UFC has exploded in popularity over the past few years, and online sports betting has grown alongside it. Naturally, many fans are eager to place bets on their favorite fighters, but it’s important to choose the right platform. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start.
With the next UFC event just around the corner, now is the perfect time to pick a bookie and get started. Below, we’ll discuss the key reasons why selecting the right sportsbook is crucial to a safe and enjoyable betting experience.
Why Do You Need to Pick a Good Bookie?
When it comes to sports betting, choosing a reputable and licensed bookie is essential. BetKiwi is a great review site to help you compare and find reliable, licensed sports betting sites, ensuring your funds and personal information are secure. Betting with a licensed sportsbook not only guarantees that your money is protected, but it also means the operator is held to a higher standard of fairness and customer service. Licensed bookies are required to follow strict regulations, so if any issues arise, they are obligated to address them fairly. In contrast, unlicensed platforms can operate without oversight, leaving you at risk of losing funds or not receiving assistance if something goes wrong. This is why it's critical to do your research and choose a trustworthy platform.
Your top sportsbooks for UFC betting
Now that we’ve talked about why you should pick a good bookie, it's time to reveal the best ones. You still have some time before the next UFC event, so take your time to examine each of our recommendations before signing up with one.
MrPlay Sports
Although MrPlay has been around since 2017, the brand didn’t launch its sportsbook section until 2019. Don’t be fooled though, even though MrPlay opened as an online casino first, its sports betting section has evolved into a solid option.
Including MMA, MrPlay lets you place bets on 30 sports. You’ll find the usual ones like football, hockey, soccer and horse racing, along with other lesser-known sports. If you’re into video games, MrPlay also has a dedicated esports section.
MrPlay lets you place different types of bets, such as spreads, live betting, parlays, futures and moneylines. They’ll even let you change how the odds are displayed, supporting decimal, fractional and moneyline odds.
MrPlay’s live chat customer support isn’t available 24/7. Their support department is only open from 2 AM to 6 PM EST, seven days a week. Alternatively, you can email or send a private message anytime via Instagram or YouTube. They also have a dedicated FAQ section, which might help resolve some of your more common issues.
ZetBet
ZetBet is relatively new to the market, having only launched in 2022. Even though it’s relatively new, this operator holds three operating licenses, including one from the United Kingdom Gaming Commission (UKGC), one from the Malta Gaming Authority and a Bookmaker’s Licence from Ireland.
They have 44 sports available in addition to MMA, including niche options like Gaelic hurling. ZetBet lets you place different kinds of bets on any sport you want, including moneyline, point spreads, pari-mutuel and over/unders. You can also change how the odds are displayed whenever you want.
Although they don’t have a dedicated app, ZetBet’s website is highly responsive no matter what device you are using. That means you won’t miss a moment, whether at home with your computer or away with your phone.
Just like MrPlay, ZetBet’s customer service desk is only open from 2 AM to 6 PM EST. That means if you need assistance outside of the live chat hours, you’ll need to email them or wait until they’re open again. ZetBet typically answers emails within 24-48 hours.
Sportsbet.io
Sportsbet is one of the old-timers in the business, having been around since 2016. They hold a license from the Government of Curacao, which is recognized in many countries worldwide.
As you’d expect from a veteran of the industry, Sportsbet supports several sports, including less popular options like darts and snooker. They also have a virtual sports section if you just can’t wait until the next game or want to simulate how something might turn out.
Sportsbet allows you to customize your betting experience with a multibet multiplier and bet builder. You can use these features with different sports instead of just focusing on one, so have fun mixing and matching. Live betting is available for some sports, so you can bet on different events as they happen.
Sportsbet is currently beta testing its mobile app for iOS and Android, so expect an app to become available in the near future. For now, you can enjoy everything this bookie has to offer from your browser; you can even switch between light and dark modes if you want.
Customer support via live chat for Sportsbet is available 24/7, and you can access this from their home page. You can also send an email for a response within 24 hours. If you’d rather speak to them via social media, you can find them on X/Twitter and Facebook.
Betway Sports
Betway Sports is another old-timer that’s been operating since 2006. They’ve become such a recognizable name that you’ve probably seen their name as a sponsor in a game somewhere. When it comes to their reputation, Betway holds multiple licenses from several countries, including Malta, the UK, Ireland, Denmark and Sweden.
Aside from epic UFC fights, Betway will let you bet on almost anything. Each sport has several betting types available; some even feature a type unique to that sport. For example, you can bet per round on boxing, while esports will let you put money on who gets to 10 kills first.
You can use Betway from your browser or using their dedicated app for iOS and Android. Using the app may make you eligible for specific features and promotions that won’t be offered to you if you’re using a browser.
Unfortunately, Betway doesn’t have a 24/7 live chat option. You can only chat with them live from 1 AM to 6 PM EST. However, they have a robust FAQ section, and you always have the option of sending an email for support.
Things to look for in a bookie
If none of the bookies we’ve listed above are to your liking, don’t worry. Here are some of the things you should look for when searching for a new sportsbook. This isn’t an exhaustive list but it should be enough to get you started.
User experience
Read online reviews from various sources to learn about other people’s experiences with the operator. Try to find answers to questions like:
Is the website or mobile app easy to use and navigate?
Do they support multiple betting types per sport and per match?
Are the rules and terms communicated in a transparent manner?
Customer service
Things don’t always go smoothly, so it’s very important to see if an operator’s customer service is up to the task.
Just because an operator doesn’t have a 24/7 live chat doesn’t mean you should dismiss them immediately. See if you can reach them through other means, like email or social media. If you need to send an email, find out how long they usually take to reply and the type of response they typically give. Are they genuinely helpful or do they keep sending canned responses that don’t really resolve anything.
You should also check if support in languages other than English is available. If it is, find out if multilingual support is native or if they use translation tools to answer your questions.
Payment options
Find out which payment methods a bookkeeper can work with. Do they take only cards and bank transfer, or do they accept other forms of payment like PayPal, cryptocurrency or Skrill? This could make or break your experience, especially if you prefer to use other payment methods. Not everyone accepts the same methods of payment, so confirm that your preferred option is accepted before going through the signup process.
Bonuses and promotions
Operators change their bonuses and promotions all the time, but it’s still good to see what they have offered in the past. That should give you an idea of how generous a bookkeeper is and what you might get in the future — assuming you don’t sign up immediately.
You should also confirm that they have regular offers for current players and don’t solely give bonuses to new users. Bonuses that are made available to current users are usually a good sign that a bookie cares about keeping their existing clientele just as much as inviting new ones.
Another thing to check is how generous or restrictive the bookie is with their bonuses. There are usually some stipulations on how you can use any bonus, with some platforms having higher wagering requirements that must be met before making a withdrawal than others.
