The world of banking has been shaken up in recent years by the emergence of cryptocurrency. Cryptos provide a radical approach to money, and this revolution has affected almost every sector of the economy. The result is that more and more businesses are changing their set-up to enable them to handle cryptocurrency payments, and these changes have also had an impact on the betting sector. The betting industry hasn’t embraced cryptocurrency to the same extent that we have seen in some areas, but there are an increasing number of sites that are prepared to offer these types of payments. Those that don’t offer bitcoin betting are increasingly at risk of being left behind. There are even cryptocurrency-only betting sites, for those who don’t want to use any other method.
As with any new payment technology, there are obvious concerns about safety and security. That’s why you should check out a site’s cryptocurrency options before you consider using it, and make sure that you only register and bet with properly regulated operators.
With these precautions in mind, it is likely that bitcoin betting sites will be increasingly common over the next few years. This guide will give you a full introduction to what they are, and how they work.
By far the most popular of these new cryptocurrencies is bitcoin, and all the betting sites that offer cryptocurrency transactions will always feature bitcoin betting. Here are five of the most interesting bitcoin betting sites available in 2021.
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One of the newest premium sports betting sites, 888sport was only set up in 2008, but has quickly established itself as a major player. It has constantly expanded to operate in a range of new countries, including the fast-growing US sports betting market.
While 888sport does not accept bitcoin payments directly, it is possible to use bitcoin through eWallet provider Skrill. Deposits and withdrawals are usually completed within minutes, although it is possible that they could take up to 24 hours. There is also a minimum deposit of £10 to consider when you make deposits using bitcoin with 888sport.
888sport is certainly one of the biggest betting sites that accept bitcoin and it has an excellent range of markets to bet on, although some punters have been disappointed with the live betting options.
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Based in Malta, EnergyBet was founded in 2012 and has built up a good reputation as a modern sports betting site. They are noted particularly for their live betting platform, which is already one of the top ones around, and their coverage of football, which matches the best of the long-established bookmakers. Their live betting service is admittedly missing any live streaming, however.
As a relatively new site, they have been better positioned than many to recognise the importance of cryptocurrency, and they allow customers to make both deposits and withdrawals with bitcoin. You can use bitcoin to make deposits of up to £1,200 although this is significantly lower than the deposit limit for other payment methods, and there is a £10 minimum spend. Bitcoin deposits and withdrawals do not attract a fee, and they are processed within 24 hours.
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Bet365 is one of the older bookmakers in the British betting industry, relatively speaking, and as a result have been slower than some of their rivals in accepting cryptocurrency. However, they can still be considered as a bitcoin sports betting site as they make it possible to deposit bitcoin through Neteller. There is no fee when you deposit through Neteller, payments go through instantly, and there is a relatively low minimum deposit amount of £5. Unfortunately though, it is not possible to make bitcoin withdrawals at Bet365.
The site is well-known for its wide coverage of sports, and it is particularly strong on football and horse racing, while the availability of coverage including archived horse racing replays is a big added bonus.
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The operators behind MarathonBet were quick to spot the potential of online betting, and set up their betting platform as early as 1997. Since then, this has become one of Europe’s biggest players, and the sportsbook is particularly impressive when it comes to the range of accepted payment methods.
Not only can you make deposits and withdrawals using all of the most popular card and eWallet options here, but MarathonBet also enables you to pay using bitcoin. There is no fee for doing so at MarathonBet, although there is a minimum deposit of £5, and a fairly high minimum withdrawal of £17 when using this method. As you would expect, bitcoin transactions are pretty speedy, going through within 24 hours.
Betting with bitcoin is still relatively new, and many seasoned punters may not be familiar with how to go about this form of wagering. To help you get to grips with cryptocurrency betting, here’s a short guide to the essentials.
To get started with cryptocurrency betting, you need to complete two actions. The first is to decide which btc sports betting site you are going to use. Once you have registered your account with them, you can then set up an eWallet in which you can store your cryptocurrency.
To fund your betting eWallet for bitcoin betting, you first need to purchase your cryptocurrency at the day’s current exchange rate, using another form of payment such as a debit card or a different eWallet. When your wallet has been funded with the cryptocurrency, you can then link it with your betting account and begin depositing funds. This is done in the same way that you handle all online transactions, but one of the advantages of using a cryptocurrency betting site is that there are no fees involved for the deposit.
One of the other advantages of this form of betting is the speed and convenience of cryptocurrency. Your deposit will be credited to your betting account within 24 hours, and sometimes even within minutes. In fact, the only significant restriction may be the minimum deposit amount, which is usually £5 or £10 on most bookmakers that accept bitcoin. With money in your account, you are then free to bet on your sports market of choice.
When it comes to making withdrawals from crypto betting sites, the process is usually pretty straightforward. You will be able to withdraw funds back to the eWallet where you store your bitcoin by completing the relevant information fields on the betting company’s cashier or payment page.
It is important to note, however, that some betting companies allow cryptocurrency deposits but not withdrawals. The minimum withdrawal fee can also vary widely, so it is a good idea to check all of this out before you decide to deposit funds. As with deposits, when you make a cryptocurrency withdrawal, the payment comes through within 24 hours and in some cases even more quickly.
You may be interested in betting with bitcoin, but – as with any new form of financial transaction – you naturally want to be sure that it is as safe as possible. So just how reliable is bitcoin betting in the UK?
One of the major concerns about cryptocurrency is that it is significantly different from standard currencies. This also happens to be arguably its greatest strength, however. For a start, bitcoin and other such currencies are not vulnerable to government policy changes or other forms of global instability. Bitcoin is decentralised, and – rather than being issued by any kind of central bank – it is produced by bitcoin miners resolving cryptic puzzles.
Bitcoin also has an inherent form of value as it has a supply that is capped at 21 million. This shields it from inflation-busting or other controlling economy policies. Perhaps most importantly of all for those looking for the best bitcoin betting sites, the blockchain technology that is at the heart of the bitcoin model offers a high level of both anonymity and customer protection. The encryption on your individual bitcoins is unbreakable, meaning your money can’t be accessed by anyone who doesn’t have exactly the right key.
Another layer of security can be added by ensuring that you only bet on fully licensed and registered betting sites – preferably those regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. These sites will have additional rules to follow when it comes to the security of financial transactions and – by using such sites -you give yourself even more protection.
As with all forms of betting, there are both advantages and disadvantages to opting for bitcoin betting. Here are some of the pros and cons of betting with cryptocurrency:
✅ Blockchain technology and the decentralised nature of cryptocurrency offers security as well as insulation from economic changes
✅ Unlike with some traditional funding methods, bitcoin deposits and withdrawals are fast and easy
✅ Bitcoin provides a level of anonymity that debit cards and bank transfers cannot offer
❕ Bitcoin betting is not universally accepted across the betting industry. In fact, a majority of bookmakers don’t offer it, so you may find your choice of betting sites limited
❕ Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are subject to significant and unpredictable fluctuations in price
❕ In some cases, bookmakers may set higher withdrawal minimums for bitcoin withdrawals
The UK is one of the most heavily regulated financial markets in the world, and the UK’s main financial oversight body – the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – has closely monitored the development of cryptocurrency transactions. So, what does this mean for bitcoin betting in the UK?
The FCA has been concerned about the volatility of cryptocurrencies, and has taken measures to limit the extent to which people can trade in cryptocurrency derivatives. Using bitcoin and other such currencies for betting transactions remains legal in the UK, and more operators are experimenting with this form of transaction every year.
One potential problem, however, is that the UKGC imposes strict rules on bookmakers when it comes to knowing their customers. Given the anonymous nature of cryptocurrencies, this suggests that there is potential for more regulation around the use of bitcoin for betting. If you are in any doubt about using bitcoin for betting, you may want to contact the FCA, the UKGC, or even a bitcoin betting site for clarification.
Bitcoin betting is not for everyone, but this form of betting is not going away, and – for many sports bettors – it offers a level of convenience and speed that they appreciate. More and more betting sites are catering to bitcoin bettors, and the best bitcoin betting sites in the UK offer a clear and simple cryptocurrency transaction process, making it easy to use bitcoin to bet on your favourite markets.
If you think that betting with bitcoin could boost your profits, or simply crave the extra anonymity it offers, we encourage you to do a little further research. Once you’ve decided that this is the right transaction method for you, go ahead and check out our recommended bitcoin betting sites, and pick the one which most appeals.