Gambling in Europe can be traced as far back as 500 BC and has been a pastime activity ever since. With the introduction of online betting, the popularity has increased considerably. Players can access dozens of European bookmakers at any time, while more and more emerge constantly.
They have considerable differences compared to their Asian or other International counterparts, especially in betting limits, features and available promotions. With so much competition and variety of options, finding the best European betting sites can be a hassle.
Are you going after pure British bookies that pay a lot of attention to horse racing? Do you prefer old-fashioned German bookies or would you rather bet on dozens of special bets that Eastern Europe websites provide? Let’s find out.
Top Online European Bookies
You need to consider many criteria before choosing your ideal European bookies. One of your primary concerns should be the level of localisation. Betting in your native language and the local currency is key. The payout on your favourite leagues and markets is also vital. In the list underneath, you can find all the top sites that match these parameters.
How Does Sports Betting in Europe Work
With so many available sportsbooks online, you might be wondering how you can recognise which ones qualify as European sports betting sites. The first thing you can do is check the interface. Unlike Asian bookies, where there is an abundance of colours and dancing images, websites around Europe tend to provide a very straightforward and plain design.
The odds are usually offered in decimal and sometimes in UK or US formats. Malay, Indo, or HK odds are absent since they are not very popular. In terms of localisation, you’d be glad to know that you can find several languages, like Spanish, Norwegian, German, and Portuguese, as well as many local payment options such as iDeal (Netherlands), Trustly, and Sofort (Germany).
When it comes to actual sports betting in Europe, football is king. Besides that, tennis and basketball are also very popular. However, sports like horse and greyhound racing, or cricket that the UK and Irish players love, are either not present or offered with minimal coverage.
Advantages of European Sports Betting Sites
If you want to register at European Bookmakers, you can make the most of multiple advantages. Reliability will not be an issue and you can find hundreds of markets, special bets, and features. Moreover, the promotions are some of the best that are available online. Let’s take a close look:
✔️ Security: Sportsbooks in Europe are licensed by some of the strictest gambling authorities, like the MGA, the Isle of Man, or Alderney. They are also verified by several testing labs such as eCogra, GLI, and iTech and use encryption software to ensure that all transactions are safe. All these suggest that you can easily trust them.
✔️ Sports & Markets: The sheer number of sports and markets is through the roof. In most cases, you can get the advantage of 30+ sports. In addition, in football, for example, you can enjoy 300+ markets, including totals, cards, corners, and other player specials.
✔️ Betting Features: The best European sports betting sites include a wide range of features. The most essential ones are Cash Out, Bet Builder, Edit Bet, and Live Streaming. All these have become critical parts of players’ strategies. Having them at your disposal is a huge plus when contemplating opening an account.
✔️ Regular Bonuses & Promos: Due to the high level of competition, many sites offer lucrative Bonuses and promotions to give incentives to bettors. Whether you prefer a Deposit Bonus or Free Bets, you will find an array of options online. Also, most bookmakers include regular daily promotions like Enhanced Odds, ACCA Bonuses, Cashback and Reload Bonuses.
✔️ Multiple Payment Options: Unlike UK bookmakers and Offshore bookies that offer limited payment options, European betting sites will most likely allow you to perform transactions with dozens of methods. Besides the traditional ones like VISA, Mastercard, Skrill, and Neteller, you can use many local ones, as we mentioned earlier, as well as cryptos.
✔️ Quick Withdrawals: If you have been betting for a long time, then you must have encountered problems when it comes to cashing in your winnings. After all, it has become a common practice of scam bookmakers to hinder withdrawals by any means. Nonetheless, bookies in Europe refrain from holding your winnings and process your withdrawals within the day.
✔️ High-Quality CS: Player satisfaction is one aspect that European sites will not overlook. Resolving complaints fast and efficiently is a big part of being a successful sportsbook. This is why agents are available around the clock through various channels. The biggest bookmakers in the world, in particular, will offer Customer Support in multiple languages to make sure you get over any problems you face quickly.
Disadvantages of European Bookies
Of course, nothing is all fun and games. Even the best European bookies come with their baggage, so it’s of imminent importance for you to understand where they can improve. Underneath, we have gathered several points that you should keep in mind while betting:
❌ Lower Limits: Bookmakers in Europe tend to set limits for the maximum bet or winning limits. Of course, these range depending on the magnitude of the site. In any case, you will not come across a sportsbook that allows you to bet and win as much as you want. This only happens with Asian bookies.
❌ Tax on Winnings: This is a tricky one because each country has established different laws when it comes to online gambling. Nonetheless, there are quite a few countries like Germany or Greece where you need to pay taxes on winnings. Only the biggest betting companies have elected to absorb these taxes.
❌ Mediocre Odds: Even though you can bet on an ample selection of markets, the overall odds on most European bookmakers are average. They range between 92-94%. Most sites offer higher odds on the WDW but lower the prices on secondary options such as Over/Under and BTTS.
❌ Fast Limitations: If you have been playing online for a while, then you might have heard stories about bookies that are quick to limit your account. This phenomenon occurs more and more lately in Europe. Sites impose betting limits or do not allow betting at winning accounts.
New European Bookmakers
If you have been excluded from a sportsbook or are hunting bonuses and promotions to help you increase your bankroll, looking for new bookmakers is something you should always keep in mind.
New sites might not have many years of experience but can provide better odds, improved gamification, as well as great offers. They emerge daily, so we take on the task of reviewing them and giving you all the necessary feedback.
Are There any Alternatives I can look for
We have already mentioned a few alternatives for European betting sites, but it’s time to pool all your options in one place. Of course, in some of them, you might not be able to register depending on your country of register since they all target specific regions:
▶️ UK Bookmakers: The name does not mean that they only accept British players. The UK betting sites list contains many sites that have expanded internationally as well. Usually, bookies hold a UKGC license, display the odds in fractional form, and offer several football, horse, and greyhound racing markets.
▶️ Asian Bookies: The betting sites in Asia are known for their extremely high betting and winning limits. They tend to offer fewer sports and markets and are mainly focused on Asian Handicaps such as Win and Totals.
▶️ US Sportsbooks: Much like the UK ones, US bookmakers do not only allow bettors from one country. The odds are in the US format. The top sports of interest are basketball, American football, ice hockey, and baseball.
▶️ Independent Bookmakers: Among all different types, Independent online bookmakers have the fewest country restrictions. Players like them because they are licensed offshore, and it’s easier to bet under the radar with relaxed regulations.
Are European Betting Sites Worth it?
Yes, absolutely. We might have mentioned a few drawbacks like the average odds or that your winnings might be subject to tax. The truth is that European bookmakers are definitely worth using. Due to the strict regulatory policies, your money will be safe. Trust is everything when it comes to a betting site.
In addition, the competitive market has led to sites offering an increasing number of daily offers such as Enhanced Odds, regular Free Bets, Cashbacks, and more. Finally, the array of betting features available can become a vital part of your strategy. We recommend European bookies without a doubt.
With so many different online sportsbooks, it’s challenging to make them apart. Bookmakers in Europe can be identified by the decimal types of odds, as well as the variety of sports, markets, promotions, and betting features.
Of course. Suppose you don’t want to play at a European bookmaker. In that case, you can choose among Asian (higher odds and limits), UK bookies (mainly for horse and greyhound racing), US sportsbooks (for US sports), or independent bookmakers (for anonymity).
Some of them do since they have acquired an operating license from the UK Gambling Commission. However, on most sites, UK players cannot create an account and bet.
Yes. The bookmakers hold Tier 1 licenses and have to answer to some of the strictest gambling authorities. In addition, for a website to be launched, it has to be certified by multiple testing labs that ensure player protection.
Yes. Even though the odds are set in decimal form, most sites give you the option to switch to fractional or American. Some even allow you to choose among Hong Kong, Malay, or Indonesian odds formats.