Betting is a pastime woven into the UK’s history, and in 2023, it’s even more accessible and exciting than ever before. It’s also a rapidly changing industry, and even seasoned bettors might find themselves a little confused by the current landscape of UK betting. Our beginner’s guide is tailored to newcomers to the world of betting, but a great fit for anyone who wants a refresh on the fundamentals to get their edge back.

 

Fundamentals of Betting

Getting to grips with the basics of betting is fairly simple, but if you’re a newcomer to the world of betting then it’s important that you cover the fundamentals before diving into anything more complicated.

 

Types of Betting

Our team generally divide betting into four different subcategories.

• Sports Betting: Wagering on various sports events like football, horse racing, tennis, and more.
• Casino Betting: Playing casino games like slots, roulette, blackjack, and poker.
• eSports Betting: Betting on professional video game tournaments.
• Novelty Betting: Betting on events like political elections, reality TV shows, and awards ceremonies.

Much of the general principles are the same between the sub-types, but it’s important to know your betting type of choice as casino betting, for example, will have very different particulars to sports betting.

 

Odds and Probability

Betting odds are a representation of the bookmaker’s prediction of an events outcome, with higher odds representing a more unlikely outcome. The most common formats of odds in the UK are fractional and decimal odds.

It’s crucial to understand odds and the probabilities they imply to be able to make an informed bet.

 

Online Betting

Chances are when you think of betting these days, it’s loading up your favourite sports betting app or online casino on your phone rather than taking a trip down the bookies. If you’re new to betting, there’s a few steps to follow to get yourself set up on one of these sites.

 

Choose a Betting Site

Getting started, you should look for a reputable, licensed bookmaker with a wide range of betting markets. If you have a more niche market in mind, do some careful research to find out which well-known sites specialize in this market.

Other things to consider while you’re looking for your betting site of choice are bonuses, mobile compatibility, and user-friendly interfaces.

 

Regulations and Licensing

All betting sites in the UK must be licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, an overseeing body that ensures fair play and responsible gambling. Make sure your betting site has their licencing prominently displayed.

 

Deposits and Withdrawals

Online betting sites will have a wide range of secure payment methods. Take your pick of credit card, e-wallets like PayPal, or even cryptocurrency. Operators will usually have terms and conditions surrounding the minimum deposit and withdrawal.

 

Bonuses and Promotions

The best way to get started as a savvy bettor is to take advantage of the betting site’s bonuses & promotions. These range from free bets and deposit matches on sign-up, to loyalty rewards and reload bonuses for loyal customers.

It’s important to read the terms and conditions behind these bonuses so you aren’t caught out by wagering requirements and restrictions.

 

Popular Betting Markets

Betting markets in the UK are diverse and rich. No aspiring bettor will find themselves short. We outlined the sub-types of betting market above, but let’s get into more detail on the larger categories.

 

Sports Betting

Sports betting is the UKs favourite betting pastime and has been for many years. These days, the top choice for UK sports bettors is betting on football, specifically the Premier League.

Horse racing also remains a classy favourite, especially with the excitement surrounding annual events like the Grand National and Royal Ascot.

Other favourite sports markets include tennis, golf, cricket, and greyhound racing – but punters should be able to find any niche market they can think of.

 

Casino Betting

The advent of online casinos means that UK bettors can now access that thrilling glamour of casinos from their own homes. In casinos, bets can be placed on a variety of traditional casino games. Slots are a trusted favourite and often have the widest variety of themes and playstyles. Table games like roulette and baccarat are great for players who still like to bet on chance, but casinos usually have poker and blackjack on offer for those who prefer a more strategic betting game.

 

eSports Betting

eSports betting is a brand new category of betting that follows a lot of the rules of general sports betting. It’s specific to “eSports” which are competitive video games such as League of Legends, CS: 2, and Dota 2. Punters can bet on match winners, in-game events, and live bet following live streams.

 

Betting Strategies

Hopefully you’ve got the fundamentals down by now. That means it’s time to talk about strategy, or how you can use informed bets and self-discipline to potentially increase your chances of winning.

 

Bankroll Management

The number one rule in betting is to never bet above what you can afford. Set a budget and stick to it – even if you’re not winning, this will make sure that you never feel like you’re losing either.

 

Research and Analysis

While it’s fine for the casual bettor to take a punt without much to back it, if you want to increase your chances of winning, always make a study of your market of choice. Analyse statistics, form, and historical data to make educated predictions.

 

Betting Styles

In betting, you aren’t limited to binary win-loss bets. You’re not even limited to placing one bet at the beginning of the match and crossing your fingers. While this – known as a “single” – is a trusted style of betting, modern betting also allows you to place accumulators or wager on events as they happen in real-time.

Accumulators are gaining popularity as a way to boost your odds for bigger potential winnings by combining multiple singles into a larger bet that only wins when all the lines come in.

 

Future Trends in UK Betting

The final aspect of a savvy UK bettor is to not only know what to expect from the current betting industry, but also what is coming in the future. The landscape is constantly evolving and we’re already seeing hints of future trends.

Developers are tackling issues with VR technology, and soon VR casinos and sports betting experiences are on the horizon with bettors immersed in a digital world for a truly immersive experience. This will go hand-in-hand with the focus on technology that is bringing us more and more advanced data analysis tools.