Best UK Championship Betting Sites

Championship Betting Markets

Betting on football is more advanced than ever before. Today, the best UK bookies deploy state-of-the-art in-play betting technology that fluctuates the odds with every kick of the ball, meaning that football betting is no longer simply about picking the winner of any given match. Whether you fancy a recently-relegated team to bounce straight back into the Premier League, or you have a feeling a rising star will whip a free-kick into the top corner this weekend, there are countless ways you can place a bet on the Championship. So let’s take a look at some of the most popular betting markets available.

Match Betting

Match betting is the most familiar way to bet on football. Simply place your bet before kick-off and receive any successful winnings when the match is over. It is important to note that not all bookies take extra time and penalties into account when it comes to the final result, so remember to check exactly how your wager works before placing it.

Match Result

This is all about picking a team to win a particular match. Sounds simple enough, though this is never straightforward in the Championship. If you’re struggling with whom to put your money on, you can always hedge your bets by betting against your team – it can often be a win-win!

Both Teams to Score

Not sure which side has the edge? You can bet on both teams to find the back of the net. This is always a handy option when you’re struggling to pick a winner but know both sides have goals in them. One thing that’s certain in the Championship is goals. 

Result and Both Teams to Score

Sometimes you just have a hunch. If you’re feeling confident, you can bet on both teams to score and one to get the result. Winning on two separate bets is more difficult, but the payout is greater if it comes in.

Over/Under Goals

Over/Under bets represent a slightly more nuanced variation on the Both Teams to Score option. Here, you’ll be wagering on how many goals will be scored in total in the match, or how many goals will be scored by one team. The Over/Under figure is often given in values of 0.5. For example, a particular fixture having over 2.5 goals in the match, i.e. 3+ goals.

Double Chance

Double Chance bets spread your bet across all the possible match outcomes: the home team winning or drawing, the away team winning or drawing, or either the home or away team winning (in this last instance, you’ll lose your bet if the result is a draw). Double Chance bets are particularly appealing when you fancy backing the underdog, given that they’ll only need to nick a draw for your bet to come through.

Handicap

As a way of improving the odds on seemingly certain outcomes, bookmakers sometimes make handicap bets available when there is a clear disparity in the quality of the two sides facing each other. As the results are extremely unpredictable, handicaps are quite rare to see in the Championship, but they can be used to make a bet more attractive. For example, if a promotion favourite is playing at home to a newly-promoted side, enhanced odds may be offered for the underdog.

Outright Betting

Betting on the Championship can be more expansive than sticking wagers on individual matches. Outright Betting involves picking an outcome at the end of the season, whether that’s the team who wins the league, those who make the playoffs, those relegated, or even the player to finish as top scorer. These bets can be the most exciting, gathering momentum throughout the course of the season. A goal in the last minute on the final day can make all the difference!

Live Betting

Betting on Championship football while a match is in progress is always a thrill. As the cliché goes, anything can happen in football, and live betting is the best way to capitalise on fluctuating odds and the unfettered drama of the Championship. 

Live betting often rewards punters for watching the match, where you can study the pattern of the game—as well as the form and temperament of the players—to gain an informed opinion on what might happen next. The away side is a goal down, but they’re banging on the door; do you fancy them to turn it around in the last ten minutes? Meanwhile, a known hothead is testing the referee’s patience. Is he about to get sent off? Live betting allows you to stay finely tuned to the balance of play, giving you a better chance to cash in on bigger potential winnings.

Live Streaming

The very best Championship betting sites allow gamblers to live stream the match, where you can watch the action taking place. Other betting sites deploy a streaming feature akin to a game on Football Manager, with player avatars moving around a virtual pitch as the commentary bar keeps you informed on what’s happening. Both of these options represent an excellent live betting experience and are a big selling point for the top bookies.

Cashing Out

Are you beginning to feel nervous about your bet? Or has it gone exactly as you planned? Either way, cashing out might be the option for you. It’s a feature that allows players to take any potential winnings away from a bet that’s still in play, with the amount based on the likelihood of your bet coming off. For example, you’ve got the home side down to win, but they look like they’re about to throw away their lead in the final minutes – it might be worth hitting the cash out button.

Accumulators

An accumulator bet, known affectionately as an ‘acca’, is a bet format with high risks and even higher rewards. Accumulators combine the results of multiple bets into one overall wager. The odds of each individual component of the acca are multiplied together, meaning that the potential winnings, even from a very low stake bet, can be far higher than standard match betting odds. However, in order to win an accumulator, every component of the bet must come off. The cash out option can come in very handy here.

Specials and Promotions

Competition between betting sites is good news for the customer, as it means that special promotional offers are frequently made available in an attempt to entice people towards one site and away from a direct competitor. You’ll often see these special offers being advertised—Ray Winstone comes to mind—and they can take many different forms. For example, you might be offered your money back if a particular player scores first, or if, say, five of your six accumulator bets come through via acca insurance.

Bonus Offers

As well as the types of promotions mentioned above, all football betting sites also offer a variety of additional bonuses to new members. Let’s take a look at some of the most commonly offered bonuses.

Matched Deposit Bonuses

You’ll see matched deposit bonuses on offer at most bookies, which involve a matched deposit by the bookie up to a certain set amount. For example, if you’re offered 100% up to £100, any deposit you make up to that figure will be matched in its entirety by the bookmaker. Keep in mind that wagering requirements will most likely apply, meaning you’ll need to bet a certain number of times in order to access any winnings connected to the bonus.

Free Bets

Bookmakers might offer free bets to both new and existing customers, usually dependent on a set minimum bet amount. This will look something like an offer of £50 in free bets when you deposit £20 into your account. As always, make sure you read the terms and conditions attached. 

Enhanced Odds

When a bookie is feeling particularly generous, or if they’re looking to outmuscle the competition, they’ll offer customers enhanced odds. This is an artificial way of boosting normal odds to attract a significant number of bets. With enhanced odds, you might be in line for a decent payout, even if you’ve picked the favourite to win a match, so make sure you’re on the lookout for these.

Mobile Betting

Now that we’re connected 24/7, betting on-the-go has never been more accessible – either by logging onto your bookie’s website via the browser on your phone or tablet or by downloading their dedicated smartphone app. At TopRatedBetting, we always recommend the latter if it’s available to you. Betting apps not only offer the slickest functionality, which is crucial for in-play gamblers when time is of the essence, but push notifications are the best way to keep abreast of promotional offers and betting bonuses. Take advantage of the mobile revolution and never miss a beat when it comes to Championship betting.

Championship Betting Tips

With 24 teams all capable of beating each other, betting on the Championship is never easy. There are plenty of football betting tips sites around, all offering valuable recommendations, but these sites are rarely a suitable substitute to your own research. Football betting—and especially Championship betting—has a knack for rewarding your own instincts as a football fan. Keep your bets educated by tracking the form of teams and players in question before placing your bet, and remember there are no guarantees with gambling, so always bet within your limits.