Tonybet Review:

Starting out life as OmniBet before poker player Tony G took control and rebranded the site in 2009, TonyBet is a solid choice for novice bettors. Through a combination of generous bonuses and intuitive software, TonyBet has made it easy for casual punters to get the most value possible from their time online. For a little more insight into how it manages this, stick with us for the next few minutes as we take you through our TonyBet Sports review.

Unlike many online sportsbooks, there is a familiar face behind the TonyBet brand. Much like BetVictor is backed by Victor Chandler, TonyBet is owned by poker player Antanas Guoga aka Tony G. A famous face on the circuit, G is not only an accomplished player but someone that’s pushed for better standards across the industry. Although G is more active as a Member of the European Parliament these days, he still has keen interest in the betting and gaming industry.

In terms of trust, there’s certainly some value in having a recognizable face backing a site. Even if you don’t know Tony G from his days in poker, you can search his name and see his credentials fairly easily. That, in our opinion, should give you some confidence that this isn’t a rogue outfit. What’s more, since G has been on both sides of the felt, as a player and a businessman, he’s better equipped to oversee reliable and well-run sportsbook than most.

In addition to G’s personal credentials, TonyBet is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Moreover, its software is certified as fair by Gaming Laboratories International (GLI). Finally, TonyBet is registered with IBAS, so all payout disputes are handled directly by an independent third party.

As a UKGc licensed site all player funds must be stored in secure, segregated bank accounts. TonyBet follows this meaning that you can be rest assured your money won’t go missing should the  company go bust. In terms of payment options, all deposits are completed instantly and are fee-free. Withdrawals are processed within 48 hours, which means you can expect to receive your funds within five days in most cases.

Although the banking options at TonyBet are fairly standard, there are a few things that could be improved. Firstly, there is a fee for multiple withdrawals. For example, if you’re cashing out money to your bank account, anything more than one request every 14 days will incur a £1.50 charge. For eWallet withdrawals, you’re only allowed one free withdrawal every 28 days.

Available for iOS and Android devices, the TonyBet sports app is one of the best we’ve seen with a simple but effective interface. Landing on the home screen you’ll see six icons that allow you to skip from sports to casino, poker and promotions. From there, everything works in a linear fashion. In practice, this means you’re taken from A to B automatically.

For example, when you click on sports, the list of available options appears. At this point, you can click on a sport and a list of subcategories appears i.e. country, teams, events etc. Finally, when you’ve narrowed down your search, the odds appear. Basically, the TonyBet app guides you through the entire process, from picking a sport to locking in your bet, so that you can get to the best odds in the quickest way possible.

Like other leading sports betting apps, push notifications, reality-check timers and deposit limits are all available inside TonyBet’s mobile app. However, the reason we think this app stands out is because it’s perfectly geared for novices. By guiding you through every step of the betting process, the app feels intuitive and not overwhelming. That allows you to focus on the actual odds rather than anything else. This, in turn, means you’re in a better position to find the best value possible.

TonyBet’s promotions start off with a 100% welcome bonus worth up to £200. Deposit matches are less common in sports than they are in the casino sector and there are benefits on both sides. Compared to traditional free bet welcome bonuses, you will have to work harder to unlock your credits. In this instance, you’ll have to wager your bonus ten times on events with odds of at least 1.65 i.e. 13/20. If you compare this to what Betfair has to offer (bet £10 once to receive £30 in free bets), you can see that there is more work to do at TonyBet.

The counter to this is that you get a lot more in terms of added value. Even if we look at one of the biggest bonuses on our best betting sites list, TonyBet’s is more lucrative. In our opinion, this type of offer is more suited to high-volume bettors. Because you’ll only have five days to meet the wagering requirements once a bonus is activated, you will need to be active to get maximum value from this deal.

Beyond the welcome offer, TonyBet features cashback offers, no goal no loss bonuses and enhanced odds promotions. One interesting thing to note is that the site focuses heavily on US sports. Although football makes an appearances, the promo team seems to have a particular penchant for basketball, which is great if you enjoy transatlantic action.

TonyBet has fewer sports listed than other sites offering 21 different sports compared to 36 at Paddy Power and 40+ at NetBet. Most UK punters wouldn’t be petrbed by the omission of minor sports, but not offering horse racing is a major omission, with racing offering such great scope for odds and action.

In terms of odds quality, TonyBet is slightly behind some of its peers. During our review, we compared the odds on Champions League match between Crvena Zvezda vs. Liverpool. Looking at the underdog in this case, Crvena Zvezda, TonyBet was offering 55/4 (equivalent to 13.75/1) while Paddy Power was offering 16/1. Although the difference wasn’t huge, it’s fair to say that TonyBet doesn’t offer as much value in some areas as other online bookies.

Like its pre-event betting lobby, TonyBet has fewer in-play options than many of its peers. Again, all the main bases are covered. One area where they do excel in in-play is eSports, with the TonyBet’s oddsmakers aiming to offer as many live odds on eSports markets events as possible. Beyond its betting options, TonyBet’s schedule feature is a nice touch. By clicking on the calendar, you can get an instant overview of the day’s action as well as a list of handy stats to help guide your picks.

Two major omissions on the live betting side are cashing out and live streaming – a must for any decent bookmaker.