Good
No Affiliate Links
Please note that there are no affiliate links featured in this review. This means that we will not receive a commission if you proceed to open an account at this bookmaker. Unlike many other gambling referral sites, we remain committed to reviewing bookmakers that we do not actively endorse. This approach ensures that bettors have the opportunity to explore all available options, rather than solely focusing on those that might be advantageous for us.
- Diverse product range
- Extensive sports & market coverage
- Maximum fund protection
- Strong reputation spanning decades
- Mediocre odds
- Lacks some popular payment options
Review Summary
How were these ratings created?
In this review of Ladbrokes, 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 Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes was established in 1886 as commission agents for horses trained at Ladbroke Hall in Warwickshire. Its online bookmaker is now operated by ‘Ladbrokes Coral Group Limited.’
The company holds four licenses and distinguishes itself from other online betting platforms by also offering physical shops, commonly located on high streets.
In line with industry standards, Ladbrokes employs various protective measures, including SSL data encryption for secure transactions, two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorised account access, and ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) processes to identify and discourage identity fraud.
Moreover, Ladbrokes ensures safe financial transactions through Secure Payment Processing and utilises Geo-Fencing to verify users’ compliance with legal betting areas and local regulations.
As a regulated entity, Ladbrokes prioritises responsible gambling by implementing tools such as Deposit Limits, Reality Checks, Time-Outs, and Self-Exclusions. The site holds eCOGRA certification, attesting to the safety and fairness of its systems.
Additionally, Ladbrokes is registered with the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS), which signifies the availability of an impartial mediator for dispute resolution between bettors and the platform, underscoring the bookmaker’s commitment to providing a fair gambling environment.
Bookmaker Profile
Company
Ladbrokes Coral Group Limited
Established
1886 (as commission agents for horses)
Website
Target Markets
UK, Ireland, Belgium
Languages
English, German, Swedish
Licences
Gibraltar, Schleswig-Holstein, UK, Belgium
Regulators
1. Product Range
Ladbrokes’ website boasts a diverse selection of 6 main products: Sportsbook, Casino, Live Casino, Poker, Bingo, and Virtual Betting. This extensive range demonstrates the brand’s commitment to serving a broad spectrum of players, aiming to be a comprehensive one-stop destination.
As a well-established physical bookmaker with a storied history in sports betting and gambling, Ladbrokes has been a prominent figure since its inception in 1886. Over the years, it has continually evolved in the online gambling sphere, often releasing new and exciting products before its competitors.
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.
2. Sports & Markets
Ladbrokes’ sportsbook section boasts an impressive offering of 39 sports, covering 67% of the sports considered in my bookmaker reviews, exceeding the average by 5. Key sports, commonly found at online bookmakers, are denoted with an asterisk in the list below.
Notably, Ladbrokes stands out by providing an extensive variety of markets, extending beyond what is typically offered by other recognised betting sites.
As one of the foremost UK bookmakers, Ladbrokes features an exceptional range of betting options across major and lesser-known sports. Novelty bettors are well-served, with Ladbrokes offering unique options such as TV specials (e.g, Love Island winners, Eurovision, Dancing on Ice and BAFTAS) and political markets covering US, UK, German, French, and Irish politics.
Ladbrokes’ live betting experience is sophisticated, presenting a multitude of in-play events across various sports on an hourly basis. While select events offer live streaming, the in-play section is enriched with features like statistics, enhancing the overall engagement for users.
All Available Sports (A-Z)
- American Football*
- Athletics
- Australian Rules
- Badminton
- Baseball*
- Basketball*
- Beach Volleyball
- Bowls
- Boxing*
- Chess
- Cricket*
- Current Affairs
- Cycling
- Darts*
- Entertainment / TV
- eSports
- Field Hockey
- Fishing
- Football*
- Formula 1*
- Futsal
- Gaelic Games
- Golf*
- Greyhound Racing
- Handball
- Horse Racing*
- Hurling
- Ice Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Lotto Specials
- MMA / UFC*
- Motor Racing
- Motorbikes
- Netball
- Novelty
- Politics
- Pool
- Rowing
- Rugby League*
- Rugby Union*
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.
3. Odds
In a random sample of 20 selections, Ladbrokes’ were 7.89% lower than the Back odds on the betting exchange available at that time. The average decimal price for Ladbrokes’ odds in the sample was 3.29, compared to the betting exchange’s 3.57.
These figures suggest that Ladbrokes’ odds fall within the standard range for a bookmaker, leaning slightly towards the lower side based on this particular sample.
While this sample doesn’t provide a precise assessment of Ladbrokes’ pricing competitiveness, it does shed light on the potential variance of their odds compared to the value on the betting exchange. Consequently, this comparison significantly impacts the overall rating assigned to this bookmaker.
Bookmaker 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.
4. Bonuses
Ladbrokes’ signup free bet ‘Bet £5 Get £20’ is both straightforward and offers great value, featuring a low minimum odds requirement for the qualifying bet. It closely resembles the offer from its sister site, Coral, except that the bets are divided into £5 increments.
While this promotion is solid, some competitors do provide slightly more enticing offers to new customers. As of the time of writing, it is approximately 10% below the average value of free bets featured on this site.
Noteworthy ongoing promotions available at the time of writing include:
- 100% matched free bet on any horse racing up to £/€5
- Acca money back as a free bet up to £/€10
- Extra place races (selected events only)
While ongoing promotions can occasionally be worth claiming, they may not be always be compelling enough to actively seek out — hence the slightly underwhelming score for this section.
If you haven’t opened an account yet, you can claim the signup promotion through the links on their site.
Is The Signup Bonus Worth It?
Based on our calculations, an average customer stands to gain around £12.31 in value by taking advantage of the signup promotion. This indicates a favourable proposition for the player, which is excellent.
Nevertheless, it’s essential to note that this value is a guideline, and participating in the promotion still carries the risk of losing the initial qualifying bet. Therefore, while the promotion offers potential value, it doesn’t guarantee a profit.
How was this bonus valued?
This bonus was mathematically valued using an “average case” scenario. This makes few important assumptions:
- Odds gathered in the previous section are assumed to be representative of the overall value offered by the betting site.
- Qualifying bets are assumed to be placed at the minimum required odds for the promotion (1.5) to reduce risk.
- 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.
5. Payment Options
Ladbrokes offers a diverse range of 9 payment methods for facilitating fund transfers to and from the betting site, covering 23% of all recognised methods assessed in my reviews.
Among these, 7 are categorised as ‘core’ payment methods, representing the standard options typically found at any reputable betting site. The remaining 2 methods are less conventional but may appeal to certain customers.
It’s worth noting that the inclusion of ‘core’ payment methods carries more weight in determining the bookmaker’s score in this section.
Popular Methods Supported
All Available Methods (A-Z)
- Apple Pay
- Astropay
- Bank Transfer
- Boku
- Boleto
- Cash
- CashToCode
- Citizen
- Click2Pay
- Diners Club
- eCheck
- ecoPayz
- Entropay
- EPS
- Google Pay
- iDEAL
- iDebit
- InstaDebit
- Interac
- Klarna
- MasterCard
- MuchBetter
- Neosurf
- Neteller
- Nordea
- Pay4Fun
- PayPal
- Paysafecard
- QIWI
- Rapid Transfer
- Skrill
- Sofort
- Solo
- Todito Cash
6. Withdrawal Speed
The speed of withdrawals at Ladbrokes varies depending on the chosen method but is generally processed swiftly, typically within 2 working days.
According to the collected data, this speed is 10.07% faster than the average withdrawal time observed across all bookmakers reviewed on this site.
The promptness of withdrawals plays a key role in influencing the bookmaker’s overall rating, as every sports bettor deserves to receive their funds in a timely and efficient manner.
| Payment Method | Withdrawal Time | Minimum | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
 Bank Transfer | 2 - 5 days | £5 | Free |
 Visa | 1 - 3 days | £5 | Free |
 Mastercard | 1 - 3 days | £5 | Free |
 ApplePay | 1 - 3 days | £5 | Free |
 PayPal | 8 hours | £5 | Free |
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.
7. Features
Ladbrokes offers 7 key Sports Betting features, aligning with the industry average.
The platform stands out with its diverse betting flexibility features, offering users the convenience of Cash Out and Partial Cash Out options.
Moreover, Ladbrokes elevates the betting experience with a sophisticated Bet Builder function for football events, enabling users to create bespoke bets with an unlimited range of selections. The #GetAPrice Request a Bet (RAB) feature takes customisation to the next level, allowing users to create unique bets tailored to their preferences.
Setting itself apart from many bookmakers, Ladbrokes introduces a distinctive rewards scheme known as the Grid Card. This integrated program seamlessly connects in-shop and online betting, rewarding users with gifts and promotions based on their betting activity.
In addition to sports betting features, Ladbrokes includes 4 primary Customer Support features. These features can be utilised for general inquiries, checking bonus eligibility or terms, and requesting self-exclusions or time-outs.
If these features align with your requirements, Ladbrokes may prove to be a suitable betting site for you.
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
- Phone Support
8. User Interface
The evaluation of Ladbrokes’s user interface is based on specific criteria, acknowledging the subjective nature of user preferences among bettors.
Two distinct ratings have been formed:
- Mobile: Great, exceeds expectations
- Desktop: Great, slightly exceeds expectations
It’s worth noting that the mobile version carries a slightly higher weight in the overall user interface rating, reflecting the growing trend of bettors favouring apps over traditional desktop sites.
-
Mobile
-
Desktop
Ladbrokes' mobile app boasts a sharp and user-friendly design. The red, white and black interface strikes a balance being visually vibrant yet easy on the eyes.
Its streamlined interface facilitates the simultaneous viewing of multiple betting options on a single page. While generally efficient to use, some bettors may find the buttons slightly small, demanding a higher level of precision—though this is a minor concern.
Notably, the app integrates statistics, allowing users to access the latest head-to-head matchups or league standings for popular sports such as football. Additionally, it offers the convenience of live streaming for eligible events.
However, a notable omission from the Ladbrokes app is a search function: a feature we would expect in a modern application. Nevertheless, the horizontal list of sports at the top, navigable by swiping left or right, proves to be a useful alternative.
In various tests, the app demonstrated excellent overall speed, with only the occasional ever-so-slightly slow page load time.
| Mobile Ratings |
|---|
| Content |
| Navigation |
| Aesthetics |
Ladbrokes' website closely resembles its sister site, Coral.co.uk, but stands out as the slightly superior of the two.
Navigation on the Ladbrokes website is user-friendly, with intuitive menus making it easy to locate desired bets. However, the absence of a search function is a notable drawback for a prominent player in the sports betting industry.
In terms of styling, the Ladbrokes site feels less generic than Coral, utilising a well-coordinated red/black/white colour scheme and modern fonts that create a clean and visually pleasing appearance. That said, occasional elements (e.g. banners, bet selections) on the page seem unnecessarily large, limiting the amount of information displayed at once -- but this is a straightforward issue to address in a future update.
Ladbrokes also features a News & Blogs section which provides match previews and tips. However, this falls a little short of the creativity found on some other top-tier betting platforms.
| Desktop Ratings |
|---|
| Content |
| Navigation |
| Aesthetics |
9. Fund Protection
An essential consideration is the level of fund protection a bookmaker provides. So, how secure are your funds with Ladbrokes?
The platform has been assigned a ‘High’ fund protection rating by the Gambling Commission, indicating that customer funds are securely held in a dedicated trust account, separate from the company’s operational funds. An impartial trustee or external auditor oversees and verifies the controls of this account, ensuring the highest level of fund protection.
It’s also prudent to assess the financial performance of the company, as it serves as a more practical indicator of the likelihood of insolvency. Coral/Ladbrokes, being prominent entities in the British sports betting realm, showcase robust financials, with an annual profit of £82,500,000 before tax in their most recent accounts—exceeding the £51,900,000 average of all reviewed sites.
These figures might not tell the entire story — but they suggest Ladbrokes is succeeding, relative to its competitors.
Lastly, I investigated account dormant fees and found that Ladbrokes imposes a £3 monthly fee after 13 months of account inactivity: a factor that slightly impacts the score for this section as some bookmakers do not charge such fees.
With everything considered, I’ve derived a fair, and very strong, score for this section.
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.
10. reputation
Lastly, I’ve assessed Ladbrokes’ reputation, focusing on both customer satisfaction levels and overall brand image.
In order to provide an accurate gauge of public perception, I’ve collected opinions from diverse sources, encompassing customer feedback platforms and popular gambling communities. The resulted in an average user rating of 7.65 out of 10, positioning the bookmaker as well-regarded, with occasional complaints—not uncommon in the sports betting industry.
As an additional dimension to this evaluation, it’s worth noting that, at the time of writing, Ladbrokes has one regulatory action on record with the Gambling Commission, indicating instances of potential breaches of their licence. While such actions are not unheard of and may not necessarily raise a red flag for customers, it means that the company does not boast a flawless record.
Importantly, the last recorded action did not transpire within the past year, rendering it inconsequential to the rating assigned for this section.
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
Verdict
In the comprehensive Punter2Pro bookmaker rating system, Ladbrokes achieves an overall score of 7.5, positioning it as a well-rounded sportsbook with a diverse range of robust features, putting it in competition with the top-tier sports betting sites currently available.
My Opinion
Ladbrokes has a commanding presence on the high street and online, reflecting its long-standing stability within the sports betting industry. I have always considered it to be one of the safest bookmakers to bet with.
Ladbrokes particularly excels in offering an extensive array of sports and markets, surpassing the offerings of most competitors. So if variety is what you’re seeking, it’s a great option.
However, despite its superb array of gambling products and features, there is a notable let-down: the value in the odds. This seemed surprisingly (and disappointingly) low, especially given that its sister site, Coral, performed significantly better in this regard. To verify this concern, a more extensive sample of odds will be collected for the next review update.
On a more positive note, the user-friendly interface and visually appealing website/app helps to distinguish Ladbrokes from Coral. In my opinion, it has the slight edge in terms of looks.
- Diverse product range
- Extensive sports & market coverage
- Maximum fund protection
- Strong reputation spanning decades
- Mediocre odds
- Lacks some popular payment options
Good
FAQ
Ladbrokes was established in 1886 as commission agents for horses trained at Ladbroke Hall in Warwickshire.
Ladbrokes features a sportsbook with 35+ sports, surpassing the industry average, and offering a wide variety of markets.
Ladbrokes provides several main sports betting features, including Cash Out, Partial Cash Out, Grid Card scheme, Bet Builder, and the #GetAPrice Request A Bet feature. It also offers a range of customer support features.
Ladbrokes holds a ‘High’ fund protection rating, as assessed by the Gambling Commission. Customer funds are kept in an official trust account separate from the company’s operations, ensuring maximum protection.
7.8 / 10
6.9 / 10
8.0 / 10
7.9 / 10
7.3 / 10
6.7 / 10
- Best Betting Tipster Services|Top Sites For Sports Tips 2024 - April 25, 2024
- Best Free Sports Betting Tipsters | Verified Tips, No Subscription Fee - April 25, 2024
- Best US Sports Tipsters|Top American Handicappers 2024 - April 25, 2024