Last Updated on 17/04/2026 by Andy Clark
Reviewed by Andy Clark | 20+ years betting experience | Updated April 2026
Our rating: 9.4/10
Andy is the founder, owner and editor of thatsagoal.com, with over 20 years of experience in betting on sports. He has a keen eye for stats, particularly when looking at players to be carded, and these form a large part of the bet builder tips you see on the site. As well as creating daily football tips, Andy also keeps thatsagoal updated with all the best bookmaker promotions and offers for our readers.
Ladbrokes are the oldest major bookmaker still operating in Britain. Founded in 1886 as a commission agent for horses trained at Ladbroke Hall in Warwickshire, the name has been part of British racing and betting for nearly 140 years. That heritage is not just a marketing line – Ladbrokes were taking bets on horse racing long before most of today’s racecourses had grandstands.
Now owned by Entain alongside Coral, Ladbrokes operate at a scale that gives them genuine breadth across sports, racing, casino, poker and bingo. Their horse racing product is strong – BOG on all UK and Irish racing, a Racing Post partnership for form and content, live streaming for funded accounts and the 1-2-Free daily racing game. The welcome offer of Bet £5 Get £30 has one of the lowest qualifying stakes of any major bookmaker, making it one of the most accessible sign-up offers available.
The honest caveats: Ladbrokes odds are not always the sharpest in the market. The desktop website can feel cluttered compared to cleaner competitors. Customer service contact information is not well signposted. And like all Entain group bookmakers, account restrictions apply for consistent winners.
Open a Ladbrokes Account – Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets →
Ladbrokes at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Sign-up offer | Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets (no promo code needed) |
| Minimum deposit | £5 |
| Withdrawal time | PayPal and Apple Pay 2-4 hours; debit card 1-3 days |
| Live streaming | ✅ UK/Irish racing, greyhounds, selected football |
| Bet Builder | ✅ Football and Bet Builder+ across sports |
| Cash out | ✅ Full and partial |
| Best Odds Guaranteed | ✅ All UK and Irish horse and greyhound racing |
| Mobile app | ✅ iOS and Android |
| Customer service | Live chat (AI bot CHIP), email |
| UKGC licence | ✅ Licensed and regulated |
| Founded | 1886 – oldest major UK bookmaker |
| Parent company | Entain (also owns Coral) |
| Retail shops | 2,500+ across the UK |
For World Cup 2026 betting, Ladbrokes is one of our recommended bookmakers. See our World Cup free bets guide for a full comparison of all bookmaker offers for the tournament.
Ladbrokes Ratings
| Category | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Odds and markets | ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 | Average – not the sharpest; boosts help |
| App and website | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 | App is strong; desktop can feel cluttered |
| Live streaming | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 | Full UK/Irish racing; selected football |
| In-play betting | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 | Good stats, stylish graphics, fast |
| Welcome offer | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 | Lowest qualifying stake of any major bookmaker |
| Existing customer offers | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 | 1-2-Free, BOG, 2 Up, daily boosts |
| Withdrawals | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 | PayPal/Apple Pay fast; debit card 1-3 days |
| Customer service | ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 | AI bot CHIP first; contact info hard to find |
| Account restrictions | ⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 | Entain group standard – some restrictions |
Ladbrokes Pros and Cons
Pros
- Oldest bookmaker in Britain – 140 years of racing heritage
- Lowest qualifying stake of any major bookmaker – only £5 to trigger £30 in free bets
- No promo code required for sign-up offer
- 14-day qualifying window – more generous than competitors’ 7 days
- BOG on all UK and Irish horse racing and greyhound racing
- Racing Post partnership – form guides and content built into the racing product
- 1-2-Free daily racing game
- The Grid card – deposit and withdraw cash at any of 2,500+ shops
- Bet Builder+ – combine bet builders from different matches and sports
- Live streaming for funded accounts
- 2 Up early payout on football
- 2,500+ UK retail shops
Cons
- Odds not always the sharpest – daily boosts help, but base prices can lag
- Desktop website can feel cluttered and harder to navigate than cleaner competitors
- Customer service contact information is poorly signposted on the site
- AI chatbot CHIP handles initial live chat queries
- Some account restrictions for consistent winners (Entain group standard)
- PayPal is not accepted for the welcome offer qualifying deposit
Ladbrokes accept a £5 minimum deposit — see all current £5 deposit betting sites for the best offers this week.
Ladbrokes Sign-Up Offer
New UK customers can claim Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets with no promo code required.
The £30 arrives as 6 x £5 free bet tokens, each valid for 7 days on selected sportsbook markets.
How to claim:
- Click the link on this page and register your Ladbrokes account
- Deposit £5 or more using a qualifying payment method
- Place a qualifying bet of £5 or more at minimum odds of 1/2 (1.50) within 14 days of registration
- Receive 6 x £5 free bets once your qualifying bet settles
- Use each token within 7 days of it being credited
Key terms:
- No promo code required
- Minimum qualifying bet: £5 at minimum odds of 1/2 (1.50)
- 14-day window to place qualifying bet – more generous than most competitors
- PayPal does not qualify for the welcome offer – use debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
- Free bets: 6 x £5 tokens, valid 7 days, stake not returned
- Selected sportsbook markets only
- One offer per customer, household and IP address
Is the Ladbrokes offer good value? On a return-per-pound-risked basis, Bet £5 Get £30 is the best ratio available from any major UK bookmaker – 600% on your qualifying stake. The 14-day qualifying window is also the most generous available. For punters opening multiple accounts, Ladbrokes is the easiest and lowest-risk claim in the market.
Claim the Ladbrokes Sign-Up Offer → | Join Ladbrokes →
How to Open a Ladbrokes Account
- Click the link on this page to go to Ladbrokes’ registration page
- Fill in your details – name, address, date of birth and email
- Deposit £5 or more using a debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
- Place your qualifying bet – £5 at minimum odds of 1/2 (1.50) within 14 days
- Collect your free bets – 6 x £5 tokens credited once your qualifying bet settles
Ladbrokes for Horse Racing
Horse racing is where Ladbrokes have their deepest roots and their strongest product. Nearly 140 years of involvement in British racing is reflected in the quality and depth of what they offer.
BOG on all UK and Irish racing and greyhounds. No opt-in required. If you take an early price and the SP is bigger, Ladbrokes pay at the SP automatically. See our Best Odds Guaranteed guide for a full comparison of BOG terms across all bookmakers.
Racing Post partnership. Ladbrokes have integrated Racing Post form guides, tips and previews directly into their racing product. For punters who use Racing Post data, having it available within the betting interface without switching tabs is a genuine time-saver.
1-2-Free. Ladbrokes’ daily free-to-play horse racing game. Pick the first and second in a selected race. Get them right in the correct order and win cash. A lightweight but consistent daily engagement feature that adds value for regular racing bettors.
Ante-post markets. Available well in advance for all major festivals – Cheltenham, Aintree, Royal Ascot, Goodwood and more. See our Non-Runner No Bet guide for NRNB terms across bookmakers before placing ante-post bets.
Live streaming. Full UK and Irish racing coverage for funded accounts. Also covers greyhounds and selected international meetings.
The Grid card. Unique to Ladbrokes – allows you to deposit and collect winnings in cash at any of the 2,500+ Ladbrokes shops using the same card linked to your online account—the most extensive retail network of any UK bookmaker.
For our daily racing tips see our NAP of the Day and Lucky 15 tips.
Ladbrokes for Football
Ladbrokes covers all major football leagues and competitions with a full range of markets.
Markets: Match result, both teams to score, over/under goals, correct score, Asian handicaps, first goalscorer, anytime goalscorer, player stats, cards, corners, Bet Builder.
Bet Builder+ – Ladbrokes’ standout football feature. Combine bet builders from multiple different matches into a single accumulator bet. You can mix football fixtures with other sports too – for example, a football Bet Builder combined with a Grand National selection in one bet. This is genuinely unique and not available at most competitors.
2 Up early payout – If the team you backed goes 2 goals ahead at any point, Ladbrokes pay out your bet regardless of the final score.
Daily odds boosts – Available on football, racing and other sports every day.
For our football tips and Bet Builder selections see our football tips and bet builder tips.
Ladbrokes App Review
The Ladbrokes app is stronger than the desktop site and is the recommended way to use the platform.
Navigation: Sports and features menu at the top, including free games and promotions. Full A-Z sports list below. Cleaner and faster than the desktop equivalent.
In-play: Stylish graphics for football in-play, comprehensive stats breakdown including dangerous attacks and shots on target. Good live odds updates.
Bet Builder+: Available directly from match pages. The ability to combine bet builders from multiple events into one slip is the standout feature.
1-2-Free: Accessible directly in the app. Daily racing pick-the-first-and-second game.
Casino/bingo access: Full casino, live casino and bingo products accessible within the sports app – no need to download a separate casino app.
Downloading:
- iOS: Search “Ladbrokes Sports Betting” in the App Store
- Android: Available on Google Play Store
The Grid Card
The Ladbrokes Grid card is the most distinctive feature separating Ladbrokes from online-only competitors. It links your online account to any of the 2,500+ Ladbrokes retail shops across the UK, allowing you to:
- Deposit cash in-shop to your online account
- Withdraw online winnings in cash at your local shop
- Place in-shop bets that appear on your online account
This is particularly useful for punters who prefer handling cash, want instant access to winnings without waiting for a bank transfer, or who already use Ladbrokes shops and want to link their betting activity. No other bookmaker has a comparable retail footprint.
Ladbrokes Deposits and Withdrawals
Deposits
| Method | Minimum | Processing | Qualifies for welcome offer? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debit card | £5 | Instant | ✅ |
| Apple Pay | £5 | Instant | ✅ |
| Google Pay | £5 | Instant | ✅ |
| PayPal | £5 | Instant | ❌ |
| Paysafe | £5 | Instant | ❌ |
| Bank transfer | £5 | 1-3 days | Check T&Cs |
Withdrawals
| Method | Minimum | Processing time |
|---|---|---|
| PayPal | £5 | 2-4 hours |
| Apple Pay | £5 | 2-4 hours |
| Debit card | £5 | 1-3 working days |
| Bank transfer | £5 | Up to 5 working days |
No fees on deposits or withdrawals. PayPal and Apple Pay are the fastest withdrawal routes.
Ladbrokes Account Restrictions
Ladbrokes apply restrictions as standard across the Entain group – broadly comparable to Coral. Recreational punters who bet for entertainment are very unlikely to be affected. Consistent winners on certain markets, particularly those who exploit price boosts systematically, may find stakes limited over time.
For punters who have been restricted elsewhere, BoyleSports and SBK are better alternatives. See our BoyleSports review.
Our Verdict – Should You Open a Ladbrokes Account?
Yes – and for one specific reason above all others: the sign-up offer is the best value qualifying bet in the UK market.
Bet £5 and get £30 is a 600% return on your qualifying stake with a 14-day window to place it. No other major bookmaker comes close on that basis. For punters opening multiple accounts to build a portfolio, Ladbrokes is the obvious first or second claim.
Beyond the offer, Ladbrokes have a genuinely strong horse racing product underpinned by 140 years of racing heritage. The BOG on all UK and Irish racing, the Racing Post partnership, the 1-2-Free game and the Grid card for in-shop access make them a sensible racing account to maintain long-term.
The odds are not always the sharpest, and the website can be cluttered. But for horse racing punters and anyone building a multi-bookmaker portfolio, Ladbrokes belongs in the mix.
Overall rating: 9.4/10
Best for: Horse racing, best value qualifying stake, 14-day offer window, The Grid card, Bet Builder+, Racing Post integration
Not the best for: Sharpest football odds, cleanest website experience, punters who have been restricted elsewhere
Open a Ladbrokes Account – Bet £5 Get £30 →
Ladbrokes FAQs
Is Ladbrokes safe and legitimate?
Yes. Ladbrokes are licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission and owned by Entain plc, one of the world’s largest regulated gambling groups. Founded in 1886, they are the oldest major bookmaker in Britain.
What is the Ladbrokes sign-up offer?
Bet £5 Get £30 in Free Bets. No promo code required. Place a qualifying bet of £5 at minimum odds of 1/2 (1.50) within 14 days of registration. Receive 6 x £5 free bet tokens valid for 7 days each.
Does Ladbrokes require a promo code?
No. The welcome offer activates automatically when you register and place your qualifying bet. No code needed.
Does Ladbrokes offer Best Odds Guaranteed?
Yes, on all UK and Irish horse racing and greyhound racing. No opt-in required. See our BOG guide.
What is Ladbrokes Bet Builder+?
A feature that lets you combine bet builders from multiple different matches or sports into a single accumulator. For example, a football bet builder from Saturday’s Premier League combined with a Grand National selection. Unique to Ladbrokes.
What is the Ladbrokes Grid card?
A card that links your online account to Ladbrokes’ 2,500+ UK retail shops. Deposit cash, collect winnings and place bets in-store, all linked to your online account.
What is 1-2-Free at Ladbrokes? A free-to-play daily horse racing game. Pick the first and
What is 1-2-Free at Ladbrokes?
A free-to-play daily horse racing game. Pick the first and second finisher in a selected race in the correct order to win cash.
How fast are Ladbrokes withdrawals?
PayPal and Apple Pay withdrawals typically process within 2-4 hours. Debit card withdrawals take 1-3 working days. No fees on any method.
Can I use PayPal for the Ladbrokes welcome offer?
No. The qualifying deposit must be made via debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. PayPal deposits are accepted but do not qualify for the welcome offer.
When was Ladbrokes founded?
1886, making them the oldest major bookmaker still operating in Britain. Now owned by Entain plc alongside Coral.
Compare Ladbrokes With Other Bookmakers
| Bookmaker | Sign-up offer | Qualifying stake | BOG | Retail shops | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladbrokes | Bet £5 Get £30 | £5 – lowest | ✅ | 2,500+ | This page |
| Coral | Bet £5 Get £30 | £5 | ✅ | ~1,800 | Read review |
| BoyleSports | Bet £10 Get £40 | £10 | ✅ Racing + greyhounds | 380+ | Read review |
| Betfred | Bet £10 Get £50 | £10 | ✅ | 1,600+ | Read review |
| William Hill | Bet £10 Get £30 | £10 | ✅ | 1,400+ | Read review |
More Bookmaker Reviews and Offers
- All UK Bookmaker Reviews
- bet365 Review
- BoyleSports Review
- Betfred Review
- William Hill Review
- Coral Review
- BetVictor Review
- Midnite Review
- Ladbrokes Sign-Up Offer
- All Free Bets
- Best Odds Guaranteed Guide
- Non-Runner No Bet Explained
- NAP of the Day
- Lucky 15 Tips
- Horse Racing Tips
- Football Tips
Reviewed by Andy Clark, founder of Thatsagoal.com with over 20 years of betting experience across football, horse racing and other sports. Last updated: April 2026. 18+. Please gamb