Boylesports Bookies

Sign-up bonus up to £20/€20

Boylesports Bookies is responsible for one of the best online sports betting websites on the web. Their free bet is on the low side at £20/€20 - you just have to bet up to £20/€20 and they will match it.

Boylesports' online offering includes coverage of a broad range of sports, offering in-play live sports betting on the more popular sports such as football and tennis. Poker, casino, games and lotteries are also offered, including the Irish lotto.

Football is a major focus so there is plenty on offer for punters online. They sponsor the Irish football team and the League of Ireland. In England, Boylesports have been the official sponsor of the Premier League football team in Sunderland since 2007.

Boylesports determination to grow their online UK football betting business means plenty of extra benefits for punters including bonuses and cash backs.

Horse racing and greyhound racing are also target areas. Boylesports sponsor one of the world's premier hurdle races, held at Cheltenham in December. The Boylesports International, originally called the Cheltenham Trial and then renamed 'the Bula' after Fred Winter's legendary charge, is a Grade 2 listed National Hunt hurdle race over two miles and a furlong. It is the world's second richest hurdle race with only the Champion Hurdle offering a more valuable prize fund.

Boylesports Bookies also supports horse racing in Ireland through their sponsorship of a big novice steeplechase at Punchestown.

They have made sure that betting on horse racing is especially quick and easy for you. If you are betting on the day of the race, it will be listed on the homepage so you don't have to waste time navigating through different screens to get to it. If you know the time of the race you are interested in, you just have to click on the time of the race to get all the info you need. If you want to have a look at all the races at that meeting, you just click on the name of the meeting and the full card will be listed.

While the card is well presented, the information given is not as detailed as some other bookies and you cannot drill down to find full, race by race form or video. If you want clarification on the information that is on offer, Boylesports have a useful tool to help you get the best from their racecard in their Betting Guide.

Incidentally, the Betting Guide is one of the best on offer online. It not only provides comprehensive information on how to use the website to your best advantage but also explains betting terms and market types as well as special offers in clear and easily accessible language. There's even a recap quiz so you can check that you have fully understood the details.

Returning to horse racing, Boylesports also provides helpful tips from the Press Association in the Race Preview selection to help you make an informed punting decision. If you place a bet of £/€5 or more, you can also watch the race on the Boylesports live streaming service.

Greyhound racing is another area attracting significant support. Current sponsorships include the Irish Champion Stakes held at Shelbourne Park, the Dundalk International and Coursing which takes place at Co Clonmel in Tipperary.

Whichever sport you choose to bet on, Boylesports Bookies are justifiably proud of their new online betting slip. They have improved the slip layout to make it incredibly user friendly. You can not only deposit or view open bets directly from the betslip but you can also confirm and place your bet without having to reload the rest of the page.

Boylesports history, facts and figures

Boylesports was started in 1989 by Irishman John Boyle. Today it has grown to become the premier independent bookmaker in Ireland with over 750 employees.

The company delivers an integrated betting service through three channels, with a chain of some 140 betting shops in Ireland, the Boylesports.com website and telephone betting via their Fon-A-Bet service.

Boylesports is headquartered in Co Dundalk, Ireland. But since 2007 the telephone and online operations are registered and licensed in The Isle of Man.

Opinion of Boylesports Bookies

There is nothing negative that can be said of Boylesports Bookies, with an admirable online presence, and a constantly improving internet betting site, they are well worth thinking about joining.