The UK is a notoriously football-mad nation, and one of the most unique things about this obsession is its strength in depth. Far from the glitz and glamour of the Premier League, loyal fans still turn out in force to enjoy matchups each and every week throughout the entire football pyramid. Nowhere is this better shown than with the National League, which – after over four decades – is still going strong.
In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about betting on the National League. We’ll tell you the best sites on which to do so, explain the top markets you can bet on, let you know about the tastiest betting offers, and plenty more besides.
Top 10 National League Betting Sites
- All
Bet £10, Get £30 In Free Bets
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- Great all-round bookie for National League betting
- Generous welcome offer and ongoing promotions
- Handy ‘Schedule’ helps with in-play betting
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- Great bookie for football betting
- Fantastic ongoing promotions
- Plenty of acca betting options
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- Brilliant 2 Goals Ahead Early Payout offer
- 20+ betting offers for all customers
- Great live streaming options and mobile app
Free Bet Up to £25
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- Acca Bonus for football
- 30+ different sports are covered
- Highly competitive football odds
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- Get a free bet every single week
- Very good selection of betting offers
- Impressive track record
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- Brilliantly-designed mobile app
- Innovative social features
- Market-driven prices
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- Pools-betting specialists
- Cash out available
- Get creative, with the Create a Bet feature
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- Top option for football spread betting
- Excellent prices on football
- No minimum deposit requirement
50% First Deposit Bonus Up To £50
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- Unique football offers put on weekly
- Get regular free bets
- Daily enhanced odds deals
Explore Our Football Betting Sites
Top 10 List of the Best National League Betting Sites in the UK 2024
- 888sport – Our #1 National League betting site
- Betfred – Outstanding reputation in the industry
- Bet365 – Brilliant all-round sportsbook
- QuinnBet – Enjoy fantastic special offers
- BoyleSports – Boost or insure your National League accas
- SBK – The best mobile app around for National League betting
- FansBet – Highly-competitive National League betting odds
- The Pools – Experienced pools-betting specialist
- SpreadEx – Choose between fixed-odds and spread bets
- 10Bet – Get free bets each and every week
How We Rank National League Betting Sites
The National League might not have the prestige of the Premier League, but there are still plenty of sites out there which offer markets on it. We’ve sorted through all these to bring you our top 10 list, with these being five of the most important criteria we used.
- Market Selection. Needless to say, the first thing we checked with all our recommended brands was that they did indeed provide National League markets. With that confirmed though, we moved on to the actual quality of those markets, regarding both breadth and depth. In the former case, we wanted to be sure that all National League matchups were covered, rather than just the big ones or the playoffs. In the latter case, we analysed the variety of bet types being provided, and ensured they extended beyond mere Match Result markets.
- Odds Quality. The sheer quality of the prices a bookie offers simply can’t be overlooked. After all, you can make as many smart picks as you like as a bettor, but if you’re being given poor odds then your potential earnings will always be limited. That doesn’t need to be a concern with our 10 recommended National League betting sites. The prices you’re offered by each of them will be fair, and - in some cases - you can even get these odds boosted to make them even more appealing.
- Live Betting Tools. The days of being limited to pre-match wagers are long gone. Nowadays, even after a match has gotten underway, you can still both place and cash out wagers on National League scores. Naturally, we checked that all our top bookies provided live odds for National League matchups. Not only that, but we ensured those odds were fair, and that there was a decent amount of variety in the bet types. We also prioritised brands whose live betting tools were particularly responsive, allowing you to execute both the placement and cashing out of wagers as quickly as possible.
- Special Offers. Betting promotions aren’t just there for show. Instead, they represent opportunities to get more out of your betting, either by boosting your wins or reducing your losses. It’s rare to find specific National League betting offers, but we checked the deals which did indeed encompass the competition. Specifically, we analysed the value which each offer represented, and scanned through its terms and conditions to ensure that everything was fair.
- Mobile Features. The mobile revolution had a seismic impact on the betting industry. Nowadays, bettors expect to be able to place wagers whenever and wherever they want, via either a downloadable mobile app or a mobile website. Once again, we took the time to evaluate the quality of these mobile features with each of our recommended National League betting sites. We checked not only that all the same markets and special offers had been carried over from the desktop site, but also that the app or mobile website itself was reliable, quick, and easy to use.
National League Betting Odds
The concept of ‘odds’ is so fundamental to sports betting that many punters never really stop to consider it. They don’t question how these odds are actually calculated, nor whether the prices on their preferred sportsbook are actually any good or not. To get the most out of your gambling on National League scores, we’d encourage you to buck this trend and spend a small amount of time understanding how National League betting odds work.
For starters, sheer probability is not the only factor which goes into betting odds for National League scores. In fact, there are two other major influences on prices. The first is a bookie’s competitors, with no brand wanting to have odds that are significantly higher or lower than the competition. The second is market action - in short, if a market isn’t getting enough action, its odds will be raised; if it’s getting too much action, and potentially exposing the bookie to a big loss, its odds will be lowered.
This logic is true for both outright and pre-match markets on the National League. Most major bookies follow exactly the same thinking, which is why their prices end up being so similar. Below, for example, you can see how closely some of our top recommended brands stack up when it comes to one of the biggest markets of all - National League Winner.
National League UK Odds 2023
Vanarama National League Table 2024
Most football fans would know about the National League, and would recognise the names of several teams within it. Unless you’re an actual fan of a side involved, however, you might not know how the English National League table is structured.
At the top of the English and Welsh football pyramid, you have the Premier League. Next comes the Football League (Championship, League One, and League Two), and then we have the English National League table.
The National League operates on a pyramid system, and has six different levels. At the top, we have the Vanarama National League table itself (currently the ‘Vanarama National League’). This is the only level which is national, rather than regional, and - if you win the league or the playoffs - you can be promoted into the Football League. Below that you have two competitions (the Vanarama National League North and National League South), on the third tier there are four leagues, at the fourth tier there are eight leagues, and so on.
Top National League Betting Tips
As with all forms of gambling, there’s never a guarantee that you’ll make money from your Vanarama National League betting. That being said, there are still steps you can take to improve your long-term chances, with these being five of the best examples.
Tip 1 - Have a Strategy
The worst thing you can do is go into your English National League betting blind, and simply place wagers at random. Instead, your picks should both be focused and part of a clear and well-considered strategy.
You might look for value-laden underdogs, for example, or stick only to sure-fire favourites. You might opt for in-play wagers only, and seek to capitalise on the momentum swings of National League matchups. The specifics aren’t really the key, at this stage - instead, you’re simply trying to set a framework to guide your betting picks.
Tip 2 - Do Your Research
Speaking of guiding your betting picks, this is arguably the very best way to do just that. As noted, there’s no guarantee of success in National League betting… but your chances of making smart choices will directly increase the more research you do.
There are plenty of resources out there to help you with this nowadays. Many websites and social media accounts will provide you with English National League betting picks. A more time-consuming but rewarding approach is to do the analysis yourself, by looking through statistics, form tables, and so on. Either way, the more research you do, the better-informed your wagers will be.
Tip 3 - Watch the Games
While we’re certainly advocates of stats-based pre-game research, your work shouldn’t stop there. Instead, if it’s at all possible, we’d recommend watching the National League fixtures for yourself.
There are several reasons why we believe you should do this. For starters, it simply makes everything more enjoyable. On a practical level though, it also helps you to spot live betting opportunities or the right time for a cash out, and informs your opinions - and therefore your future picks - on the players and teams you’re watching.
Tip 4 - Mix and Match
If you’re just starting off on your Vanarama National League betting journey, it’s certainly worth sticking with Match Result picks while you’re still learning the ropes. Once you’re comfortable, however, we’d definitely recommend branching out. Doing so will not only allow you to find a better mix of risk-and-reward, but also - quite simply - help to keep your betting interesting for the long haul.
In particular, we’d recommend using both pre-match and in-play picks. With the former, you’re given far more time to do your research and make your choices. With the latter, you need to react much quicker to the latest goings-on, but - if you wait for the right moment - can be offered some great odds when you finally pounce.
Tip 5 - Stay Responsible
Throughout all of your National League betting, remember that it is a hobby. Above all, it is supposed to be fun, not an obligation. As soon as you begin to feel as if you’re genuinely not enjoying the experience, be sure to take a break. If you’re still struggling, then use one of the many helpful resources which our recommended bookies have in place to help you.
Popular National League Betting Markets
You won’t find quite as many options for betting on National League results as you would further up the football pyramid, particularly when you get down into the National League North Table and its Southern counterpart. Your choices still aren’t exactly limited, however, and can be broken down into these three main categories.
Outright Markets
An outright market will cover the entirety of the National League season. This lengthier format rewards planning and research. It is also less susceptible to randomness than shorter-term wagers, but accordingly the odds tend to be lower.
The most straightforward outright bet you can place is Vanarama National League table 2024 winner, but other popular options in the National League South Table and the Northern version include To Be Promoted, To Be Relegated, and National League Top Scorers. QuinnBet, in particular, tends to offer very good odds on outright bets.
National League UK Which Teams Are At the Top?
Team-Based Wagers
Your two main alternatives to outright wagers are pre-match and in-play bets. In both cases, you should find plenty of team-based markets available, which represent arguably the most popular betting markets of all.
The classic example here is Match Result, in which you opt for the outcome of National League results (a home win, draw, or away win). There are plenty of other great options though, including Over/Under Goals, Draw No Bet, Double Chance, and so on. If you’re looking for the widest possible range of choices here, it’s hard to look past Bet365.
Player Props
Player props are also available both pre-match and in-play. As the name suggests, they involve betting not only on a specific outcome, but on a specific player too. As such, they’re typically high-risk, high-reward wagers.
These bets can also be a lot of fun, to both choose and root for. Goalscorer wagers are the most common example, whether that’s Anytime or First Goalscorer. You can also bet on other outcomes though, such as To Be Carded, with 888sport typically providing a nice little selection here.
National League Betting Offers
When used correctly, betting offers can provide a huge boost to your betting successes. This is true whether they’re big-time welcome offers which you can only claim once, or ongoing promotions which can be triggered over and over again.
As noted earlier, it’s pretty unlikely that you’ll find any specific special offers for the Vanarama League. We’re pleased to say, however, that most major offers will still be compatible with the English National League, whether they’re football-specific or more general deals. Here are three key examples of deals to look out for.
Early Payout
This is easily one of the best football-specific special offers out there. It goes without saying that - normally - you must wait for a match to conclude before claiming any winnings. Early Payout deals are game-changers in this respect, counting your wager as a winner if certain requirements are fulfilled, even if there’s time remaining on the clock.
For our money, the best Early Payout deal around at the moment belongs to Bet365. Its famous 2 Goals Ahead Early Payout offer has been around for years now, and is still worth checking out.
Acca Insurance
The accumulator is definitely one of the most popular bet types around. It is also, however, one of the more difficult ones to actually win, since it relies upon a whole range of different National League results going your way.
Acca Insurance deals help to tilt the odds back in your favour. Normally, if even one leg in your accumulator fails, then the whole bet is torpedoed. With Acca Insurance, however, you’re actually ‘insured’ so that - if one leg loses - your stake will be refunded. Betfred’s Super Acca Insurance is one of the best examples, refunding eligible accas for up to £20.
Acca Boost
One of the biggest selling points of accas is that - when they do win - they already award you sizable payouts. A good Acca Boost deal, however, can take things to another level.
This is definitely one of the most straightforward offer types around, along with being one of the best. In short, you simply put an eligible acca together, and the Acca Boost deal gives you inflated odds. In turn, if you win, you’ll also receive significantly bigger profits. BoyleSports, for example, will boost your acca by up to a mighty 100%.
National League Playoffs
Like just about every other level of the football pyramid, there are two major focuses for all teams in the Vanarama National League table. Quite simply, these are getting promoted to a higher league, and not getting relegated to a lower one.
The easiest way to get promoted in the Vanarama National League table, as you can probably guess, is to win your division. Unlike in the Championship, for example, in which the top two finishers go up, only the outright winner gains automatic National League promotion. Fail to achieve this, and - if you still managed to finish between second and seventh - you’ll enter the National League playoffs instead. That’s true for the top division, plus the National League South and North.
As in other leagues, the National League playoffs work on a knockout basis. Teams must triumph in the quarter-finals (depending on where they finished in the league), semi-finals, and National League playoff final to win the whole thing, and finally get promoted to the league above. This stage is invariably the most exciting point of the season, and can represent a thrilling conclusion to your Vanarama National League betting for the year.
National League Betting Predictions
Above, we listed the Outright Winner odds for the best-regarded teams in the Vanarama National League for the upcoming 2022-23 season. Now, it’s time to take a closer look at the sides judged most-likely to claim English National League promotion. As you can see in our earlier table, the bookies have predicted that four particular teams have a good shot here.
Wrexham
If we were predicting which National League side would get the most attention this season, Wrexham would be an absolute lock. The team’s acquisition by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney generated a huge amount of attention, but - on the field - the increased investment will have a far greater impact.
Wrexham have already made enormous strides in recent years, with their league position having improved from 19th, to 8th, to 2nd in the past three seasons. It’s no surprise, therefore, that - with another summer of investment under their belts - Wrexham have been installed as overwhelming favourites for the 2022-23 season. If you want a safe Outright Winner pick, this is your obvious choice.
Best Odds: Bet365 - 6/4
Notts County
Notts County have a huge amount of history behind them, famously being the oldest professional football club in the world. Unfortunately, the club’s recent history has been fraught with disaster, culminating in dropping out of the Football League entirely - for the first time in 157 years - in 2019.
Notts County have made the playoffs every season since falling into the Vanarama National League, but have failed to clear this final hurdle. Heading into 2022-23, they’re a safe pick to once again make the playoffs, and have a solid chance of getting promoted, but are a distant second-placed favourite for the National League title itself.
Best Odds: FansBet - 17/2
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is another highly historic club, with a track record going back over a century. Having been a fixture of Leagues One and Two throughout the early twenty-first century, they surprisingly suffered back-to-back relegations before dropping out of the Football League in 2017-18.
The fight for Chesterfield to regain their former status continues. While they’ve hardly excelled in the National League, they’ve still managed to make the playoffs in each of the past two seasons. Like Notts County, they have every chance of doing so again this season, but their title hopes are slim.
Best Odds: QuinnBet - 17/2
Solihull Moors
Solihull Moors are easily the youngest club among this foursome, having only been founded in 2007. Despite being the town’s second team, they’ve actually acquitted themselves very well in recent years.
In the past two seasons in particular, Solihull Moors have shown a remarkable improvement, going from 11th to 3rd and making the 2021-22 National League playoff final, only to lose in extra time to Grimsby Town. As such, the Moors represent both an excellent value pick to get promoted, and - if you’re looking for a long-shot - are worth consideration for Outright Winner.
Best Odds: Bet365 - 12/1
Previous National League Winners
National League betting is - of course - all about making predictions for the future National League standings. Looking to the past can actually be extremely useful though. Recent National League standings over the past few seasons can help you see whether a team or player seem to be building towards something, while investigating the odds and media coverage of eventual winners might help you spot valuable trends.
With that in mind, here are the winners, runners up, and National League top scorers from the past decade of Vanarama National League table football.
Year
Winner
Runner Up
Top Scorer
21-22
Stockport County
Wrexham
Paul Mullin
20-21
Sutton United
Torquay United
Michael Cheek
19-20
Barrow AFC
Harrogate Town
Scott Quigley
18-19
Leyton Orient
Solihull Moors
Paul McCallum
17-18
Macclesfield Town
Tranmere Rovers
Andy Cook
16-17
Lincoln City
Tranmere Rovers
Ricky Miller
15-16
Cheltenham Town
Forest Green Rovers
Pádraig Amond
14-15
Barnet FC
Bristol Rovers
John Akinde
13-14
Luton Town
Cambridge United
Lee Gregory
12-13
Mansfield Town
Kidderminster Harriers
Matt Green
National League Betting Sites and Live Streaming
We’ve noted this earlier, during our Tips section, but it bears repeating - if you can possibly watch the National League action for yourself, we’d advise doing so. This gives you a degree of information which you can’t really get anywhere else, helps you to identify live betting opportunities, and - quite simply - makes the whole experience more fun.
Obviously, the traditional way to do this is to attend the matches. If this isn’t possible or convenient though, then live streaming is the next-best option.
Ideally, this will be done via the same app or sportsbook that you use to actually place your bets, for the sake of convenience. Unfortunately though, at the time of writing it appears that your options are severely limited in this respect, with none of our recommended betting sites seeming to offer National League streaming. Instead, if you do indeed want to watch along, your only legal option in the UK is to do so via BT Sport.
Final Thoughts
If you’re already a fan of National League fixtures, then we’re pleased to say there’s never been a better time to wager on the competition. A wide range of sportsbooks cover it nowadays, and do so via betting sites and apps which tend to be of extremely high quality. If you’re not already a fan, we can highly recommend National League betting as a more traditional and grass-roots alternative to the glitz of the Premier League.
Either way, after reading this article, you now have all the information you need in order to start betting on National League fixtures. All that remains for you to do is pick one of our recommended sportsbooks, create an account, and start having fun.
