Is Unibet Safe?
Unibet sports has scooped the EGR Nordics Sports Betting Award twice in a row (2019, 2020). In such a competitive market, what makes them stand out?
Our experts explore how safe they are, how legit their cash-back bonus is and if the casino element adds value to it.
Find out why Unibet sports is so highly rated.
| Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Owner | Kindred Group |
| Headquarters | Level 6, The Center, Tigne Point, Sliema, Malta |
| Sister brands | 32Red |
| Support | Live chat 24/7 |
| Test period | 8 hours |
- Not the most generous welcome offer
- Racing not included for first bet
Unibet Security
| Is Unibet safe? | Yes |
| Licence | UK and more |
| Bonus terms | In-line with the industry |
| Withdrawal problems? | No |
| Player funds protection level | Medium |
| Founded | 1997 |
| SSL | 256-bit (high) |
| 2-step verification | Yes |
| Fines | Yes |
| Payment options | Trustly, PayPal, Skrill (and more) |
Unibet is owned by the Kindred Group who are one of the largest betting companies in the world. It is one arguably their most well-known brand along with the likes of 32Red and Maria Casino.
As part of such a big corporation, Unibet benefits from a whole host of excellent security measures including a 256-bit encryption software. This is the top end of technology and scrambles all of your transactions from prying eyes.
More than 10 million players have registered with Unibet over the years which further emphasises just how trusted they are.
They also have links with a host of football teams including Paris Saint Germain, Southampton and Derby County. Furthermore, they have had partnerships with many horse races in the UK including the Epsom Derby. Overall, it’s an impressive number of high-profile organisations.
Licence
Of course, a betting site also needs to hold a licence to be considered legit. Unibet holds a licence with the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) and so are able to operate in the UK. The licence ensures that they operate fairly and safely.
On top of a licence in the UK – they also hold a number with other impressive markets. They boast licences from:
- Sweden
- Malta
- Germany
- Australia
All of these are difficult to achieve so it’s great to see. Not many betting sites hold so many as they need to complete rigorous checks in order to achieve each licence.
Unibet is bound by the rules of every licence they hold which shows how strong they are in compliance. From a trusted point of view, this is a huge tick
Protection of Funds
Betting sites operating in the UK are required to keep customer funds in segregated accounts; this ensures that players are protected. The UKGC has awarded Unibet with a medium protection rating.
This means that the funds in your Unibet account are segregated from business money. As such, should the company go into administration, your money will be safe.
It should be noted that with a medium rating, however, this is not 100% guaranteed.
Responsible Gaming
A legit betting site will provide players with a number of tools to ensure that betting remains fun. Unibet is an award-winning responsible operator and we’re happy to say that for the purpose of our Unibet review; they are excellent when it comes to responsible gaming.
There is an entire page on the site dedicated to showing players the options available to them. Furthermore, there are links to external sites, such as ‘net nanny’ to help against underage betting activity.
- Holds a number of top betting licences, including the UK
- Employs a 256-bit encryption
- Great payment methods
- Been in the industry for decades
- Part of one of the largest betting companies
- Has competitive odds
Unibet Bonuses
| Bonus type | Stake back as a bonus if first bet loses |
| Amount | Up to £40 |
| Minimum deposit | £10 |
| PayPal eligible? | Yes |
| Not eligible methods | Paysafe Cards, Skrill or Neteller |
| Minimum odds | 2/5 (1.4) or higher |
| Wagering | 3 x bonus amount (25x casino) |
| Minimum bet | £1 |
| Time frame | 7 days |
| Extra | £10 casino bonus |
| Other promotions | Yes |
| Up to £40 bonus | Visit site |
Welcome Offer – Up to £40 Money Back as Bonus + £10 Casino Bonus
The Unibet sports offer is reasonable, but not the most valuable on the market. Currently, for players in the UK, you can get up to £40 back as bonus money if your first bet loses.
If you compare this with the Paddy Power offer which is a similar £20 Risk-Free Bet, it looks good at first glance. However, the money back is a bonus and requires to be played through 3 times before a withdrawal can be made.
This means if your first bet of £40 loses, you’ll need to bet your £40 bonus x 3 (£120) before being able to withdraw. If you win your first bet, then you also won’t receive any welcome bonus.
The casino bonus is a nice addition. It provides players with the chance to try out the Unibet casino even If they wouldn’t normally play.
Register a new account
a minimum of £10
Place a qualifying first bet (£10 at odds of 2/5 or more)
get your stake back as a bonus
the bonus 3x to be able to withdraw
once complete
it 35x to be able to withdraw
Terms and Conditions
- New Customers Only. 18+. BeGambleAware.org
- Min deposit £10.
- Money-back as a bonus.
- Wagering requirements: Sportsbook 3x at min odds of 1.40 (2/5), 25x for Casino.
- £10 casino bonus credited next working day; 35x wagering on casino.
- Only one bonus can be used at a time, Sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino unless the bonus has been forfeited.
- Not Valid from 10pm 8th April 2022 until 6pm 9th April 2022
- Bonus will expire after 7 days of opt-in. #ad
Existing Player Bonuses
We have to say that we think bonuses get better after the welcome promotion.
For our Unibet sports review, we’ve checked the special offers section of the site for several weeks and there are always several bonuses to pick from.
These range from ‘bet and get’ offers for big sports leagues. For example, bet on a certain game and get a free bet for the next. It’s a great offer for regular players.
The Uniboost is also an interesting feature bonus. Many betting sites provide boosted odds on markets of your choice but at Unibet, they go beyond.
For racing, you can boost your odds on three races a day – which is excellent. We also found the boost to be pretty generous with it moving up two or three steps. For example, we backed a horse at 10/11 and it was boosted to 5/4.
Loyalty Bonuses
As well as good on-going bonuses there is a regular in-play free bet available to all players. You need to place 5 x £10 in-play bets at odds of 1/1 or higher to get a £10 in-play free bet.
The free bet is applied to your account the following Monday. It’s basically a free bet club which is great. In the UK market especially, these are becoming less and less common.
Sports Betting Markets
| Bet | Here |
| Number of sports | 30+ |
| Top sports | Football, tennis, racing |
| Other sports | Esports, boxing, golf |
| Cash out | Yes, limited |
| Live streaming | Yes, excellent offering |
| Live betting | On a number of sports |
| Daily offers | Yes |
UK Players will be happy to know that the Unibet sportsbook is geared towards the UK market.
Daily horse racing markets are offered across the country and beyond. You’ll find fixed odds on all races and greyhounds are also covered with fixed odds.
This is great as a lot of betting sites only offer SP (starting price) odds for greyhounds, meaning every bettor gets the same odds no matter what. Whatever price the dog starts the race at will be the odds that you get.
Along with racing, there are hundreds of football leagues available and we’re impressed with the market depth. You can bet on the number of corners, the number of shots by a team or player, and much more.
All sports we can think of are covered too. These include:
- Football
- Darts
- Snooker
- Gaelic sports
- Tennis
- Chess
- Golf
- Cricket
It’s an impressive haul of different sports. While most big online bookmakers will showcase a big number of sports, they don’t always have the depth to match that. This is something that sets Unibet above those.
Maximum Payouts at Unibet
| Top level football | £250,000 |
| Horse racing (UK & IRE) | £100,000 (per day) |
| Golf | £100,000 |
| Darts | £100,000 |
| Other football | £100,000 |
| Horse racing other | £25,000 |
| Tennis | £150,000 |
| Rugby | £25,000 |
For our Unibet review, we took a look into what the maximum payouts are set at. Compared with big betting sites, they offer relatively low limits.
We would expect to see higher maximum payouts for football and horse racing, with other sites such as Betfair offering limits of up to £1,000,000.
It’s also worth noting that on the Unibet website with the racing rules, they also state the maximum win for a horse racing bet is £20,000. Again, this seems low.
We would say it’s not something to be too concerned with, but if you’re looking to place an accumulator bet for horse racing, another betting site will be able to offer you a higher limit.
Competitive Odds At Unibet
As a major online bookmaker, Unibet is highly competitive with its odds. They compete with the other big companies in the industry and so you can almost be guaranteed to be getting a good value.
We mentioned that they cover a lot of markets and having explored several events, the odds are just as well priced for the smaller events. By that, we mean the likes of lower league football matches, or tennis tournaments out with the slams etc.
Let’s take an example from the Championship in England:
| Bookmaker | Number of markets | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| Unibet | 200+ | 104% |
| bet365 | 165+ | 105% |
| Paddy Power | 150+ | 106% |
| 888Sport | 150+ | 108% |
Unibet are offering the best margin on this 1X2 market compared with other big bookmakers. On top of that, they are also providing the most markets.
We do also want to point out that this is just an example of a straight 1X2 market. With hundreds of betting opportunities, it’s unlikely they will be the highest across all of them.
What is important is that they do offer odds in-line with big betting firms, and therefore players can trust that the margins are fair.
Football at Unibet
Football is the biggest sport in the UK and all bookmakers will offer a range of odds. While researching our Unibet review we discovered that they go beyond the norm.
There are hundreds of markets priced up for top tier football matches, not only in the UK but across Europe. Odds can be found for player specials, such as assists or bookings; and there are markets around specific events such as penalties.
What we really liked was their bet suggestions, backed up with data. If you click through to the game markets, you will see a ‘Match Insights’ section. This provides a stat, with a corresponding market. It’s a nice feature that enhances the overall betting experience.
In-Play Markets
Betting in-play at Unibet is an enjoyable experience. The markets are easy to find within the sports section of the site, under ‘in-play’. Here you’ll see what’s currently live and what events are upcoming.
Much like the pre-match markets, we found the odds to be competitive with plenty of betting opportunities. There are a number of sports to choose from including tennis, football, snooker, table tennis, e-sports and more.
Live Streaming at Unibet
Unibet offers one of the more comprehensive streaming services of all bookmakers in the UK. And what we really like is the handy schedule that lets you know what events are being streamed.
We have to say that they seem to provide more sports here than the average bookie in the UK.
Simply make sure your account is funded and you’ll be able to watch live action from football leagues (including the German Bundesliga and English FA Cup), as well as top tennis tournaments, snooker, cricket and more.
Live streaming is an excellent set-up at Unibet. It’s not something that all bookmakers do well, so it makes them stand-out.
Cash-out Feature
You can cash out your bets at Unibet, but at the moment it is quite limited. On-site they state that they offer cash out on:
- Over 20 pre-match football bets
- Live football bets (including Correct Score and Half Time/Full Time)
- Football outright markets (winner and relegation)
- Tennis outright market and place 1-2 bets
You’ll be able to tell which bets you are able to cash out as it shows clearly in your betslip. The cash out itself is generous with a reasonable amount offered to bail out of your bet early. Some betting sites can take a huge cut for these, so do be mindful.
Payment Methods
| Payment Method | Min Deposit/Withdrawal | Withdrawal Time |
|---|---|---|
 | £5/£15 | 1-3 working days |
 | £10/£10 | Within 24 hours |
 | £5/£10 | Within 24 hours |
 | £5/£10 | Within 24 hours |
 | £10/N/A | N/A |
 | £10/N/A | N/A |
 | £5/N/A | N/A |
 | £5/£10 | 3-5 working days |
As you can see, Unibet provides players with excellent options including PayPal, Apple Pay and Trustly. These three are all great options because of their increased security. Each requires an extra level of authentication, so we’re pleased to see them for players in the UK.
Withdrawal times are average with some bookies paying out instantly. In saying that, there aren’t many online betting sites that use faster payments.
Unibet Sports App
| Operating system | iOS (12.0 or later) and Android |
| Safety rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 2-step log-in | Yes |
| Live streaming | Yes |
| Usability | Excellent |
| Download size | 203 MB |
| Mobile web | Yes, all major browsers |
You can download the dedicated sports app for free from either the App Store or Google Play. There’s even a handy link on site that will guide you to your chosen market.
Once you have the app installed you can bet instantly. The app is well designed and offers a clean and simple experience. It follows the same style as the desktop site so it should be clear enough where everything is.
Live streaming is still possible via your mobile device and all of the same betting markets are available.
2-step verification is employed meaning you can set a pin or use your fingerprint to log-in. It’s something we always suggest when available.
If you prefer to bet on the mobile web, then simply load Unibet up in your chosen browser and you’re good to go. Everything is responsive so images and your betslip remain easy to see.
User Experience
The overall experience for Unibet is fantastic. Everything is logically laid out and the green and white contrast is easy on the eye for moving around.
Markets are well thought out and the entire site has easy to follow processes. We found that placing selection in the betslip was obvious and placing multiple bets was simple. It’s an excellent all-rounder.
As well as a sportsbook, Unibet also offers:
- Casino
- Live Casino
- Bingo
- Poker
All of the above can be found on the same site by navigating through the main menu. Not all bookmakers provide such a full package. So, if you do enjoy more than sports betting, Unibet is fully stacked.
Customer Support
| Live chat | Available 24/7 |
| UK Freephone Helpline | 0800 329 393 |
| Help section | Very useful |
Having a 24/7 live chat option available is the best we can ask for, and at Unibet, this is offered to all players in the UK. In our experience, we also found that the chat function was easy to find and that our queries were answered in a timely manner.
On top of the live chat, you can also pick up the phone and call the freephone number. This isn’t available around the clock but you will be able to speak to someone during business hours.
Of course, there is also the option to send an email if you have a longer request or query.
Tips for Betting at Unibet
Top 5 tips
- Check out the live streams
- Find out what promotions you can take up in the special offers section
- Download the sports app
- Take advantage of the welcome offer
- Opt-in for emails for exclusive offers (not guaranteed)
Improvement Areas
We would like to see a more generous offer to new players in the UK. While up to £40 back as a bonus offers decent value, there are better promotions on the market. Especially when you consider that 3x wagering is required.
With free bet offers, wagering isn’t normally needed. Furthermore, if your bet wins then there is no welcome offer.
As outlined in our Unibet review, some features such as cash out could also be extended. While it is available, it is quite limited at present.
Conclusion
Unibet sports offering is one of the best in the industry. It has Scandinavian roots but has made a huge impact in the UK. Millions of players are happy to bet with them because of exciting promotions and highly competitive odds. The app is simple to use, and live streams are excellent.
With 256-bit encryption and other security measures, it is also very much trusted. Therefore, we’re happy to say it is a legit sportsbook.
FAQs
Is Unibet trustworthy?
Yes, they are highly trusted. The operate with several licences, including with the UKGC. They are also licenced to operate in Germany, Sweden and Australia.
Who is Unibet owned by?
Unibet is owned by the Kindred Group. With over 11 million customers it is one of the biggest firms in online betting.
How do I contact Unibet?
There is a 24/7 live chat that players can contact via. There is also the option to call or email.
- UK: 0800 329 393
- Support E-mail: [email protected]
- Live Chat: Available 24/7
Is Unibet any good?
Unibet are a safe and trusted betting site. They provide excellent promotions for players in the UK and promote highly competitive odds. Therefore, Unibet come highly recommended.