Sportingbet Review

Sportingbet Review

It's good to have choices – and thanks to Sportingbet's extensive selection of sports markets, you would be wise to make this sportsbook one of yours.

You will be hard-pressed to find a UK sports betting site that offers more available sports to bet on Sportingbet – and that's not the only thing this sportsbook veteran has going for it. And while there are minor areas of concern here, they shouldn't deter new players from taking enjoyment in Sportingbet's easy-to-use betting interface and wide selection of bonuses and promos

Here's a look at Sportingbet, and why new users in particular are primed for a good time (while more experienced punters might not be in a partying mood here.)

Sportingbet Locations

Sportingbet operates globally, inviting players worldwide to place bets and try their luck on its casino games. While the site is primarily aimed at players based in the UK, it’s also well suited to Canadian players and those living in Europe.  

Several different languages are supported by the Sportingbet site, on both desktop and mobile. As well as English, support is offered in Brazilian, German, Hungarian, Portuguese, and Spanish.

However, players must be aware of location-based restrictions when playing at Sportingbet. Most significantly, the site is not currently available to U.S. players due to licensing regulations.

Sports Leagues to Bet On

Players can bet on almost any sport imaginable at Smarkets. The sportsbook takes bets on a huge range of different popular sports, along with a few markets you will have a hard time finding odds for at most sports betting sites. Here are some of our favourites:

Football Betting

Football is one of the most popular sports at Sportingbet, so you’ll find a huge number of options when it comes to wagering on football. Markets from more than 70 countries are available at any one time, with the major domestic European leagues and marquee tournaments taking centre stage. Unfortunately, the quality of odds isn't quite on par with other notable UK books.

Tennis Betting

Tennis is a popular sport at any UK bookmaker, and the situation at Sportingbet is no different. Players can bet on Grand Slams such as Wimbledon and the Australian Open, along with many other tournaments throughout the year. Sportingbet does well to populate most matches with a healthy number of live-bet markets that are divided into sections on the matchup screen.

Cricket Betting

UK players have numerous cricket options to choose from at Sportingbet. Currently, players can bet on a variety of different cricket betting markets, including Tests, ODIs and T20s. But here we are again with the 35-40 cents of juice, which pales in comparison to what you'll find on basic moneylines at William Hill (~20-30 cents) and Ladbrokes (~25 cents).

Horse Racing

Choose the winner of all the biggest horse races at Sportingbet, and you could be taking home some serious money. The sportsbook takes bets on races everywhere from Ascot and Aintree to Dubai. Choose which horse will win the race, who will be placed second and third, and much more. You can also partake in plenty of ante post race wagering if you so desire.

American Football

It might be played an ocean away, but no reputable UK sports betting menu is complete without a full compliment of NFL wagering markets. And strangely, this is where Sportingbet excels from an odds perspective, offering just 20 cents of juice on most spreads and totals markets. There are plenty of player prop opportunities for UK NFL bettors, along with a handy bet builder.

Other Sports Leagues

Sportingbet give plenty of prominence to its global basketball offering, listing the sport in its top nav menu and among the list of "Top Sports" on the left-hand nav, as well. You'll find hoops markets from more than two dozen countries, along with "North America" and "World" menus.

Other sports and competitions Sportingbet provides markets for include alpine skiing, baseball, biathlon, boxing, combat sports, cycling, darts, Formula 1, golf, handball, ice hockey, lacrosse, NASCAR, pool, Rugby League, Rugby Union, snooker, table tennis and volleyball.

As for more exotic betting opportunities, Sportingbet has these, too. Customers can wager on chess, motorbikes and ski jumping, or they can pivot to non-sports markets like entertainment or politics. Sportingbet also offers virtual markets for American football, basketball and football, ensuring action in those markets year-round.

Esports are also offered at Sportingbet. However, the range of markets available in this sector isn’t quite as impressive as those we’ve seen at other UK bookmakers. Many of the most popular esports are covered here, though, from League of Legends (LoL) and Dota 2 to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO).

Online Betting Experience

SportingBet is available as both a desktop and mobile site, along with offering betting apps for iOS and Android devices.

Website Experience

One look at the desktop version of this sportsbook and you can tell that it has been a major player on the UK sports betting scene for a while.

Once you become accustomed to where everything is on the screen, the layout is sublime: Popular markets and odds boosts are listed right below two sets of handy menus, with a complete list of sports on the left, markets in the centre and the bet slip, multi generator and non-intrusive casino search widget on the right.

The little things matter to Sportingbet, too – like selective splashes of color that stand out on the white background but aren't distracting. Micro enhancements like this, combined with making it easy for even novice bettors to find what they're looking for, make this layout a major win.

Mobile Betting and Betting App

Reviews on Apple’s App Store and Google Play stores are primarily positive, with players praising the app’s user-friendly design and selection of sports markets available.  

The Sportingbet app currently has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 - a great score, and a testament to the quality of the app’s design and its suitability for a wide range of different devices. However, a handful of negative reviews have been shared, with some users criticising delays in withdrawing their winnings via the app.

Live Betting

Live betting makes up a considerable proportion of the sports bets offered at SportingBet. There are numerous live streaming options on the desktop and mobile sites, and live betting is available via the app. Take a quick look at the live section of the site to see all the games taking place right now. Options include football, tennis, basketball, cycling, and much more.  

We were impressed by the quality of the Sportingbet live betting experience. Bets can be placed quickly and easily, with odds changing as games progress. Simply deposit to explore the site’s live streaming selection, or head to the live sports betting section to see what’s available. 

Casino, Poker, & Other Gaming Options

There are a considerable number of different casino games to enjoy at Sportingbet.  

Head to the casino, and you’ll find everything from slots (progressive titles included) to traditional table games, live dealer games, and unique twists on some old classics. The site even offers a collection of exclusive promotions for its casino players, with cash prizes and other bonuses to be won.

Sportingbet History

Sportingbet was first launched in 1997, so it’s not a new name in the world of online bookmakers. Founded by online gambling pioneer Mark Blandford, the company initially specialised in sports betting, casino games, and poker. It stayed true to its origins over the years, with its sports markets growing considerably as the company expanded.  

Sportingbet caters to over 2.5 million customers, with players registered in over 200 countries. Over a million bets are placed at the betting site daily by players trying their luck on casino games, poker, and sports betting.

Customer Ratings & Reputation

Sportingbet has built a strong reputation for offering fair odds across an extensive range of different sports. An enormous number of markets are available at SportingBet, and players are quick to praise both the range of bets on offer and the quality of odds.  

While the site’s reputation is mainly positive, there are some concerns that players have noted. The site does not yet support cryptocurrencies, which might put some players off. The selection of video poker games isn’t quite as good as it could be, and while the live chat customer support offering is both friendly and helpful, it isn’t available 24 hours a day.

Customer Service 

We found all of our dealings with the support team to be friendly and helpful, with all of our test queries resolved in a matter of minutes. Sadly, the support team can’t be contacted via live chat 24/7, but they’re swift to respond during business hours.

There are several ways to contact the Sportingbet team if you have any concerns or queries. The support team can be contacted via the live chat service, which is the most popular way of getting in touch.

Sportingbet Contact

• Live Chat
• Email: support@sportingbet.com
• Phone: 0800 028 0348 or 020 3938 0000

Sportingbet Legal Betting

Sportingbet is owned by GVC Holdings plc and licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and Gibraltar. Players can rest assured that their data is fully protected when they play here, as the site uses a top-tier security system with 256-bit encryption and numerous firewalls designed to fend off any security threats.

Responsible Gambling

Sportingbet is among the best in the industry at providing numerous resources for players to promote responsible gambling. Here is a list of some of their recommended partners.

• BeGambleAware.org: offers free, confidential help and support to anyone worried about gambling for themselves or others.
• Gambling Therapy: a global service provided by Gordon Moody offering free emotional support and advice to anyone affected by gambling.
• GamCare: The National Gambling Helpline provides confidential information, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling problems in England, Scotland, and Wales. Help available via live chat or phone: 0808 8020 133.
• GamStop: a free national self-exclusion tool. Once registered, you will be prevented from using gambling websites and apps run by companies licensed in Great Britain for your chosen period.

Why Choose Sportingbet?

Our review team has been consistently impressed by the extensive collection of markets available at Sportingbet, not to mention the brilliant live betting opportunities.

We’d recommend the site to players looking for an impressive range of sports betting, alongside esports, slots, and live casino games. And while we have reservations about the quality of some of Sportingbet's odds, this is more significant to experienced players looking for edges than to newer players seeking a good time.

Look out for offers open to new players, like the welcome bonus, and keep your eyes peeled for great rewards every time you return to Sportingbet.