There's no doubt that betting on chess online is one of the more niche forms of online gambling. But you'll be pleased to hear that, if you\'re looking to enjoy some Chess World Cup betting, there are sites where you can! Our recommended choices all offer:
For those interested in wagering on the game then, of course, Chess World Championship betting is probably going to be your first thought. However, 2024 actually isn't playing host to ANY world championship matches which means you'll need to set your scopes a little wider.
With events like the World Cup, FIDE Grand Prix and the Gibraltar Masters going on, there's still plenty of action going on at chess betting sites, and there's really never a bad year for those based in the United Kingdom to fire up a chess betting app or online bookmaker site that offers the game.
People in Britain, and beyond, are often surprised to learn that chess has such a vibrant competitive scene. With real money prizes sometimes numbering in the hundreds of thousands of £, chess showdowns can be just as fierce as the biggest and best poker tournaments. And they can be a heck of a lot of fun to watch!
In online betting on chess, it's rare to find a huge range of different kinds of bets. Your options will generally be limited to:
Outright championship winner
Winner of individual matches
Picking a player who will NOT win the championship
Online betting on chess clearly isn't the most popular activity at online bookies in the UK but it's just as easy to get involved in as wagering on, say, football or rugby. Plus, you don't even need to understand how the game itself works to have a flutter; the difference in skill level between the world's top players is so small that upsets are fairly common in chess!
Make sure your bet is confirmed before navigating away from the page, as we'd hate to see you miss out on your winnings due to a simple mistake like not hitting Confirm.
Choose one of our recommended sites that offers betting on chess online and sign up with your personal details
Make a deposit, which will most likely trigger some form of welcome offer such as a match % bonus (but you may need to enter a promo code)
Once you've considered a few chess betting tips, pick the event you want to bet on and choose your player. You're all done!
Every top online bookmaker that we've ever encountered offers at least some form of welcome bonus for new players. The norm is a % match bonus up to a certain amount on your first deposit, which you can then use as "free" bets.
Unfortunately, with betting on chess online being one of the less popular forms of gambling on the web, it's unlikely that you'll find seasonal promos relating to, say, chess world cup betting or chess world championship betting. But that's no hardship, as you can simply use the bonus cash from your sign up offer.
Don't be afraid to take a few risks on underdogs with bonus cash, as you'll need to wager this many times over before you can withdraw it as real money.
Editors Pick
100%
100% deposit bonus of up to £30
T&Cs Apply
New UK & Ireland customers only. £10. First deposit matched up to £30. 1x wagering at odds of 1.75 to unlock Free Bet. Credit Card, Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. Full Terms apply.
Players Favourite
£30
Bet £10 get £30 when you place your first bet
T&Cs Apply
New customers only – Minimum deposit of £10 using deposit code 30F - A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 placed on any sports market - Minimum odds of 1/2 (1.5) - Free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days - Free bet stakes not included in returns - Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time. General deposit method & withdrawal restrictions apply & Full Terms apply.
If you're placing wagers in the UK, there's a very good chance that the chess betting sites you end up using will show odds in the fractional format. You might also see decimal odds (e.g. 1.4, 3.2) but fractional is more likely, so that's what we'll focus on here.
Many British punters are already very familiar with fractional odds, but they're pretty easy to understand even for first-timers at an online bookmaker. Odds of 3/1 mean that players can win £3 for every £1 bet (a total payout of £4 including an initial £1 stake), while a favourite might have odds of something like 2/7. This means that you'd need to wager £7 for a total payout of £9 (£2 profit + original £7 stake).
It's common to see outright tournament odds being offered in a chess betting app or online gambling site long before the event takes place, so it's possible to make a very tidy profit if you successfully wager on an underdog.
If you're looking to enjoy online chess betting on the move, you're in luck! You may not be able to bet on chess games with ALL the online bookies out there, but the best of those that do offer it will generally have a chess betting app or responsive online gambling site you can use to place wagers.
The popularity on real cash gaming on mobile continues to rise in 2024, with more and more players enjoying placing wagers using Apple, Android, Windows Phone, etc. devices. It's always great to be able to play on the move if you want to check your active bets, or place a few new ones if you come across some chess betting tips on your travels.
If you're going to indulge in some chess world cup betting, or maybe place a few wagers on smaller events, it makes sense that you're going to want to be armed with as much knowledge as possible before you put any real money on the line. Here are a few words of wisdom for you:
To make the most of your bankroll, take a look at our feed of chess betting tips before you put your hand in your wallet.
There are those who regard chess as a game for "nerds". Boy, are those folks wrong. With cutthroat competition, expertly crafted teams and some players worth millions of dollars, it really is a lot of fun to bet on chess games. Granted, it'll probably interest those who understand and enjoy the game the most, but total newbies from Britain and beyond shouldn't be afraid to check it out as well!
T&Cs Apply
New UK & Ireland customers only. £10. First deposit matched up to £30. 1x wagering at odds of 1.75 to unlock Free Bet. Credit Card, Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. Full Terms apply.
T&Cs Apply
New customers only – Minimum deposit of £10 using deposit code 30F - A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 placed on any sports market - Minimum odds of 1/2 (1.5) - Free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days - Free bet stakes not included in returns - Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time. General deposit method & withdrawal restrictions apply & Full Terms apply.
T&Cs Apply
18+ only, new customers only, gamble responsibly. Full Terms apply.
T&Cs Apply
New online customers only, min £10 stake, win only, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 3x £10, 30 day expiry, free bet/payment method/player/country restrictions apply. Full Terms apply.
T&Cs Apply
New customer offer. Place 5 x £10 or more bets to receive £20 in free bets. Repeat up to 5 times to receive maximum £100 bonus. Min odds 1/2 (1.5). Exchange bets excluded. Full Terms apply.
T&Cs Apply
New UK & Ireland customers only. £10. First deposit matched up to £30. 1x wagering at odds of 1.75 to unlock Free Bet. Credit Card, Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. Full Terms apply.
T&Cs Apply
New customers only – Minimum deposit of £10 using deposit code 30F - A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 placed on any sports market - Minimum odds of 1/2 (1.5) - Free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days - Free bet stakes not included in returns - Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time. General deposit method & withdrawal restrictions apply & Full Terms apply.
T&Cs Apply
18+ only, new customers only, gamble responsibly. Full Terms apply.
T&Cs Apply
New online customers only, min £10 stake, win only, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 3x £10, 30 day expiry, free bet/payment method/player/country restrictions apply. Full Terms apply.
T&Cs Apply
New customer offer. Place 5 x £10 or more bets to receive £20 in free bets. Repeat up to 5 times to receive maximum £100 bonus. Min odds 1/2 (1.5). Exchange bets excluded. Full Terms apply.
T&Cs Apply to All Bonuses. 18+ only. Gamble Responsibly.
The average online gambler in Britain isn't exactly known for their extensive knowledge of MLB betting, so we do get questions on it from time to time!
The chess calendar is stocked with great events including Rapid and Blitz events, which are particularly fast-paced, through to women only tournaments. If a site offers online betting on chess, it will likely offer odds on all significant events going on.
Rogue online gambling sites aren't too common, though they do crop up from time to time. Stick with our recommendations and you shouldn't run into any issues.
Yes, although they aren't necessarily tailored to the sport in the way that some bonuses for, say, horse racing are. You can still, depending on the site you're playing on, enjoy spending bonus cash on chess betting!
The range of bets available in a chess betting app/site isn't usually all that impressive with odds often limited to outright tournament winners/losers and, occasionally, individual match outcomes as well.
Right here. We have a list of rated and recommended sites that we think are perfect for British punters looking to wager real cash on chess in 2024.