit is £10 | No max cash out | Wagering is 40x bonus | Maximum bet with an active bonus is £5 | Eligibility is restricted for suspected abuse | Skrill & Neteller deposits excluded for welcome bonus | Cashback when offered, applies to deposits where no bonus is included | Cashback is cash with no restrictions | T&C’s apply |Free bet: Min odds: 2.0 – Free bet value will be deducted from free bet winnings | BeGambleAware.org

Terms and conditions apply
Betano
5 rating
Get £30 in free bets

Enhanced Accas

Aston Villa official partner

Join Betano
Terms & Conditions

18+ New Customers. Opt in, deposit and bet £10 on any football (odds 1/1+) within 3 days of sign up. Get 3x£10 Free Bets for set football markets. Bonuses expire in 14 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org. Please gamble responsibly.

Terms and conditions apply
Ladbrokes
5 rating
Get £20 in free bets

1-2 FREE

Acca Insurance

Join Ladbrokes
Terms & Conditions

18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply.

Terms and conditions apply
Betfred
5 rating
Get £40 free bets

Football Acca Flex

Goal Fever

In Play Double

Join Betfred
Terms & Conditions

New customers only. Register (excl. 13/04/24) with WELCOME50. First bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get Free Bets: £20 In-Play, £20 Acca & 50 x £0.20 (£10) Free Spins on Fishin’ Frenzy within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply.

Terms and conditions apply
Star Sports
4 rating
Get 50% back as a free bet if your first bet loses

Football Rewards

Boosts

Good Blog

Join Star Sports
Terms & Conditions

#AD New UK/IE customers only. Sign up and place your first sports bet at odds of Evens (2.0) or greater, and if it loses, get a free bet equivalent to 50% of your first bet stake (min £10), to a maximum value of £25, plus 25 free spins on Gold Horsey Winner. Full T&Cs apply. 18+ | GambleAware.org

Terms and conditions apply
Unibet
4 rating
Get up to £40

Free Bets

UniBoost

Great football blog

Join Unibet
Terms & Conditions

18+. BeGambleAware.org. New customers only. Min Dep £10. Debit cards only. Opt in for bonus funds. Wagering, sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Sports bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Valid for 7 days. Geographical Restrictions and T&Cs Apply.

Terms and conditions apply
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bet365 – Oozes football-betting quality

Everybody has heard of bet365, one of the most well-known betting brands in the UK and easily one of the best betting sites for football, sponsoring several different teams and more recently the UEFA Champions League.

Bet365 has become known for its quality betting product. Players typically report that the website is smooth, with recognisable color combinations that create clear and compelling contrast, making the site easy to understand. A plethora of betting options can be found on the football section, so you’re bound to find your match and market here.

Last but not least, there’s no issue with legitimacy, as bet365 holds a licence from the UK Gambling Commission.

Bet365

Bet365’s Free Bet Freedom: Unlock £30 for Football Bets

It’s clear to see why the bet365 welcome bonus is appealing to new players: deposit £10, get £30 in free bets. The great thing about the bet365 promo code, unlike some other sportsbooks, is that there are no restrictions on where to spend your free bets.

Feel free to spend them on football bets!

bet365 Sign Up offer

bet365’s Standout Promotions for loyal bettors

We can’t forget about bettors once sign up is completed. bet365 offers a few respectable promotions, including a couple of pioneering ones, which is a significant selling point.

Firstly, their ‘2 Goals Ahead’ payout, which pays out early if the team you back goes two goals ahead. Plus, their ‘Soccer Substitute’ offer returns your stake as bet credits if your player is subbed before half-time.

bet365 early payout existing offer

bet365 football betting market review

Starting strong with a well-rounded sportsbook, bet365 offers a vast library of betting markets from competitions around the globe. With competitive odds and live streaming for multiple leagues, bet365 is certainly not one to miss out. In other words, bet365 football betting is some of the best.

Below is some information on what we think about bet365’s different football betting areas.

  • Football betting market depth – bet365 is superior to most firms in terms of their betting market options, with competitions available from all over the world and plenty of markets within them.
  • Live betting options – similar to above, there’s no shortage of in-play betting options, with most of their pre-game markets becoming available almost instantly after kick-off.
  • Streaming services – bet365 offers live streaming, with a lot more options than other sportsbooks provide, providing high-quality streams for leagues from different countries such as the Brazilian Serie A and Serie B.
  • Competitive odds? – There are occasions when Bet365 isn’t offering the highest odds; however, they usually provide very competitive odds, which are often better than competitors.
  • Betting limits – bet365 has a maximum winning limit of £100,000 on the majority of betting markets.
  • Special features‘Soccer Substitute’: when betting on a player, you get a refund as credits if they come off before half time.
  • Mobile betting experience – bet365 offers an excellent mobile app, which is efficient and easy to use; very similar to their main desktop site. The bet365 app is one of the most popular on the market both in terms of number of downloads and user ratings.
  • Virtual betting experience – bet365 offers a wide range of virtual betting markets, including Esoccer and virtual soccer.

Coral – established and well-known UK betting brand

Owned by Entain – the same parent company as Ladbrokes – Coral is amongst the old boys of the industry, having been founded 1926. As a result, Coral’s site has a similar look and feel to Ladbrokes, with a slick website that is easy to operate.

There are a whole load of sports to choose from, with up to 270+ markets on popular football games, making Coral one of the best betting sites for football.

Small Deposit, Big Token: £20 Bonus with Just a £5 Minimum Deposit

In my opinion, despite the Coral sign up offer being smaller than some other sites, the fact that the deposit is kept to a low minimum of £5 is great, making it accessible for more people who don’t want to trial the site with a lot of money.

But, the free token being a lump sum of £20, rather than a few £5 bets like other bookmakers provide, isn’t the most preferable option.

Coral sign up offer

Coral’s Extras: Free Rewards & Games for Horse Racing Fans

Unfortunately, while Coral offers a few promotions for horse racing and greyhounds, there are no other promotions for football. However, there are a few free-to-play games, including ‘Shake Up Free Rewards’, which allows players to shake their phone (or tap their desktop) for a free prize.

Coral promotions

Coral football betting market review

Football bettors at Coral looking to play with small stakes are in luck, as the welcome offer only requires a £5 deposit, plus there are some cool football betting features. Let’s take a look at how Coral rates in different football-betting areas:

  • Football betting market depth – There’s a large selection of markets available for popular competitions, such as the UEFA Nations League, but not as many for some of the smaller ones.
  • Live betting options – There are no problems here. All of the markets available pre-game can also be bet on in-play.
  • Streaming services—Coral offers live streaming and a comprehensive list of sports, including football and several other popular options.
  • Competitive odds? – In general, Coral’s odds are pretty standard in the betting industry.
  • Betting limits – Coral have a good payout limit, of up to £1 million in some sports, so it shouldn’t be a problem to most bettors.
  • Special features – Coral offers two free-to-play competitions, one for horse racing and one for football. ‘Football Super Series’ allows customers to predict four match stats for a chance to win free bets or up to £100 cash.
  • Mobile betting experience—The Coral mobile app is well-designed and user-friendly, as expected from a top-name brand. It also has the shaking feature in the ‘Shake Up Free Rewards’ promotion, which is cool.
  • Virtual betting experience—Like many sportsbooks, Coral offers good virtual sports betting on a range of sports.

BOYLE Sports – An all-round betting giant

Now Ireland’s largest independently owned bookmaker, BOYLE Sports had humble beginnings, forming back in 1982 as a family-run betting company, which is now one of the biggest betting operators in the industry.

In recent times, the team at BoyleSports has developed an excellent online betting platform that ticks many important boxes. The site looks great, it’s super simple to use, and there are loads of betting options. Oh, and the odds are competitive, plus the promotions are often unique.

BOYLE Sports welcome offer is unique

While many operators are offering standard welcome bonuses, BOYLE Sports offers new users something a little different, which in an industry full of copying, is great to see.

The new player offer at BOYLE Sports is a ‘Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets + £10 Casino Bonus’, which provides new customers with £30 in sports free bets plus a £10 casino bonus when they place a qualifying £10 bet.

This offer is available to new UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland), with the £40 in free bets being paid as £30 in sports bets and a £10 casino bonus.

BOYLE Sports football betting market review

BOYLE Sports is arguably best known for its horse racing bookmaking, which is not entirely surprising, given the fantastic horse racing coverage at BOYLE Sports, both in terms of competitive odds and live streaming. However, the football betting at BOYLE Sports is also first-rate.

Here is a key breakdown of our thought regarding BOYLE Sports football betting product:

  • Football betting market depth – There are loads of football betting options at BOYLE Sports, with a wide array of leagues and competitions available, while the market selection is also strong, especially when it comes to the Premier League.
  • Live betting options – In-play betting is big business these days, so it’s not exactly surprising that BOYLE Sports in-play betting section is very prominent on the site, while it’s also rather deep in terms of options.
  • Streaming services – BOYLE Sports doesn’t offer the same level of football live streaming as some sites, such as bet365, do, it must be said. There are some competitions available for live streaming, but the level of choice is a little underwhelming.
  • Competitive odds? – When it comes to football betting, BOYLE Sports often offers industry-leading odds, especially for player-betting markets, such as ‘Player to Assist’ or ‘Player to Score or Assist’.
  • Betting limits – BOYLE Sports has a maximum payout limit, which varies depending on the sport. For football, the maximum payout is £1,000,000.
  • Special features – One of BOYLE Sports special features is the ‘2+ Early Payout’ feature, which allows bettors to be paid out early if they bet on a team to win and that team leads by two goals at any point during the match.

Virtual betting experience – There’s a steady stream of virtual football betting action at BOYLE Sports, with a new virtual football match taking place every three minutes. Each virtual football match offers ‘Match Result’, ‘Correct Score’ and ‘Total Goals’ markets.

William Hill – Old school betting company

One of the oldest sportsbooks in this article, founded in 1934 by one William Hill, William Hill is one of the largest betting companies in the world. Thus, they’ve had a lot of time and experience to get it right, and they do – in many ways.

Speaking honestly, right out of the gate, it’s worth saying that the William Hill site isn’t as easy to navigate as some others. It isn’t as beginner-friendly, that’s for sure. Many pages are quite saturated, and, to be honest, it’s not that interesting to look at.

However, they do display ‘Enhanced Odds’ bets on the football home page and offer many matches and markets from a range of countries. The odds are typically competitive, too.

William Hill’s Power Play: Bet £10, Get £60 + Enhanced Odds

The William Hill promo code is much more promising than the site design. The sign-up offer is generous: Bet £10 and receive £60; £40 in free bets, plus a £20 casino bonus.

On top of that, they also provide ‘Enhanced Odds’ on specific bets and ‘Bet Builder Extra’—boosts on bet builders in particular games.

william hill sign up offer

Early Wins & Impact Subs: William Hill’s Game-Changing Promotions for Regulars

William Hill has also introduced a ‘2 Up’ promotion, paying out early if the team you back go two goals ahead; even if they end up losing, you are still quids in.

Another interesting promotion is the ‘Impact Sub’, similar to the first substitute offer at bet365. It’s a little different at WHl; if your player goes off, rather than losing your money or a refund, the sub will take over the bet.

William hill promotions

William Hill football betting market review

Despite not having the most user-friendly website, with an excellent welcome offer and a few other nice touches, William Hill ranks well within the best football betting sites in the UK.

Below you’ll find what we have to say about different areas of William Hill’s football betting product.

  • Football betting market depth—Though William Hill offers fewer unique competitions than other sportsbooks, it certainly provides a wide range of countries, competitions, and markets, so you should have no issue finding your desired bet.
  • Live betting options – There a wide range of games available for betting in-play, with quite a few markets still accessible.
  • Streaming services – William Hill do offer live streaming, available to account holders who have placed bets in the specific event.
  • Competitive odds? – The odds at William Hill are very competitive, with the option for ‘Enhanced Odds’ on certain matches, which is even better.
  • Betting limits – William Hill provides one of the most excellent maximum payouts, with up to £2 million for some sports, including football.
  • Special features—Of course, their well-known WH Radio is a great feature, providing excellent sports coverage online. Their #YourOdds is a nice touch, allowing customers to contact them over social media to request their own bets using this hashtag, though it’s not the easiest to find on their website.
  • Mobile betting experience—Most users find the mobile app preferable to their desktop site in terms of navigation and usability, as justified by its 4.7 ranking on the Apple Store.
  • Virtual betting experience – William Hill offers a good virtual betting experience, with virtual football matches kicking off every three minutes.

Bet442 – Fresh platform with impressive depth

A newcomer to the UK betting scene launched in 2024, Bet442 operates on the proven AG Communications platform. While the brand may be new, it benefits from the backing and experience of Aspire Global, the company behind successful operators like Mr. Play and ZetBet.

The website follows a familiar layout that prioritizes in-play betting from the moment you land on the sports section. What immediately stands out is the comprehensive menu showcasing an impressive range of sports, competitions, and events. The platform excels particularly in niche sports coverage and offers exceptional market depth for US sports.

Bet442’s Solid Welcome: Up to £50 free bets for new players

The Bet442 welcome offer provides new customers with up to £50 in free bets. The bonus is split into two free bets of up to £25 each, both valid for Bet Builder bets only. Free bets are credited when your qualifying bets lose.

The qualifying bet must be a Bet Builder with minimum 4 selections and total odds of 4/1 (5.00) or greater.

bet442-co-uk-special-football-PAR-10-30-2025_04_28_PM

Bet442’s focus: Rewarding loyal customers

While Bet442’s promotional offerings are currently limited for existing customers, they do claim to reward loyal bettors with additional bonuses over time. The focus appears to be on providing quality core features like cash out and bet builders rather than flashy promotions.

This approach may appeal to serious bettors who prioritize solid fundamentals over constant promotional noise.

Bet442 football betting market review

Despite being new to the market, Bet442 demonstrates impressive football betting credentials that justify its inclusion among the best football betting sites. The platform covers nearly 1,000 football matches at any given time, competing with established operators in terms of breadth.

Online-Sports-Betting-Site-UK-Bet-Online-Bet442-10-30-2025_04_28_PM

Here’s how Bet442 performs across different football betting areas:

  • Football betting market depth – Bet442 offers extensive coverage with competitions from around the globe. Market depth is particularly impressive for major leagues, though smaller competitions have fewer betting options.
  • Live betting options – Strong in-play section with comprehensive market availability that rivals more established operators.
  • Streaming services – Currently, Bet442 doesn’t offer live streaming services, which is a notable omission compared to competitors.
  • Competitive odds? – Odds are very competitive across the board, often matching or exceeding industry standards, particularly for niche markets.
  • Betting limits – Standard maximum payout limits that should satisfy most recreational and semi-professional bettors.
  • Special features – Excellent bet builder functionality with more markets than initially apparent, including comprehensive player options that some competitors overlook.
  • Mobile betting experience – The dedicated mobile app is a standout feature, offering smoother navigation than the desktop site with efficient betslip integration.
  • Virtual betting experience – Limited virtual sports options compared to established competitors, though what’s available functions well.

Grosvenor – Casino kings making a move into sports betting

Grosvenor was initially founded as a casino in 1970, and has branched out into the world of sports betting. In all honesty, their website has a distinct casino feel about it, and isn’t as aesthetically pleasing as others that I’ve encountered. It seems less sophisticated, and more saturated with icons, pictures and text than other sites.

Grosvenor’s Unique Welcome: Double the Odds on Your First £10 Bet

Grosvenor has quite a unique welcome offer; for new customers, they will double the odds 100% for any bet you choose, with a maximum stake of £10. This is particularly good for those football bettors.

For this unique offer alone, Grosvenor deserves a place on the list of the top 10 football betting sites.

Grosvenor sign up offer

Grosvenor’s Limited Football Promotions: Odds Boosts & Daily Scratch Games

There isn’t a huge range of promotions on the website for football bettors at the time of writing this article, apart from odds boosts on certain matches.

They do have a few horse racing promotions and a daily free-to-play scratch game: if you match three icons, you win prizes.

Grosvenor promo

Grosvenor football betting market review

To be honest, our review of Grosvenor highlighted a few areas that were slightly disappointing. For a lot of sports, Grosvenor offers sufficient markets and betting options; there is a vast range of markets for the more popular events.

Additionally, they have a decent payout limit and offer odds that are comparable to the best. However, it is clear that their foundations are in the casino section, and for sports bettors, especially football fans, there were a few let-downs. There is no mobile app for the sportsbook, and they do not currently offer live football streaming.

  • Football betting market depth – Grosvenor offers a range of competitions and countries for football, although it may not be as extensive as other bookmakers. Most games have an adequate number of markets, and for some popular games, there are as many as 380 markets available.
  • Live betting options – Grosvenor offers in-play betting, but with a few fewer markets than pre-game.
  • Streaming services – Currently, Grovenor doesn’t offer live streaming for football, only for horse racing.
  • Competitive odds? – The odds at Grosvenor are usually competitive in most markets.
  • Betting limits – Grosvenor’s payout limit is in line with the industry norm, up to £250,000 on most sports.
  • Special features – Grosvenor has a daily ‘Hi-Lo’ game, which rewards customers with prizes (free spins, bonuses). Besides this and their casino section, which is their primary focus, there are no other unique features.
  • Mobile betting experience – Slightly disappointing, Grosvenor does have an app, but it doesn’t include the sportsbook, just the casino section. The app in general has a lower rating than others in this article, at 4.2 on Apple Store.
  • Virtual betting experience – Grosvenor does not offer virtual sports.

Betano – New kids on the UK football betting block

Betano is a newcomer in relation to most others in this article, having been founded in 2017, but it should be considered one of the best football betting sites in the UK. Despite still being in its infancy, Betano is fully legit, holding a licence by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission.

Their website is eye-catching and bold, with a snazzy and different colour scheme. Moreover, they offer a wide selection of sports and markets.

Betano’s Premier League welcome: £30 in free bets with a £10 deposit

The Betano sign up offer is fairly generous, with £30 given in free bets to spend on the Premier League after an initial deposit of £10. The only downside is there are stipulations on where to spend the £20, which is split into six £5 bet tokens.

Betano promotions

Betano’s ongoing offers: Boosts & specials for football bettors

Unfortunately, promotions for existing customers is something that could be improved at Betano. There are a few different options for sign up offers.

However, existing football bettors can enjoy a variety of boosts and specials, all of which can be found in the football betting section.

Betano football betting market review

Not too dissimilar to the design at Betvictor, I think there’s lots to like about the Betano website, especially if you’re a football punter. Of all the sports available to bettors at Betano, football is the best, both in terms of the number of available markets and the number of markets.

Let’s see how Betano performs in each football-betting area:

  • Football betting market depth – Betano provides an extensive range of sports to choose from. Especially in football, there is a selection of competitions from countries around the world, with a few markets available on the smaller games.
  • Live betting options – Betano offers a variety of in-play markets for many games, including smaller ones.
  • Streaming services – Betano offers live streaming; however, the live streaming options are limited. In other words, other football betting sites are better for those looking for lots of live-streaming options.
  • Competitive odds? – by no means better than all other sportsbooks regularly, the odds at Betano are competitive.
  • Betting limits – A fairly high maximum payout standing at £500,000 for football.
  • Special features – The Lucky Dip feature is a fun game for those seeking something a little different to football once in a while.
  • Mobile betting experience—Betano’s mobile app has a nice design, the same colour scheme, and is optimised for mobile use.
  • Virtual betting experience – Betano offers virtual betting, with football kicking off every two minutes, a frequency more common among bookmakers on this list.

Ladbrokes – first on the scene and still there

The oldest UK betting site on this list, established in 1886, Ladbrokes is the oldest sportsbook in the UK and a well-established brand in the industry. Chances are you’ve heard of them. The website design is striking, featuring the company’s famous red branding. The choice to use two sets of headings at the top and one on the left is a good one. It’s easy to understand, as the featured promotions are illustrated in a slideshow on each page.

Low stakes, no limits: Get a £20 welcome bonus with just a £5 deposit

Although the Ladbrokes sign up offer isn’t as large as other sites in this list, with £20 on offer for new customers, the initial deposit is a nice and low £5 to unlock the bonus, ideal for those only seeking to play with low stakes. Additionally, there are no restrictions on where to use the free bets, which is always a welcome feature.

Ladbrokes sign-up offer

Ladbrokes’ Loyalty Boosts: Early Payouts & Daily Acca Enhancements

One of Ladbrokes’ promotions is ‘2UP’, paying out bettors if the team they backed goes two goals up – regardless of the time gone – not to mention a lot of odds boosts available across the site, including boosts on your first two accas of the day.

Ladbrokes promotions

Ladbrokes football betting market review

The best thing about Ladbrokes for football betting is the number of markets available, and the website is cool, too. Ladbrokes offers some particularly niche markets to football bettors, which is great to see. Don’t be fooled; this is definitely one of the top 10 football betting sites.

Here’s what we think about the different aspects of Ladbrokes’ football betting product:

  • Football betting market depth: Ladbrokes offers an extensive range of markets, including those for less popular games and events.
  • Live betting options – Similar to above, there are no issues with the markets available for in-play betting on almost every game on the site.
  • Streaming services – Live streams are available for customers who log in. They also provide streams for more niche games, such as Iraq vs. Oman, when writing this article.
  • Competitive odds? – Typically, Ladbrokes offers odds that are in line with the industry average. Occasionally, they will have odds that beat other bookmakers, especially on football.
  • Betting limits – Ladbrokes has a high maximum payout, with a standard limit being £250,000, but it can rise to £1 million in some markets.
  • Special features – Their new ‘Lucky Dip’ feature is cool, ideal for bettors looking for a bit of fun and looking to change it up. Also, their ‘1-2-Free’ allows customers to predict the result of three games, winning a different prize with each correct guess.
  • Mobile betting experience – With a great ranking on the App Store (4.6), the Ladbrokes app is very user-friendly, well-designed, and fully functioning.
  • Virtual betting experience—Ladbrokes offers virtual betting, like most other sportsbooks. They offer virtuals in a few different sports, including football, which starts every three minutes.

Betfred – trusted betting brand with a rich history

Of course, in an article about the best football betting sites in the UK, we must include Betfred. Betfred has been a prominent presence on the betting scene for over 50 years, founded in 1967, and has grown to become one of the most popular UK bookmakers, sponsoring various sports events and teams.

The desktop site features a simplistic design and is easy to use, even for beginners. Multiple key headings along the top and a scrolling menu on the left make site navigation a breeze. The mobile app is very similar.

Betfred site

Betfred’s Big Welcome & Fresh Promos: Get £50 + In-Play Free Bets

Not only is the £50 Betfred promo code very appealing and one of the best in this article, but Betfred also offers a wide range of promotions for various sports, which are regularly refreshed.

For example, at the time of writing, they are offering a free £5 bet when bettors place an in-play bet of £10 (at odds of 1.50 or greater) on the UEFA Nations League.

Betfred’s Loyalty Boost: Acca Flex & Goal Scorer Specials for Regulars

There are a couple of other football betting promotions available for more extended periods, catering to both existing and new customers.

Firstly, their ‘Acca Flex’ – provides a cash bonus if your acca wins on selected markets, and up to £10 is refunded if one bet loses. Secondly, ‘Double Delight and Hat-trick Heaven’ offers double or triple the odds if your goal scorer grabs a second or third goal.

Betfred promotions

Betfred football betting market review

After reviewing Betfred, which is easily one of the best football betting sites, we believe punters will be more than satisfied with this sportsbook.

The betting options are plentiful, while the odds are among the best prices available. Additionally, we appreciate the interactive element with their customers, who use the term ‘#pickyourpunt’ to get their custom bets priced up via Twitter (now known as X).

Whilst the app isn’t too sophisticated, both the desktop site and app are user-friendly; it’s a shame that they don’t offer a large range of streaming options. See below for how we rate Betfred in different areas related to football betting.

  • Football betting market depth – Betfred offers thousands of betting markets on a wide range of countries and competitions, although perhaps not as many as other sportsbooks, it certainly provides enough options. For smaller games, fewer markets are shown.
  • Live betting options – There is a wide range of in-play betting markets, though their options may not be as extensive as those of other sportsbooks in this list.
  • Streaming services – Betfred do offer live streaming for logged-in customers, and for most sports, you don’t need to have a bet on to watch. Unfortunately, there aren’t as many football live-streaming services as other betting sites.
  • Competitive odds? – Betfred definitely is competitive in the odds aspect, claiming to be the best in the market. Plus, they offer ‘price boosts’ for selected matches each day.
  • Betting limits – Betfred has a pretty typical maximum payout of £100,000 for most sports.
  • Special features – The #pickyourpunt is a nice feature. Like William Hill, bettors can build their own bet and ask Betfred via social media using the hashtag. Also, the fact that they display the TV channel details is handy.
  • Mobile Betting Experience – The mobile app, available on both iOS and Android, is well-designed and easy to use. One way to improve it would be to have better live streaming services. The current Apple Store ranking is 4.5 stars.
  • Virtual betting experience – With a football game kicking off every three minutes, Betfred offers excellent virtual betting options, as well as other sports.

Star Sports Bet – Perfect for the serious football punter

Originally created as Star Racing in 1999, Star Sports has gradually expanded its sports offerings and website, and it’s fair to say that it has grown into a strong one. The website isn’t too overpowering, with all the colours in harmony. It’s not complicated to navigate either.

Usually, Star Sports matches the prices of other sportsbooks and often offers the best prices.

Star Sports Bet’s Welcome Offer: 50% Back on Losing First Bet

The welcome bonus at Star Sports Bet isn’t too enticing; if your first bet loses, you receive 50% back in free bets. Unlike a lot of sportsbooks, the guys at Star Sports aren’t really offering you anything new to join.

Star Sports Bet Sign up offer

Star Sports Bet’s Loyalty Perks: £10 Free Bet for Football Accumulators

Star Sports Bet offers a promotion named ‘Football Rewards’, providing bettors with a £10 free bet when they place five £10 bets on football accumulators.

Plus, they have a few other offers for different sports.

Star Sports football betting market review

Known as a sportsbook that happily caters to high-stakes bettors, which is a big part of why this ranks as one of the best betting sites for football, this is the place for those looking to bet big on football. There are loads of markets to get stuck into, while there are also plenty of high-end Star Sports betting shops too.

  • Football betting market depth – Star Sports Bet offers markets for games worldwide, with a wide selection of markets available for the major games, but not too many for the smaller ones.
  • Live betting options—Their in-play options aren’t as vast as those of other bookies, but they are definitely sufficient.
  • Streaming services – One drawback of Star Sports Bet is that it does not offer live streaming for most sports, including football.
  • Competitive odds? – Often, for football and horse racing, Star Sports offers the best price around 50% of the time. A recent example of this was the odds of 14/5 for a draw between Switzerland and Spain, when most firms were offering 13/5.
  • Betting limits – Star Sports is known for having generous betting limits. Many punters have reported having bigger bets accepted at Star Sports than at other commercial sportsbooks.
  • Special features – A great addition is the ‘Star Sports Extra’ blog featuring Simon Nott, who produces good articles and regular interviews with interesting people in the betting industry.
  • Mobile betting experience – Very similar to their website, the Star Sports mobile app is well-designed and easy to use on the go.
  • Virtual betting experience – Star Sports offers a wide range of virtual sports and games, including ‘Penalty Duel’, for customers to switch it up.

Unibet – A solid all-round sportsbook

A relatively well-known brand in the UK, Unibet was founded in 1997 and is licensed by the Gibraltar Gambling Commission. The website isn’t as classy-looking as others on this list; however, it is simple and beginner-friendly.

The page headings are clearly shown on the home page, making travelling around the site effortless. With loads of sports and markets to choose from, you’re bound to find what you’re looking for at Unibet.

Unibet site

Unibet’s Daily Boost: Enhance Your Bet Builders with ‘Uniboosts’

The Unibet promo code offers ‘Uniboosts’ every day for customers placing bet builders. Customers select at least three options, with a minimum stake of £10, and click the ‘Uniboost’ to increase their odds.

Unibet sign-up

Unibet’s Bet Builder Rebound: Get a Second Chance on Premier League Bets

Sticking on the bet builder theme, Unibet have another deal named ‘Bet Builder Rebound’. Following a loss on a Premier League bet builder, bettors can place another for a second chance.

Qualifying bets must have three selections, at minimum odds of 4/1 and a minimum stake of £10.

Unibet football betting market review

An all-around sportsbook possessing all the right qualities for retaining bettors, including a user-friendly website and mobile app, superb pre-game betting and in-play betting options, matching other major sportsbooks’ odds, and an up-to-date and interesting blog.

  • Football betting market depth – With just over 30 sports to bet on, Unibet offers thousands of markets for bettors to delve into.
  • Live betting options – Unibet offers an extensive in-play sports library, including niche sports such as padel. Specifically for football, Unibet have great in-play markets, with rapid updates of live games.
  • Streaming services – Unibet had the easiest-to-find live streaming. Displayed clearly on the homepage, with a range of sports to scroll through, telling you which are available currently and at a later date.
  • Competitive odds? – Unibet’s prices are in line with the market average most of the time, with the occasional best price available.
  • Betting limits – For football, Unibet have a standard £250,000 max payout for big games, but this differs for the less popular games.
  • Special features – One notable addition is the Unibet blog, which publishes regular articles on engaging topics for sports enthusiasts.
  • Mobile betting experience – The mobile app is clean-looking, not too overpowering, and potentially looks nicer than the website itself. Optimised for mobile use, with streaming easily accessible, enabling efficient betting and watching.
  • Virtual betting experience – Unibet’s virtual betting options are top-notch, with nine different events to choose from. You even have the choice of a few different footballing events and matches, so whichever piques your interest!

Qualities that define an industry-leading football betting site

At Sports Mole, we believe in the importance of being transparent with our readers. This is why we’ve broken down exactly what we’re looking for when judging the best betting sites for football.

It’s essential that you know what we’re looking for. The elements below are the key areas of interest when evaluating the quality of a football betting site. All of these elements are important individually, but what really makes a football betting site tick is when they go hand-in-hand.

🔒 Legitimacy

Legitimacy is crucial for everyone involved. We need to ensure that something is honest and trustworthy, especially when dealing with money, as there’s always the risk of coming across a fake website and being scammed.

We always ensure that any football betting site written about in a positive light adheres to the key gambling regulations and holds recognizable licences. The key authorities we look to for guidance include the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission. All of the sportsbooks in this article hold appropriate licences and are fully verified operators.

🖥️ User Experience

In any industry where providing a service to customers is at the forefront of a business’s work, user experience is a top priority. To feature among the top 10 football betting sites, we want to ensure that a customer, in this case the bettor, has an enjoyable time navigating a betting site.

Does the website cater to all customers in terms of usability? Are things easy to find? Is the layout user-friendly? Is the website clear and easy on the eye? Since there are many betting markets and sports and often time constraints, a smooth experience and clear layout are the desired outcomes.

🎁 Promotions & Bonuses

Not only should we consider the welcome bonus, which is essential, but we’re also looking at promotions and offers for existing customers too. Is there a variety of offers? Will this help customers keep interested in the site? These are the sort of questions that we’re looking to ask.

⚽ Market Choice/Betting Options

Naturally, there needs to be a plethora of betting options. This is key to cater for different demographics and individual preferences. There’s no point in providing a good welcome bonus, or being nice to look at, if there aren’t too many choices to explore. With this, we’re looking at the sport variety and the betting markets within them, such as Premier League betting sites or other popular sports.

💳 Banking

There are many different individual preferences when it comes to payment methods. We’re looking to see that a betting site can provide a range of options; not just the popular ones, like payment cards, but also newer ones, like cryptocurrencies and a variety of E-wallets.

📞 Customer Support

Customer support is a big one, make no mistake about it. Ideally, we’re looking for a range of support networks available to bettors.

A live chat service, preferably one that is available 24/7, is important these days. Not only is the availability of a live chat what we want to see, but we also want to know what sort of wait times are involved when attempting to access the service

An email that is pretty efficient in replying goes down well too, plus a help centre, while FAQ pages are great to see as well. Social media contact options are a bonus.

📱 Mobile

In today’s fast-paced betting environment, mobile betting is huge. Does the football betting site in question have a dedicated mobile app? If not, is the site optimised for mobile use? Does the app actually function – all elements of it, like banking? Not all sports betting sites offer mobile apps; you tend to find only the best that do.

🌟 Uniqueness

Last but not least, uniqueness, which isn’t in ample supply in the competitive world of sportsbooks. This is why we try to look for anything slightly different on football betting sites, as many sites tend to copy each other in numerous areas. Those sites that can be creative and do something different give themselves a great chance of scoring highly.


Comparing the 10 best football betting sites in the UK: Winners in key categories

🗂️ Category🏆 Winner
Best Football Bonus/PromotionGrosvenor
Best Free Bets BonusWilliam Hill
Best % Welcome BonusBetfred
Best oddsbet365
European Leaguesbet365
Other Leaguesbet365
In-play bettingbet365
Live-streaming & bettingbet365
Football virtuals & EsportsCoral
Football outrightsbet365
Football betting for mobilebet365

🏆 The best football bonuses on the market

This is something that can change relatively frequently, as the best football betting sites frequently update their welcome offers and bonuses.

At the time of writing this article, Grosvenor offers the best football bonus. Why? Well, what’s great about the Grosvenor offer is that it’s different from all other football bonuses.

Instead of offering free bets, if you sign up as a new football bettor at Grosvenor, you’ll be able to double the odds of your first bet.

💡 Football betting site with the best free bets bonus

William Hill ranks highly in terms of a free bets bonus. Football bettors can join William Hill and not only will get FOUR £10 bet tokens for football bets, but they’ll also get £20 in William Hill Vegas tokens.

🎉 Football betting site with the best welcome bonus

Betfred currently stands as the best football betting site offering a welcome bonus. Betfred is where new football bettors can get the most for their initial deposit.

A first-time deposit of £10 will reward new football punters with £30 in free bets, as well as £20 in free acca bets. Such an offer is hard to beat.

Example of how to use your bonus on a real football match

How you use your welcome bonus from one of the best football betting sites, in this case Betfred, is entirely up to you, but there is one way in which you could use it to guarantee yourself a return.

As you get three separate £10 free-bet tokens, you could bet on a football match where the home team and away team are relatively similarly priced, putting one £10 free-bet token on the home win, one on the away win and one on the draw.

Doing so will guarantee a return. Of course, you will lose two of the bets, but since you cannot withdraw the tokens anyway, this is merely a method to guarantee that you end up with a withdrawable return.

🌍 Best bookmaker for European Leagues

Of the bookmakers on this list, bet365 is king for European Leagues. The variety at bet365 (in terms of the number of leagues available) is simply greater at bet365 than it is at other sportsbooks, which is not something to overlook—just another reason as to why bet365 rates as one of the very best football betting sites.

🏅Best bookmaker for other leagues

It’s a little boring, I know, but bet365 comes out on top here too, and with good reason. At the end of the day, if you’re looking for more niche or less popular leagues, then of the bookmakers on this page, bet365 is your best bet, both for a variety of leagues and a variety of betting markets within those leagues.

📈 Bet365 excels at in-play betting

If you’re an in-play bettor or are looking to get into in-play betting, then bet365 really is your best bet. The in-play section at bet365 is nicely positioned, with a layout for smooth navigation.

The in-play betting options are also very plentiful at bet365. Most of the games that are available for pre-match betting, which is loads, are available for in-play betting too, while typically speaking, the choice of in-play markets is quite varied too, even for some of the smaller leagues.

Last but certainly not least, leading nicely into the section below, the in-play streaming options bet365 are incredibly hard to beat, making bet365 the first choice for those who like to watch their in-play football bets unfold.

📺 Bet365 live streaming & betting

Again, bet365 are the kings of live streaming. Not only do they offer high-quality live streams, but they also offer more live streams than other bookmakers.

There are two viewing options: ‘full screen’ and ‘pop out’. Full-screen mode provides a full view of a live stream, while the ‘pop out’ mode opens the stream in a smaller window, allowing for browsing at the same time.

For those who want multiple live streams on the go, bet365, one of the best football betting sites, offers a video wall that allows up to four live streams to be viewed simultaneously, making it perfect for those seeking multiple streams at once.

🎮 Football Virtuals, iGaming & eSports:

We’ve reached the point in the online betting landscape where the virtual betting options are more or less the same everywhere.

At Coral, the virtual options may just be a little more plentiful, while there’s better virtual market choice than at a few other bookmakers, too. Throw in an auspicious selection of eSports and eSports markets and Coral takes the win here.

📱 The best mobile betting apps for the beautiful game

Mobile betting is big nowadays. Whether it’s a smartphone or a tablet, most modern football betters use a mobile device to bet. I’d argue that the bet365 mobile betting app is the best that football bettors can lay their hands on at the moment.

Like the desktop site, the Bet365 app is stylishly designed, easy to navigate, and highly reliable in terms of performance. The app offers numerous live streaming options and a vast array of betting options. The best thing about the Bet365 app is that all key sections are easily accessible, thanks to its user-friendly layout.

Users in general clearly agree as the bet365 mobile betting app has a 4.7 rating (out of 5) on the App Store. This rating is from well over 300,000 reviews too, so it’s no fluke. Yet another reason for bet365 to feature among the best football betting sites.

Which bookmaker is ideal for you?

There are many great football betting sites, but not all are equal.

As you’ve probably understood from this article, different sites have different strengths, so your preferences are key to deciding which bookmaker is ideal for you.

As something of a complete football betting package, bet365 is difficult to beat. Ranking as the best site in lots of the areas displayed in the table above, bet365 offers football bettors plenty, that’s for sure.

Unibet offers a relatively unique welcome bonus, which may suit some bettors. If you’re considering this option, it might be right for you.

Author’s picks: my favourite football betting site and why

In my personal experience, bet365 comes out on top. The league/market depth at bet365 is unbeatable, while the betting product in general is of the highest quality, with both the desktop site and app being well-designed and easy to use. The live streaming options are plentiful at bet365, too, especially on mobile.