Football Betting in the UK
Football is, without a doubt, the most popular sport not just in the UK, but in the world. Bettors are constantly looking for bookmakers that offer decent benefits for this specific sport. That includes great market coverage, football-specific promotions, boosted odds, etc.
To be able to enjoy all of these features, you need to find the best football betting sites and learn how to bet on football. That’s exactly what we’ll help you with.
Best Football Betting Sites in the UK
Our team is constantly checking out the best UKGC-licensed online bookmakers for football. We make sure to test each platform and review their security features, sports coverage, payment methods and promotions. User experience is also very important to us. The list of best football betting sites is constantly updated, so you can rest assured knowing that you have access to the latest information.
Football Popularity in the UK
The UK's top spot for most-watched sport is football. Statistics show that over 65% of the people who watch live sports are mostly into football. On average, the annual number of football viewers in the country is over 50 million. If we take match attendance only, football is by far the top sport in the UK.
Both men’s and women’s football leagues and tournaments are fan favourites. Women’s football even recorded a 38% growth between 2021 and 2025. In the Premier League alone, the average stadium occupancy is 97%, which is simply breathtaking.
Some of the top football competitions in the UK are:
- The Premier League
- Championship
- FA Cup
- Community Shield
- League One and Two
- Carabao Cup
All of these numbers tell us one thing – there’s no sport in the UK that can beat football at the moment. These numbers are also the reason why so many online sportsbooks want to shift their focus towards this particular sport.
Types of Football Bets that You Can Place
When you register at the best football betting site, you’ll have plenty of betting options to choose from. Thanks to that, you’ll enjoy major flexibility when placing bets. A few of the most popular types of bets are the following.
Match Winner
This bet type has two main outcomes and one neutral outcome. The “1” and “2” outcomes signify which team will win the match. One is for the home team, two is for the away team to win. The third outcome is “X,” which signifies that the match will end in a draw.
Over/Under (Goals)
Just as the bet type suggests, you’re wagering on the total number of goals that the football match will have. Each game has a certain threshold, and you can bet on whether the combined number of goals from both teams will go over it or under it.
Correct Score
This is one of the most daring bet types, which is why the odds are always high. With “correct score,” you bet on the exact score when the final whistle blows. Adventurous punters like to bet on the correct score because of the astronomical odds. Higher odds lead to higher payouts.
Double Chance
When using a double chance, you’re betting on two out of three possible scenarios in the game. You can place a 1X, 12 or 2X wager. The first one means that the home team will win or the game will end in a draw. The second means that one of the two teams will win, while the third one means that the away team will win or the game will end in a draw.
Both Teams to Score
Often considered as one of the safest bet options, especially if the two teams that are playing against each other are known for their attacking style of play. With this bet type, you’re simply betting that both teams will score at least one goal. The end result isn’t important at all.
Other Bet Types
A few additional bet types that are worth mentioning are first player to receive a yellow card, number of corners, handicaps, half-time/full-time, first goal scorer, player to receive a red card, half-time score and draw no bet.
Master Football Betting With These Tips
The process of placing football bets is rather simple. You just pick a reputable sportsbook, register, deposit money and pick the bet types that you want to place on your ticket. Since the outcomes are unpredictable, there's nothing that can guarantee you a win. However, there are a few things that you can consider, and they can enhance your overall experience.
- Read match statistics and history – the match history and statistics will tell you all about the current forms of teams, their available players, players that are likely to get booked during the match, etc. All of these details can provide you with information on which outcome you should bet on.
- Use bonuses and promotions – bonuses and promotions can allow you to bet for real money without actually wagering your own funds. If they apply to football and/or your specific team, make sure you use them. Keep in mind that you should consider the terms and conditions of the bonus.
- Don’t bet on your favourite team – often, bettors wager on their favourite team and end up placing a bet out of emotion, not reason. You should always avoid betting based on your emotions, and as such, we advise you not to wager on your team or player.
Football Betting – The Most Popular Form of Online Betting in the UK
Thanks to the fact that football is widespread in every corner of the UK, British people can always rely on UKGC-licensed betting sites to have a great online betting experience. If you're considering placing a wager on the next football match, you can browse our featured sportsbooks and pick one that matches your preference. Registration is easy, and the whole process will take just a minute of your time.