Best 24 Champions League Betting Sites for the UK - 2023

Site Reviews

Here are our top ten sites for Champions League betting

#1 Champions League Betting Site - 888sport

#2 Champions League Betting Site - bet365

#3 Champions League Betting Site - BetVictor

#4 Champions League Betting Site - LeoVegas Sports

#5 Champions League Betting Site - Coral

#6 Champions League Betting Site - Grosvenor Sport

#7 Champions League Betting Site - Betiton

Introduction

The Champions League draws are out, and we can look forward to some tasty ties this year between Manchester City and PSG, Chelsea and Juventus, and Bayern Munich and Barcelona. For all football fans around the continent, this is an exciting competition as Europe’s elite come together and battle for the crown.

Containing the previous year’s best performers, it’s a competition that’s exciting to watch and even more exciting to bet on. In this guide, we’re going to cover all the information you need to get started. We’re going to address the features of advanced Champions League betting sites, the most popular betting types for the competition, and plenty of other details. Without further ado, let’s jump into it!

History of the Champions League

Back in 1992, UEFA wanted to overhaul the existing European Cup tournament, and the Champions League was born. Now synonymous with its goosebump-inducing theme tune, the rebranding hasn’t taken away from the memories built before 1992. For example, who could forget the fact that Nottingham Forest won back-to-back competitions in 1979 and 1980?

However, it’s fair to say that the Champions League has become even more illustrious ever since the new name. The competition is watched around the world, the draws themselves generate excitement, and the TV rights and sponsorship deals for the tournament can make the eyes water.

In the complete history of the European Cup and Champions League, Real Madrid have lifted the trophy the most times (13). With four wins since 2014 alone, they now sit comfortably clear of AC Milan who have won the competition seven times. After this, you’ll find Bayern Munich with six wins, Liverpool with six wins, and Barcelona with five wins.

Go back to the European Cup days and you’ll find winners such as Celtic, Steaua Bucharest, Benfica, Hamburg, and as mentioned previously, Nottingham Forest. As the game has evolved, another element has intrigued fans – betting.

What is the Champions League?

If you want to try out taking a punt on football – also known as soccer – but you don’t really know much about the sport, you might be asking yourself what exactly is the Champions League? The origins of this yearly tournament date back to 1955 when 16 teams took part in the then-called European Cup. It has expanded ever since, changing its name to the Union of European Football Associations Champions League in 1992 (UEFA Champions League, or UCL, for short.)

Originally the competition was made up of four knockout rounds, but in 1960 an extra round was added and the number of teams competing doubled. The teams were split into groups of four, with each team playing the three others. Then two teams from each group advance and compete in the knockout process.

Only the top division clubs get to play in the Champions League, and it is one of the most prestigious footballing competitions. Nowadays, the tournament lasts all year, with the preliminary and qualifying rounds taking place in late June, and the final occurring in late May or early June the following year. Six rounds take place before the final 32 teams are selected to begin the competition in earnest. The top four teams from England, Germany, Spain, and Italy automatically qualify for the group stage of the Champions League as those nations are ranked the highest in UEFAs coefficient. Any European team can be put forward for the preliminaries, and in 2021/22 teams from the Netherlands, Portugal, Turkey, Belgium, Ukraine, Sweden, Austria, Moldova, Switzerland, and Russia also competed.

Other unique aspects of this tournament are that, after the first qualifying round, the losing teams then enter either the Europa League or the Europa Conference League and there are two paths to the Champions League. The first is the Champions Path, which is made up of any league champion that does not qualify to go directly to the group stage. The League Path consists of all leagues non-champions which do not qualify directly for the group stage. Each year the final is held in a different country, with the 2023 final due to take place in Turkey at Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium.

Champions League Schedule

The following schedule is for the Champions League 2022/23 season

What	When	Why
Preliminary Round Semi-finals	June 21st	Four teams from associations 52-55 are selected to compete from the UEFA coefficients who compete in two games
Preliminary Round final	June 24h	The two winners from the previous round compete
First qualifying round	July 5th, 6th, 12th, and 13th	33 teams from associations 18-51 join the winner from the preliminary round.
Second qualifying round Champions Path	July 19th, 20th, 26th, and 27th	3 champions teams from associations 15-17 compete alongside the 17 winners from the first qualifying round.
Second qualifying round League Path	July 19th, 20th, 26th, and 27th	6 runners-up from associations 13-14
Third qualifying round Champions Path	August 2nd, 3rd & 9th	10 winners from the previous round are joined by two champion teams from associations 13-14
Third qualifying round League Path	August 2nd, 3rd & 9th	The three winners from the League path second qualifying round compete with 3 runners-up from associations 7-9 and 2 third-place teams from associations 5-6
Play-off round Champions path	August 16th, 17th, 23rd, and 24th	The 6 winners from the Champions Path third qualifying round are joined by 2 champions from associations 11-12
Play-off round League Path	August 16th, 17th, 23rd, and 24th	The 4 winners from the League Path third qualifying round compete.
Group Stage	Six matchdays from 6th September to the 2nd of November	This is the actual start of the Champions League, and 32 teams begin to compete for the title. These teams are the 4 winners from the Champions Path and the 2 winners from the League path, plus the teams that qualify to go directly to this stage. These teams are the UEFA Champions League title holders, the UEFA Europa League title holders, 10 champions from associations 1-10, 6 runners up from associations 1-6, 4 third place and 4 forth place teams from associations 1-4.
Knockout phase – round of 16	8 games from the 14th of February to 15th of March	8 group winners and 8 group runners up compete to make it to the quarterfinals.
Quarterfinals	April 11th, 12th, 18th, 19th	The 8 winners from the knockout phase compete
Semi-Finals	May 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th	The four remaining teams compete against each other to decide who will compete in the final
Champions League Final	10th of June	The surviving teams face off to win the Champions League title and secure their place in next years tournament.

How to bet on the Champions League

As on of the most prestigious football competitions, Champions League betting brings punters from across Europe and beyond. If you fancy getting in on the action here’s our quick guide to the types of bets, you can make on the Champions League. Keep reading for a thorough breakdown of each type of bet.

Moneyline	Bet on three possible outcomes; away team win, home team win, or draw
Spread/Goal Line	Bet on the total number of goals scored
Over/under	Bet on whether the number of goals scored in the game will be over or under sportsbook’s goal line
Win In Shutout / Win to Nil	Bet that the winning team will be the only team that scores
Outright winner	Bet on the overall winner of the Champions League

Moneyline

Moneyline is probably the one everyone thinks of first when betting on any football match. You simply bet on the outcome of the match. In Champions league game you can put money on a home team win, an away team win or a draw. All Champions League moneyline bets are settled at the end of “Regular Time,” which in this case is 90 minutes plus injury time. It is important to note that in the Knockout stage games can go into extra time in the teams aggregated scoreline is a draw. If the teams are still tied at the end of extra time they engage in a penalty shootout, but moneyline bets are still settled on the result at the end of Regular Time.

Champions League moneyline bets also give you the opportunity to bet “Draw No Bet” which takes a tied result out of the options. If the game, you bet on does result in a draw your money is refunded.

Spread/Goal Line

To bet the spread / goal line you try and predict the number of goals a team will score in total. Sportsbooks will usually offer one goal line for games, and the figure will be displayed next to the team’s name typically as -0.5 or +0.5 but it can go all the way up to 3.5 goals. A plus figure means that the team would only need to draw with their opponents for you to win, but a team with a minus figure would have to beat the opposing team by a certain number of points for you to cash your bet.

Totals or Over/Under

Another way to bet on the total goals is to wager on whether the number of goals scored would be over or under the sportsbook’s goal line. The bookie will set a total, such as 1.5, and punters can bet on whether they think the total goals will be over or under this amount. If the final score is two goals or more, those who bet over would win. If the total goals were one or less, anyone betting under would win. This type of bet can also be placed on the number of bookings, corners, or any other kind of match stats. You can also bet on the total goals scored by individual players, one team, or overall goals in the match.

Win in Shutout / Win to Nil

Win to Nil is when you bet that your chosen team will be the only team that scores. It doesn’t matter how many goals your team scores, as long as their opponent doesn’t score at all. This bet often has good odds and can be a great option if a favourite team is playing a smaller club that typically plays defensively.

Outright winner

Betting on the outright winner can be a bit of a long shot, as there are so many rounds and variables. Betting on the outright winner is usually best if you just want to support your favourite team, and not if you actually want to make money. Of course, you can get lucky, but betting on an outright winner is not the best strategy if you want to make money from Champions League betting.

Popular Bets with the Champions League

Later, we’ll finish with some advice for Champions League betting, but what are some popular betting types? Ultimately, they can be split into three:

Season-Long Bets

As the name suggests, these are the selections you make at the beginning of the season and that don’t have an outcome until May. For example, you may place money on Manchester City to win the tournament. This would be a good choice considering that most bookies have the club in the top two favourites (alongside PSG).

Elsewhere, you might bet on a team to make it to the final, a player to win the golden boot, or the winner to come from a certain group. Since Manchester City and PSG are in the same group this year, nobody would blame you for choosing this one.

Mid-Season Bets

Due to the format of the Champions League, some bettors choose to re-evaluate their decisions in the middle of the season. Once the group stages are finished, the tournament moves into the knockout phases, and this is a fresh start for betting if everything has gone wrong so far. You might select a new winner, winners from fixtures, or a team to reach the final.

Individual Game Bets

Finally, these are the bets that we’ve all come to know and love. You’ll look at Champions League fixtures and choose from the many markets. If Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid takes your fancy, you’ll find the following markets (and so many more!):

• Outright winner
• Both teams to score
• Team to score first
• Player to score first
• Booking points
• Number of goals
• Result and both to score
• Double chance
• Draw no bet

These days, the number of markets available for a single fixture is almost endless, so you’re almost certain to find something you like.

What to look for

There are a number of things you can do if you want to successfully bet on the Champions League. However, keep in mind that there is no such thing as a sure bet and even if you follow all our tips there is still the chance that you could lose. It’s worth stating at this point to never wager more than you can afford to lose, and always gamble responsibly.

With that said, here are some tips on what to watch when betting on the Champions League.

Research

This probably seems like the most obvious tip, but it is also the best way to try and win. Research the teams and watch the preliminary matches to see if there are any teams to watch if they make it to the group stage. This may seem like a lot of work, especially if you aren’t an avid football fan, but it will pay off in the long run

Focus your efforts

As 32 teams make it to the group stage, you don’t want to go betting on every team or game. Research the teams and pick a few to watch, then bet on them exclusively. This will limit your betting, and how much you could lose!

Compare sportsbooks

As everything in online, it’s easy to shop around to find the best deal. Many sites will also offer Champions League free bets, so it’s definitely smart to look at several different sportsbooks to get the best odds and the best price with some Champions League betting offers to boot. Not only that, but some bookies may also offer better odds. Scroll to the end of the article for our review of ten sportsbooks that take Champions League bets.

Do’s and Don’t of Champions League betting

Do	Don’t
Research teams that you want to bet on	Bet randomly or have a wild guess
Focus on a few teams	Bet on every game
Shop around for the best price	Go with the first sportsbook you come across

Tips for Champions League Betting – Things to Know

Be Aware

Firstly, it’s important to be aware of the circumstances surrounding fixtures in the Champions League. For instance, a classic mistake is to bet on favourites in the final group game. However, if they have already qualified, there’s a chance that this team will rest their biggest names. Suddenly, they’re one-nil down to a small team and you’re left red-faced.

Also, be aware of where games are being played. While away goals aren’t applicable in UEFA competitions from the 2021/2022 season, home advantage is still common in football.

Look for Promotions

As mentioned, promotions are common in the Champions League where the tournament is so big right across the continent. Look for odds boosts, money back offers, acca boosts, risk-free bets, free bets, and various other special offers. Promotions are valuable because they either give you something for free, remove risk, or increase winnings.

Bet Accumulators Early

During the group stages, you won’t believe your luck with the number of amazing games on the TV. However, this competition soon dies down and your chance of accumulators across one or two nights almost disappear by Christmas. At this stage, 32 teams become 16, and this halves again just two games later. If you want to place outrageous accumulators on the Champions League, do it during the group stages while every team is still in the competition

Budget Carefully

With fixtures coming thick and fast, it’s easy to keep placing money without realising how much you’ve spent already. Therefore, always budget carefully and only stake money that you’re happy to lose. If you start betting away important money, reconsider your approach and perhaps even explore the responsible gambling features on the platform.

Monitor Stats

If you’re all about live betting, either watch fixtures live or keep an eye on the stats on your betting platform. The very best websites allow you to track match statistics as the game takes place. By doing this, you can make accurate decisions (and hopefully find rewards in the shape of profit!).

Try Different Bets

Finally, try different bets, perhaps even some markets you haven’t tried before. Also, create a blend of season-long bets and individual match bets. This way, you get the most from your experience and enjoy Champions League betting.

With this, you have a full guide on Champions League betting sites, what to look for, popular markets, and even some advice to set you on the right path. Read on to take a more in-depth look at Champions League betting sites.

Guide to betting on the Champions League

Below is a guide to placing a bet on a Champions League game. For this example, I have used 888bet.

Most websites require you to sign up before you can make a bet, but all off them will want you to sign up before you get any offers, so you’ll defiantly want to create an account even if you don’t have to! On 888 Sport’s landing page, press the yellow “Join Now” button at the top right-hand corner.

888 Sport have a three-stage sign-up process. First, you’ll enter your name, country of residence, email, and date of birth. They’ll also need you to check a box confirming you are over 18 and that you agree to the Terms and Conditions.

Next, choose your username, pick a password, and set your security question.

In the last stage you’ll give your address, mobile number, and occupation as well as choose what currency you want to use. Keep in mind that you can’t change the currency from here, and any withdrawals will also be in your chosen currency…so choose wisely!

Now you’re all logged in, you can place a deposit and start betting. The deposit button is located where the register button was displayed previously, at the top right corner of the screen.

The minimum deposit you can make is £10, and you can deposit in increments of £10. Maximum deposit limits vary depending on your account, but you can raise the limit by properly verifying your account.

Deposits usually take around 10 minuets to show in your account, however some banking options can take up to 7 days, so it might be worth checking out the deposit process time frames before you choose your banking option.

Once your deposit is showing in your 888 Sport account, you are good to go!

To find bets on the Champions League, select the football header.

Next select Competitions.

Click on the Europe drop-down menu.

Now select UEFA Champions League.

You can now choose to bet on a particular team, or the outright winner of the competition. I chose to bet on Olympique Marseille.

You can then choose the particulars of what you want to bet on. All the options are displayed here for you to explore, and you can quickly find what you want by using the headers or browse “All Markets.”

I chose to bet on their next match being a draw. To do this you click on the box that displays the odds and your bet will appear in the side panel on the right.

Now you can choose how much you want to bet. Click on the “stake” button and enter how much you want to wager.

And that’s it! You can make as many bets as you want or choose to amalgamate them into an accumulator. 888 Sport also have a great feature of a dropdown box that shows you what other people who made the same bet as you are betting on. This gives you more options to place bets without having to do much searching.

All the options will be shown on the drop down for you to scroll through.

Now you have a little bit more information about how to bet on the Champions League, we’ll take a look at where you might want to bet. But before we do that, lets explore some of the features you should expect in a decent Champions League betting site.

Features of an Advanced Champions League Betting Site

With so many options from which to choose, how do you get started on your Champions League betting journey? We’re going to uncover some of the secrets today. Unfortunately, it’s not a simple case of saying one name because the best site for everybody else isn’t necessarily the best site for you. While you can certainly listen to recommendations, it’s best to consider your own circumstances first.

Your Needs

With this in mind, the first consideration to keep in mind is your own needs. If you forget your needs when researching different betting sites, you aren’t going to get an enjoyable experience in the end. It’s like shopping for a house forgetting that you need three bedrooms and a garden.

Do you want a mobile app? Do you look for promotions? Do you need the betting app to have certain depositing and withdrawal methods? Do you need in-depth in-play markets?

Champions League Promotions

Next, an advanced Champions League betting site will have specific promotions and special offers for this competition. For instance, you might get a boost on successful accumulators or a special for particular teams to win. Some bookies choose three teams and then boost the price of the treble to entice players.

Since the Champions League is the largest club competition in Europe, you can expect most bookies to offer enhanced odds, sign-up offers, money back guarantees, and other promotions leading up to big fixtures.

Lots of Markets

Furthermore, another feature you want in a Champions League betting site is plenty of markets per fixture. As well as outright markets, you need booking points, corners, goal scorers, both teams to score, both teams to score in both halves, number of goals, and lots more. The more markets, the more flexibility you have with betting.

Live Betting

At first, live betting was a luxury feature. Something that offered a fun experience but wasn’t make or break. Now, no betting site is complete without live betting. While watching games on the TV, you want to make decisions on the fly and allow your friends to applaud you as your genius is rewarded (or keep the bet quiet after everything goes wrong!). Make sure your chosen Champions League betting site has good live betting markets for the competition.

Additional Features

Other considerations to keep in mind include customer support, depositing and withdrawal methods, odds, responsible gambling features, and security. With this last point, you don’t want issues with security when you’re entering personal details and banking information. You can also look out for acca insurance, bet builders, cash out, and live streaming (though this is unlikely with such a competitive TV rights market!).