Ladbrokes is one of the most established and trusted names in UK betting. With decades of experience providing wagering services, Ladbrokes has built a strong reputation.
And with their user-friendly platform, you may be considering joining the legions of Ladbrokes customers.
In this review, we will help you decide if Ladbrokes is the right fit for your betting needs. We’ll highlight the key pros and cons of the Ladbrokes product based on our personal experience.
You’ll see breakdowns of their interface, betting options, promotions and more – everything you need to make an informed decision about using Ladbrokes.
Throughout this Ladbrokes review, we will evaluate the platform’s primary features using a qualitative, points-based scale. These points will be converted into star ratings.
For more information on how we test view here.
Overall Rating – 4.3 stars
Overall, we give Ladbrokes a rating of 4.3 stars, based on an overall score of 79 and an average of 87%.
Ladbrokes is a very solid betting platform for UK players. The site and apps provide a smooth user experience for accessing extensive betting markets.
While the odds and live streams lag slightly behind some competitors, Ladbrokes still delivers a comprehensive, quality product.
We would recommend Ladbrokes for its breadth of markets, smooth performance, safety, and responsive support.
Minor drawbacks like limited live streams and niche sports are outweighed by Ladbrokes’ overall capabilities as a leading UK betting site.
It provides a solid platform for casual and serious punters alike.
Here’s a breakdown of how Ladbrokes performed:
Category | Points | Star Rating |
|---|---|---|
Safety | 9 | 5 stars |
Mobile betting app | 10 | 5 stars |
Website | 8 | 4 stars |
Deposits & withdrawals | 9 | 4.5 stars |
Markets | 8 | 4 stars |
Pre-match betting | 8 | 4 stars |
In-play betting | 9 | 4.5 stars |
Welcome offer | 10 | 5 stars |
Customer service | 8 | 4 stars |
Here’s a rundown of the overall pros and cons of Ladbrokes:
Pros
Established, trusted UK betting brand
Slick, efficient mobile app
Competitive odds on UK horse racing
Extensive sports betting markets
Generous welcome bonus
Cons
Slightly dated website design
Fewer live streams than some competitors
Safety – 5 stars
With licensing from the UK Gambling Commission and robust responsible gambling features, Ladbrokes provides a secure environment for players.
Licences
Ladbrokes is operated by LC International Limited, who are licensed and regulated by the British Gambling Commission.
This ensures Ladbrokes adheres to strict standards for fair games, player protection, and safe handling of funds.
Security
Ladbrokes uses SSL encryption and secure login protocols to protect personal and financial data. Players can feel confident their information and accounts are secure.
Responsible Gambling
Ladbrokes places a distinct emphasis on responsible gambling. After account creation, players can immediately set deposit limits to restrict spending.
Other controls include loss limits, time-outs, self-exclusions and more. Ladbrokes also provides external links for those needing help with problem gambling.
Privacy
A comprehensive privacy policy outlines how Ladbrokes handles and safeguards personal data. Players can access this to understand their rights.
Pros
UK Gambling Commission oversight
Robust responsible gambling features
Encryption protects data
Cons
None
Mobile Betting App – 5 stars
Ladbrokes’ mobile app is available for free download via the App Store and Google Play, satisfying both Apple and Android users.
Overall, the app provides a slick and user-friendly experience for betting on the go.
Look and Feel
As expected from a major brand, the Ladbrokes app is well-designed. The colour scheme makes it instantly identifiable as a Ladbrokes platform.
The layout is similar to other sports betting apps with main menus at the top and popular betting markets underneath.
You can smoothly scroll to find the exact match or league you want to wager on. The app works flawlessly without any glitches or issues.
In-play betting functionality has been improved for a streamlined user experience.
Making a Bet
Placing wagers via the app is incredibly straightforward. The odds load rapidly so you can bet in-play with ease.
A few taps bring up bet slips to enter your stake amount. You’ll know potential returns before confirming bets.
User Experience
Navigating all sections of the app feels seamless. Switching between sports or casino gaming is accomplished in seconds.
The search feature makes finding specific events simple. Bets update live so you can track results in real time. Banking options allow smooth deposits and hassle-free withdrawals.
We especially like the Responsible Gambling section with customisable limits and filters. Quick logout boosts account security.
Overall, the Ladbrokes app offers an excellent experience for all player types thanks to its intuitive design and extensive wagering functionality.
Check out our roundup of the best UK betting apps to see how Ladbrokes compares.
Pros
Efficient navigation and bet placement
Rapid odds updates and cashouts
Cons
None
Website – 4 stars
Ladbrokes betting website offers a slick user experience with a timeless design and excellent technical performance.
Look and Feel
The classic red-and-white colour scheme creates brand familiarity throughout the site. The layout avoids flashy gimmicks in favour of a clean organisation.
While some may find the structure slightly busy, key information is prioritised effectively.
Featured live betting events and markets dominate the homepage, with extensive sports and racing options listed A-Z on the left side menu.
Despite the density of links and tabs, the betting process itself remains simple with the bet slip conveniently fixed to the right side once selections are made.
User Experience
Navigating Ladbrokes is highly efficient overall, if not the most intuitive at first glance.
The homepage may seem crowded but once you get accustomed to the different elements, finding markets and placing wagers is smooth.
Technical performance is flawless with speedy page loads and glitch-free bet placement.
Pros
Timeless, recognisable design
Technically flawless performance
Prominent live betting options
Handy bet slip function
Cons
Menu organisation confusing at first
Dated feel to some design elements
Deposits and Withdrawals – 4.5 stars
Ladbrokes simplifies the process of managing your funds, offering a seamless experience with enough payment options to suit most users.
The platform stands out for its no-fee policy on transactions, although it doesn’t support cryptocurrencies.
Deposits
Depositing at Ladbrokes is a breeze, thanks to the variety of payment options available:
Debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro)
PayPal
Paysafecard
The minimum deposit amount varies by payment method: £5 for debit cards and Paysafecard, and £10 for PayPal users.
The maximum deposit limit is set at £2,000 across all methods, ensuring flexibility for different types of bettors.
Depositing is as simple as clicking the ‘Deposit’ icon at the top of the homepage, selecting your preferred payment method, and following the prompts to complete the transaction.
The process is designed for ease of use, allowing you to enter bonus codes and fund your account without hassle.
Making a Deposit
To fund your Ladbrokes account, just:
Navigate to the ‘Deposit’ section after logging in
Choose your payment method
Enter the amount and complete any required financial details
Confirm to see your funds appear instantly
Withdrawals
Ladbrokes offers a variety of withdrawal methods, though it’s worth noting that Paysafecard is not available for payouts.
Instead, options like Fast Bank Transfers are introduced, with funds typically arriving within five banking days.
Debit card withdrawals are processed within one to three banking days, while PayPal stands out for its efficiency, with requests processed in just eight hours.
The minimum withdrawal amount is £5 for most methods, but NETELLER and bank transfers require a minimum of £10.
Pros
A straightforward deposit and withdrawal process
A broad selection of payment options
No fees for transactions
Quick processing times, especially for PayPal withdrawals
Cons
No cryptocurrency options
Paysafecard cannot be used for withdrawals
Markets – 4 stars
Ladbrokes stands out with its impressive depth of markets, catering to a diverse range of sports enthusiasts.
Sports
Ladbrokes offers an extensive selection of sports, with over 35 sports available for betting.
This includes popular sports like football, horse racing, and tennis, as well as a variety of niche sports such as Aussie Rules, badminton, and volleyball.
Football enthusiasts can enjoy multiple bets per event, covering leagues from the Premier League to La Liga, with options for match winners, both teams to score, and more.
Horse racing is another strong suit for Ladbrokes, with competitive odds and a variety of bet types.
The bookmaker also provides a comprehensive live betting service, enhancing the excitement of in-play wagering.
Additionally, live streaming is available, allowing bettors to watch the action unfold in real time.
Odds
Ladbrokes is known for offering competitive odds, particularly for UK and Irish horse racing. Their experience in the industry is reflected in the attractive prices they provide.
While their football odds are comparable to other leading bookmakers, they also offer a wide range of betting options across various sports, ensuring bettors have access to the best possible betting scenarios.
Pros
Extensive selection of over 35 sports
Competitive odds, especially for UK & Irish horse racing
Comprehensive live betting and streaming services
Offers niche markets, including politics, TV shows, and more
Cons
Odds for some sports, like golf, may not be as competitive
Pre-Match Betting – 4 stars
Ladbrokes lives up to its reputation as a premier UK bookmaker thanks to its expansive sportsbook covering diverse sports.
Coverage
As expected from a leading bookie, Ladbrokes covers an enormous range of sports leagues and events.
Football takes centre stage with betting markets offered for matches big and small. You can bet on everything from Premier League games to pre-season friendlies.
For a typical football match, dozens of markets are available like correct score, both teams to score, first goalscorer, etc along with Asian handicaps and totals.
Ladbrokes also covers emerging esports extensively. You can bet on major tournaments for games like CS:GO, LoL, Dota 2 and more.
Bet Builder
Ladbrokes offers a flexible bet builder tool to combine different markets into a single bet. You can add up to 6 selections from markets like over/under goals, correct score, goalscorers, etc.
The bet builder allows you to get better odds than a regular accumulator on your customised bet.
Pros
Broad coverage of major and niche sports
Excellent range of football betting markets
Competitive odds but not industry-best
Useful bet builder feature
Easy-to-use mobile app
Cons
Less extensive coverage for some emerging sports
Odds still include significant vigorish
In-Play Betting – 4.5 stars
Ladbrokes offers an excellent in-play betting experience, with a wide range of events, plenty of markets per event, and valuable game stats and live scores.
The intuitive live interface makes it easy to find the events you want to bet on. Simply click on an event to view dynamically updating odds as well as options to stream matches live.
Markets
You’ll find a huge variety of in-play betting opportunities across popular sports like football, tennis, cricket, and more.
There are hundreds of potential outcomes to bet on like match winners, total goals, next goalscorer, and other in-game events.
The odds shift to reflect the probabilities as the game situation changes.
Bet & Watch
Ladbrokes integrates seamless live streaming directly into the platform for several sports. This allows you to view the action and quickly place bets without leaving the site.
With football, tennis, horse racing and other streams, Ladbrokes has you covered for immersive in-play wagering.
To access most streams you simply need funds in your Ladbrokes account. Horse racing streams require a small bet on the race itself.
This bet and watch capability makes for an exciting and intuitive experience.
Live Scores and Match Stats
Valuable game stats, possession data, shots on goal, and more are also available alongside live scores.
These insights help inform your in-play decisions. You can track key metrics and spot betting opportunities that may not be visible from just watching.
Pros
Intuitive live interface
Huge variety of in-play markets
Integrated streaming for immersive betting
Informative game stats and live scores
Cons
Fewer streams than some competitors
Welcome Bonus – 5 stars
Ladbrokes currently offers an excellent welcome bonus for new UK customers, providing great value to kickstart your betting.
2024 Bonus
The specifics of the offer are as follows:
Bet £5 on any market with odds of 1.50 or higher
Receive 4x £5 free bets automatically
Total bonus value = £20 in free bets
Wagering requirement = none! Winnings can be withdrawn
By placing just a fiver on your initial bet, you unlock £20 in bonus funds. This allows you to explore Ladbrokes’ platform and markets risk-free.
With no limitations on withdrawing winnings, it’s an easy offer to take advantage of.
How to Redeem
Claiming this welcome bonus takes just a couple of minutes:
Click the exclusive bonus link to reach the offer
Register a new account and enter bonus code: 20FREE
Deposit £5+ via the “My Account” section
Place a £5 qualifying bet at minimum odds of 1.50
4x £5 free bets will be credited upon bet settlement
Comparative Offers
After reviewing competitors, Ladbrokes has a best-in-class welcome bonus for UK players.
A 400% matched deposit bonus of up to £20 is an industry-leading incentive.
The simple and quick redemption process is another advantage over rivals.
Additionally, the ability to withdraw winnings from the free bets sets Ladbrokes apart.
This bonus provides outstanding value for new customers.
Pros
400% matched bonus up to £20
Easy redemption process
Free bet winnings can be withdrawn
Best welcome incentive among UK bookies
Cons
None
Customer Service – 4 stars
Ladbrokes offers an extensive customer support service through various channels like live chat, email, and social media.
While not perfect, they provide timely responses and are generally helpful in resolving queries.
Live Chat
Getting quick help is easy with Ladbrokes’ live chat feature available on their site and app. Agents typically respond within a few minutes and can handle most basic questions.
However, live chat is only available during UK daytime hours. For more complex issues, the chat agents may need to escalate tickets which delays resolution.
Social Media
Ladbrokes has active Twitter and Facebook profiles allowing customers to reach out publicly with feedback or issues.
Their social media team is quite responsive during regular business hours. However, publicly posting complaints can be frustrating if query details are sensitive.
Customers can also send Ladbrokes an email from the site/app for any issues. Additionally, there is a secure document upload option to provide any files that may help address the query.
Pros
Quick live chat responses
Knowledgeable agents
Active social media profiles
Secure file upload available
Cons
Limited live chat availability
Complex issues require ticket escalation
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, there’s a good reason why Ladbrokes has remained a fixture of UK betting for over a century.
While the platform lacks some modern bells and whistles, it delivers on the fundamentals.
With licensing from the respected UK Gambling Commission, Ladbrokes provides a safe, ethical environment.
Extensive betting markets, competitive odds, capable live betting, and responsive support give punters everything needed to explore sports wagering.
Minor drawbacks around site design and narrower niche sports are outweighed by Ladbrokes’ reliability and breadth as an established UK bookmaker.
For these reasons, both casual and passionate bettors should feel confident in Ladbrokes as a trustworthy one-stop shop for their gambling needs.
