The Bottom Line: When it comes to online sports betting, it doesn’t get much better than bet365. Thanks to a massive selection of betting markets across a near-unparalleled selection of leagues and sports, this site is ideal for bettors who don’t want to be short on options.
👍 PROS:- Low minimum deposit and bets
- Tons of promotions available, especially to new members
- Fast payouts
- High odds
- Good variety of deposit and withdrawal options
- Unique betting selections
- In-play live betting
- Features an extensive depository of statistics
- Offers some of the most competitive bookmaker margins in the industry
👎 CONS:- Existing customers may find promotions lacking
- Sets limits on customer accounts
- The website’s design is a bit clunky
- Limited overseas sporting events
- SP odds are sometimes required
- Massive over-rounds in some markets
About The Company
Established in 2000 and based in the United Kingdom, bet365 has spent many years on the online sports betting scene in the UK. The site was founded in Stoke-on-Trent in England, and has since grown to be one of the biggest websites in the world, adding staff in Gibraltar, Bulgaria, Malta, and Australia in addition to their original home country. It is licensed in Gibraltar and Australia.
The bet365 brand has a strong link to the world of sport thanks to its advertising, both on television during sporting events and through kit sponsorships in football. Clubs including England’s Stoke City and Bulgaria’s Ludogorets wear the bet365 logo across their chests during matches, solidifying the site’s status as a trusted brand in its industry.
Odds & Markets
When it comes to betting markets, there may not be a site that can compete with bet365. The site has an incredible selection of leagues and matches that can be wagered on, which is the biggest point of attraction for bettors. Football is, of course, the focal point of the site with comprehensive markets in top leagues like the Premier League and Champions League. But it is the depth of their football betting that is truly impressive.
In addition to all of the betting that can be done in top leagues, bettors can also wager on lower profile leagues across the world. With matches from the top leagues in the world, all the way down to the Algeria Youth League and everywhere in between, it may be difficult to fail to find a match to bet on at bet365.
Outside of the world of football, bettors can take advantage of similarly comprehensive lists of betting markets in other sports. Popular sports like tennis and basketball are represented just as well as football, with betting made available across the board from top-tier competitions down to the lower levels of the game. And even more obscure sports like Gaelic sports and volleyball are included in the mix of items to bet on. As if that wasn’t enough, the site carries virtual sports, where bettors can place bets on virtual versions of tennis, football, racing, and more.
As far as odds are concerned, bet365 falls somewhere in the middle in terms of how profitable their odds can be when compared to those at other sites. Bettors won’t be disappointed with the odds offered there, as they tend to be similar to what they will find at other big name sportsbooks. But as an established brand in the industry, they aren’t setting odds that are vastly more favorable either.
In-Play Betting Experience
Just as impressive as the selection of betting markets that are available at bet365 are the in-play betting markets that are on the site. One would not expect the site to have so many different leagues to bet on before the start of a match, and bet365 continues to exceed expectations once matches have started. Bettors can still bet on leagues such as the German third division in football or low level ITF matches in tennis while they are in progress, with odds being updated constantly.
The list of events that are up for in-play betting depends on which sports are going on during the course of the year. But sports from football all the way to squash and water polo are available. Just as impressive is the presence of greyhound and horse racing in the in-play section, which can be difficult to include in in-play betting due to how quickly things can change in racing events.
Further enhancing the in-play betting experience is the fact that bet365 does a great job of keeping bettors updated on what is happening during a match. Bettors who have funded accounts can live stream select events through the site itself, which allows them to pay attention to the events they are wagering on. If live streaming isn’t possible for a bettor at a given time, they can follow along with visualizations of live statistics in each match, which makes it easier to figure out where there might be a good opportunity to place a live bet.
Bonuses & Promotions
There are promotions at bet365 for both new bettors and bettors who have been with the site for a while, creating value for players no matter what stage they are in with their sports betting experiences. New customers can get up to £100 in Bet Credits. Minimum deposit is £5 and 1x settled bet requirement to release Bet Credits. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.
The site also has plenty of promotions for bettors who are looking for something to give them a little more value from the wagers they have placed. They offer several promotions related to accumulator bets and other points of interest within matches that provide said value. For example, the site offers up to 50% added to a payout on a tennis acca bet, or a refund on football wagers where the score ends up as a 0-0 draw.
*Bore Draw Money Back applies to losing pre-match bets on any Correct Score, Half-Time/Full-Time or Scorecast markets. Bet restrictions and T&Cs apply. New and eligible customers only
* Tennis Accumulator bonus - Applies to pre-match accumulators of 2+ selections on To Win Match, First Set Winner and Set Betting markets. Bonus percentage is dependent on number of selections. Bonus capped at £100k and applied to winnings. Bet restrictions and T&Cs apply. New and eligible customers only.
Bet365 also pays out bets where teams get out to a huge lead in situations where players are eligible. In hockey, they do this when a team gets out to a three goal lead, and the same is done in football when a team goes up by two goals. In basketball, the threshold for a similar payout is an 18-point lead. Of course, it isn’t all that common that teams jump out to such big leads in those sports, but eligible bettors won’t mind the chance at an early payout if those things do happen.
* Applies to pre-match single bets on Full Time Result market for applicable competitions. Bet restrictions and T&Cs apply. New and eligible customers only.
Of course, bet365 offers different promotions constantly, and bettors are encouraged to take a look at what is on offer frequently to find a promotion that is right for them.
Deposits & Withdrawals
Making deposits and withdrawals is one of the most important components to sports betting. Without the ability to fund an account and withdraw funds from it, a bettor won’t be able to enjoy everything that a site has to offer. Fortunately, bettors at bet365 have plenty of methods of funding available that should allow them to fund their accounts, place their bets, and withdraw those funds should they win.
UK players have no shortage of deposit options at bet365. They can make deposits using credit or debit cards from Visa, MasterCard and Maestro. They can also utilize popular eWallets like PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, paysafecard, and Visa Checkout. For bettors who want to use a more old-school method of payment, cheques and bank wires are available as well. Bet365 does not charge any fees for these services, which allow bettors to deposit anywhere from £10 to £100000. All deposit methods except for cheques and bank wires are instant at bet365.
Bettors who place some winning wagers need to be able to withdraw their funds in a way that makes sense for them and their financial needs. Fortunately, bet365 has those bettors covered with a wide range of withdrawal methods as well. Bettors can have their withdrawals processed through the aforementioned credit and debit cards, eWallets, bank transfers, and cheques. How long these transactions take depends on the method being used. For example, Neteller transactions are processed within 12 hours, while cheques and bank wires can often take a week or longer. As is the case with deposits, bettors do not have to worry about any fees with bet365 withdrawals. However, bettors should check with the methods they are using to deposit and withdraw funds to make sure that there are no fees on their end either.
It should be noted that bettors will need to verify their personal information with bet365 before withdrawing funds. The site asks for verification to ensure that bettors are not having their funds withdrawn by someone else. This may seem invasive at the time it is done, but it is a positive given the peace of mind that it can provide in the long run.
Customer Support
Bettors at bet365 can enjoy exemplary customer service, thanks to the wide range of customer service options that are available from the site. The site has a robust section of Frequently Asked Questions for players to scroll through, allowing them to find answers to common questions quickly and without the help of others. For more in-depth inquiries, the site has a toll-free phone line open 24 hours per day, as well as 24 hour live chat services and email support.