{"id":58,"date":"2018-04-06T09:59:04","date_gmt":"2018-04-06T09:59:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joomla-1189735-5893702.cloudwaysapps.com\/betting\/?page_id=58"},"modified":"2025-12-31T10:56:20","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T10:56:20","slug":"football","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rulesofsport.com\/betting\/football\/","title":{"rendered":"Football Betting Sites – Top 10 Best Bookmakers For Betting on Soccer"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the UK, football is by far the most bet on sport – even more so than\u00a0horse racing<\/a>\u00a0(but only just). For most betting site’s it’s also the primary focus with more events, features and bets than anything else.<\/p>\n

If you’re looking to just place a few simple bets on the weekend, then you can’t go far wrong with any of the sites listed below. Some have better odds or promotions than others, but we cover than in more detail in the summaries and reviews.<\/p>\n

Featured Site of the Month for January 2026<\/div>\r\n \r\n
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Best Football Betting Sites<\/h2>\r\n\r\n
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BetVictor - Best Premier League Odds (Officially)<\/h3>\r\n \"BetVictor\r\n

BetVictor is the 'best value football bookmaker', and has been for the last five years. That's not a bold claim by the way; it has been verified by an independent source. So football punters are assured of the very best prices, pound for pound, here than with any other bookmaker.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Great odds across 1X2, first\/anytime goalscorer and correct score markets will leave you wondering how you ever bet anywhere else, and with 100+ markets available you'll never be short of options either. The Goals Feed channel enables you to follow your bets without having to click away either.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Read Full Review<\/a><\/div>\r\n
Visit BetVictor<\/a><\/div> \r\n
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T&Cs apply (18+). Please bet responsibly. #ad<\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
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Coral - Best All Rounder<\/h3>\r\n \"Coral\r\n

Founded in 1926, Coral have moved with the times; developed, tweaking and investing in their customer offer to the extent that they are now one of the largest bookmakers in Europe. The reasons for their success are numerous, but their aggressive approach to attracting new customers, which includes outrageously priced promotions, has proven advantageous.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The good news for punters is that they are one of the finest exponents of football betting around, with a raft of offers and promotions designed specifically for lovers of the beautiful game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Those who love an Asian Handicap will be disappointed by their absence here, but the wealth and depth of their other markets more than makes up for it.<\/p>\r\n

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Read Full Review<\/a><\/div>\r\n
Visit Coral<\/a><\/div> \r\n
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T&Cs apply (18+). Please bet responsibly. #ad<\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
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Betfred - Huge Number of Coupons and Bets<\/h3>\r\n \"Betfred\r\n

The originators of innovative betting coupons such as Double Delight, Hat-Trick Heaven and Goals Galore know a thing or two about what football punters want, and it is this raft of promotions that forms the centrepiece of the company's offer. 'You'll love a bit of Betfred' indeed!<\/p>\r\n

The website features all of the key tools that we have come to know and love these days, with live streaming, cash out and in-play three particular favourites, and backed by good old-fashioned customer service - the Betfred brand has been around in one or way another for more than five decades - punters will be made to feel right at home here.<\/p>\r\n

If you enjoy different forms of football betting then you can even try the Scoop6 Soccer game to win up to \u00a3250,000! And with a daily payout limit of \u00a31,000,000 on football bets - amongst the industry's best - you'll never be short of ways to win life-changing sums of money with Betfred.<\/p>\r\n

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Read Full Review<\/a><\/div>\r\n
Visit Betfred<\/a><\/div> \r\n
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T&Cs apply (18+). Please bet responsibly. #ad<\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n
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Ladbrokes - Regular Price Boosts, Promos and Solid Odds<\/h3>\r\n \"Ladbrokes\r\n

Ladbrokes can rightfully lay claim to being one of the oldest bookmakers on the planet - their origins date back more than a century to 1902 - so it's fair to say they must have a few tricks up their sleeve in order to survive for so long.<\/p>\r\n

There are a few handy coupons to keep you ticking over, including Goal Crazy and Price Boosts, while our research found them to be one of the most consistently-priced bookmakers across the various markets.<\/p>\r\n

Have a small wager on a selected match and you will be able to live stream it on your computer, mobile or tablet, and of course you can bet in play and cash out your wagers when the mood takes you. Via Ladbrokes' Exchange platform (in conjunction with Betdaq), you can even bet against other people from around the world; ensuring the best odds are secured on all related football markets.<\/p>\r\n

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Read Full Review<\/a><\/div>\r\n
Visit Ladbrokes<\/a><\/div> \r\n
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T&Cs apply (18+). Please bet responsibly. #ad<\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n

Football Betting Overview<\/h2>\n

Did you know that the first ever official football bets were placed in 1923?<\/p>\n

Here we are, a century later, and the beautiful game has changed beyond all recognition. But football betting has essentially remained the same in all that time \u2013 we\u2019re still looking for winners, goals, cards, corners and pretty much anything else that can happen out on the hallowed turf.<\/p>\n

Bookmakers are no longer one man behind a desk in a tiny, smoky shop either, and today we can bet in-play, request bets, watch live streams and do so much more with our favourite betting sites and apps.<\/p>\n

You could argue that there\u2019s never been a better time to be a punter, and whether you are a complete newcomer to football betting, are looking for some handy tips to take your bets to the next level or simply want to pick up a cheeky welcome bonus or two, you have come to the right place.<\/p>\n

In this article, we are going to cover everything you need to know about football betting. We\u2019ll talk about some of the most popular bet types that are available (it would take too long to describe the 100+ options available per game), we\u2019ll reveal the best of the features that you should look out for at a bookmaker and finally we might even have some tips that could help you to become a more successful football punter.<\/p>\n

If that sounds like it might be right up your street, let us begin.<\/p>\n

At a Glance Guide to Betting on Football<\/h2>\n

\"Football<\/p>\n

Once upon a time, betting on football was as basic as it gets \u2013 the object was to find one, or a few, match winners.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s because the bookies offered fewer markets going back to the 1980s and 1990s, and because the Pools was also popular at the time \u2013 where picking winners or drawn matches was key \u2013 that was just the way it was.<\/p>\n

But as time has passed, the bookmakers have realised that they can offer all manner of betting markets without eroding their all important \u2018edge\u2019 on punters \u2013 hence why now we have the ability to bet on both teams to score, over\/under a specific number of goals, total cards and corners in a game, half time\/full time scorecasts, a player to score first or anytime, correct score and much, much more besides.<\/p>\n

Professional punters and those seeking a secondary income from betting will typically find \u2018value\u2019 by studying a match, investigating the form of the two teams, any key players that are injured\/suspended, the underlying stats of their recent games and even factors such as the weather and a side\u2019s recent schedule.<\/p>\n

More casual punters will typically bet on their gut instinct, backing singles or accumulators \u2013 \u2018accas\u2019 as they are often known \u2013 based on how they feel about a particular set of games.<\/p>\n

Both can be fun, both can deliver winners \u2013 and of course you are free to decide how you want to bet on football based on your own preferences.<\/p>\n

And don\u2019t forget, if you are watching a game live on TV and spot something \u2013 maybe one of the teams is on top and looking likely to score, or maybe one of the players has lost their temper and is a yellow card waiting to happen \u2013 you can load up your favourite betting website or app and get your bets on in-play\u2026.another fine way to enhance your enjoyment of the beautiful game.<\/p>\n

Football Bet Types<\/h2>\n

\"Football<\/p>\n

As mentioned, there are stacks of different bet types you can use in football, and each of these offers a chance to profit depending on the variables of a match.<\/p>\n

It makes sense to have an understanding of as many of these as possible, because then you will have many more options at your fingertips as you analyse a set of fixtures.<\/p>\n

So here\u2019s a look at some of the most popular football bet types that are commonly used:<\/p>\n

Match Result<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s an oldie but a goodie. Here, quite simply, you are looking to correctly predict the outcome of a match \u2013 home win, away win or the draw.<\/p>\n

Sometimes referred to as 1-X-2, you can bet on single games in the match result market or combine a multiple of them in an accumulator.<\/p>\n

The more likely a team is to win, the shorter their odds \u2013 but as we will discover later in this article, the key thing is to find value in your bets, regardless of the price.<\/p>\n

One side note: for the Match Result market in games where extra time and\/or penalties can be used, your bet will typically be settled at the end of the 90 minute game unless otherwise stated.<\/p>\n

Both Teams to Score<\/h3>\n

As the name implies, in this betting market we\u2019re looking for one thing only \u2013 both teams to score.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t matter what the end result is or the scoreline, as long as both the outfits contesting the game find the net then our bet lands.<\/p>\n

Own goals count, so you don\u2019t need to worry about that, and again it\u2019s the 90 minutes that decide the fate of our wager \u2013 extra time goals do not count.<\/p>\n

For context, in the 2020\/21 Premier League season Both Teams to Score \u2013 or BTTS as you may see it shortened to \u2013 landed in 49% of games. Of course, the bet is much more likely to land in games between two even teams, and where the attacking players are expected to have the upper hand on opposition defenders.<\/p>\n

Over\/Under Goals<\/h3>\n

Roughly speaking, around half of all games in Europe\u2019s top leagues sees three or more goals scored.<\/p>\n

The bookmakers offer an Over\/Under 2.5 Goals market that asks how many goals you think will be scored in a game \u2013 ignore the .5, which is ugly, and instead focus on the basic question. Will there be three or more goals in the contest or two (or fewer)?<\/p>\n

Note that the bookies typically offer Over\/Under lines for 1.5 and 3.5 goals too, and if you are feeling particularly optimistic about a goal glut you can even try 4.5 or 5.5 (although this isn\u2019t recommended).<\/p>\n

Correct Score<\/h3>\n

Football betting is about risk and reward \u2013 do you want to take a chance on a long odds fancy, or play it more conservatively?<\/p>\n

The correct score betting market is at the riskier end of the spectrum, but you can take advantage of some outstanding odds that are available.<\/p>\n

The downside? There are so many permutations as to how a football match can end, with ten or more different scores absolutely possible. In the Premier League in 2020\/21, the most common scoreline was 1-1, but this only occurred in 11% of games. That shows how difficult forecasting correct scorelines can be.<\/p>\n

Draw No Bet\/Double Chance<\/h3>\n

These are \u2018cover\u2019 bets that in essence perform the same function.<\/p>\n

With a Draw No Bet option, you will win if the team you back is victorious and lose your money if they taste defeat. If the game ends in a draw, your stake is returned.<\/p>\n

In the Double Chance market, your bet lands if the team you back wins or draws \u2013 that\u2019s even more insurance.<\/p>\n

Handicap\/Asian Handicap<\/h3>\n

Here, we are trying to work out whether a team can cover a hypothetical handicap or not.<\/p>\n

These can be plus or minus handicaps, and here\u2019s a couple of examples: if we back Liverpool with a -1 goal handicap, they would have to win the game by two clear goals (or more) for our bet to land. If we back Manchester United with a +2 handicap, our bet lands if the Red Devils win, draw or lose by a single goal margin.<\/p>\n

Asian handicaps introduce half and quarter goals into the mix \u2013 which is very difficult to explain in layman\u2019s terms. If you head to a search engine and look for Asian handicap images there are some good charts and tables that explain it all.<\/p>\n

Half Time\/Full Time<\/h3>\n

If you really fancy a team to win a particular game, and you want to maximise your value, you could back them in the Half Time\/Full Time market.<\/p>\n

This asks you to predict the correct result at half time and full time, as you may have guessed, and you can use this in a few different ways \u2013 to back a red hot favourite, or you could back draw\/Team A if you think they will eventually break their opponents down in the second half.<\/p>\n

First or Anytime Goalscorer<\/h3>\n

We can bet on specific individuals to score the first goal of the game, or to find the net at any point.<\/p>\n

With 20 outfield players on the pitch, and then substitutes to consider too, it can be difficult to predict a goalscorer \u2013 especially if we place our bets before the team news has been released.<\/p>\n

However, there are some juicy prices available, so if you believe that fortune favours the brave then go for it.<\/p>\n

Scorecast\/Wincast<\/h3>\n

This is essentially a double bet where we have to get both of the legs correct.<\/p>\n

The first part requires us to correctly guess the first goalscorer, and then either get the match winner (Wincast) or the correct score (Scorecast).<\/p>\n

As you can imagine, the Scorecast odds can be very large indeed, although if you want to hedge your bets a bit you can try the Anytime Scorecast option.<\/p>\n

Match Specials<\/h3>\n

Pretty much all bookmakers offer their own \u2018specials\u2019 for specific games.<\/p>\n

These are wide-ranging from brand to brand, but just some options include to win from behind, to win to nil, to win either half, to score in both halves, to win both halves, and so on. Who knows, maybe your new favourite bet type can be found in the specials section.<\/p>\n

It should be reiterated that this is by no means an exhaustive list, with hundreds of options available. Note too that many of these football bet types can also be used in-play, i.e. once the game has kicked off.<\/p>\n

What is Ante Post Football Betting?<\/h2>\n

\"Outright<\/p>\n

So far, we have detailed the match bets that you can place in football.<\/p>\n

But what about longer-term betting, such as league winner or relegation? These fall under the general heading of ante post, or outright, markets.<\/p>\n

You can wager on the outright betting markets throughout the season \u2013 these don\u2019t generally close once the campaign is underway \u2013 so if you have an instinct about a particular team then you can still get involved.<\/p>\n

Just some of the ante post betting options include:<\/p>\n