Moving from the Asian market to a more UK-focused one hasn’t necessarily been a plain sailing experience for 10Bet. There are numerous parts of the way their site is set-up that indicate their past experience and whether you like that or not will be a matter of personal preference. They’ve done well to ensure that they offer as much as possible, though, and it’s not just the football that they offer close to comprehensive coverage on.

A quick look at the list of sports they cover will furnish you with some interesting options. Are you a big fan of futsal, for example? How about Aussie Rules football? Perhaps you’re a speedway lover and want to place bet on that on a regular basis? I wouldn’t go so far as to say that they offer the sort of coverage that you won’t find anywhere else, but I would be quick to point out that there’s enough sports and events off the beaten track to mean that those of you that like to avoid the mainstream will be more than happy with what they have on offer.

In fairness, 'solid' is the byword for 10Bet’s coverage, if you want my honest opinion. Their odds are never going to blow the doors off their competitors, but they’re good enough to mean that you’re not going to shut down the website in disgust when you see them. Their horse racing coverage might not be all-encompassing, but you’ll be able to bet on plenty of races from across the UK and Ireland and even further afield. 10Bet have worked hard to establish themselves in a very competitive market and whilst they may not have the name recognition as some famous bookmakers, what they have got is an interesting take on a crowded business.

As I’ve hinted at, their prior life working on the Asian market means that there are aspects to their website and app that won’t be to everyone’s taste. On the flipside, if you like it then the likelihood is that you’ll really like it and be impressed with the way it’s all set up. For me, I like it enough to use it reasonably regularly. There’s a good streaming service, regular promotions that I think offer good value and I know I’ll never feel cheated with my bets. Have a read of the full review and see what you make of them.

There’s no guarantee that just because a company has numerous different strings to its bow that automatically means that it’s going to be a success, yet that is surely a sign that those responsible for running it aren’t afraid to continue their expansion. So, it is that 888 Holdings’s operation of the likes of a bingo site, poker site and casino must surely allows to feel some confidence in them. It’s also worth noting that they resisted a buyout from a different company in 2014, with everyone concerned believing that they’d created something special and keen to see it out.

I do think that they offer something special, too. They have attempted to find some niches in the market, so you’ll be able to find odds on some really random sports. The stand-out one for me on that front is pesapallo, a game played with a bat and ball that is remarkably popular in Finland. Now you may well tell me that you know all about it, but I’m not ashamed to admit that I had to Google it to find out what it was. I consider myself to be reasonably au fait with the sporting world, so if I’ve got to Google something then I’m happy to say the company covering it knows what they’re talking about.

888sport isn’t flawless, of course, as so few bookmakers are. Their Cash Out option is tricky to navigate and hidden away enough to suggest that they’re not that bothered whether you use it or not. Given the importance of Cash Out on revolutionising the online gambling industry, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this approach change sooner rather than later. You’ll also be a little disappointed in their live streaming options if that’s something that you enjoy, with only greyhound racing and horse racing covered at the time of writing.

All in all, though I think there’s enough about 888sport to win hearts and minds over time. They’ve had sponsorship deals with Nottingham Forest and Birmingham City in the past that suggest they’re taking their football coverage seriously, whilst they’ve also got involved with the sponsorship of a stand at Fontwell Park Racecourse in the past. There’s a lot to like about the set-up of their website, with in-play betting being a particular treat in my opinion. That, combined with solid promotions and a website style that is appealing once you’ve got used to it, is enough to mean I head back to 888sport with regularity.

Of course, different isn’t always good. The reality is that betting on the Exchange can seem complicated to begin with and punters who aren’t familiar with it might be tempted to shy away. If you put yourself in that category then fear not, I do my best to explain how it works in my full review and Betfair do an event better job on their website. The best way to think about it is that you actually become the bookmaker, so instead of betting on one horse to win or event to happen, you can choose one that you definitely don’t think will win or something that you believe won’t happen. It’s exciting and rewarding, with no small degree of risk attached too. My advice would be to give it a look for sure.

Now I wouldn’t be talking about them if all they offered was an Exchange that not everyone understands, so it should go without saying that they have a standard sportsbook for you to bet with too. It’s virtually impossible not to link it to the Exchange in discussions, largely because that side of the site ensures that their coverage is top notch. After all, what would be the point in revolutionising the industry and then not being able to cope with the demand that your revolution has brought about?

Betfair’s football coverage is great, perhaps only rivalled by their horse racing coverage. In fact, the only part of things where I didn’t find Betfair to be up there with the best company’s around was in their coverage of other sports that people might be interested in. For a company that prides itself on leading the way rather than walking in the footsteps of others, I found their coverage of other sports to be decidedly pedestrian. Still, I’m yet to find the absolutely perfect bookmaker, which is why I always recommend taking a little from one and a little more from another.

One thing that I haven’t yet mentioned but really should is Betfair’s business situation. In 2016, they merged with Paddy Power to form a new company called Flutter. What it means is that together they have become one of the most powerful bookmakers around. They’re still operated as separate companies, though, so don’t worry that you’re going to get confused about who you’re betting with.

Fred Done is a Manchester United supporter and you might well have heard of some of the stunts he’s pulled over the years to gain his company some good press. For example, head back to 1998 and Manchester United and Arsenal were battling it out for the Premier League title. So confident was Fred that his team would win that particular battle that he became the first bookmaker ever to pay out on bets before the result was confirmed. Arsenal went on to claim the title, making him look a little bit foolish. Not deterred, though, Done did the same thing towards the end of the 2011-2012 season, paying out on United to win the title ahead of the final day of the season. Manchester City, the club’s great rivals, ended up winning it on goal difference.

All of that should give you an idea of the sort of company we’re talking about here. Betfred will often chuck a curveball at its customers in the hopes of winning some decent publicity, so keep an eye out for daily deals and exciting promotions. Their coverage is actually solid enough to mean that they don’t necessarily need to go for cheap tricks, so in many ways it’s fair to assume that they do these things for no reason other than to please their punters. Fred’s support of Manchester United is a sign that the company is likely to take its football coverage seriously, with their horse racing coverage equally as good.

That’s because, in 2011, Betfred outbid all of their competitors in order to win the rights to buy the Tote from the British government (although the Tote has since changed hands). I won’t go into detail about what the Tote is here, but if you don’t know what I will say is that it’s a pools-type betting scenario specifically for horse racing. Ever since they bought it their horse racing coverage has improved year-on-year, so you’ll be delighted with what they offer if you’re a big fan of the Sport of Kings. Decent football coverage, decent horse racing coverage and decent coverage of other more random sports means that the best word to describe Betfred’s overall package is 'solid'.

Personally, I’m not a massive fan of the Betfred website, preferring to use their mobile app when I’m looking to place bets. That’s a preference that not everyone will share, but I thought I’d let you know about it so you’re forewarned and, therefore, forearmed. With more than 1600 on-street shops it’s fair to say that Betfred have come a long way since those early days in Manchester. They have plenty of name recognition to keep you reassured and the best thing about them is that they’re improving all of the time.

As for the bookmaker itself, BetVictor was established in 1946; so even though they seem to have risen to prominence in recent years they’ve actually got a fair bit of history behind them. They have great odds on the Premier League and, whilst they don’t necessarily have loads and loads of offers, what they do have is very good indeed.

If you’re looking for strong odds then it’s definitely worth heading to BetVictor to see what they’ve got. More often than not you’ll probably find that if they’re covering the bet you want to make then they may well have the best odds for that bet. I’ve covered them in more detail on their own page, but what I would say here is that they’re one of my favourite bookies because they’re classy and their coverage of both football and horse racing is up there with the best.

Now having name recognition and being a trustable enterprise are two completely different things, so Betway also made sure that what they offered was up to scratch with the big boys. They became the official sponsors of West Ham United Football Club, indicating their seriousness about providing top notch coverage of that particular sport whenever possible. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that they are entirely flawless when it comes to football, but they’re certainly a lot better than some of their competitors. There are some glaring omissions when it comes to the leagues that they offer odds on, but I’m certain that will change before too long.

When it comes to horse racing in the UK and Ireland there are unquestionably two standout meetings during the National Hunt calendar. One of them is the Grand National, whilst the other one is the Cheltenham Festival. I think it tells us an awful lot about Betway’s intentions to become a stand-out bookmaker in the modern variation of that industry that they have sponsored the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham. You don’t do that if you’ve got no intention of offering decent betting options to the punters you attract as a result.

There’s an argument that their strong coverage of the horse racing and decent work on football meant that something had to give somewhere and if you’re a fan of a less-watched sport then you might be a disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, they still cover things that aren’t what you’d call 'mainstream', but I’d be hesitant to say that it’s the best coverage of anyone on the internet. Things like volleyball, handball, American football and darts are all on offer, but they’re not exactly the sort of sports you’ll be surprised to see a bookmaker has odds on. Still, one small weakness isn’t something I’d be quick to complain about.

The reality is that there has been an explosion of newer online bookmakers since the industry really took off in the mid-2000s and the new kids in town like Betway have been quick to capitalise on it. They might not be flawless, but they may still surprise you in what they can do when compared to more established bookies that have been around for years but took longer to adapt to the new way of working.

There’s really no reason to be, though. Coral aim more for convenience than anything else. You can make deposits and withdrawals on your account in their high-street stores through the Coral Connect System, which is a brilliant thing if you either don’t trust online banking or you’re out and about and need some readies for your afternoon and know a big win came in the day before.
The website is nice and clean and has a look akin to the mobile sites or apps of other bookies.

There are also pleasant little added extras that make betting with Coral a nice experience. You can Cash Out bets placed within a high street store, for example. You can also opt for a Partial Cash Out of certain bets if you’re not 100% confident which way an event is going to go. Neither of them promise huge returns, but they’re very much the sort of small things that can make a big difference in a very crowded industry.

Their promotions are a little lacking, if I’m honest, but they make up for it in other ways. For example, users of their mobile app can quite literally make up their own bet for football games. You can choose a player, pick a stat like Shots on Target or Passes Completed and then bet on the Over/Under. Coral uses Opta for their stats, so they’re about as accurate as you can get. Horse racing fans like me will enjoy taking advantage of their various ever-changing promotions and live streaming of all UK and Irish racing.

I would be lying if I said I thought Coral was the very best bookmaker you can bet with, but at the same time I think they’re really strong. Their offers are found wanting quite a lot but their features are up there with the very best of them. As I said at the start of this intro, they’re a very strong all-round bookie.

As well as attempting to dominate the betting shop side of the gambling industry, Mark Stein was also the first bookmaker to to introduce fixed odds for football betting. Now none of that is all that relevant to the sort of experience you’re likely to enjoy from Ladbrokes today, but it’s good to know that you’re dealing with a company that has a strong history within the industry. Given so many new bookies spring up all of the time and Johnny-come-lately type companies try to take over the online betting market, going with the tried and trusted isn’t all that bad of an idea.

Ladbrokes promise a good all-round experience. Plenty of solid odds, a nice selection of markets and a reasonably pain-free experience is the order of the day here. You can make deposits to and withdrawals from your account via the Ladbrokes high-street shops. A nice convenience that other, purely online, betting companies can’t offer. they’ve also got a clean and simple to use website and app.

There are plenty of price boosts available through Ladbrokes, especially when big football games come around. One of their neatest things, though, is the ability to edit your accumulator after you’ve already placed your bet. That means you can take out one of the legs of your acca if you’ve changed your mind about it. Not bad, should you suddenly get some team news that alters your whole approach, or get a tip off about a horse that is a 'dead cert'.

The online betting industry is, as I’ve said many times before, a decidedly crowded market. There’s no harm, therefore, in looking for a bookmaker that has a decent pedigree. Ladbrokes started out as a commissioning agent for horses trained at Ladbrokes Hall - hence the adoption of the name - and, as I’ve already said, later became the first bookie to offer fixed odds on football. Their success has been based largely around their ability to get things right with both football and horse racing. As they are my two favourite sports, I’ve got a lot of time for Ladbrokes.