888Sport
What is said about 888Sport?
Since the company first appeared in 1997, 888 has enjoyed steady growth and is now one of the most recognisable brands in the industry. In 2008, they launched the 888Sport brand to join their existing casino, poker, and bingo services.
In 2013, the company became one of the first non-USA companies to be awarded a license to provide online gaming in Nevada. They also became a member of the ESSA, the European body that deals with betting integrity. All these factors esstential and are representative for all the best online bookmakers.
In fact, the company boasts trust and credibility as its core principles, although reviews on websites such as Trustpilot suggest that not all customers have been convinced by their claims. However, 42% of over 860 customers rated them as excellent.
The company is known for its slick branding, excellent technology platform, and a broad range of services with an online casino, poker room, and sportsbook all seamlessly integrated under one umbrella. They also have a bingo section titled 888Ladies which aims to provide a comfortable environment for female players.
They have competitive odds, plenty of payment options, good promotions, and a good loyalty scheme; so, let’s explore further why 888 is a website we are happy to recommend.
What is Our Experience with 888Sport?
We must admit, we are big fans of the 888 group of websites. They are a global brand that is always adapting and innovating to the ever-changing trends in online gaming and online cricket betting in particular. There is a reason they have won awards such as the Digital Operator of the Year prize - handed to 888Poker at the 2016 Global Gaming Awards, and the EGR Operator Marketing and Innovation award - given to 888 Casino in 2017.
They also revealed a new re-branded platform in 2018 which addressed many of the issues that had been identified with their previous set-up. As a result, they now have one of the most user-friendly betting and gaming websites out there.
Furthermore, cricket fans will not be disappointed with the amount of choice on offer from the Gibraltar-based company, while fans of other sports will discover an extensive choice of sports betting and live streaming options.
New players can sign up for a welcome bonus which rewards you with free bets after making your first. You can also build your own bets and receive these bonuses when you bet at odds of 5.00 or over. At first glance, there seems to be plenty of good reasons to sign up for an 888Sport account. But can they be trusted?
Is 888Sport a Scam?
With so many great features, the 888Sport betting website looks to be a great option for cricket betting tips fanatics and sports bettors, as well as casino players. But is there a catch? After all, there are always fears that a good deal may be too good to be true.
Don’t worry, 888Sport is a well-established sports website with a good reputation amongst serious punters. They are fully licensed in Gibraltar and the UK, and also have offices in Malta. They operate in many countries around the world and were also one of the first European firms to enter the USA market. Not to mention, they have also won many awards thanks to their innovative approach to online betting and, crucially, they have previously been named Socially Responsible Operator of the Year, a title that should definitely instil trust into players.
The company services millions of users worldwide and now offers several different brands under the 888 banner. They are one of a handful of brands who are leaders rather than followers in the global betting industry.
The company adheres to the highest security standards to ensure the safety and integrity of all your personal and financial information. The only issue for Indian players is that they do not accept payments in Rupees, so you will have to deal in pounds or Euros when betting on any of their sites. But if you can live with that, 888Sport is one of the most reliable brands for sports bettors.
888Sport Betting Markets
The 888Sport website offers wagering on more than 40 sports including cricket, football, tennis, and horse racing. They also cover eSports, but they do not cover some of the more niche sub-markets that some smaller websites have started offering. It seems that rather than being a jack of all trades, they are happy to focus on the most popular areas and provide the best service they can.
Within individual events, they also provide great variety. Top football games can have in excess of 300 betting options and many more in-play. However, cricket betting options are a little more limited compared to some other websites; although, this will only be an issue if you are keen on wagering on the less common markets. The good news is, you can create your own bets and request odds on almost any outcome.
ESports fans are undoubtedly well-catered for, as are fans of pro-wrestling, basketball, volleyball, handball, boxing, and snooker. American sports are also featured, along with less-common sports such as darts and cycling.
888Sport Odds
One of the strengths of 888Sport is the great odds they offer. They compare well to the other big players in the industry and often come out on top in sports such as football and tennis.
We compared the cricket odds on some major international and club matches and the results were favourable with competitive prices across the board. In the football markets, the odds were amongst the best on offer with payout levels in excess of 95%.
For bettors looking for good odds from a well-known site that has been in the business for more than 20 years, 888Sport represents a great choice. With great prices and low margins, there is no need to risk playing at less reputable betting sites.
888Sport Live Betting
The choice of live betting offered by 888Sport India is impressive. They really do want their customers to have the best all-round betting experience.
Typically, you can find 50 or more live betting options available in any individual event such as a cricket or football, with some having even more. You might find websites out there that offer more than this, but they are usually lesser-known sites who often offer markets that are not popular in order to compete with the big players. 888 Sport is a great example of a site that knows what its customers want and delivers accordingly.
With so many events covered, there are live betting options available 24/7 and they are clearly displayed when you land on the main web page.
888Casino
The company may offer a slick sports betting website, but they are also an experienced casino provider having first appeared as Casino-on-Net way back in 1997. Since then, they have continued to be one of the top online casino websites.
As a result, Indian casino players will be more than satisfied with what is on offer. The website is fast and modern with an impressive range of table games, including all the classics such as roulette, baccarat, and poker, with an average pay-out rate of 95.1%.
The focus, as with all 888 sites and services, is on quality rather than huge variety. So, don’t expect the biggest range of games, but do expect great quality with a superb interface and impressive graphics.
888 Live Casino
If you visit the 888Casino website on a regular basis, you will have noticed that the focus has shifted towards live casino games. This is in reaction to the customer demand for real dealers and more interactive experiences. The choice of live games here is fantastic, with everything from traditional table and dice games to game shows and many different poker variations.
When you play, you get a choice of three different views, and the live dealers are some of the most professional you will find on any live casino site. The 888 live casino is as close to a real casino experience that you can get online. There is even a live casino pit boss who patrols the floor making sure everything runs smoothly.
You can chat to the dealers via the live chat system if you ever have any questions, and you will find them knowledgeable and helpful - you really feel like they are there to give you the best possible experience.
888Poker
When it comes to poker, 888Poker is a name you can trust. But don't take our word for it. 888 Poker was named the Socially Responsible Operator of the Year three years in a row by the EGR (EGaming Review).
Their poker site has over 10 million registered users, making it one of the biggest in the world, not to mention there are hundreds of tables available to play throughout the day.
The poker games themselves are built on a world-class software platform, providing a slick gaming experience in a safe and secure environment across all your devices.
You can choose between all the popular poker variations such as Texas Hold'em, Omaha, and 7 Card Stud. There are also play cash games, sit & go's, and cash tournaments to join throughout the day with thousands of players online at any one time. There are even practice tables to get you up to speed with the intricacies of each of the games.
888 Sport Bonus Promotions
There is a good choice of bonuses on offer at 888Sport, including a generous welcome bonus and ongoing daily bonuses and bet enhancements. Let's go through a few of these now:
Betting Bonus
We love 888Sport's bonus offer because it is so simple. You simply bet €10 and get €30 in free bets with no complicated wagering requirements. You can also get creative and build your own bets and, if you win at odds of 5.00 or better, you get a €5 free bet.
Casino Bonus
On the casino tables, you can win an €8 bonus every time the ball hits the lucky number 8. There are also daily free play and cash bonuses across different table games. Put simply, whatever day of the week you play, there is always some sort of bonus available.
Poker Bonus
The poker website has regular promo codes for cash bonuses and tickets to tournaments. Furthermore, there are also monthly prizes including the latest gadgets and luxury holidays.
Deposit Methods
There are more than 30 deposit methods, over half of which can also be used for withdrawals. The list includes all the most popular payment methods including Visa and MasterCard credit and debit cards, NETELLER, PayPal, and Skrill.
888 Live Streaming
The live streaming options are a little limited on 888Sport compared to some other big-name sports sites. Plus, unfortunately, some of the streams, such as horse racing, are only available in the UK and Ireland. For most live streams you will need a positive balance in your account to view them, and then the streams can be accessed via desktop and mobile devices.
888Sport App and Mobile User Experience
The overall 888Sport user experience is excellent, with the company successfully utilising a slick website and mobile app. They have gone for a minimalist approach and finding your way around the mobile site is easy with no complicated menu systems. However, we did have some occasional issues with the pages freezing or taking a while to load.
Live and upcoming games are listed alongside the most popular sports for quick access, while a full list of sports is just a click away. Overall, the website is smooth and, for the most part, responsive and satisfying to use.
If you want to bet on cricket, you are only two clicks away from a full list of available events and you’ll get great odds across the broad. And remember, you can also access 888 across multiple devices from a single account.
Customer Support
Like many betting websites, 888Sport would prefer for you to consult their FAQ pages before talking to an advisor. If you still need help, you'll have to click through a couple of pages to find the toll-free helpline numbers with four different lines available depending on your region.
You can also send an email or a contact support enquiry via an online form. Live chat is mentioned on the website, but we could not find any way to access these services on the contact pages suggesting it may no longer be available, which is a little disappointing.
Emails responses can be slow, so we recommend calling if you have an issue. Some customers on Trustpilot have reported issues with the customer support so this may be the one area where 888 Sport can look to up their game. However, we were able to eventually resolve our own queries via their telephone service.
Our Conclusion and Rating
We definitely like many aspects of the 888Sports betting website. They are one of the biggest names in the industry and have won many awards for their products and service. Indian players may find the sports section a little European-focused but there are plenty of cricket betting types, for example, and further sports that are available to access in India.
There is no option to bet in Rupees so bettors will need to use pounds or euros when wagering. But don’t let this put you off, you’ll find great odds and enough markets to satisfy even the most discerning customers.
The website and app look great and are very easy to navigate, so new customers should not feel intimidated or overwhelmed when they log on for the first time. We also love their bonus offers and promotions, which are some of the most straightforward you will find. This is a big plus for new and existing customers alike.
Some of the negative comments about their customer support cannot be ignored, but any betting company that has millions of customers will have a similar level of feedback. After all, not every customer gets the resolution they want. Having said that, there are some sites out there with a better range of contact options.
A couple of small issues aside, 888Sport provides a quality product that should satisfy most bettors. Beginners should find their website and applications easy to use and, as a result, we would give them a four-star rating. With improved live streaming and an updated customer support section, they might just score a five.
