Bwin has been around the block for quite some time (since 1997), gaining recognition above all through sponsorships with teams such as AC Milan and the Champions League titans Real Madrid. The recognition has not helped much in the UK market, though, as the bookmaker actively has focused more on mainland Europe even if there is a UK version available.
Bwin merged with Party Gaming back in 2011 and established itself as one of the biggest players in the gambling industry. As such, Entain expressed an interest and completed the takeover in early 2016, and Bwin has remained under the company's ownership since. This means that the bookie falls under the same umbrella as sites like Coral and Ladbrokes.
As mentioned above, Bwin has always been a well-known betting brand all over the world thanks to some very prominent sponsorships. However, this is no guarantee for quality and UK punters will know all about it, seeing as Bwin has never really focused on the market. Since the takeover of Entain, that has only become more clear.
While the sportsbook is rather comprehensive thanks to the ownership, Bwin lacks a good welcome offer - at least compared to some of the best - and it just feels like the UK market is not a priority for the bookie. Of course, this is not a feeling you want to have when placing bets, if anything you want the opposite.
Below, we have reviewed each of Bwin's sister sites and given that there are many similarities, we have opted to focus more on the differences.
Coral has a tremendous track record in the UK betting scene, as one of the oldest bookmakers in the country, and it is certainly one of Entain's flagships. Ladbrokes, which we will discuss more below, is the other one and there is a rather clear difference in quality compared to Bwin.
Right off the bat, when registering on Coral, you will notice that the welcome offer is a whole lot better. Offering a generous £10 in free bets for staking £5, punters do not have to lose their qualifying bet to get the reward, as is the case at Bwin.
The bonuses and free bets for existing customers are also like night and day when comparing the two sites. The Coral Rewards Grabber is one of the most popular promotions in the UK and while there is no acca promotion, the bookie has nailed the surprise element with its promotions.
Established in 1886, Ladbrokes is one of the oldest bookmakers in the UK and it is fair to say that most punters already have an account. The ownership of Entain, following the merger with Coral, has made the red-themed site a powerhouse and one that is a lot more appealing than Bwin.
The welcome offer, just like Coral, is one of the best as £20 in free bets is offered so long as punters stake £5. It is credited as 4x£5 free bets, so there is a benefit to signing up for both sites and that also goes for the promotions available. 1-2-Free is a game that we like a lot, but there is also a nice Instant Spins promotion.
The bookie sports a great app, which many would describe as cutting-edge, and there is a clear focus on succeeding in the UK market. This is not the case for Bwin, as stated many times now, and makes a really big difference in the long run.
This betting site was first launched in 1998 and thanks to its success in the South American market, it was acquired by Entain in 2013. The design is more or less identical to Bwin, and the sportsbook is definitely the same. The welcome offer is also slightly different as new customers must complete certain challenges to receive the bonuses in instalments.
Gamebookers is very similar to Bwin in many ways, also launching in the late 90s. It was under the same ownership as the site for a while before Entain's takeover, but it is a bookmaker that has remained in the shadow of the rest. The site looks more or less identical to Bwin and Sportingbet, with the only differences being the colours and a lack of a welcome offer.
Bwin might not have the best welcome offer, but the same cannot be said for its sister sites Coral and Ladbrokes. Below, we have listed the various offers that the two bookies offer.
Operator | Welcome Offer | Bonus Code | Claim Offer | |
---|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Offer Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets | No code required | Claim Offer | 18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Min deposit & bet £10 at min odds 1/2 to qualify for 4 x £10 free bets. Certain deposit methods and bet types excl. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. |
| Welcome Offer Play £10 Get £50 Casino Bonus | No code required | Claim Offer | 18+. New customers only. Min spend £10 on qualifying games. Certain deposit types excluded. £50 Bonus on selected games subject to 40x wager req. Must accept within 14 days, valid for 30 days. Player restrictions and T&Cs apply. |
| Welcome Offer Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets | No code required | Claim Offer | 18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £/€5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. |
| Welcome Offer Play £10 Get a £30 Welcome Bonus | No code required | Claim Offer | 18+. New Casino players only. Deposit required. Play £10+ on qualifying games. 40x wager reqs (Bonus only) on selected games. Accept Bonus within 14 days. Bonus valid for 30 days. Certain deposit types excluded. Player restrictions and T&Cs apply. |
Isak is an experienced content writer with a background in sports journalism. Having focused mainly on football in the past, he certainly knows a thing or two about the betting industry and what makes a good bookie. At BettingLounge, he makes sure that the content is up-to-date and presented in the best way possible.