Gambling.com Rating: 7.7/10
Our Verdict: A bookmaker with a range of live streams and plenty of markets to choose from - but more offers would make this site better.
When I signed up and tested Lucky Mate on desktop and mobile, what struck me was the emphasis on live viewing: I could stream sports like horse racing, greyhound racing and basketball while placing bets.
I haven't seen many sites with more markets to bet on either, particularly for football, where even smaller games come with hundreds of betting options.
If you're new to online betting, you shouldn't have much trouble navigating this site. Everything is easily accessible from the homepage and a search function allows me to find any market I want to bet on with ease.
On the downside, sports-focused bonuses are scarce. Compared with the biggest names in betting like bet365 or Betfred, Lucky Mate doesn’t have as many ongoing offers.
Overall, though, Lucky Mate stands out among betting sites in the UK for live streaming and usability.
Category | Score | Reasoning |
---|---|---|
Sports & Markets | 8/10 | 40+ sports covered with lots of racing, football and Esports options. |
Promotions | 6/10 | Casino offers only at present - no free bets for sports bettors. |
Payments | 8/10 | Core UK payment methods available; withdrawals take 1–5 days. |
Customer Support | 8/10 | 24/7 live chat and responsive email, no phone line. |
Reputation | 7/10 | Relatively new to the UK but fully licensed and regulated. |
User Experience | 8/10 | Clean design, fast navigation, integrated streams. |
Mobile Platform | 7/10 | Browser experience strong but no native mobile app. |
Responsible Gambling | 8/10 | All UK Gambling Commission-required tools easily accessed. |
Live In-Play Betting | 8/10 | Packed live betting hub with streams and cash out options. |
Value of Odds | 8/10 | Fair odds; competitive in comparisons with major bookmakers. |
Gambling.com Rating: 7.7/10 (Recommended)
Find out more about how we rate betting sites.
When I signed up, the only live bonus was on the casino side: a simple deposit £10 with code MATE50 to unlock 50 free spins on Big Bass Splash, with no wagering requirements on winnings.
It worked smoothly, but there was no equivalent UK free bet offer for sports bettors.
If you’re primarily joining for free sports bets, Lucky Mate falls behind its rivals right now. Hopefully a sports welcome offer is added soon.
Bookmaker | Qualifying Bet | Free Bet Bonus |
---|---|---|
Deposit £10 | 50 Casino Free Spins | |
Bet £10 | Get £50 | |
Bet £10 | Get £30 | |
Bet £5 | Get £20 | |
Bet £5 | Get £25 |
Lucky Mate offers betting odds for more than 40 sports.
Football, horse racing, tennis, basketball, rugby, and cricket all come with an impressive range of betting markets.
Taking a Premier League football match as an example, I counted 352 markets for one fixture. Bet builders can be placed on all football games as well.
This is also one of the best Esports betting sites, with odds for dozens of competitive video games including Valorant, Counter-Strike, Overwatch, Call of Duty and Rainbow Six.
Horse and greyhound racing are particular highlights because you can watch races live. All the big horse races from the UK, Ireland and the USA come with live streams, for example.
It's rare for a relatively new site to compete with the best greyhound betting sites when it comes to live streaming, but Lucky Mate delivers here.
Overall, the breadth and accessibility of markets is strong, even if promotions don’t quite match the coverage.
The in-play betting hub feels polished. Odds refresh quickly and cash out is available on many markets.
Outside of racing, other sports like basketball can also be streamed, although mainly niche European leagues rather than the NBA.
When you click through to the in-play hub, I recommend looking out for the 'Streaming' button, which you can toggle on to see events that can be streamed live.
When there's no stream, live updates aren't always available, which is something that could be improved.
Sites like bet365 are more reliable for live updates with 2D pitch graphics and game statistics.
Lucky Mate follows a dark green theme, with everything laid out clearly on the homepage.
While the lack of sports promos is a bit of a negative, the upside is that there are no distracting banners when you just want to get a bet on.
I found it very easy to locate markets - it usually takes just a couple of clicks, or I could use the search bar function to search for a team, player, or competition to bet on.
Horse racing gets its own section, which sits in a different part of the site to other sports. Races are laid out neatly and the odds load quickly.
Some other little UX touches I enjoy:
Payment Method | Minimum Deposit | Average Withdrawal Time |
---|---|---|
Visa Debit | £10 | 2–5 working days |
Mastercard Debit | £10 | 2–5 working days |
Skrill | £10 | 1–3 working days |
Neteller | £10 | 1–3 working days |
Apple Pay (deposit only) | £10 | – |
Google Pay (deposit only) | £10 | – |
Paysafecard (deposit only) | £10 | – |
Bank Transfer (withdrawals) | n/a | 3–5 working days |
Lucky Mate doesn’t yet have a dedicated iOS or Android app.
Instead, I use the mobile-optimised site, which works smoothly on both Safari and Chrome.
Streams load cleanly, and navigation is well-suited to one-handed use. Pages load quickly, and I didn’t run into glitches or broken menus.
The lack of an app means no push notifications. But if you’re happy betting via browser, Lucky Mate’s site compares well with the best UK betting apps.
My evening test with live chat connected me in under two minutes, and the support was clear and helpful.
Email inquiries return same-day responses in my experience, although there's no phone assistance provided.
Channel | Availability | My Experience |
---|---|---|
Live Chat | 24/7 (reported) | Fast connection; polite & helpful |
support@luckymate.co.uk | Same-day reply |
A number of responsible gambling tools are available here to help keep things in check.
I was able to set deposit limits and reality checks within minutes of registering.
Time-out periods and full self-exclusion are also built in. These are the standard tools required under UK regulation, but it’s nonetheless positive to see them present.
Tools available:
I recommend Lucky Mate for betting, but with caveats.
Its main strengths are live streams, the range of markets to bet on, and user-friendly design.
For racing fans in particular, the ability to watch and bet on UK, Irish, and US races all in one place is a real draw.
Where Lucky Mate falls short is in promotions. Punters used to odds boosts or money-back offers will struggle to find equivalent deals here.
For those who prioritise live betting features and simplicity over flashy bonuses, Lucky Mate is an option worth considering.
Lucky Mate is operated by Anakatech Interactive Limited, a company licensed to provide online betting and gaming in the UK. While relatively new to the British market, Anakatech runs several other betting and gaming brands abroad, so it comes with an existing footprint and regulatory oversight.
Yes. Lucky Mate is fully licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, meaning it meets rules for fairness, player protection, and financial integrity. This includes safeguards like segregated customer funds, transparent terms, and mandatory responsible gambling tools. UK bettors can use the site knowing it operates under these legal obligations.
Withdrawal times vary by method. E-wallets like Skrill or Neteller typically complete within 1–3 working days, while debit card and bank transfer withdrawals usually take between 2–5 working days. It’s worth noting that account verification is required, so completing KYC checks early can help avoid unnecessary delays when withdrawing funds.
Customer support is accessible through live chat and email. In my experience, live chat agents respond quickly with clear answers, while email replies take several hours but are still same-day. There is no phone line listed, so digital contact methods are currently the main ways to reach the team.
At present, Lucky Mate doesn’t provide free sports bets. The current welcome deal is casino-based. While this may appeal to hybrid users who also enjoy slots, punters looking for sports-focused free bet offers may prefer other UK bookmakers.