22bet is a traditional online bookmaker that was founded in 2007. The site is operated by TonyBet, a company that is incorporated in Estonia where they are also regulated. UK customers use a site that is licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. The operator offers sports betting, casino and live casino, including popular table games.
22bet has a welcome bonus and dynamic promotions for major sporting events. There are numerous banking options in different currencies and a full transaction history is available for all users. The site can also be read in 34 languages and there is a desktop and mobile version.
New customers with 22bet are credited with up to £50 in the form of a welcome bonus.
The offer is a 100% matched bet bonus and is subject to the following Terms & Conditions:
The 22bet welcome bonus is for a decent amount but the wagering requirements are restrictive. The bonus must be rolled over 10 times which means a total stake of £500 to release any funds. However, the rules are transparent and the offer is achievable.
Customers with 22bet can benefit from dynamic promotions which are related to a sport or event. However, at the time of writing there was only one concession for existing customers which related to NBA basketball in the United States. Customers must opt-in to this offer and place an in-play bet on any match in the NBA. The minimum bet is £50 and if the selection loses bettors will receive 2 Extra Spins for all three-point scores by both teams. The qualifying bet must also be placed at odds of 1.85 or bigger. The extra spins will be credited within 48 hours of the end of the match. These credits must be used within 3 days or they are lost.
In addition to the welcome offer and NBA offer 22bet has a number of casino related offers which at the time of writing include the following:
The overall package of offers for new and existing customers is low on quantity but the values are quite lucrative. However, in all cases the wagering requirements are excessive and could negate the benefits of the offers. More concessions could be added to the sports betting service in the fullness of time.
‘Sports’ is the first item on the main menu on the Homepage. This selection directs users to the sports page where the upcoming bets for the rest of the day and following day are displayed. Customers can locate an event through a search facility and the major betting events of the day are listed. There are over 20 betting sports which are roughly listed in order of the number of current bets.
In addition to the standard betting sports customers can also bet on Politics and Esports. Bets can be placed in pre-match, in-play and ante-post markets but the sire does not offer a customised betting service. At the time of writing there were about 1500 current markets which were available for betting. Based on the number of current bets, which can fluctuate, the most popular betting sports are football, tennis and basketball which are described below.
Football accounts for about one half of all sports bets placed with 22bet. The vast majority of online and mobile sports bets are placed on football. In 2018 for the first time there were more bets placed on mobile devices than desktop computers. All the major bookmakers take more bets on football than any other sport. The most popular league in the world is the English Premier but the season had ended when this review was being done.
The next most popular competition is the Champions League which brings together the best teams from the main European leagues. The 2019 final was between Liverpool and Tottenham who both play in the Premier League. 22bet displayed the three-way match result for this match with a link to the additional markets which totalled a huge 400 which is unmatched by other online bookmakers. The related markets appeared under the following headings:
The quantity of betting options for the final of the Champions League is huge and includes the main betting markets and some of the more obscure. Customers can also bet on the outright winner of the Champions League at the start of and throughout the season. 22bet offers betting on the matches in the domestic leagues in Spain, Italy France and Germany and many of the less popular leagues.
Customers can also place wagers on the winners of upcoming tournaments such as the World Cup and finals of the European Championships. There are also special markets for the main leagues. 22bet offers one of the most comprehensive online football betting services.
In terms of the number of current betting options tennis is the second most popular sport with 22bet. Betting options include matches on the two main tours, Challenger tournaments and ITF events. 22bet displays the two-way match winner market with a link to the additional bets. A typical tennis match on the main men’s tour offers customers over 60 betting options. These markets appear under the headings of main, handicaps, totals and ser betting. Ante-post betting is published for the Grand Slam tournaments and international team competitions like the men’s Davis Cup and women’s Fed Cup.
Basketball accounts for about one fifth of all sports bets placed with 22bet. The sport is popular in mainland Europe and North America where there are strong leagues. Basketball is not so popular in the UK where football and horse racing dominates betting. The best teams in Europe compete in the Euroleague which is the equivalent of the Champions League in football. However, the richest and most prestigious competition is the NBA in the United States and Canada. Match betting including overtime is complimented by betting options under the headings of match, totals, handicaps, halves and quarters. There is outright betting on the NBA champions and divisions and conferences in an extensive basketball betting service.
There is a mobile version of the 22bet site but no downloadable apps for Android and iOS devices. The 22bet apps cannot be downloaded from the Google Play and iTunes stores but can be accessed from the 22bet website.
Customers using mobile phones and tablets are not credited with any mobile specific bonuses. New customers who register using a mobile device can claim the welcome offer and enjoy the benefits of concession for all customers. The mobile site is fully functional and has all the features of the PC version.
Customers with 22bet have access to the following betting services which enhance the betting experience:
In-Play is the second option on the main menu of the 22bet Homepage. Selecting this option takes users to a calendar of current live betting events. At the time of writing most of these were related to tennis and football but there were other events for more minor sports. Customers do not have access to live streaming but each live match has a graphical representation of the progress of play. There are limited live statistics including in football the number of attacks and shots. Live betting markets are taken down after a significant incident but soon reappear with the latest odds.
The cash out option is available with 22bet on selected sports and markets. Customers can close bets before the final outcome is known of many football fixtures. The cash out offer is based on the original odds, stake and current odds which depend on the current score. Bets can be fully or partially cashed out or the offer can be rejected. Once a bet is cashed out the account balance is updated and the funds can be staked again on any live event or pre-match market.
In terms of banking options 22bet cannot be faulted. Customers can deposit and withdraw funds using leading e-wallets, debit cards, pre-paid cards and Bank Transfer. Mobile payments are accepted and in some countries customers can use crypto currency for deposits. There are standard minimum and maximum transactions which are mainly all free. Deposits are immediate but withdrawals are subject to delays depending on the payment method.
Potential new customers visit the 22bet Homepage and click the ‘Sign Up’ button. The registration process involves entering personal and account details which include a unique combination of a Username and Password. There is an option to enter a bonus or promo code which activates the welcome offer. Once the required fields have been populated the account is opened and confirmed.
The next stage of the process is making the first deposit. The transaction is subject to minimum and maximum limits. The new customer selects the payment method and enters the amount. The first bet is part of the welcome offer process but certain payment methods do not count. Once the deposit has been accepted the account balance is updated and betting can begin.
Customers navigate to the specific market by using the search facility, Favourites, quick links or the A-Z list of sports. A market is selected and that appears on the Bet Slip. As more options are added the range of potential bets appears. Bettors select the market and stake and place a bet. When the bet is accepted the account balance is updated and customers continue to bet.
One of the negatives with 22bet is the lack of Live Chat but there is compensation in the form of 24 hours or less response times to queries. The customer support staff are friendly and helpful. The operator offers email support but no contact by phone. Additionally, there is no comprehensive FAQ section that covers all the site functions, from opening an account to placing a bet. It is a brave claim to answer all email queries within one full day and if this is realistic target the lack of Live Chat is manageable. 22bet provides processes for control of betting by problem gamblers.
22bet is a relatively new name in online betting, especially in the UK and other parts of Europe. The operator is competing with the established brands, some of which still have an estate of retail premises and others that focus on internet betting. Making an impact in this crowded environment is the challenge facing 22bet.
The 22bet sportsbook functions well and the major operations are effective. There are no intrinsic flaws with the 22bet sports betting service. The range of sports, leagues and markets is fine but the lack of dynamic promotions for all customers is a possible weakness. The many payment methods are a positive and transactions are quick and free. 22bet provides a positive betting experience which would be better with more customer service options and live streaming of in-play events.