A significant number of football fans make betting a regular part of their weekend. Of course, football can be enjoyed without a cheeky bet or two, but at the same time, having a wager can potentially enhance an already exciting sport.
The question of whether or not to bet on or even against your own team is a bit of a thorny issue. In theory, you should know more about the club you support than the average punter, which could give you an edge. On the other hand, it is all too easy to let emotion come into play and bet with your heart, rather than your head.
Some punters even bet against the side they follow frequently, considering it a bit of a hedge. If their team loses, at least they get some financial compensation, while if the bet loses, at least they can celebrate another three points in the bag.
Right or wrong, wise or foolish, lots of Chelsea fans do indeed bet on the Blues. That includes the many loyal season ticket holders and other regular visitors to Stamford Bridge. But what are the options for those who follow the club in person and also want a bet?
Betting Demographics Mean Mobile Leads the Way
While there may be a certain old school appeal to using cash – and certainly to being paid your winnings in crisp twenties – the fact is that the vast majority of bets are now placed online. Moreover, mobile betting long ago overtook desktop as the preferred means of placing wagers through betting sites, be that through a dedicated app or simply on the mobile-optimised site of one of the big bookies.
There have been many different studies into betting demographics over the years, with ones carried out by the UK Gambling Commission, the government, bookies, betting sites and other interested parties. These look at how bets are placed, what sports and events attract the most money, who is placing the bets and even when wagers are made.
Betting demographics compiled by bettergambling.co.uk are shifting in 2025. Men still dominate at 31% participation, while women represent 11% of bettors. Age groups reveal distinct patterns: 18-24 year-olds, accounting for 20% of all bets, are motivated by social influence and mobile apps, while 25-34 year-olds, accounting for 27% of all bets, prefer in-play platforms and accumulator boosts. The Gambling Commission notes a significant surge in young adult betting, particularly during major tournaments like the Euros, highlighting a generational transformation in sports wagering.
Younger punters almost exclusively use mobiles for betting, and one of the biggest changes over the past 10 years, which is at least partly down to the growth in mobile betting, is the important role in-play betting now has. Stats from various sources suggest that somewhere between 40% and 60% of all bets are now placed live.
Kiosks Inside the Ground
There is another option, though, and that is to place a bet at one of the betting kiosks inside Stamford Bridge. Almost all grounds offer fans the chance to make a bet in person, the old-fashioned way, inside their stadium, and Chelsea are no different.
The Blues have long had such kiosks inside the Bridge with various terminals dotted around the various stands. These kiosks accept both cash and card payments and are perfect for impulsive fans who make a late decision to have a bet. They are especially useful for occasional bettors who may not have access to online betting sites as easily as more frequent football betting fans. The odds are not necessarily as good as you might find shopping around online. Equally, should you call things right and land a winner, getting hold of your winnings is not quite as easy as it would be if you used a regular betting shop or site.
You can normally get your winnings in cash from a kiosk, but not until a future game. Otherwise, you have to apply for a BACS transfer online or, if you really want to do things the old-fashioned way, you can post your betting coupon off to the late payments department!
Out with the Old and in with the New
Betting was once, albeit some time ago, seen as the preserve of older men. The image of a smoky betting shop, men watching horses and dogs race, and the only women on site being behind the counter, is now very outdated.
Mobile technology has played a huge part in that, while so too has the fact that betting sites have expanded their offering. You can now bet on just about everything from snow at Christmas to who will score the next touchdown in a game of college American football. You can wager on who will win an Oscar, who will triumph on Strictly Come Dancing, or what the score will be in a women’s game of football in Australia.
Equally, online betting is no longer just about “sports” betting, even if that category now includes all the diverse options mentioned above. Traditional bookmakers now also offer mobile betting on casino games, bingo, poker, instant wins and more. All of this has helped broaden its appeal and helped the industry attract more younger customers and more female ones.
When it comes to backing the Blues, these old and new worlds collide, with so many options available. You could use a kiosk inside the ground to bet on your favourite player to score the goal and then have a quick game of roulette on your phone while you wait for kick-off!