AK Bets UK Review - Is it Safe or a Scam? (2024)
AK Bets is a relatively new betting site in the UK, but it has quickly made a name for itself by offering a wide range of sports markets, competitive odds, and generous bonuses. In this review, we will take a closer look at AK Bets and see what it has to offer UK punters.
AK Bets offers
Editor's Opinion
| Customer Support | 9 |
|---|---|
| Payment | 6 |
| Licensing Safety | 9 |
| Design and Usability | 7 |
| Overall | 6 |
AK Bets is a new UK online bookmaker that launched in early 2023. It has made a reasonable start, but there are some areas where it needs to improve.
The biggest negative is the lack of a sports welcome bonus for new customers. There are also no regular promotions or free bets to claim, which is disappointing.
AK Bets offers a wide range of sports to bet on, including football, horse racing, greyhounds, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, darts, Formula One, tennis, cricket, golf and snooker. However, some minor sports are missing, such as surfing, sailing, badminton, bandy or chess. There is also no esports betting section.
The list of banking options is also quite limited. Debit cards from Visa, Mastercard and Maestro are accepted, but e-wallets cannot be used to make a deposit and it is not possible to bet with PayPal, pay by phone bill or Paysafecard either.
AK Bets does offer a good mobile experience, with both iOS and Android betting apps available. Withdrawals can be slow, though, as they can take up to five working days to process.
Overall, AK Bets has made a reasonable start, but it needs to improve its promotions and banking options if it wants to attract more customers.
About AK Bets
| Products | Sports Betting, Online Casino |
|---|---|
| License | UKGC Licence (009177) |
| Founded | 2023 |
AK Bets is one of the newest online sports betting sites in the UK, having begun trading as an on-course bookmaker in Ireland in 2011. On that first day at the Killarney track, the firm says it took a loss of €1,172, but it has gone from strength to strength in the time since then.
Launching its new online site at the start of 2023, AK Bets also runs a telephone betting service that many UK sports fans will appreciate. While telephone betting is often seen as being a bit of a throwback, the more personal service that is provided will appeal to a lot of people in the UK.
Being licensed by the UK Gambling Commission - its licence number is 009177 - ensures that AK Bets is able to legally operate an online sports betting operation in this country. Sports fans might be familiar with the main sister sites to AK Bets: Star Sports Bet, McBookie and NE Bet. AK Bets has its registered address in Hove, East Sussex, so it is not based offshore like many.
In terms of the top safety and security features at AK Bets, the usual protection is in place. SSL encryption is used in order to ensure the data of customers cannot fall into the wrong hands. At AK Bets, registering for a new sports betting account is very fast and easy, especially compared to some of the biggest bookmakers. New users should get up and running in just a few minutes.
As is the case with all bookies these days, AK Bets has a responsible gambling policy in place. Its site states: "We believe it is our responsibility to you, our customers, to ensure that you enjoy your wagering experience on our site while remaining fully aware of the social and financial harms associated with problem gambling." Deposit limits can be set by AK Bets customers and there is also the chance to take a break, while self-exclusion is another option that is available.
AK Bets has also launched its own mobile betting app, which can be used to place rapid wagers for those sports fans who are on the move. On Android, the AK Bets mobile betting app can be downloaded directly from the Play Store but has not been installed enough to earn a rating. At the App Store, iOS users have given the AK Bets mobile app a thumbs up, rating it 4.1/5 so far.
AK Bets Strengths
-
Slick design and simple user interface
-
Virtual sports and casino games also included
-
Telephone sports betting service offered
-
Mobile apps available for both iOS and Android
AK Bets Weaknesses
-
Lack of promotions and no welcome bonus
-
Limited payment methods at the cashier
-
No live sports streaming available at the present time
AK Bets Sportsbook Review
With AK Bets having been created as an on-course bookmaker back in 2021, it is no surprise to see that horse racing betting is still the dominant sport at the site. Racing has pride of place on the front page at AK Bets, with meetings from the UK and Ireland sitting side by side with horse racing from international courses such as Hyderabad, Kawasaki, Philadelphia, Vichy and Fort Erie.
Football betting is naturally a major focus for the AK Bets sportsbook too. For a typical big game in the Premier League, AK Bets offers myriad markets including everything from the time of the first goal and the number of corners to be awarded to if there will be a red card or even a penalty. Football fans can use the bet builder tool at AK Bets to create their own unique same-game accas on the site, though it is worth noting that these wagers will not be available to cash out.
Other sports included in the list of those available to bet on at AK Bets include greyhound racing, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, darts, Formula One, tennis, cricket, golf and snooker. Some minor sports that are covered by the biggest UK online bookmakers are missing at AK Bets, though, with no opportunity to bet on surfing, sailing, badminton, bandy or chess yet. Some TV, film and entertainment specials are offered, such as the winner of the BBC SPOTY.
Esports betting is another notable omission considering it has grown rapidly in popularity over the past few years, since the COVID-19 pandemic led to many real-life sports being paused. While AK Bets may add an esports betting section in the future, anyone who wants to be able to place wagers on big tournaments in Dota 2, CS:GO or SC2 will not be able to find them here.
As well as a casino section, AK Bets has some virtual sports available for its customers to try. Virtual racing and virtual football are included as well as virtual golf, virtual motorsport and even virtual basketball, so there are plenty of options. Virtual dogs are another one for users to test out.
Promotions are not an area of strength for AK Bets. The site does not have any form of sports welcome bonus available for its new customers to claim when they sign up for an account. As almost all of the other UK online betting sites have a free bet for new users as a perk of joining at the moment, it is fair to ask how AK Bets intends to attract customers to join. There is also a lack of sports betting promotions in general, with no acca insurance or acca boost, for example.
Unfortunately, live streaming is another key area where AK Bets is falling short compared to the competition. AK Bets has yet to provide any form of live sports streaming, although this is also the case for a lot of the newest online sports betting sites in the UK. It is possible that live streams could be added to the AK Bets site in the future, but new users have to go elsewhere for now.
Keeping in mind that AK Bets is one of the newest UK online bookmakers - its internet site was only launched in early 2023 - it has made a reasonable start. However, the lack of any new user sports welcome bonus is a shame and there are no regular promotions to claim here yet either. Plus points include the inclusion of a telephone betting service for AK Bets customers to try out.
AK Bets Customer Support Options
| Chat | Yes |
|---|---|
| customerservices@akbets.bet | |
| Phone | 03700 421 321 |
| Opening hours | 7 Days a week, 24/7 |
There are a few different AK Bets customer support options for users to pick from. Unlike a lot of new UK online sports betting sites that launch these days, telephone support is offered here. Those who want to get in touch via phone can do so by calling 03700 421 321 from the UK.
Email remains a popular choice for a lot of UK sports fans and this is an option at AK Bets too. The address to get in touch with the team by sending an email is customerservices@akbets.bet. Live chat is another of the AK Bets customer support options and it even runs around the clock.
Social media customer support can also be accessed by AK Bets users as well. The site has an active presence on X - the social network formerly known as Twitter - with its page @AKbets87.
Users who have a minor issue with their AK Bets account can also see if there is an answer to their query by checking the site's FAQ. In the frequently asked questions area of AK Bets, users will find information such as which deposit methods can be used and how to make complaints.
In the event of AK Bets users needing to complain about the service provided by the new UK online sportsbook, they can contact the Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS).
AK Bets Payment Methods
The list of all the accepted AK Bets payment methods is minimal compared to the many options that are available at the cashier of the biggest and best online sports betting sites in the UK.
Debit cards from Visa and Mastercard are very likely to be the most popular way for AK Bets customers to add funds to their accounts. Deposits are always processed instantly here and Maestro is another type of debit card that can be used in the cashier on the AK Bets site.
Bank transfer is another option and some sports fans in the UK still prefer this option, even though it is seen by many as being a slow and old-fashioned way to move money around.
As is the case with other online bookies these days, credit card deposits cannot be accepted. This is in line with UK rules and regulations regarding using credit cards for online gambling.
However, other common deposit methods such as Paysafecard and pay by phone bill are not included on the list of AK Bets payment methods either. And while a lot of online sports betting sites in the UK are embracing cryptocurrency - allowing their users to make a deposit with top crypto options such as Bitcoin and Litecoin - this is not something AK Bets is offering just yet.
E-wallets have become one of the most popular ways to make a deposit at online sports betting sites but AK Bets is yet to accept funds from any of the big names. Those who would like to make a deposit with Skrill, Neteller, PayPal or other e-wallets will therefore be disappointed.
AK Bets Category Ratings
Bonuses & Offers ⭐⭐
While it is hard for some new UK online bookmakers to compete with the big brands when it comes to promotions, AK Bets does not seem to have made any effort in this area at all. Not only does the site lack a welcome bonus, there is not even a promotions page on AK Bets. This new UK online bookie will need to make some serious improvements in this key department.
Betting Options ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The list of sports to bet on at AK Bets covers a couple of dozen options, with football, horse racing and greyhounds listed as some of the most popular ones to go for. But while big sports have a good range of markets, more minor sports are missing and there are no esports here.
Banking Options ⭐⭐
The AK Bets cashier unfortunately has a minimal list of banking options that can be used. Debit cards from Maestro, Visa and Mastercard are accepted, but e-wallets cannot be used to make a deposit and it is not possible to use cryptocurrency, pay by phone bill or Paysafecard either.
Mobile Experience ⭐⭐⭐⭐
AK Bets has worked hard to ensure it provides a great experience to those who want to place their sports bets while they are on the move. Android users can get the AK Bets mobile app straight from the Play Store and there is an iOS version available on the App Store as well. AK Bets customers do not necessarily need to download either the iOS or the Android app onto their devices, though, as the AK Bets mobile betting site works great on smaller screens too.
Payout Speed ⭐⭐
Not being able to use e-wallets such as Skrill, PayPal and Neteller means that the payout speed at AK Bets can be pretty slow. The site says that withdrawals made out of an AK Bets account to a debit card are likely to take two to five working days due to its normal banking procedures.
Security ⭐⭐⭐⭐
AK Bets takes security seriously and SSL encryption is in place to protect customer data here. The site's privacy policy is available to read for any UK users who would like to find out more.
Customer Support ⭐⭐⭐⭐
AK Bets provides customer service around the clock on a 24/7 basis via its easy-to-use live chat facility, which provides a rapid response to those who have a problem with their account. Email and telephone support are among the other options that can be used to get issues resolved and AK Bets also has an active presence on X (Twitter) as well, while there is a decent FAQ too.
FAQs
Is AK Bets Legal in the UK?
Who owns AK Bets?
User Reviews
Whitlock
December 24, 2023
I have been using Ak Bets for 1 week now. I have made a total of £396 in deposits no issue at all with depositing, last night I tried to make my first withdrawal I had a balance of £480 and and requested to withdraw £250, it kept bouncing back to my account so after speaking to customer service they assured me thay they could just use my IBAN and they can process withdrawls which I provided then all of a sudden my accounts closed and they have went silent not responding to emails.
Thieves