With the introduction of so many internet based betting companies, there is something reassuring about dealing with such a traditional and trusted brand. For many years a leader on the high street, Ladbrokes have made a successful transition onto our computer screens. Offering a very generous £50 to new members and a heavy focus on promotions, Ladbrokes is a good solid choice and one of our favourite online sports betting sites.
What Markets Can I Bet On at Ladbrokes?
Ladbrokes have a great collection of sports that you can bet on, just about every sport you have heard of (and probably some you haven’t!) can be bet on. There are not many sports we have not had a flutter on at some point in our lives but shinty was one of them, so thank-you Ladbrokes for broadening our sporting knowledge!
One of the most common mistakes that many online bookmakers are guilty of is trying to cram too many markets in one place which makes finding a particular market difficult. Ladbrokes have a nice navigation style that avoids this clutter. On the main screen you have a horizontal toolbar which lists all the most popular markets such as football, horse racing, cricket, tennis, golf and rugby union. They also have buttons which take you directly to in-play and another for promotions.
If these are not the sports you are looking for then a quick press of the ‘A-Z Sports’ button brings a vertical ‘pop up’ menu at the right hand side of the screen, when you select a sport from that list, the main screen changes to bring up all coming events for that sport. This is a smart way of doing things and is something we like, the only slight grumble is that I wish the buttons had a bit of colour to make them stand out a bit more but this is more of a personal preference than a flaw.
List of Markets
- American Football
- Aussie Rules
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Beach football
- Beach Volleyball
- Boxing
- Chess
- Cricket
- Cycling
- Darts
- Football
- GAA
- Golf
- Greyhounds
- Horse Racing
- Ice Hockey
- MMA
- Motor Sports
- Poker
- Politics
- Royalty
- Rugby League
- Rugby Union
- Shinty
- Snooker
- Speedway
- Tennis
- TV events
- Virtual Sports
- Volleyball
What Type of Online Bet can I Place at Ladbrokes?
In the modern world of betting we truly are spoilt! It wasn’t that many years ago that the bets you could place on any sport were very limited indeed and often consisted of completing a pre-filled betting slip. Fast forward a few years and the range of bets is outstanding, there is very little you cannot bet on!
The types of bets very often depend on the popularity of the sport as well as the popularity of the competition. For example, a 3am football match in the Far East will likely have the betting options shown in the table below.
| 1st Goal Team | Win/Draw /Win | After X, who wins the rest |
| Handicap Betting | Both Teams to Score | Total Goals 0.5 |
| Total Goals 1.5 | Total Goals 2.5 | Total Goals 3.5 |
| 1st Half Win/Draw/Win | 1st Half 2nd Goal | 1st Half, After X who win the rest |
| 1st Half Total Goals 0.5 | 1st Half Total Goals 1.5 | 1st Half Total Goals 2.5 |
| 1st Half Team A Total Goals | 1st Half Team B Total Goals | 1st Half Correct Score |
| Correct Score | Double Chance | Team A Total Goals 0.5 |
| Draw No Bet | Team B Total Goals 0.5 | Team B Total Goals 1.5 |
| Team A Total Goals 1.5 | Total Goals | Half with Most Goals |
| 2nd Half Win/Draw/Win | 2nd Half Total Goals 0.5 | 2nd Half Total Goals 1.5 |
A 3pm kick-off in the English Premier League is likely to have at least 120 different events you can bet on. These items include; First goal scorer, last goal scorer, anytime goal scorer, handicap betting, scorecast (we will feature this more in the next section), double chance betting, result after xx minutes, number of corners, who wins the first corner, no corners to be taken between xx, number of cards, most bookings, Asian line betting, to come from behind and draw, to come from behind and win and many, many more!
What is a Scorecast Bet at Ladbrokes?
If you have walked past a bookies recently, you can’t help but notice the huge signs in the window of the bookmakers offering you great deals on the first goal scorer and the correct score. For example, you may see ‘Zlatan to score first and Man Utd to win 2-0 at 18/1’.
A scorecast in reality is a double, you are betting that two events will occur, Zlatan will score first and that the Red Devils will win the game 2-0. The winnings from the first part of the bet get put onto the second part of the bet so the winnings are a lot higher than if you were to put two separate bets on.
To show this in an example;
| Type of bet | Odds | Return on £10 |
|---|---|---|
| Zlatan to score first | 7/2 | £45 |
| Man U to win 2-0 | 15/2 | £85 |
| Scorecast bet | 18/1 | £190 |
If we simplify and combine the odds for the singles we get 11/1, this is lower than the 18/1 odds offered as a scorecast. Correctly predicting a game is a pretty tough call as there are so many variables that can ruin your bet, that said, the bragging rights you gain between friends when you manage to pull off a great scorecast is worth the effort alone.
If a scorecast doesn’t appeal, then you could try your hands at a wincast instead. A wincast is almost the same as a scorecast but you instead choose who will score first and which team will win. This is a lot easier but the odds are greatly reduced as a consequence.
Bonus Offers and Promotions Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes provide one of the simplest welcome bonus of any of the online bookmakers that we feature on this site with a great £50 up for grabs. As is normal with all introductory
offers, there are a few terms and conditions that you need to be aware of.
- You will need to open a new account with Ladbrokes and deposit a minimum of £5 to qualify for a free bet which could be up to £50 in value.
- You must use the code F50 to receive this offer and this code must be entered into the registration page for you to qualify for this offer.
- This part is really important, the value of your free bet is determined by the value of your first bet NOT by the amount you deposit. For example, if you deposit £50 but your first bet is for £5 then your free bet amount will be £5. If you deposit £50 and your first bet is £35 then your free bet will be £35 and so on.
- Your first bet needs to be at odds of at least 1/2 and be a single bet. That means a bet of 4/9 would not qualify for a free bet but a selection at 8/15 would. It also means that doubles, lucky 15’s, Heinz 57 etc. will not count.
- Once a qualifying bet has been placed, your free bet will be issued.
- When you win on a free bet, you will not receive the stake element of the bet back. For example, if you receive a £10 free bet and place a bet at 6/1, you will receive £60 back rather than the £70 if you had played with your own money.
- Your free bet, once awarded, needs to be used within 7 days otherwise it will expire.
The free bet will be credited to your account after you have made your initial bet. Please remember that it is the amount of your first bet and not how much you deposit that gives you your welcome free bet. I know I am labouring the point but I just want you to avoid doing what I did (betting £5 on a first goal scorer by mistake).
Ongoing Promotions at Ladbrokes
You could call Ladbrokes the ‘promotion kings’ as there is always something going on at this great online bookmaker! As the promotions change all the time it is impossible to give you a definitive breakdown here but I will share some of the promotions that I have enjoyed over the last couple of months.
Money back if a draw. This is one of my favourite promotions due to the fact it has saved my skin a few times this season! The idea is simple, bet on the correct score, first player to score and the half time / full time market and if the selected game ends in a draw then you will receive a free bet to the value of your stake, up to £25. This is one of those promotions that sometimes pays out unexpectedly and who doesn’t like nice surprises?
5 Team Acca Insurance. Another one I like! I don’t know if I have a talent for it (maybe cursed is a better phrase) but I always seem to be ‘close but no cigar’ when I play the accumulator market. If I pick 4 selections then 3 come in, pick 5 selections then 4 come in and so on. If you too have moments like this, then this is the promotion for you! If you place a 5 team acca and one of the legs lets you down, you will receive your stake back as a free bet up to £25. This is applicable to major games in England (including FA Cup, EFL Cup and EFL Trophy games), Scotland (including Scottish FA Cup, Scottish League Cup and selected Challenge Cup games), French, Spanish, German, MLS, Champions League, Europa League and World 
Cup / Euro qualifiers.
Result Rush Boost. The Result Rush Boost and Daily Price Boosts are pretty much the same thing! With the Result Rush Boost certain games odds for an event are boosted, for example, when Southampton played Sparta Prague in the Europa League the odds on Southampton to win and both teams to score (BTTS) was 5/2 but Ladbrokes boosted this to 3/1. The Daily Price Boosts are not just about football, any sport can be featured so it’s worth checking often.
Before we move off the subject of football, another promotion worth mentioning is the ‘Edit My Acca’ this allows you to remove one or more selections from an accumulator bet you have already placed. This is achieved by the remaining selections in your acca forming a new bet.
Other Sport Promotions at Ladbrokes
If you are a fan of betting on horses, then you will love Best Odds Guaranteed on all UK and Irish horse races! One of the biggest complaints I used to have with betting in a bookmakers on the High Street was the frequency in which a horse would drift (the odds lengthen) after I had placed a bet. This wasn’t usually by much when you are betting on favourites but if you are playing an outsider strategy then it wasn’t unusual to see the horse you had backed drift from 33/1 to 50/1 within moments of placing a bet.
Thankfully, when betting online at Ladbrokes they remove this stress by guaranteeing to pay out at the starting price (SP) if that figure is higher than the one you took when you placed the bet. Not content with just that promotion, Ladbrokes also offer Best Odds Guaranteed Plus on selected race meetings. In this promotion not only will they pay the SP price but they will also boost the odds given. For example, at the Newark meeting you take a horse at 3/1. The starting price for the horse is 7/2 but Ladbrokes will pay out at an enhanced 4/1.
The best odds guaranteed offer is also available for greyhound racing on all UK and Irish tracks. You can also take advantage of the rugby equivalent of the Result Rush Boost with ‘Super League Try Scorer Boost’.
Live Betting with Ladbrokes
Live betting in my view is one of the best things to ever happen to the wonderful world of online betting, to me, it encompasses everything that is great about the digital age. It is quite hypnotic watching the odds change in real time and again Ladbrokes deliver with a great design and an easy to bet interface.
As the odds constantly change, I like varying my tactics when betting in-play. I have found it quite profitable betting on ‘sure things’, now before you write in t
o complain, I know there isn’t such a thing as a sure fire bet but you can play to the probability of a result. For example, I spent quite a few hours placing bets on football games in which one team had the lead after 78 mins, I would bet that the team leading would hold on and would win. Although the odds are not that great, I was still able to get around 12% yield from this strategy.
As for Ladbrokes in-play offering, it is perfectly acceptable and fun to use. There is an in-play button on the main screen and a quick press of that will bring all the available events up. I really like the way the different sports in-play are divided, it is almost impossible to get lost in the screens, if only all online bookmaker sites had this clutter free design. As an added bonus, a lot of the in-play events can also be viewed by streaming the action. You need to have at least £5 account balance to do this and you will find plenty of tennis, basketball and even a bit of football action, just don’t expect to see any Premier League games due to rights restrictions.
Bet on the Move with Ladbrokes’s Mobile App
When using a mobile device to bet with, you need it to be a fast, lag free experience and this is exactly what Ladbrokes deliver with their mobile app!
With the Ladbrokes app you can stream live La Liga, ATP Tennis, Australia’s A-League, Polish Ekstraklasa, NBA basketball as well as NHL ice hockey direct to your mobile device.
If an event doesn’t have a live stream you can still follow the action in real-time by using Ladbrokes match centre. This is an excellent addition and is full of stats to give you as much information as possible. The event being played is shown using a graphical representation of the action with all key elements displayed, this makes it easy to see who is dominating the event.
You can use the mobile app to cash out your bets early and another great feature of the app is how easy it is to check on the progress of your bets. With just a tap on the app, you can see the scores update on your betting slip. You can also set up push notifications from the app so you never need to miss a single update on your selections.
What Payment Methods Are Accepted at Ladbrokes?
When you sign up for Ladbrokes all your payment details are safely and securely stored, the advantage of this is that you don’t need to re-enter your details each time you make a deposit, this speeds the whole process up.
| Method of Payment | Deposit | Withdrawals |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | Yes | Yes |
| Visa Electron | Yes | Yes |
| Mastercard | Yes | Yes |
| Maestro | Yes | No |
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| giropay | Yes | Yes |
| Neteller | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | Yes |
| PaysafeCard | Yes | No |
| Skrill | Yes | Yes |
| EntroPay Card | Yes | Yes |
All the main debit and credit cards are accepted at Ladbrokes as well as many e-wallet and prepay options. Whichever method you choose to fund your account, you will find the process pretty painless and it only takes 5 minutes to register and deposit.
Support at Ladbrokes
Although I’m not really a great fan of the frequently asked questions sections at online bookies, Ladbrokes’ offering is actually pretty good. It of course covers the basics in the getting started section and then moves onto more technical (and dare I say more interesting) subjects such as the types of bets you can place.
If you are fairly new to online betting sites then I recommend you check out the betting terminology section, it is a really useful guide to some of the weird and wonderful expressions you are likely to encounter when betting on sports.
The many different ways to contact Ladbrokes is second to none and this gives a hint of Ladbrokes dedication to providing support for their customers. There is a Freephone number provided (and easily accessible) and you can also use live chat, email, postal enquiries and even twitter to ask for help.
We have contacted Ladbrokes many times over the last two years and the vast majority of times we have spoken to very knowledgeable and friendly staff. The time taken for live chat sessions is usually within minutes and in the past when we have had email queries, these were normally replied to within 4 hours which is above average response time for an online bookie. Altogether, a very polished support structure from Ladbrokes which makes them one of the best betting sites on the market.
Final Thoughts on Ladbrokes
There is a lot I really like about Ladbrokes, as a company they have been around since 1886 and this vast experience shines through with their digital offering. They simply know what punters want!
A big plus as I’ve mentioned in the review is the design and functionality of the site, this shouldn’t be underestimated as on a poorly executed site, even finding the market you want can be a nightmare. Ladbrokes does this well with both horizontal and vertical menu bars which really aid bet selection.
Both the in-play and mobile functionality is absolutely fine and I like the ability to stream certain events, the only condition Ladbrokes put on this is that you must have a positive balance or have placed a bet within the last 24 hours. A tip I would give is to always leave 1p as a balance. It’s a shame there are no Premier League games streamed but that is a rights issue and not something I can blame Ladbrokes for.
Overall this is a top online betting site and comes highly recommended, the welcome offer is one of the most generous deals available and I’m pretty confident that Ladbrokes will be one of your favourite destinations for sport betting online.