TonyBet is an ambitious sports betting operator with a reputation for attractive bonuses, high-quality odds and excellent customer service. The business was launched as OmniBet back in 2003 and it built up a strong presence in the Baltic region. Professional poker player Antanas Guoga, known as Tony G, purchased OmniBet in 2009 and renamed it TonyBet.
The firm opened retail betting shops in Estonia and Lithuania, while building up its online offering. It caught the eye of Swedish gaming heavyweight Betsson, which bought TonyBet for €6 million in 2016. The improvement has been dramatic since TonyBet joined the Betsson stable, as it received a software upgrade, launched more sophisticated promotions and expanded the list of sports it covers. It has secured a UK Gambling Commission licence, ensuring it upholds strict regulatory conditions, and it is targeting British punters with a very competitive offering and a generous welcome bonus.
Horse Racing Betting at TonyBet
TonyBet recently expanded its offering by launching a detailed horse racing section for UK customers. We put this horse racing section to the test and we were impressed by the design, the ease of navigation and the level of data provided. TonyBet covers all the action from the UK, Australia and South Africa. It is still a new section of the site, so it could expand into Ireland and other countries in future, while it would be good to see antepost markets added to the mix.
The racecards are attractive, easy to use and full of clear information. You can click on a race you are interested in, and you will be told the number of runners, the going, the type of race and the place terms. It also displays the rating, form, weight age and current odds of each horse. We liked the arrows that flashed green when a price went out or red when the odds grew shorter.
You can also watch each race live when you are logged into a TonyBet account, which is a nice touch. The bet slip is very easy to use, so you can compile forecasts, tricasts and so on with minimal fuss. There is also a results section covering all the races from the UK, South Africa and Australia over the past two days.
Football Betting at TonyBet
TonyBet offers comprehensive coverage of a wide range of football leagues from around the world. The menu on the left of the homepage displays the most popular leagues, including the Premier League, Serie A and the Championship. If you click on “Football” it will show you the various leagues on offer.
TonyBet offers sports betting on football in a huge range of countries, from Kuwait and Bahrain to Gambia and Ghana. In England, it goes all the way down to the National League. You can bet on youth football in Spain, Serie D in Italy and the third division in Germany, and it will often have betting markets on women’s football and friendlies.
The breadth of betting options on a big game in the Premier League or Champions League is very impressive. We found more than 1,600 betting markets on a clash between Arsenal and Man Utd when conducting this TonyBet review. They are grouped into sections such as handicaps, over/under, goals, correct score, statistics, players and so on in order to speed up the navigation process.
You will find all the classic sports betting markets, such as both teams to score, draw no bet and half-time / full-time, but the list of combinations and exotic wagers is phenomenal. It offers Asian handicaps, totals and even corners, while there is a long list of player betting options available and you can make all sorts of combinations – for example, away win, under 11.5 corners and over 3.5 yellow cards. It is rare to find a bookmaker that offers so many sports betting options on football, and we were highly impressed with this section of the TonyBet site.
Other Sports and Markets
TonyBet covers all the most popular sports in excellent detail, including tennis, cricket, golf, MMA, boxing, Formula 1, darts, rugby league and rugby union. Its coverage of US sports leagues is strong, and it also features basketball and ice hockey games from around the world. We were also impressed with the level of niche sports on offer, including bandy, biathlon, water polo, handball, table tennis and ski jumping.
The entertainment section allows you to bet on award ceremonies like the Grammy Awards, and there is understandably a particular focus on Lithuanian shows. It does not have a politics section, but esports fans can bet on League of Legends, Dota 2, CS:GO and Rocket League at Tony Bet, and there are virtual sports on offer too.
TonyBet Deposits and Withdrawals
TonyBet offers eight different banking methods for sports betting customers to choose from: Visa, MasterCard, Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, PaySafeCard, PaySera and ecoPayz. PaySera is a Lithuanian method, and UK customers naturally cannot use credit cards, so your banking options are a debit card, an e-wallet or a pre-paid voucher through PaySafeCard.
TonyBet offers free deposits and withdrawals. The minimum amount is £10 and there is no official maximum, so you can contact customer support if you plan to make a large payment or request a substantial withdrawal. The site operates a closed loop policy, whereby you can only withdraw via the same method you used for your deposit. This is designed to prevent money laundering.
Betting Features
The TonyBet site is rich with features designed to speed up the navigation process. The search toolbar at the top left of the homepage works well. A tool allows you to filter upcoming events by 1 hour, 8 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours. You can customise a “Favourites” tab, and the “Popular Today” tab highlights major sporting events that are starting soon. There is a blog section too. It has not been updated for a while, but it includes helpful sports betting guides and strategy articles.
In-Play Betting
The in-play betting section at TonyBet is very comprehensive. Icons at the top of the page provide shortcuts to the various sports covered live, which range from popular pursuits like football and tennis to niche sports such as futsal and volleyball.
TonyBet offers more than 300 live betting options on football matches. The odds flash up green when they become more attractive, and red when the price drops. There is no live streaming, but punters can enjoy a wealth of live stats, scores and a live graphic that tells you which team is in possession. The live betting section is easy to use and intuitively laid out, making it easy to place quick bets while the action unfolds.
User Experience at TonyBet
We found the user experience is impressive at TonyBet. The desktop site is very busy. It might be a little overwhelming for beginners, but you soon grow accustomed to it, and it is actually very easy to navigate. The search function works well, the shortcuts are intuitive and pages load quickly, while there are lots of helpful shortcuts and widgets dotted about the site.
It follows a slick, attractive design, with light grey text on a dark grey background, and the odd flash of colour to brighten up the pages. You will not be bombarded with pop ups, but it is easy to find information about bonuses, banking options, contact details and so on. There is a dedicated mobile app that you can download, or you can access a mobile optimised version of the site direct from your browser if you prefer. This mobile offering is very easy to use, with simple navigation, responsive buttons and pages that load rapidly.
Promotions at TonyBet
TonyBet offers a 100% welcome bonus worth up to £50 for new customers. To claim this offer, you must sign up for an account, make a deposit and enter the bonus code TONY50. It will give you a 100% welcome bonus, but only after you complete a stringent wagering requirement process. You have to wager your deposit 10 times on betting markets with odds of at least 1.65 (13/20) before you will unlock the 100% deposit bonus. That essentially means you have to place your qualifying bet 10 times, and you have 30 days in which to do so.
One attractive bonus on offer at TonyBet is the weekly sports cashback promotion. This is a 3% rebate on net losses over the course of the week, and you can claim anything from £1 to £1,000. There are also various casino promotions on offer, as TonyBet offers a comprehensive virtual casino and live dealer casino.
Customer Support
TonyBet customer service is available on a 24/7 basis via email or live chat. Many sports betting operators offer support via phone, but that is not really necessary at TonyBet. We tested out the TonyBet customer service email and found that we received quick and helpful responses. We also used the live chat function and we were impressed by the short waiting times and the professionalism of the representatives. There is also a detailed FAQ section, which answers many queries you might have.
Our Verdict
It is easy to see why TonyBet continues to seize market share from more established rivals in the UK betting sector. The site follows an attractive design and covers a huge range of sporting events from around the world, including pre-match, in-play and futures wagering options. The quality of the odds is high, and there are some attractive bonuses if you can handle the wagering requirement. The overall user experience is strong, there are no security concerns, it provides a comprehensive suite of banking options, and it has a vibrant online casino alongside its excellent sports betting product, so we can highly recommend this site.
