Ever since I was a kid, I have wanted to visit Europe. Its vast range of cultures, climates, and languages has always appealed to me. Now that I’m both into traveling and sports betting, I decided it was the perfect time to go.
As you may well know, Europeans are passionate about their sports. The English, French, and Italians love football (and I mean the European version, not American football), while over in Eastern Europe, basketball is huge. And that’s just a couple of examples.
This passion for sports also fuels the betting industry. During my trip, I came across many great European bookmakers, and now I’m ready to share my findings. Here’s my guide to the beautiful continent of Europe and the top EU sportsbooks.
Let’s begin!
European Betting Sites
- MyStake: Top choice overall – €600 sports bonus
- Rolletto: Runner-up
- Goldenbet: Best for live betting
- Freshbet: Great horse racing odds
- Donbet: Best betting bonuses
What I Did in Europe
It’s pretty overwhelming how many countries there are in Europe. I wanted to visit all of them, but that would have taken forever, and I only had the budget for a couple of weeks.
So, the first thing I did was decide where to start. It made sense to begin at the North-Western point of the continent, so I kicked off my trip with a flight to Manchester, England. What a city! The music and history there are particularly amazing.
Next, I went down to the capital, London, and was shocked to find that it’s just as big as any city in the U.S. I felt like I was in New York – but better.
I also used my time here to check out the beautiful Hippodrome Casino, which I was told was the most famous in London. And boy, I was not disappointed. It’s an exceptional place, and I had an amazing time (even though I lost a fair amount of money…). I also bet on some rugby while I was there, though I wasn’t very good at it.
Next, I took a train under the sea (!) to get to Paris. This beautiful, historic city is packed with exciting things to do, and one of the highlights of my stay was visiting the luxurious Casino de Paris, where I spent quite some time playing roulette. I also went to the Stade de France to watch a football match and place some bets.
After that, I traveled through Germany, Czechia, and Vienna, checking out various sporting events and placing bets on the teams I came across. I then made my way up into the Baltics via Poland, stopping in Latvia and Lithuania for some basketball matches and betting.
All in all, this turned out to be one of the best trips of my life. I can’t wait to go back to see more of the continent. After all, there are still plenty of retail sportsbooks and online sports betting sites to check out in the countries I haven’t visited yet.
European Sports Betting Sites I Tried
It seems that most Europeans prefer to bet on sports online rather than in a retail sportsbook. That makes a lot of sense now that I’ve tried out a few online sports betting sites in the region – they’re packed with free bets and competitive odds.
Fortunately, I met some very friendly people on my travels who recommended a wide range of online betting sites available across various European countries. Here are the online bookmakers I liked best at the end of my research.
MyStake
It appears that MyStake is known for its wide range of betting markets across an immense variety of sports. They offer over 1,500 markets most days, spanning more than 20 sports.
But what excited me the most was the number of markets within each sport. At the end of the day, there are only so many sports that each European bettor will want to wager on, but each one is covered with plenty of events and prop bets.
I was told that a generous deposit match awaits all new players who sign up for an account here. Of course, I claimed it – after all, it only required a €20 deposit to activate, and I received a 120% match up to €600 in bonus funds. The wagering requirements are set at 10x.
Other players also praised the banking setup, as there are numerous payment methods to choose from, and payouts are typically processed on the same day they’re requested.
Rolletto
As you probably know, football is the most popular sport in most European countries, including Italy, Spain, and Germany. A lot of players in these countries have been using Rolletto to bet on it.
The main reason for this, from what I found, is the pure range of markets available. Rolleto seems to cover the majority of football matches from across Europe and beyond, meaning you can even bet on lower-league football if you get bored of the EPL and La Liga.
It also offers prop bets, such as the number of yellow cards or corner kicks, even for lower-league games. The attention to detail in these markets is impressive, no matter where or at what level you’re betting.
Interestingly, Rolleto also sneaked into my list of the best online casinos Europe has to offer because of its high-quality games and bonuses.
Goldenbet
Sports bettors in Europe tend to go to Goldenbet for their live betting, as it is well known for its strong in-play betting tools. These include fast odds updates that react to changes in real-time, ensuring the value for cash-out options and in-play bets.
The site also offers plenty of live graphics and streams, providing real-time insights into each match. The goal is to help players get a clearer picture of how a game is unfolding, allowing them to make more informed betting decisions.
Many players have also praised this EU sportsbook for its bonus offers, which include ongoing promotions like a 3 + 1 free bet deal and a generous deposit match for new sign-ups. These bonuses can also be used for live betting, improving the overall experience.
Freshbet
A lot of players in Europe turn to Freshbet for horse racing betting, mainly due to its extensive coverage of races that it covers from around the world. Most of these races also feature a variety of bet types beyond just picking the winning horse and jockey.
I was also told that Freshbet is one of the best sites for horse racing odds, both for pre-race and live betting, and I can definitely confirm that. This means players can maximize their winnings when their bets hit – ultimately giving them a bigger bankroll for future wagers.
Freshbet is also well known for having one of the most user-friendly websites, whether on desktop or mobile devices. Many players have praised its sleek design, which makes navigation easy and smooth on any screen size.
Donbet
There’s a lot of buzz around Donbet’s sports betting bonuses at the moment, especially the welcome offer for new players in the region. The percentage here is larger than most other Europe betting sites, meaning players can claim more bonus cash for the same deposit.
The bonus is a 120% match up to €600. Most other sites (except MyStake), as I was told by players during my travels, typically offer a 100% match. If that is the case – and it certainly seems to be – then that extra 20% can make a real difference for players.
There are also ongoing promotions, such as a 3 + 1 free bet deal, odds boosters, re-up offers, and more. Other players have mentioned that they use these frequently to stretch their bankrolls and get more value while betting on the site.
Land-Based Sportsbooks I Visited Across Europe
As mentioned, Europeans tend to be more interested in betting online than they are in any retail sportsbooks across the continent. But that’s not to say that there aren’t any good land-based betting establishments in various countries. In fact, there are plenty. Here are some of the best ones I checked out.
William Hill – A Historic British Betting Establishment
The famous William Hill has been around since 1934. It really is one of the oldest sports betting shops in the world, which made me more excited about visiting the place.
Most of its locations are in the UK, though it does have a few stores in other parts of Europe. I chose to visit one of the many in London, specifically the one in Soho.
The space was a bit small, but that didn’t bother me as I was attracted to the traditional aesthetic of it all. Despite going down more of an old-school route with the design, the technology is very modern, making it easy to place bets through one of the machines.
Plus, there are plenty of TVs where you can watch the matches and races.
Tipico – Famous for Sports Betting in Germany
I stopped by Tipico when I visited Munich, Germany, as I had heard that the chain was one of the most popular for various sports in Germany and surrounding countries. I was not disappointed.
The store in Munich itself is very large and was quite busy when I stopped by on a Saturday afternoon. Nonetheless, I found it really easy to place my bets. Just like William Hill, it also has plenty of TV screens to keep you updated on the sports you’re betting on.
Bwin – Massive Sports Betting Shop Across Continental Europe
Bwin isn’t available in the UK, but it’s a massive chain across countries such as Austria, Germany, and Spain. In fact, it’s one of the biggest in Europe as a whole.
The fact that it sponsors so many major football teams in various leagues, like Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, and Union Berlin, says a lot about the success of the business.
When I stopped by the location in Vienna, I could see why people took this bookmaker so seriously. The betting shop itself was super clean and shiny, and I found it really easy to use the machines inside to place my bets on a wide range of European betting markets.
What I Learned About Betting on Sports in Europe
My journey through the world of EU sports betting sites taught me a few key things that will certainly help me with gambling anywhere else I choose to participate in it across the globe.
Europe Loves a Range of Sports
First of all, there are lots of different sports that are popular to bet on in Europe. Most players like to bet on football, but basketball, cricket, and hockey are popular too, as well as a whole lot of other sports.
American Sports Are Gaining Popularity
A few years back, nobody in Europe wanted to watch or bet on any sports like our version of football or baseball. Nowadays, people in Europe are getting more and more into these sports.
Bonus Offers Can Be Bigger
There are a lot of online sports betting sites in Europe offering large bonus offers. Some of these offers can be more generous than they are in other parts of the world.
Odds Vary Between Sports and Sites
I found a lot of variety between the odds for individual sports betting markets at many sites. It’s best to use an odds comparison tool if you like to bet on the same types of markets most of the time.
Country Availability Varies Between Sites
Each online betting site in Europe has a specific list of countries from which it allows players to sign up. Make sure to check these out before you get too excited about signing up for a specific site.
The European Sports Betting World Is One of a Kind
So, to summarize, Europe really is a mighty fine place to bet on sports. The passion for sports in general, across almost all of the countries in the continent, is very obvious from the moment you touch down. And this translates well to gambling, both online and in-person.
I found that some of the cities I was least excited about turned out to be the best, such as Kaunas in Lithuania and Vienna in Austria. I’d like to go back again and try out a few more of these. Next time, I want to go to Estonia and then take the ferry up to Finland.
My trip to the continent allowed me to pick out some excellent European bookmakers, both online and retail. I hope that you manage to take something away from this information and have some fun using the top betting sites for yourself.
European Betting Sites – FAQs
I’ve been asked a lot of questions about the best sports betting sites in Europe and about betting in the continent in general. Here are my answers to the most common questions.
What’s the Best Time of Year to Go to Europe for Betting?
I’d probably recommend going to most European countries during the summer. Europe can be pretty cold and wet in the winter. That being said, I’ve heard that some countries are great to go to during the winter, such as Norway and Sweden.
Which Country Is Best for European Sportsbooks?
England and Germany are probably the best countries to go to for sports betting. Each of them has great online and retail bookmakers.
Which Country in Europe Is Most Budget-Friendly to Visit?
I really recommend checking out Lithuania if you want to save some cash on your trip. This country is super affordable. The same can be said for Poland and Latvia.
Which Is the Best Online Betting Site in Europe?
Many players in Europe told me that the best online betting site in Europe is MyStake. This is the site I heard the most buzz about. I checked it out for myself and found it to be very safe, with a lot of markets to bet on. I can see why it’s recommended.
What’s the Most Underrated Country to Visit in Europe?
I would say that the country I visited that I liked the most, to my surprise, was Czechia.
Of course, everybody knows about Prague and loves it. But I went to some smaller towns and cities and fell in love with the culture of the country as a whole.
Is There Anything Specific I Need to Pack to Go to Europe?
What you need to pack for a trip to Europe depends on the time of year you want to go and the weather conditions. Just base your packing decisions on that.
One piece of advice I should give on this matter is to check the local currency for the countries you want to visit and bring some cash to cover that. Most countries in Europe use the Euro, but not all. For example, Poland uses the Zloty, and not all establishments take cards there.
Gambling is risky. 21+ only. Please call 1-800-GAMBLER or seek help at gamblersanonymous.org if you have a gambling problem.
