Bet365 Review | The Industry’s Leading Bookmaker Analysed [2024]

Excellent
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8.3
Out of 10

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Bet365 Review Summary

Bet365 is widely regarded as the greatest betting website, offering a broad range of products, features, competitive odds, and an exceptional website and app, with a stellar industry reputation. Explore the categories below for our comprehensive Bet365 review.

  How were these ratings created?

In this review of Bet365, I’ve examined a set of standard criteria to establish an impartial and data-driven rating for the bookmaker. Each of the above criterion is assigned a weight corresponding to its importance, with factors such as Odds and Features carrying more influence than others.

This methodical approach eliminates subjectivity and guarantees that only significant factors influence the overall rating. This results in a fair and objective assessment of the betting site, shedding light on both its strengths and weaknesses.

Unlike many other sites, Punter2Pro adheres to an identical process for all betting site reviews, ensuring that no brand receives an unjust advantage over another — regardless if we are affiliated with them or not.

About Bet365

Bet365 was established in 2000 in a portable building in Stoke-on-Trent and operates under its parent company ‘Bet365 Group Ltd.’ Holding 12 licenses, the bookmaker is exclusively an online platform without a physical presence.

In line with the standards of legal and reputable online betting sites, Bet365 incorporates various protective measures, including SSL data encryption technology for secure transactions, two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorised account access, and ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) processes to verify customer identities and deter identity fraud.

The platform employs secure payment processing to ensure the safe handling of financial transactions, geo-fencing to verify users’ compliance with local regulations and legal betting areas, and is equipped with essential ‘safer gambling’ tools such as Deposit Limits, Reality Checks, Time-Outs, and Self-Exclusions, reflecting its commitment to responsible gambling practices.

As an additional layer of assurance, Bet365 is eCOGRA certified, attesting to the safety and fairness of its systems. The site is also registered with IBAS, providing an impartial mediator in case of disputes between bettors and the betting site, further emphasising Bet365’s dedication to fostering fair gambling.

Bookmaker Profile

Company

Bet365 Group Ltd (parent company)

Established

2000

Website

Bet365.com

Target Markets

UK, Spain, Italy, Brazil, India

Languages

Spanish, Italian, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Polish, Hungarian, Greek, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Russian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Estonian, Slovak, Czech, Chinese, Japanese

Licences

Denmark, Gibraltar, Italy, Malta, Spain, UK, Northern Territory, Germany, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Mexico

Regulators

1. Product Range

Excellent

The Bet365 website showcases a diverse selection of 10 primary products: Sportsbook, Casino, Live Casino, Poker, Bingo, Virtual Betting, Lotteries, Fantasy, Financials, and Tote/Pools. This extensive range underlines the platform’s commitment to serving a broad spectrum of players, aiming to be a comprehensive one-stop destination.

As a prominent online gambling company, Bet365 places a strong emphasis on sports betting, offering an extensive array of markets across various sporting events. The platform also features a popular online casino, complemented by a live casino section. 

Furthermore, Bet365’s poker rooms provide a platform catering to players of all skill levels, facilitating participation in exciting tournaments.

Standard

Popular products offered by many betting sites. These count more towards the score for this section than 'Specialist' products.

Specialist

Specialised "niche" products offered by some betting sites. These count less towards the score for this section than 'Standard' products.

9.2
Out of 10
Excellent

2. Sports & Markets

Excellent

Bet365’s sportsbook section boasts an impressive range of 45 sports, covering 78% of all sports considered in my bookmaker reviews. This is 13 more than the average. Popular sports, commonly found at the majority of online bookmakers, are indicated with an asterisk in the list below. 

Bet365 stands out by offering an extensive variety of markets, surpassing the expectations of other recognised betting sites. In particular, it goes beyond mainstream offerings, presenting a huge variety of options for pre-match football, which includes ‘boosted bets’ and the flexibility to create Bet Builder combinations.

With markets spanning from Asian lines to player-specific bets, Bet365 caters to a diverse range of betting preferences. While the specials category may not be as exhaustive as other bookies, the site provides ample markets for events such as the Sport’s Personality of the Year, BAFTA awards, and various political elections across the UK, Europe, and other regions of the world.

Renowned for its expansive and efficient In-Play section, Bet365’s live coverage extends across a multitude of sports, typically offering 150+ live markets for popular football events. In-play features include a live match tracker showing the starting lineups, as well as detailed statistics such as action areas and individual player stats.

Live streaming is also accessible for funded accounts or to those with a bet placed in the previous 24 hours. This elevates the overall in-play experience for bettors and is one of Bet365’s major strengths.

All Available Sports (A-Z)

  • Shooting
  • Snooker*
  • Softball
  • Specials
  • Speedway
  • Surfing
  • Squash
  • Swimming
  • Table Tennis
  • Tennis*
  • Triathalon
  • Trotting
  • Virtual Sports
  • Volleyball
  • Water Polo
  • Winter Sports
  • Wrestling

  How are sports & markets graded?

To assess this section, every sport has been classified based on its betting popularity, assigning greater importance to widely sought-after sports like Football, Horse Racing, and Tennis, in contrast to those with a more limited audience appeal.

Furthermore, the inclusion of market depth (betting options) also contributes to the overall score, emphasising the importance of “quality over quantity”.

This approach ensures that not only the sports but also the richness and diversity of betting options within each sport are taken into account in the evaluation process.

9.4
Out of 10
Excellent

3. Odds

Competitive

In a random selection of 20 instances, Bet365’s odds were found to be 3.89% lower than the corresponding Back odds on the betting exchange at that time. The average decimal price for the bookmaker’s odds in the sample was 2.74, compared to the betting exchange’s 2.86, indicating great value for a bookmaker.

While this sample doesn’t provide a precise estimate of Bet365’s price competitiveness, it does offer insights into the potential variance between their odds and the leading prices on the betting exchange. Hence, this comparison significantly contributes to this bookmaker’s overall rating.

Bet365 vs Exchange Odds

Note: Please be aware that this sample only includes odds from top-flight European football leagues. To ensure uniformity across all bookmaker reviews, odds were capped at 10.0. We are committed to enhancing the depth and precision of this data regularly.

  Why are the exchange odds higher?

The betting exchange provides industry-leading odds generated by the public, traded peer-to-peer rather than against the betting company. These odds are widely considered the most accurate in the market. The betting exchange earns its revenue through a commission, usually applied to winnings.

In contrast, bookmakers operate under a different model, incorporating a margin or “edge” into their odds. Consequently, the prices offered by bookmakers tend to be lower than those found on the betting exchange.

This crucial information is often overlooked by many gambling affiliate sites, but for the sake of transparency, it should be common knowledge. Despite this, bookmakers give many advantages over betting exchanges.

8.0
Out of 10
Competitive

4. Bonuses

Excellent

For many years, Bet365 led the industry with its standout signup promotion. While the current ‘Bet £5 Get £50’ isn’t as generous as past promotions, it remains highly competitive and surpasses major competitors. At the time of writing, it is 99.4% higher than the average value of free bets listed on this site.

As of the time of writing, ongoing promotions include:

  • 2 Goals Ahead Early Payout
  • Up to 70% Boost on Accas
  • Early Payouts (Several Sports)
  • Tennis Retirement Guarantee
  • Bet Boosts on Selected Runners.

While Bet365’s ongoing promotions, or ‘reloads,’ are occasionally worth considering, they aren’t the main focal point of the bookmaker. Some bookmakers offer a little more in this department.

If you haven’t already opened an account, you can claim the signup promotion by following the links on the Bet365 website.

#ad. 18+, GambleAware.org, T&Cs Apply

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

Is The Signup Bonus Worth It?

Based on our calculations, an average customer stands to gain around £33.58 in value by taking the signup promotion. This suggests the offer is player-friendly, which is great.

It’s important to highlight that this promotion comes with an exceptionally low minimum odds requirement of 1.2. This translates to lower risk compared to many other bookmakers.

However, it’s essential to note that this value is only an estimate, and there’s still a risk of losing your initial qualifying bet. While the promotion provides potential value, it doesn’t guarantee profit.

  How was this bonus valued?

This bonus was mathematically valued using an “average case” scenario. This makes few important assumptions:

  1. Odds gathered in the previous section are assumed to be representative of the overall value offered by the betting site. 
  2. Qualifying bets are assumed to be placed at the minimum required odds for the promotion (1.2) to reduce risk.
  3. Free bets are assumed to be placed at decimal odds of 3.5, representing “medium risk” outcomes.

The same assumptions apply in all betting site reviews featured on Punter2Pro. This ensures that free bets & promotions can be compared consistently and fairly.

This approach helps to highlight valuable promotions, as well as cases where a typical bettor does not stand to benefit.

8.0
Out of 10
Excellent

5. Payment Options

Good

Bet365 offers 8 diverse payment methods for deposits and withdrawals, encompassing 21% of all recognised methods typically assessed in my reviews.

Among these, 7 are considered ‘core’ payment methods, commonly found at most established betting sites. The remaining payment method (Google Pay), while less popular, is a great alternative option for some customers.

It’s important to note that ‘core’ payment methods contribute more significantly to the bookmaker’s score in this category.

While Bet365 provides more than enough options, there are noteworthy exclusions such as Skrill and Neteller, as shown in the A-Z payment options list provided below.

Popular Methods Supported

Visa
Bank Transfer
Mastercard
PayPal
Paysafecard
Google Pay
Apple Pay

All Available Methods (A-Z)

6.0
Out of 10
Good

6. Withdrawal Speed

Fast

Bet365 processes withdrawals quickly, generally within 2 working days, depending on the chosen method. According to collected data, this speed is 39.98% faster than the average of all reviewed bookmakers on this site.

The speed of withdrawals significantly influences the bookmaker’s overall rating, as every sports bettor deserves prompt access to their funds.

Payment MethodWithdrawal TimeMinimumFee

Bank Transfer
1 hours - 1 day£5Free

Visa
1 - 3 days£5Free

Mastercard
1 - 3 days£5Free

ApplePay
1 - 5 days£5Free

Trustly
1 hours - 1 day£5Free

PayPal
1 hours - 1 day£10Free

Paysafecard
1 hours - 1 day£5Free

  How is withdrawal speed graded?

The rating for this section is derived from a combination of data, incorporating:

  • The bookmaker’s officially stated withdrawal times, dependent upon the successful completion of Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements.
  • Average withdrawal times as reported by actual customers with real-world experiences.

I aim to gather enough data to provide accurate estimates of the withdrawal times for various payment methods. If insufficient data exists for a particular method, it is not included in the above list, and therefore does not impact the rating.

9.5
Out of 10
Fast

7. Features

Excellent

So, what features does Bet365 offer to enhance the quality of their service?

Bet365 provides 7 key Sports Betting features that elevate the experience for players – which is common among the top bookmakers. 

Most noteworthy for sports bettors is the platform’s cash-out options, which includes partial cash out and automatic cash out. This enables flexibility in betting strategies. 

Bet365’s Bet Builder feature empowers users to create combination bets with up to 12 selections for amplified returns, featuring a modest minimum stake of 10p and an impressive maximum payout of £2,000,000 on most sports.

Unfortunately, Bet365 does not offer a specialised Request a Bet (RAB) feature. However, the enormous range of markets and Bet Builder options will be more than sufficient for the majority of customers.

Lastly, Bet365 incorporates 4 primary Customer Support features, catering to general inquiries, bonus eligibility checks, or requests for self-exclusions or time-outs. If these features align with your requirements, then Bet365 stands out as a fitting choice for your betting needs.

Sports Betting

Features that enhance the sports betting experience. These count more towards the score for this section than 'Customer Support' features. 

Customer Support

Features that enable customers to seek assistance quickly and effectively. These count less towards the score for this section than 'Sports Betting' features.

  • Live Chat
  • Phone Support
  • Email Support
  • 24/7 Support
8.3
Out of 10
Excellent

8. User Interface

Excellent

Evaluating Bet365’s user interface is subjective, especially given the diverse preferences among bettors. To maintain objectivity, I have used a set of predefined criteria, resulting in two equal ratings for both the mobile and desktop sites: Superb, in a class of it’s own.

It is worth noting that the mobile version carries slightly more weight in the overall user interface rating, reflecting the growing trend of bettors favouring apps over traditional desktop sites.

Bet365's mobile app stands out in terms of aesthetics, showcasing an immaculate design. The colour contrasts, graphics, icons, fonts, and the precise sizing and spacing of elements contribute to its overall excellence.

Notably, in terms of navigation, the search function works perfectly, and the horizontal list of sports at the top provides an excellent alternative.

The inclusion of statistics, infographics, and in-built live streaming for selected events enhances the user experience, with the added convenience of a popout (picture-in-picture) screen that remains visible while scrolling through selections.

Additionally, the app impresses with its responsiveness and speed, setting a very high standard.

However, room for improvement exists, and some users might appreciate the option of a lighter colour scheme for enhanced visual comfort. Providing such customisation would further elevate the app's appeal.

Mobile Ratings
Content
Navigation
Aesthetics

Bet365 stands out as one of the most sophisticated sports betting sites available, aligning with the expectations set by its well-established online reputation.

The website exudes a modern and well-structured appearance, evident in the thoughtfully spaced page elements, font choices, and the effective use of colour—particularly the appealing green and dark grey contrasts. While my personal preference leans towards a lighter colour scheme, there is undeniable professionalism in Bet365's style.

Notably, the site distinguishes itself by presenting banners that are not only non-intrusive but also visually attractive: a departure from the tackiness found on many other betting platforms.

Bet365's website boasts impressive speed, and its search function is among the best in the market, promptly delivering relevant results while recognising subtle nuances like synonymous terms such as "Wolves," "Wolverhampton," and "Wolverhampton Wanderers."

One minor critique is the alphabetical listing of sports on the side bar, making popular sports like football slightly more challenging to locate; prioritising the most frequently used ones at the top would enhance user convenience.

Additionally, it's worth mentioning that Bet365 has one of the most active News & Blogs sections, providing previews and updates on current sporting events.

Desktop Ratings
Content
Navigation
Aesthetics
9.3
Out of 10
Excellent

9. Fund Protection

Moderate

An essential consideration is the aspect of fund protection. How secure is your money with Bet365?

The site holds a ‘Medium’ fund protection rating, as evaluated by the Gambling Commission. This signifies that certain measures are in place to segregate customer funds from the business’s accounts, ensuring the distribution of assets to customers in the event of insolvency. It is crucial to note, however, that fund protection is not guaranteed.

Many may find it surprising that, despite its significant standing in the sports betting world, Bet365 does not offer maximum fund protection.

While fund protection is important, it’s also pertinent to assess the company’s financial performance, as this is a more realistic indicator of the potential for insolvency. It’s worth mentioning that the holding company of Bet365 owns Stoke City football club and a tech company. Stoke City has recently incurred losses, significantly impacting the overall profit. In the most recent accounts, the company reported an annual profit of £49,800,000 before tax. The average annual profit of all the sites I’ve reviewed stands at £51,900,000, provides an insight into how the Bet365 company operates within the UK business landscape. It’s essentially average in this regard.

Furthermore, based on my investigation into account dormant fees applied to inactive betting accounts, it was revealed that Bet365 enforces charges of £2 per month after 13 months of inactivity. This slightly impacts the score for this section, especially considering that some bookmakers do not impose dormant fees at all. It is however noteworthy that Bet365 endeavours to notify users before implementing these charges.

Taking into account these potential risk factors, I have devised a reasonable score for this section, indicating an area where Bet365 has room for improvement.

  How accurate are these profit figures?

I’ve made every effort to research the pre-tax profits of the featured gambling sites in my reviews, but I cannot guarantee absolute accuracy.

Due to the complex setups of gambling companies, which are often divided into different parts around the world, complications arise in determining their true profitability. Moreover, the landscape is constantly evolving with frequent mergers and investments occurring, adding yet another layer of complexity to unravel.

While I strive to offer a helpful insights, it is advisable for you to conduct further research if you have any concerns.

4.9
Out of 10
Moderate

10. reputation

Excellent

Finally, I’ve examined Bet365’s reputation, concentrating on customer satisfaction levels and brand image.

To accurately gauge public perception, I’ve consolidated opinions from diverse sources, including customer feedback platforms and reputable gambling communities. This analysis resulted in an average user rating of 9.24 out of 10, indicating that the bookmaker is widely regarded as reliable, with a relatively low number of complaints. In essence, players express high satisfaction with the bookmaker’s service.

In an additional assessment, I verified that, as of the current writing, Bet365 has zero regulatory actions on record with the Gambling Commission. This signifies a clean record without any breaches of their license, solidifying the brand’s positive public image.

These factors are crucial considerations because, despite the multitude of options and features offered by the sports betting site, reliability and trust remain paramount in providing a positive overall experience.

  Do any sites have an immaculate reputation?

It’s highly unlikely that any betting site will score maximum points in this section, for a good reason — none of them are perfect.

Even the most prominent and reputable sites in the online gambling business have weathered their fair share of bad publicity, and I won’t shy away from that.

Nevertheless, the landscape of the gambling sector is undergoing positive transformations. Faced with heightened regulatory scrutiny and societal expectations, companies are being forced to improve their standards. Many are rising to the occasion, creating a significant gap between the commendable platforms and those falling way short of the mark.

I hope that the industry continues to push for a more responsible, enjoyable experience for all customers and that, eventually, this section will produce higher ratings in my reviews.

Learn more: Problems In The Gambling Industry

9.2
Out of 10
Excellent

Verdict on Bet365

In the Punter2Pro bookmaker rating system, Bet365 receives a total score of 8.3, establishing it as a top-tier sportsbook with numerous robust features that outshine nearly all competitors.


My Opinion

Bet365 is widely hailed as the greatest betting website, and I share this sentiment. The platform offers an extensive array of products, features, competitive odds, an outstanding welcome bonus, an exceptional website & app, and holds a stellar overall reputation in the industry.

As a reviewer, my job is to give an honest assessment of bookmakers, not just to endorse them. One thing often overlooked about Bet365 is that its fund protection is not as strong as some other betting sites. While this isn’t a deal-breaker, it’s a noteworthy consideration, particularly for high rollers.

In conclusion, while Bet365 deservedly secures a place among the top names in the sports betting world. If asked to list a few leading platforms, Bet365 would consistently feature in my personal top 5.

Pros
Cons
8.3
Out of 10

Excellent

Bet365 FAQ

How many sports does Bet365 cover in its sportsbook?

Bet365 offers a total of over 40 sports, providing an extensive range of markets, including niche options not commonly found on other betting sites.

How fast are Bet365's withdrawal times?

Bet365 typically processes withdrawals within 2 working days, which is 39.98% faster than the average of all reviewed bookmakers.

How is Bet365's reputation among users?

Bet365 enjoys an excellent reputation with an average user rating of 9.24 out of 10, indicating high customer satisfaction and a positive brand image.

What features does Bet365 provide to enhance the betting experience?

Bet365 offers a wide range of sports betting features, including cash-out options, Bet Builder, an outstanding Inplay experience, and several customer support features for general inquiries and bonus checks.

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Toby @ Punter2Pro