Best Chess Betting Sites 2024

Top 10 Chess Betting Sites and Why

To expand upon the data presented at the top of this page, we delve deeper and explain the factors contributing to these bookmakers qualifying as the best for chess betting fans.

1. Bwin

We should state from the off that the top two chess betting sites are significantly better than the rest of the Top 10. Plenty of bookies don’t offer chess at all, and most that do just do a smattering, but Bwin (and SportingBet) offer a huge step up when it comes to betting on chess events. The slight difference between the top two is that Bwin offers fractionally better odds. The biggest draw of Bwin is the number of markets per match, which almost resembles what you’d expect from other sports.

2. SportingBet

As mentioned above, SportingBet is nearly as good as Bwin, and if you’re picking between the two you’re splitting hairs, and will probably come down to personal choice more than anything. The difference in odds is marginal, and I prefer the black and yellow graphics and styling on Bwin, as opposed to SportingBet’s, but they use the same platform meaning that functionally they’re the same.

Best chess betting sites 1-5

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3. BetMGM

The main big drop off from Bwin and SportingBet to the rest of the pack is in the number of markets that you can bet on per match. BetMGM is the best of the rest, and they actually have a good track record of covering minor sports (as does everyone in this list to be honest). The odds are really good, and event coverage is excellent, but the number of markets is far less than per match.

4. LeoVegas

LeoVegas offers a very similar product to BetMGM (they utilise the same platform so bettors will recognise the similarity if used both). Similar to the difference between Bwin and SportingBet, ultimately I prefer the styling of BetMGM to LeoVegas. That said, the odds, markets and UX are effectively the same and so there will be others that may opt for LeoVegas as their choice.

5. 32Red

For chess betting most of the rest of this list is made up of bookies that cover chess decent enough and better than the rest. We mentioned a gap between the top two, and the rest. That’s then true again between three and four, before getting to other chess betting sites. When it comes to 32Red there is still fantastic event coverage, but the odds aren’t as good as the bookies above it in the list.

6. Bet442

Bet442 is a relatively new bookie in the industry having launched in 2024. The Aspire Global sportsbook covers pretty much every sport going – as is the way with Aspire sites – and so that includes chess. You get the major events covered, and the odds are good, but markets are pretty much restricted to match result.

7. Betarno

Similar to Bet442 offering chess as an Aspire Global bookie, it’s a similar story for bookies using the Progress Play platform, so that goes for Betarno, too. Again, this a bookie that is pretty new to the UK betting industry, but offers a tonne of smaller sports including ski jumping, surfing and, of course, chess.

8. BetMorph

BetMorph is almost identical to Betarno. You’ll get the same odds, markets and events but we prefer the design of Betarno – it feels a little more grown up than BetMorph. The flipside is that there will definitely be bettors out there that prefer the more jovial graphics of BetMorph and it’s ultimately a matter of preference.

9. BetRino

Rounding up the Top 10 chess betting sites are our last two bookies, who provide bettors with a solid offering. These are more sites that people may use to bet on other sports, but want to dip into chess betting, also. BetRino is a great option, and its definite strength is the event coverage.

10. BetStorm

Last, but by no means least, BetStorm completes our list, as well as rounding off the collection of Progress Play bookies. We know from gathering data across all sports markets that these platforms cover pretty much every minor sport going, and BetStorm is no different. You’ll get the major tournaments, with a few markets per game, but it definitely keeps things simple.

How OLBG Reviews and Rates Chess Betting Sites

Are you looking for the perfect chess betting site? At OLBG, we've meticulously crafted an editorial process that ensures each review is thorough and reliable. Our comprehensive assessment involves a team of seasoned reviewers and dozens of regular sports bettors, dedicating a minimum of a month to each review. Here's an inside look at our review and rating policy, tailored to help you find the best chess betting sites.

Detailed Review Process

Our experienced in-house writers spend at least two weeks evaluating each betting site. They place at least ten bets, testing various sports, markets, and features. With over a decade of online betting experience, our reviewers provide insightful comparisons with personal experiences across multiple platforms.

Key Factors We Assess:

• Customer Support: Prompt and helpful interactions.
• Banking & Payment Options: Variety and ease of transactions.
• Site Usability & Mobile Experience: User-friendly interface on both desktop and mobile.
• Range of Chess Markets Covered: Comprehensive chess coverage.
• Types of Bets Accepted: Various options including antepost betting.
• Odds Offered: Competitive odds for chess.
• Promotions & Offers: Attractive bonuses and ongoing chess promotions.
• Initial Bonus Terms: Fair and transparent conditions.
• User Experience: Pleasant and hassle-free betting environment.
• Ease of Registration & Account Verification: Simple and straightforward processes.
• Live Streaming & In-Play Betting: Quality streaming and live chess betting options.
• Maximum Payouts: High limits for potential winnings.

Comprehensive Rating System

In the third and fourth weeks, our review panel rigorously tests each chess betting site, providing a rating out of 5 stars. They review the initial evaluation, offering additional feedback and insights. This collaborative effort ensures a well-rounded and accurate review, enriched by diverse chess betting preferences and experiences.

OLBG Members’ Feedback

Once the core review is complete, OLBG members who regularly bet on chess are invited to try out the site and share their ratings and feedback. This community-based evaluation brings a practical perspective, highlighting real user experiences and preferences.

Real User Reviews

We aggregate reviews and ratings from regular sports bettors, allowing you to compare and determine the best chess betting sites for you. Reading through these genuine user experiences provides peer-to-peer endorsement.

User Ratings

Our members rate each bookmaker out of 5, contributing to an extensive database of reviews. For instance, bet365, with over 1,000 ratings, holds an impressive 4.4/5 score. You can explore individual reviews to understand why it’s a top choice among chess bettors.

We publish these reviews unedited (excluding content with swearing, potential libel, or specific disputes) to maintain transparency. For specific disputes, we advise direct communication with the bookmaker or consulting IBAS (Independent Betting Adjudication Service).

Staying Current

We constantly update our reviews, incorporating new feedback and significant changes to ensure they reflect the latest information. Major updates, like a site redesign or new sport additions, trigger a full reassessment, providing you with the most current and accurate data.

Comprehensive Comparison

We offer detailed comparison guides highlighting the best sites for different sports and bet types. This thorough comparison allows our review team to identify top performers and under performers, making your selection process easier.

Why a chess bookmaker may achieve a high rating at OLBG

• Competitive chess odds
• User-friendly site and mobile app
• Attractive bonuses and ongoing chess offers
• Excellent live streaming and event coverage
• Top-notch customer service
• Robust in-play chess betting opportunities
• Early market pricing
• No restrictions on winning accounts

Why online bookmakers are rated poorly by OLBG

• Confusing initial offers
• Difficult site navigation
• Lack of ongoing chess bonuses
• Poor odds
• Limited chess event coverage
• Inefficient customer service
• Early betting limits
• Transaction charges

Trusted by Many

OLBG boasts an industry-leading Trustpilot rating of 4.6 from over 800 reviews. Check out our Trustpilot reviews to see why we are a trusted source for betting site reviews.

Ready to find the best chess betting site? Trust OLBG's rigorous review process and extensive user feedback to guide your choice.

Advantages of Considering a New UKGC-Licensed Bookmaker

Exploring new UKGC-licensed betting sites can offer a range of benefits that shouldn’t be overlooked. A fresh bookmaker provides an excellent opportunity to start with a clean slate, and a fresh approach to a specific sport, odds and features that are tailored to your betting style

Switching to a newly-licensed bookmaker introduces you to new welcome bonuses and promotional offers unavailable at sites you may already be registered with. new betting operators often attempt to differentiate themselves through innovative features, alternative market selections, and competitive odds.

How To Choose The Best Chess Betting Site For You

If you're on the hunt for a new chess betting site, there are several crucial elements you should consider to ensure a top-notch betting experience:

Key Factors to Evaluate:

• Trustworthy 
• Reliable 
• Low Risk 
• Reputable 
• Player Friendly With Their Terms and Conditions 
• Everything Else You Want!

🔒 Trustworthy

With over 80 online bookmakers licensed in the UK, we only list those vetted by the UK Gambling Commission and good for chess in our bookmakers guide. Betting with non-licensed bookmakers offering chess betting can be risky and may lead to complications in case of disputes. For your peace of mind, always check if a betting site holds a valid license through the Gambling Commission website.

Table: Top Trusted Betting Sites (Trustpilot Ratings)

Data correct as of 4/9/2024 - Source: Trustpilot Betting Agencies

✅ Reliable

Not all licensed chess bookmakers meet our reliability criteria. We exclude those with a track record of pending payments, shifting terms and conditions, and poor customer service. While we highlight these issues in our reviews, the worst offenders don’t make our list.

🟢 Low Risk

Small, new companies in the UK market may pose higher risks due to potential cash flow issues. However, if they are UK Gambling Commission-registered, they must meet financial solvency criteria. Larger, more established companies typically present lower risks. While it's rare for bookmakers to close without honouring bets, choosing established operators for long-term (ante-post) wagers is advisable. Diversifying your bets across multiple bookmakers can also mitigate risk.

🌟 Reputable

Reputation is best gauged through user experiences. We gather over 500 user reviews from the OLBG community to offer detailed insights into various UK betting sites. These reviews cover customer service experiences and how disputes were resolved.

👥 Player-Friendly Terms and Conditions

We meticulously analyse each betting site's terms and conditions, withdrawal policies, and deposit terms. Some sites may impose charges for certain transactions or inactivity, so it's crucial to be well-informed. Our community reviews and research highlight these details to ensure you get fair terms.

Tips for Choosing Your Next Chess Betting Site:

• Minimum Deposit Requirements: Always check the minimum amount you need to deposit to activate your account.
• Deposit and Withdrawal Methods: Ensure the site supports convenient payment methods for you.
• Withdrawal Policies: Look for any fees associated with withdrawals.
• Betting Rules: Understand the minimum bet amount, maximum winnings, and specific rules for voided bets.

If you're content with your current bookmaker but want a change, or you must provide proof of affordability and are looking for alternatives, we have recommendations for similar sites.

Similar Sites to Your Current Chess Bookmaker:

1. William Hill: Consider Ladbrokes or Betfred for a similar experience.
2. Betfair: Matchbook or Smarkets are great alternatives for betting exchanges; bet365 or BetVictor for fixed odds.
3. Ladbrokes: William Hill is a reputable choice.
4. bet365: BetVictor offers a similar range of markets and in-play betting.

Our guides and reviews are filled with information to help you choose the best chess betting site for your needs. If you prefer exploring various sites, take advantage of welcome offers, but always read the terms and conditions.

Join OLBG for free to access comprehensive reviews and share your experiences with other betting enthusiasts.

Bookmaker Deposit Methods

There are many ways to fund your chess betting account. While this list is not exhaustive, it covers the most popular and trustworthy methods. 

The minimum deposit is often £5, but it can be much higher for some bookies. Check out our review pages for online betting sites' minimum deposit amounts. In addition to varying by the bookmaker, this can vary by the deposit method used.

Bookmakers will generally return any winnings to the same card or payment method used to deposit unless instructed otherwise. Sometimes you will be asked to provide details to help the online bookmakers comply with money laundering regulations. Please understand that the online bookmakers are not being difficult, they are simply following legal guidelines. This will be even more likely if you withdraw using a different payment method than you used to deposit. 

Visa Debit Card

A debit card is the most common deposit method for online betting sites, this is a straight transfer from a UK bank account. Bookmakers or any gambling companies are no longer allowed to accept credit cards as a deposit method. 

PayPal

Most UK bookies accept PayPal which is the most popular e-wallet with sports bettors. Some people like to use it to keep betting transactions off their bank statements, others find it a much faster way to deposit in and out of betting sites. Be aware that using PayPal could exclude you from welcome offers with some bookies. 

Apple Pay

Many of the larger online betting sites support Apple Pay and it's like to be available on more sites soon. Deposit and withdrawal times will be the same as the bank cards being used through Apple Pay. 

Skrill 

Skrill is an alternative to PayPal. Used to be known as Mneybookers, this has always been a popular payment method for online gamblers. and is accepted at most sites. 

PaySafeCard

These are prepaid cards which can be used to fund online betting accounts. Fees aren't charged for deposits and so these are a popular way to fund online accounts for those who don't use bank cards. 

Take a look at the reviews for each bookmaker by clicking on the link in the above list where we will detail all the deposit methods available for each site. 

With most online bookmakers listed here you may be able to easily transfer money between the bookies other products such as poker, casino and bingo. Transferring money between accounts is often very simple and if you only want to play the sportsbook you can just ignore this function.

Many people use payment providers such as Skrill (formerly Moneybookers) for depositing into, and withdrawing from online bookmakers, as these can be faster, more convenient than bank or credit cards. However sometimes using these methods may exclude you from bookmakers welcome offers. If so this will be mentioned in the terms and conditions of the welcome offer. For more info on which payment methods are accepted by which bookmakers please read through our bookmaker reviews. 

👍 Responsible Gambling, Identification & Affordability Checks

In recent years the regulations for bookmakers have tightened as the Gambling Commission have looked to increase the protection of the user. This is fantastic news for the industry and all who use online betting sites but you need to be aware that you may have some small inconveniences when trying to open a new online betting site or if you are wanting to place large bets with a bookmaker. ID verification is very strict and sometimes you may be asked to send off copies of documents for ID and address verification. 

Also if you are placing large bets and or making large deposits then online betting sites have a responsibility to ensure that you can afford to do so. You may be asked affordability checks such as showing your pay slips and or you may be asked for proof of funds for money laundering checks. Don't take such requests personally, all licensed online bookies must follow these regulations or they can face huge fines.

Here are some common tips to help you with gambling responsibily online. For more information take a look at our detailed responsible gambling guide. 

✋ When The Fun Stops Stop 🛑

You will have seen this slogan used by online bookmakers frequently over recent years. It is trying to get across the serious point that if you aren't enjoying gambling you should stop immediately. You can use a process of self evaluation to help you to understand if you have a gambling problem. There is a great tool at Gamcare. 

If you do believe that you have a problem then there is always someone to talk to at begambleaware. They can offer great advice including helping you to self exclude. There is a valuable service called Gamstop which allows you to self exclude from all betting companies signed up to the program for a period of your choice. All UK licensed bookmakers listed on this site will be part of the GamStop programme. For this reason (and many others) you should never join betting sites not GamStop.

 🔚Set Limits and Use Bookmaker Tools

We strongly recommend that you record your gambling and set yourself limits. Only bet what you can afford to lose. Online betting sites have started to offer a number of tools to help you with this including 

• Deposit Limits 
• Session Limits
• Account History 
• Time Outs

Using playing time notifications to remind you how long you have been gambling and when to stop is a useful tool and so is setting a specific loss amount you are happy with in advance.

Who Created, Edited & Fact Checked The Content On This Page?

At OLBG, our sports betting section is powered by a team of dedicated experts who bring years of industry experience and specialized knowledge. Their collective efforts ensure we provide you with top-notch, informative, and user-friendly content. Let's dive into the various roles and discover each team member's invaluable contributions to our sports betting sites section.

The Experts Behind OLBG Sports Betting Content:

Our team’s dedication and expertise ensure that OLBG remains a trusted source for sports betting information. Each member's meticulous work supports the overall quality and reliability that our users expect and appreciate. Explore our sports betting section and gain insights from the best in the industry.

Content Strategists: 

These professionals are the architects behind our content strategy. They meticulously plan and structure our sports betting content to ensure it addresses the interests and needs of our audience. They stay ahead of industry trends and ensure our content remains fresh and relevant.

Richard Moffat

CEO & Gambling Industry Expert

Richard Moffat has been contributing to OLBG since 2004 with a passion for seeking out value betting opportunities on any market the bookies price up.

Sam Darkens

Commercial Manager

Sam is OLBG's Commercial manager but also a keen sports betting and eSports fan.

Writers: 

Our skilled writers translate complex sports betting concepts into clear, informative articles, predictions, and guides. Their expertise allows them to present detailed analysis and insights in a way that both novice and experienced bettors can appreciate and understand.

James Banting

Tipster Competition Assistant

James is a knowledgeable sports betting specialist with over 20 years experience in the sports betting and horse racing industry. Today James focuses on producing informative betting content on the major sporting events throughout the year.

Andy Powell

Content Editor

Contributing to OLBG since 2005 and have been covering racing trends for several years looking to find betting angles in the big races both in the UK and abroad, interested in numerous sports for which I do previews and look for betting strategies.

Jake Ashton

Senior News Editor

With over 8 years of experience in Journalism, Jake is an expert on all things Football, Entertainment and Reality TV

Analysts: 

Our analysts dive deep into sports statistics and betting data. They provide the foundational research and data-driven insights that our writers and strategists use to craft accurate and actionable content, helping users make informed betting decisions.

Nigel Skinner

Blog Content Manager

Nigel is a senior editor with 19 years of industry experience. Today he specialises in researching and writing about the betting angles to political and mainstream news stories and being the OLBG in-house expert on 'next football manager' betting markets.

Dan Tracey

Data Scientist and Football Editor

Dan is our data scientist, collating millions of data points monthly and finding the angles and stats that matter to our users when choosing where to bet. Our writers benefit greatly from this information, which they can then share with our readers to decide which betting site they should choose based on their needs.

Editors: 

The editors play a crucial role in maintaining the quality of our content. They review articles for clarity, accuracy, and coherence, ensuring that each piece is polished and provides valuable information. Their keen eye for detail ensures that our content is reliable and engaging.

Darren Brett

Tipster Competition Manager

Darren has worked in the horseracing and gambling industries for over thirty years and has been writing about sport for most of that time. He has been the Tipster Competiton Manager at OLBG for over fifteen years, as well as overseeing our sister site, Grand National Guide. Darren's specialist areas are National Hunt racing, snooker and golf.

Steve Madgwick

Editor-In-Chief

Steve is our Editor-In-Chief with more than 17 years of experience creating and managing high-quality sports betting content for OLBG & multiple other industry publications. Today, Steve uses his extensive expertise to manage the content teams and ensure every published word on OLBG is helpful, honest and valuable for our visitor

In addition to their long experience working within the sports betting industry, all our contributors are keen sports bettors themselves, so they each have many years of experience betting with multiple online betting sites.

Summary and Conclusion

When looking for the best bookie for chess betting, the key areas to consider are:

• ✅ OLBG experts analysis of best chess betting sites overall and best by the category which you are most interested in.
• 💬 OLBG user reviews to see what regular bettors say about their experiences at each chess betting site. 
• 💳 The payment methods which you want to use and which bookies support them.
• 🔒 How trustworthy, reliable and reputable each bookie is.