Rugby League Betting in the UK

How We Rank the Best Rugby League Bookies

Here’s how we came up with the above list of the best Rugby League bookies in the UK;

Range of Rugby League Events

A wide selection of tournaments is a must if any bookie is to make it to our list of the best rugby league betting sites. The last thing any punter wants is getting stuck betting on only two or three local competitions.

When considering the range of events a bookmaker offers, we also factor the distribution across borders. Those keen on listing all major local and international events score high. At the same time, those adding a few less popular ones to the list score higher.

Betting Markets

Having a wide selection of events is good, but that's only half of it. Great bookmakers also have many bet options for any given match listed.

This factor is especially critical when shopping for a betting site because some bookmakers will list several events but only provide outright markets, which limits your options. At least 10 betting markets are decent for rugby league, but over 30 is much better.

Live Betting and Streaming

Betting on ongoing games is popular among today's punters. It is entertaining and allows for a better analysis of the game. Some might even say it is more profitable than pre-match betting. Any reputable betting site should have the option of in-play betting. It should also provide great match statistics and update them accordingly as the game progresses.

What’s more, the bookie should also provide live streaming — at least for the top-tier events. This consideration is especially challenging for rugby competitions because there are fewer viewers than in football. Still, it would help if a bookie had streaming services.

Mobile Options

A mobile-friendly website is standard nowadays, which is why all bookies on this list have a website that is navigable via both PCs and mobile devices. Mobile betting apps for iOS and Android are becoming more conventional, too. In some cases, you will also find apps for Windows and Blackberry, which is a plus for the bookie.

The apps should match the platform's desktop version in every way and have exclusive promotions as a plus. Another key feature we expect to find in the mobile apps is a reminder function, which allows the bookie to push notifications regarding new promotions, events, etc.

Promotions

For starters, decent signup bonuses are a must. We are always looking for value for money, wagering requirements, and qualification for the welcome bonus. Other factors we consider, though less pronounced, include the expiry duration and how the reward is issued (as a whole or several free bets). Smaller chunks give you more flexibility when using your free bet.

Legal and Licensed

UK laws are very strict about gambling sites, so it is always safe to go for licensed and regulated betting sites. Any bookie that claims to operate in the UK market should have a licence from the UKGC.

What's more, working with responsible gambling organisations such as Gamstop is a must. The good news is that betting sites have to be compliant before they are licensed, so you know any holder of the UKGC licence has responsible gambling covered.

High Rugby League Odds

High odds give you better chances of winning big. When evaluating betting odds, we also look at betting margins, which show how likely you are to be a winner on average after prolonged betting activity with any given betting site.

We calculated the betting margins of all the bookies on this list based on three similar matches across the World Cup and Super League. Here are the top five winners:

1. Unibet: 5.73%
2. Betfair: 6.88%
3. 888Sport: 8.13%
4. William Hill: 9.28%
5. Betway: 9.51%

Customer Support

Bettors want responsive customer support that gives feedback in a matter of minutes. It will also help if the customer service team is available 24/7. Moreover, you want more than one communication channel. 

Live chat is great for urgent issues, while emails may handle less urgent ones. Social media presence is a good idea too, as it helps you get feedback from other punters and the betting company under one roof.

Rugby League Events to Bet On

The rugby league is less popular than Union. However, you still get a comprehensive selection of events thanks to its popularity in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and several other regions. Here are the top tournaments to watch out for.

The Super League

Also known as the Betfred Super League at the time of writing, this top-level tournament began in 1996. It is a UK event, but you can expect teams from France and Canada in the fixtures. Stadium attendance can soar as high as 64,000, as was the case for the St. Helens vs Salford Red Devils in October 2019.

The Super League season runs from February to September, with the top six teams battling for the Super League Grand Final title. St Helens is the current record holder with 10 wins, followed closely by Lees Rhinos, who have won 8 times. Surprisingly, the only other winners are Wigan Warriors and Bradford Bulls.

Rugby League World Cup

First held in 1954, the Rugby League World Cup is the biggest global event of the sport, which the IRL administers. It takes place every four years. The tournament brings together about 32 teams, including 16 men, 8 women, and 8 wheelchair teams, spanning 20 nations and competing across about 60 matches.

Interestingly, England has been a three-time finalist but never won the competition, while Australia has taken home 11 titles.

The National Rugby League

This tournament is arguably a top 3 contestant for the most celebrated Rugby League event. Often called the NRL, it was first held in 1998. It takes place annually — Australia primarily dominates the event, but it also includes teams from New Zealand.

The NRL typically brings together 16 teams, although the number may increase. For the event's highlight, the top eight teams at the end of the season qualify for a knockout competition to determine the ultimate champion, and no relegation is allowed.

European Championship

Often referred to as the Championship, this is the second-tier European rugby league competition. It only began in 2004 and consisted of 14 teams, typically including clubs from the UK, France, and Canada.

By the end of each season, the top five teams compete for a single promotion spot to the Super League, while the last two teams are relegated to League One.

The Challenge Cup

This event is another competition dominated mainly by the UK and France. Still, there have been past appearances by teams from Russia, Canada, and Serbia. The tournament started in 1896 and occurs almost every year.

Wigan Warriors are the most successful Challenge Cup participants. They have earned the trophy at least 20 times. Another remarkable record for the competition is the all-time high stadium attendance of 51,628 seats set at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in May 2022, when Wigan lifted the trophy for the 20th time.

State-of-Origin Series

One of the most popular events to bet on is the state of origin series, an annual best-of-three competition between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons. Queensland boasts the most titles, at least 23, while there have been 2 draws in the past.

Popular Rugby League Betting Markets

The rugby league's betting markets cannot be compared to what football gets, but there are always just enough to play around with. Here are the popular rugby league betting markets you want to know about;

Outright

This bet is the most popular type for any given sport. It involves simply choosing the tournament's winners. Conveniently, this market is often available months early. If you wish to stake months before the game, this bet is the type you want to go for.

Handicap Betting

A handicap bet requires a favourite to win by a particular number of points or for the underdog only to avoid losing by a given number of points for your stake to settle. Handicap betting is the most common type in rugby league other than outright betting. 

For instance, if the Wigan Warriors were drafted against a weaker team such as Toulouse Olympique. You would expect the Wigans to win by a landslide, so a handicap bet such as Wigan -2.5 could be used to even up the score. In this case, they would have to win by at least 3 points for the bet to settle because it means the Wigans begin the match with 2.5 fewer points.

The same could also be presented as Toulouse +2.5, which means they begin the match with 2.5 points against 0.0. Therefore, the bet stands so long as Toulouse does not lose by 3 points or more.

Try Scorer

It is also common for rugby league bookies to provide a market where punters can bet on who will score a try, the most common being the first try scorer.

This type of bet could be helpful when you know a particular team often makes an electric start and you are willing to bet on one of their players scoring the first try.

Total Points

This option is perfect when you don't want to back any particular team but are confident about the number of points you think will be awarded over the match. It can be varied to involve total points in one half of the game or even total points up to a particular time in the contest.

Half with Most Points

Bearing a close resemblance to the total points bet is the "half with most points" punt, which is just what it sounds like. You get to select the half that will have the most points, and if you are right, your bet settles.

First Scoring Play

Most high-street betting sites will let you bet on the first scoring play. This could include the team scoring first via a try, a penalty, or a field goal. Again, it is an exciting bet type if your gut has more to say about the events in the match than the match winner.

Accas

Also called accumulators, this type of bet combines several others to increase your potential gains exponentially. For instance, you could combine the results of more than one match, usually up to a particular acceptable number of games. The final odds for your accumulators are calculated as a multiple of the decimal odds for all the individual events you combined.

Punters love such unconventional bets as accas, total points, first scoring play, and try scorer because they often carry better prices. They are considered much harder to predict and, as such, attract higher odds than outrights.

Rugby League Betting Tips and Strategies

Successful betting takes more than just trusting your gut or dying hard with your favourite team. It would be best if you were prudent and keen on taking advantage of every available opportunity. Here are some key things to keep in mind:

• Go for the best odds: Take a peek at several top bookies on our list to find the best odds. You could begin by choosing a wager and then shopping around to determine which betting site gives you the most prominent potential win for that particular event.
• Leverage handicap betting to increase your returns: If you are confident about a hot favourite but find the potential gain too little, consider adding a handicap of the match to your bet. It should give you significantly more profit if you win.
• Take advantage of bonuses and promotions: From the welcome bonus to ongoing customer promotions, freebies can give you an upper hand by allowing you more chances to bet risk-free and win real money.
• Use stats: Rugby league may not be as data-driven as football, but you can still access valuable stats, including head-to-head records for the pair match you are considering. A quick google search should do the trick.
• In your analyses, also keep in mind the weather and the team's shape on the day of the game. Remember, rain and wind can impact the total number of scores. So can missing or injured players.
• Steady your emotions: Professional punters know a losing streak is typical, and so is winning. The trick is always to use your head and not your heart. Also, never take a stupid risk hoping to recover the previous losses; whatever happens, only stake what you can afford to lose.