Alternatives to Sports Betting: The Best Options
As you know, sports is not the only thing you can bet on. There are numerous different options for you to choose from. What are they? Carry on reading to find out!
CS:GO and More
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Horse Racing
Texas Hold ’em
Online Games
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As you can see, there are plenty of different opportunitues to partake in. From virtuals to casino games, you are spoilt for choices. We’ll go through all the alternatives in detail in the following paragraphs.
Sports Betting Alternatives – What Else to Choose From
As we have already mentioned, you have a lot to choose from. Many of the operators that offer a sportsbook also have other betting opportunities. These include a casino site, eSports, bingo, and poker. Check out our list below.
| Operator | Bonus | Alternatives | Ratings | Link | T&C’s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betway | Free Bets £30 | eSports, Casino Games, Virtual Sports, Poker, Bingo | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply! *New UK and Ireland Customers Only. Min Deposit: £/€10. First Deposit matched up to £/€30. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. | |
| 888sport | Bet £10 Get £30 | eSports, Casino Games, Poker, Bingo | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply! Under the terms of this Promotion, eligible members will receive £30 in free bets at the Site. In order to receive the welcome offer, members must first place a qualifying bet. A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 with odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater. Bets that are ‘Cashed Out’ do not qualify. First qualifying bet must be placed within 30 days of registration. Please gamble responsibly. 18+ | |
| Bet365 | Up to £100 in Bet Credits | eSports, Casino Games, Virtual Sports, Poker, Bingo | Join Now | Full T&Cs Apply! Open Account Offer. Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. | |
| MansionBet | 100% up to £100 | eSports, Casino Games, Virtual Sports | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply! New customers only. Min deposit £10 (UK Debit cards only). Max bonus amount is £100. Deposit and bonus amount must be wagered 10 times (min odds Evens) prior to bonus funds and associated winnings becoming withdrawable. Winnings accumulated from ‘real money’ bets may be withdrawn at any time. Bonus is valid for sports betting only. | |
| Bethard | 100% up to £100 | eSports, Casino Games | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply! Please gamble responsibly. 18+ |
As you can see, there are some big names in this list and all have varied offerings. Some sites will offer a combination of different gambling alternatives, so depending on what you want to play, you have to choose wisely. We’ll break down the different sections next.
eSports – The Best Bookmakers
In the betting world eSports is starting to grow. It will get even bigger now with the world on hold. Check our eSports page for more info. Games like CS:GO, Rocket League, Dota 2 and others have long been at the forefront. See the best site below.
- Lots of Games to Choose From
- Fantastic Odds on Offer
- Wide Range of Markets
The site listed above is truly one of the best at offering eSports betting. They have everything you could ever need. With a wealth of betting markets, you will not be left wanting. It is a great alternative to what you will normally have a punt on.
Casino Gambling: Slots, Roulette, Baccarat, Blackjack
One part of the gambling industry that is thriving is casino sites. All online casinos have numerous games that only require an internet connection. The most popular games are slots, roulette, Baccarat and Blackjack. See the best rated site below.
What’s great about this casino alternative is the bonus package available. They usually but together some good welcome bonuses and they offer numerous games and even a VIP package for you to enjoy. If you ever like playing at a casino then this is for you.
Virtual Sports – Top for Betting Fans
If you are an ardent sports betting fan and only want to place sports bets than this is the alternative for you. All virtual events at online sports betting sites run very regularly. Check out our list of best sites below, and you will see there are plenty to choose from.
| Operator | Rating | Virtual Football | Virtual Horse Races | Virtual Greyhounds | Virtual Motor Races | To Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betway | 5.0/5 |
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| Ladbrokes | 5.0/5 |
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| bet365 | 4.5/5 |
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| William Hill | 4.5/5 |
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| Betfred | 4.0/5 |
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With events every few minutes you will be covered all day. Check out the virtual horse racing betting guide or the virtual football betting guide for more detailed information. If you are a fan of sports betting then this is the one for you.
Poker – Card Playing Alternative
In some sense poker is a sport much like darts, in that you don’t need to be a supreme athlete to succeed, but you need a supreme brain and nerves of steel. If that is you, then poker could be a good alternative to play.
The best casinos offering poker have daily tournaments and events for you to take part in. What’s more, if there are live tables you can play in real-time against opponents around the world. There should also be different types of games with low or high buy ins.
Bingo: Get a Full House in Your Own Home
One of the most popular pastimes in generations gone by was bingo. Nowadays you don’t have to go to a bingo hall to take part, you can do it from the comfort of your own sofa. Below, we have chosen the best site with the most games possible.
It is important that the site has a dedicated live chat so you can talk with other players. What’s more there should be a lobby where new games start every few minutes. If this is the situation, you will always find some available bingo.
Sporting Events
Football is the most popular sport to bet on. Football in Europe is certainly there most watched throughout the world. As a result there are plenty of different leagues you can bet on, so of which we will detail below.
Football in Europe
A popular league is Serie A as well as the Premier League, adding La Liga and there are plenty of games to follow. One of the main markets on a bookamker is the footie, so you will most likely find what you are looking for.
- The Most Football Markets
- Daily and Weekly Specials
- Up-to-Date Information
If you are really into obscure footie, there are leagues such as the A-League in Australia, that you can always find. We’d only recommend betting on these if you have knowledge of them, however.
Tennis – What Else is Being Served Up?
As with any other sport, there are major tournaments. This includes all ATP and Challenger tournaments. With the bookie Ladbrokes giving the best markets out of all the operators we feature.
Basketball: NBA and EuroLeague
The NBA was one of the first major sport leagues to go global, it is by far the most popular league. This is then followed by all the major leagues in Europe. There may be some smaller leagues such as the Superleague 1st Division in Russia, yet they don’t really garner so much attention.
Horse Racing: Behind Closed Doors
Horse racing is a classic betting sport. There are numerous events to bet on, from the Grand National to local races. As we mentioned an alternative to horse racing could be the virtual races.
All Other Sports: F1, Hockey, Boxing, Winter Sports and More
Although we have focussed on the major sports, there are still many other smaller ones that you can have a punt on. Formula 1 is a great alternative to what you could be use to. The NHL and UK Elite Hockey League are also well covered, along with all boxing events in the UK. Cycling events such as Giro d’Italia could also be an option. Squash tournaments, Gaelic sports, and the University Boat Race also provide many different events throughout the year.
Betting Shops – An Alternative
Betting shops are a stalwart of days gone by. They offer a great alternative to betting online and some people enjoy the setting. It is up to you if you go, however, we suggest that you will be able to find better alternatives online.