188Bet Sports Review

188bet is an Isle of Man based and licensed Internet sports book which is well-trusted and boasts great prices on every game. They are heavy hitters in gambling on sports due to their attractive odds, and they offer online poker and casinos in addition to their various sports markets. Their main niche is football and 188bet is currently the main sponsors of English Championship club Bolton Wanderers. Bolton were relegated from the top flight at the end of the 2011-12 Premier League season.

They maintain a presence in the Premier League as the official gambling partners of the likes of Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, as well as the Aviva Premiership Rugby side London Wasps. They also serve as the official gambling partner of Championship side Sheffield United. This gives them the opportunity to hold special promotions and deals in conjunction with the squads they sponsor or partner.

There is plenty to love about 188bet. From their markets to their character, this bookie is about as reputable as they come. They offer better odds than many of the other sportsbooks who are present in the UK, and they accept customers from other countries in Europe and Asia. Every bit of money they take by deposit is segregated from their operating accounts. This is a requirement of their gambling licence and means that your money is safe.

In addition to their stellar reputation and attractive odds, we like the no-risk wager that the site makes available to new customers. Simply deposit and bet £10 and you will receive £30 in free bets courtesy of 188bet. Use promo code FREE30 when you sign up to be eligible for the offer, and we suggest you look at some of our Football tips before deciding where to place your money.

Other great promotions at 188 include Acca Insurance and Acca Boost – two bonuses aimed directly at football accumulator punters. Acca Insurance means that if one leg of a five-fold or larger accumulator (1×2 and both teams to score markets) lets you down, 188Bet will give you your money back as a free bet up to a value of £50. If you hit it big and win a five-fold or larger accumulator, you’ll receive an incremental Acca Win Boost in the form of a free bet up to £100. The promotion breaks down as follows:

Another thing worth liking is that they offer higher limits than most UK online sportsbooks. Most books have a rather low ceiling with maximums you can wager. At 188, while they do employ a maximum limit, it is much higher than similar books. This means you can stake more and therefore win more. You can take higher limit punts on football, basketball, NFL games, futsal, and motor sports, as well as television shows (Big Brother, X-Factor), and current events.

188Bet prides itself on offering some of the best odds on the market, and that’s a serious pull for switched-on punters. Odds can be up to 20% better than those on betting exchanges (after you’ve paid commission on winnings), but you have the convenience of betting with a conventional bookmaker, with no waiting around for bets to be matched. Better odds along with 188Bet’s higher stake limits is a powerful combination.

In terms of market penetration, 188Bet is up there with the best. They offer in-play betting on over 10,000 football matches each and every month, with coverage of over 400 different leagues worldwide! There are dedicated sections on site for Horse Racing and eSports, and a full A-Z of other sports is covered. That’s without mentioning the casino, poker, bingo, slots, financials and entertainment betting. It’s clear that there is a vast choice at 188Bet, and you’d struggle to find a sportsbook with more variety.

188Bet prides itself on excellent customer service, and lists three core principles on the website:

Sounds great, but do they live up to the billing? The answer is an emphatic yes. Live chat and email support are available 24 hours a day, service is quick, and staff are both friendly and knowledgeable. In addition 188Bet also offers 24-hour phone support for those who prefer to speak to an adviser. Customers in Europe and the UK can contact the help line at +44 20 3286 9991, whilst Asian customers can call their support line at +852 8176 4875.

If that wasn’t enough, there’s an absolutely huge FAQ section on site, which is separated into clear categories, is searchable, and answers just about any question you’re likely to ask.

When cashing out your account, you will find the processing times are good, but they are not as quick as the likes of Paddy Power on most of their cash out methods. 188Bet offers immediate availability for funds cashed out through Skrill. However, withdrawals generated through NETeller arrive in 1-2 business days. Local banks generally receive processed funds within three days, whilst cheques take from five to thirty days from the time they are requested until the time they arrive in the post. The company does not currently process withdrawals through credit cards.

With a higher wagering threshold and the ability to gamble on many different sports and markets at better than average odds, we are a huge fans of this sportsbook. The higher odds and reduced Vig results in better returns. Your funds are secure, and 188Bet offers a very generous sign up bonus as well as great ongoing promotions. We vote this bookie a winner and think you will agree.