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Top 5 Ireland Football Betting Sites: Review
Top Sites Features in 2024
The top football bookmakers in Ireland come packed with features to enhance the betting, making every match an opportunity for both excitement and winnings. When evaluating features, we focus on rich in-play betting. Bet365 and William Hill are among the leaders in this segment, so standing out is difficult.
- Live Football Streaming: not every bookmaker can afford football broadcasting on the website, so Bet365 excels here, offering live streams for many championships.
- Cash Out: partial, full, and fast. Mr.Play and Bet365 give you control over your bets with their Cash Out options, so you can secure profits or cut losses as the match unfolds. Bet3565 and BoyleSports also offer 2 Goals Ahead features on some football matches.
- Bet Builders: You can create personalised bets, combining several markets for a single event into one bet with bigger potential payouts. Almost all top bookmakers from our list have this feature: Mr.Play, Leovegas, Paddy Power, and William Hill. With Bet365's constructor, you can even create your own match for the Portugal Segunda Liga.
- Acca Boost: a promotion that increases the payout on successful accumulator bets. It has also already become a standard, so BoyleSports, Paddy Power & Bet365 are among the best here.
- Statistics and Data: help you evaluate how accurate the match odds are. BoysSports offers a wealth of pre-match statistics and a great sports blog with insightful analysis. Live betting, perhaps, is still dominated by Bet365.
- Request-A-Bet: bet on matches in a way that suits you. William Hill and Paddy Power’s special Request-A-Bet feature via Twitter lets you propose and place individual bets not typically available on the betting slip.
How we Evaluate Betting Sites
At ClubSport, we rigorously assess betting sites, focusing on three key areas to ensure they're the best choice for bettors. We examine the technology to ensure the platforms are up-to-date and reliable. We also scrutinize the range of offers and the simplicity of their payment systems, as these are essential for good betting. Finally, we check the user-friendliness of their websites and the efficiency of their support services.
Technology and Product
Our evaluation starts with the number of markets and events offered, taking into account the bookmaker's margin, which affects your odds. We favour bookmakers who provide live streaming and maintain updated iOS and Android apps.
Our Top 3 in this category are:
- Bet365
- William Hill
- Paddy Power
Bonuses and Payment Systems
We look beyond the bonus amount, analyzing the terms of use and withdrawal conditions. Bookmakers offering a variety of payment options show they value customer convenience. We value bonuses that provide real long-term benefits over flashy welcome offers.
Our Top 3 recommendations in this category are:
- BoyleSports
- William Hill
- Bet365
User Experience and Support
User experience and reliable support are paramount. We test the responsiveness of support channels, ensuring they're effective in resolving issues. Our evaluation process also includes testing the registration process and site navigation to ensure intuitiveness and ease of use.
Our Top 3 in this category are:
- 10Bet
- Betmaster
- Mr.Play
Football Betting Sites with the Highest Odds
In football betting, odds dictate the potential return on your wagers and are directly influenced by the bookmakers' margin. The margin is essentially the bookie's way of making money; it's the difference between the true odds of an outcome and the odds offered to bettors. The lower the margin, the closer you are to the true odds and the better the value for your bets.
Here's a comparison table of five bookmakers with the best odds for some of the most prestigious and popular football competitions:
Bookmaker | Champions League Margin | EPL Margin | Championship Margin |
---|---|---|---|
Bet365 | 5.80% | 6.74% | 6.06% |
William Hill | 7.02% | 7.13% | 7.84% |
Paddy Power | 6.68% | 5.58% | 9.10% |
BoyleSports | 7.08% | 7.77% | 7.28% |
10Bet | 5.83% | 6.21% | 5.55% |
This table presents a snapshot of where you can find competitive odds for the Champions League, English Premier League, and the English Championship. The ClubSports team calculated these average percentages by comparing the matches of the closest rounds. As an example, here are our table for William Hill's margins for the fifth round of the UEFA Champions League, with average mark at 7.02%. The margin levels are determined by the calculated margin percentage, categorizing them as 'High' if the margin is greater than 7%, 'Average' if between 5% and 7%, and 'Low' if less than 5%.
Match | Odds1 | Odds2 | Odds3 | Margin | Level |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Man City vs RB Leipzig | 1.28 | 5.50 | 8.50 | 7.47% | High |
PSG vs Newcastle | 1.70 | 3.90 | 4.33 | 7.03% | High |
Young Boys vs Red Star Belgrade | 2.05 | 3.70 | 3.20 | 6.59% | Average |
Galatasaray vs Man Utd | 2.37 | 3.70 | 2.62 | 6.88% | Average |
Sevilla vs PSV Eindhoven | 2.45 | 3.50 | 2.62 | 7.02% | High |
Arsenal vs Lens | 1.25 | 5.80 | 9.50 | 7.21% | High |
Bayern Munich vs Copenhagen | 1.20 | 6.50 | 11.00 | 7.24% | High |
Benfica vs Inter Milan | 2.50 | 3.50 | 2.60 | 6.57% | Average |
Braga vs Union Berlin | 2.15 | 3.60 | 3.00 | 7.08% | High |
Real Madrid vs Napoli | 1.57 | 4.33 | 4.75 | 7.27% | High |
Real Sociedad vs Salzburg | 1.50 | 4.33 | 5.80 | 6.54% | Average |
Lazio vs Celtic | 1.44 | 4.50 | 6.00 | 7.69% | High |
Shakhtar Donetsk vs Royal Antwerp | 1.85 | 3.75 | 3.70 | 7.19% | High |
AC Milan vs Dortmund | 1.91 | 3.70 | 3.60 | 6.68% | Average |
Barcelona vs Porto | 1.44 | 4.60 | 6.50 | 6.16% | Average |
Feyenoord vs Atletico Madrid | 2.50 | 3.60 | 2.50 | 7.22% | High |
Keep in mind that margins can vary by event and are subject to change. Always check the latest odds before placing your bets.
If I am just looking for a higher odd, why should I care about the margin? Simple: when looking for the best odds, look at bookmakers where you are more likely to find them, as this will save you time. And we have found those bookies for you.
Top 3 Bookies with Best Odds
Using EPL matches, ClubSport assessed bookmakers' margins. Here are the winners:
- Quinnbet — Top football margins: 4.74%
- Unibet — Top football margins: 5.35%
- 10Bet — Top football margins: 5.63%
Football Betting Offers
With numerous promotions, the best football betting sites in Ireland entice both new and seasoned punters.
Bet & Get Welcome Bonus
Free bets are usually given for the first deposit and a qualifying bet. For instance, at BoyleSports, when you bet €10 with odds of 2.0 or higher, you get €30 in free sports bets plus a €10 casino bonus.
Matched Welcome Bonus
When you put money down, you might get a cash bonus that's 100% of your deposit up to €100. However, it's not the bonus size that matters, but the strings attached to it. Bookmakers may tell you that you 'get" a bonus, but it's actually more like a pact. What's the catch? You need to bet the bonus amount many times – that's the wagering requirement. It's this number that really dictates how smoothly you can shift the bookmaker's credited sum from the bonus balance to your actual cash.
Take Mr.Play offer as an example of a typical 'bonus that is hard to get': you must wager the deposit amount x9 on bets with odds of 2.00 or higher (which means less than 50% chance to win each bet).
No Deposit Bonus
No deposit bonuses are quite the catch for new sign-ups, providing a risk-free way to start betting. They're often given as Free bets and might come with restrictions, like being applicable only to certain sports. Keep an eye out for these offers, as they're not very common in Ireland.
Weekly Promotions for Existing Users
For the punters who keep coming back, there's the weekly Free bet Club at Sky Bet. Bet a total of €30 or more in a week, and you'll get a €5 Free bet. Just make sure all your wagers have odds of 2.0 or higher to qualify for the Free bet, which you'll receive by 7 pm on Monday.
Acca Bonus
Acca bonuses enhance potential payouts on accumulator bets. With 10bet, for example, you can get up to a 100% boost on winning Accas of three or more selections, each at minimum odds of 1.5. A 100% boost is available for 15-folds and above. This type of acca type has low winning chances, but the extra winnings you can earn are capped at €5,000.
Football Bore Draw Money Back
It's a kind of insurance for boring football matches that occur regularly. Bet365's "Football Bore Draw Money Back" bonus offers a safety net. If you bet pre-match on Correct Score, Half Time/Full Time, or Scorecast markets and the match ends 0-0, you'll get your stake back. Be cautious with the Cash Out option, as it excludes you from a refund.
2 Goals Ahead Early Payout
The "2 Goals Ahead Early Payout" feature offered by Bet365 and BoyleSports is another way to bet on football. When you place a pre-match wager on the Full Time Result market for selected competitions, and your team goes up by two goals at any point during the match, you're a winner, irrespective of the match's final score. This offer is perfect for those looking to secure a win early and is applicable to both single bets and accumulators within qualifying competitions.
Prizes
Competitions like Paddy Power's Bet Builder All Stars offer more than just cash. They turn betting into a game where you can win gadgets, vouchers, or a football jersey. Your bet builders can lead you to top the leaderboard and win prizes monthly, or get you Free bets weekly if you're just off by one leg or are randomly selected. Remember, to be in the running, you need to opt-in and place your bets within the specified weekly timeframe.
Football Betting Markets
In football betting, the markets go far beyond the straightforward win, draw, or loss outcomes. Seasoned punters often look for more nuanced and complex betting options that can offer greater value or align with specific match predictions. Here are some of the more intriguing football betting markets:
Fouls
When it comes to live betting, wagering on the number of fouls can be particularly engaging. This market allows you to bet on the total fouls committed by either one team or both throughout the match, offering a unique way to participate in the game's flow.
If the underdog has taken the lead, but the favourite has more control of the ball and is pressing, then you should pay attention to this market. In order to keep the score at any cost, defenders will foul more. If you know the referee well, you can also wager on yellow and red cards.
Corners
Corner bets can be placed for either the first half or the entire match. This market allows you to predict how many corners will be taken by a single team or by both teams combined. Again, everything depends on the game scenario. Whenever one team needs to win back from a one-goal deficit, corners are inevitable.
Time-based goal
Some bookmakers, like Bet365, offer bets on whether a goal will be scored within a certain time frame of the match, such as the first 10 minutes. You can also bet on the number of goals scored in the first half being odd or even, or the exact time interval when a team will score their first goal.
Individual Player Total
This market allows you to bet on an individual player's performance, such as the total number of goals, assists, or shots they will have in a match. It's an excellent option for those who follow player form closely. It seems like Harry Kane is on fire in the 2024 Champions League group stage, scoring in almost every match.
Half Time/Full Time
A composite bet like Half Time/Full Time requires you to correctly predict the outcome of both the first half and the full match. For example, you could bet on Team A leading at half time but the match ends in a draw. There are many parameters to consider when placing this bet, primarily the players' physical conditioning.
Handicap
Handicap betting involves giving one team a virtual deficit (a handicap) to overcome at the start of the match. For example, if you bet on Team A with a -1 handicap, they need to win by more than one goal for your bet to pay out. In case you win 1:0, your match odds will be set at 1. This type of bet is great for matches where there's a clear favorite and underdog.
Popular Football Tournaments and Leagues
When it comes to football betting, the thrill is not just in the game but also in the wide array of betting opportunities that come with different leagues and tournaments. Here's a look at some of the most bet-worthy competitions:
UEFA Champions League
The Champions League stands at the pinnacle of European club football, where elite teams from various leagues clash for the most coveted trophy. It's not just about who wins or loses; bettors can wager on player-specific goals, the number of corners, cards, and much more. The Bet Builder tool on platforms like Bet365 allows punters to combine multiple bets from the same match into a single bet with greater odds.
English Premier League
The English Premier League is renowned for its competitive nature and extensive media coverage, making it a favourite for bettors. With games almost every weekend, the opportunities for betting are vast. Bookmakers often provide numerous wagers, ranging from the match-winner to the number of fouls. There are in-depth markets available, special bets on individual players' performances and long-term fun bets, such as which round the first coach will be fired.
FA Cup
England's FA Cup is the oldest national football competition in the world, known for its surprises and the chance for lower-league teams to face off against the giants of English football. A total of 14 rounds are played in the FA Cup: six qualifying rounds, six regular rounds, as well as a semi-final and a final. The tournament offers a broad betting spread, from straightforward match outcomes to intricate bets like time-specific goals.
This knockout format can lead to unexpected results, which translates into potentially lucrative odds for the discerning bettor. The most titled club in the tournament is Arsenal, who haven't won in the EPL for 20 years but take the Cup regularly.
Football Betting Recommendations
As football enthusiasts, we're developing ClubSport as a hub for all the key statistics needed for informed football wagers. Let’s break down how our site makes betting smarter, starting with a premier EPL showdown: Manchester City vs. Liverpool.
Team Strength Rate Comparison
The Team Strength Rate (TSR) algorithm developed by ClubSport is designed to assess the relative strength of football teams in a given match. It is based on a vast number of match analyses, resulting in a mathematical formula that calculates the balance of strength between the teams. The ClubSport team has tested the TSR with real money bets and found it to yield a positive return on investment over the long term.
To identify the favourite in a match, two TSR indices are compared, and the team with the higher index is typically seen as having a better chance to win. The greater the difference between the indices, the higher the probability of that team winning.
Although the TSR can indicate which team is favoured to win, and there is a correlation between the TSR and the actual number of goals scored over a season, it is noted that due to the random factors affecting sports matches, a 100% success rate in predictions cannot be guaranteed.
The initial statistics block presents you with an analysis of the TSR and suggests a bet grounded on that insight:
Still, we suggest looking over all the numbers and trends before you finalize your match bet.
Assess the season's stats
For those considering an Over/Under Goals bet, this area is indispensable. It features, among other things, information on goals scored and allowed, along with the average total for the season: it shows that both teams are scoring actively, but Liverpool’s defense tends to give the opposition less room.
Take a glance at the statistical trends
Another crucial section is the trends that have emerged throughout the season. Note that we take into account matches played at home and away separately.
Pay attention to the Head-to-Head (H2H) Stats
Each team has its bogey teams - and while this isn't as marked in football as it is in tennis, it's worth noting. This block will assist in discerning if the seasonal trends are applicable to the matchups of these specific teams. Be mindful that H2H statistics can encompass past seasons' matches, during which teams could have undergone significant changes in power and playstyle.
Additionally, on the match page, you'll come across the bookmaker odds for the game, the tournament table, and, nearer to game time, the team lineups.
We especially advise focusing on situations where the insights you’ve drawn from the TSR analysis, trends, and statistics differ from the bookmakers' opinions regarding the favourites or the expected goal total. Such instances might reveal value bets.
Bookmakers' Apps for Football Betting
Here are the best sports betting apps for Irish punters that combine user-friendly design, comprehensive betting options, and reliable functionality:
Football Betting Sites FAQs
Which features distinguish the best football betting sites in Ireland?
Leading sites like Bet365 and William Hill offer in-play betting and live football streaming, comprehensive bet builders, acca boosts, detailed statistics and data, as well as request-a-bet features.
Can I watch live football matches on betting sites?
Yes, Bet365 provides live streams for many football championships. However, live streaming availability can vary between bookmakers and some big events may not be broadcast due to rights.
Football betting apps: what are the best?
Yes, bookmakers like 10Bet, Bet365, and William Hill have user-friendly apps with full functionality for betting on the go, including live betting and streaming services.
How do I evaluate the bonuses offered by football betting sites?
Consider the bonus size, wagering requirements, minimum odds, validity period, and market restrictions. BoyleSports and Bet365 are known for their fair terms and valuable offers.
What are the most interesting football betting markets?
Beyond standard win/draw/lose bets, look for markets on fouls, corners, player totals, and handicaps. These offer nuanced betting opportunities for strategic bettors.
What is a Cash Out feature, and which sites offer it?
Cash Out allows you to settle a bet before the event has finished. Sites like Mr.Play and Bet365 offer full and partial Cash Outs, giving you more control over your bets.