5 Best Online Sportsbooks for Betting on the 2014 Commonwealth Games

The quadrennial Commonwealth Games give sports fans the chance to place wagers on little-known games like lawn bowls and squash as well as standard offerings like rugby union. Here are the best online sportsbooks worth betting with.

The Commonwealth Games (called the British Empire Games from 1930 to 1966) have been a major institution in Britain and the former colonies since the first games were held in Hamilton, Canada in 1930. In 2010 6700 athletes from 71 countries met in New Delhi, India to represent their respective nations.

Given the popularity of the Commonwealth Games in almost all corners of the globe, it doesn’t come as a surprise that they are a major draw for sports bettors. With great events like rugby, boxing, swimming and powerlifting, there are plenty of options for placing wagers.

There is also an almost unlimited supply of online sportsbooks in the UK, Canada, Australia and elsewhere taking bets on the events. With so many options, how do you know where to put your money? Don’t worry, these trusty bookmakers have got you covered.

Betting on the Commonwealth Games with Paddy Power

This Irish startup has become arguably the world’s best sportsbetting company in just a few decades. The site offers the best odds on a wide variety of games. Looking at what Bet365 has for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, the list goes on and on.

Paddy Power’s best offering is rugby union, without a doubt. They favor New Zealand to win with odds of 8/11, followed by South Africa at 9/4, England at 13/2 and Australia at 10/1. As for hockey, Australia is the overwhelming favorite at 3/10. Consider placing a wager on England; with 10/3 odds, you could receive a big payout.

There are also a wide range of live betting options available on both fixed-online and mobile platforms, including obscure sports like hockey and netball.

The old favorite Ladbrokes

The folks at Ladbrokes have been taking wagers on the Commonwealth Games throughout, having been around since the height of the British Empire. They’ve learned a thing or two about making odds and caring for customers along the way. You place bets online as well as with your mobile device; there is a GBP 50 free bet bonus for first-time mobile users!

As for Commonwealth Games odds, men’s cycling is one of their prime offerings. Customers can place bets on both the team sprint and team pursuit events. Here’s a hint: Australia and New Zealand are favorites for the sprint. While the Kiwis are given 13/2 odds of winning in pursuit, consider placing a bet for them. Your wallet may thank you later.

Bet365 is always a top option

Since founding her company in a parking lot in 1999 Denise Coates has built one of the world’s best sportsbooks. How has she done it? Mostly by sticking to this simple formula: player-friendly odds and live betting options.

Bet365 doesn’t take wagers on every event, but it has some of the more obscure ones like squash and badminton. You can place in-play bets on each of the available events during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow from your desktop or mobile device, one of the many reasons we recommend you give Bet365 a long look.

Ask Victor for the best odds available

Victor Chandler’s BetVictor is now based in Gibraltar and has built a strong reputation with sportsbettors the world over. When it comes to the Commonwealth Games, there are ample reasons to give Victor a call.

For one thing, there is a GBP 25 free bet offer for all new customers. So if you’re dying to place a bet on England to beat South Africa in cycling during this year’s games, BetVictor will bankroll a good portion of it.

Aside from a nice bonus, the bookmaker has top odds on a variety of sporting events. You even place bets on men’s triathlon, with Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee of England given top odds to win.

Consider a betting exchange

Betfair is a bit different than most online sportsbooks. There, rather than betting against the bookmaker, you bet against another individual and the website rakes a little bit off the top. That way you know the betting itself is fair (not that isn’t at the sportsbooks listed above).

The other obvious reason to choose Betfair is that they offer more Commonwealth events than any other site. Whether your game of choice is netball, lawn bowls, athletics or judo, they’ve got you covered. It’s the perfect place to try wagering on an event you haven’t seen before.

Conclusion

The most unique thing about betting on the Commonwealth Games is that you have the opportunity to bet on little-known sports which people usually don’t wager on. While rugby, cycling and swimming are pretty mainstream, other betting events include bowls, netball and squash.

While no site seems to accept wagers on every event, look over the sites listed above and you’re certain to find the one you’re looking for.