You’re scrolling through a review site, and bet365 is painted as the golden child of bookmakers. “Fast payouts. Great odds. Free cookies with every bet.” Okay, maybe not the cookies, but you get the gist. Why the love fest? Well, affiliates can rake in up to 30% commission, so it’s no shocker they’re singing praises louder than a karaoke night gone wrong. But how much of this is legit, and how much is just slick marketing? Tough to tell when everyone’s got a paycheck riding on it.
My go-to move? Ditch the polished sites and head to Reddit. Those folks don’t mess around; think of it as the Wild West of opinions. Sure, Trustpilot might have its share of “TotallyRealUser123” bots, but Redditors? They’re harder to bribe than my grandma when I try to snag her secret cookie recipe. You’ll find the good, the bad, and the “I threw my laptop out the window” ugly there. Spoiler: it’s not all doom and gloom, but it’s definitely not all rainbows either.
But to make this review more relatable; I will be bit more bias towards the negative side (truer side) of isle. Like how people with bad experiences want to rate this company.
First Reddit; here’s one where a user basically asks why people dislike bet365 in the US so much:
I currently use bet365 because draftkings for some odd reason won’t let me create a account and says my info is invalid so I went to bet365 and I hear nobody ever use it. Why is that? I genuinely enjoy bet365 and how they payout early etc.
And these are a few responses it got:
Wish I could sue that place. They really scammers. Every time I’m trying to win they freeze up my account until I lost one day I picked 6 teams and Liverpool lost that day they gave me 80 dollars cashout in the first half while I got a call and came back to cash out my money I bet 20 and I was about to make 160 they froze my account and now they did the same shit remember that I played on Sunday Feb 15th and you guy’s froze my account I would like to know where to go to sue them cause lost a lot of money on that shit I let you guy’s know my name if you guy’s wanna give me back my money I lost almost 8000 in that shit. Every time I’m trying to win always a freeze up cashout unavailable came to my shit restart my phone and the team’s equalizer and make me lose my fucking money that’s a real scam.
US customer here. They make up their own final scores to suit their grading on obscure events. Such as European Hockey. I had over 7.5 goals scored by both teams in a Germany hockey match, Augsburger Panthers, played on 15 Nov 2024. It ended 6-2, with Adler Mannheim prevailing. Mind you, I watched the game. The final score was 6-2. And every website said 6-2. Sofa, other gambling sites, etc. Both teams Twitter X said 6-2. But they said that according to their ‘trusted source’, only 7 goals were scored. Endless back and forth through chat got me nowhere. Needless to say, I am a former customer now. It was all of $60, but fk me once, shame on me… you know the rest. You don’t get to spread my cheeks twice. Very sketchy outlet. Would have made thousands off me since I lost so much usually. I yanked my remaining balance out. Back to Draft Kings, I guess.
Bet365 is quick to limit, but they are the largest world wide sportsbook and have a storied reputation. Every once in a while some one will come on here saying that bet365 stole their money or something so they get a bad rap, but they are a legit regulated operator with good bonuses.
Its reviews on Trustpilot are awful too. NGL. A total of 5,335 reviews posted as of 5th April 2025, with a combined rating of 1.2 out of 5.0, making it poor.
Here is a 1-star review:
Won’t let me withdraw my settlement. Only bet on the Grand National once a year and they won’t pay out my small amount of winnings because my account name is different to my bank account (they were happy to take my deposit from them being different). Now being told they want to see my expenditure on my bank statement to prove I’m who I say I am. Usually you would have to use legal ID like a driving licence or birth marriage certificate. Surely the information at the top of my bank statement should be enough. And web chat was awful, for the 45 minutes I was on there and wouldn’t let me reply each time. Gemma Smith – UK
Here’s one that portrays them in a better light (4-star review):
Only feel it’s fair to write a review. I deposited £500 on 29/9/24 and won £40,309!! I thought aw naw here we go I’m not gonna get it, well to my surprise I received £20,309 yesterday and £20,000 today. I took one star away as they said my bank kept declining the withdrawal but my bank said they didn’t decline anything which caused me panic and alarm bells but I’ve received the full amount in 3 days! Thank use so much for changing me and my families lives!!! Xx – Chloe – UK
The Grumble Zone: What’s Got Bettors Riled Up?
So, what’s the beef with bet365? From the Reddit trenches and beyond, three gripes pop up like whack-a-moles: delayed ID verification, refund headaches, and account limits that hit harder than a slapstick pie to the face. Let’s break it down.
- ID Delays: You send in your passport scan, and it’s like waiting for a sloth to finish a marathon. I get it; 100 million customers mean a lot of paperwork; but it’s still a buzzkill when you’re itching to bet on the big game.
- Refund Woes: Some folks say getting money back is like asking a toddler to share their candy; good luck. Usually, it’s a “you didn’t read the fine print” situation, not bet365 twirling its mustache in evil glee.
- Account Limits: Thanks to strict UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) rules, if you’re winning too much or betting like a mad genius, they might cap you. It’s not personal; it’s just the law being a party pooper.
Are these dealbreakers? Nah. With a customer base bigger than some countries, hiccups are bound to happen. Compare it to Amazon; sure, your package might arrive late, but you’re not calling Jeff Bezos a scam artist over it. Most of these issues boil down to user error (missing docs, anyone?) or bet365 playing by the regulatory rulebook. Still, it’s worth knowing before you dive in.
The Flip Side: Happy Campers Galore
For every sourpuss, there’s a chorus of bet365 fans ready to tattoo its logo on their biceps. Okay, maybe not that extreme, but you catch my drift. Compared to rivals like Paddy Power (cheeky ads, anyone?), Betfair (exchange king), or Unibet (sleek but sneaky), bet365’s bad karma is pretty low. Most users I’ve chatted with; online and at the pub; say it’s solid. Not perfect, mind you, but reliable enough to keep the betting fires burning.
Take my mate Barry, for instance. He’s been with bet365 for years, swears by their live streaming (more on that later), and only grumbles when his team loses; not when his payout does. Real-world proof? A 2023 UKGC report showed bet365 topping customer satisfaction among UK bookies, with fewer formal complaints than its peers. (Source: UKGC Annual Report 2023; dry reading, but it’s there if you’re curious.)
bet365 101: A Newbie’s Cheat Sheet
Alright, newbies, this one’s for you. I was gonna ramble on forever, but let’s keep it short and sweet; because, frankly, the internet’s already drowning in bet365 essays. Here’s the skinny:
- The Origin Story: Founded in 2000 by Denise Coates, a badass who turned a small betting shop into a global empire. She’s now the UK’s richest woman; proof that betting on yourself pays off. (Pun intended.)
- What’s on Offer?: Sports betting, casino games, horse racing, poker; you name it, they’ve got it. They’re even elbowing into the U.S. market, snagging licenses wherever they can.
- Money Moves: Deposit with cards, PayPal, or bank transfers. Withdrawals? 1-5 days if your KYC (Know Your Customer) is sorted. Mess that up, and you’re in for a world of hurt.
- Support Squad: Live chat, email, phone, or snail mail if you’re feeling retro. Response times can drag; think “watching paint dry” levels of patience required.
- App Vibes: Available on Google Play and the App Store. It’s not winning any design awards, but it works. Ugly but functional; like my old gym shorts.
The Perks: Why People Sign Up (and Stay)
Here’s a fun tidbit: tons of folks join bet365 just to watch live sports. Their streaming service is free if you’ve got a funded account or a bet placed in the last 24 hours. We’re talking football, tennis, even niche stuff like darts. Google Trends shows “bet365 live streaming” spiking during big matches; people love a freebie, and I can’t blame ‘em.
Odds-wise, they’re decent but not jaw-dropping. Betfair’s exchange might edge them out, but bet365 holds its own. Bonuses? In the UK, it’s a measly £10 bet for £30 in freebies; low stakes, low thrills. Across the pond in the U.S. or Europe, though, the offers get juicier. Check their site for the latest; it’s a moving target.
Then there’s always the offshore gambling sites. No dramas, but it’s really up to your risk tolerance. You want to flip a finger to the law and do whatever you want. I mean why not, because you’re the boss of your own life. Or be a follower, a slave-mentality sham (mind the Irish slang) who will just put your head down and stand at the back of the line like everyone else. But, if you want to go for the first option, I’d suggest checking out BookMaker.eu (it’s old-school, off-the-grid, but solid as a rock). Or you could just (if you’re in the US) FanDuel it; or better yet, if you’re in the UK, totally Betfred your way to sports betting glory.
The Catch: Compliance is King
Here’s the kicker: bet365’s compliance team is stricter than a nun with a ruler. Got a blurry ID scan? Rejected. Bank statement from 1999? Nope. It’s not them being jerks; it’s the UKGC breathing down their neck. One slip-up, and they’re fined millions. (Case in point: a £582,000 fine in 2023 for anti-money laundering lapses; ouch.) So, keep your docs in order, or you’ll be crying into your pint faster than you can say “verification failed.”
Worth the Punt?
bet365 isn’t perfect. It’s big, it’s clunky, and it’ll make you jump through hoops if you’re not prepared. But a scam? Hardly. It’s the heavyweight champ of betting; maybe not the flashiest, but it’s got the muscle to back it up. For newbies, it’s a safe bet (see what I did there?) as long as you’ve got your paperwork sorted and your expectations realistic.
So, go ahead, sign up if you fancy it. Just don’t blame me when you’re yelling at the screen because your team choked; or when you’re still on hold with customer support, humming “Sweet Caroline” to pass the time. Happy betting, you glorious risk-takers.