Millions across the globe tune in every week to watch the fast-paced, end-to-end action that is the English Premier League, also known as the EPL, the world’s favourite football league. The vast number of world-class players and passionate crowds set it apart from any other league in the world, and the number of betting markets available for each game means that the Premier League is a prime destination for punters.
The unpredictable nature of the Premier League means that there are some huge upsets every season, and consequently there are equally huge payouts. Just as recently as 2016, Leicester City won the Premier League with bookies paying out at outrageously high odds of 5000/1.
The Markets on Offer
It’s no longer a case of picking a particular side to win because now football betting markets are more diverse than ever before, offering punters a wealth of different choices. Let’s have a look at what you can expect to find.
- Match betting
- Match result
- Both teams to score
- Result & both teams to score
- Over/under goals
- Double chance
- Handicap
- Outright betting
Match Betting
This is the most popular betting market and it’s arguably because it’s the most simple. Each bet is usually placed before the game with winnings only paid out when the game is over. In the Premier League, games will only ever last 90 minutes, but games in other competitions can often go into extra time and even penalties.
Match Result
Usually the best option for punters is to predict the winner of a particular match. That’s what the match result is all about, just pick a winner or even a draw.
Both Teams to Score
This one’s a pretty popular market, especially if the game’s too hard to call. Often the best idea is to play it a little safer and put your cash on at least both teams scoring. There’s no need to pick a particular winner with this one, making it a great alternative if you’re uncertain about how a game will go.
Result and Both Teams to Score
Result and both teams to score is a relatively new market, but it’s a no less popular one. You’ll find some great value bets here but, given that you’re trying to predict two outcomes in one bet, it’s a far harder bet to land.
Over/Under Goals
Over/under goals is a similar market to both teams to score, but in this instance you’re betting on roughly how many goals will be scored. Again, it’s a good alternative if you’re struggling to predict how a particular game might go, but it is also good for finding better value bets. If a site isn’t offering very favourable odds on the favourite to win, then betting on how many goals will be scored could increase the size of your winnings.
Double Chance
Again, this market is all about making the choice easier for the punter. In this instance, you can choose two of three outcomes, such ‘win or draw’. It goes without saying, however, that this bet will return far smaller rewards.
Handicap
Some say that the handicap market is the best place to find a decent value bet in a game where there is a clear favourite. A match that pits a far superior side against a team with less quality will not have the greatest odds and, therefore, provide some pretty poor returns. Therefore, bookies will provide an incentive for bettors to place a wager on the favourite.
Say Liverpool were pitted against Newcastle, for example, some bookies would apply the handicap to the scoreline on a bet that would look like ‘Liverpool -1,’ meaning Liverpool would have to win by 1 goal for you to be able to win the bet.
Outright Betting
Instead of betting on the outcome of a particular game, you’re betting on the overall outcome of the competition and the various awards that come with it. You can bet on who you think will win the league, who will qualify for Europe, who will be relegated, and even who the top scorer will be.
We’re unlikely to see another team like Leicester win the league against odds of 5000/1, but with more teams challenging for European qualification than ever before, the Premier League remains one of the most competitive divisions in the world.
Live Betting
One of the great benefits of betting on the Premier League online is that the best betting sites allow you to get in on the action after the game’s kicked off. The odds change in real time based on how events unfold in the game, giving you the chance to pick the right moment to place a bet.
In-play markets also give you the ability to get more value from your betslip. If Manchester City are playing Brighton, the pre-match odds on Man City winning are likely to not be very favourable. But should Brighton score first, City are still likely to be favourites but the odds on them winning will be higher.
Watching the Game Live
The best online bookies will give you the option to watch live matches as they’re happening. You will most likely need to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours or at least have a funded account in order to watch, but it nonetheless means you can watch some of the biggest Premier League matches from wherever you are with no subscription needed. Live streaming improves your betting experience and even makes it easier to make more informed bets when it comes to in-play markets and cashing out.
Grab Your Winnings
One of the best and most common features of online betting these days is cashing out. In summary, it allows you to collect any potential winnings you may have from a bet before the final whistle has been blown. It’s a great way to get your hands on your winnings if you can feel the momentum in a game changing. It’s also a useful tool if you just want to cut your losses and take whatever money you can from a bet.
Accumulators
A key feature to online betting is accumulators. These have fast become one of the most popular types of bets for punters in recent years and it’s not hard to see why. By combining multiple bets together under one wager and multiplying the various odds together, you increase the odds. Accumulators can become quite lucrative, especially as you continue to add legs.
Of course, the more legs you add, the more unlikely it is that you will win your bet. In order for you to win, all the legs in your accumulator have to come in. That’s why the best bookies offer ‘acca insurance,’ which gives your stake back as a free bet should just one of your bets let you down. These aren’t available on all markets and only apply to certain types of accumulator, but they’re great should you be let down at the last minute.
Existing Player Promotions
Most top bookies will offer pretty similar odds for most outcomes, so one way that they try to separate themselves apart from the rest is by offering top quality specials and promotions.
Some bookies like William Hill or Ladbrokes let you create your own bet via social media by asking for the odds on a particular outcome using the hashtags #YourOdds and #GetAPrice.
Other bookies even offer early payouts and many back specials. Paddy Power’s ‘2 Up You Win’ offer pays out if the team you’ve backed goes two goals ahead at any point, regardless of what the final score is. So your team could lose and you could still win!
Boost Your Bankroll
Bonuses are a big part of what makes a particular site stand out for punters. Bonus funds are a great way to increase your bankroll, or at the very least they can get you familiar with a new site. There are loads of different welcome bonuses available for those looking to bet on the Premier League so let’s have a look at what you can expect to find.
Matched Deposits
Matched deposits are one of the most common bonuses for new players. As part of this bonus, the bookie will match a new customer’s first deposit up to a certain amount, giving you some extra funds to play with. If a bookmaker is offering you a 100% up to £100, for example, then that means you can double the amount you started with. These usually come with wagering requirements attached to them, however, so it’s best that you check the terms and conditions of a particular bonus before you play.
New Customer Offer 100% up to £100. £10 minimum deposit. New customers only – £10 min deposit - The bonus will be applied once the full deposit amount has been wagered at least once with cumulative odds of 1.5 or greater. Wagering must be cleared within 90 days. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
Free Bets
Free bets are another common bonus and they do exactly what they say on the tin. They are offered to both new and old players and they’ll be offered a whole host of different bookies. ‘Bet £10 and get a £10 free bet’ is a common free bet bonus and, while terms and conditions will apply that can affect how you play, some great value can be found from them.
Bet £20, get a £10 freebet token
New Customer Offer Bet £20, get £10. £10 minimum deposit and wagering. Void/cancelled or cashed out bets don't count towards wagering to activate the free bet. Must be used within 14 days . Neteller, Paysafe or Skill deposits not eligible. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
Enhanced Odds
The biggest Premier League matches will be covered by all the different major bookies, meaning that the odds for a particular outcome are going to be broadly similar. That’s why some bookies will offer enhanced odds on the first goalscorer, for example, so that they can stand out from the crowd.
New Customer Offer Double the odds. Bet must be placed using real money in combination with the Odds Boost Token. Offer applies to Sport bets only. £10 Max stake. Each way bets are a maximum of £5 each way (£10 total stake). Extra winnings are paid in cash. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
Betting on the Move
Gone are the days when you were only able to place a bet via a laptop or even physically go into a betting shop because now betting using your mobile phone is better than ever before. Most of the best online bookies will offer a first-class app that has the exact same functionality of the desktop site, with some even having native apps that give you the chance to place your bets in super quick speed. If a bookmaker doesn’t have an app, however, they will most likely have a fully optimised mobile site that will work just as well.
One of the key advantages of betting on the Premier League via a mobile app is that push notifications will keep you up to date with all new bonuses, promotions and Premier League odds. So with no need to be tied to your desktop, check out the best mobile betting apps today.
Banking Methods
The best Premier League betting sites will give you a range of different payment options with which to play with. So let’s have a look at what you can expect to find.
Debit Cards
Pretty much everyone has a debit card and they are the most commonly accepted form of payment at online gambling sites. What’s more, with state of the art encryption software, you can be sure that payments processed by Mastercard, Visa or Maestro will be totally safe and secure.
Credit cards, however, are no longer accepted as valid forms of payment at online gambling sites. The change came about following the Government’s Review of Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures, with the alteration to the law being announced on the 14th April by the UK Gambling Commission.
E-wallets
E-wallets are one of the most increasingly popular payment methods for online punters, with the majority of bookmakers accepting them as a valid form of payment. One of the biggest advantages of eWallets is how quickly they process payments, with transactions for methods like PayPal, Skrill and Neteller usually accepted within 24 hours. The only slight issue with e-wallets, however, is that they aren’t always accepted as a valid payment method for certain bonuses. It’s, therefore, important to check the T&Cs of a particular bonus before you jump straight in with it.
Premier League Betting Tips
The market options for football betting are now so varied that making your choice can be pretty intimidating. Following the advice of betting tipsters can be a good way to help you make that decision, but we wouldn’t recommend relying on them entirely.
We advise that you do your own research before you place a bet. Understanding a team’s recent form, how many goals they’ve let in recently and how well they’ve historically performed against their next opponents are often great ways for you to make an informed bet. And even if you do decide to follow the advice of a tipster, remember that no bet is ever a sure bet and that even the best tipsters occasionally get it wrong.
You now know the ins and outs of Premier League betting and what makes it such an exciting league to bet on. All that’s left now is for you to choose which site to bet on it with. So compare from our list of top Premier League bookies today, claim your welcome bonus and place your first bets!
Typically the Premier League season kicks off in the middle of August each year and lasts until May, where the players either break for the summer or take part in the range of international tournaments. Games are usually played throughout the weekend, but with the audience for the Premier League growing each year, more teams are playing midweek games in order to take advantage of the larger audiences.
No site has the objectively best odds because odds are set competitively. That’s why you’ll often see odds that look broadly similar, especially for the bookies’ favourite. We, therefore, recommend doing your research to find the best prices across different markets. A slight difference in value can really add up over time, or if use an accumulator, so choosing wisely can really be worth it.
Betting tips are a great way to get a good idea of the market and what people think is likely to happen. But while betting tips can be offered on a range of different leagues, they’re never going to be consistently correct so always bear that in mind.
You can rest assured that all the gambling sites we have recommended here are all licensed and above board. As such, they are required to protect each transaction made via their website with industry-standard encryption software, meaning that your personal information will always remain safe.
This will depend on the site you choose, but you most likely have to have a funded account or have placed a bet at the site in the last 24 hours.
