TonyBet was launched under that name in 2009 but had been operating in a different guise since 2003. The firm is a traditional online bookmaker that was founded by a poker player from Lithuania. In 2016 the operator was sold to Betsson, a Swedish gaming company that paid €6 million for the purchase. TonyBet operates under license and regulation in Estonia and is also regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.
TonyBet provides gaming services to the European market and in addition to a sportsbook the site also features a casino, live casino and poker. The site can currently be read in five languages.
Customers new to TonyBet can claim £200 in the form of a welcome bonus.
This promotion is subject to the following Terms & Conditions:
The welcome offer is for a large amount and similar offers from other bookmakers are less lucrative. The odds requirement is fair but having to bet the first deposit 10 times in 30 days is a negative. Even so the offer is achievable and the rules are transparent. TonyBet’s welcome offer complies with guidelines established and monitored by the UK Gambling Commission. The value of the bonus is the same as the value of the deposit and that is why the offer is a 100% matched deposit bonus. The offer applies until the end of 2019 at which point it could be renewed or something similar could be introduced in its place.
When the review was carried out there were no concessions for existing customers with TonyBet. Other bookmakers feature sports and event specific offers that reward the loyalty of existing customers. This situation could change in the fullness of time but in May 2019 the overall package of offers for the sportsbook did not provide a good incentive to open an account, deposit funds and bet. The other gaming products are integrated into the same site and there are a number of promotions in these areas and these are listed below:
These offers are lucrative and encourage casino and poker players to open an account with TonyBet Casino. Some new customers may then place bets in the sportsbook and only one account is required across the product range.
‘Sports’ is the first option on the main menu of the TonyBet Homepage. Clicking this option takes users to the main sportsbook page. Customers can search for a betting market by entering the name of the event. The main betting events of the day are listed and there is also a list of the betting sports of which there are about 25 in total.
In addition to the standard betting sports, customers with TonyBet can place wagers on Politics and Esports. The sports are listed roughly in the order of current betting options. The sports page also displays upcoming events over the next 8 hours, the rest of the day and the following day. In terms of the number of betting options the three most popular sports are football, basketball and tennis. Here is more information about the betting options for these three sports:
At the time of writing there were about 1500 active betting markets and almost half of them were related to football. The sport generates most bets and turnover and more than half the betting activity is on football matches and outright winner markets. The most popular league for betting is the Premier League in England but the regular season ended at the start of May. The FA Cup final had already been played.
During the rest of the month the biggest fixture was the final of the Champions League which involved Liverpool and Tottenham from the Premier League in England. The final of the Europa League brought together Arsenal and Chelsea who also play in the top division in England. TonyBet displayed the three-way match result after 90 minutes for the final of the Champions League. There is a link to the additional markets which totals almost 400 under the following headings:
The match odds are compiled with a theoretical margin of 3.5% which is lower than average. The value in the odds attract big-staking customers who monitor the price variances but the recreational players may not notice the differences. Tony Bet also offers odds on the winner of many leagues and Cup competitions in domestic and European football. Customers can also bet on the winner of international tournaments such as the UEFA Nations League, finals on the European Championships and the net World Cup. Overall, TonyBet provides an excellent football betting service. The competitive odds compensate for the staking requirements of the welcome offer and lack of sports promotions for all customers.
There were about 300 open bets for basketball when the review was completed. This is the second highest number of bets but less than half the number related to football. TonyBet produces odds for over 20 domestic leagues in Europe and South America and the Euroleague which is the equivalent of the Champions League in football. The leading teams from the domestic leagues in Europe qualify for this competition.
However, the most prestigious league is the NBA in North America which attracts the best players and coached by paying the highest wages. TonyBet offers outright winners odds for the NBA and Conference and Divisional champions. Leading up to the draft basketball bettors can place wagers on the team to sign the leading players. The site displays the two-way market for match winners including overtime and a link to additional markets. A typical basketball fixture will feature about 70 betting options which appear under the following headings:
Customers can also bet on the outcome of matches including the draw so this is a three-way market. Odds for a typical match are compiled with a margin of 12% which is about average for the industry. The basketball match odds equate to a payout of about 92% which is not outstanding for the sport.
Tennis is the third most popular sport in terms of the number of current markets. At the time of writing there were outright markets for the upcoming Grand Slams and h betting for ATP and WTA matches, Challenger tournaments and ITF events. TonyBet displays the two-way market for each match and a link to related betting options of which there are about 70 in total. The additional betting markets are displayed in the following categories:
The match odds are created with a margin of 5% and payout of 92% which are average figures for the industry. Tennis is one sport in which more bets are placed on live matches than pre-match markets. Tennis lends itself to in-play betting because of the fluctuations in the scoring and odds. Customers with TonyBet enjoy a decent tennis betting service for each type of market.
TonyBet apps can be downloaded for Android and iOS devices such as the iPad and iPhone. There is also a mobile optimised site which can be read using smartphones and tablets. The app can be found on the iTunes store but gambling apps cannot be downloaded from Google Play. The mobile app replicates the PC version of the site with the same markets and colour scheme. The site is easy to navigate and the preferred market can be reached using a few taps. Mobile customers cannot claim specific mobile offers but are entitled to the standard welcome bonus.
TonyBet provides a fully functional sportsbook and the betting experience is enhanced by the following services:
In-Play is the second entry on the TonyBet Homepage main menu. Following this link reveals the live betting page. The current events are displayed by sport and at the time of writing there were live events in tennis, basketball and football and a number of minor sports. There is no calendar of future live events. Another missing feature is live streaming which is a negative. The in-play interface does include a graphical representation of the progress of play and live match statistics. Betting is halted when something significant happens like a goal in football or break of serve in tennis. The updated odds reappear after a few seconds and live betting can continue.
One of the features of in-play betting is Cash Out. During a live event customers can take control of bets placed before the event began or earlier during the match. If the odds move in favour of the bet customers can close the bet before the final outcome is known which means a profit regardless of the result. If the odds move against the bet the cash out process limits the loss which is based on the current odds in relation to the initial odds and the stake. Bets can be fully or partially cashed out or the offer can be rejected so the bet stands until later in the match or once the result is known.
One of the positives of the TonyBet service is the extensive range of betting options. Customers can make deposits and withdrawals using debit cards, e-Wallets and Bank Transfer. All transactions are free, the minimum deposit is £10 across the board and deposits are immediate. Withdrawals take 1 -3 hours or from 2 to 5 working days depending on the banking method.
Potential new customers visit the TonyBet Homepage and click the ‘Sign Up’ button. The registration process involves entering personal and account information, including the preferred currency. New account holders confirm acceptance of the Terms & Conditions and the account is submitted. New customers select a deposit method and amount and in making the deposit the welcome offer is activated. Bettors navigate to a market and select the odds. This action prompts the appearance of the Bet Slip on which the stake and type of bet are specified. Once the bet has been placed account details are updated to reflect the stake on the most recent bet.
Customers can contact the TonyBet customer service department by email, telephone and Live Chat. The service is supported in four languages. There are measures in place for customers who want to control gambling and TonyBet is committed to responsible gambling.
The TonyBet service has been available in different guises since 2003. The TonyBet name was introduced six years later and in 2016 Betsson bought the brand. The purchase allowed tonybet.com to compete with the major trusted brands in the UK and rest of Europe which is a crowded market.
TonyBet offers competitive odds and relatively big limits but no ongoing promotions for existing customers. The value in the odds will attract the big-staking bettors while the absence of dynamic promotions for all customers will not put off some recreational players. The result is a positive betting experience for both types of customers based in the UK and other parts of Europe.