The second tier of the English Football League is known as The Championship. Featuring 24 clubs, teams battle it out in the hope of achieving promotion to the Premier League. The English Championship is known for its competitiveness, excitement and quality. Given its popularity, it should come as no surprise that Championship matches are bet on by millions throughout the season.
On this page, we will explain exactly how English Championship betting works. This includes available markets, odds and promotions. So, whether you are looking to back Burnley to end the campaign as champions or Watford to beat QPR in the London derby, we have everything covered.
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Explore Our Football Betting Sites
Top 10 List of the Best English Championship Betting Sites in the UK 2024
- JeffBet -All English Championship fixtures covered
- BetUK – Pre-match, live and outright English League Championship markets
- Betfred – Leading English Championship betting odds
- QuinnBet – Range of football promotions
- BoyleSports – Complete English Championship results page
- Bet365 – English League Championship live streaming
- 2kBet – One of the best new English Championship betting sites
- VBet – Regular free bets on offer
- Parimatch – Football bet builder feature
- SpreadEx – Top bookie for Championship spread betting
How We Rank English Championship Betting Sites
There are almost endless betting sites offering Championship markets in the UK today. However, not all are worth signing up on. So, when ranking betting sites, we take a number of factors into consideration. Our recommended bookies all score highly in the following areas:
- Number of Markets – In many cases, Championship football matches come with 250+ betting markets. We will discuss the different markets available to punters later on. However, it is a must that punters can bet on far more than just the match result. This is certainly the case at Betfred, with total goals, first goalscorer and total corners markets being found.
- Odds – Ultimately, it is the odds offered by bookies that will determine how much you make from a winning bet. It is easy to see which bookies perform the best in this area. Meanwhile, many offer price boosts in order to make betting on the league even more appealing. JeffBet offers some of the best Championship betting odds on the web.
- Bonuses & Promotions – Whether it be a welcome bonus, early payout offer or acca insurance, there are a number of promotions that will come in handy when betting on The Championship. However, it is often the terms and conditions which separate the best offers from the rest. QuinnBet is known for its wide range of promotions, including football free bets.
- Live Streaming – The ability to watch Championship matches live through your bookie cannot be played down. Whether it be to track the progress of a pre-match pick or take advantage of in-play markets, Championship live streaming is exciting and useful. Bet365 offers regular coverage, with a funded account being needed to access streams.
- Other Features – Cashing out bets, customising a wager using a bet builder or communicating with agents via live chat are among the actions modern football fans enjoy. However, not all betting sites come with such features. Parimatch offers all of the above, making it an excellent option for fans of Championship football.
- Payment Methods – Before placing a bet on The Championship, punters must first deposit funds to their sportsbook account. This can be achieved using a variety of payment methods. These include Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, PayPal and even Bitcoin. Ensure that a convenient, secure and quick option is available before registering with a potential bookie. Betfred processes quick deposits and withdrawals via a number of debit cards and e-wallets.
English Championship Tables
The Championship is made up of 24 clubs, with the table looking different from one week
to the next. Even when the league leader is facing the team at the bottom of the standings, there are no guarantees. However, it is still worth keeping an eye on the table when considering who to back. Consider league position, recent form and head to head records.
Over the years, the likes of Norwich City, Fulham and Bournemouth have jumped between the Premier League and Championship. The table below shows The Championship winners, runners-up and top goalscorers over the last decade:
Year
Winner
Runner-Up
Top Goalscorer
2012/13
Cardiff City
Hull City
Glenn Murray
2013/14
Leicester City
Burnley
Ross McCormack
2014/15
AFC Bournemouth
Watford
Daryl Murphy
2015/16
Burnley
Middlesbrough
Andre Gray
2016/17
Newcastle United
Brighton & Hove Albion
Chris Wood
2017/18
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Cardiff City
Matej Vydra
2018/19
Norwich City
Sheffield United
Teemu Pukki
2019/20
Leeds United
West Bromwich Albion
Aleksandar Mitrović
2020/21
Norwich City
Watford
Ivan Toney
2021/22
Fulham
AFC Bournemouth
Aleksandar Mitrović
English Championship Betting Predictions
The Championship is one of the most difficult football leagues to make accurate predictions on. However, ahead of the 2022/23 season, there are some teams that are expected to challenge for the top league positions. Below, we take a look at some of the teams to look out for in the Championship over the coming months:
Norwich City
Despite having been relegated from the Premier League last season, after collecting just 22 points, Norwich are once again among the favourites for promotion to the top-flight. With Dean Smith in charge, the Canaries seemingly have everything in place to do just that. Experienced striker Teemu Pukki is certain to score goals at this level, while youngsters Max Aarons and Kieran Dowell will be hoping to further enhance their reputations too.
Burnley
With former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany as manager, Burnley will also be hoping to bounce straight back to the Premier League. The Clarets have kept hold of the majority of their best players, including Dwight McNeil, Josh Brownhill and Ashley Barnes. Burnley finished the 2013/14 Championship season as runners-up, which fans at Turf Moor would certainly take this time around.
Watford
Watford were also relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season. Rob Edwards has since taken over from Roy Hodgson as manager. The likes of Joao Pedro, Ismaila Sarr and Emmanuel Dennis in attack, The Hornets are unlikely to be short of goals.
Middlesbrough
After narrowly missing out on a place in the Championship Playoffs last season, many are expecting Middlesbrough to be a threat this time around. With Chris Wilder in charge, Boro’s squad is dominated by English players. The signs are good, with Boro having beaten French giants Marseille in pre-season.
English Championship Betting Odds
When calculating odds on The Championship, bookies will take a number of factors into account. League position, recent form, head to head records, injuries and suspensions are among the most common.
Punters will want to know that they are taking advantage of the best prices. To provide a better understanding of where the best odds lie, the table below compares the odds on the Championship winner for the upcoming season:
2023 English Championship Winner Odds
Top English Championship Betting Tips
Given the competitiveness of the league, betting on The Championship is not easy. However, there are some steps that can be taken to help you along the way. Below are our expert tips for betting on The Championship:
- Bet With Your Head – If you have been following English football for some time, it is likely that you have teams that you like more than others. However, it is important to bet with your heart, rather than your head. Emotion can quickly take over when it comes to football.
2. Look at the Stats – A large amount of statistics and news articles are available surrounding Championship teams. As a result, there is no excuse to skip this step! Look at the number of goals scored and conceded, as well as injury news, suspensions and head to head records.
3. Track Live Odds – Better value can often be found when monitoring in-play markets. If you have a good knowledge of the league, you will know which teams often score late goals and which are known for flying out of the blocks.
4. Watch Matches – There is no substitute to actually watching matches live. Whether it is simply for the excitement of watching your pick or to aid a potential live bet, live streaming is always worth utilising.
5. Set a Budget – Regardless of your betting strategy, it is vital that punters set themselves a budget. This should be based on your disposable income. Never go above your budget, no matter how appealing the odds are.
English Championship Results and Live Betting
Live football betting is hugely popular today. In-play markets surrounding Championship matches are available on each of our recommended betting sites. This means that bets can be placed after kick-off, right up until the full-time whistle is blown. Odds fluctuate based on what is taking place on the pitch.
Examples of live markets available on Championship football include betting on the next team to score, match result, total match goals and next goalscorer. If it is live Championship markets you are looking for, we recommend the following bookies:
English Championship Results
If you have placed a bet on a Championship, you will want to find out what the result was as soon as the game is over. Many of our recommended bookies have dedicated “Results” pages, perfect for this task. Meanwhile, there are a number of sports websites out there covering Championship football. Scores are updated as goals go in, with results from weeks and months gone by being easily accessible.
English Championship Betting Offers
English Championship betting is made all the more appealing by bookmaker promotions. Some offers are specific to the Championship. Meanwhile, others will be more generic to the beautiful game. Coming from our top ranked Championship bookies, the following promos are worth taking advantage of:
JeffBet Football Cashback – Deposit £10+ using the promo code “EURO” and place football bets. Players at JeffBet will receive 10% of their deposit losses back, up to a maximum of £500!
Bet365 2 Goals Ahead Early Payout – Receive earnings early on your single bets in the event of your Championship pick going 2 goals ahead. Applies to pre-match bets only.
Betfred Double Delight & Hat Trick Heaven – Punters placing pre-match single bets on first goalscorer markets will receive payouts at double the odds if the player in question scores a double. Meanwhile, triple the winnings will be delivered should said player score a hat-trick.
Popular English Championship Betting Markets
The Championship is on par with the Premier League in terms of the number of markets available to punters. Pre-match, live and outright markets are available, with the following being the most popular:
1×2
As you would perhaps expect, the most common bet type is to simply wager on the result of an individual match from The Championship. Home win, draw and away win are the three options available. For example, Huddersfield Town to beat Bristol City. Only the score at full time will determine whether your bet wins or loses. JeffBet covers all Championship matches, with the bookie’s 1×2 odds being among the best around.
First Goalscorer
As with other football leagues and tournaments, betting on the player that will open the scoring in a Championship match is very popular. Whether you wish to back Teemu Pukki to score first for Norwich or Craig Cathcart to open the scoring for Watford, odds are available on each player. Of course, in-form strikers will come with a shorter price than a centre-back who rarely finds the back of the net. BetUK is our no.1 pick for the first goalscorer market.
Correct Score
English Championship results are often difficult to call. However, rather than simply betting on the match result, some punters go a step further by wagering on the exact score come the full-time whistle. Whether it be 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 or 5-0, odds will vary, depending on the likelihood. Bet365 offers the correct score market on all English Championship fixtures.
Total Goals
Whether it be the exact number of over/under a specific figure, the amount of goals scored during a Championship match can also be bet on. Those with an expert knowledge of the league may wish to bet on 3 goals being scored during the 90 minutes. Alternatively, bet on over 2.5 goals. Befred offers both options to its customers.
Draw No Bet
Here, punters are eliminating the draw outcome. If your bet loses because the match ends in a draw, your stake will be refunded. However, if your pick wins, earnings will be paid out as normal. Draw no bet is a market that is available on many English Championship betting sites today, including BoyleSports.
Both Teams to Score
The clue is in the name with this one! Here, punters are simply betting “Yes” or “No” on the possibility of both teams scoring during the match. Its simplicity is hugely appealing, with 2KBet being the standout bookie here.
Double Chance
With double chance markets, there are three possible outcomes to bet on. Let’s take a clash between Birmingham City and Luton Town as an example. Here, bets can be placed on Birmingham-Luton, Birmingham-Draw or Luton- Draw. Such bets give punters a level of insurance that is very attractive. VBet offers double chance on all English Championship fixtures.
Championship Winner
Betting on which team will win the English League Championship title is popular both before and during the season. Many will place outright bets on their favourite team before a ball has been kicked in anger. Those looking to back Rotherham United to come out on top in the 22/23 season can take advantage of odds of 200/1 at Parimatch. However, the likes of Norwich City, Watford and West Brom are more fancied.
Favorites to Finish Top in The English Championship
Top Goalscorer
Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrović scored a record 43 Championship goals last season, meaning that he comfortably won the league’s top goalscorer award. Things are normally closer to call than this, with Ivan Toney, Teemu Pukki and Chris Wood having come out on top over recent years. This popular outright market is found at SpreadEx and other bookies.
Team to Be Relegated
As well as betting on the Championship title winner, punters can also gamble on which teams will be relegated to League One. Rotherham, Reading, Blackpool and Wigan Athletic are among the prime candidates this season. QuinnBet offers excellent odds on this outright market.
English Championship Odds Table: Teams to Get Relegated
English Championship Playoffs
The Championship season concludes with the Playoffs. Involving the teams finishing third to sixth in the standings, the Playoffs ultimately determine the final club to be promoted to the Premier League. The mini-competition is made up of two semi-finals, held over two legs. The team finishing third will take on the sixth-place finisher. Meanwhile, 4th will take on 5th on the other side of the draw.
Semi-final winners will progress to the Championship Playoff Final, held at Wembley Stadium in a one-off match. Known as the most valuable match in football, the Playoff Final was won by Nottingham Forest in 2022. As soon as the teams involved in the Playoffs are known, punters are able to place bets on the outcome.
Punters can bet on each Playoff match, as well as outright bets on which team will achieve promotion. Meanwhile, before and during the season, bets can be placed on which teams will reach the Playoffs. Perhaps surprisingly, the team finishing in 3rd place in the Championship table often struggles come the Playoffs.
Final Thoughts on English Championship Betting Sites
Packed full of international players and top-class managers, the Championship is regarded by many as the most competitive league in Europe. Bets on The Championship can now be placed on many different sites. Punters in the UK can also take advantage of promotions, live streaming, bet builders and other features. So, regardless of which team you are supporting, be sure to check out our top ranked bookies today.
