Bookmakers

Last Man Standing
GUIDE

LAST MAN STANDING

Last Man Standing offers more than just a platform for friendly competition; it adds an additional layer of excitement to every match.
Horse Racing Jockey
GUIDE

50/1 ODDS

You’ve seen the odds are 50/1, but you aren’t sure how much you will win if you place the bet. Well, worry not, as all will be explained!
Betfred
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BETFRED

Betfred is a leading online bookmaker offering a wide variety of markets and bet types, from in-play odds to virtual sports.

BOOKMAKER GUIDE

THE GAME HUNTER

Betting on major sporting events has never been easier, at one time you would have to get your bets on down at your local bookies – what a hassle, now with the internet you can bet on sporting events worldwide with the click of a button.

Not only can you bet on virtually any type of sport you care to name – Football, Horse Racing, and Rugby, but you can also get a huge variety of different types of bets. Fixed odds, spread bets, in-game bets, Asian handicaps, and combos, to name just a few.

Below I have featured a few of my favourite bookmakers, and you can rest assured these chaps won’t disappear into the jungle with your winnings. They are regulated in the UK or EU under strict legislation. To read a full bookmaker review, just click the ‘Read Review’ button ~ Happy Hunting!

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  • Football Betting Comprehensive Guides To Betting & Odds

Your guide to sports betting & bonuses

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Betfred

BETFRED OFFER

GET £40 IN BONUSES WHEN YOU STAKE £10

New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required. Full T&Cs apply. begambleaware.org. #ad. Please bet responsibly.
BASIC GUIDE

SPORTS BETTING & BOOKMAKERS

Up until about 20 years ago, if you wanted to place a bet, you had to physically get your to a bookmaker to place it. Then the internet happened, and the entire gambling world was turned on its head.

Suddenly you could open your computer and simply pick the bet you wanted to place, and with the click of a mouse, it was done. Since then, things have only advanced further. Technology has come so far that there are now hundreds of sports and betting markets available.

You can wager on a game taking place on the other side of the world. You can bet on who will score the next point in a tennis match – while the game is live!

The possibilities are endless. But that doesn’t mean we still don’t have questions about how it all happens. So we’re to answer some of the most frequently asked queries about online bookmakers.

HOW DO BOOKMAKERS SET ODDS?

In days gone by, there was literally a person sitting with a book or ledger setting odds. Those times are long gone, and now online bookmakers use a very complicated set of mathematical equations to work out the odds that you see online. But they still need a little bit of human input. For example, in horse racing, calculating odds requires a team that works behind the scenes. These people are called Odds Compilers. And their job is to set the right price for each runner. They take all available information into account. Using form experts, private handicappers, past performances, etc…, they compile everything they have and compare the results of the horses in the race.

Then they work on the bookmaker’s profit margin. That information is fed into a computer program, and the odds are calculated. No matter the outcome of an event, the bookmaker makes a profit. It is all about databases, statistics, and mathematical models. Essentially a computer determines the odds.

HOW MANY BOOKMAKERS ARE IN THE UK?

There are over 80 online bookmakers licensed to operate in the UK. They are licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission and must adhere to very strict gambling rules that are set in law.

You may only be able to think of a few off the top of your head. And these are generally the big players like Betfred, Ladbrokes, William Hill, Coral, Betfred etc… But you also have to consider all of the smaller bookmakers that attend racecourses or only have one shop in a smaller town.

They may not be able to compete on a grand scale, but they are still subject to the exact same rules and regulations.

OFFERS AND PROMOTIONS

With 80 different bookmakers operating online in the UK there is a lot of competition for your business. That’s why they always have offers and promotions. The more attractive they can make the offer, the bigger the chance that you will bet with them.

Once you’ve placed a few bets with an online bookmaker, maybe even downloaded their app, then you start to become quite loyal. A few small bets here and there from hundreds of thousands of customers soon add up. So it becomes a numbers game.

People spending thousands on a single bet is not as common as you think. Bookmakers make their money from millions of little bets placed throughout the year. If they have to take a hit on a juicy offer or promotion every now and then, that’s the price they are willing to pay to keep you coming back.

WHY DO BOOKMAKERS OFFER CASH OUT?

If you’re not familiar with the term ‘cash out’ it’s when you place a bet, but before the result of that bet can be determined, the bookmaker offers you the chance to take a settlement.

Here’s a very basic example. You place £10 on Liverpool to win a match at odds of 5/1. If you win, you get back £50 plus your £10 stake. 70 minutes into the game, and Liverpool is leading 1-0. The bookmaker offers you £25 to cash out. That is the total amount you will get from the bet and includes your stake, which will not be returned separately.

Here’s the dilemma, if you take the money, your bet ends. And if Liverpool goes on to win the match, you will have lost out on the rest of the winnings. However, if they concede and the game ends in a draw, you lose it all and get nothing.

That said, there is often the option only to cash out part of the bet. So why do bookmakers offer the cash-out service? Because it makes them money or reduces their losses.

In the scenario above, they will have already calculated the chances of Liverpool winning the game if they lead at 70 minutes. They know that if Liverpool wins, they will have to give you back £60 – your £50 winnings and your £10 stake. If you take the £25, they save themselves £35. Cash Out is a numbers game for both the customer and the bookmaker.

HOW TO BEAT THE BOOKIES

This is actually one of the most searched-for terms when it comes to bookmakers. How exactly do you beat the bookies? The answer is simple. Put the right bet on. There really is no other way. In order to win, you have to be right with your prediction, and the bookmaker has to be wrong.

Bearing in mind the vast amount of information that the bookies have on all sports, winning a lot is harder than you think.

One advantage you can have is data or very specific information about a sport. Those who know a lot more about the lower leagues in football or more obscure sports tend to do better.

And considering bookmakers take bets on pretty much everything, a little knowledge goes a long way.

Also, remember that betting is a numbers game. Playing with your heart and backing a team because they’re your favourite is not always going to work, no matter how much you love them. Do a bit of research and look at the stats.

There will always be shock results, but more often than not, sports results tend to follow trends. So do the homework and look for bets that are not so mainstream, and you may have better results.

WHY DO BOOKIES PAY TO FIVE PLACES?

This is found mostly in horse racing. Big races attract a lot of punters, and the bookies are fighting for your custom.

So in order to draw you in and have you bet with them instead of a competitor, they will turn up the offers and offer more places.

For many bookmakers, five places in races like the Grand National has become the default promotion. Some even go further and offer six places.

That means if your horse doesn’t win but instead finishes in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th place, and you have backed it each way, the bookmaker will pay out on 1/5 of the quoted odds.

Other sports often get the extra places treatment as well. Big Golf events are hugely popular, and some bookies will pay up to 10 places. This seems incredibly generous, but when you consider that often there are 150 golfers taking part, it becomes a bit of a guessing game as to who will have the round of their life.

You also have to remember that the scoring plays a vital role in whether or not your golfer makes the top 10. Having the fifth-best score doesn’t matter if 20 golfers ahead of you tie for the 4th best score!

Ultimately, bookmakers payout to five places to attract your business, knowing that in huge fields, even picking one runner or player to finish that high up is still a very difficult thing to do.

WHICH ONLINE BETTING SITE GIVES THE BEST ODDS?

A frequently asked question but one that does not have a definitive answer. Odds are a reflection of a possible outcome. So, for example, if Manchester United were to play a non-league team, there is a much greater chance that Manchester United would win. Of course, that doesn’t always happen, but on paper, United would be the better team.

So the odds of them winning would be incredibly short. In a more equally matched game, the odds would be closer together. But those odds can change depending on how much money goes on the game from punters.

It takes a lot of cash to move the odds, so you see it more often in horse racing. The bookmaker attempts to offset their risk by reducing the odds as more cash is piled on.

When it comes to online betting, there are millions more people betting than at a football ground or at a racecourse. Because of that, the odds can vary depending on which bookmaker you use.

Betfred may be offering odds of 9/1 on horse, and William Hill may be offering 11/1 (or vice versa). If you have an account with both bookmakers, you will bet with Will Hill because your potential return is higher.

However, some online bookmakers frequently offer ‘Odds Boosts’. So while other bookmakers offer small odds, you can ‘boost’ yours or take advantage of an offer that gives you more bang for your buck. Online bookmakers also use ‘Best Odds Guaranteed’, which is where they guarantee you that a competitor will not beat the odds on offer.

And then there is the SP guarantee. That refers to the ‘Starting Price’. So if you back a horse at 10/1, but he actually goes off at 14/1, and you win, your bookmaker will pay out at the higher odds.

When it comes to determining which online betting sites give the best odds, you have to do some homework. A quick glance through the various sites will tell you where the value lies.

WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR SPORT TO BET ON?

Football is the most popular sport in the world, and for that reason, it is also the most popular sport to bet on. Though on occasion, one-off events like the Grand National and the Gold Cup can also generate millions in revenue for bookmakers.

One of the reasons Football attracts so many punters is that there are so many markets to bet on. Not only can you pick who will win or lose, but you can bet on the exact score of the game, who gets booked, or how many free-kicks there will be. There are also odds on individual games and outright markets for you to get your teeth into.

It’s the difference between betting on Liverpool vs Manchester City or betting on which team you think will win the Premier League.

Even then, betting on football isn’t restricted to the UK. Yes, there is the Premier League, featuring the elite 20 clubs of English football that battle it out over the course of nine months to either win the title or remain in the division. But there is also the Champions League, for the best of the European teams. It is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world, and every team wants to win it. Second to the Champions League is the Europa League. This features the teams that were not quite good enough to qualify for the bigger tournament. It is just as entertaining if lacking slightly in prestige.

Of course, not everybody follows the Premier League, and so football odds on The Championship are also available. And if you fancy your chances of picking a winner outside of the UK, the odds are available on Serie A (Italy), Bundesliga (Germany), La Liga (Spain), and Ligue 1 (France). With In-Play betting, accumulators, Over/Under markets, and all of the individual game markets, there is so much on offer for football betting that, by default, it is the most bet on sport in the world.

Boylesports

BOYLESPORTS OFFER

BET £10 GET £20 IN FREE BETS

New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Payment method restrictions. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. Full T&Cs apply. 18+ begambleaware.org. #ad. Please bet responsibly.

Coral Sports

CORAL NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

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WHEN YOU BET £5 ON SPORTS
18+ New UK+IRE Customers. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 1x £20 free bet. Free bet available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply begambleaware.org. #ad. Please bet responsibly.
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NEW CUSTOMER OFFER

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VISIT FOR LATEST OFFER

18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. 18+ begambleaware.org. #ad. Please bet responsibly.

Betfred

BETFRED OFFER

GET £40 IN BONUSES WHEN YOU STAKE £10

New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required. Full T&Cs apply. begambleaware.org. #ad. Please bet responsibly.
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