AK Bets Review 2024 in the UK

AK Bets are a new addition to the UK betting scene, starting out with on-course betting and branching out online.

AK Bets UK Review  – Can AK Bets bridge the gap from racecourse betting to the world of online sports betting?

AK Bets rapidly became a successful on-course bookie and now they are looking to moving into online betting. They have made a positive start to this with a user-friendly website, a social media presence, a sound range of betting markets, both live and pre-match, solid odds and a number of interesting features which mix tradition with sports betting in the 21st century.

The best betting sites in the UK will offer a good range of leagues and markets, giving you plenty of scope for wagers, the odds will be competitive in order to give the punter good returns when their bets come home, there will be plenty of promotions to add value and interest, and good quality customer support. This is the all round level of service AK Bets are striving to match.

I have analysed everything about AK Bets, from betting opportunities, pre-match and in-play, to odds, promotions to customer support, to give my verdict on their service. Read on to see what they have to offer for novice and experienced bettors alike.

What I analysed on AK Bets

At Betting.com, our bookmaker reviews are in-depth and thorough. This AK Bets review is no exception and  I gave the bookie a thorough test drive. Every factor that matters to punters, from security systems through to promotions and payment methods was investigated.

Through this process, we perused their odds, compared prices and checked to see which sports and leagues they offer. Here are the main categories we covered with our AK Bets review: 

1. Licensing 
2. Sports and leagues covered
3. Value of odds
4. Options for bettors
5. Promotions and bonuses
6. Overall user experience
7. Registration and verification process
8. Depositing money
9. Withdrawing your winnings
10. Customer support and help centre

AK Bets licensing, safety and trustworthiness

AK Bets is a safe and fully licensed bookmaker. They are operated by Star Racing Ltd (06475105) and are licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission (licence number 009177). Unlike a lot of online bookmakers, AK Bets operate out of the UK, from an address in Hove, East Sussex. They have all of the licences required to reassure customers in the UK that it is a safe place to bet online.

AK Bets complete list of licences

UK: UK Gambling Commission (009177)

What makes AK Bets safe

Safety is paramount for all bookmakers. They handle a huge amount of personal information, and have a duty to keep your data and money protected. Responsible gambling must also be emphasised. Policies need to be in place to help punters control their betting.

What makes a betting site safe

1. Security of your funds
2. Keeping personal data protected
3. Current and applicable licences
4. Responsible Gambling
5. Easily accessible terms and conditions
6. Additional information on staying safe

With a licence in the UK from the UK Gambling Commission, punters can feel comfortable using AK Bets for sports wagers. Further details are available in their terms and conditions. 

They have a thorough privacy policy and use encryption technology to keep players’ details safe.

Their commitment to Responsible Gambling is clear. The tab is at the bottom of the page. There are a number of tools to help players, including self-assessment, self-exclusion, deposit limits, reference to underage gambling, plus links to outside agencies.

Welcome offers and promos – No welcome bonus at AK Bets

AK Bets, unfortunately do not offer an incentive for users who sign up. They do not offer any promos or offers for new or existing players. They do occasionally, however, give away free bets and have betting offers available on their active social media page.

The casino side of their operation has a few offers and they have a number of casino competitions which take place on a weekly basis. Therefore it is to be hoped that something similar might be introduced to the sports betting side of things.

AK Bets VIP program/loyalty program

AK Bets do not offer a VIP or Loyalty program at the time of writing. 

Sports and leagues you can bet on at AK Bets

At AK Bets there are over 20 sports which you can wager on. As is befitting of a betting site who started out as an on-course bookmaker, horse racing is the main sport on the site.It offers a great range of UK, Irish and international race meetings. There is a graphic to monitor price movement, which is a feature not available at every online betting site. Live streaming has also been recently introduced. 

Greyhound racing is also covered really well and also benefits from live streaming.

Football betting is a major focus for the bookie too. For a typical Premier League match, AK Bets offers a variety of 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 punters can utilise the bet builder tool to create their own unique wagers. 

Other sports available include basketball, baseball, ice hockey, darts, Formula One, tennis, cricket, golf and snooker. There are opportunities to bet on politics, along with TV shows, award ceremonies and other novelties.

AK Bets odds offers

AK Bets offer fair odds. For a horse race , from Leicester, the bookie’s payout percentage was 86.9%, which was in line with many other UK sportsbooks. We looked at two football matches from the EFL Cup and AK Bets came out with a 93.7% payout margin. This cannot match the industry leaders for odds, however, it is more than fair and represents better value than a number of high profile betting sites.

This generally is the case across other sports too.

AK Bets betting options & features

AK Bets have various features for punters to try out.

Outright / Ante-Post betting

AK Bets offer the chance to bet on the winners of major events well in advance. Ahead of major sporting events such World Cups in football, rugby or cricket and the majors in golf and tennis, sports bettors always look to predict the overall winner well in advance, and to take advantage of extra places with each-way wagers .Ante-Post betting is also a major part of horse racing betting. AK Bets and offer early betting opportunities on high-profile upcoming races and festivals such as Cheltenham, Aintree and Royal Ascot.

Live betting at AK Bets

AK Bets have a sound live betting section. The In-Play tab is very prominent at the top of the page, situated next to the “Sports” section. You will be able to choose from various sports, including football, tennis and golf. The Live betting section provides odds that change with the game’s progression, depending on the likely outcome. There are some stats and updates available to keep you up to date with the action.

Live Streaming

At the time of writing, AK Bets only offer live streaming of horse racing and greyhound racing. 

Accumulator/Multiple Betting

Accumulators can be assembled using a variety of different markets and they can consist of a range of different sports and competitions. There is no ACCA insurance available and there are no ACCA boosts.

Cash Out 

Like many online betting sites, Cash Out is available to AK Bets customers with the feature being available on selected sports and markets. When cash out is available, you’ll be able to end your bet early for an agreed return to either lock in a guaranteed profit or cut your losses if it looks like your bet is not going to win. There is, however, no partial cash out.

This is available both through the AK Bets website and through the app.

Bet Builder

Like most UK bookmakers, AK Bets allow players to construct their own unique bet by adding various markets and odds to a single bet with their Bet Builder. This is, at the time of writing, only available for football. The feature boasts a good range of markets

Telephone Betting

A former on course bookie, AK Bets also offer punters the chance to bet on the phone. This looks like a bit of a throwback, however, it shows that the bookie can be in touch with the modern world of betting through its online sportsbook and can give punters a more traditional medium to place wagers.

Podcast

AK Bets offer an informative gambling podcast.

Social Media Presence

AK Bets are very active on X (formally known as Twitter) at twitter.com/AKBets87. There are regular competitions and occasional free bets for punters.

How easy do I find it to use AK Bets’ site?

To begin with, I created an account and deposited funds. Once I had browsed their different features, I placed a few wagers, checked out their live streaming of horse racing and contacted customer service. 

• Desktop: The website is functional and user friendly. Navigation is usually easy and you can generally find everything that you need.
• Mobile on the web: The desktop version of the site can be accessed on mobile devices and customers can enjoy all that the desktop site offers on a pc.

Mobile app: You can download the AK Bets app for free for both iOS and Android devices. The app is excellent with a user-friendly layout, fast-loading pages and a design which is pleasing to the eye. This makes betting on the move much easier and punters can rapidly get wagers on via the app.

How to register a new account with AK Bets

Registering for an account with AK Bets is an easy process. Upon entering the website simply hit the orange “Sign Up” button.  Once you have submitted the required information you are ready to start betting.

Here are the steps to register for your account:

1. Click the orange ‘Sign Up’ button which can be found at the top of the homepage on the  right-hand side.
2. Create a memorable password and then submit your personal details when prompted.  
3. Upon receiving your confirmation email, click the link to be directed back to the main home page in order to confirm your account.  
4. You are now ready to make an initial deposit and begin wagering.

Documents and information you need to share with AK Bets to open an account

AK Bets have a Know Your Customer (KYC), process in place to verify the account of new users. However, even after making a deposit, users may be asked to provide additional documentation to verify their identity. Accepted documents for this include:

• Bank statement with address displayed
• Payslip with address displayed
• Certification from bank
• HM Revenue and Customs letter
• Contract or bill from a utility supplier with address displayed
• Passport
• Drivers Licence

The bookie may also require proof of funds. They may request documents such as:

• Proof of earnings – Payslip/Director remuneration/Dividends/Pension
• A bank statement/savings account that clearly shows consistent incoming values from an identifiable source
• A Trust deed clearly showing a consistent entitlement to funds
• An account statement showing funds recently won from another company
• Dated proof of a payment made to you
• Other clear evidence that would support “affordability” in relation to your business with us

How reliable are AK Bets’ payment methods?

AK Bets have a small range of payment methods, which are generally reliable.

Debit card withdrawal takes 1-5 banking days to reach you, while bank transfer may take slightly longer.

Cryptocurrency available at AK Bets

AK Bets does not enable bettors to deposit or withdraw funds using cryptocurrency. 

Time to collect your winnings? Here’s how to withdraw your winnings from AK Bets

It will take between two and five working days to process withdrawals at AK Bets.

Here are the steps to withdraw your winnings:

Step by step guide on how to withdraw from AK Bets

Follow these steps to withdraw from AK Bets:

1. Click on your account and then select ‘make a withdrawal’  
2. Confirm the amount that you would  like to withdraw and your chosen payment method. 
3. Check over the details and click to confirm the transaction.  
4. You may be asked for additional documentation at this stage.
5. You will receive your winnings within 2-5 working days.

Other information to know when withdrawing

You will have your winnings with you within five working days at the latest with debit cards. You may be asked for additional documentation at times.

Is AK Bets’ customer service helpful?

AK Bet have plenty of info on the site through their FAQs and in their Terms and Conditions. There is email support and responses from this service are usually satisfactory.

Responsible gambling

AK Bets have a number of tools aimed at promoting responsible gambling and ensuring that its users can enjoy betting safely. There is a page dedicated to the subject, where customers can undergo a self-assessment. Furthermore, contact information for the major gambling counselling organisations and other outside agencies is available for punters who require external support. Further tools include a deposit limit, w as well as Self-exclusion. This section can be found at the bottom of the page.

Betting.com Verdict – How does AK Bets function as an allround betting site?

AK Bets are a new betting site on the UK market. They have come a long way from the start of the decade when they took their first steps as an on-course bookie, to their launch as an allround betting site in 2023 up to the present day.

Their coverage of horse racing is excellent, with features such as their price movement graphic, and they have a number of other positives, such as their coverage of greyhounds, football, tennis, golf, cricket and the big US Sports. Their odds are fair and can be competitive and they cover a decent range of sports and markets. 

Their social media presence and interaction with customers, betting podcast and telephone betting service are all plus points.

Their website and app are generally very good, and customers can enjoy all that the site has to offer on a pc or a mobile device.

Adding a few more sports, expanding some of their betting markets, developing their live streaming service and adding a few more payment methods would improve matters further. The customer support contact methods could be expanded upon too. Although the email service and FAQ are generally good, live chat and/or a phone line would improve things.

However, the lack of a welcome offer and the lack of promotions (other than a few incentives via social media) are a major drawback and may put some punters off signing up in the first place. Hopefully, as they grow and develop they will address this and other issues.

Overall AK Bets  is a good place to enjoy a wager and is suitable for those new to sports betting and to experienced punters.

Other betting sites to consider

BetVictor

(4.5/5)

Fafabet

(4.2/5)

Ladbrokes

(4.5/5)