BLOODY LONG ODDS…

For the UK punter looking to place a bet online, there is obviously a big choice in this day and age with all of the big highstreet bookmakers and some lesser-known Internet-only bookies gathering like vultures to capture the new breed of high-tech armchair punter. Not that the Internet could be termed high-tech anymore I guess, but hey, you know where I am coming from!

One of the neat aspects about the highstreet chains is that a punter can bet online and either cashout via a card (or eWallet if you’re really tech savvy!) or they can nip into the local bookie and access their online cash from there which is pretty neat. In fact it goes a step further with bookmakers like Ladbrokes in that you can also play online poker with them or play a bit of blackjack, roulette or some fruities at their excellent online casino, switch your funds between there and the sportsbook, and still access your cash from the shops on a Saturday afternoon. Nice touch.

But when it comes to sports betting, one of the true advantages of online betting is that you can pick the best odds without having to run up and down the highstreet, in and out of bookies, trying to grab the best odds before realising the race is under orders or the match has kicked off. Not many people would back Emile Heskey to score first, but you can bet your bottom dollar that the day you get caught between bookies in the driving rain will be the day the ball kicks up off a divot and hits him on the knee before trickling into the far right hand corner.

So with online betting the best way I find is to open 3 or 4 accounts up-front, bookmark the relevant pages on each bookie’s site, and then when the times comes, it’s quicker and simpler to get your bets in on the best odds. Below is a list of what I consider to be the Top 10 online bookmakers in the order of my own preference:

1. Ladbrokes - need no intro. Footy, horses, 250+ game casino and poker room
2. ToteSport - familiar name, now offering online bets with a good casino
3. BetDirect - Sports, casino & poker, owned by 32Red PLC (Villa sponsors)
4. Paddy Power - offers all 3 products, good “specials” with unusual bets/odds too
5. Blue Square - owned by Rank Group, strong sports & casino (no download req.)
6. William Hill - slow support I’ve found, but what a pedigree!
7. Corals - online sports betting, poor casino product IMO
8. BetFred - relatively new kid on the block to many but very popular
9. Bet365 - online betting and casino, big on footy sponsorship
10. CentreBet - Aussie outfit offering wide range of online sports to bet on
11. Betfair - Be the bookie, or the punter, you choose.

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