The UK Gambling Industry has been on the charge for many years, and it’s still rapidly growing today. But this is no surprise. The industry provide gamblers with several ways to win, as well as different odds and potential winning.

Gambling companies have been among the winners of the pandemic as people have looked for a distraction from the boredom of repeated lockdowns. While there has been pressure from the cancellation of sporting events and closure of casinos and betting shops, this has been tempered by consumers flocking to online and mobile betting.

Online gambling was already on the rise pre-pandemic as the smartphone era has, effectively, put a casino in everyone’s pockets. But growth has been turbocharged over the past year, and this has been reflected in the momentum of many UK gambling stocks. For example, 888 Holdings’ (888) share price is almost 150 per cent higher than at the start of last year.

And for Ladbrokes-owner Entain (ENT) – formerly known as GVC – profits from its online businesses jumped by 50 per cent to £804m.

Sports betting and app development

One of the biggest steps forward in the world of mobile devices was the development of mobile apps. These allowed customers to easily access a wide range of services on their mobile device, with just the ability to connect to the internet as a requirement.

The introduction and rapid increase in quality of mobile apps lead to a huge number of consumers moving away from traditional brick and mortar sports betting and towards using an online portal thereby increasing the number of online players exponentially.

Sports betting apps have opened up new markets to a huge number of players over the last few years. One of the main ones is in-play betting. This particular type of betting was never hugely popular at brick and mortar sportsbooks, purely because the logistics of it made it difficult to carry out on a large scale.

Sports betting apps remove this issue and as such in-play betting has become one of the most popular methods of placing a wager on a sports game. Developments like games being shown inside the app means that inplay betting is easier and more interactive than ever before. This only helps to continue the rise of sports betting in the modern world.

Sports-Specific Betting Guides by Best Of Bets

Serious about betting smarter across different sports but short on time. This expert guide expands your playbook with practical, sport-by-sport tactics you can use today.

Our analysts focus on value, price sensitivity and proven selection methods, not hype. Where you choose to play matters too, so compare trusted UK-licensed bookmakers and casinos via our site’s links and banners, 18+ only.

How to bet smarter across popular UK sports

Start with the basics for every sport: bankroll discipline, understanding core markets, and reading team or player news in context. Then layer on data, situational angles and shop the price across the partners we list to secure the best available odds.

You should never chase losses, treat betting as income, or assume that past wins guarantee future results. If you decide to place a bet, use our partners’ safer gambling tools and only stake what you can afford to lose, 18+ only.

Football betting guide for UK and global leagues

Football is price-driven and news-sensitive, so timing and team information are critical. Use our daily previews and odds comparisons to find accessible value rather than short prices that rely on multiple things going right.

Core football markets and pricing explained

Match Result, Draw No Bet, Double Chance and Both Teams To Score are the backbone markets, with Asian Handicaps and Goal Lines used to manage risk. Fractional prices convert to implied probabilities, helping you judge if an odds move represents genuine value or public bias.

Data-led strategies for match and player props

Build selections from shots, xG, touches and set-piece metrics adjusted for opponent strength and schedule congestion. For player props, check role changes, tactical tweaks and minutes projections before stepping in at any price.

In-play tactics, cash out and bet builders

In-play angles should be pre-planned, not improvised, using live shot maps, pressure metrics and game state scenarios. Use bet builders sparingly and price-check components across our recommended firms, and only consider cash out when it improves your long-term expected value.

Horse racing betting guide for UK punters

Racing rewards preparation and patience, with going, pace and trainer intent crucial to your read of a race. Focus on prices, each-way terms and place concessions from UK-licensed bookmakers featured on our site.

Understanding race cards, going and pace maps

Read official ratings, weight, class moves and recent sectionals alongside the going to anticipate which runners are advantaged. Pace maps help you visualise race shape, identifying front-runners with soft leads or closers suited by likely burn-ups.

Each-way terms, Rule 4 and Best Odds Guaranteed

Each-way value depends on place terms relative to field size and price, not just your fancy’s chance of winning. Check Rule 4 deductions and whether Best Odds Guaranteed applies with the bookmakers we feature, as terms vary.

Festival strategies for Cheltenham and Aintree

At big meetings, beat the herd by playing early on strong views when you trust the ground and field shape, and late when the market overreacts to hype. Consider place-heavy each-way stances in large handicaps and keep stakes sized for higher variance.

Tennis betting guide across tours and slams

Tennis is a one-on-one pricing puzzle shaped by surface, scheduling and fitness. Treat momentum with care, prioritising underlying serve and return performance and travel fatigue over short-term streaks.

Surface, scheduling and player fatigue factors

Players carry surface preferences that move prices meaningfully, especially on clay and grass. Fold in travel, back-to-backs and medical timeouts to gauge whether performance can sustain across the event.

Markets: set betting, breaks and tie-breaks

Set betting and total games markets reward accurate reads on serve dominance or fragility. Break markets and tie-break props are sensitive to player return numbers, clutch performance and indoor versus outdoor conditions.

Live trading principles for point-by-point plays

In-play tennis should be guided by hold/break projections and how players are winning points, not just the scoreboard. Avoid reactive chasing after double faults or medical breaks unless the data and body language support a sustained shift.

Cricket betting guide for Tests and T20s

Formats matter more in cricket than almost any sport, so tailor your approach to red-ball rhythm or T20 volatility. Use our partner sites to price-shop wickets, runs and boundaries markets for incremental edges.

Formats, weather and toss impact on prices

In Tests, weather forecasts and pitch deterioration drive price action across days, while in T20 the toss can swing totals and chase bias. Build your plan around conditions rather than team names or form alone.

Top markets across runs, wickets and boundaries

Player runs and sixes markets demand ground-size context and batting order certainty, and wicket markets depend on swing, seam and spin expectation. For team totals, align stake sizing with powerplay indicators and death-overs composition.

In-play strategies for momentum and pressure

Monitor required run rate, wickets in hand and match-ups such as left-right combos against certain bowlers. When pressure spikes in chases, be cautious with short-priced favourites and seek better entries after key overs.

Golf betting guide for tours and major events

Golf prices move on course fit, wind models and recent ball-striking more than finishing positions. Diversify between outrights, each-way, top finishes and match-ups to spread variance over four days.

Course fit, strokes gained and weather splits

Lean on strokes gained profiles that match the course’s demands, whether distance, accuracy or short game. Weather splits and tee-time waves can create meaningful pre-event edges, especially at exposed venues.

Outright, each-way and round-by-round markets

Each-way terms differ by firm and field, so compare offers via our links before you bet, 18+. Round-by-round markets are ideal for form within the event, where tee-time, pin positions and confidence can be priced faster than results.

Bankroll pacing across four-day golf markets

Outrights require smaller stakes and patience, while match-ups and top-20s smooth drawdowns. Record every selection and hold a consistent unit size to avoid staking spikes during hot or cold spells.

Rugby union and league betting guide essentials

Rugby pricing revolves around set-piece quality, territory and discipline more than highlight tries. Handicaps and totals can move fast on team news, travel and weather, so time your bets thoughtfully.

Handicap lines, totals and card markets basics

Start with scrum and line-out indicators, tactical kicking and penalty rates to inform handicaps and totals. Card markets require careful reading of team discipline and referee tendencies, never a presumption of chaos.

Team news, travel and weather as key inputs

Late changes at fly-half or hooker can swing expected value more than headline stars in space. Long trips and wet conditions compress totals and can tilt underdog handicaps into value zones.

Refereeing trends and discipline market edges

Referee profiles influence breakdown interpretations, advantage, and card thresholds. Build a simple pre-match matrix combining referee, discipline data and conditions before touching cards or penalty props.

Darts and snooker betting guide for UK fans

Both sports reward calm reads of finishing under pressure and consistency over raw brilliance. Track form lines through averages, checkouts or long-pot success, and price-check across our listed partners.

Checkouts, legs and frame betting explained

In darts, legs and checkout markets favour players with reliable setup accuracy rather than streaky brilliance. In snooker, frame markets lean on safety success and long-pot control, especially in slower tables.

Form lines, averages and matchplay psychology

Look beyond headline averages to doubling percentages in darts and safety success in snooker. Matchplay temperament and stage experience often separate near-equals, but prices should still dictate your stake.

Tournament formats and scheduling nuances

Short-form matches amplify variance, so consider smaller stakes and more conservative angles. Back-to-backs or late finishes can subtly affect early sessions the next day, especially for marginal favourites.

Building a sustainable staking plan and record

A clear staking plan and honest record-keeping turn insight into longevity. Decide your unit size, set limits and stick to it regardless of short-term outcomes.

Bankroll sizing, staking models and tracking

Fix your bankroll for the month or season, define a unit as 0.5–2% and avoid impulsive increases. Track closing prices, edges and results by sport to learn where your approach actually works.

Variance management and realistic targets

Expect losing runs and avoid recency bias by reviewing process, not just profit. Set realistic goals like beating the closing line or securing top-of-market odds with our partner firms.

Responsible gambling guidance and 18+ notice

Only adults aged 18+ may bet in the UK, and gambling should never be seen as a solution to financial or personal problems. Use deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion tools offered by our recommended UK-licensed operators, and seek help if betting stops being fun.

Where to find trusted offers and expert picks

Best Of Bets compares welcome bonuses, odds boosts and ongoing promos from UK-licensed brands we review objectively. Use the banners and links on this page to access eligible offers with clear terms and time limits, 18+ only.

Compare bonuses with our links and banners

Different bookmakers lead on specific sports, markets and each-way terms, so price-shop before you commit. Click through our affiliate links to view current offers and promotions from trusted UK operators we feature.

How we review bookmakers and betting sites

We assess licensing, market depth, pricing, app performance, safer gambling tools and customer service before we recommend a site. That means you can focus on finding value, while we focus on trust and product quality.

Daily tips, previews and subscriber benefits

Our editorial team publishes data-led previews and tips for the day’s key events across football, racing, tennis, cricket and more. Subscribe to stay ahead of price moves, and use our site’s links to secure enhanced odds when available, 18+.

Final word on safer, smarter sports betting

Stick to a plan, stay price-sensitive and use sport-specific edges rather than emotion. If you choose to bet, do it responsibly, keep it fun and take advantage of our partners’ safer gambling tools and exclusive offers, 18+ only.Please gamble responsible – online gambling is for 18+ aged adults only. Please review the terms of the online casinos and bookmakers we advertise here on our site.
What is Best Of Bets and what does this guide cover?

Best Of Bets’ Sports-Specific Betting Guides give UK punters practical, value-led tips and bookmaker comparisons across football, horse racing, tennis, cricket, golf, rugby, darts and snooker.

How can I bet smarter across different UK sports?

Bet smarter by setting a fixed bankroll, understanding core markets and team/player news, then layering data and shopping prices across our trusted UK-licensed partners for the best odds.

Which football betting markets do you explain and how do you find value?

We explain Match Result, Draw No Bet, Double Chance, Both Teams To Score, Asian Handicaps and Goal Lines, and show how timing, team news and implied probabilities reveal value.

What key horse racing factors and terms do you break down?

We teach how to read race cards, going and pace maps, evaluate each-way terms, account for Rule 4 and Best Odds Guaranteed, and plan festival plays for Cheltenham and Aintree.

Which tennis metrics and markets should I prioritise?

Prioritise surface, scheduling and fatigue alongside serve/return numbers, using set betting, total games and tie-break markets with disciplined in-play principles.

How does your cricket advice differ for Tests and T20s?

Our cricket guide separates red-ball and T20 tactics, weighing weather, pitch and toss impact, key markets for runs/wickets/boundaries, and in-play reads on required rate and wickets in hand.

What are your core golf betting strategies?

Focus on course fit and strokes gained with weather splits, diversify between outrights, each-ways, top finishes and match-ups, and pace your bankroll over four rounds.

Do you cover in-play tactics, bet builders and cash out?

Yes—plan in-play bets using live metrics and game state, price-check bet builder components across recommended firms, and only consider cash out when it improves long-term expected value.

How does Best Of Bets review and compare UK bookmakers and casinos?

We review sites for UK licensing, market depth, pricing, app quality, safer gambling tools and support, then link via our banners to transparent, time-limited offers and promos (18+).

What responsible gambling support do you recommend?

Only bet what you can afford to lose, never chase losses, use deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion with UK-licensed operators, and remember betting is for adults 18+ in the UK.