Gambling.com Rating: 8.6/10
Our Verdict: Unique promotions and games help Ladbrokes stand out from the crowd, but there's room for improvement in some areas.
Ladbrokes has a big reputation thanks to many years in operation both online and as a high-street bookmaker.
This bookie has often been at the forefront of betting innovation, and this was evident when I tested the site, with several unique promotions I haven’t seen offered elsewhere.
In particular, the range of existing customer offers and free-to-play games has impressed me.
However, the betting app isn't the best I've ever used, as it occasionally lags when searching for markets and I sometimes struggle to find my bet.
Overall though, Ladbrokes is up there with some of the UK’s best betting sites.
Category | Score | Reasoning |
---|---|---|
Sports & Markets | 9/10 | Lots of markets available, including for less popular sports. |
Promotions | 9/10 | Unique promotions for existing customers and valuable welcome offer. |
Payments | 8/10 | Not too many options, but supports the most popular methods. |
Customer Support | 8/10 | Quick responses over social media and live chat. |
Reputation | 9/10 | One of the UK's longest-operating bookmakers. |
User Experience | 8/10 | Slightly complicated site layout at first glance. |
Mobile Platform | 7/10 | Decent betting app but should load quicker. |
Responsible Gambling | 10/10 | Variety of responsible gambling tools for all customers. |
Live In-Play Betting | 9/10 | In-play boosts and live streams available across 10+ sports. |
Value of Odds | 9/10 | Up there with the best prices (boosts add extra value). |
Gambling.com Rating: 8.6/10
Find out more about how we rate betting sites.
Ladbrokes offers £25 in free bets to new customers who deposit and bet £5.
It's nice to get your free bets without risking much money, as most offers require a bigger outlay to trigger the bonus.
The Ladbrokes offer gave me five free bets worth £5 each and I had a nice degree of choice with my bets.
Four of my free bets were available to use on any sport, with one £5 free bet left to use on the EFL, which encouraged me to bet on a market I wouldn’t usually consider.
Bookmaker | Qualifying Bet | Free Bet Bonus |
---|---|---|
Bet £5 | Get £25 | |
Bet £10 | Get £40 | |
Bet £5-10 | Get £15-30 | |
Bet £10 | Get £30 | |
Bet £10 | Get £50 |
For me, Ladbrokes has some of the most interesting existing customer offers of any bookie in the UK.
The promotions cover a range of different sports and there are free-to-play games with daily prizes.
Promotion | Description |
---|---|
1. Fanzone | Special offers for your favourite Premier League team. |
2. 1-2-Free | Guess 3 football scores correctly to win up to £100 in cash. |
3. Best Odds Guaranteed | Best odds guaranteed from 8am for horse racing and greyhounds. |
4. 2-Up & Win | Bet settled as a winner if your teams goes 2 goals up. |
5. Daily Odds Boosts | Boost a bet of your choice once per day. |
Ladbrokes offers horse racing betting markets on all races across the UK and Ireland, as well as a host of international meets.
Best odds guaranteed kicks in from 8am every day, so you can guarantee the top odds on your selection if the starting price ends up being bigger.
Ladbrokes also has extra place offers for each-way bets, which apply to races across major UK meetings throughout the year.
If you’re a fan of the placepot, this is one of the few sites offering this Tote bet.
Each day, there is a guaranteed £100,000 to be won if you can predict a horse to place in six races.
Ladbrokes lags behind competitors like BetGoodwin when it comes to money-back specials for racing.
“I like trying my luck at the placepot, so a £100,000 guaranteed daily placepot is a big plus.”
Alongside horse racing, Ladbrokes places a major emphasis on football betting.
On the football landing page, I always find numerous price boosts for live games and upcoming matches.
One of my favourite promos at Ladbrokes is the '1-2-Free' game, where you're tasked with guessing the correct score in three matches.
I'm yet to predict all three correctly, but I landed a £5 free bet for getting two right, and a £1 free bet on the couple of occasions where I predicted one score correctly. The best thing about this game is that - as the name suggests - it's completely free to play.
There's also the 'Fanzone' promotion, where I picked my favourite Premier League team and got special fan prices, odds boosts and team news alerts.
Like BoyleSports and bet365, Ladbrokes pays match winner bets out early if your team goes two goals ahead.
Just be aware that the BoyleSports early payout deal applies to more matches than the equivalent offer from Ladbrokes.
“1-2-Free keeps me regularly coming back to Ladbrokes, in the hope of winning that £100 prize."
Ladbrokes offers more enhanced prices for cricket than most other cricket betting sites.
The odds here are generally very competitive and there's a decent range of cricket markets to bet on.
For example, IPL matches come with an average of 47 pre-game markets.
You won't find cricket live streams at Ladbrokes - sites like Spreadex, bet365 and Unibet are better options if you want to watch the cricket while you bet.
“I always look for value well in advance of The Ashes series, so early outright markets are a big bonus at Ladbrokes.”
Tennis is one of the sports given priority at Ladbrokes and has pride of place in the navigation menu at the top of the homepage.
Live streams and lots of in-play markets are offered for even the smallest events in men’s and women’s professional tennis.
Some other tennis betting sites have live streams, but not as many as you'll find at Ladbrokes.
There aren't too many unique tennis promos to choose from, but an odds boost can used once per day on a tennis bet of your choice.
Ladbrokes rates as a decent golf betting option, with all the big tournaments and major championships covered by a wide range of markets and value odds.
There's also a range of special markets available year-round, where I can bet on performances over the course of a season (Rory McIlroy over/under major wins, for example).
The number of each-way placers paid by Ladbrokes has increased in recent years.
When betting on The Masters, for example, up to 10 places are paid - which is more than sites like William Hill and Betway offer.
There are no live golf streams, but this is the case for nearly all golf betting sites, so I can’t knock Ladbrokes too much there.
Outside of the best rugby betting sites, online bookmakers are often found wanting when it comes to rugby.
At Ladbrokes, I've been able to bet on a player to score and his team to win, or on a team to win both halves.
These markets might seem basic to football bettors, but Ladbrokes has gone the extra mile to make them available for rugby punters.
Another nice touch here is the statistical view you see when you click through to bet on a game. I find the player and team stats useful for researching my bets.
Snooker is one of the sports you can stream live at Ladbrokes and I was pleased to see that streams cover the biggest competitions, like the World Championship.
When betting on snooker in-play, I came across a wider range of markets than I expected, most of which are eligible for cash out.
These live snooker betting features make this one of the best snooker betting sites in the UK.
Ladbrokes doesn’t quite match up to the likes of BetMGM when it comes to darts markets and odds.
That said, I found that at least a dozen darts betting markets had boosted odds on an average night of Premier League Darts.
Enhanced prices often apply to matches involving the biggest names in the sport, like Luke Littler and Michael Van Gerwen.
Ladbrokes focuses solely on UFC betting with its MMA section, which is disappointing, considering other sites offer markets for Bellator and other mixed martial arts promotions.
I also found that UFC markets lacked depth, even when fight night was only a couple of nights away.
It's a different story with boxing betting - the offering is a lot more comprehensive.
Big boxing bouts feature markets like round betting, method of victory, round group betting and 'Down But Not Out' (fighter to come back and win after being knocked down).
Overall, Ladbrokes lacks promotions and features for combat sports, with bet365 doing a better job in this regard.
Ladbrokes has betting markets for 38 different sports in total, including extensive markets for American leagues like the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB.
I was particularly impressed by the basketball betting service here, with live streams available for the majority of NBA games alongside nearly every market I could think of. Unfortunately, you can't watch live streams of other US sports leagues.
Greyhound racing is another sport that deserves a mention when reviewing Ladbrokes.
All big greyhound races from the UK are streamed live, while best odds guaranteed works in the same way it does for horse racing.
If you’re a fan of a novelty bet, Ladbrokes is one of the better options out there, with markets for contests like the Eurovision and Britain's Got Talent, alongside movie specials like Next James Bond.
When betting at Ladbrokes, I noticed that the value of the odds (compared to rival bookmakers) varied a lot depending on the sport.
For this reason, I conducted some in-depth research into the odds for a few different sports.
I found that the prices for UK favourites like football and horse racing usually matched, or even beat, the best of the competition (bookmakers like BetVictor and William Hill).
However, for US sports, I've found better odds with companies that have an American site as well as a UK one - the likes of BetMGM.
The depth of markets also varies a lot by sport and event profile. As mentioned earlier, sports like MMA lack markets, while on the flipside, sports like tennis and football have every angle covered.
Ladbrokes has a football bet builder but it’s not the best same-game acca I’ve ever used.
Unfortunately, the tool only covers one sport, even if it is available for an impressive range of football matches.
I could combine up to 14 selections for my bet builder, which is more than most sites allow, as you'll see from the comparison table below.
However, until Ladbrokes rolls the bet builder out to more sports, it will continue to lag behind in this area.
Bookmaker | Maximum Selections | Sports Available |
---|---|---|
Up to 14 | Football Only | |
Up to 12 | 14 Sports in Total | |
Up to 5 | Football Only | |
Up to 8 | 3 Sports in Total | |
Up to 12 | 6 Sports in Total | |
Up to 12 | 5 Sports in Total |
Ladbrokes makes in-play betting easily accessible from the homepage and it’s clear why they want to show off the live betting section.
I've watched football, horse racing, tennis, snooker, basketball and greyhound racing on the Ladbrokes site, with streams performing well in a pop-up window.
In order to watch live sports, you need to have a funded account, or to have placed a bet within the last 24 hours.
When I wanted to cash out a live bet, Ladbrokes had a few different options.
You can simply cash out for the price offered by the bookie, or you can take a partial cash out, which allows you to claim some cash back while leaving the rest of your stake running.
The range of in-play markets is just as impressive as the pre-event offering at Ladbrokes, in fact sometimes there are more betting options when an event is in-play.
When live streams aren't available, you can find live updates and in-depth match statistics to help with betting in-play.
Initially, the Ladbrokes site design can be slightly confusing, especially for those new to betting.
But after taking a few minutes to get used to the layout, I found it easy to access what I was looking for.
The most popular sections - like promotions or in-play betting odds - are available on the top navigation menu, with a sidebar where you can find each sport.
The homepage also offers quick access to any upcoming events, such as races or football matches.
The promotions page could be designed slightly better. The terms of each offer aren’t immediately visible, so some users might miss offers they'd be interested in.
Another little quirk is that you sometimes have to toggle to 'Future' to find events that are coming up in the next few days.
It's an extra step that most bookies don't require - usually you expect to see the odds straight away when you click into a sport or competition.
Payment Method | Minimum Deposit | Average Withdrawal Time |
---|---|---|
Bank Transfer | £5 | 2-5 Banking Days |
Debit Cards | £5 | 1-3 Banking Days |
PayPal | £10 | Within 8 Hours |
PaysafeCard | £5 | Within 8 Hours |
I enjoyed using the Ladbrokes betting app on both iOS and Android, but I did find one or two issues.
In my experience, the app was a little slower to load on both devices than I would have liked.
However, user reviews on app stores are mostly favourable, with a 4.7/5 average user rating on the Apple App Store and a 4.4/5 rating on Google Play.
One thing I really liked about the app was the push notifications. These were particularly useful during the Cheltenham Festival, when I was alerted to free bets waiting for me in my account.
I've tested several ways to contact Ladbrokes customer service, and found that social media is their recommended and most effective channel.
In particular, X.com (formerly Twitter) provided the quickest responses - Ladbrokes claims an average reply time of around five minutes, which matched my own experience.
While there is also a live chat option available, it's only active during certain hours, much like their phone support.
For less urgent queries, Ladbrokes has an email contact address, though I found email response times to be considerably slower compared to other methods.
Channel | Availability | My Experience |
---|---|---|
Social Media Messages | 24/7 | Quick responses within 5 minutes. |
Live Chat | 9am-9pm | Slighty slower than using social media. |
24/7 | Longer response times than social or live chat. | |
Phone | 9am-9pm | Easier way to explain more complex issues if they arise. |
Ladbrokes clearly takes responsible gambling seriously and offers a variety of tools for those who need them.
I found the list of responsible gambling tools under ‘Gambling Controls’ in my account menu and was impressed by how many options there were.
I was also able to apply controls as soon as I opened my account, such as limiting my maximum deposits.
Here are all the tools I found at Ladbrokes that promote responsible play:
Ladbrokes remains one of the big names in UK betting - and it’s easy to see why.
With an impressive range of markets and highly competitive odds, this bookmaker offers something to suit most punters.
The commitment to innovation is clear, with features like live streaming and a stream of unique promotions keeping the experience fresh and engaging.
That said, I'd like the mobile experience to be improved, particularly with quicker loading times for the app.
I'd also like a bet builder that can be used on sports other than football.
Even so, thanks to the quality of promotions and regular odds boosts available, Ladbrokes is a recommended choice for anyone seeking value and variety.
Ladbrokes is owned by Entain plc, one of the world’s largest sports betting and gaming groups. Entain, formerly known as GVC Holdings, acquired Ladbrokes Coral Group in 2018. The company operates numerous well-known brands globally and is listed on the London Stock Exchange as part of the FTSE 100 index.
Yes, Ladbrokes is a completely safe and fully regulated online betting site, with licensing from the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. Ladbrokes uses SSL encryption on its site, which means your data will always be safe and secure.
Withdrawal times at Ladbrokes vary depending on your chosen payment method. Bank transfers can take up to five working days to process, while debit card withdrawals can take 1-3 days. However, if you use an e-wallet like PayPal or PaysafeCard, then you can expect your withdrawal within eight hours.
Ladbrokes customer service can be contacted in a few different ways. Social media platforms are recommended for the quickest response, although you could also use the live chat feature on the website, send an email or ring a customer service agent on 0800 731 6191.
Yes, Ladbrokes offers free bets to both new and existing customers. New customers can claim £25 worth of free bets when they place a £5 bet, with existing customers able to claim a variety of regular offers, as well as specialised promotions ahead of big sporting events.
Game | % of stake contributing to Wagering Requirements |
---|---|
Slots all types including jackpots (Excluding double up options) | 100% |
Arcade, Scratchcard Games and Fixed Odds Games | 100% |
Roulette (Excluding Keybet Roulette) | 20%* |
Craps | 20% |
Blackjack (excluding Blackjack Cashback) & Poker | 10% |
Baccarat (all variations) | 10% |
Pontoon, Red Dog, Spin A Win/Lucky Wheel, Casino War | 5% |
Casino Hold'em, Wild Vikings, Let Them Ride | 5% |
Stravaganza, Blackjack Switch, Pai Gow Poker | 5% |
Blackjack Surrender, Lucky Blackjack | 5% |