Online Football Betting vs. Betting Shops

History of Football Betting

Today, punters can place football wagers within minutes simply by signing up at an online sportsbook and making their bet. However, this certainly was not the case at the beginning of the 20th century since punters had to rely on underground bookies to make football bets. And while it was satisfying for punters to have the opportunity to place wagers, it was also a very dangerous activity because bookies often resorted to violence when people could not pay back losses.

Fortunately, things got better when the 1960 Gaming and Betting Act was signed into effect, which legalized betting shops. After betting shops were officially allowed to open in 1961, over 10,000 shops opened their doors throughout the UK before the end of the year. These businesses gave punters numerous options when making football bets, and they could spend the afternoon hanging out in the shops too. Furthermore, the large volume of betting shops enabled people to look for the best lines by visiting different neighborhoods.

But while betting shops were a marked improvement over local bookies, the best had yet to come. In the late 1990’s, online sportsbooks started appearing on the internet, and these websites gave punters the option to place sports wagers from the comfort of their home. However, many people were initially untrusting of the new technology, and it was not until the turn of the 21st century – when major UK bookmakers developed sites of their own – that online football betting became big.

Online Football Betting

The popularity of online sportsbooks has soared because many punters have realized that they do not even need to leave the house to make football bets. Instead, they can save a trip to the local betting shop simply by making online football bets. Furthermore, people can compare dozens or even hundreds of different football betting lines in less than an hour. Looking for the best football betting lines at shops is a much more time-consuming process because you have to either call or visit the shops to find out their lines.

Another popular aspect of online football betting is that it offers punters a chance to earn bonuses and loyalty rewards. Now this is certainly nothing new because UK betting shops also run loyalty programs where frequent punters earn bonuses. However, the loyalty programs at online sportsbooks are much more consistent in their delivery of rewards, such as free bets, cash bonuses, and even vacations.

Mobile Football Betting

While online football betting was certainly a big breakthrough, the next step in the evolution appears to be mobile football betting. Now some of the biggest names in bookmaking are busy developing (or have already developed) applications for mobile football betting. So those who do not want to be confined to a desktop or laptop computer can now use a wireless device to place football bets.

Mobile football betting essentially works the same way as online betting does since this form of wagering is offered in online casino format. However, the notable exception is that you are able to make bets from any place in the world that offers wireless service.

Online and Mobile Betting vs. Betting Shops

With all of the advantages that online and mobile football betting offers punters, many wonder if it is even worth visiting betting shops anymore. The truth of the matter is that it all depends on what your specific tastes and interests are. For example, if you are only in football betting to make money, then you stand a better chance of earning profits with online football betting because there is no travel involved, the loyalty programs are normally better, and you can search for the best lines much easier this way.

However, if you also enjoy the social aspect of football betting, then betting shops still hold plenty of value since they enable punters to mingle with others, watch the games in a social setting, and enjoy a drink in the process. Going further, it does not look like betting shops are going anywhere soon either since many of the UK’s biggest bookmakers still operate hundreds or even thousands of shops.

In any case, those who enjoy the social aspects of football betting, and want a better chance to make profits can mix their time up between shops and online football betting through any of our sportsbooks we promote.