Best Football Betting Sites in the UK

Football is the most popular sport to bet on in the UK. It’s a sport made for betting, and innovative features such as live streaming, live betting, Bet Builders, accas, Cash Out, and player props have only increased its popularity.  

We’ve put together a carefully curated list of the Top 10 football betting sites in the UK, complete with the welcome offer you can get at them, and also highlighted what particular feature that site excels at, complete with a mini review of why that bookie is so impressive.   

All the sites on the list are UKGC-licensed ones, so you’re in safe hands playing at any of them. Read on to find out all you need to know about the best football betting sites UK, and football betting in general. 

Our Top 10 Football Betting Sites for 2025

We’ve been burning the midnight oil to come up with our ultimate list of the Top 10 football betting sites, including which aspect of football betting they really shine at. 

This platform comparison, therefore, not only allows you to see which are, in our opinion, the best betting sites for football, but also which one(s) you should play at if there’s a certain aspect of betting on football you’re particularly focused on.   

Ladbrokes 

It shouldn’t come as any big surprise to you that Ladbrokes tops our list of the best UK football betting sites because they’re right up there with the best betting sites, full stop. 

So for the punter, like me, who wants all football betting bases covered - every league under the sun offered, endless markets to bet on, a great Bet Builder product, lots of live football betting offered, live streaming of some matches and of course, decent odds - this may just be the best football bookmakers in the world when it comes to leaving no stone unturned. 

Did we mention that they also have Bet Builder Boosts, early Payouts if your team goes two goals up and regular odds boosts? We have now. All of which makes them the online football betting site with the best all-round football betting product.

Betfair 

There’s plenty to like about Betfair’s Sportsbook. It does just about everything that all excellent football betting sites do in terms of offering football Bet Builders, covering leagues from all over the world, running promos that give you plenty of free bets when placing qualifying bets, and offering tons of stats-related markets. Such as player X shots on target, player Y commits a foul, and so on. 

But of course, that’s only half the story. Because, alongside the Sportsbook, they also have their Betting Exchange, which goes much further back (to the year 2000) than the Sportsbook does. 

It operates in a completely different way to a fixed odds betting site for football, because it’s punter v punter on the exchange, meaning there’s no house edge. And as a result, the average football betting odds are considerably better than they are at any other site, which is why it’s the top site when it comes to the best odds. 

Bet365 

Another of the best football betting sites UK that needs no introduction.  

You’ll start off life at Bet365 with a pretty generous welcome offer where you can claim  £30 in free bets when you deposit just  £10, and the good news is that those free bets can be used on football. 

There’s a lot to like beyond that as you’d expect from Bet365, with one of the best offerings of live football betting you’ll see on the market, regular promos to make your money go further and a Bet Builder product that gives you great flexibility in terms of putting your selections together. 

But where they really shine is when it comes to their live football streaming, covering many of the top European leagues (sadly, not the Premier League), lower English leagues, international fixtures, World Cup qualifiers, and women’s football. For me, they’re the best bookmaker for football live streaming.    

To watch all these matches, you just need a funded Bet365 account; you don't need to place a bet on the game to watch.

Skybet

Skybet have a pretty impressive all-round football product and a good starting point is that you can get £40 In Free Bets when placing a qualifying bet, though admittedly, the welcome offer has to be used on horse racing, not football. Which isn't ideal. 

But if you make some money from those free bets, you may consider re-investing it in their superb Bet Builder product (or RequestABet as they call it here), because they offer the best Bet Builders of any bookmaker.  

It’s available for all the major leagues and allows you to combine selections from such markets as: match winner, over/under 2.5 goals, goalscorers, player assists, player total shots, corners, and both teams to score. 

What’s more, many of the player-related markets have the Super Sub rule, which means that if, for example, the player you backed to be carded is subbed off, the player coming on for him will ‘carry’ the bet. And if that player gets carded, you’ll still have a winner.  

Paddy Power 

25 years or so ago, Paddy Power wasn't necessarily the massive betting site for football it is today. 

But where they first really made a name for themselves was with their ‘Specials’ markets, including Next Manager markets, and which club a player was going to move to next. 

Twenty-five years later, and they’re still the market leaders for that. Specials they offer today include: Next Liverpool manager, next Man Utd manager, FIFA Golden Boot winner, and an extensive range of long-term Premier League markets, such as top goalscorer, finishing position, and relegation-related markets. 

You can also request odds on pretty much anything you like, so if the market isn’t already there, you can make sure it is: all part of them being the Number 1 bookie for Football Specials.

Boylesports 

Their football product ticks all the boxes with a great choice of markets, matches from all over the world and competitive odds where they’re sometimes ‘best price’ across the industry. 

But if you’re looking to make your money go further by taking advantage of their ongoing promos, that’s where they really stand out.   

These include: getting paid out on the match winner market if the team you backed goes 2 goals up, 25% boosts on Bet Builders, Acca Boosts, plus the use of the Sub Swap (Super Sub if you prefer) rule, which can make all the difference.  

And to top it all off, there are also plenty of Price Boosts around singles, accas and Bet Builders on a daily basis. 

All of which makes Boylesports the top football betting site for ongoing promotions and offers.   

Betfred

An excellent welcome offer where you can get £50 in free bets when placing just £10 in qualifying bets is a good way to get going here, and is one of the better welcome offers you’re likely to see. 

But where they really stand out is in terms of their content. In my view, they’re the pick of the bookies for the best football content. 

Their blog - called Betfred Insights - has loads of insightful, knowledgeable football betting previews complete with stats, team news and betting tips from those who know their stuff, while there’s also good educational content, explaining how different betting markets work or talking you through some good strategies on how to approach your betting. 

But the top-class content doesn’t end there. There‘s a ‘Racing Post verdict’ on all the big matches within the markets with snappy stats. Also, their FAQ section covers lots of queries you may have about their football betting markets, football bonuses, payment options and other helpful stuff.

What Makes a Football Betting Site Stand Out?

There are lots of great betting sites for football out there, and sometimes it’s hard to pick which one is the best. But all of the top ones will have these things in common: 

Respected License 

Ideally, the site should be a UKGC-licensed football site; failing that, it should at least hold an MGA license. 

Competitive Odds 

Arguably the most important factor of all. Better odds mean better payouts on every bet you place, and this makes all the difference to your P&L. 

Lots of competitions, lots of markets 

Not everyone wants to bet on all of the most popular leagues at the best football bookmakers, such as Champions League betting. Some may want to bet on obscure leagues, women’s football, youth football, or other options. Customers also have very different preferences when it comes to the markets they want to bet on, so the football betting site must tick both those boxes. 

Extra Features 

Live streaming, Bet Builders, Cash Out, and on-site content are examples of extra features that enhance your overall experience. The more of these there are, the better. 

Understanding Football Betting Markets and Bet Types

The best football betting sites in the UK offer hundreds and hundreds of markets ahead of and during the match. Here are some of the most popular ones. 

The Classics 

Match result, match winner and 1x2 are all the same thing: will Team A win, Team B win or will it be a draw? 

With a Double Chance bet, you cover two of the three outcomes. For example, that Everton will win or draw when playing Liverpool. 

A Draw/No Bet wager means you’ll be paid out if the team you backed wins, but you will get your stake back if it ends in a draw. 

A both teams to score (BTTS) market means just that: either it will be ‘yes’ (both teams score at least once) or ‘No’ - at least one of the two teams doesn’t score. 

Player-Focused Bets

Backing an anytime goalscorer requires that player to get a goal at any stage of the match, while a first goalscorer bet means you need that player to score the opening goal of the game. The ‘player to be carded’ market requires your player to receive a yellow or red card at any stage. 

Competitive Odds and Price Boosts

Value bets are ones where the odds on offer are bigger than you think they should be.  For example, Chelsea being available at 2.0 when you thought they’d only be 1.75. 

One thing that helps you get even more value are price boosts: here, the football betting site UK lengthens the odds on one or more markets in relation to what they would typically be, in order to attract more business. 

Live Streaming & In-Play Betting

In-play betting means you’re betting on a match after it has started, with the major benefit being that you can watch some of the game and get a feel for it before putting your money down. 

If it’s not on TV or you don’t have the channel, live streaming is an excellent alternative at many betting sites for football, allowing you to watch matches as long as you have an active, funded account. 

Major Football Leagues and Tournaments to Bet On

The more different competitions a football betting site offers, the better. But these are the ones that must be available for a bookie to be taken seriously. 

Premier League 

The world’s most popular domestic league in terms of TV viewing is also the most popular in terms of betting on it, with millions worldwide eager to put their money on matches from English football’s top division. 

Champions League 

The world’s premier continental club competition isn't in short supply of fans either so it follows that Champions League betting is much loved as well, with punters looking forward to seeing the biggest sides like Real Madrid and Manchester City pitted against each other. 

FIFA World Cup 

The biggest international football tournament in the world only takes place every four years, but it’s well worth the wait, with football bettors desperate to try to predict the winner of all the different matches, plus the winner of the World Cup itself. 

European Championships 

Thankfully, the Euros take place every two years rather than four because it’s a fantastic tournament, with some arguing that the shorter format with fewer teams ensures a higher standard of play. Who will succeed Spain as champions? Or will Spain do it all over again? 

How to Place a Bet on Football (Step-by-Step Guide)

There’s been a lot of talk so far about which are the best online football betting sites, what makes a good one, and what are the most popular competitions and markets to bet on. But what do you need to do to begin with, and how does one go about placing an actual bet? 

1. Check out our table of the Top 10 football betting sites, read the reviews and decide on one or two that are suited to your needs.  
2. Open an account and take the compulsory Know Your Customer (KYC) check that you’ll need to be able to withdraw. Then make a deposit and claim any available welcome offers.
3. On the homepage, choose ‘football’ from the list of Sports.
4. Choose the competition you want to bet on, e.g., the Premier League, and then select the match you want to wager on, if you're placing a single bet. Pick your selection and choose your stake. 
5. If you want to place a Bet Builder, pick two or more selections from the same match, combine them into a Bet Builder, choose your stake and process the bet. If you want to place an acca, choose two or more selections from different matches and place your wager. In both cases, before doing so, check whether there are Bet Builder boosts you can use, or acca insurance. They’ll generally be advertised on a homepage banner or the promotions page.      
6. If those are available, opt in by ticking a box if necessary, read the terms and conditions, and make sure you meet all the requirements before striking the bet.

What Are the Best Football Betting Promotions?

Time to look at some of the most common promotions around football betting. 

Welcome Offers

Any football betting site worth its salt will offer a welcome bonus to customers who sign up and make a deposit. Welcome offers typically take the form of free bets awarded after a new customer places a qualifying bet. In most cases, free bets can be used on football, but at Unibet and Paddy Power fo example, they must be used on horse racing.   

Acca Insurance & Acca Boosts

Acca insurance is when a football betting site UK refunds your stake, generally in the form of a free bet, if just one leg of your acca lets you down. 

Acca boosts work differently: they reward winning accas rather than refunding losing ones; the bookie will add a 10%-100% extra payout to your winnings. The more legs your acca has, the bigger the percentage boost. 

Early Payout Offers

A good example is the Boylesports offer: if the team you back goes two goals up, you are paid out immediately, even if that team goes on to draw or lose. 

Free Bet Clubs

Now here’s a club that you’ll want to belong to! A free bet club rewards customer loyalty by giving you, you guessed it, free bets when you place a certain number of bets over the course of the previous week. Or show loyalty in some other way, as per the promo. As ever, read the Ts and Cs to make sure you don’t miss out.

Responsible Gambling Features on Football Betting Sites

Gambling responsibly is arguably the most critical factor in football betting. Remember that gambling should primarily be done for entertainment and that if things get out of hand, the consequences can be extremely serious. 

This is why all top football betting sites have a dedicated Responsible Gambling (RG) section featuring useful content about the dangers of not gambling responsibly, while also providing self-assessment tests to see if you may have a gambling problem. Plus links to charities and other organisations you can reach out to, if you do. 

But just as important as all that are the RG tools they provide. They include: 

• Deposit limits that ensure you don’t deposit more money at the football betting site than what you set yourself as a budget. 
• Loss limits make sure you don’t lose more than X on any given day, week or month, in terms of the bets themselves. 
• Time-outs are when you exclude yourself from playing in the short-term. 
• Self-exclusion is where you decide you want to take a far longer-term break, or even stop playing permanently.

Our Final Verdict: Why Football Betting Sites Are a Top Choice

So that’s your lowdown on football betting. 

It’s no surprise that football is the most popular sport to bet on worldwide. After all, it’s the most popular sport of all when it comes to the number of fans of it, in general terms. 

It also benefits from having matches played almost every day of the year and from widespread TV and other media coverage. Plus, because of the nature of the sport, it offers an endless range of betting markets, as well as being beautifully suited to accas and Bet Builders. 

But for you to get the most out of your experience, it’s crucial that you choose one of the very best football betting sites in the UK to open an account and play at, rather than just any one. 

The best place to start is to check our Top 10 list of the best bookmakers for football at the top of the page. 

Not only are they all UKCG-licensed football sites, ensuring they do everything by the book and that it’s perfectly safe to play at them, but we’ve also highlighted what each one is best for. Such as: football betting promos, live streaming, or the best odds. When choosing the right bookie, make sure it offers the football betting features that matter most to you. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Football Betting