21 Bet Review:

If you’re a fan of the mighty Wolverhampton Wanderers or even Gloucester Rugby, you probably need no introduction to 21 Bet. Wolves’ exclusive betting partner since 2016, 21 Bet has only been around since March of that year. But this is a sportsbook that hit the ground running, making a splash in betting circles with its no-nonsense take on sports betting, and some great odds and promotions to entice new players.

21 Bet are clearly trying hard, with their slick graphics, impressive welcome package, and generous suite of gambling markets marking it out as a quick favourite with gambling pros. But how does 21 Bet stack up to the rest, and is it worth checking out as a new or casual gambler?

21 Bet is operated by FSB Technology (UK) Ltd, the same company behind the likes of Dafabet, GoWager and Genting Bet. So from the outset, it’s clear that this isn’t a fly-by-night operation. With senior management staff drawn from across gambling and technology sectors, this is a company that is serious about its gambling – and that shows in the service it provides.

21Bet is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, and partners with IBAS – the Independent Betting Adjudication Service, to ensure compliance and fairness for players. While it hasn’t been around long enough to receive any industry awards, we think it’s unlikely it’ll go too much longer without some kind of industry recognition.

While 21Bet might be a comparatively new site, the people behind it are by no means inexperienced. Couple this with the high profile Wolves sponsorship, plus a number of other sponsorship and commercial relationships established in its short lifetime so far, and it’s clear this is a sportsbook that is set up to stand the test of time.

While early feedback on 21Bet online appears to be almost universally positive, it’s still too early to call it. There simply aren’t enough player reviews to form any kind of definitive judgement.

The only real problem with 21 Bet comes with its banking options. While you might be used to transacting through e-wallets like Neteller and Skrill with your online betting accounts, you don’t have that luxury with 21 Bet. For the time being, you can only make payments via credit or debit card.

This will feel limiting for some players, but it’s a moving picture. In the months to come, it’s likely 21 Bet will increase the range of payment methods available, and no doubt the biggest e-wallets and payment services will be included as a priority.

21 Bet makes it easy for mobile users on all devices to access their betting accounts. The website directs to a mobile-responsive version when you visit the site using your phone’s browser, offering an identical experience to the one you’d find from their main website on desktop. There’s no difference to betting on your Android phone as there is to betting on your laptop, so from that point of view, it’s a seamless transition to your mobile account. Still, many UK players would prefer a dedicated android betting app so this is a mark down for 21 Bet

There is also an app available for iOS device users, but there’s no strict need to download and install the app when the browser version is so complete. If you do choose the app, it’s free to download, and allows you to reach your betting account with a single tap of the app – ideal for floating a quick flutter on the fly.

One of the most innovative aspects of 21 Bet is its betting bonus instead of a one-time bonus credit matched to the size of your first deposit, 21 Bet offers you a £10 free bet – every week, for as long as you hold an account with them. To qualify for the offer, you need to place 5 bets at 2.0 odds or greater with a £10 stake within the first seven days of your account being opened. If you meet this threshold, you get a £10 bonus, plus an additional £10 bonus for each week you meet those requirements.

This is a little unusual, and some players will appreciate the reward for loyalty that comes from getting a fresh bonus weekly. Ideally suited to those who intend to gamble long-term, it’s a decent free bet bonus compared to the norm.

We’ve got mixed feelings about this offer, though. Full marks for doing something a little different, but it’s questionable whether the average punter would have sufficient betting volume to keep this promotion rolling for very long.

It’s also very important to read the terms and conditions thoroughly, as there a strict time limits and minimum odds, and you’ll lose access to the offer for good if you don’t meet the requirements in a particular week.

There are, of course, other bonuses and promotions that you’ll come across from time to time, like enhanced odds offers, price boosts and the ever-popular best odds guaranteed on UK and Irish horse racing. At the time of writing there was an attractive range of refund offers on missed bets. You can get a free bet worth up to £25 if you bet on a correct score or first goalscorer market and the match ends in a draw (Premier League and La Liga). There are also similar offers on NBA basketball, Premier League Darts and the Champions League. Taken as a whole, the free bets and bonuses on offer are well worth signing up for alone.

21 Bet doesn’t have the most comprehensive list of sports covered that we’ve seen, but there’s ample choice there to keep most punters happy. Football betting, horse racing, greyhound racing, cricket, tennis, darts, snooker and golf are the main sports on offer, with a huge selection of markets available ranging from outrights to total scores/placing, and everything in between.

The odds are decent, verging on generous – another way 21 Bet makes its offer appeal to new customers. And when you factor in the likes of regular enhanced odds promotions, best odds guarantees, and other promos and bonuses, you can be pretty certain you’re getting a deal that compares well to the market.

The site itself is a breath of fresh air in a market that tends to favour overly busy, menu-stuffed user interfaces. The light grey background is soothing, while top-menu links to the most popular sports – and the live betting console – makes it easy to navigate. There’s a clearly marked dropdown menu to jump to less popular sports. Upcoming race and fixtures, and current in-play markets, are displayed clearly in the centre of the page, with the latest promotions in a column on the right-hand side.

Live betting is available on a wide range of markets, and 21 Bet maintains a real-time list of all the events eligible for in-play betting action. The Live Play menu handily points you in the direction of live betting events, and clicking through on each event shows the full complement of available betting markets.

Depth of markets looks to be pretty competitive, with a good range of options available even on the most obscure football matches.

There’s no live streaming of events, so that could be another area of improvement in future for 21 Bet. But with such a wide selection of markets, and pretty decent odds across the board, you’re unlikely to be too bothered by this.

In our eyes, the lack of cash back is a bigger loss to most punters. We hope for 21Bet’s sake that it’s added in the near future, as the option is fast becoming table stakes for any serious bookmaker.