With its origins dating back more than a century, it’s fair to say that Ladbrokes is one of the oldest and best-loved bookies around – you have to be to survive in this ultra-competitive industry.
Nearly two million customers are served by the company each year, whether that’s in their 2,000 high street shops or via the website, which just happens to be one of the most eye-catching and easy-to-use bookmakers’ sites on the web.
Ladbrokes take their commitment to quality seriously and are clearly determined to give their customers what they want. Hence their introduction of an Exchange model which is a different but highly rewarding way to bet, as well as a number of other promotions and features which keep the brand at the cutting edge.
With excellent market coverage and solid pricing, everyone from regular punters to high rollers has plenty to enjoy at Ladbrokes.
Odds & Markets
The best way to describe Ladbrokes’ odds is ‘so so’. Why? Well, they are very often close to the best price but not quite there when it comes to most sports and markets.
Let’s take a random Premier League football match as a guide. Now, here the best prices were 8/13 for the home team, 53/10 for the away and 7/2 for the draw. Ladbrokes were priced at 4/7, 5/1 and 10/3 respectively. So as you can see, it was very much a case of ‘close but no cigar’ for the brand in this market. And that pattern continues across the board in First/Anytime Goalscorer, Both Teams to Score, Over/Under 2.5 Goals etc; they are always close to being the top price, but never quite carry it through.
Next we studied a random horse race from Lingfield and found that of the 12 runners Ladbrokes were best price or joint best for just two of those in the field. They were mere fractions from being the best for others though: 4/1 instead of 5/1, 9/2 instead of 5/1, that kind of thing. But over a longer period of time, that would add up as a loss.
Finally, we wanted to check out an ante-post outright market so we dialed into their French Open prices. Happily, at the time of writing Ladbrokes were the best price for three players who could be considered decent contenders for the trophy – Rafa Nadal, Kei Nishikori and Tomas Berdych – so there’s clearly plenty of potential for punters here.
Ladbrokes carry all of the markets you would expect across the sporting spectrum, including European and Asian handicaps, scorecast/wincast, corners and cards and more specials than you can shake a stick at.
Site Usability
It’s easy to like the redesign of the Ladbrokes website, and the contemporary stylings will feel familiar to modern internet users compared to some of the outdated bookmaker sites that are currently out there.
Aesthetic appeal combines with logical layout to deliver an exceptional user experience. Click the Sports tab and everything you could possibly need as a punter is displayed on this one screen, and yet it doesn’t feel cluttered like some.
Across the top of the page we have the most popular sports listed, plus promotions, in-plays, and the most used coupons. On the main page there is a watered-down version of the in-play module, plus the key fixtures/events that are coming up later on any given day/week to aid quicker bet placement.
That rather bold menu on the right-hand side displays some other bits of information that are worth familiarising yourself with, including the welcome offer (for new customers), promotions, price boosts and plenty more.
At the very top of the screen is the key navigation, allowing you to manoeuvre between the sportsbook, casino and Exchange with ease, and yes, you really can all do this from the main Ladbrokes hub.
Features
You want features? Ladbrokes has got them in spades. Whether its ways to make your kitty stretch further or simply innovative methods of betting, this is a brand that has its finger on the pulse to keep you coming back for more.
- The Exchange – As part of Ladbrokes’ innovative approach, punters can now access an Exchange platform via their website. This is a different way to bet; your wager is matched by another individual somewhere in the world (no bookmaker margins mean better prices), and you have the opportunity to set your own prices and ‘lay’ a selection, e.g. act as the bookmaker and offer a price that Chelsea won’t win the Premier League, for example.
- In-Play Betting – All of the key sports are available for in-play wagering, including football, tennis, cricket, basketball, volleyball and more. With multiple markets available for each selection, you’ll never be short of options with Ladbrokes.
- Live Streaming – The live streaming function is strong here too, with football from across the globe, UK and Irish horse racing plus ATP and WTA Tour tennis all on the menu. Just place a bet and get watching.
- Cash Out – Protect your investments with Cash Out. This is available on selected football markets for singles and single-line accumulators. It’s not applicable to the Exchange, however.
Banking, Payouts & Limits
Some of the most forgiving limits around backed by an extensive suite of acceptable payment methods ensure that Ladbrokes are one of the finest bookmakers in the game when it comes to depositing funds and winning big.
Payment Methods
A comprehensive range of payment types are accepted by Ladbrokes, so you can rest assured that 99% of the population will be able to find a way to fund their accounts. Obviously debit cards are high up on the list – Visa and MasterCard being the most widely used, and of course e-wallet systems such as PayPal, Skrill, Neteller and paysafecard are eligible too. You can even walk into your local Ladbrokes store and top up using cash.
Minimum Deposit
The minimum deposit amount accepted by Ladbrokes is £5 (debit card, paysafecard, Applepay), with a minimum of £10 for the other payment methods described above.
Minimum Bet
The minimum bet amount accepted by Ladbrokes is just £0.01p on a lot of markets, but this won’t always be the case.
Maximum Bet
There aren’t maximum bet amounts specified in Ladbrokes terms and conditions, however, we must use their daily payout limits to guide us when placing big wagers.
Payout Limits
Like most bookmakers, Ladbrokes has a clear set of guidelines governing how much a player can win per day. There is quite a lengthy list published on their website, but here’s a quick overview for reference:
- Horse Racing (UK & Ireland) – £1,000,000
- Horse Racing (Overseas) – £500,000 or less
- Football (major European leagues/tournaments) – £1,000,000
- Football (outside of Europe) – £500,000 or less
- Tennis, Cricket, Golf, Rugby Union/League – £500,000
- American Sports – £500,000
- Snooker, Darts, Boxing, Motor Racing – £250,000
About Ladbrokes
One of the most well-established names in sports betting across the globe, Ladbrokes serves more than 1.5 million customers each year via their high street and online platforms.
Not many bookmakers can lay claim to having being founded back in 1902, but that’s exactly where the Ladbrokes story begins. Arthur Bendir built on the early movings and shakings amongst those willing to bet on horses by offering prices to said individuals who at the time were simply betting against one another. Thus bookmaking, and specifically Ladbrokes, was born.
The brand continues to strengthen and develop through acquisitions to this day, with their latest deal with Betfair to integrate their Exchange platform into Ladbrokes offering a bold move for the sportsbook.
The numbers are staggering: more than 1,000,000 players use Ladbrokes’ website, and with more than 16,000 staff across their 2,000+ shops in the UK they bring in annual revenues in excess of £1 billion. They must be doing something right.
Contact Information
Respect must go to Ladbrokes for keeping the main hub of their operation based right here in the UK. That has numerous benefits for punters, and the most obvious of which is that all customer support staff are native English speakers who are located on these shores. So, you’ll get the answer to your query in the quickest possible timeframe and with the minimum of fuss.
- Freephone – 0800 731 6191
- Post – Ladbrokes Betting and Gaming Ltd, One Stratford Place, Montfichet Rd, London, E20 1EJ
- Live Chat – via website
- Email – care@ladbrokes.com
- Twitter – @Ladbrokescare