Our expert betting guide to Strictly Come Dancing, our experts have bet on Strictly and the UK’s leading bookmakers and come up with a list of the best Strictly Come Dancing betting sites in the UK based on odds offered, coverage of the Strictly event and what free bet you can claim as a new customer.
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| RANK | betting site | Rating | Max Bonus | Key Features | Welcome Bonus | Play or Sign Up | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
William Hill
|
Expert Review |
Max Bonus
£30 |
Key Features
|
Bet £10 get £30 |
Sign up Review |
18+. Play safe. New customers using Promo code H30 only, Min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. | T&C apply |
| 2 |
Star Sports
|
Expert Review |
Max Bonus
£0 |
Key Features
|
Get Great Ongoing Promotions |
Sign up Review |
18+| T&C apply |
| 3 |
BetVictor
|
Expert Review |
Max Bonus
£40 |
Key Features
|
Bet £10 Get £40 |
Sign up Review |
18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds. No cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly | T&C apply |
| 4 |
bet365
|
Expert Review |
Max Bonus
£30 |
Key Features
|
Open Account Offer: bet £10 Get £30 |
Sign up Review |
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. #ad | T&C apply |
| 5 |
Betfred
|
Expert Review |
Max Bonus
£50 |
Key Features
|
Bet £10 Get £50 in Bonuses |
Sign up Review |
New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. T&Cs apply. | T&C apply |
| 6 |
BetUK
|
Expert Review |
Max Bonus
£30 |
Key Features
|
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets |
Sign up Review |
Significant terms: New cust only. Opt-in required. Deposit & place a bet within 7 days and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater to be credited with 3 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 football. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply. 18+ GambleAware.org. | T&C apply |
| 7 |
LiveScore Bet
|
Expert Review |
Max Bonus
£20 |
Key Features
|
Bet £10 Get £20 |
Sign up Review |
*New members. £10 min bet on sportsbook (ex. virtual) 1.5 min odds, settled in 14 days of sign-up. Win part E/W bets. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days on sportsbook (ex. virtual). Stake not returned. Click here for full rules and exclusions. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. 18+ | T&C apply |
How we rank the best Strictly Come Dancing betting sites
Betting on dancing, who’d have thought it? However, Strictly Come Dancing (also known as just ‘Strictly’) is part of the UK zeitgeist and it’s a hugely entertaining show, which means it’s just as exciting to bet on. But what can you even bet on with Strictly? And which bookies is the best for it? We’ve carried out a comprehensive assessment on the best ones. Let’s take a look at our key considerations.
| Events | Strictly has many ways to bet. A key consideration for ranking the best Strictly UK betting sites is the variety of ways you can bet, so we expect to see things like betting on the winner, next to be eliminated, and gender of the winner. Sites that provide a wide range of betting options, will be looked upon favourably. |
| Competitive odds | Just like football or horse racing, Strictly should have the potential for bettors to land some tasty winnings. That means there should be competitive odds offered on all events. The best Strictly betting sites are the ones that consistently put out good odds. |
| App experience | Bettors are more often than not going to be watching the action of Strictly on TV, meaning they’re going to be reaching for their mobile phones for the betting. Mobile apps shouldn’t be difficult or cumbersome to navigate and wager, nor should they be sluggish or prone to regularly glitching or outright crashes. Nobody needs that in their life. We’ll recommend sites that offer great experiences on their apps. |
| Bonuses and promotions | The best betting sites offer consistently attractive bonuses and promotions that entice punters. We’ll look especially favourably upon sites that offer Strictly-specific bets, but also ones that offer good value ones, particularly welcome bonuses and other sign up offers. |
| Fair terms and conditions | Bonuses and promotions are great but the ever-exciting terms and conditions need to be achievable and fair, otherwise they’re all but pointless. If bonus funds can’t be converted into real funds in a reasonable manner, for example, you may as well not have the money at all. Terms and conditions don’t need to be overly complicated, but they should be highly visible and accessible when accessing any bonuses, promotions, or other features that require them. |
| Reputation and licencing | We’d never recommend UK betting sites who aren’t licensed with the UK Gambling Commission and properly regulated. That being said, this is always factored into our review as, if betting sites don’t have this key component, it’s a huge red flag. |
| Customer support | Friendly, knowledgeable and easily accessible customer service support agents will be factored into our review. Live chat, email and a toll-free telephone number should all be provided as standard, while issues, questions or queries that a bettor has should be resolved quickly and seamlessly. |
| Facts and stats | Similar to sports, there are patterns in Strictly that can help make an informed choice when betting. Punters love insights that can help with their bets, so past performance of contestants, which entertainment sector they’re from, which when combined with previous years’ winners, can be a guiding light on how things will play out. Either way, sites that go the extra mile to provide this information we’ll be more likely to rank highly in our ranking. |
| Reputation and trustworthiness | A solid reputation and trustworthiness are crucial for Strictly betting sites to perform well in our ranking. Sites that consistently demonstrate a history of reliability and fair practices will be looked upon favourably. We’ll also factor customer reviews into this part of the assessment. |
| Security and safety | Best practice security measures like SSL encryption, anti-fraud measures, and the latest cybersecurity solutions all need to present so punters have peace of mind when wagering money. The last thing they want is to feel that their funds aren’t safe. |
| Payment options and payout speed | To have a shot at being recommended, Strictly betting sites need to offer varied ways to support deposits and withdrawals. As a standard, of course, you have debit and credit cards, but e-wallet solutions such as Apple Pay or Google Pay should be included. We’d even expect to see payment solutions such as PayPal, Neteller, and Skrill on the best betting sites. Then, when it comes to taking your money from your betting account to your bank, that should be equally smooth and quick. Bettors will find themselves frustrated when subjected to long wait times for their cash. |
The Best Strictly Come Dancing betting sites:
There are lots of online sportsbooks that offer Strictly Come Dancing betting options. Instead of listing them all, we’ve decided to showcase just a few of our favourites. Below you’ll find a brief summary of each betting site that we recommend, along with a screenshot of its Strictly Come Dancing betting section and some pros and cons.
bet365
Pros
- Great reputation
- Lots of betting opportunities
- Five Strictly bets available
Cons
- No loyalty scheme
A popular, well-respected site with a wealth of betting opportunities. Bet365 has a lot going on, though its site design is quite straightforward. New customers shouldn’t have a problem finding their way around. Apps for mobiles are available and there’s a fully responsive mobile site too.
BoyleSports
Pros
- Well-established and respected gambling brand
- Huge site with lots of different types of gambling offered
- Apps for mobile devices are highly rated
Cons
- Can only use the loyalty scheme if you visit a BoyleSports betting shop
- Limited live streaming offerings
A long-running betting brand with 33 years of experience. As well as the site, which offers sports betting, casino games, bingo, poker and lotteries, there are 340 BoyleSports betting shops throughout the UK and Ireland.
The Strictly Come Dancing section has four bets available. You can bet on the overall winner, the gender of the winner and the top man/woman.
William Hill
Pros
- Long-running betting site with a great reputation
- Lots of betting markets and gambling opportunities
- Plenty of promotions running
Cons
- Welcome offer isn’t that generous
William Hill is another reputable gambling brand that’s been up and running for a long time. Its website offers a host of gambling opportunities. While the focus is on sports betting, there are also casino games, live dealer games, bingo and poker. Apps are available for mobile devices too.
At William Hill, you can bet on the next contestant to be eliminated from Strictly, as well as the winner of the competition.
Ladbrokes
Pros
- Top UK betting brand
- Good number of promotions
- Well-rated apps for iOS and Android devices
Cons
- Live chat isn’t 24/7
Ladbrokes was founded way back in 1886 and for much of its history, its focus was on horse racing. The Ladbrokes website offers a broad range of gambling areas from sports betting and casino games to bingo and poker. It’s a large site and though it has lots to offer, its layout isn’t too complicated, nor is it too cluttered.
With Ladbrokes, you’re able to bet on the overall winner, along with the competition’s top male and top female.
Coral
Pros
- 24/7 customer support
- Great promotions
- Competitive odds
Cons
- No VIP club or loyalty scheme
Like some of the other brands we’ve looked at, Coral is a very long-running brand. It dates back to 1926 and is one of the biggest names in the UK gambling industry, with over a thousand betting shops throughout the country. The Coral website offers a range of sports betting markets along with casino games, poker tournaments and bingo games.
At Coral, you can bet on the overall winner of Strictly 2022, as well as on the competition’s top male and top female.
Introduction to Strictly Come Dancing Betting
Strictly is one of the biggest TV shows in the UK. As such, it attracts a large number of bets every year. If you’re interested in Strictly Come Dancing betting, don’t go anywhere. On this page, you’ll find a full guide to betting on the hugely popular dancing competition. Carry on reading to find out how to place bets, where to place them and how betting in general works.
Strictly Come Dancing Format
Fifteen celebrities are each paired with a professional dance partner. Every Saturday, the famous faces and their partners perform dance routines under the three main categories of Ballroom, Latin American and Specialty.
The performances are given scores out of 10 by the show’s four judges:
- Shirley Ballas, who acts as Head Judge and has been on the panel since the fifteenth series
- Craig Revel-Horwood, who’s been a judge since the first series
- Motsi Mabuse, who joined the show’s seventeenth series and has been a judge ever since
- Anton du Beke, who was a professional dancer from series 1-19 and joined the twentieth series to replace Bruno Tonioli
The scores from the judges are combined with viewers’ votes. The outcome is then revealed in the Sunday show (though this is recorded on the Saturday right after the main show). The two celebrities with the lowest scores have to dance again – the dance-off – and it’s down to the judges who goes home. In the event of a tie, whoever Head Judge Shirley Ballas chose is the one who has to go home. This is because her vote counts more than the other judges’ votes.
Then there’s the final. This is typically held on the last Saturday before Christmas. The final of this year’s series is therefore likely to take place on 17 December, though this hasn’t been confirmed yet. The last episode of the series is the biggest and glitziest one by far. The remaining couples perform several routines and one pair is crowned the winner. The judges still have their say on the performances, though their votes are indicative only; the outcome is decided entirely by viewers’ votes.
Strictly Come Dancing Betting Opportunities
When it comes to betting on Strictly Come Dancing, there are quite a few bets you can place:
- Outright Winner
- Who wins the competition; only one celebrity, along with their dance partner, can be declared the winner
- The Gender of the Winner
- Whether the winner (the celebrity, not their dance partner) is a man or a woman; with fifteen contestants, there’s always one gender with an extra member, which is worth bearing in mind
- The Top Man/Woman
- The Top Man bet is for the highest-placing male celebrity; likewise, the Top Woman bet is for the highest-placing female celebrity.
- The Next to Be Eliminated
- This is a weekly bet that predicts the next celebrity to lose the dance-off on the Sunday show and leave the competition
The biggest bet is, of course, the Outright Winner bet. What’s great about Strictly is that when it starts, there’s no telling who the winner’s going to be. Yes, there may be one or two early favourites, but you never know who’s going to be a dark horse and excel at their dances. The outright winner can be hard to predict. Even when a few weeks have passed and the competition’s in full swing, it can be hard to correctly guess who’s going to win it.
For those who are really into betting and have a healthy budget, the Next to Be Eliminated bet may be worth placing every week. Even though Strictly is a talent competition and contestants’ performances are marked by the judges, it’s not always the lowest-scoring celebrity that ends up leaving. In fact, sometimes viewers find bad dancers entertaining and keep them in the competition for as long as they can. Some of the show’s memorable so-called ‘joke dancers’ include:
- Ann Widecombe
- Ann was a contestant on the eighth series in 2010 and was the ninth contestant to be eliminated. She was known for her entertaining personality, trying her best at her routines (even though her scores were very low) and her
- Ed Balls
- Ed was also the ninth contestant to be eliminated; he was a contestant in the fourteenth series in 2016. He brought a lot of humour and fun to his routines and his Gangnam Style dance went down extremely well with viewers
- John Sergeant
- John competed in the sixth series in 2008 and is one of only a few Strictly contestants to withdraw from the competition. He kept surviving the public vote despite his consistently low scores from the judges. Public criticism encouraged him to leave the competition, which he did in Week 10
Every week, there’s one less contestant. Therefore, there’s one less betting option and the odds can thus change. Early on in the competition, the Next to Be Eliminated bet can have some pretty good returns if you correctly guess the next eliminee. However, as the pool of contestants gets smaller, so do the average payouts for the bet.
The other two bets – Gender of the Winner and Top Man/Woman – can also be worthwhile. The former doesn’t have great payouts since it’s almost a 50/50 wager. The latter has better returns since you’re picking one contestant out of up to seven or eight, depending on how far along in the competition you place the bet.