The EFL Championship is the second-level division of English football, and it challenges many top flights in Europe due to the high-calibre teams it boasts. Watford, Norwich, Blackburn Rovers & Middlesbrough have a massive financial incentive for gaining promotion to the Premier League, adding to the competition's prestige. In the past, we have seen exciting battles until the last matchday for promotion and relegation, which captivated sports fans and punters.
Therefore, Championship betting sites are a hot topic and have a vast pool of dedicated players. Due to the popularity of the EFL, you can find numerous such bookies, but how can you single out the best? Our team rates Championship bookmakers in odds, daily and outright markets, live betting & promotions. Players’ feedback is another major factor in our evaluation, adding to the ranking of the top sportsbooks we recommend.
How to choose the best Championship bookmakers
When visiting a sportsbook, there are some standard things that most players notice. Firstly, it’s the odds, as they dictate the number of your winnings. So, top-notch Championship football betting odds are a prerequisite for a good rating. The next factor in assessing is market diversity. The more, the better principle applies here, as the bookie should have various daily and outright bets for every match. Aside from classics like Match-Winner and Total Goals, selections such as Handicaps and Player Specials are rising in the ranks. Likewise, Title-Winner, Top-2 and Top Goalscorer are excellent options for long-term wagering.
And what about in-play betting? As it has surpassed pre-match in betting volume, we expect Championship bookmakers to have all the games up for live betting with as many options as possible. Moreover, features like Cashout and Live Streaming have become standards. Closing with our evaluating factors, we check the number of bonuses and whether they include fair terms. Free Bets, Acca Boosts and Enhanced Odds, should be on the menu.
Which are the highest-value odds
Now let’s look closely at what makes some great Championship odds. While the payout might not be as high as on the EPL, a minimum average of 94% is expected, especially in British bookies. The rule of thumb is that the clubs relegated from the EPL have the highest chances of winning back promotion. So, heading into the 2022-23 season, Watford, Norwich City & Burnley will likely have the lowest odds since they come from the top flight. A club takeover could also upset the EFL Championship betting odds, as a new wealthy owner could sign some high-quality players.
What Championship betting offers can I get
Even though the Championship is not the top-tier English football league, you can find several bookmaker promotions. The clubs’ reputation is high, so Enhanced Odds, Free Bets and Acca Boosts are available Championship betting offers on each matchday. For example, Sheffield United could have a Price Boost for defeating Hull City since the initial price could be low due to clubs' strength differences. Or you could get a €/£10 Free Bet if the derby between Millwall - Queens Park Rangers ends in a draw. Furthermore, an Acca Boost could give you a higher return if you include eligible matches from the competition in your bet. Remember that some generic promos might not apply to the Championship. In any case, we always suggest you read the terms.
EFL Championship betting sites - Available markets
Tradition is strong in English football, and that means that 2022/23 EFL Championship will kick off on July 29, one week before the Premier League. Because of the high demand, the first daily markets for the opening games were open a few weeks before. Likewise, you can place outright bets like Teams to be Promoted or Relegated and Top Goalscorer on our listed Championship betting sites.
Which daily bets can I place
The 24 teams make up a matchday of 12 games, where 100+ markets are available. You have probably already placed some 1X2 and Over/Under bets since they are the first choices for most. However, other selections can have higher value, and you can even catch the bookie off-guard.
EFL Championship Player Specials
When you bet on whether a footballer will score, get booked or how many shots on target he will have, you bet under the Player Specials category. The advantage of such a market is that if a player is in great form, you can wager on him individually and reap the benefits. Teemu Pukki to score a goal or Andreas Weimann to have an assist are always excellent choices. Sky Bet Championship specials might also include keeping a Clean Sheet or Total Tackles.
Cards & Corners Bets
Most likely, you already have this figured out, as it translates to the number of cards and corners in the game. That could be for each team or both, and it works like an Over/Under wager. You should notice the previous matches in cards as some teams tend to be more ‘’aggressive’’ than others. Moreover, some referees hand out cards easier than others. So, over 2.5 yellow cards could come with 1.80 odds in the QPR- West Brom game. Or, if the referee awards a red card, the price could be as high as 5.50.
EFL Handicaps
You might have seen several handicap markets distinguished by the plus or minus symbol. The fastest-growing one is the Asian, in which the frontrunner has an implicit lead over the outsider. When you see Bristol City with a +1.5 Asian Handicap against Norwich City, if you bet on the former, you will win even if it draws or loses by one goal. In the same game, a -1.5 AH for Norwich means The Canaries have to win by two goals or more to profit from your wager.
Can I bet on outrights on Championship bookmakers
Throughout 46 matchdays that go on for more than nine months, outright opportunities are the norm. Championship bookmakers include wagers on the Winner, Teams to be Promoted & Relegated and the Top Goalscorer. Aside from general principles like the earlier you bet, the better, there are specific points to emphasise in each market. Let’s see them in detail.
Championship Winner betting odds
The no.1 long-term market in every sportsbook is the Title winner, and rightly so. After all, it is the trophy that everyone is after, and it usually guarantees a more comfortable promotion to the EPL. While it is anticipated that clubs relegated will challenge for promotion, that is not always the case. Favourites include teams that came close to promotion last season, like playoff contenders. For 2022/23, Norwich City, Watford and Middlesbrough have the lowest Sky Bet championship winner odds, fulfilling the above criteria. Recently relegated Burnley emerge as dark horses since they were pretty active in the transfer window.
Teams to be Promoted to the EPL
Even if a club does not win the trophy, it has a massive financial and prestigious incentive to be one of the three clubs gaining promotion to the EPL. The first two finishers in the Championship are automatically promoted; the following four will enter the playoffs to decide the third club going up. The Final of the playoffs is one of the most-watched sporting events in the UK, drawing a large betting volume. The league ranking dictates betting odds for Championship playoffs as the highest-finishing team is considered the strongest.
Teams to be Relegated to League One
In avoiding going down one tier, the approach is somewhat different. Statistics show that around 20% of the clubs recently promoted will face relegation again. While that market does not get the same interest as the battle for top places, we have seen thrilling encounters hiding great betting opportunities. Wigan Athletic, Rotherham and Sunderland just won promotion to the Championship, so Sky Bet Championship relegation odds have them struggle.
Championship top scorer betting odds
One of the main reasons the EFL Championship is so popular is the number of goals scored every matchday. The quality of the strikers is top-notch, and the battle for winning the Top Scorer award is always intense. A good tip is to look for a forward on a team that will fight for promotion as great teammates assist him. Norwich’s Teemu Pukki ticks all the boxes for finishing on top of Sky Bet Championship leading scorers. He scored 26 goals in the 2020/21 EFL Championship, and all signs show that he is capable of doing it again.
What makes a good EFL Championship bookie
Despite being a second-tier league, the EFL Championship surpasses in prestige and popularity many top-flight European divisions. Hence, you can find numerous sportsbooks, including such events. Some tips, however, can put you ahead of the pack. Starting with outright markets, note that finishing first or second has no difference. Both are automatically promoted to the EPL. So, if one club has a firm grip on the second place, it might not push harder. Likewise, positions 3-6 enter the playoffs with almost zero differences. For daily bets, most punters notice the odds and the markets, and while they are critical, insightful players also assess other areas.
The Live betting platform is where many play exclusively, so every game should be available there with close to all pre-match markets. Special bets like Player Props, Handicaps and Cards & Corners can diversify your winning chances and should be considered a standard. All these criteria might confuse you, but that’s why we are here. We have shortlisted the Championship betting sites that adhere to our high standards and have proven reliable.
You can just look above for a thorough list, as all these sportsbooks have been tested and are of high quality. If you only want a quick heads up, you can pick Bet365, 22bet and 888sport, as they have been in the game for years and are known for being on top.
Most bettors opt for 1X2 and Over/Under, but we suggest you go deeper. Markets like Player Specials and Timeframe of Goal Scored are excellent options. And for outright ones, Top Goalscorer and Teams to be Promoted can also give you a high return.
Every one of our listed sportsbooks scores high in market variety as it is one of the criteria we review them. Moreover, we also check the odds, so you have the best of both worlds in the same bookie.
Sure you can. The Title Winner is the most popular outright. The clubs relegated from the EPL the season before, are usually the biggest favourites to win the title and the promotion. Notice that finishing first or second does not make a big difference, so that some clubs might compromise.
The Championship has a reputation for offensive-minded clubs, and the goals scored every year attests to that. For the 2022/23 season, Teemu Pukki from Norwich is the frontrunner as he scored an impressive 26 goals in the same competition two years ago. Watford's Joao Pedro or Coventry City's Viktor Gyokeres could be the dark horses.