The useful question, then, is which bookies do best at offering particular kinds of football bets, tips, predictions and more. For punters who would rather skip the detail and go straight to one of the front runners, there is the option to check the top 5 betting sites from onlinebookies.info.
When it comes to the betting itself, things get a little more complicated, because the bookie has to cater for the biggest events and much more besides. Some people simply settle for backing one team or the other to win, a draw or the final score, while others like to take a punt on everything, from corners, mobile in-play betting and live streaming all the way to whether or not a player will take his shirt off after scoring.
The latest statistics from the local regulatory and licensing body show that the non-remote betting market in the UK is dominated by four major sports betting operators – William Hill, Ladbrokes, Gala Coral Group and Betfred – which together account for 86% of all land-based betting shops. With this in mind, it comes as no surprise that the same bookies also lead the online betting market, thanks to long experience in the field that tells them exactly what punters want.
Take Ladbrokes, for example. Alongside the regular bets such as Asian handicap betting, first goalscorer, wincast and half-time/full-time scores, this bookie offers Match Specials that appeal to many punters, and the big odds attached to them explain much of their popularity. For the Tottenham vs Liverpool match on Saturday, for instance, odds of 50 to 1 were available on Jurgen Klopp using all three substitutes at half-time. It is something of a stretch, but it is possible. Klopp being sent to the stands also carried juicy odds of 20 to 1, a bet that would only pay out if the manager lost his temper over something.
Of course, it is not all about the types of bet on offer. A good football bookie knows that punters also appreciate a boost to their stake, so free bets and risk-free offers are must-have perks. Paddy Power does well in this category, offering numerous free bets on pre-match and in-play events. At the time, placing a pre-match bet earned half of that amount back as a free in-play wager, an offer that was hard to pass up. Those are a few pointers on which bookies stand out for football betting. The usual advice is to stick with a bookie that has been around for a long time, although a newer operator with good odds can also be worth a look.
How the Tottenham v Liverpool match turned out
The fixture behind those specials was Jürgen Klopp’s first game in charge of Liverpool. He had been appointed on 8 October 2015 on a three-year deal, replacing Brendan Rodgers, and his first match was the away trip to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday 17 October 2015. The game ended 0-0, so any punter who had backed a goalless draw or a correct score of nil-nil collected, while the more colourful Klopp specials depended on what happened on the touchline rather than on the scoreline.
Who regulates football betting in Britain
The regulator mentioned above is the Gambling Commission. It was established under the Gambling Act 2005, replaced the Gaming Board for Great Britain and took on its full powers on 1 September 2007. Its reach over online bookmakers was widened by the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014. Under that law, any company that advertises gambling and takes bets from customers in England, Wales or Scotland needs a licence from the Commission, even if the operator itself is based outside Great Britain. For football punters, that licence is the clearest sign that a bookmaker is permitted to offer its markets to British customers.
Questions people ask
Who regulates betting in Great Britain?
Betting in Great Britain is regulated by the Gambling Commission. It was established under the Gambling Act 2005, replaced the Gaming Board for Great Britain and took on its full powers on 1 September 2007.
Do overseas bookmakers need a British licence?
Yes. Under the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014, any company that advertises gambling and takes bets from customers in England, Wales or Scotland needs a Gambling Commission licence, even if it is based abroad.
How did Jurgen Klopp's first match as Liverpool manager end?
Klopp's first match in charge of Liverpool was a 0-0 draw away at Tottenham Hotspur on 17 October 2015. He had been appointed on 8 October 2015, replacing Brendan Rodgers.
Which bookmakers dominated British betting shops when the article was written?
Gambling Commission statistics of the time showed four operators, William Hill, Ladbrokes, Gala Coral Group and Betfred, together accounting for 86 per cent of all land-based betting shops. The same companies also led the online betting market.