Ben Dixon

Reviewer & Tipster

Ben is an accredited football journalist who follows anything from League One to Serie A, also working for the likes of SempreMilan and Total Italian Football. As an avid punter, he has become the master tester at BettingLounge, refusing to take bookies by their words when it comes to withdrawal times and much more.

60Bookies Reviewed

429Articles Written

189Pages Written

185Withdrawal Tests

Ben's Betting Profile

🏆 Favourite Bookmaker	Probably Bet365 (it changes a lot).
⚽ Preferred Bet Type	Horse racing singles/ante-post doubles.
📱 Bet on Mobile or Desktop	App only.
🔍 What I Look For in a Bookie	Cliché as it may be, prices.
❌ Biggest Bookmaker Red Flag	Withdrawal fees.

Five Questions with Ben

Q: What's the best bet you've ever placed?
I think it would be the 2025 Grand National, for Nick Rockett to win. If I remember correctly, it was one of my first proper tips for BettingLounge and he flew home under Patrick Mullins, returning a huge win at 33/1.
Q: Which bookmaker feature do you think the industry gets most wrong?
The obvious answer would be withdrawals. The fact that most deposits are now instant while withdrawals aren't is a frustrating one. However, I think several bookies get it wrong with suspensions/limits, though I've rarely encountered this issue myself.
Q: What's the one thing a beginner should check before signing up to a bookmaker?
The sign-up offer. We've all done it: you see a really cool-looking site advertised with an incredible offer and think, 'Yeah, I'll have a piece of that'.
Then, hidden in the terms, you've got a stupidly high wagering requirement. Like I say, we've all done it, but it can leave you a bit frustrated, especially if you win nicely from the offer.
Q: Is there a bookmaker you personally wouldn't use?
I've tested more than a few bookmakers since joining BettingLounge, so unfortunately I've seen the best and the worst of betting sites. As for ones I avoid, I tend to overlook ProgressPlay sites, but I'm pretty happy to stake on most sites if I like something about them, odds, offers, etc.
Q: What's changed most about UK sports betting since you started covering it?
I'd have to say the odds, or just betting margins in general. There are still some fantastic sites with very low margins, but even some of the 'best' sites for odds have gotten worse.
It feels like the gap has definitely gotten smaller. Unfortunately, that's not been towards better prices for punters and I don't think that will be changing.