This bookmaker was founded in 1992 by Barney O’Hare. It started out as a small retail bookmaker and, over the years, has grown into a brand with physical shops throughout Ireland and a powerful online website operating in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Its values are customer focus, teamwork, genuine service, value and transparent communication.
In this review, we will tell you what its online website is really like, whether that decades of experience is noticeable when betting from your mobile or computer and, above all, whether it is worth it.
Bar One Betting Review – UK’s Premier Sportsbook
When we entered Online Sports Betting and went to the sports section, our first impression was very good. We didn’t expect to find such variety and were surprised to see that there were no fewer than 29 different categories. We found it to be a fairly comprehensive casino.
The first thing we looked at was the most iconic sports of all time, such as football, basketball and tennis, and we also checked that there were others such as American football and golf, which for us are essential.
But the offer didn’t stop there; we found less common categories such as greyhounds, horse racing and even eSports. This showed us that the website is up to date and that they think about the different types of tastes that exist. There were also sections such as politics and entertainment, which we personally find quite fun.
Bar One Racing Football
We spent the most time in the football section. It is undoubtedly one of the best parts of the website. We saw great UEFA Champions League matches such as Real Madrid vs Benfica, Juventus vs Galatasaray and PSG vs AS Monaco.
There are special markets such as number of shots on goal by players, handicaps, winning to nil, first goalscorer… We found it much more comprehensive and entertaining than other casinos where football is sometimes basic or somewhat limited.
We also really liked the number of leagues, not just the big ones like La Liga, the Premier League, Serie A, and the Bundesliga, but competitions from practically all over the world, Europe, America, Asia, Africa, Australia… lower divisions and women’s football.
Another thing we really liked is that the matches have live animated screens. It’s not a normal scoreboard, but a representation of the pitch where you can see attacks, possession and plays in real time. We found it very useful, especially when we were betting on several matches at once. There are also live statistics, shots on goal, possession, corners, cards… updated in real time.
One thing we were disappointed with is that there is no live streaming. You can follow the match with the animation and statistics, but you can’t watch it on video from the website itself.
Bar One Racing Horse Racing
We were quite surprised by the horse racing section. As soon as we entered, we saw that it is a very comprehensive section. When we entered, we saw the featured races. We really liked it because they show the name of the horse, jockey, trainer, odds, and you can also see all the runners, so if, like us, you like to analyse everything in depth, you have all the information available at a glance.
Another thing we thought was amazing is the number of countries, not just the UK or Ireland, which would be typical, but there are also races in Chile (Valparaíso), the United States (Mahoning Valley, Tampa Bay Downs, Turfway Park…), France (Cagnes-sur-Mer), South Africa (Turffontein), Argentina (San Isidro), Australia (Wyong, Ipswich, Pakenham), Japan (Urawa, Nagoya), Panama, Italy (Pisa) and Bahrain. We were able to bet on races throughout the day due to the time difference; there is always a race live or about to start.
We also liked that there is information about the track conditions, for example fast, standard, slow/heavy, which is important to understand before betting.
Best of all, there is live streaming for many of the races, which we found to be a huge plus because we could follow the race live from the casino itself.
Bar One Racing Golf Betting
As for golf, we found it much better than we expected. It’s not just betting on the winner, but we saw lots of options within each tournament. They cover the most important leagues: the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and the LPGA Tour.
There are more markets than we usually see at other bookmakers, such as Top 5, Top 10, leader after the first round, category bets, 72-hole group bets and special tournament markets.
We tested this section by betting on The Masters and the U.S. Open, but we won’t miss The Open Championship and the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup or the Presidents Cup. We will definitely bet at this bookmaker because, unlike most, it doesn’t stick to minor tournaments, but covers the most important ones of the year.
Bar One Racing Basketball bets
The basketball section is very focused on the NBA, which is what we follow the most. To test it out, we bet on the Warriors vs Grizzlies and Cavaliers vs Bucks games, and one thing that really caught our attention was the number of markets it had, handicap (spread) or total points (over/under). In fact, one of the times we bet, we bet on the over in points, because the total was quite tight, and we thought it was a good opportunity. We liked that the odds were clear and easy to compare.
We also tried an accumulator with several games that night, something like the Hot Pot that comes ready-made, where they offer you a combination and you have to decide whether you like it or not. Compared to other casinos, we believe that basketball has more variety and better options than many other websites where the market is more basic.
In addition to the NBA, we saw other competitions such as the EuroLeague, which for us is a big plus because it is the highest level in Europe, other women’s tournaments, international qualifiers and leagues from different countries.
Bar One Racing other sports
In other sports, we decided to try a little bit of everything. We bet on handball, tennis, volleyball, table tennis, and ice hockey. In some cases, there were live animated screens, and in others, what caught our attention the most was the number of markets, so we could bet not only on the winner but also on totals, handicaps, and other more specific options.
We also tried sports we had never tried before, such as darts and snooker, because we don’t usually bet on them, but seeing so many markets and such clear information encouraged us to do so. The same thing happened with badminton, cycling and motor racing, which we found to be different options. In eSports, the odds move a lot and it’s very exciting.
Bonuses and Promotions at Geoff Banks
Welcome bonus
When we entered the bookmaker’s, the first thing we looked for was the welcome bonus. Just by registering and placing a £10 bet, we could get £50 in free bets. It wasn’t an impossible requirement; it seemed quite easy to us: register, follow a few simple steps, and that’s it.
To get it, we first had to create an account and participate in the promotion. Then, once verified, we made a minimum deposit of £10 within the deadline. The next step was to place a £10 bet. We chose a simple bet to meet the requirement without complicating things too much. When that bet ended, we received the free bets almost immediately.
The bonus included five £10 free bets: one for Bet Builder, one specifically for horse racing, one for a combination of four or more selections, one for a normal bet, and one for a live bet.
We also noticed that there were some important conditions: the bonus is only for new customers in Northern Ireland, aged 18 and over, and can only be obtained once per person, address and IP address. In addition, the bet must be placed within the first 48 hours, and the free bets must be used within 7 days, otherwise they will expire.
Other existing user offers & promotions
We saw the most promotions in horse racing and football. These are clearly the sports with the most special offers, odds enhancements and extra promotions.
The one we liked the most was Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) on horse racing. We find it the most interesting because it is a real advantage: if a better price comes up later, they automatically adjust it for you, which is better than at other casinos where you have to get the timing right to get the best odds.
The easiest to get, BOG is also quite simple because you have to place your bet before the race and it automatically kicks in if the price improves. You don’t need to take any extra steps or meet any conditions beyond betting on valid markets.
The one we found most difficult was the Draw? Get your stake back, because it is limited to certain conditions and only applies to races in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Although it is a very good promotion, it does not depend on a very common situation, so it is less frequent than others. In addition, some offers have maximum limits or specific requirements that you need to read carefully so as not to miss out.
Loyalty programme
We looked for the loyalty programme within the casino, but couldn’t find it. We looked in the promotions and bonuses sections, but didn’t see any points, levels or rewards system for regular play.
At other casinos, we are used to using loyalty programmes, and we quite like them. We find them interesting because they allow you to gradually accumulate advantages in the form of rewards, upgrades or exclusive benefits.
Registration at Bar One Racing
Registering at BAR One Betting was quite simple and quick. It can be done from a computer or mobile phone, so we had no problem completing it in a few minutes.
The registration process follows some very clear steps, which were basically as follows:
- We clicked on the Register button in the top right-hand corner.
- We entered our personal details and clicked Next.
- We chose a username, created a password and selected our preferences.
- Finally, we clicked Join Now.
Once we had submitted all our details, the site reviewed the information and verified the account. In our case, the authentication process was quite quick and we didn’t have to wait too long. After that, all that was left to do was make our first deposit to start betting.
Deposits & withdrawals
When we made our first deposit, we logged into our profile, clicked on Deposit, chose the payment method and selected the amount. It was quite quick and easy.
In our case, the money appeared in the account almost immediately, so we were able to start betting right away. If it does not appear immediately, we read that it can take up to 24 hours, but it was very quick for us.
When we made a withdrawal later on, we also found it very easy. We went to the Cashier, clicked on Withdraw, chose the method and confirmed the amount.
The available methods are debit card, PayPal, bank transfer, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Card and PayPal deposits are practically immediate, while bank transfers can take a little longer depending on the bank.
Bar One Racing Mobile App
We found the app easy to use and quite intuitive, especially if you are already familiar with the web version. We found it easy to find what we were looking for, whether it was sports, promotions or the cashier.
Something we really appreciate is that we can do everything from the app without any problems: place live bets, check odds, review transactions, and manage deposits and withdrawals.
We also liked the live betting feature, because it’s much more convenient to follow matches from your mobile. As for the design, it’s not overloaded, which makes everything easier to understand.
Customer Support and Available Languages
During our registration, we had a minor issue, nothing serious, but something that required assistance, so we decided to contact customer support to resolve it.
They have several contact channels and are quite available. They are open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.
We tried the live chat first, because it’s the fastest option, and it was the one we liked best. The response was quite quick and the agent was clear and decisive. For us, this is the best channel when you need an immediate solution.
We also saw that you can contact them by email, which is more useful if you are not in a hurry or if you need to attach information. We did not use it on this occasion, but we think it is a practical option for more formal enquiries.
In addition, they have several telephone numbers for Ireland, the United Kingdom and international calls, and there is also the option to submit a formal complaint, which they say they will acknowledge receipt of within 24 hours.
Awards and Recognitions
During our research on the company, we did not find any information about awards, but we did read references highlighting its activity and positioning within the local market. Although it is not a trophy, it gave us confidence because it shows that it is a well-known brand within the sector.
What we read made us think that it is a stable and experienced company, although we would have found it interesting to see some official recognition from the sector that would further reinforce its reputation.
Usability, design and user experience
We found the account’s usability to be really good. It is a very easy-to-use website, without complicated menus, everything is where it should be.
The design is clean and quite minimalist, which is much appreciated. It is not a cluttered website full of distracting banners. Precisely for this reason, what is really important is that the sports, betting, cashier and promotions are well located and easy to find.
The variety of sports is very good and sufficient to cover the most important ones, and we found the support service to be efficient when we tested it. In terms of payment methods, they offer a variety of functional options, although it is true that they could expand a little more to be on par with the most comprehensive bookmakers.
Responsible Gambling
We checked what responsible gaming tools they offer. In their section, they explain that they are committed to creating a safe environment and that they constantly update their policies. Among the tools we found is the deposit limit, which allows you to set a spending cap to control how much money you want to deposit. We found this to be a very useful option, especially if you want to have clear control over your budget and not overspend.
We also saw the reality check feature. This tool helps you keep track of how long you have been playing and alerts you to be aware of the length of your session.
Another option was the Timeout feature, which allows you to temporarily pause your activity. You can log into your account and speak to customer service, but you cannot deposit or place bets.
Finally, there is the self-exclusion option for those who need greater control. It can be activated for a period ranging from six months to five years, and once activated, it cannot be reversed until the period ends.
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