188BET Review

188BET
188BET
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3.5/5
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188BET has been up and running for more than 10 years. They are one of the most popular Asian bookmakers and one that has managed to build a very popular betting brand around the world. However, 188BET no longer operates in the UK. UK-based punters should take a look at our list of top bookies licensed in the UK. In this 188BET review, we take a look at their sportsbook section to bring you all of the details about this reputable veteran.

188BET screenshot

188BET Sign-up Offer

Unfortunately, 188BET no longer feature a welcome bonus for their new sports betting customers. Fans of online casino games are in luck, though, as they do have a sign-up bonus that is specific to their online casino.

We’re disappointed to see sports bettors hung out to dry, especially since the site has the word “bet” in their name. However, 188BET had a betting-focused new customer offer in the past, so we’re holding out hope that they’ll feature one again in the future.

Regular Promotions for Existing Customers

188BET often include regular promotions for their existing customers. The most common promotion seen on their website are accumulator insurance bonuses. Ongoing promotions are always subject to change, so make sure you check their promotions for yourself before signing up with 188BET. Also, these bonuses often include a variety of T&C’s that have to be met before you can withdraw your bonus money. Reading through the full conditions before signing up can save you from a lot of hassle and issues in the future.

Is 188BET Safe?

188BET has been on the market for over ten years, established back in 2006. It has a very low-risk rating and has never been involved in any betting scandals or fraudulent behaviour. They are also subjected to regular audits and always publish the results in order to guarantee their customers they operate according to a safe and trustworthy business model. This Asian bookmaker is licensed and regulated by the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Authority. This ensures their credibility as a trustworthy betting platform, as they are under the jurisdiction of reputable and very professional betting organizations that ensure its integrity. Their website also displays a Gaming Lab certification badge, which means that they have been externally reviewed and certified as a responsible, quality operator.

All transactions are carried out under strong encryption, and the betting site has a very user-friendly platform, as both winning and losing wagers are always honoured. If you are suffering from betting problems, you can also contact their site for information on how to get help. It is safe to say that 188BET is a secure and very professional betting site that takes online betting very seriously.

Payment Methods and Banking

Deposits are processed instantly, and you can make withdrawals only through the method you’ve used in your deposit. Pending times for withdrawals are capped at 24 hours, which is pretty much the standard in the industry. Although the payment method list does include some very viable and trustworthy options, PayPal is not supported as a valid payment method at the time of writing this review.  Here are the most popular transaction methods available at 188BET:

Payment MethodDeposit LimitsWithdrawal Limits
Debit / Credit Cards$10 – $20,000$10 – $20,000
Skrill$10 – $50,000$10 – $50,000
Neteller$10 – $30,000$10 – $30,000
Bank Wire Transfers$10 – $50,000$10 – $50,000
Entropay$10 – $30,000$10 – $30,000

bulletDeposit Options

bulletWithdrawal Options

bulletAccepted currencies

  • USA Dollar
  • Euro
  • Brazilian Real

Good Selection of Markets and Odds

Although there are betting websites that cover a larger number of sports than 188BET, this bookie allows its customers to bet on a large variety of sports and markets. They include over 25 sports in their sportsbook. One of the best things about 188BET’s features sports is that all of them have their own dedicated betting section, so finding the match you want to bet on is extremely easy. Even though there is a lot of information presented on almost every page, the design is easy to understand and enjoyable to use.

When wagering at 188BET, you can expect a very comprehensive offer of markets. The 188BET offer includes a great amount of both major and minor competitions, though if you’re looking to bet on more obscure sports, this betting site might not have all of the markets you will be looking for. If you compare 188BET’s betting offer with bookies that really excel in this field, for example, Paddy Power or Bet365, you will see that they have much more to offer that 188BET. Still, this betting site offers more than enough for an average bettor.

While their website does cover a lot of sports, football is still where they really excel at. Both regular and live betting markets are excellently done when it comes to football betting. Here is a direct comparison of betting odds with two other popular online betting sites:

Odds Comparison
Premier League Outright Winner Bet188BETbet365William Hill
Manchester City7/10 (1.70)4/6 (1.67)8/13 (1.62)
Liverpool9/4 (3.25)5/2 (3.50)9/4 (3.25)
Chelsea9/1 (10.0)9/1 (10.0)9/1 (10.0)
Manchester United33/1 (34.0)33/1 (34.0)33/1 (34.0)

Mobile Betting with 188BET

While you may argue that 188BET doesn’t come with all of the features many of its rivals have, it is a really enjoyable and easy user-friendly platform. The apps are available for both Android and iOS devices. They provide users with an almost identical desktop experience and aren’t too heavy on your devices operating memory. Besides the sports betting section, you can also use the 188BET apps for casino gambling as well, as their mobile apps also include live table dealer games, which is really convenient for gamblers who like to play on the go.

188BET app screenshot

Live Betting: Great Coverage, No Streaming

188BET offers their punters the chance of betting on a lot of in-play betting markets, with just a few clicks of a button. The in-play betting menu is done very well and is comprehensive enough that even the most demanding punters will appreciate what it has to offer. Once you load up their in-play betting platform, you can browse through the major odds for different events and matches. Scores, action plays, game time and other data is provided in the live betting section. They update all of the stats and odds regularly, which is very commendable of 188BET. To start betting on live matches, you need to navigate to the sports tab and click on the ‘In-Play’ section.

188BET currently doesn’t offer a live streaming service to its customers. If you highly value this feature, you can read our other betting sites reviews and find another bookie that offers this. Currently, our recommendations for best live streaming platforms go to Unibet and bet365. Other than this, it’s really hard to find a fault in their live betting service. It’s easy to use, runs without any issues and includes more than enough betting markets.

No Benefits for High Rollers

VIP clubs are a fantastic way of making your long-term betting adventure even more profitable, as they often include convertible points, higher limits, reload and cashback bonuses and plenty of other benefits. Unfortunately, 188BET doesn’t have a VIP club nor does it offer any special benefits to high rollers or its most loyal customers. Perhaps 188BET will introduce a VIP club sometime in the future. Until then, if you’re looking for a bookmaker with well-thought-out VIP benefits you can check out online betting sites like bet365 and William Hill. They have probably two of the best VIP clubs in the betting industry.

Strong 188BET Customer Support

Customer support is one of the fields 188BET really excels at, which shows great dedication to their customers. Their professional team is available 24 hours a day and can be contacted through several communication channels.

Their contact methods are better than most out there and include a live chat option, phone contact, email, fax, and other social media channels. If you have any issues with their service or anything betting related, you can rest assured that you will receive very helpful and prompt customer assistance. If you have a problem you think you can resolve without contacting the 188BET support team, you can browse through their large FAQ section, which covers practically every betting question you could possibly think of. In addition to this, users can reach out to 188BET support in Chinese, Thai, and Korean.

188BET Contact Details

188BET’s Market Presence on the Rise

188BET puts a significant portion of their resources into marketing and establishing their brand. They have a long history of sponsoring amazing teams, such as the Wigan Warriors and the Durham County Cricket Club. For now, their main focus is on the Asian and Latin American markets, though they used to be available in the UK until recently. 

Their website is available in a variety of different languages and there are more than a dozen supported currencies. All in all, although 188BET mostly focuses on the Asian betting scene, punters from all over the world can find a lot of value in their betting platform.

Not Competitive YET on the UK Market

To sum up this 188Bet review, it is a decent online betting site that comes with a lot of cool features but simply isn’t among the best betting sites out there. The lack of live streaming and quality bonuses puts them a few steps behind the industry leaders. The mobile platform could also use a bit more tinkering, as it is not that favorable in both quality or quantity when compared to some of the better mobile betting platforms out there.

The biggest draw of this bookie is its competitive odds and overall user-friendly reputation. If you can set aside the disadvantages, it can be a very solid place to bet at, but if you’re looking for a more than just a basic betting experience, there are plenty of better sites available.

Pros
  • Very competitive odds and markets
  • Great customer service
  • Very decent live betting section
Cons
  • No sports-related bonuses at the time of writing
  • No live streaming

FAQs

How to withdraw money from 188BET? close icon

Making withdrawals from 188BET is a relatively straightforward task. In order to withdraw money from their website, you have to click on Banking then on Withdrawal. After that, you have to choose a banking method, based on your preferences. Input the required information and finally, click Submit to finish the process. Note that the processing time might take up to 24 hours before the withdrawn amount will reflect in your account.

How to Sign Up with 188BET? close icon

To sign up with 188BET, first, you need to click on the Signup button at the upper part of their website. After doing so, a new screen will appear for you to enter your details. The required sign up details are nothing out of the ordinary. After you’ve filled up all of the required fields, click on the Submit button to finish the registration process.

How to place a bet on 188BET? close icon

If you want to place a bet on the 188BET website, you need to navigate to the sports section and select the match or event you want to bet on. After choosing your desired bet, you will be asked to enter the betting amount in your betting slip and click the Place Bet button.