If you’re looking for the best football betting site, you’ve come to the right place! This page will highlight the market-leading football sportsbooks in the UK, along with their key features, markets and unique selling points.
Top 10 Football Betting Sites UK
What are the Best Football Betting Sites?
Even among the market leading football betting sites, some operators offer a slightly better experience than others. However, the best UK sportsbooks are all highly reputable and licensed by the UKGC, while they offer a diverse range of markets and lines.
You’ll also find a broad selection of free bet offers and bonuses that are targeted at your selected bets. So, here’s our pick of the top five football betting sites on these shores!
| Category | Football Betting Site |
|---|---|
| ⚽ Best Football Betting Site | Gentleman Jim Sport |
| 🎁 Best Sportsbook for Free Bets | Midnite Sports |
| 📡 Best Live Football Betting Site | Betarno |
| 💯 Best Odds Guaranteed for the Beautiful Game | Highbet |
| 🤑 Best Welcome Bonus for Football | Bet 442 |
🌟 Our Top Football Betting Site: Gentleman Jim
Gentleman Jim offers some of the most competitive odds around. This is particularly true when wagering on football outrights and individual matches.
You can also access a diverse selection of match betting markets at Gentleman Jim. These include multiple totals lines and player props. The site offers an array of pre-built combination bets too, incorporating moneylines, both teams to score (BTTS) and correct score betting.
The ‘Build-a-Bet’ tool also enables you to construct your own bespoke combination wagers. However, you should note that these bets aren’t eligible for cashout at the time of writing. These factors all contribute to Gentleman Jim being the best betting site in the UK!
| 👍Pros | 👎Cons |
| ✅Offers a wide range of football markets, including major leagues and competitions. | ❌Limited availability in certain regions. |
| ✅Offers attractive bonuses and promotions | |
| ✅Licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission, ensuring security and fairness. |
User review: “I’ve been playing on this site for a while and I’ve never had any problems, keep up the excellent work guys. Lovely people. Ignore the negative reviews because I honestly think people try to lie and use other people’s details or cards. And this company has to protect itself. I would be the same.” 5/5⭐
FM “Terry,” GB – Trustpilot review, 3rd January 2024
The Real EFL Expert Opinion: Most of the negative user reviews on Gentleman Jim revolved around slow withdrawals and the user verification process. Our testing proved however that the withdrawal times are the usual industry standard and the KYC process is mandatory for any UKGC licensed football betting sites as it is a compulsory requirement from the gambling authority.
Therealefl.co.uk rating: 5/5⭐
Head to our Gentleman Jim review for all details.
🎁 Access Single and Bet Builder Free Bets as a New Customer: Midnite Sport
Midnite Sport is a relative newcomer to the market, but it’s arguably the best for offering free bets. The site’s welcome offer comprises four £5 free bets, including one pre-match accumulator and a ‘Bet Builder’ wager. There are also separate single and in-play free bets.
Midnite Sport also publishes regular football ‘specials’, alongside dedicated price boosts and combination bets. We’d recommend that you check out the site’s full range of football betting markets online, along with the welcome offer’s unique T&Cs.
| 👍Pros | 👎Cons |
| ✅Focused on esports betting, catering to a growing niche audience. | ❌Limited traditional sports betting options compared to some competitors. |
| ✅User-friendly interface with a modern design. | |
| ✅Offers innovative betting features and promotions, such as deposit bonuses and free bets. |
User review: “Great website and a nifty app easy to navigate along and manage your account plus there’s some nice little wins and freebies to boot! All in all I’m a happy customer – thanks guys.” 5/5⭐
FM “Mathew Stephenson – Verified User,” GB – Trustpilot review, 19th January 2025
The Real EFL Expert Opinion: Not only does Midnite Sports have an average score of 3.1 from 688 reviews, but it’s also a verified business on Trustpilot. There were some negative reviews about slow-loading pages, but we found the website easy to navigate on both desktop and mobile devices. The support team at Midnite also takes the time to respond to each Trustpilot review.
Therealefl.co.uk rating: 5/5⭐
You can read our full Midnite Sport Review here.
📡 Target Hundreds of Live Football Betting Markets: Betarno
When it comes to live football wagering, Betarno should be your first port of call. This site certainly offers an exceptional in-play wagering experience, complete with hundreds of live markets and props once matches have commenced.
Betarno even has a dedicated ‘Live’ betting vertical, which lists all matches and events that are currently in-play. This lists the most popular real-time markets and dynamic, up-to-date odds, even when wagering on EFL matches in League One and League Two.
What’s more, Betarno offers full and partial cashouts, which afford you full control of your wagers in real-time and allows for early settlements!
| 👍Pros | 👎Cons |
| ✅Extensive sports coverage with over 55,000 pre-match and 30,000 in-play events monthly. | ❌The platform offers minimal in-game statistics, which could affect users seeking detailed data to inform their betting decisions. |
| ✅Numerous live betting offers | |
| ✅Competitive odds across a wide range of sports and markets. |
The Real EFL Expert Opinion: There are currently no user reviews on Trustpilot and we want to believe that as a new bookie, all the necessary features have been incorporated to ensure uninterrupted betting. During our time at Betarno, we enjoyed how customer service responded to our queries.
Therealefl.co.uk rating: 5/5⭐
There’s more info in our Betarno review.
💯 Regular Odds Boosts Across Selected EFL Championship Games: HIGHBET
Highbet is another relative newcomer to the football betting market in the UK. However, it offers some of the most competitive football odds around, especially when betting on the English Premier League and EFL Championship.
Highbet also features an intuitive ‘Bet Builder’ feature. This allows you to combine two or more markets from different events, creating enhanced and boosted odds in the process. You can incorporate other sports too, so check out the full T&Cs online!
| 👍Pros | 👎Cons |
| ✅Wide range of sports and betting markets to cater to diverse interests. | ❌Does not offer live streaming for sports events. |
| ✅Competitive odds across various sports, offering favorable returns for bettors. | |
| ✅Mobile-friendly design, allowing access on the go without requiring a dedicated app. |
User review: “I opened the live chat after not receiving a £25 free bet, and straight away I was through to a human (love that they don’t try to make you talk to a stupid robot, they just put you through to a human straight away). This lovely person fulfilled the bonus for me and I had my £25 free bets straight away! This is a great bookie!” 5/5⭐
FM “Oscar Smith – Verified User,” GB – Trustpilot review, 12th July 2024
The Real EFL Expert Opinion: With a strong reputation among bettors, Highbet offers consistent value and reliable payouts. The team at Highbet ensures that your welcome bonus is delivered smoothly after making a qualifying deposit, and the site is committed to addressing any concerns quickly. With a focus on offering competitive odds, Highbet is a go-to site for football betting enthusiasts.
Therealefl.co.uk rating: 5/5⭐
Our Highbet Sports review provides more information.
🤑 Claim a Welcome Bonus: Bet442
Lastly, we come to Bet 442. This site offers arguably the most accessible and straightforward welcome offer on the market, and one that’s ideal for football bettors. Simply deposit and wager £20 at odds of 2.00 or higher, and a £10 free bet will be added to your account.
Your free bet can be wagered at lower minimum odds of 1.80, while you’ll have 14 days in which to utilise this. Visit the Bet 442 site today to review the bonus and its terms and conditions in full!
| 👍Pros | 👎Cons |
| ✅Extensive sports coverage, including niche sports like surfing and biathlon. | ❌Limited range of promotions beyond basic odds boosts and welcome bonus. |
| ✅Bet442 offers a Bet Builder feature, enabling users to create customized bets across various markets. | |
| ✅Offers a welcome bonus for new customers, enhancing the initial betting experience. |
User review: “Good site, easy to use and paid out winnings in 48 hours. The only negative I experienced was a £1.00 processing fee on withdrawals.” 4/5⭐
FM “David Thomas,” GB – Trustpilot review, 18th September 2024
The Real EFL Expert Opinion: Bet442 has a lowly average rating of just 1.5 on Trustpilot, from a total of 43 reviews. However, most of the 1-star reviews seem to revolve around a misunderstanding of specific bonus T&Cs and restrictions. From our experience, all bonus terms at Bet442 are laid out clearly and easily accessible through the Promotions tab in the lobby.
Therealefl.co.uk rating: 5/5⭐
You can also read our full Bet442 Review here.
New Football Betting Sites
The number of licensed betting sites in the UK continues to grow, as new brands enter the market each year. But which newcomers offer the best experience and betting features?
| 🆕New Football Betting Site | 🎲Key Betting Features |
| MyriadPlay | – Launched in June 2024 – Offers more than 100 betting markets per EFL match – Leverage full and partials cashouts on selected bets. – The welcome offer comprises a £10 free bet when you deposit £15 |
| Bet442 | – Launched in May 2024 – Boost your qualifying acca wins by up to 77% – Use a Bet Builder tool to combine up to 30 match markets in a single wager – Bet £20 and earn a £20 free bet as a new customer |
Pros & Cons of a New UKGC Licensed Football Bookmaker
When you bet on football at a newly established sportsbook, you can unlock a number of potential advantages. There are also several possible drawbacks however, and it’s important to keep these in mind if you’re to make an informed decision. Here’s a breakdown:
Pros of Betting with a New Licensed Sportsbook
- Access More Competitive Bonuses: In order to compete with more established rivals, new sportsbooks will often offer more generous bonuses. This applies to both welcome offers and reload bonuses, which may cover more deposits or match them to a higher value.
- Target Niche Sports and Markets: New bookies will also look to offer more competitive odds than established sportsbooks. To achieve this, they may deploy frequent price boosts or guaranteed odds promotions, with a view to offering superior value.
- Leverage In-Demand Betting Features: New bookies tend to offer creative and in-demand betting features too. These include ‘Bet Builder’ tools (which let you create multi-leg wagers on a single sporting event or match) and ‘1-Click Betting’. The latter feature lets you bet quickly according to predetermined criteria.
Cons of Betting with a New Licensed Sportsbook
- A Lack of Brand Reputation: Newer sportsbooks will have operated for a relatively short period of time and often lack the reputation of more established brands. They certainly may not be as trusted in the marketplace, while older betting sites are likely to boast more licensing credentials.
- Customer Support May be Underdeveloped: Often, new football betting sites in the UK will have a burgeoning but under developed tech stack. This may prevent them from offering 24/7 customer support, especially through interactive live chat. This may also impact the average response time of agents.
Weekly Football Betting Tips
In addition to leveraging free bet offers and bonuses, strategy is key if you’re going to maximise your potential football betting profits. You can inform your own strategy by using our expert football betting tips, which are published regularly and built on detailed statistical analysis!
Football Betting Markets
Regardless of your preferred league or game, you’ll find a huge selection of betting lines and markets at our recommended sites. These are capable of creating value and minimising your risk of loss, but what are the most common betting markets available online?
Double Chance
With a basic moneyline wager, you’ll pick one team or potential outcome in the win market. A double chance bet lets you cover two possible outcomes, however, such as a home win and a draw. This unlocks shorter odds but increases your chances of banking a return significantly.
Over/Under 2.5 Goals
If you want to create value in match betting, you could consider wagering on the over/under market. This relates to the total number of goals scored in a game, as sportsbooks set individual totals as betting lines and ask you to pick one before you wager whether the actual total will be over or under this threshold. The most popular over/under line is 2.5 goals.
Both Teams to Score
Similarly, you can bet both teams to score (or not) in a particular match. This is another even-money market, while you can inform your selections based on your analysis of recent form and scoring statistics.
Final Result and Both teams to score
This is a combination bet, which requires you to pick a match winner and both teams to score (or not) in a single wager. This type of bet will enable you to wager at enhanced odds, although both outcomes will have to occur for the bet to pay out.
Handicap
Handicap betting allows you to apply a virtual deficit to a heavy betting favourite (or an advantage to an underdog). For example, you may pick Liverpool to defeat Nottingham Forest in the EPL with a handicap of -1.5 goals. This will let you back the Reds at enhanced odds, although they’ll have to win by two goals or more for the bet to be successful.
Correct Score
This is a high-risk, high-reward wager type that requires you to predict the correct score in a particular match. It can be incredibly difficult to accurately predict the final scoring during a game, due to the number of factors that can influence outcomes. However, this market also unlocks highly competitive odds.
Betting Apps for the Beautiful Game
Globally, it’s estimated that around 80% of sports bets are now placed using mobile devices. Some football betting sites in the UK operate both native apps and responsively designed websites. Well-designed apps allow for push notifications and a more personalised experience when betting on football. Here’s a summary of the best betting apps and their key features:
| Sportsbook | Key Features | Accessibility |
|---|---|---|
| 10BET Sports | ✔️ Live stream matches through your mobile ✔️ Access an intuitive ‘Bet Builder’ feature ✔️ Cash out when betting in-play | • iOS • Android |
| Midnite Sports | ✔️ A fast-loading and well-designed app ✔️ Watch and bet in-play ✔️ Access quick and secure withdrawals | • iOS • Android |
| Bet 442 | ✔️ Access bet builders and multiples ✔️ A user-friendly layout and interface ✔️ Live stream global football leagues | • iOS • Android |
| Gentleman Jim Sport | ✔️ Combined sportsbook and casino app ✔️ Access football specials ✔️ Wager at competitive and enhanced odds | • iOS • Android |
| Betarno Sport | ✔️ Partnered with multiple football clubs ✔️ Fast one-click betting options ✔️ Regular price boosts | • iOS • Android |
| All British Sports | ✔️ Access a bespoke mobile bonus ✔️ All football betting markets are available ✔️ Access the site’s casino platform too | • iOS • Android |
Free Bets: The Best & New Football Betting Offers
When choosing one of our recommended football betting sites, there are numerous factors to consider. For example, you should review each sportsbook’s available welcome bonuses and free bet offers.
Below, we’ve compared the best and latest football betting offers online. You can click to learn more about each bonus, and we’d recommend that you read the T&Cs in full before committing your hard-earned cash!
| Sportsbook | Offer |
|---|---|
| Myriadplay Sport | Bet £15, Get £10 |
| 18+ | Welcome Bonus: New Players only | 1st Deposit | Min Deposit,: £10, max £10 free bet | 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 | Further terms and conditions apply. | |
| Midnite Sport | Get 4x £5 Free Bet Vouchers |
| 18+ | Welcome Bonus: New Players only | Use code BETGETSPORTS for UK customers | Min Deposit: £10 | Place pre-match acca bets with min odds 3/1 and 4 legs | Further terms and conditions apply. | |
| Bet 442 | Bet £20, Get £10 |
| 18+ | New customers only | Min deposit £20. Max One £10 Free Bet | Min turnover £20 | Qualifying Bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater | Paid as bonus token with Min 4/5 (1.80) odds req | Further terms and conditions apply. | |
| Betarno Sport | Bet £15, Get £10 |
| 18+ | New customers only | Min £15 qualifying bet | Free bet given as one-time stake of £10 | Min odds 1.5 | 1x wagering on the winning | Max conversion: £200 | Valid for 7 Days from receipt | Further terms and conditions apply. | |
| Racecards.bet | Bet £25, Get a £25 Free Bet |
| R18+ | New customers only | Min £25 qualifying bet | Free bet given as one-time stake of £25 | Min odds 1.5 | 1x wagering on the winning | Max conversion: £200 | Valid for 7 Days from receipt | Further terms and conditions apply. | |
| Highbet Sport | Bet £10, Get £15 |
| 18+ | New customers only | Min deposit and wagering to activate token £10 | Qualifying odds 2.00 or higher | Singles and Straight accas eligble to qualify | Further terms and conditions apply. | |
| 10BET Sports | 100% Get 100% up to £50 |
| 18+ | New customers only | Use code: SPORT | Wager deposit and bonus 8x | Valid for 60 days | Further terms and conditions apply. | |
| Betiton Sports | Bet £10, Get £15 |
| 18+ | New customers only | 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £15, 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 | Further terms and conditions apply. | |
Most Popular Football Leagues for Betting
There are numerous football leagues throughout the world, each of which unlocks ample match betting lines and opportunities. Make no mistake: utilising moneylines, totals, and handicaps will play a key role in your football betting strategy and can help unlock incremental returns.
But what are the best and most popular football leagues among bettors? Here’s our pick of the competitions you should wager on!
English Football League
The English Football League (EFL) is the oldest in the world, having been initially founded back in 1888. It now includes three tiers:
Each of these leagues see competing teams play 46 games a season, creating ample opportunity for match betting. Some of England’s biggest and most historic clubs ply their trade in the EFL too, including Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds United, Sunderland, and Birmingham City.
Championship
According to the latest Opta Power Rankings for 2024, the EFL Championship is rated as the seventh best football league in the world. It placed ahead of the Superligaen and Brazilian Serie A, while its clubs spent an impressive €262.88 million net during the summer of 2024.
As we’ve touched on, there are also some huge and prestigious clubs playing in the second tier of English football, including Leeds United and Sunderland. So, it’s widely attended and boasts a huge audience of interested bettors!
Premier League
The EPL formed after England’s top clubs broke away from the Football League in 1992, while this is now watched by some 4.7 billion people in 212 territories globally. As we’ve touched on, it’s also the most bet on football league in the world.
Home to footballing giants like Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and now Manchester City, the Premier League also features the best individual talents. There are also 38 game weeks and 380 matches played each season, creating numerous moneylines and handicap betting opportunities.
UEFA Champions League
Europe’s premier club competition, this tournament sees the best continental teams compete against one another each season. Real Madrid are the UCL’s most successful club through history, lifting the trophy an incredible 15 times since the competition’s in 1955.
The tournament was expanded ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, to include 36 teams and 189 matches (instead of 125). So, there will be more moneylines than usual and multiple opportunities to bet pre-game and in-play.
LaLiga
The second of Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues, La Liga is the elite level club competition in Spain. This features high-profile teams like Barcelona, Atletico, and the aforementioned Real Madrid, who have also won this competition a record 36 times.
Like the EPL, La Liga hosts 380 matches each season and benefits from extensive coverage among UK sportsbooks. It’s also possible to live stream La Liga matches and place informed in-play wagers online.
Bundesliga
The German Bundesliga is the best attended football league in the world, and continues to drive significant betting interest in the UK. Moneyline are particularly popular here, especially when backing famous teams like Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Bayer Leverkusen.
A number of young and talented British stars have also plied their trade in the Bundesliga in recent years, including Jadon Sancho, Jude Bellingham, and current Dortmund winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.
FA Cup
The premier cup competition in England, the FA Cup is also the oldest and most prestigious tournament of its type in the world. It was first held in 1871/72, while it’s contested by both professional clubs and amateur entities from the lower leagues.
The FA Cup has produced numerous upsets down the year, as the unstructured nature of the draw enables minnows to meet with elite clubs from the third round on. This creates some interesting betting markets, with handicapping particularly popular during the earlier rounds.
Serie A
Despite having seen its star slip since the halcyon days of the 1990s, Italy’s Serie A remains one of Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues. It’s still widely watched in the UK, thanks in part to the league’s media rights agreement with pay TV’s TNT Sports.
Featuring famous clubs like AC Milan, Internazionale and Juventus (the ‘Old Lady’ of Italian football), Serie A has a rich and illustrious history that’s hard to top. It’s also home to world class talent such as Lautaro Martínez, Nicolò Barella and Romelu Lukaku.
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 is the last of Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues, and remains the top level of domestic competition in France. Dominated in recent years by big spending PSG, it has hosted a number of world class talents of late, including Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and the incomparable Lionel Messi.
While these players have since moved on, they’ve helped to popularise the league in the UK and globally, so British sportsbooks now offer extensive coverage of Ligue 1 and its individual matches.
MLS
The MLS (or Major Soccer League) is the elite level competition in North America, and has been ever since February, 1995. This league was launched in the wake of the 1994 World Cup, which was hosted in the USA and helped to popularise the country’s best players.
The MLS has also welcomed a number of superstars as they approach the end of their careers, with Messi and Luis Suarez currently playing for Inter Miami. This has brought new eyes to the MLS and helped to promote both team and individual player markets.
How Do We Review Football Betting Sites in the UK?
We rate UK football betting sites using numerous criteria. These have a direct impact on your experience when wagering online, while they’re applied consistency across each brand and review. Here are some of the most important considerations:
Events and Markets: We’ll appraise the number of football leagues covered by a sportsbook, alongside the range of betting markets and lines on offer. This will include moneylines, totals and handicap betting lines, as well as popular team and player props.
Odds and Pricing: Sportsbooks calculate odds through the detailed analysis of form and performance metrics, before adding their commission. However, the best sites will minimise their rate of commission while also offering regular price boosts. This can translate into more competitive odds in some instances.
Mobile Betting: We’ll assess whether sportsbooks operate native apps or have websites that have been optimised for mobile. We’ll also ensure that mobile betting is accessible and you can access a site’s full range of betting markets while on the move.
Licensing and Security: Our review process ensures that each UK sportsbook is licensed and accredited by the UKGC. Similarly, we make sure that these sites boast 128-bit SSL encryption as a minimum standard, as this protects your financial data and individual transactions.
Welcome Bonuses and Offers: We analyze each deposit match and free bet offer, paying close attention to the relevant terms and conditions. This includes the wagering requirements and the timeframe in which they’ll have to be fulfilled. This helps you to identify the most affordable offers.
Payment Options: The best football betting sites also offer an extensive range of accessible payment options. These should include methods like Visa debit and numerous ewallets. We also review the speed of withdrawals at a particular site, while factoring in internal processing times and fees (where applicable).
Customer Service: Most of our recommended football betting sites offer 24/7 customer support, usually via interactive live chat and email. We also check to see if sites offer a comprehensive FAQ resource, which can answer FAQs quickly and proactively.
Responsible Gambling
If you’re going to wager responsibly, there are several considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, your bankroll should never exceed an amount that you can afford to lose, while this should cover a finite period of time too.
It’s also important to research and analyse the markets that you intend to wager on. This will help you to make informed decisions and bet at the optimal real-time odds. Remember, you must be aged 18 or older to wager on sports in the UK and should only ever deposit at a licensed sportsbook.
To learn more about licensed entities and the support available to problem gamblers, we’d urge you to check out the following resources:
Frequently Asked Questions about Football betting Sites
What is the best website for football bets?
Our pick as the best football betting site is Gentleman Jim Sport. However, you can wager freely at any of the sportsbooks recommended on this page, and we’d urge you to compare each one in detail to identify the best one for you!
Which betting site is the best for EPL games?
Each of our recommended sites also offer extensive coverage of the English Premier League and EFL Championship. This includes competitive outrights and match betting markets, while you’ll find ample totals and handicap lines at sites such as 10BET and Betiton.
Can you make money betting on football?
While you can leverage specific markets and strategies to maximise your chances of winning and minimise losses, there’s no fool-proof way of profiting from football bets. This is due to the numerous factors that can influence outcomes and match results.
Which is the most trusted football betting site?
Once again, each of the football betting sites on this list are licensed by the UKGC and highly reputable (including 10BET Sports). However, Betiton is perhaps the best known of these sites in the UK and Ireland, while this also excels from the perspective of live betting.