How to Get Better Odds Using Foreign Bookmakers

Why Irish bettors consistently find better prices abroad — and how to take advantage of it systematically.

Odds comparison chart showing foreign bookmakers vs Irish sites

One of the most practical reasons Irish bettors use foreign bookmakers is consistently better odds. Domestic sites in Ireland carry higher overrounds — the built-in margin that determines how much profit a bookmaker makes per market. Foreign bookmakers licensed in Malta or other EU jurisdictions operate in a more competitive environment and frequently offer meaningfully better prices, particularly on football, horse racing, and GAA markets. This guide explains how to find and use those prices in 2026.

Understanding Odds Margins

Every bookmaker builds a margin into their odds — this is how they profit regardless of the outcome. A market where the true probability of all outcomes sums to 100% would be a "fair" market. In practice, bookmakers set odds so that the implied probabilities sum to more than 100%. The excess is the overround, and it represents the house's edge.

Irish-licensed bookmakers tend to operate with overrounds of 6–12% on standard football markets. Many foreign bookmakers, particularly MGA-licensed operators competing in the pan-European market, operate closer to 3–5% on the same markets. On a €100 bet at even money (2.0), that difference does not look dramatic. Across a year of regular betting, it represents a substantial portion of your total stake returned to you in value.

Note for Irish players: The overround is not always obvious from the odds alone. A quick check is to convert odds to implied probabilities and add them up. If the total exceeds 105%, you are dealing with a high-margin book. Foreign sites regularly show totals of 102–103% on the same event.

How to Find Better Prices

Finding better prices is a matter of method. The most effective approach combines maintaining accounts at multiple foreign bookmakers and using odds comparison tools to identify the best available price before placing each bet.

Comparison tools such as OddsPortal and Oddschecker aggregate prices from multiple bookmakers in real time. They allow you to see at a glance which site is offering the best price on a given selection. Both tools cover major Irish betting markets including the GAA, Premier League, and horse racing.

Line shopping — the practice of checking multiple bookmakers before placing — is standard practice among professional and semi-professional bettors worldwide. It requires having verified accounts at two or three bookmakers, which takes a small amount of setup time but pays dividends continuously.

Timing matters. For football, early odds posted three to five days before the match are often more generous, before the sharp money (from professional bettors and syndicates) pushes lines to a more efficient price. For horse racing, early morning prices on the day of racing can offer value before the market tightens. GAA outrights are generally best backed at the start of the season.

Example: An Irish player wants to back Ireland to beat England in the Six Nations. Their Irish-licensed bookmaker offers 2.50. Checking a foreign bookmaker, they find the same selection at 2.75. On a €50 stake, that is an extra €12.50 in potential returns — for thirty seconds of price comparison.

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Strategic Use of Foreign Sites

Beyond the individual bet, using foreign bookmakers strategically involves understanding which sports and market types offer the greatest advantage — and avoiding situations where the extra effort does not yield meaningful gain.

Best sports for foreign odds advantage:

  • Horse racing — Foreign sites frequently price races differently from domestic Irish bookmakers. Best Odds Guaranteed promotions (available on some foreign sites) can add additional value on Irish and British racing.
  • GAA outrights — County championship and All-Ireland outright markets are often sharper on domestic sites that focus on them, but some foreign bookmakers offer more generous early-season prices due to lower liquidity.
  • Football (Champions League, Premier League) — The most liquid markets globally, and foreign sites compete aggressively on these. Differences of 5–10% better odds are common on major match outcomes.
  • Asian handicap markets — These are typically only available on foreign sites. They carry a lower overround than traditional 1X2 markets, often as low as 1–2%, making them excellent value for football bettors who understand the format.

Avoiding short-price traps: At very short prices (under 1.5), the absolute difference in margin is smaller. The percentage gain from shopping around is proportionally similar, but the arithmetic gain per bet is modest. Focus your comparison effort on prices in the 1.8–4.0 range where both the percentage and absolute gain are more meaningful.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much better are odds at foreign bookmakers compared to Irish-licensed sites?

The margin difference varies by sport and market. On average, foreign bookmakers operating with a lower overround offer 5–15% better value on popular football markets. On niche markets like GAA outrights or specific racing prices, the difference can be considerably larger. Over hundreds of bets, this compounds into a significant financial difference.

Is it worth using multiple bookmakers?

Yes — accessing multiple foreign bookmakers and always taking the best available price is one of the most effective ways to improve long-term returns. Each bookmaker has different strengths: some are sharper on football, others on horse racing or GAA. Using two or three accounts and comparing before placing is standard practice for serious bettors.

When are odds best — early or close to the event?

For football and major events, early odds (posted days or weeks out) often offer the best value before sharp money moves the line. For horse racing, markets can be volatile — value can emerge in the final hour before post time. GAA outrights are generally best backed early in the season before public attention inflates prices.

Which sports have the biggest odds advantage on foreign sites?

Horse racing, football (both pre-match and in-play), and GAA outrights tend to show the greatest discrepancy between domestic and foreign bookmaker prices. Foreign sites also offer more exotic markets (Asian handicaps, player props) that simply are not available on Irish-licensed platforms.