Championship Betting Sites in the UK

The Best Championship Betting sites are pulled into focus here as we survey the lay of the land in this area.

The second tier of English football is hugely well-supported and is a hotbed of football betting action.

But it can also fall under the shadow of the Premier League when it comes to what markets betting sites put out front and centre.

So, with our expertise, we go under the hood as we strive to help punters out by sharing simple, unbiased information about where to find the best Championship betting sites.

Bonuses, competitive odds, good customer service and features are some of the parts that help make a good betting site.

Let’s kick off by sharing what we do.

The English Football League Championship Betting Sites

10bet UK
50% up to £50 welcome bonus
New bettors get 50% of deposit up to £50; Once per household; Min deposit £15 (no Skrill/Neteller); Wager a total of 8 times deposit + bonus, with max qualifying bet stake equal to your initial bonus amount; Bonus expires after 60 days; Min odds of 4/5 on singles, or 2/5 per leg for acca; Some bet types excluded; See full terms;
888sport betting
£30 in free bets +£10 Casino Bonus
Min deposit £10 • 🔞. BeGambleAware - https://www.begambleaware.org/ • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days and expires after 14 days • To withdraw any winnings from the Casino Bonus, wager the Bonus amount 40 times within 14 days • Withdrawal restrictions, payment methods, country & Full T&Cs apply. Read here https://www.888casino.com/promotions/welcome-bonus-offer/#tc
Bwin UK
Sign up to get your £20 Backup Bet
18+ | New UK players only | Min deposit req. £10 | Certain deposit methods excluded | Place 1 sport bet (3+ selections) | Excl Horse Racing | Min stake £10 | Max stake £20 | Min Odds 2/1 (3.0) | Max FreeBet £20 for football only | FreeBet valid for 7 days | FreeBet stake not returned | T&Cs apply
Boylesports UK
BET £10 GET £20 IN FREE BETS
New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Payment method restrictions. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply
LeoVegas UK
100% profit boost of up to £100 of winnings on first bet. On mobile only
Full T&Cs apply. New reg only. Claim by placing a min deposit £10 via "My Offers" page within 30 days. Skrill/Neteller deposits excl. 7 days to stake max £10 in-play. Max. extra winnings £100. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.
Sportingbet UK
Up to £50 in Free Bets, Odds Boost Token, 20 Free Spins & £10 Casino Bonus
18+ UK Residents The promotion will run from 12:00 (GMT) on 09.03.2021 to 23:59 (GMT) on 31.12.2022 (the " Promotional Period"). In order to participate in this Promotion, an Eligible Player must place the necessary Eligible Bets for each respective Challenge during the Promotional Period. There are four Challenges, as follows: Acca Challenge; Football Challenge; In-Play Challenge; Casino Challenge. Each Challenge has its own set of terms and conditions and wagering requirements and can be completed only once. The Challenges can be completed in any order. Full T&C's Apply.
Quinnbet UK
50% Back as Free Bet Up to £25 Plus 10 Free Spins
Deposit and bet on any Sportsbook markets of your choice (horse racing, football, tennis, darts etc) at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. Use Bonus Code "35FREEBET". If your account has Sportsbook losses at the end of your first day's betting (23:59), we'll refund 50% of your first day's losses as a Free Bet up to £35 plus, you get 10 Free Spins on Asgard Warriors (minimum 3 bets required). T&Cs apply. 18+ begambleaware.org
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
T&C’s Apply. New customers on mobile only. 7 days to claim and stake £10 minimum bet at odds of 1.5 or greater to qualify. Free, void, cashed out or partially cashed out bets do not qualify. Max 3x £10 free bets credited on bet settlement. Free bets must be used on 4 or more selections with selection odds of 1.3 or greater. Free bets are non-withdrawable and stake not returned with winnings. 7 day expiry. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.
BritainBet UK
Deposit Min £10 Get £10 Free Bet
New Players Only. Free bet - one-time stake of £10, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill deposits. Full Terms apply.
The Online Casino
WELCOME OFFER £10 FREE BET MIN. DEPOSIT £10
New Players Only. Free bet - one-time stake of $/€/£10, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: $/€/£ 200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill deposits. Full Terms apply.
Fitzdares UK
Bet £30, Get £30 Free Bet + £5 Casino Chips

New customers only aged 18+. Minimum deposit £10. Qualifying bet must be placed at odds of evens (2.0) or greater. Free bet is matched up to £30, credited within 24 hours and expires after 7 days. £5 Casino Chips for Blackjack and Roulette games with 5x playthrough awarded on first deposits until 04/07/22. Additional T&Cs apply. Please bet responsibly.

Spreadex Betting
2 FREE £5 SPREAD BETS PLUS £300 CASHBACK
Join and place a £10 fixed odds bet at odds of 1/2 or greater. Once the bet is settled, get a £10 free fixed odds bet plus a £5 free Total Goals football spread bet. The second £10 free fixed odds bet and second £5 free Total Goals football spread bet will be credited 24 hours later. Free bet stakes not included in any winnings from the free fixed odds bets. You need to open a full sports spread betting account to use the 2 x £5 free Total Goals football spread bets. Free bets expire in 28 days if unused. Promotions available to 18+ aged individuals who are registered customers of Spreadex.
SBK Betting
Deposit £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
New UK, IE & Malta users only. Min. £10/€10 first deposit only using Debit Card or Trustly. Free bets expire in 90 days. T&Cs apply.
Kwiff Bet
Bet £10 Get £20
18+ only. New customers only. Min. deposit of £/€10. Qualifying real money bet of £/€10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer credited within 48 hours. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
Ladbrokes UK
BET £5 GET £20 IN FREE BETS
18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £/€5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply.
Betzone Review
Up To £60 In Free Sports Bets + Free Casino Spins

To welcome all new Betzone customers we are offering three welcome bonuses of up to £60 in free sports bets together with free casino spins and the opportunity to join the Betzone Reward Zone. Bonus 1: £10 worth of free sports bets after first five settled sports bets placed of £10 or over. Bonus 2: Up to £50 worth of free sports bets.

NetBet UK
1 Leg Acca Refund up to £10 Free Bet
Sign into your NetBet account Bet up to £10 5 Fold or more or Football with min odds 1/5 per selection. Get a Free Bet if 1 team lets you down up to £10. Once per week. NOTE: Minimum odds per selection 1/5 or more. Free Bets will match the customers stake.
Smarkets UK
Trade with 0% for 60 days OR Get a £20 cash refund
Use code COMMFREE to trade with 0% for 60 days OR code SMK20 to get a £20 / €20 cash refund. Min. £10/€10 first deposit only using Card or Instant Banking. Cash refund expires in 7 days. Full T&Cs apply.
Betgoodwin UK
GET 50% BACK AS A FREE BET UP TO £25
New customer offer only. Must have a minimum of 3 bets of £10 at ods of evens (2.0) or bigger on first day. First day losses equals all settled stakes less all returns. Free bets must be used in their entirety and stakes are deducted from returns. If this promotion is withdrawn it will not impact any qualifying bet you have placed during promotional period

How we rank the best Championship betting sites

So now you know what you will find on this page - here is how we put everything together to rank bookies.

  • Competitive odds - If we see a betting site consistently doing well in odds comparisons on Championship markets, they get a good ranking.
  • Mobile - We are punters too, and recognise the importance of having access to good betting platforms on the go.
  • Market Variety - It's crucial, in our opinion, that a betting site has a deep market variety for Championship betting.
  • Bonuses - Most of the time, welcome bonus offers for betting sites take centre stage. While we rate those, we also examine long-standing offers for existing customers.
  • Payment Options - We look at various payment options and processing times for both deposits and withdrawals.

Those are just some of the key areas we assess, but our research is certainly not limited to just those. We also consider other factors like security, licensing, user experience, reputation and more.

How do we check? 

We dig into the betting sites by opening accounts, claiming bonuses and going through the steps of making a bet, all to the point of withdrawing winnings.

That way, we know a site inside out. With our previous bookmaking experience at MansionBet, we do the work to find out what things are really like from a punter's perspective.

Recommended Championships betting sites

After explaining what we do, here are some of the best Championship betting sites based on our research.

888sport

888sport betting

With bonuses and features galore, 888sport is a top destination for Championship betting markets.

We highly recommend them for their promotions and competitive odds.

As part of the massive 888 network, 888sport is fully licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission.

888sport boasts an extensive sportsbook, and they have been around since 1997.

There's excellent in-play football coverage, and they also have features like a bet builder, loyalty club, a big 4/1 free bet winner offer, and up to £30 in free bets as a welcome bonus.

It's an excellent all-around platform with payment methods including Apple Pay, PayPal, Trustly, Visa and Mastercard.

£30 in free bets +£10 Casino Bonus

bet365

Bet365 UK

A big trusted brand, bet365 are a leader for in-play Championship betting options.

bet365 jumped straight into the online sports betting world in 2000 and haven't looked back.

They are one of the most recognisable brands and are licensed and regulated by the British Gambling Commission.

For in-play football betting market variety, bet365 are hard to top. It's not just the amount of markets but also the in-play portal with a graphical interface that works so well.

Cash-out options are everywhere - they have live-streaming and some excellent long-standing football promotions.

While neither their site nor their betting app looks particularly fancy or flashy, the bones of their services are superb. bet365 accept various payment methods, from cards to e-wallets.

Win cash prizes by predicting the scores of just six Soccer matches, with 6 Scores Challenge at bet365!

10bet

10bet UK

An excellent mobile betting platform makes 10bet a strong Championship betting site.

We feel the sportsbook experience at 10bet is better on mobile (they have a dedicated app), as that is when you can get the feel of their fantastic graphics and in-play portal.

The 10bet sportsbook covers over 60 sports and stands up well against competitors for odds. The operator is fully licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission.

There are a lot of bonuses available at 10bet - however, some of them are so unique that they aren't always that accessible for the regular punter.

Overall all, though, sign-up is straightforward, and they offer plenty of options when it comes to payments.

50% up to £50 welcome bonus

Boylesports

Boylesports UK

Boylesports are one of the biggest independent bookmakers with the bonus of a highly rated mobile app.

A sign of the modern age perhaps, Boylesports is another betting site with which we'd recommend going straight to mobile.

Their desktop site doesn't particularly have a user-friendly design. However, Boylesports bring a lot to the table, notably when it comes to the live-streaming of a variety of sports.

The sports betting bonuses at Boylesports are excellent, particularly in the area of Accas for football betting.

The overall Boylesports sportsbook is strong - they have loyalty offers alongside a sign-up bonus, cash-outs and more, so the features are there, if not the design.

BET £10 GET £20 IN FREE BETS

How to start betting on the Championship

Having looked at some of the best Championship betting sites, the next thing to examine is how to a bet on the league.

This mini-guide will walk through some of the simple steps.

  • Sign Up - Pick a recommended betting site and register.
  • Welcome Bonus - Check for any welcome bonus offers. That’s because they come with T&Cs involving things like a deposit minimum.
  • Make a Payment - Add some money to your new account - most deposits should be instant.
  • Sportsbook - Look at the sportsbook for the Championship betting markets. Make your pre-match and even in-play selections.
  • Stake - Enter a stake in the bet slip (double-check everything at this point) and place the bet.

Before getting deeper into some key areas of safely doing Championship betting, we first want to run through a couple of things.

Is it legal to bet on the Championship? 

At MansionBet, we see this question a lot. Questioning security and safety is excellent. Is it legal to bet on Championship football? Yes. But only ever bet at sites regulated and licensed by the Gambling Commission.

Contacting Customer Support?

You may never need it, but just in case you hit a snag, know when and how you can get a hold of customer service. A live chat is usually the best way.

The best Championship betting Markets and bet types

Let's dig deeper into how to bet on the Championship, and one of our main areas of focus is betting variety.

Here are some of the most popular betting markets and bet types:

  • Match Outright - We would recommend that newcomers to Championship betting start here. Picking one of the three possible outcomes in a football match gives a good grounding.
  • Over/Under 2.5 Goals - This is another straightforward betting area to look at. It should sharpen your stats-reading skills too. How likely is a match to finish with more or less than three goals scored?
  • Both Teams To Score - Not a market that's going to give mind-blowing odds, but it's a good one to look at. That's because you don't have to worry about the result of the match - you just need both sides to grab at least a goal each.
  • League Winner/Relegation - Look for long-term bets. It's a good angle for punters looking for longer odds on Championship betting.

Other recommended markets are Anytime Goalscorer, Double Chance and Winning Margins.

Betting Types

Next, we take a look at some popular bet types. Again, we recommended keeping things simple.

  • Win Single - You can't get more straightforward than picking one bet for one particular outcome, such as on a Championship team to win their match.
  • Accas - Very tricky to pull off as you need every selection to win, but the benefit is that a Championship Acca only needs a small stake to land a big win.
  • Each Way - Each-way betting is ideal on long-term markets such as the Championship outright winner. 

The great thing about Championship football betting is that there are plenty of choices so that you can find your preferences over time.

Getting the best Championship odds

 Betting OddsWhat are betting odds? They are simply the bookmaker's perception of implied probability.

Not counting bookmaker margin, an Even money (1/1) odds quote represents a 50% chance of a particular outcome.

The prices you see at a sports betting site is just what the traders think. That line gets blurred because the odds will shorten, for example, if many people start throwing money at a particular selection.

It's worth fully understanding odds and not just looking at the numbers on the screen and randomly making bets.

If you sign up with one Championship betting site, you will not get the best odds out there on every single bet you make.

But you can align yourself with a recommended bookmaker that has ranked well for providing consistently competitive football odds.

Part of that is considered when we rank the best Championship betting sites we research.

The other thing you can do for yourself is shop around. Most punters will, or at least should, do this. Compare market odds between different bookies and snap up the best you can find.

There will be differences, even subtle better ones if you cast your net a little wider.

The Championship Features to look for at betting sites

With an excellent secure betting site and strong competitive odds, what else will you want to look for?

We rate features highly at betting sites, and, in our opinion, the more we come across to enhance our betting, the better. 

Let’s look at a few here.

  • Live Streaming - One of the top features out there. It’s a joy to look at live in-play betting markets and see that a betting site is also streaming something. You marry the two together for a great experience.
  • Bet Builders - The bet builder has grown in popularity and frequency. We don’t think they should be an absolute staple, but tinkering with a customised bet now and again, offers a nice aside when watching a specific match.
  • Cash Out - This should be available both pre-match and on in-play bets. It’s one thing that has become so ingrained in online sports betting that we’d feel lost without it. In addition, Full and Partial Cash Outs afford a lot of control over bets.
  • Security - This is the most important of the lot. Any security features on the site, like encryption to protect your personal information and financial transactions, must be in place.

The Best Championship Bonuses and Promotions

 Bonuses and PromotionsWe now shift gears to look at Championship betting promotions. We’ll take a tour through both the best welcome bonuses and other offer types for existing customers.

A welcome bonus should be relatively straightforward to get. Most of them, like bet365’s Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets sign-up bonus, will be based on your first deposit and first bet.

For reference, bet365’s sign-up offer is one of the more generous ones out there, so it’s worth checking out. This format of free bets being credited after your first bet is settled is very common.

The value of welcome bonuses at Championship betting sites will vary. Therefore, they shouldn’t be treated as a deciding factor about whether to use a site or not.

There’s better value always to be found at Championship betting sites with promotions that you can use more than once.

bet365 again comes in strongly here for Championship Betting, with their 2 Goals Ahead Early Payout, where they settle the bet as a winner if your selection goes two goals ahead at any point in the match, no matter the final result.

888sport offers a fantastic 4/1 Win Bonus, where they will give you a free bet credit for landing a winning bet at 4/1 odds or greater on any sport - perfect for utilising on Championship betting.

One of our favourite sites for Acca insurance is Boylesports, but they also offer an Acca Loyalty. In addition, they credit a free bet for every five qualifying Accas, so if footie Accas are your thing, Boylesports is the place to be.

Purple arrowAlways look around to see if there is a promotion to pair up with your betting selection.

Banking at the Best Championship Betting Sites

 Deposit OptionBetting sites do generally offer punters a good range of deposit methods. However, not all offer the same ones, so it is worth checking out first.

A debit card is one of the most popular methods of funding an account at a betting site. But unfortunately, UK players can’t use credit cards to make payments.

Naturally, you will want to look for your preferred deposit method. So, if you are set on using PayPal, check whether the betting site offers that.

  • Debit Cards
  • PayPal
  • Skrill
  • NETeller
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay
  • Bank Transfer
  • Trustly

Another consideration that you will want to size up first is processing times and fees. It is unlikely that the betting site will charge, while beside a bank transfer, most deposit methods should be instant.

Payouts

After you have banked some winnings in your account from your Championship football betting, how do you get it out?

Payouts from betting sites generally take longer than deposits. Some do offer rapid withdrawals, however, which are worth looking into.

Generally, you will want to allow between 1-5 business days for a standard withdrawal to be fully processed and reach you. 

Again, betting sites likely won’t charge a fee. However, it’s common for betting sites to have a minimum £10 deposit amount and a £10 minimum withdrawal amount.

But look through the FAQs on a particular site to double-check everything first. Just so there are no surprises.

Championship Betting Strategy

It is worth piecing together a betting strategy. It doesn't have to be anything big and complicated where you spend five hours crunching a bunch of numbers before making a bet.

Betting strategies can be simple. It may be three picks at Under 1.5 goals or something straightforward like that.

Still, you will have to study some form and stats to make the picks in the first place. It's worth doing.

The more time you take to study a league, the more familiarity you will have with Championship betting trends.

A betting strategy will also help you manage your bankroll, another critical aspect of betting.

Betting Tips 

We always like to recommend that punters keep on the simple side of Championship football betting.

There's nothing wrong with simply shopping around for the best price on an outright market.

Read as much team news, statistical input and anything else you can absorb ahead of a match. Knowledge is power, as they say.

Don't be afraid to read free betting tips that are around either. You don't have to follow them, but they can be beneficial for picking up titbits of info.

What To Avoid

The thing to avoid with Championship betting is making selections based on the odds alone.

If a home team is 2/1, that doesn’t make them suddenly a great pick, even though the price is attractive.

Look at the form and understand why they are that price. Don’t just wade in blindly.

Avoid markets like First Goalscorer and Correct Score. Markets like that have very appealing odds, but that is only because they have a high number of variables. 

Apps, mobile website and desktop

 Mobile app and Desktop SiteYou can jump on different devices to get your Championship bets down. The key is that you won’t want any stress in switching between other platforms.

We do feel that mobile betting apps are the way to go. But, again, that’s from a security, convenience and data standpoint.

Surprisingly betting apps are not available at all betting sites you come across, but most of the major ones, such as bet365, 10bet and 888sport, do deliver excellently on this front.

What are you primarily looking for in a mobile betting app? The same service that you would get on a desktop. This goes back to our original point.

It would be a poor show if you had access to live streams, for example, on a desktop, but on switching to the mobile app, it disappeared.

Mobile betting apps shouldn’t miss a beat with anything, from promotions to account management and more - an app should carry all those essential features.

Mobile Betting Sites
Download betting apps and bet on Championship from your smartphone.

About the Championship

The Championship is the second tier in English football, and it was introduced at the start of the 2004/05 season.

When the Premier League era started in the early '90s, it replaced the old English First Division. So, in turn, the second tier became known as the Football League First Division before changing to the Championship in 2004.

The first-ever winners of the Championship were Sunderland, who were promoted along with Wigan and West Ham up to the top flight.

Even though it doesn't have top-flight status, the Championship is still one of the biggest leagues in Europe.

There are only eight other richer divisions across Europe in terms of financial might than the Championship.

It currently boasts 24 teams, with two automatic promotion spots to the Premier League, one other promotion spot via the playoffs, and three relegation places.

There's a total of 552 matches played during a regular Championship season.

Summary of the best Championship betting sites

We recommend looking at any of the mentioned bookmakers on this page for Championship betting.

That will you give you premier-quality betting on the English second tier. Our experts have sourced the betting sites with the most competitive odds, the best features, the best mobile betting experiences and more.

The Championship is a thrilling league, which is notoriously difficult to get promoted from. However, it’s considered far wider open and more competitive than the Premier League.

So, for the best Championship action and all the fantastic betting opportunities it provides during a season, get involved at one of our recommended bookmakers.

Championship Betting Sites FAQ

What are the best EFL Champions betting sites?

In our reviews, we have found a lot of good football betting sites. However, in terms of offering a complete package of everything from live streams, competitive odds and excellent bonuses, bet365 and 888sport tick many boxes.

Is Betting on the Championships safe?

As long as you do your online betting at a reputable, fully licenced and regulated betting site, then yes. All sites must be regulated and licensed, and it's one of the first things we look for before making a recommendation. 

Can I bet on the Championship outright winner after the season has started?

Markets open on the Championship winner way before the start of a new season. After that, the market will stay open until the title is decided. The earlier you place a bet, however, the better the odds.

Are payments to a Championship betting site secure?

Again, we can't stress the importance of only wagering at licensed betting sites. Sites should operate a minimum 128-bit SSL encryption that protects the transfer of payment data. And, of course, always safeguard your password and account info.