Europe has always excited me. From the Parisian art scene of the early 1900s to the formation of the British Invasion rock bands in the 1960s, there’s a real history here that makes me tingle.

And when it comes to sports and sports betting, no one does it like the Europeans. From German soccer to English cricket, European sports are filled with so much passion and excitement. I can never get enough of it.

It’s the reason I decided to visit three of Europe’s major cities – London, Copenhagen, and Berlin – in a bid to find out more about their local sports betting scene.

Today, I’ll be sharing what I got up to, including which sportsbooks I visited in each city, the bets I placed, and which European betting sites I rate as the best.

Let’s begin.

European Betting Sites

Overview of the Sports Betting Scene in Europe

The European sports betting scene is thriving, though it’s worth pointing out that it isn’t available in every country.

In addition to the countries I visited (the UK, Denmark, and Germany), you can also bet legally in places like Spain, Italy, Sweden, and Poland. However, each country has its own rules for online and offline betting (in Poland, for example, you can bet with your credit card, but it’s a big no-no in the UK).

Each country also has its go-to betting shops. The UK has Paddy Power, Ladbrokes, and William Hill, while Germany has Merkur Bet, Denmark has Danske Spil, and so on.

These are trusted brands, and while some might argue that certain betting groups monopolize the sports betting market in some countries, there’s no denying they offer a stellar land-based betting experience. With friendly staff and, in some cases, free coffee, they’ve earned their reputation.

What’s more, you can join an array of European bookmakers online. They’re more convenient but still offer great odds and regular bonuses. And while online withdrawals naturally take a bit longer to process, you’re always guaranteed to receive your money.

As for me, I’ve tested both land-based and online European sportsbooks. I’m pretty old-school, so I’ve always favoured betting in person. But after trying out some of the best betting sites Europe has to offer, I’ve come to realise how attractive they are.

Not only are they easy to sign up for, but they also have a vast range of betting options and markets, competitive odds, daily specials, and 24/7 customer service. It may not have the same charm as betting in person, but it’s undeniably more convenient.

Online Sportsbooks I Tried in Europe

I decided to try 5 of the best online betting sites in Europe, including the top European betting sites for the UK – and here’s what I thought of them:

MyStake – Great Bonuses and Even Greater Odds

For Europeans, I feel MyStake offers everything you could need. It’s multilingual, supports euros and cryptocurrencies, and even has Telegram and Discord groups where you can chat with fellow sports bettors from various countries.

It was also the online betting site most frequently recommended to me by other sports bettors during my travels. It took less than a minute to create an account, and I claimed a 120% welcome bonus of up to €600 as a new customer.

In terms of sports, MyStake doesn’t quite match the 40+ option I found at Merkur Bets in Germany, but it still offers more than 30. These include popular choices like soccer, basketball, and tennis, as well as niche options like stock car racing, volleyball, and handball.

The odds across the board are outstanding, and the betting markets are impressively varied. MyStake also features a Bet Builder tool, which allowed me to create some truly creative wagers. For instance, I combined corners, cards, and goalscorers in a single soccer bet.

Bonuses are another highlight, with free bets frequently available.

My only real issue is that withdrawals aren’t processed on weekends across the continent, and there are some fees for deposits and withdrawals. However, the high transaction limits ensured I never faced any issues cashing out my funds.

Seven Casino – A Casino With Competitive Soccer Odds?

Seven Casino combines casino games like slots and video poker with online sports betting opportunities. Despite the name, which initially made me think the sportsbook might be a secondary feature, Seven Casino truly offers a fully-fledged betting experience.

For European sports bettors, it covers leagues and competitions from all over the globe, including Italian soccer leagues, Serbian basketball, Austrian skiing, and much more. The competitive soccer odds didn’t go unnoticed by me (as I consider myself a professional soccer enthusiast).

I also couldn’t believe my eyes when I was able to opt in to a €7,500 welcome bonus. It is split across the first four deposits and comes with 10x wagering requirements.

There’s also a VIP program here, although – naturally – I didn’t have enough time to become a VIP member, since I only played at Seven Casino for one night while holed up in a Danish hotel.

However, I was pleased to see a wide variety of payment methods, which include PayOp and Bitcoin, as well as several others that many European bettors will recognise, such as Skrill and Neteller.

FreshBet – Loved the Extensive (And Weird) Market Variety Here

Freshbet was the next obvious choice for me because of its extensive betting market variety. I didn’t think anyone was still wagering on cross-country or Gaelic hurling, but here I was, impressed, to say the least.

I also liked the layout of the site. On the homepage, you can see all the day’s sporting events, odds, and markets at a glance. However, I would argue that FreshBet works much better on desktop than on mobile.

Besides that, I found an interesting deal that I soon took advantage of: Anytime you place 3 bets in a row at qualifying odds, you’ll get a fourth bet for free.

It took me a while to figure it out, but I soon realised that a) your free bet stake is the aggregate of your previous 3 stakes and b) if you use your free bet on short odds bets (odds-on bets basically) you can make this offer work in your favour.

Naturally, I had to be prepared to place numerous bets to use this promotion. But since I had the entire weekend to myself, I picked out multiple soccer and tennis bets and ended up with $350 in profit.

Prive Casino – It Has Great Mobile Capabilities

I’ve noticed that there is no shortage of new European sports betting sites. But, what can I say? I’m a bit of a skeptic who finds it hard to trust something online until someone else tells me it’s trustworthy.

Prive Casino is a case in point. It’s a new European sportsbook that many bettors in Germany and the UK recommend. It’s widely available across the continent, and one of the things that impressed me the most was its mobile capabilities.

See, I’m pretty old school when it comes to land-based European bookmakers. But I’m not so old school that I won’t bet on sports on my mobile device. This is exactly what I did with Prive Casino, which makes it easy for you to browse the markets and lock in your bets via your mobile browser.

Another thing I liked that sets it apart from land-based sportsbooks is the responsible gambling section. In my experience, even the biggest European bookmakers aren’t super committed to safer gambling. Prive Casino is, and I had some fun setting my own deposit and loss limits.

It figures: I’m pretty good at staying in control offline, but it can be a different story online. I would like to know if the betting site has got my back.

Other than that, bet limits are a little inflexible here, though you can raise them by becoming a VIP.

Gxmble – I Prefer This for Live Betting

When I first signed up for different European sportsbooks, I didn’t understand how wagering requirements worked.

Once I understood (you basically have to ‘play through’ your initial deposit various times before you can withdraw any bonus winnings), it struck me that Gxmble’s €2,500 welcome bonus comes with 5x wagering requirements, which are super low by industry standards.

I created an account in the UK, but Gxmble is available in countries like Germany, Poland, Italy, Spain, Norway, and many more, too.

The thing I enjoyed best here was the in-play betting options. Gxmble let me bet in-play on all my favourite sports (soccer, tennis, and basketball) and offered a wide variety of markets, many of which you simply can’t find at land-based sportsbooks.

There’s also an early cashout tool, which I found very useful. For example, when I bet on two different soccer games to feature ‘under 3.5 goals’ in the same bet, I cashed out for a profit at the 89th minute before the outcome was fully decided. The original bet went on to lose after a fourth goal was scored in one of the games, but I had already closed my bet.

There’s a VIP program here, which, unsurprisingly, I didn’t get to try out, but I noticed it comes with 10% weekly cashback, which to me looks like a good deal. However, regular players might find the lack of reload bonuses a bit disturbing.

Land-Based Sportsbooks You Should Visit in Europe

As I’ve mentioned several times, I love land-based sportsbooks, so I wouldn’t miss the chance to visit them while traveling. If you’re ever in Denmark, Germany, or the UK, here are some of the best options you could try.

Danske Spil – A Hidden Gem in Copenhagen

Danske Spil has pretty much a monopoly on sports betting in Denmark. I did spot a UniBet shop in operation in the capital, but Danske Spil is apparently the go-to betting shop for offline sports bets here.

To be honest, tracking down a Danske Spil wasn’t super easy and I had to ask around. Once I found one in the busy streets of Copenhagen, I quickly realised why: Danske Spil sportsbooks are either located inside supermarkets or operate as very small betting shops/kiosks.

Things You Can Bet On

Danske Spil is a run-of-the-mill sportsbook. That means paper betting slips, pens, and sports betting tellers in operation.

You can bet on a wide range of sports, including soccer, basketball, and horse racing, though I found the number of betting markets fairly limited. However, I noticed competitive odds across the board for soccer, with a focus (naturally) on the Danish leagues.

I also couldn’t place in-play bets here, which was a bit of a disappointment. There are, however, plenty of TV sets screening live action (mostly horse racing).

And though I wasn’t here to place huge bets, after chatting to a local I realised that bet limits are tight.

My Performance

I needed some assistance when I wrote out my first bets at Danske Spil, but it was no real problem. Since it was a Saturday afternoon, the place was thriving with local soccer and horse racing fans, many of whom were friendly and eager to help.

The venue had the air of old-school bookies – most people present were men, many of whom seemed to know each other. They were laughing, joking, and cheering on their bets (mainly horse races!).

I placed a few soccer singles bets and two parlays, and I also bet on a few greyhounds and horses. I hung around for 2 hours, got through 2 coffees, and enjoyed chatting (in English) with a couple of locals. Did I win my bets? I won one soccer bet but lost the rest, ending the afternoon down $50.

Final Thoughts

Danske Spil is a traditional bookie that has somewhat moved with the times. You can bet on all the top sports, though I’d argue that you’ll find many options outside soccer and horse racing.

I would have liked to have seen some in-play betting markets but it wasn’t a dealbreaker for me.

In terms of the atmosphere, Danske Spil was friendly, though a tad loud. The locals certainly like to cheer on their bets, and there was plenty of hooting when someone’s horse came through.

I also liked the location, with Danske Spil situated right in the heart of Copenhagen, so I could exit and head straight to the pub afterwards.

Merkur Bets – A Slice of Berlin’s Betting Culture

Next up for me was Berlin.

Now, I’ve only ever been to Berlin once before but I remember distinctly that there were lots of places I knew I had to visit this time around, including David Bowie’s former flat.

I also wanted to watch a Union Berlin home game in the Bundesliga. Securing a ticket wasn’t easy but one of my close friends who lives here managed to wrangle two for us. The atmosphere was electric, even if my fingers and toes were frozen. But hey, we won 2-1.

My friend also helped me track down Merkur Bets, which I’m told is the betting brand in Germany. After a Berliner Kinder (beer) and some authentic German sausage, we escaped from the cold inside a Merkur Bets betting shop.

Things You Can Bet On

From the outside, Merkur Bets – which is situated in… – is fairly nondescript. It sits at the bottom of a block of apartments and is easy to reach if you’re a pedestrian (but perhaps a bit harder if you’re driving here and need somewhere to park).

Once inside, I was immediately impressed by how modern this sportsbook was. I counted more than 40 sports that I could bet on, including soccer, basketball, tennis, and snooker, with Merkur Bets covering everything from the Bundesliga to the EuroLeague (basketball).

There are self-service betting stations, where I could place bets all by myself, as well as kiosks, where a human sports teller was ready to assist and place my bets for me (they all spoke perfect English).

Live odds and updates are available, but there’s no live streaming.

The place was clean, live betting was available alongside pre-match betting, and I was one of just a handful of people in there at the time (it was a Tuesday evening).

My Performance

The European Champions League (soccer) was in full swing the night I visited Merkur Bets, so I decided to pick out a parlay. Unfortunately, the only leg that let me down was Man City, who lost to PSG.

Needless to say, I also dropped $50 on Man City on the moneyline in a separate bet. But hey, that’s betting for you, right?

I placed a few tennis bets as well, including a futures bet on Sabalenka to win the Australian Open, which would line up perfectly with my visit to England. Before leaving, I managed to squeeze in an in-play NBA bet, which – mercifully – came good by the time I was back at my hotel.

Final Thoughts

The best way to describe Merkur Bets as a foreigner is comfortable and friendly. The warmth was much appreciated (Berlin winters are just as cold as everyone says), and while I usually prefer a lively atmosphere in bookies, I quickly came to appreciate the relaxed vibe here.

I also love how spacious it is, as well as how attentive the tellers are. Any questions you’ve got, you can go right ahead and ask them.

And with over 40 sports covered, it feels like nothing is missing – except for live streaming, which would’ve been a nice touch.

Paddy Power – A London Favourite for Sports Fans

I know that today’s London isn’t the London of yesteryear, but it still manages to evoke those foggy streets Dickens wrote about. Maybe it’s the old buildings lining Fleet Street or the fact that St. Paul’s Cathedral still stands tall in the heart of the city.

Or maybe because it’s just so cold and cloudy?!

Either way, one of the things I really wanted to do was see Amy Winehouse’s statue and visit the pub she used to frequent. As luck would have it, both of these are situated in Camden Town, where there is also a Paddy Power betting shop.

Paddy Power actually has a handful of betting shops in London. I popped into the one in Camden on a busy Friday afternoon – and here’s what I learned:

Things You Can Bet On

One of the best things about Paddy Power is that it’s super easy to find. It’s located on the main road and you can’t miss it. The only thing that could distract you is the sheer volume of people passing by. The area is extremely busy – and extremely noisy!

Still, I found that this betting shop has three things: A fair amount of space, a mix of betting stations and slot machines (these could be a distraction if you hate the constant popping sounds) … and it comes with coffee!

That’s right, I could grab myself a coffee while placing my bets. And if I didn’t have one already, a teller might come over and ask if I fancied one. How kind.

What impressed me the most, though, was the sheer number of deals. Paddy Power proudly claims to have the best odds on over 20 sports, with a particular focus on soccer and horse racing.

The walls are lined with TVs showing live horse racing and greyhound races, along with live odds and analysis. However, there’s no live streaming of soccer matches here.

My Performance

I visited Paddy Power on a bustling Saturday afternoon where it felt like the place had a revolving door with lads popping in and out to place their soccer bets.

I joined the action and placed three soccer parlays – one for the English Premier League and two for European games. I won the EPL one, l thanks to Bournemouth thrashing Nottingham Forest at home.

Of course, I couldn’t leave without betting on a few horse races – it’s practically a rite of passage in a Paddy Power shop. Only one of my picks came through (the heavy favourite at the time), but I had a blast cheering on my horses alongside a lively local who was really into the races.

Final Thoughts

One thing you can’t fail to notice in an inner-city London betting shop is the familiar cockney twang. It was music to my ears, listening to soccer fans chat about their teams’ chances and swapping stories of bets they’d recently won or lost.

Indeed, absorbing the atmosphere was one of my favourite things to do here. Yes, I lost most of my bets but I enjoyed placing them and watching some of the action unfold.

That said, the location does mean the sportsbook occasionally attracts a few, shall we say, questionable characters. Thankfully, the staff are well-trained and know exactly how to handle them.

As for the venue itself, space is definitely at a premium, especially when it gets crowded with bettors (as it did while I was there). But the close-quarters vibe, reminiscent of a bustling pub, actually added to the charm for me. The staff was always helpful, and the live horse and greyhound races on the screens were a nice touch.

Things People Ask About European Betting Sites

Placing sports bets for the first time can be a unique and fun experience. However, there might be one or two things you’re unsure about.

In this section, I’m going to answer the most common questions related to European sports betting. I’ll draw on my own personal experience, as well as the research I’ve done talking to other bettors and exploring online forums.

Is Sports Betting Available in Europe?

Yes, sports betting is available in Europe. You can place wagers either through online European sports betting sites or at land-based sportsbooks. However, laws vary between countries, with some permitting online sports betting and others not.

Are European Online Bookmakers as Safe as Land-Based Ones?

The best European sportsbooks are just as safe as land-based ones, as long as they’re licensed and regulated. These sportsbooks are monitored by gambling commissions, ensuring they comply with strict safety regulations.

Many online bookies also use SSL encryption to protect their websites from harmful attacks.

What Types of Sports Bets Can I Place in Europe?

All European sportsbooks allow you to place moneyline bets, where you wager on a team or player to win the game. Most sportsbooks – both online and land-based – also offer betting options like totals (over/under) and handicaps.

You can choose a single bet or combine multiple picks to create a parlay (or accumulator).

Other types of bets include game props, such as betting on a specific quarter in basketball or a set score in tennis, as well as team and player props, like wagering on the first touchdown in an NFL game.

Do European Sportsbooks Limit Winners?

All European betting sites have policies in place to protect themselves from liquidation, which may include restricting ‘winners’ – in other words, bettors who use a system to consistently make large profits.

While most bettors don’t reach the point of being limited for winning, there are instances where a sportsbook might impose a deposit or maximum stake cap on an individual’s account for liquidation concerns.

Destinations I Plan to Visit Next

I’m not done travelling just yet – and I’m definitely not done betting on sports or finding the best places to do it. My goal is to keep delivering valuable content so you can make informed decisions about where to put your money.

My current plans involve heading across the pond to explore different U.S. states. While I haven’t finalized my itinerary yet, states like Texas and New York have certainly caught my attention.

Once I’m there, I plan to visit some land-based sportsbooks and sign up for a few top-rated online betting sites, then share my findings with you.

And who knows? Maybe this time, I’ll even turn a profit!

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