888 Sports Review - 8.9/10

888 Sport has been in the bookmaking business since 1997. Due to a number of highly visible advertising campaigns, competitive pricing and several betting promotions, 888 has established itself as one of the forerunners in the UK sportsbook market.

Software and general usabaility

The software here is provided by Orbis Technology, which many of you won’t have heard of. However, it’s as intuitive as you’d expect and newcomers shouldn’t have a problem navigating between different sports, markets, promotions and bet types.

There’s bar down the left hand side of the homepage that clearly displays each sport and the various markets for each one. On the right hand side of the page is a list of promotions and any special bets currently being offered, as well as a list of upcoming live events for in-play betting enthusiasts.

Odds prices

888 Sport took an early course to find its place in the market by lowering its odds. This is still true today; prices across the board will generally be towards the lower end of the market – a quick check on an odds comparison website will clearly show this.

Betting options

There’s a decent array of sports coverage here; all the other major sports feature a wealth of markets across global leagues and events. There is a slightly disappointing lack of attention to some minor sports but, as you’d expect from a shrewd operator, 888 offers what the vast majority of punters are after.

Expect domestic competitions from around the world in sports such as football and cricket, while you’ll also find an array of interesting and slightly unusual markets across the board. Alongside standard win/lose/draw options, you’ll find plenty of alternative options to benefit from if you think you’ve found a line on something.  As far as wage size is concerned, punters are pretty much entitled to bet as little or as much as they wish.

In-running and mobile options

888 was slow to join the mobile ranks, but since it has done there’s plenty to get excited about. The range of sports covered is pretty much unmatched by rivals and, whether you’re after international, regional or domestic events, you’re likely to be able to find a price on them.

The service is compatible with iPhones and iPads, though if you have a working web browser on your phone then you should be able to access it from anywhere. There are plenty of great promotions on offer as well, while a personalised interface allows users to more quickly access their preferred sports or markets.

The in-running service on the website, however, is where 888 Sport falls slightly behind its rivals. The markets here are relatively limited compared to competitors, while there isn’t commentary on even the site’s biggest markets – football and UK horseracing.

Promotions and loyalty program

888 Sport goes above and beyond most other online sportsbooks when it comes to promotions and, in particular, loyalty schemes. Customers will receive a free matched bet on their first punt, while you can also expect a number of free bets whenever a significant betting event comes around.

What’s more, returning users will find themselves the beneficiaries of cashback initiatives with ongoing bets, more free bets and a host of competitions, games and quizzes with big-money prizes.

Support and security

In terms of support, there’s an excellent FAQs page on the website itself that should be able to answer the vast majority of customer inquiries. If not, then a dedicated team of support staff are on call 24/7 via email or phone to lend a hand.

As you’d expect, there’s also an extensive array of deposit and withdrawal options here, including credit and debit card transactions, Neteller, Paypoint, Western Union and PayPal.

888 claims to use the most advanced online security and encryption technologies available and, as such, is not only listed on the London Stock Exchange but also holds all the requisite SSL and PGP certificates to assure customers that their details and transactions are entirely secure.