The Best Rugby Betting Sites Ranked and Rated for May 2024

The UK’s Top 10 Rugby Bookmakers

As it’s the home of the game, it’s no surprise you’ll find many of the best rugby betting sites in the business are UK-based. Throughout this page, we’ll examine what makes a top rugby bookmaker stand out. Firstly, a non-negotiable: any bookie worth its salt must offer markets for both rugby league and rugby union. We’ll go over the differences between the two in more detail later.

• 🥇 YetiBet ✪ Best Rugby Betting Site
• 🥈 bet365 ✪ Outstanding Live Streams
• 🥉 MrMega ✪ Fast Payouts
• ⭐ 888sport ✪ Built-in Bet Builder
• ⭐ Betiton Sport ✪ Secure Payment Methods
• ⭐ BetTarget ✪ Great Choice of Promos
• ⭐ BetVictor ✪ Solid Customer Service
• ⭐ Ladbrokes ✪ Renowned Rugby Bookmaker
• ⭐ Grosvenor ✪ Exciting Special Offers
• ⭐ All British Sports ✪ Top-Notch Rugby Live Markets

Moreover, the best rugby betting sites offer a comprehensive lineup of markets for you to enjoy. This is certainly no fringe sport or niche gambling pursuit: you can enjoy the full betting experience – from outright predictions to in-play bets in the final minutes of a match, it’s all on a plate for you at the top online rugby bookmakers in the UK.

The most popular bookmakers ensure you begin your online rugby betting journey with the chance to enjoy a bonus. It’s worth understanding that not every special offer is worth opting in for, as some may prove to be more hassle than value. Throughout this guide, we’ll point you in the direction of the best deals on the market.

Your Guide to Rugby Betting – Market Overview for 2024

Thanks to the division in the discipline, rugby betting comes in two forms: rugby union and rugby league. Union is the original sport – despite this, it operated under amateur status until 1995. Since then, it has become a fully-fledged professional sport like rugby league and other forms of football.

• 🏆 Best Rugby Betting Site 2024: YetiBet
• 📱 Top Rugby Betting App: bet365
• 💳 PayPal Payments: MrMega
• 💰 Best Rugby Betting Bonus: Grosvenor
• 💻 In-Play Rugby Betting: bet365
• 📝 Top Rugby Betting Markets: YetiBet
• 🏉 Best Top 14 Markets: BetVictor
• 🏅 Six Nations Betting: Ladbrokes

It won’t affect your approach to online rugby betting too much, but it helps to know what the main differences are between league and union. The rules of rugby league have always been geared toward a more attacking version of the sport: there are only 13 players – creating more on-field space – compared to union’s 15. The rucks and mauls of union have been replaced with play-the-ball restarts in league.

Rugby Betting: Union Markets

When it comes to the union format, the best rugby betting sites should, as a bare minimum, offer markets for the two biggest leagues in England: Premiership Rugby, and the RFU Championship. Each year, both competitions crown an overall league champion and a cup winner.

Beyond the UK, it’s essential that rugby betting sites include markets for the top international leagues and competitions. These include the Rugby World Cup, the Six Nations, Top 14, European Champions Cup, and the World Cup Sevens. Check out the table below for more info about each competition:

Taking place every four years, the highlight of the rugby betting calendar is undoubtedly the Rugby World Cup – closely followed by the annual Six Nations tournament. Fiercely contested rivalries play out on the international stage with both of these competitions. From the broad northern vs southern hemisphere battle to more regional derbies, fans of the game everywhere look forward to these matches more than any other.

Rugby Betting: League Markets

The top rugby betting sites offer punters markets for the four professional rugby league competitions, which take place in Australia, England, France and New Zealand. The leagues and their corresponding cup competitions are:

• Australia – National Rugby League, New South Wales Cup & Queensland Cup
• England – Super League, RFL Championship & RFL League 1
• France – Elite One Championship
• New Zealand: NZRL National Competiton

You’ll find an extensive lineup of bets available for these competitions at rugby betting sites in the UK. In addition to the professional domestic leagues, you will also be able to place bets on international cups and tournaments – the most notable are the Rugby League World Cup, Challenge Matches, European and Pacific Rugby League Championships, and Rugby League 4 Nations.

More Rugby Markets Around the World

There is of course a selection of smaller, less prestigious leagues available at reputable online rugby betting platforms. These include cups and competitions in Austria, Czechia, Germany, Japan, Poland, and South Africa. Markets for these countries tend to include fewer betting options than their more esteemed counterparts, but they may prove of interest nonetheless.

Rugby Betting Odds & Payouts: An Introduction

This is the part of our online rugby betting guide where we discuss odds and payouts. It’s worth keeping in mind that payout rates are reflective of how fair a bookmaker is – they do not indicate how successful your bets are likely to be. Many punters fail to recognise this and believe higher rates will result in more wins. This is simply not the case.

Our team of rugby betting experts have conducted market research to determine the average payout rates in the online UK market, which we have listed for you in the table above. These numbers have been pulled from the best rugby betting sites – as such, you should expect rates of between 92–94%. Anything considerably lower is arguably worth avoiding.

Odds for Specials & In-Play Betting

The odds for specials and for live betting are in general slightly lower. However, our research has shown that reputable rugby betting sites still offer attractive odds that are only minimally reduced. Handicap bets in particular often still have odds of around 91 percent – live betting is at the same level.

Rugby Betting Markets at the Best Bookies

The main bet in rugby is the 3-way bet, i.e. a home win, draw, or away win. However, draws in rugby are just as rare as in basketball, which means that a) the odds are very high and b) the Draw No Bet option (2-way on a win or loss) is similarly profitable. The home/draw/away market is also offered by bookmakers separately for both halves, as in football. Half-time/final bets are also a popular rugby betting option.

Rugby betting with bet365

Rugby betting with 888sport

Rugby betting markets at YetiBet

Betting markets for rugby at MrMega

Rugby betting highlights from BetVictor

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You’ll also find enticing markets for the margin of victory. For example, you can bet on a winning team’s lead of between 1 and 7 points, between 8 and 14 points, or at least 15 points. You can also bet on the half with the most points. The best rugby betting sites now even add combinations where the result can be played together with the over/under offers.

The following special markets are also available:

• Player with the most points
• Player to score a drop goal: yes/no
• Player to score the first point
• Team points tally: odd/even
• Player with the most tries
• Team to go behind and win the match
• Player with the most penalties
• First team to reach 10 points (Race to 10)
• Player with the most drop goals
• Team wins both halves
• Player with the most tries
• Player to score a try: yes/no
• Team with most points in one half
• Player to score a penalty: yes/no

As you can imagine, there are plenty of markets to get stuck into when it comes to the ruggers. Our tip is to have an idea of what you want to bet on first and then shop around different online rugby betting platforms to find the best odds.

Outright Betting: Until the Final Ball Goes Dead

Outrights bets for the most relevant rugby leagues are available with the top bookmakers, but the selection of long-term bets is comparatively limited. When it comes to antepost markets, rugby betting sites concentrate almost exclusively on championship bets. Additional variations, for example, head-to-head bets, with two teams are very rarely offered. Find examples of popular outright bets below:

• League winner
• Six Nations winner
• Six Nations Grand Slam
• World Cup Winner
• Top tournament try scorer
• Top tournament points scorer

Rugby In-Play Betting

The top bookmakers are also well known for their rugby in-play markets – and with good reason: it’s one of the most popular live sports betting types for UK punters. You will find every relevant rugby match worldwide in the bookmakers’ live betting sections. You can generally choose from up to 50 individual odds per match, whereby the exact live betting offer naturally depends on how the action is unfolding in real time.

Punters with one eye on rugby in-play markets would do well to seek out bookies such as the one featured in the table above. Speed and ease of use are essential in dynamic live markets, so it’s no good using a betting site that can’t keep up with the action – responsive and well-designed platforms are pivotal.

Of course, rugby in-play betting is not for everyone. For some bettors, trying to have one eye on the game and the other on a bet can detract from the matchday atmosphere – and even make it a stressful occasion. Odds are also less attractive compared to antepost markets. You can see more pros and cons for this bet type in the table above.

Rugby Betting Sites With Live Streams

However, in our experience, rugby in-play live streams are not available with every bookmaker. Such bookies make up for this with a digital scoreboard on the live betting page, with which you can find statistical details on the games in progress. You can use this information to define your live betting strategy.

Rugby Betting Bonus Offers

Time, now, to move on to online rugby betting bonus offers. From our experience, the top bookmakers in the UK have a wealth of bonuses that can be used directly on the sport of rugby – particularly when the big events roll around like the Six Nations. Join us as we go into more detail about the topic of rugby bonuses in the next sections of this guide.

Welcome Bonuses at the Top Bookmakers

Welcome bonus offers at rugby betting sites are not usually tailored specifically to rugby. What we have seen is that many welcome deals, such as those featured in our guide to popular UK betting bonuses, are valid for all sports. When it comes to rugby, we have identified the best welcome bonuses currently on the market:

You’ll come across a wide variety of rugby betting bonuses in the UK. We advise our readers to search for bonus deals that suit your needs and budget. Some bookies offer free bets, others give enhanced odds – you can even find welcome promotions that come with an online casino bonus attached.

The All-Important Bonus Terms & Conditions

It is precisely these aforementioned conditions that determine the appeal of a bonus. Wagering terms, for example, dictate how many times a betting bonus must be repeatedly played before it is converted into free cash. The lower this value is, the better for you. Other determining factors include the minimum odds and the validity period.

We have yet to come across an online bookie that excludes rugby betting in the bonus conditions. It’s possible, however, that some betting markets or odds – such as handicaps or odds-on bets – are not accepted across all sports, not only rugby. Stay on the safe side by ensuring that you always read the bonus conditions carefully before opting in.

Free Bets

You may find occasional free bet offers for rugby at online bookmakers in the UK. These will usually be tied to specific events, most likely the World Cup, the Six Nations, and so on. It’s also worth keeping an eye out for the ongoing promotions tab – quite a few bookies offer free bets to regular customers.

You’ll come across two kinds of free bet: with and without a deposit. If a deposit is required, the value of the free bet is usually calculated based on your deposit. If there is no need to top up your account, the value of the free bet may be calculated from the stake of a previous bet you have placed or it is simply stipulated by the bookie.

Odds Boosts

Odds boosts are a popular kind of promotion. They enhance the advertised odds – for example, going from 4/1 to 9/2 or 5/1, perhaps even higher. You might not necessarily see this promo advertised specifically for rugby, but you can still use it on a rugby bet – it all depends on the bookie. You can see which sports are excluded in the terms, though we would be surprised if a rugby match was outright forbidden.

It’s important not to get carried away with the prospect of an odds boost and to remember to stick with what you usually consider a normal stake. Remember: better odds do not equal better chances of winning – always bet with what you are comfortable losing.

Apps for Rugby Betting

The best rugby betting sites are not only compatible with desktop computers but also smartphone and tablet devices. As such, you can enjoy a stake in the game wherever you find yourself – providing you have a stable internet connection of course.

When it comes to spotting a good rugby betting app, there are a few things to look out for. Any app should be easy to use – anything clunky or slow is a waste of time, especially if you are a fan of rugby in-play betting. Read our guide to betting apps for more useful tips and recommendations.

Features of the Best Rugby Bookmakers

Extra features are another decisive factor that sets the best rugby betting sites apart in the market. The top bookies offer punters an early settlement option on every rugby betting slip played. In the best cases, you can choose between the classic cashout with a total settlement of the ticket and the partial cashout. In some cases, there are even automatic cashouts that are triggered when you win a predetermined amount.

Some bookies publish the betting trends for rugby markets. That means you can see which bets your fellow punters have been placing – it’s a quick way of getting inspired or noticing something you may have missed while researching. The top rugby betting sites enrich the entire experience with such features – it’s more than just a transaction, in other words.

Criteria for Finding the Top Bookies

A good online rugby betting platform is of course one that can offer top odds and the most attractive markets. However, you should never base your choice of bookie purely on rugby. The bookmakers who sit at the top of the pile also score well in other areas. In the table below, we highlight the criteria to check for when you search for an online bookmaker.

None of this matters, however, if the bookie can’t promise safety and security – this is the most important feature of the best rugby betting sites: every online bookmaker must have a valid licence issued by the UK Gambling Commission. If it doesn’t, we suggest closing the tab and finding an authorised operator. In addition to licensing, find more signs of trusted bookmakers below:

• Total sports offering: Rugby is great, but what about football? Snooker? F1 and esports? Variety is the spice of life – and the best bookies serve up a full menu.
• Customer service: You don’t know how important help is until you need it: the top bookmakers help their customers with English-speaking support staff available round the clock by phone, email, and live chat.
• Licensing: A safe rugby betting platform is one held accountable by a legal framework. The UK Gambling Commission issues licences to bookmakers in the UK – we would never frequent a site that is not licensed.

How Important is Rugby Betting for Bookmakers?

Sports gambling is big business in the UK – it’s worth over 4 billion pounds every year, and that figure is growing^[1]. That said, rugby betting does not make up a large part of that turnover. It may not be essential to the profit of bookies, but if it’s important to you, it’s important that a bookmaker will take your stake. Right?

As you can imagine, football betting sites are the most popular destinations for punters up and down the country. Almost half of all money staked goes on the beautiful game^[2]. In second are horse racing betting sites , with around quarter of all cash staked going on the gee gees.

The Best Rugby Betting Site: Top Marks Across the Board

The best rugby betting sites offer a complete market of bet types. This means you can bet on the most important matches in rugby league and rugby union, regardless of whether clubs or national teams are facing each other. The betting odds are also stable and at a fair level.

The operator above received top marks across the board when our editors put it to the test. As such, you can rest assured it offers the most attractive rugby betting experience on the market – indeed, it’s one of the best bookmakers in the UK for any sport type.

Rugby Betting FAQ

That brings us to the end of our guide to UK rugby betting sites. We hope you find our recommendations and betting tips to be entertaining and helpful – if you need to revisit the most important parts of this page, we invite you to use the links in the FAQ section below.

1️⃣ What are the best rugby betting sites?

2️⃣️ Where can I get an online rugby betting bonus?

The top bookmakers in the country will invariably offer bonuses that you can use for rugby betting. Our featured UK bookies and their promotions are a good place to kick off your search.

3️⃣ How do I find the top rugby betting odds online?

At the top bookies, you can expect highly competitive odds for rugby in the UK – with payout rates of around 94% being the norm. Our mini guide to online rugby betting odds showcases a sample of what you can typically expect these days.

4️⃣ Are there rugby in-play betting markets?

Yes, there are endless live betting possibilities! The top online bookies in the UK give you the chance to enjoy rugby in-play betting markets for both rugby league and union matches. We cover more of your options in our mini guide to rugby in-play markets.

5️⃣ What kinds of markets are there at rugby betting sites?

You can find dozens of markets at the best rugby betting sites. From home or away win to first tryscorer, from halftime/full time bets, to winning margins – and everything in between – rugby markets for both union and league are well stocked in the UK.

References

1. Statista (January 24, 2023). Sports betting in the UK – statistics & facts. Available from: https://www.statista.com/topics/10452/sports-betting-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/#topicOverview (Accessed November 24, 2023).
2. UK Gambling Commission (February 3, 2020). Gambling participation in 2019: behaviour, awareness and attitudes. Available from: https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/report/gambling-participation-in-2019-behaviour-awareness-and-attitudes/gambling-participation-in-2019-gambling-participation-what-people-gamble-on (Accessed November 24, 2023).