888 – Top of the Range Markets

888sport offer a unique treble-the-odds on your first bet welcome promotion for new customers that is, in many ways, far more beneficial than a fixed cash bonus as well a whole range of special bonuses and limited time offers. Whilst it is true that some punters may be put off by the limited live streaming service and the more scarce use of the cash out option on many of their in-play betting options, 888 still offer a quality online gambling experience and are a common first choice betting operator for a great number of punters around the world.

The Platform

The 888sport desktop site is both stylish and simple to use. On the main home page users can easily view their separate singles, multiples and permutations bets on their betting slip in the top right hand side of the home screen- the useful “Betting History” tab also allows the user easy one-click access to their full betting history where keeping track of all live, open and settled bets is made simple and stress free. The rotating slide show window at the top of the screen is extremely useful for keeping up to date with the latest sports odds, betting tips and special promotions and the “Quick Links” drop-down tool on the left swiftly navigates the user to the most popular sports betting markets on the site.

Betting In-Play & Cashing Out

888sport users have easy viewing access to all of the sports currently in-play via the handy “Live Right Now” window in the middle of the home page. To get the full list of live betting fixtures you can either click on the “View all 20 Live Events” button to see all the sports fixtures currently in play, or you can use the “LIVE BETTING” button at the top left hand corner of the screen to see all of the upcoming events- simply click on the drop down arrows at the side of the page to view the fixtures for each individual sporting category and click on a match to view the full list of betting markets.

The availability of the cash out option is perhaps one area where 888sport fall slightly behind some of the other bookies in our review. The cash out option is unfortunately not available for many bets and if it is, users must first place a bet and then a potential pay out will be calculated once the bet has been accepted which means you can’t actually see if there is a possibility of an early payout beforehand. Some may call it old fashioned, others may call it fair; either way it ultimately means that you have to trust your betting instincts as with 888 you don’t often have the added advantage of knowing that you can cut and run before the fixture has come to an end.

The Markets: Lay Your Bet

It must be said that 888 are very good at providing their customers with a vast range of different sports betting markets from all around the globe. Yachting, water polo, trotting and chess are a few of the unique options offered by this bookie that are not currently supported by some of the other rival companies. 888sport also offer an extensive list of betting markets for some of the more widely followed sports fixtures: special markets such as how many times a player will hit the post or cross-bar, or how many cards they will receive as well several Asian line and Asian handicap betting options open up a variety of different avenues by which punters can get creative and carefully lay their stakes.

Online Games

It is no secret that this bookie operate one of the largest and most well known online gaming venues on the market. More than 17 million people across the world have experienced 888’s top quality casino games platforms and the company have a multitude of different awards and accolades to support the claim. Users can access the separate 888casino platform directly from the homepage by clicking the “Casino” tab at the top left hand corner of the home screen. Here you can access both the casino and live casino platforms that feature all the classic table games such as roulette and black-jack with real-time players as well as several hundred more exclusive casino games and slots machine simulators.

Punters would also be best advised to check out the poker and live poker platforms on offer with this betting operator. With 888 you can choose your favourite poker game from the list of variants that includes Texas Hold’em, Omaha 7 and Card Stud and get involved in a number of different cash games and tournaments with players from all over the world. The interactive Face2Face poker feature also allows you to plug in your webcam and connect with the other players around the table meaning that you are literally seated right in the heart of the action like never before. 888 have also developed an exclusive, quick-fire SNAP poker game that drastically reduces the waiting time before you’re dealt a new hand and seated at a new table. Not only does this keep your excitement and adrenaline levels high, it also means that you don’t have waste time thinking about how your last hand let you down, you are instead quickly re-seated in a new game with new players and put right back in with the chance to maximise your profits.

Catch the Action: Live Streaming

888sport’s live streaming service is another area where they fall slightly behind some of the other competitors in this review. Without the licensing agreements that allows customers of Coral or Bet365 to enjoy a variety of top level sport from all around the world, users of 888 sport are limited to watching mostly domestic British and Irish horse racing events in which a bet of at least £1 must be placed to gain viewing access. 888sport also doesn’t feature a detailed, live infographic for many of the top fixtures meaning that you can’t see when your team are on the offensive or trying to hold off a dangerous attack from the opposition. This ultimately means that with this bookie you really are left to your own devices when it comes to viewing the action and keeping close tabs on the status of your bets.

Betting On The Go: The Mobile App

The stylish, high speed 888sport Mobile App has been carefully designed to give users the same easy-use experience as with the full desktop site. With the mobile version users can access all the same odds, betting markets and special promotions and bonuses straight from their mobile anywhere, anytime. The mobile version has been optimised for Apple products but is also available for Android users.

Deposits and Withdrawals

888 support the vast majority of payment options so whatever your preferred payment method is, the chances are they have it covered. The minimum deposit amount is £10. In most cases deposits are updated instantly onto your available betting balance meaning that you don’t have to spend time waiting around before you can lay your next stake. Winnings normally up to 6 days to be processed before they can be withdrawn and all transactions are free of charge. See the table below for the full list of payment options and timescales.

888’s desktop and mobile betting platforms are fully encrypted meaning that all transactions are 100% safe and secure.

Rewards and Bonuses

The unique rewards and bonuses offered by each bookmaker go a long way to ensuring that punters have the best possible gambling experience and also remain loyal and satisfied customers. Although 888sport do not offer a fixed cash bonus like most other online bookies, they have earned a strong reputation for keeping their customers happy with a constant flow of great money-back, limited-time only promotions.

The Welcome Offer

888sport offer all their new customers a special treble-the-odds bonus for their first bet instead of a set cash amount. Whilst this may at first seem a little off-putting, this kind of promotion can actually be a much better way to see a quick profit return on your first bet. Think: if you receive a cash welcome offer of say £50, the vast majority of online bookies require you to bet this amount in its entirety maybe three or four times before you can actually cash-out on the winnings. However with a treble the odds bonus, you can wait to find a betting market that is showing particularly good odds, place a bet and have your winnings trebled. A good example would be to place a bet with a stake of £10 with the odds at 10/1. Your winnings would normally be £100, but with the treble the odds welcome bonus you would win triple the amount at £300. Whilst there are of course some disadvantages of having this kind of welcome offer, (the primary worry being that if your bet doesn’t come through then you walk away with nothing) this type of promotion means that if you’re successful, you actually make a very and quick easy profit without having to wait until you’ve used your welcome cash bonus several times before you can withdraw. The minimum stake for this offer is £5 and the maximum is capped at £10.

Special Perks and Bonuses

Aside from the unique welcome offer, 888 continually update their desktop page with a number different daily bonuses and promotions that go along way to helping you maximise your profits and even secure your money back as a free bet if you’ve had a bit of bad luck. Refunds of up to £25 if your horse gets beaten by an outsider or if a late goal after the 88th minute sinks your bet are common with this bookmaker. 888 also like to give away thousands upon thousands of £’s worth of free bets on their separate gaming platforms so be sure to keep up to date with the latest games offers if you’re a real lover of the casino.

Punter’s note: There’s also a very attractive promotion in which you’re awarded a £10 bonus for every friend you recommend to join the online poker platform. Your friend will also receive a £20 bonus package once they’ve registered and you’ll both gain access to special, high-jackpot winning tournaments: grab as many friends as you can, team up and start playing together to make the most of your online poker experience.

Help and Support

As you would expect from all the leading bookies, 888 provide customer support around the clock via phone, email and a live chat service. Operatives are available 24/7 and are normally quick to respond so you can rest assured that help will always be there whenever you need it.

The Final Score

Despite falling short in a couple of key areas, 888 are still a strong competitor in our review of the best online bookies. A solid selection of sports categories along with a slick, easy-use interface and an online gaming experience that is perhaps second to none mean that 888 offer punters a high quality and memorable online gambling experience.

Our Score: 4.36

FAQ’s

• Can I use the Treble The Odds Welcome Bonus on all kinds of bets? Only single bets and ‘straight line’ multiple bets qualify – permutations and each way multiples do not count as qualifying bets.

• How can I be sure that the Face2Face poker games will be held in a safe and secure environment? All players competing in the Face2Face chat rooms are required to read and adhere to a set of strict rules that are especially designed to create a safe and fair playing environment. To view the full set of rules as well as other general terms and conditions, users should click on the “how to play” tab at the top of the home page and select “Face2Face” from the list of “Poker Games” options. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Pokercam Rules” tab to read up on all the rules and regulations as well as some other terms and conditions.

• What is SNAP poker and how do I play? To view more information about the exclusive SNAP poker game users are advised to go onto the 888 poker page, click on the “How To Play” tab at the top of the home screen and select “SNAP” from the list of “Poker Games”. There you can see all the rules and benefits of playing SNAP poker as well as information about how to join games and start playing.