The vast majority of people who love to bet do so offshore, where the odds are in their favour and the exchanges give them the opportunity to place high-quality bets. However, it’s not just the excitement of flipping a coin or rolling the dice that makes offshore betting appealing – there’s also the convenience factor. People who bet offshore have the luxury of being able to place their bets whenever they want, wherever they are in the world, and not having to wait until the sports are over to see if their money has expired. This convenience has made offshore betting a mainstream activity, with around a quarter of the population now engaging in some form of bet. That’s a lot of potential sports fans who could be driven to passion by the next big match.
Offshore betting is a global industry, with major events like the Olympics, World Cup, and European Championships attracting huge audiences and bringing in lucrative bookmaker offers. The majority of people who bet offshore are based in the UK, with around a quarter of all bets made there being placed on the Premier League. However, with the increasing popularity of eSports and other competitive gaming events, it’s clear that this could soon be a global sport.
Where To Bet
Whether you choose to bet on football, cricket, or any other sport, the internet makes it easy to find the odds you’re looking for and the best place to place your bet. You may not be able to rely on bookmakers to give you the best odds, as they often have poor relationships with the sports clubs and arenas, and will always try to force you to make a long bet if you want to take advantage of their special offers. This is why it’s important to do your research before betting on any of the major sporting events, as you could end up somewhere not ideal for your desired outcome. This is also why it’s important to be aware of the best match betting sites, as they will often have the most competitive odds, and offer the best chance at winning big.
The Top Match Betting Sites
Below, we’ll detail the attributes that make each of the world’s top match betting sites special, as well as the features that make them easy to use for even the most inexperienced of gamblers. Let’s get to it.
Bet365
The #1 ranked match betting site globally is, unsurprisingly, backed by one of the world’s largest betting companies, and boasts a reputation for extremely high quality odds and outstanding customer service.
With over 17 million customers globally, and 25 million monthly active users, it’s clear that Bet365 have struck a chord with the sports betting public. They’ve also become an established name in the realm of eSports, with the Fortnite Summer Smash being the biggest sporting event on their platform to date, with a peak of 730,000 concurrent viewers.
Paddy Power
Paddy Power is one of Ireland’s biggest bookmakers, and also operates in the UK and several other countries, having signed a deal with Betfair to expand into new markets.
Whether you’re an Irish football fan or not, you’ll likely be familiar with Paddy Power’s orange and green logo, as it’s been appearing on television sets across the country for decades. While it may not be the most original or innovative brand in the world of sport, there’s no denying that they’ve stuck with what they do best – offering great odds on all the big games.
William Hill
William Hill is one of the world’s biggest bookmakers, operating in over 100 countries and with over 22 million customers.
The UK’s largest bookmaker is also one of the premier destinations for eSports fans, with the biggest names in this space such as Kevin Harcourt, Dan “Artstyle” Tran, and Omar “SharkZero” Choudhry regularly competing and even winning on their platform. One of the main draws for sports fans are their odds, with most major sports covered and numerous promotions offered daily.
888Bet
888Bet is another UK-based sportsbook that’s rapidly grown to become one of the premier destinations for European players, with over 2.5 million registered users and over 400,000 active monthly users.
The esports scene is also significant on their platform, with events like the ECS and Six Nations consistently attracting thousands of concurrent viewers.
Where To Bet On Other Sports
While most of the sites above focus on football, cricket, and rugby, fans of other sports like hockey, tennis, and MMA can also have a good time placing bets on their favourite events.
However, while most of the sites above focus on sports with well-established rules and clear match-ups, it’s not all plain sailing when it comes to betting on mixed martial arts, with UFC and Bellator often clashing in the court of public opinion, and the lines between professional and amateur often blurred.
To avoid any controversies regarding match fixing or unfair advantage, you should refrain from placing any bets on MMA or other combat sports events. The same goes for horse racing, where your money could end up financing race fixing, or for certain types of snooker and pool games, where there’s a distinct possibility of players using illegal devices.
If you’re new to betting or looking to place a big bet, getting started on a site like Betfair is simple enough. All you need is an e-mail address and you’re ready to go. You’ll then be presented with a list of all the major sporting events and competitions that are taking place around the world, along with the odds on each game.