Online Betting UK

Prior to 2016 there was only really a passing interest in the US presidential election in the UK. Yes, it is always a big deal who ends up as leader of the worlds most powerful country but it wasn’t like it is now where it dominates news coverage for months and months ahead.  The reason for that is Donald Trump who has single handedly turned the US presidency into a long running soap opera.

In 2016 more money was bet on the US election than any other election in the world in history.  One reason for that was the mainstream media completely discounted him until late in the game and those betting early got some fantastic odds on him winning.  The betting only increased in 2020 and that is largely due to the fact that the federal gambling ban was repealed in 2018 meaning many US citizens could bet on that election when they couldn’t in 2016.  It was reported over $300 million was bet in the US in 2020, which was around double what Nevada took for the Super Bowl in the same year.  Globally it is estimated that over $1 billion was wagered on the election.

The 2024 election looks set to surpass that.  Not only can more Americans now bet on the contest there is more global interest than ever with Trump running again.  That has only been ratcheted up by the fact that Biden decided not to run for a second term following a series of age related gaffs leading to the last minute instalment of VP Kamala Harris as the democrat candidate.  That adds a huge amount of uncertainty into the race now, a lot like in 2016, and when there is uncertainty it creates flux in betting markets and those that know what way the wind might blow can find added value.

If you want to bet on the US election choose a bookie with form when it comes to Elections.  We would recommend bet365 who have the most expansive markets and the best odds traders so the best odds value.

The Premier League is the worlds biggest sporting competition in terms of revenue, number of people watching, wages, attendance and pretty much any other stat you want to look at; including betting, accounting for over half of bets placed on football in the UK.

Let’s face it the league is elitist and based on money, and for a long time this caused stagnation with three teams dominating the first 20 years; Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal. Lately, however, the league has gained a new competitive streak, most notably with Leicester winning in 2015 and then three new dominant forces arising in Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City, who look set to continue their battle in 2023-24, in the way United and Arsenal did 15 years ago – that is except the level is now much higher, as seen with Liverpool coming second in 2019 with an astonishing 97 points.

In the UK 70% of bets are placed on football and nearly three quarters of those wagers go on the Premier League, making this one event responsible for around half of all bets placed. Considering this if you bet on the PL you would be insane not to search around for the best offers and odds from our leading bookies. Read our detailed guide for more.

Watch: Sky Sports, BT Sport & Amazon

The first three editions of the Nations League proved to be certainly more interesting than your average friendly the tournament was designed to replace. So far, Portugal (2019), France (2021) and Spain (2023) have all won the tournament.

While the tournament is definitely second tier it is enjoyable and at least matches teams against competitive opposition, which most fans want to see. It’s not just about the finals either, the fact the tournament offers a route for some nations to qualify for Euros or World Cups certainly adds to the excitement for those that won’t qualify normally.

For the 2024/25 edition some changes have been made. Now the group winners and runners-up in league A progress to a quarter-final stage in March to see who will make the semi-finals in June. There are also promotion relegation play-offs in March too for third placed teams in League A&B against runners-up in Leagues B&C.

England are now in League B having been relegated in 2023 (along with Wales) while Scotland have leap-frogged into League A. That is maybe the magic of the Nations League, no nations are protected.

It’s the pinnacle of European club football and the competition every fan wants to win and this year with no less than four English teams in the competition and this means even more attention than before. Liverpool are of course the record English side in the competition and were finalists in 2018 and 2022 and won the competition in 2019 and they will be looking do to well this year having missed out in 2024.

This year, however, it will be last years champions Real Madrid who will be the club to beat with now 15 titles to their name, winning in 2024 against a Dortmund team that were far better – Madrid just always find a way. Man City will be favourites again having now won their first Champions League in 2023 it could now open the floodgates and it is likely more wins will follow. Arsenal and even Aston Villa cannot be discounted and if they make the knockout rounds anything is possible.

Form 2024-25 the competition has expanded again to 36 teams with a new league phase replacing the group stage.  This now means 8 league matches between September and January (no winter break anymore) with four home and four away ties all against different teams.  The top 8 go straight to the last 16, those who finish 9-14 in the league contest a two legged play off in February with the 8 winners progressing to the last 16.

From that point it is a straight knockout as we are familiar with.  The top 8 league teams are seeded at the last 16 stage but country protection is removed now.  The knockout draw in February now also plots out the route to the final, as with the likes of the World Cup, which helps ensure the 8 seeded teams are more likely to make it to the later stages – as if the big teams needed anymore help.

Watch: TNT Sport

The World Grand Prix is a PDC event particularly liked by fans due to the requirement that players must double both in and out of each leg. This generally means the event favours those good at doubling over the big 180 hitters, therefore, it is no surprise the event has been dominated by two of the best doublers in history, Phill Taylor (11 wins) and Michael van Gerwen (6 wins).

Established in 1998 it was first held in Kent in England before moving to Ireland in 1999, where it has stayed since. It was been held at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin from 2001 to 2019, in 2020 and 2021 it took place in Coventry & Leicester due to corona virus issues. The format sees the 32 top PDC players compete in a straight knockout event with five rounds, round 1 (best of 3 sets), round 2 and the quarter-finals (best of 5 sets), semi-finals (best of 7 sets) and the final (best of 9 sets).

Held over just 6 days it is a captivating tournament that pays well for the players too, with the winner pocketing £120,000 of a total £600,000 prize pool. In terms of betting it is wise to head over to the Irish bookies (e.g Paddy Power and Boylesports) to find the best deals and odds.

Watch: Sky Sports

Newmarket is best known for hosting the 1000 and 2000 Guineas in May, but being the home of the jockey club and one of the oldest and most prestigious flat horse racing courses in the UK it also holds a ton of other high profile meetings, one of which is the Future Champions Festival in October.

The two day meeting sees 14 races over Ladies Day (Friday) and Future Champions Day (Saturday), including 9 group races, a listed race and the much loved Cesarewitch heritage handicap on the final day.

The feature races are (m – miles, f – furlongs):

• Cornwallis Stakes – Group 3: 5f (Fri)
• So Sharp Stakes – Group 3: 7f (Fri)
• Challenge Stakes – Group 2: 7f (Fri)
• Fillies’ Mile – Group 1: 1m (Fri)
• Old Rowley Cup – Heritage Handicap: 1m, 4f (Fri)
• Darley Pride Stakes – Group 2: 1 mile (Fri)
• Zetland Stakes – Group 3: 1m, 2f (Sat)
• Autumn Stakes – Group 2: 1m (Sat)
• Dewhurst Stakes – Group 1: 7f (Sat)
• Cesarewitch Stakes – Heritage Handicap: 2m, 2f (Sat)
• Boadicea Stakes – Listed: 6f (Sat)
• Darley Stakes – Group 3: 1m, 1f (Sat)

The feature races are broadcast live in ITV meaning you can claim many of the high value associated TV racing offers.

Watch: ITV

The British Champions Day is a modern meeting having only began in 2011 but it has already become the biggest single day in the British flat horse racing season. The meeting was created to created to bring together a series of historic group races late in the season to create one of the richest and most watched days in racing.

Each group race represents the final of a British Champion Series division over different distances ranging from 6 furlongs to 2 miles. The races are worth a massive amount, the whole day has a prize fund of over £4.2 million with the richest race being the Champion Stakes carrying a pot of over £1.2 million.

The meting attracts the very best jockeys, trainers and horses at the peak of the their seasons. The day is worth a massive amount to the bookies and this means they love to compete with each other through offers, enhanced odds and free bets. It is generally best to wait until 48 hours before to find the very best deals.

• 13:25 – Long Distance Cup: long distance final (2 miles, group 2)
• 14:00 – Champions Sprint Stakes: sprint final (6 furlongs, group 1)
• 14:35 – Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes: middle distance final for fillies & mares (1 miles 4 furlongs, group 1)
• 15:10 – Queen Elizabeth II Stakes: mile-division final (1 mile, group 1)
• 15:50 – Champion Stakes: middle distance final (1 miles 2 furlongs, group 1)
• 16:30 – Balmoral Handicap: (1 mile, class 2)Watch: ITV

The Ballon d’Or, or Golden Ball in English, has been awarded since 1956 and is given by France Football to the player voted by football journalists from around the world as the best. Although the award has been linked to FIFA in the past it now stands separate to the less cared about ‘Best FIFA Men’s Award’ (formerly the FIFA World Player of the Year) – although the winners are almost always the same.

In 2024 the awards will be held in late Octover at the Theatre du Chatelet. Lionel Messi has won the award a record 8 times and Christiano Ronaldo is in second with 5 trophies, both remain on the list this year. Of the 10 players to win the award more than once Kevin Kegan is the only Englishman to win the award more than once, with George Best, Michael Owen and Bobby Charlton (winner of first ever Ballon d’Or) the only other home grown winners.

The winner for 2024 is unlikely to be home grown but there is a great chance it might be won by a Premier League player for the first time since Michael Owen won in 2001 playing for Liverpool.