Thursday 31 December 2009
Bet UK
BetUK has been operating since 1998 and is owned by the Sportingbet Group. The company is listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange (AiM). This gives a bit more peace of mind when betting.
BetUK.com offers comprehensive odds on an average of 24 different sports and 141 leagues. It’s a no frills affair, without some of the more exotic bet offlays that some other sports books offer.
The website gets some stick but we’ve never had a problem with it. The pages are quick to load and the odds are readily available, with everything well spaced out and easy to read. The betting slip is one of the most simple you will find. One thing we don’t like is the fact you have to scroll up to the top of the page to get to the bet slip once you’ve made a selection, but it’s a minor complaint at best.
Customer Service
Customer service is by email or live chat but not by phone, which is a disadvantage
Quick Facts
URL: www.betuk.com
Email: support@betuk.com
Phone: NA
Licenced: Alderney, Channel Islands
Founded: 1998
Odds Format: EU, UK, US
Software: Finsoft
Deposit methods
Bank Wire, Cheque, Click2Pay, Delta, DirectTeller, FirePay, MasterCard, Moneybookers, Neteller, MoneyGram, 1-Pay, Visa
Currencies
Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Danish Krone, Euro, Hong Kong Dollar, Japanese Yen, Renminbi, Singapore Dollar, Swedish Krona, Swiss Franc, UK Pound Sterling, US Dollar
Languages
English
Sports
American Football, Athletics, Aussie Rules, Bandy, Baseball, Basketball, Bowls, Boxing, Cricket, Cycling, Darts, Floorball, Futsal, Gaelic Football, Golf, Greyhounds, Handball, Horse Racing, Hurling, Ice-Hockey, Motor Racing, Pool, Rugby, Snooker, Soccer, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Winter Sports
Other events
N/A
Ratings
Features: 8/10
Value for Money: 8.5/10
User friendliness: 10/10
Customer Service: 8/10
Promotions: 7/10
Overall: 8/10
Promotions
New customers get a 50% cash match bonus (up to £25) when you place a single bet at odds of evens or greater.
Wednesday 30 December 2009
Bet Chronicle
Bet Chronicle (also known as Chronicle Bookmakers) is part of the Global Betting Exchange group. It was founded in 1985 and is licenced in Ireland, the Isle of Man and the United Kingdom.
The layout of the website is very simple and, therefore, easy to navigate. The range of markets is good with a focus on horse racing, being the leading on-course layer in both Ireland and the UK. Payouts appear to be quick and painless.
Customer Service
Customer support is 24/7 via email and their telephone helpdesk is open 9am - 10pm Mon to Sat and 9am - 6pm on Sunday.
Quick Facts
URL: www.betchronicle.com
Email: info@betchronicle.com
Phone: +353-1-673-3498
Licenced: Ireland, Isle of Man, United Kingdom
Founded: 1985
Odds Format: EU, UK,
Software: GBE Software
Deposit methods
Delta, Laser, MasterCard, Solo, Switch, Visa
Currencies
Euro, UK Pound Sterling
Languages
English
Sports
American Football, Baseball, Basketball, Cricket, Gaelic Games, Golf, Greyhound Racing, Horse Racing, Ice Hockey, Motor Racing, Rugby, Snooker, Soccer, Tennis
Other events
Financials
Ratings
Features: 8/10
Value for Money: 8/10
User friendliness: 7/10
Customer Service: 8/10
Promotions: 8/10
Overall: 8/10
Promotions
You’ll get £25 in free bets as a new customer. Enter the promotional code "BET25".
Victor Chandler
Victor Chandler (VC Bet) has been around for over 60 years and has established a reputation for integrity and honesty. Although VC Bet is licenced in Gibraltor, it is regulated in the UK.
The sports coverage is excellent and while their fixed odds won’t astound you, VC Bet won’t restrict your bets, unlike other bookmakers.
The website is fast and reliable, yet nice and simple, which is the way it should be. Upcoming events take precedence, yet smaller markets are still easy to find.
Customer Service
Customer support is 24/7 via telephone and email. The response is quick and the staff are helpful and experienced.
Quick Facts
URL: www.victorchandler.com
Email: accountqueries@vcint.com
Phone: 08000 61 28 09
Licenced: Gibraltor
Founded: 1994
Odds Format: EU, UK,
Software: Proprietary Software
Deposit methods
1-Pay, Bank Wire, Cheque, Click2Pay, Delta, EcoCard, InstaCash, Laser, Maestro, MasterCard, Moneybookers, Neteller, Pay888, Pay2, Solo, Switch, Visa, Visa Electron, Western Union
Currencies
Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Danish Krone, Euro, Hong Kong Dollar, Japanese Yen, Korean Won, New Taiwan Dollar, New Zealand Dollar, Norwegian Krone, Renminbi, Old Romanian Leu, Singapore Dollar, Swedish Krona, Swiss Franc, Thai Baht, UK Pound Sterling, US Dollar
Languages
Chinese, Danish, English, Greek, Hebrew, Korean, Norwegian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
Sports
Athletics, American Football, Aussie Rules, Baseball, Basketball, Boxing, Cricket, Cycling, Dogs, Gaelic Games, Golf, Horse Racing, Ice Hockey, Motor Racing, Netball, Rugby, Snooker, Soccer, speedway, Tennis, Yachting, Winter Sports
Other events
Politics
Ratings
Features: 8/10
Value for Money: 8/10
User friendliness: 9/10
Customer Service: 9/10
Promotions: 10/10
Overall: 9/10
Promotions
You’ll get £100 in free bets as a new customer. If you’re based in the UK, you’ll also get £25 in Casino chips with no deposit required.
Always read the terms and conditions of free bets, they are included in the above link.
Canbet
Canbet was established in 1995 and is a subsidiary of International All Sports Limited, which is an Australian publicly traded sportsbook. They are licenced in the UK and have built up a solid reputation.
The layout of the website is a bit limited in terms of layout and navigation. On the plus side the format is simple and clear. The range of markets can be limited, which is a disadvantage for those of us who like a punt on smaller markets.
One of the best things about Canbet is that they rarely limit customer stakes, unlike Stan James, who have been known to severely limit suspect player’s bets. Payout times are reputedly very quick as well.
Customer Service
Customer support is 24/7 via live chat, telephone and email. The quality of help can be inconsistent. However, the site contains a well informed help and rules section.
Quick Facts
URL: http://www.canbet.com/
Email: mail@canbet.com
Phone: 0800 7838833
Licenced: United Kingdom
Founded: 1995
Odds Format: EU, UK, US
Software: Proprietary Software
Deposit methods
Bank Wire, Cheque, Delta, InstaCash, Laser, MasterCard, Moneybookers, Neteller, Solo, Switch, Visa, Visa Electron
Currencies
Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Euro, UK Pound Sterling, US Dollar
Languages
English
Sports
American Football, Aussie Rules, Baseball, Basketball, Boxing, Cricket, Cycling, Golf, Horse Racing, Ice Hockey, Motor Racing, Netball, Rugby, Snooker, Soccer, Tennis, Yachting, Winter Sports
Other events
Entertainment, Politics, Reality shows
Ratings
Features: 6/10
Value for Money: 8/10
User friendliness: 6/10
Customer Service: 8/10
Promotions: 9/10
Overall: 7/10
Promotions
Join Canbet and make your first bet of £25 or more and receive a £25 bonus bet.
Always read the terms and conditions of free bets, they are included in the above link.
Friday 4 December 2009
Skybet
Skybet is part of BskyB, and as part of one of the largest companies in the UK, it offers good credibility and reliability. They are a publicly traded company and are licensed and regulated in the UK. Live betting is a major focus and with digital TV offers handy interactive betting. The site is easy to navigate, bet placement is sound and secure enough not to be placing the wrong the bet by mistake, thanks in part to a redesign in 2005. There is a sizeable range of events from football to virtual racing.
The ‘Max Bet’ feature is extremely useful, allowing you to see how much you can bet. In the past, Skybet has been criticised for being too pricey, but there has been a vast improvement in the last few years.
Customer Service
Skybet boasts 24/7 customer support and with help for visually impaired users, their customer service is second-to-none. An in-depth FAQ is a helpful addition.
Quick Facts
URL: http://www.skybet.com/
Email: help@skybet.com
Phone: 0800 0724 777
Licenced: United Kingdom
Founded: 2000
Odds Format: EU, UK
Software: Orbis
Deposit methods
Bank Wire, Delta, Laser, MasterCard, Solo, Switch, Visa, Visa Electron
Currencies
Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Euro, UK Pound Sterling, Hong Kong Dollar, Singapore Dollar, US Dollar
Languages
English
Sports
American Football, Athletics, Aussie Rules, Basketball, Boxing, Cricket, Cycling, Darts, Golf, Greyhound Racing, Horse Racing, Ice Hockey, Motor Racing, Rugby, Snooker, Soccer, Speedway, Tennis, UFC, Virtual Racing, Winter Sports
Other events
Entertainment, Politics
Ratings
Features: 8.5/10
Value for Money: 8/10
User friendliness: 8/10
Customer Service: 9/10
Overall: 9/10
Promotions
For new customers, Skybet will match your first bet (up to £10).
Always read the terms and conditions of free bets, they are included in the above link.
Thursday 8 October 2009
PartyBets
PartyBets is a premium sportsbook offered by the Party Games Company, which consists of Party Casino, Party Poker, Party Bingo and Party Gammon. The sportsbook is a no frills affair, and while it has a smooth navigation interface, its in-play console is somewhat limited.
Having said that, their range of pre-game markets varies greatly and odds are particularly competitive, especially for big matches. Their odds are often only bettered by the betting exchanges. The bet search is also a useful addition.
Customer Service
Customer support is 24/7. An FAQ search facility answers basic questions with email and telephone to support it, with the support team being well-informed and friendly.
Quick Facts
URL: http://www.partybets.com
Email: info@partybets.com
Phone: 0800 2000 8282 (UK)
Fax: 0870 858 8282
Licenced: Gibraltar
Founded: 1997
Odds Format: EU, UK, US
Software: PartyGaming
Deposit methods
Visa, MasterCard, Neteller, Moneybookers, Click and Buy, Ukash, PayPal, Paysafecard, American Express, Click2Pay, Entropay, Maestro, Solo, WebMoney, Visa Electron, UseMyBank, EcoCard, myCitadel Wallet, EziPay, Bank Wire Transfer, Laser, Poli, Bpay.
Currencies
Deposit in US Dollar, Euro, UK Pound Sterling, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Danish Krone, Norwegian Kroner, Swedish Krona, Polish Zloty, Swiss Franc, Romanian Lei, Hungarian Forint. However, account is always in US Dollar.
Languages
English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Swedish, Greek, Polish, Russian, Romanian.
Sports
American Football, Aussie rules, Baseball, Basketball, Boxing, Cricket, Cycling, Darts, Football, Gaelic Football, Golf, Handball, Horse Racing, Ice Hockey, Motor Sports, Pool, Rugby, Snooker, Tennis, Volleyball, Winter sports
Other events
Entertainment, financials, politics
Ratings
Features: 9/10
Value for Money: 9/10
User friendliness: 8/10
Customer Service: 9/10
Overall: 9/10
Promotions
New players will get 100% bonus on their first deposit, up to a maximum of £25 (at evens or greater).
Boylesports
Boylesports is Ireland's largest independent bookmakers, with an excellent commitment to customers.
The website is fairly basic, but there isn’t much to criticise. Markets are easily accessible and the bet slip is a helpful and easy to use tool. Boylesports offers consistently good prices and boasts comprehensive bet coverage, especially on horse racing and sporting events, which are particularly aimed at the UK betting market.
Customer Service
Boylesports offers a friendly, quick & responsive help service by live chat, email and telephone
Quick Facts
URL: www.boylesports.com
Email: care@boylesports.com
Phone: 0800 22 00 66 (UK)
Licenced: Is of Man
Founded: 1989
Odds Format: EU, UK, US
Software: Proprietary
Deposit methods
Visa, MasterCard, Delta, Solo, Switch, Western Union, Wire Transfer, Cheque, Shop Deposits (Irish customers only), Neteller, Moneybookers
Currencies
EUR, GBP, USD
Languages
English
Sports
American Football, Athletics, Australian Rules, Baseball, Basketball, Boxing, Bowls, Cricket, Cycling, Darts, Football, Gaelic sports, Golf, Greyhound Racing, Horse Racing, Ice Hockey, Motor Racing, Poker, Rugby, Show Jumping, Snooker, Speedway, Tennis, Virtual Racing, Volleyball, Winter Sports
Other events
Chess, Entertainment, Novelty, Politics
Ratings
Features: 8/10
Value for Money: 8/10
User friendliness: 8/10
Customer Service: 9.5/10
Overall: 8/10
Promotions
New customers will get a 100% bonus after their first bet, up to a maximum of £20.
Always read the terms and conditions of free bets, they are included in the above link.
Stan James
Stan James is a well respected independent online sportsbook, originally founded by Steve Fischer and licensed in Gibraltar. Stan James has developed a name for inventive markets, attractive prices and especially, “in-running” betting. They keep the focus on English sport but do not exclude other worldwide markets.
Navigating around the site is simple. The homepage has a list of sports in a left hand menu, while every page has a built-in betting slip on the right hand side, which is easy to understand. The site also has a page dedicated to their ‘live score’ service.
Customer Service
Customer service representatives are knowledgeable and helpful on the phone and reply promptly to e-mails. If you can’t bet online, Stan James offers phone betting and customer service seem well educated in the finer points of wagering.
Quick Facts
URL: www.stanjames.com
Email: service@stanjames.com
Phone: 08000 351 136 (UK)
Licenced: Gibraltar
Founded: 1999
Odds Format: UK, EU, US
Software: Finsoft
Deposit methods
Visa, MasterCard, Visa Electron, Solo, Switch, Delta, Bank Wire, Check, Neteller, Moneybookers, Citadel, Western Union
Currencies
AUD, CAD, CHF,CSD, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, IDR, ILS, JPY, MYR, NOK, NZD, RMB, RUB, SEK, SGD, THB, VEB, USD, ZAR
Sports
American football, baseball, basketball, boxing, cricket, darts, gaelic football, golf, greyhounds, handball, horse racing, hurling, ice hockey, motor racing, pool, rugby, snooker, soccer, tennis
Other events
Politics, reality shows, virtual racing
Languages
Czech, English, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Spanish, Swedish
Ratings
Features: 9/10
Value for Money: 8/10
User friendliness: 8/10
Customer Service: 9/10
Overall: 8/10
Promotions
For new customers, Stan James will match your first bet (at evens or greater, up to £25).
Always read the terms and conditions of free bets, they are included in the above link.