One of the many Asian online sportsbooks now finding its way into Europe, 138.com might not have the pedigree that some regional operators have, but don’t let that put you off. In fact, like any new kid in town, 138.com has crossed international borders and landed in Europe with a huge amount of swagger.

Offering everything from cash out options, in-depth statistics and a mobile bonus that few can top (you get a free tablet!!), 138.com is certainly a site that’s big on value. In fact, such is the operator’s desire to stamp its authority in a new town (that town being Europe), it decided to sponsor Watford FC in the 2016/2017 Premier League season.

Sound good? Of course it does. But, before you rush off and sign-up, let’s take a quick look at the exact shape of 138.com’s stamp and why everyone is raving about it. Read on for our 138.com review.

138.com at a Glance

• Name: 138.com
• Established: 2013
• Languages: English, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and Japanese
• Deposit Options: Visa, MasterCard, Neteller, Moneybookers and Skrill
• Unique Features: Life stats and a free tablet for all mobile players

Software and Interface

OK, we’ll hold our hands up on this one: 138.com isn’t the best looking online sportsbook in the world. Although we won’t go as far as to say it’s an unattractive site, the overall design isn’t as slick as others we’ve seen. But – and this is important – not all good things come in pretty packages. In fact, like the ugly duckling, 138.com practically blossoms once you move around the site.

Perhaps the most appealing aspect of 138.com’s interface is its simplicity. Instead of cramming endless images, icons and animations into a single page, the developers have tried to keep any extraneous features to a minimum. Now, on the one hand, this makes the site look a little empty. However, the flipside to this scaled back look is that it’s easier to find what you’re looking for.

Starting to the left of the screen, three boxouts allow you to skip through the site’s main features: Quick Picks (the day’s top bets), Live Betting (complete list of sports to bet on) and Information (useful betting tools). In the centre of the homepage you’ll find three more boxouts: Live Betting, Betting Highlights and Last Minute Bets.

Three is the Magic Number…

As you’ll see, in-play betting is a major part of 138.com’s overall package and this decision to use three categories is actually quite useful. The Live Betting box will tell you exactly which sports currently have in-play betting markets (and how many there are), while the Highlights and Last Minute sections give you quick links to the day’s top bets.

Finally, to the right of the page you’ll find various info boxes – such as pre-set quick bets (you simply accept the bet and the price and stake are set for you) and a live schedule – as well as your bet slip. Overall, when it comes to live betting in particular, 138.com’s layout is extremely efficient. Although it lacks some of the bells and whistles other sportsbooks offer, the route from options to odds and, finally, confirmation of your bets is simple and direct which, in reality, is the only thing that really matters.

What’s on the Menu?

Although live betting is the main focus for most 138.com customers, pre-event bets are also available and you can place outrights, player bets, multiples and more from as little as £0.01. In fact, regardless of your sporting preferences, 138.com has it covered with one of its 31 betting categories, including:

• Horse Racing
• Football
• Golf
• MMA
• Rugby
• Bandy
• Speedway
• Cricket
• Surfing

and more.

Why Does 138.com Get the Betcirca Seal of Approval?

Any serious sports bettor knows that the best way to improve their chances of success is to study some stats. Having a clear and objective overview of the teams/individuals involved in a contest not only gives you a chance to determine which side has enjoyed the upper-hand in the past, but who is more likely to come out on top in the future.

Because we know raw data is so important in the betting arena, we have to commend 138.com on its stats zone. Powered by NetPulse, this tool can be found inside the “Information” boxout on the homepage. Once you’ve clicked through the necessary link, you’ll find dropdown menus and tabs detailing everything from a Premier League club’s recent attendance to a tennis player’s latest results and current seeding.

Basically, if there’s a stat you need to know before you bet, this is where you’ll find it. Throughout our 138.com review we were regularly impressed with the level of detail available through this comprehensive stats offering

The Banker: How to Make Yourself an Odds On Favourite

Like all self-respecting sportsbooks, 138.com has a welcome bonus for newbies. After signing up and placing five qualifying bets (bets between £10 and £25 on options with odds of evens or better), you’ll receive a free £25 bet. However, as nice as this is, we want to tell you about a deal you’re unlikely to find anywhere else.

In a bid to get more people betting on the move, 138.com will give every player (new and existing) a free tablet when they deposit £50 via the official 138 mobile app. Yes, you read that correctly, when you deposit £50 via the mobile app, 138.com will send you a tablet!

When conducting our 138.com review it took roughly four weeks for the tablet to arrive after qualifying for the promotion with a £50 mobile deposit. The tablet runs Android and is branded with 138.com’s logo, ideal for having a punt whilst sat in front of the TV.

Stop! Help!

To talk to 138.com’s finest and get some help when you need it most, make sure you use one of the following methods:

• Live Chat (24/7)
• Telephone: 0808 120 1969
• Email: help@138.com

Should I Sign Up?

So there you have it. 138.com might not be the biggest or the most well known player in town, but it’s certainly a site that’s out to impress. Aside from an ergonomic interface where finding the latest odds and stats is easy, you can bank some fantastic bonuses with very little effort when you join the fun.

How to Get Started?

• Sign-up and create your 138.com account.
• You must deposit using your debit or credit card. E-Wallets do not qualify.

How to Qualify?

• After you have deposited into your account you must stake 5 qualifying bets.
• On settlement of your final qualifying bet contact customer support to request your FREE BET.
• Your FREE BET will be allocated to your account within 24 Hours.

Join Betfred today and place a bet up to £25 and Betfred will match your first bet up to the value of £25. Bet Now!

Unibet might be Sweden’s premier iGaming platform, but it’s undoubtedly the darling of Europe’s sports betting scene. Established in 1997 and now serving more than 15 million customers in over 100 countries, Unibet has become a leader in its field over the years thanks to two things: quality and innovation. High time then, for a Betcirca Unibet review!

By injecting as much entertainment into its products as there is value, punters of all persuasions have been able to find a home at Unibet. Indeed, while other online operators have tended to cater for the “hardcore” customer specifically over the last decade, Unibet has moved in the opposite direction. Today, whether you’re a sports bettor or a fan of casino and poker games, Unibet has created a platform where fun is the name of the game.

Great, so that means I have to put up with quirky animations and a stream of low stakes betting options? Certainly not. Like all savvy operators, Unibet hasn’t forgotten about its regulars as we’ll explain here in our comprehensive Unibet review.

Unibet at a Glance

• Name: Unibet
• Established: 1997
• Languages: English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Belgian (Dutch or French), Finnish and Romanian
• Deposit Options: Visa, Maestro, MasterCard, Electron, Laser, Bank Wire, Neteller, Skrill, Paysafecard and Ukash
• Unique Features: Two layout options, live streaming, BetUP

Software and Interface

If there’s one selling point that makes Unibet standout among its peers, it’s the dual interface. Anyone that’s been around the online betting industry for the last decade will have seen physical changes among the top operators. With mobile gaming becoming a standard and players expecting more efficiency and less fuss, sites have had to respond with slicker designs that remove borders, scale back the menus and change size to suit a player’s browsing window.

Unsurprisingly, Unibet has followed this trend, but it hasn’t forgotten its roots. When you land on the homepage you’ll have two main options “sports” and “sports (old)”. If you’re someone who enjoys more visual effects, various sidebars and boxouts as well as long lists of odds, then the “old” tab is for you. Although just as easy to navigate as the new design, this layout is certainly a throwback to the way online sports betting sites looked five years ago.

Fortunately, through a combination of clearly delineated boxes, a clever use of contrasting colours (white, black and green) and one-click shortcuts, this interface remains attractive and functional at the same time. However, if you’re in the market for something a little less cluttered, the “sports” tab has a distinct mobile vibe.

To the left of the page you’ll find a familiar looking menu, but in the centre you’ll see individual boxouts for a selection of betting markets. Instead of lumping everything together in a long list, this interface breaks each option down into smaller parts. The beauty of this is that certain sections can be removed as you reduce the size of your screen, meaning you can stay on top of the action regardless of the device you’re using.

What’s on the Menu?

If you’re looking for an extensive list of sports betting options then stop right now and head over to Unibet. As well as covering all the bases in terms of sports – from the mainstream to the exotic – Unibet has thousands of live and pre-game markets. In fact, besides the heading for each sport you’ll see just how many active markets there are. For example, if we take football on its own, you’ll typically find more than 23,000 betting options every day!

Beyond football, the Unibet sports betting menu boasts 36 different betting markets, including:

• Horse racing
• Snooker
• MMA
• Tennis
• Boxing
• Handball
• TV
• Politics
• WWE
• Surfing
• American football
• Basketball
• Baseball

Why Does Unibet Get the Betcirca Seal of Approval?

Aside from a clever interface, Unibet gets our seal of approval for two reasons: live streaming and BetUP. If you’re a fan of live sport and don’t want to move away from your screen to see the latest action, Unibet offers a host of streams throughout the year. Located in their own tab (unsurprisingly the “live streaming” tab), these streams cover a range of sports, including football, tennis and horse racing, but also provide live stats. Basically, as you’re watching the action, you can also get a running update of the elapsed time, the score and the odds.

Beyond the live streaming feature, Unibet is unique thanks to its BetUP option. Essentially a pool betting system, players buy-in to an event (a pool) for a set amount and their job is to predict the outcomes listed. The more people that enter, the larger the prize pool and each correct prediction a player makes the more points they get. Finish in the top ranked players at the end of the competition and you’ll win a share of the prize money: simple!

The Banker: How to Make Yourself an Odds On Favourite

Naturally, getting something extra as a newbie is also possible at Unibet. Although you’ll find plenty of free bets, cash back offers and enhanced odds once you’re registered, the first deal is a no lose bet. After opening your account and making a real money deposit, your first bet be will given an extra life.

To get some cash back if you lose, simply place a bet (up to £30) on any win market. Once the result has been decided, any loss you incur will be refunded to your account in the form of a bet token. This token will be equal to your initial stake and be valid for any real money bet on the site.

Stop! Help!

Need some help? No problem, just use one of the following options to get some expert help 24/7:

• Live Chat
• Phone: 0800 329 393 / 0207 257 8701
• Email: info-uk@unibetsupport.com

Should I Join Up?

If you’re looking for an online betting site that has a longstanding pedigree as well as a forward-thinking management team, then Unibet is for you. One thing that became immediately apparent during our Unibet review was that whether you’re old school or new school, a newbie or a pro, this site has everything you need and more.

From two impressive interfaces to a unique selection of betting options, anyone that joins Unibet should have plenty of ways to get the most out of their online sports betting experience.