No AK Bets welcome bonus offer was available for us to claim when writing this review. However, despite no AK Bets welcome offer, we could still register and explore what this newer online betting site offers, including its popular Phone-A-Bet feature.
AK Bets Reputation & History
AK Bets comes from Irish on-course bookmaker and former Paddy Power employee Anthony Kaminskas. While the AK Bets brand has been around since 2001, the online launch of the sportsbook didn’t happen until early 2023, just ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.
Therefore, this is an online betting site still gaining traction. Early reviews of the service point to the limited number of promotions available, plus some issues with withdrawal times and bet limits.
AK Bets Existing Customer Offers & Regular Promotions
Regular promotions are lacking at AK Bets. While we knew there was no AK Bets welcome bonus, we didn’t find any offers for existing customers listed when we clicked on the Promos link – so picking up an AK Bets free bet may be hard to come by.
AK Bets Mobile App
The AK Bets mobile app looks good, as does the simple design of their website. It’s a black background theme, which is easy on the eye. Markets on the app are quick to scroll through, and menu organisation is good.
A click on football, for example, produces filters to look at the current day’s listings, matches for the following day, an entire UK List, European fixtures and so on. All listed matches can be defined by markets like Match Winner, BTTS or Over/Under 2.5 goals, which we found great for quickly pulling together acca bets.
The app is legible, loads up markets quickly, and the bet management on the slip is good. You won’t find any bells and whistles on the AK Bets mobile app – it’s very basic, but that helps with the ease of operation.
AK Bets Betting Markets
The sports coverage at AK Bets is solid but not spectacular. Horse racing and football are the prominent sports you will see the most of – nothing unusual there for a bookie serving the UK and Ireland.
Bringing up the A-Z, more than twenty sports were available, including some non-sporting areas of Politics and TV Specials, which weren’t well-populated. We also noticed a lack of eSports too.
More extensive bet and market variety can arguably be found at other betting sites. But if you are sticking to the basics like Moneyline, Spread and Totals on NFL betting, or Handicaps, Over/Under and Goalscorer staples for football, you should find everything you need at AK Bets.
AK Bets Live In-Play Betting
A click on the In-Play menu brings up the latest live action. The live in-play section is well-organised. We found it easy to get around as there are quick links to filter the view of fixtures by sport.
Plenty of different sports were open with live betting, from football, tennis, darts and baseball to ice hockey and snooker. The price changes of markets flash pink or blue depending on which way they are going and are easy to spot.
We found the betting variety decent for leading football matches, with good options including Next Team To Score, Team To Score Last, Correct Score to Asian Handicaps, 3-way Handicaps and Totals on Corners.
The basic operation is good, but there is nothing that enhances the live experience at all. There is no graphical representation of a game, no text commentary or in-game stats to relay what is happening on the field of the field of play.
That feels like a void in the in-play betting experience, but the upside is that the AK Bets platform is fast. If you watch a match on TV, for example, and want to dip into a live betting market quickly, you’ll be happy with the service at AK Bets.
AK Bets Casino
The AK Bets experience comes with a casino with plenty of popular features like the Money Train and Big Bass titles. The slots section is good, with titles from leading Studios such as Pragmatic Play.
Variations of slots include Drops & wins, Megaways and Progressive Jackpots. Table games are limited unless you go to the Live Casino. Variations of live Baccarat, Roulette, Blackjack and Asian Games like Teen Patti and Andar Bahar fill out the casino experience.
The AK Bets Casino includes Crash Gaming and other unique features like Snakes & Ladders and Sweet Bonanza CandyLand among their speed and game show options. There is a quick link to Casino mini-games as well for speedy access.
They do run AK’s Slots Club. When you wager £250+ on selected slots, you will get 50 Free Spins @ 0.10p, totalling £5, every week.
AK Bets Horse Racing
Horse racing coverage comes from home and abroad. That aspect is good as you can explore races from the USA and Australia, for example, alongside the UK and Irish action.
As with much of the AK Bets online betting experience, it’s only basic, no-frills racing betting on the horses and greyhounds. You cannot scour through in-depth racing insights and form, for example.
There is a price history and menu link to a Forest/Tricast on domestic racecards, but little else is going on to enhance the experience.
AK Bets Sports Betting Features
We take a closer look at three of the best sports betting features offered by AK Bets.
Phone-A-Bet
Arguably, the most prominent feature that they have going for them is the AK Bets Telebet feature. You can call one of their dedicated call lines to place a telephone bet. There is, however, a minimum £/€20 bet for using the service.
Bet Builder
A Bet Builder tool can be found on selected football matches. A click of the Build A Bet button will change the view of the current markets to the bet builder option, with the odds for the current bet displayed at the bottom of the page.
Cash-Out
Cash-out is also available in some select sports and markets but is less widespread than other bookmakers.
Customer Service
There is limited customer service available at AK Bets. In the footer area of their site, we found the Contact Us link, which displayed a link to Twitter @AKBets87 and an email link to [email protected].
An FAQ section exists, but this, too, is relatively limited in what it delivers. You can find details of
things like payments, but making it searchable would be a significant improvement.
AK Bets Payment Methods
The payment methods accepted at AK Bets are Mastercard, Visa, Maestros, Bank Transfer and Cheque. They do not accept e-wallets, which would have nicely expanded things. You can top up directly from your bet slip with your debit card if you don’t have enough in your balance to cover a stake. Only deposits in pounds sterling or euros are accepted.
AK Bets Withdrawal Methods & Timeline
Withdrawals are expected to take 2-5 working days to reach you when cash out to a debit card. As the payment methods are relatively limited and winnings must return to the funding source, it will most likely be a debit card withdrawal. A withdrawal request will be subject to a security check before AK Bets releases it. You’ll receive confirmation of a withdrawal via email.
AK Bets vs. Other Bookmakers
You can see some noticeable differences when you stack up the AK Bets experience against some of the industry’s major players, like Paddy Power and William Hill. The lack of features and tools at AK Bets is one of the significant differences.
The in-play betting misses the visual input of in-game data, while the lack of an AK Bets new customer offer is noticeable compared to the likes of BoyleSports and Bet365, who have generous ones.
But there are positives. The AK Bets platform is quick – there are no distractions from getting your simple day-to-day betting done, and their app is lightweight and user-friendly. Odds are competitive as well.
AK Bets Responsible Gambling Policy
You can set up deposit and bet limits at AK Bets as part of their responsibility to customers for a safer gaming experience. Their commitment to Responsible Gambling includes links to sites like BeGambleAware.org and GamStop.
AK Bets FAQs (frequently asked questions)
Is AK Bets & Trustworthy Legit?
Yes, they are licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission and run a secure site with encryption.
Who owns AK Bets?
Rails bookie Anthony Kaminskas is the founder of AK Bets, a brand that has existed since 2021.
Where is AK Bets based?
AK Bets is operated by Star Racing Limited, which is based in Hove, UK
How long does it take for AK Bets to pay out?
After submitting a withdrawal request, it may be pending for up to 24 hours before being released. Then, expect 2-5 days before receiving the funds.
Is there an AK Bets sign-up bonus?
At the time of this review, no AK Bets new account offer was available for us to check out.
What verification documents are required by AK Bets?
There are numerous options for documentation to verify your AK Bets account, including bank statements, driving licence and utility bills.
How secure is the AK Bets betting app?
The AK Bets betting app is secure with encryption for processing payments.