Best Betting Sites UK: Top Sports Bookmakers January 2025
UK users are spoilt for choice with betting sites as we have a plethora of incredible licensed sportsbooks. These platforms cover all major sports including English league football, tennis, boxing, MMA, and rugby, and you can place a range of different bets such as overall winners, or props bets.
But how do you know which sites are worthwhile and how can you avoid the duds? This is where we help – below, we use our extensive knowledge of the UK sports betting industry together with rigorous testing to find for you the best betting sites in the UK in 2025.
The Best Betting Sites in the UK – Our Top Picks
Below we’ve got a selection of 12 popular gambling sites for UK customers. These have been selected after a strict regime of testing and analysis on factors such as licensing, sports coverage, bet markets, deposit methods, and bonuses.
Betway UK
Betway is one of the best betting sites in the UK and is licensed by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (39372). It has a fantastic reputation and is the official partner of EPL teams West Ham, Brighton & Hove, and Arsenal. New customers can benefit from a £30 free bet on either horse racing or football with no wagering requirements.
We like the cashout feature that allows you to take diminished winnings early if you see your bet results starting to swing. Payments are also easy with a range of common methods including Visa, Apple Pay, Credit Card, and PayPal.
The sports markets covered are some of the most extensive we’ve seen and we like that they have several live sections including for football and cricket. Aside from the most popular UK sports and popular tournaments, Betway also covers things like cycling, boxing, Aussie Rules football, and handball.
Betway Features
- Live betting for popular sports.
- Cashout feature.
- Betway Boosts – odds boost feature.
- Daily horse racing cards.
What we like | What we don't like |
✔️ High-value welcome offer with no wagering requirements | ❌ The website design could be improved |
✔️ Plenty of promos for existing customers | |
✔️ It also has a casino, live casino, and esports betting |
10bet UK
New UK customers registering an account with 10bet get a 100% deposit match bonus up to £50 and there’s a range of other exciting promos for existing customers such as seasonal bonuses on events like the NBA Playoffs.
The platform is licensed by the UKGC (43173) and is owned by Water tree Ltd who are registered in Malta. We like that they promote responsible gambling and have a range of tools such as self-exclusion plus a detailed privacy policy that states how your personal data is used.
As one of the best betting sites in the United Kingdom, 10bet has a brilliant “Top Action” section that shows you sporting events that are happening today or within the next day. This means you can easily find the matches and bets you want and stay track of what’s happening in the sporting world.
10bet Features
- It also has a casino and live casino.
- Responsible gambling tools.
- Dedicated live bets section.
- Low minimum deposit & withdrawal amounts.
What we like | What we don't like |
✔️ Wide coverage of popular sports | ❌ Withdrawal processing time of 1-2 days |
✔️ Competitive odds | |
✔️ Great selection of payment methods | |
✔️ Plenty of £5 free bet offers on different sports |
Netbet UK
Netbet is one of the more established licensed betting sites and was first founded in 2001. This platform has a UKGC licence and settles any disputes via the IBAS. We like that they support multiple deposit options including Visa, PayPal, Qiwi, MasterCard, Trustly, EcoPayz, and PaySafeCard and there is also a low minimum deposit limit of just £10.
When registering a new account, you get a £10 free bet and all you have to do is create a £5 bet builder with a minimum of three selections. They also have some interesting jackpot prizes such as the £500 correct score jackpot on football games and the £1000 goal scorer jackpot.
In terms of sports coverage, Netbet has an excellent horse race betting section, covering UK & Ireland races plus a selection of global races in countries like South Korea, Australia, and South Africa. There’s also an in-play section and virtual sports gaming category if you want something different.
Netbet Features
- Regular jackpot competitions.
- Easy-to-place combi bets.
- Daily prizes via wheel of fortune.
- Acca boosts on football games.
What we like | What we don't like |
✔️ Excellent horse racing coverage | ❌ Welcome offer lower value than other platforms |
✔️ Numerous payment methods | |
✔️ Dedicated section for IPL cricket | |
✔️ Huge eSports betting section |
Bet365 UK
Bet365 is incredibly popular and one of the premier gambling sites in the UK and we love the modern design and features of this platform. It looks great and it has a stellar mobile app too that you can download on devices like iPhones and Samsung phones.
New customers can get £30 in free bets when making an initial £10 deposit and the platform always has a range of bet boosts and other offers mainly for footy and horse racing. It covers all the essential sports too including American leagues like the NBA, American Football, American Soccer, and Ice Hockey.
The platform is owned by Hillside ENC, registered in Malta, and licensed by the UKGC (55148 / 55149). Bet365 has a detailed horse race betting section too where you can track specific horses and benefit from bet boosts on many UK and Ireland races.
Bet365 Features
- Bet boosts for horse racing and football.
- Mobile app for multiple devices.
- Fantasy sports competitions.
- In-play capabilities for betting.
What we like | What we don't like |
✔️ Great coverage for football and horse racing | ❌ Less coverage for sports outside football and horse racing |
✔️ Easy to make accas and bet builders | |
✔️ Low minimum deposit of £5.00 | |
✔️ Fast withdrawals for card payments |
William Hill UK
Most UK sports fans will know the name of William Hill as for decades there was bookies in town centers around the Island but it is also one of the most successful betting sites in the UK. The brand has a fantastic reputation and has licenses from the UKGC (392525) and Gibraltar Gambling Commission (99191).
We love the range of “Epic odds” and “Enhanced Odds” promos William Hill runs on a range of sports including MMA, cricket, and football. They also often provide random free bets at the weekend ranging from £1-5.
Tennis fans will love the coverage of tournaments which extends far beyond Grand Slam events. You can place bets on all ATP and Masters matches, and they have daily enhanced odds on a variety of matches. They also have excellent coverage for English football and horse race betting.
William Hill Features
- Stack attack for statistics nerds.
- Live radio for greyhound racing coverage.
- Epic and enhanced odds on various sports.
- Mobile app for iOS and Android.
What we like | What we don't like |
✔️ Weekly free bets at weekends | ❌ The site layout can be confusing |
✔️ Brilliant in-play betting section | |
✔️ Huge array of props betting markets | |
✔️ Promotion for responsible gambling |
Hopa UK
Hopa is licensed by the UKGC and gets new customers started with a £15 free bet when you bet £10. This is one of the best betting sites for greyhound racing and offers a range of odds boosts but also has a huge football market.
We like how they have a range of responsible gambling tools and make payments easy by accepting methods like PayPal, Trustly, AstroPay, and Skrill. They also have a useful 1-click bet slip feature that makes checking your win tally easy.
Hopa Features
- In-play betting.
- The ability to add favourites.
- Bet builders.
- 24/7 customer support.
What we like | What we don't like |
✔️ Great NBA and Euro League coverage | ❌ Limited horse racing markets |
✔️ Odds boosts on various sports | |
✔️ Easy bet slip management | |
✔️ Decent welcome offer |
Parimatch UK
Parimatch is the official partner of Chelsea FC and Leicester City FC and has brilliant online betting support for popular UK sports like football, tennis, golf, cricket, boxing, and horse racing. The gold section is particularly detailed with round betting and top finish props.
This licensed platform has the brilliant lucky dip concept too where an RNG picks random odds for various events – you take the odds and can get some incredible payouts. After our review of these bookmakers, we also found they cover some less-popular markets like netball, hurling, speedway, and even UK politics!
Parimatch Features
- Lucky Dip boosted odds bets.
- Live in-play betting.
- Casino and live casino.
- Weekly £20,000 raffle.
What we like | What we don't like |
✔️ Great coverage for less-popular sports | ❌ No mobile app |
✔️ Live chat customer support | |
✔️ Parimatch blog with betting tips | |
✔️ Accas and bet builders |
Coral UK
Coral is one of the most long-standing online sports betting sites for UK customers and it is a solid choice for motorsports enthusiasts including F1, Moto GP and other disciplines. If you want to bet on your smartphone, there is a quality app available too for most popular smartphone brands.
Licensed by the UKGC (54743), this sportsbook also offers fantastic customer service with a live chat and email tickets, and there’s a fantastic new customer offer where you get a £20 free bet for just a £5 spend. Coral has perhaps the most extensive coverage of obscure sports too including shooting, water polo, wrestling, and softball.
Coral Features
- Football odds boosters.
- Coral Racing club (VIP club).
- Mobile app for popular smartphone brands.
- Regular competitions to win free bets.
What we like | What we don't like |
✔️ Widest variety of sports markets | ❌ The site design looks a little dated |
✔️ Excellent in-play coverage | |
✔️ Plenty of props and markets for individual games | |
✔️ It also has esports and virtual betting |
BoyleSports UK
Out of all the UK betting sites, BoyleSports often flies under the radar but this licensed platform has so much to offer. For the beginner, we love that it has a bet calculator that describes the different bet terms and allows you to show the outcomes of the different wagers you place. It’s also got plenty of safe gambling tools.
The sports coverage is fantastic and you can bet on anything from greyhound racing and tennis to virtual sports and snooker. There is a cash out option too on the more popular sports markets, and the range of promotions is superb. Boyle Sports offers a variety of tailored offers on specific sports, for example, at the time of writing this there is a promo where you can get boosted odds or insurance on accas.
BoyleSports Features
- Cash out on select markets.
- Accas, live bet, and bet builders.
- Mobile app for iOS and Android smartphones.
- Live chat and help centre support.
What we like | What we don't like |
✔️ Multiple promos for a variety of sports | ❌ The main sports homepage interface can be confusing |
✔️ Bet calculator for beginners | |
✔️ Fantastic safer gambling tools | |
✔️ Brilliant coverage for football matches |
BetVictor UK
BetVictor gives new players a welcome package either for football or horse betting and both give a free bet worth either £20 or £40 for a £10 spend. There is also the fantastic weekly predictor competition where you can win up to £50k by picking 5 correct football scores.
Like all the bookies in this list, BetVictor is licensed by the UKGC (39576), and players outside the UK are covered by the Gibraltar gambling licence. We also like the customer service availability via live chat or a FAQ section. To withdraw money you can use numerous payment methods too like Visa, PayPal, MasterCard, and bank transfers.
BetVictor Features
- BV Loyalty Club.
- Dedicated horse racing and football sections.
- It also has a casino and live casino.
- Bet calculator tools.
What we like | What we don't like |
✔️ Lucky dip feature with boosted odds | ❌ The text beneath betting pages feels a little spammy |
✔️ BetVictor Predictor for football predictions | ❌ Limited offers for existing customers |
✔️ Great coverage for snooker | |
✔️ Dedicated in-play section with multiple sports covered |
Ladbrokes UK
Ladbrokes like William Hill has been around in the UK for decades and started with high street bookies. The online platform has built on that reputation and has an excellent design and features. You can place bets on any sport including major competitions like the EPL, Masters Golf, Grand Slam Tennis, and American markets like the NBA and NFL.
The football coverage is brilliant too and we like how they have regular prediction competitions where you can win £100 cash prizes for picking 3 correct results. This UK Gambling Commission-licensed platform also has a cash out feature where you can take your money early and prevent a complete loss if you start to see the result swinging out of your favour.
Ladbrokes Features
- Daily wheel spin for free bets and more.
- Monthly rewards based on spending.
- Random £100 competitions for match predictions.
- Preset accas for different sports.
What we like | What we don't like |
✔️ Excellent in-play options with live stats feeds | ❌ The customer support availability could be clearer |
✔️ Three different horse race sections | |
✔️ Modern website design with easy navigation | |
✔️ Wide selection of payment methods |
Unibet UK
Unibet has been operating in some capacity since 1997 and has one of the best reputations in the industry out of all the online betting sites. It is licensed by the UKGC (45322) and the Gibraltar Gambling Commission and is audited by eCOGRA.
We like that it has a dedicated horse racing section but it also has huge coverage for Aussie Rules football, baseball, basketball, and football and you can usually expect 900+ markets for these sports at any given time. There is a superb refer a friend bonus too worth up to £150, and they have a dedicated racing welcome bonus where you get 2x £10 free bets.
Unibet Features
- Dedicated horse racing section.
- Sportsbook app for smartphones.
- Odds boost for popular sports.
- In-play bets.
- Live streaming of some matches.
What we like | What we don't like |
✔️ Huge coverage for football, cricket, boxing, and Aussie football | ❌ Limited payment method options |
✔️ Regular free bets and Uni-boosts | |
✔️ Fantastic virtual section | |
✔️ Stylish and modern design |
The Best Betting Sites by Sport
Most people have one favourite sport and we understand this. So, to make things easier, we’ve given insight into what to look for at bookmakers for specific sports and the different features we expect like in-play betting, and coverage of major tournaments.
Best Football Betting Sites
If you are a football fan then which sports betting sites you choose largely depends on the team you follow or the league you mostly watch. Regardless, platforms like Betway have brilliant coverage of all the major football leagues including the EPL, Championship, La Liga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Bundesliga and even smaller leagues like the Portuguese and Austrian pro leagues.
Aside from league coverage though, you also want coverage of all the matches plus a great range of individual bets. Betway and 10bet both do this with an interesting range of props bets such as goal scorers, corners, bet builders, and individual player accomplishments. They both also offer in-depth stats such as head-to-head figures and recent performance indicators.
Best Horse Racing Betting Sites
Bet365 sets the standard for horse racing with Netbet being a close second contender. What makes Bet3565 stand out as one of the top online sports betting sites for horse racing is the ability to track specific horses and the wide range of coupons available.
It has excellent coverage for races in the UK and Ireland but also worldwide. Netbet also does this and you can follow races in popular horse racing hotspots like South Africa and Australia. They both also offer betting options such as win and each way bets with competitive odds. For Bet365 also look out for the 6 horse challenge competitions that have prize pools of up to £25k.
Best Tennis Betting Sites
When it comes to tennis bet sites, our pick is Ladbrokes as it has a dedicated section for the sport and covers all the Grand Slam events, plus the ATP and WTA events. Aside from the coverage of all major tournaments though, Ladbrokes takes it one step further and provides match stats, and occasionally you can watch the games live. Also, they usually have 20+ markets per match including set results, total games O/U, and total games in individual sets.
Best Rugby Betting Sites
Rugby often seems to fall short with new betting sites, but BetVictor covers both Rugby League & Union. It covers all the competitions you could think of including Super Rugby, the Premiership, and of course international tournaments like the 6 Nations and World Cup. We like that you can place futures bets on the Six Nations and pick outright winners for next year’s tournament already.
Best Golf Betting Sites
Parimatch and Coral stand out as betting websites leaders for golf betting. They both feature all the tournaments aside from the Masters including competitions like the Zurich Classic, and Liv Golf Adelaide.
They both feature in-play betting for golf too and while outright bets are the most popular, you can also bet on specifics such as round bets, top finished, and top region players. We also like how Coral has some special bets such as whether Charlie Wood will win a golf major before his 30th birthday.
Best Cricket Betting Sites
If you love cricket then you will find Unibet one of the best betting companies. Its cricket market compares to its other offerings and it often has more available bets for cricket than it does NFL, golf, and boxing. English customers can place wagers on County Cricket and T20 cricket, but it also features competitions like The Ashes, and Indian Premier League. For the IPL, many of the matches have 100+ markets available including options like top run scorer, player runs, and player boundaries.
Best Boxing Betting Sites
Unibet betting UK continues to shine for boxing too and it regularly has 200+ markets available on bouts from around the world. We like how they split the sections by date and then between confirmed and unconfirmed fights so you can speculate on upcoming bouts. The more popular fights between boxers like Canelo Alvarez usually have 20+ markets too such as total rounds O/U, method of victory, and individual round bets.
Best Betting Sites for F1 & Motor Racing
Coral sportsbook has perhaps the best support for motorsports out of online bookies and when the seasons and competitions are active you can place wagers on all F1 Grand Prix races, Moto GP, and it has split sections for motorbike racing and motorcar racing. We like that you can pick from a selection of bets too including podium finished, outright winner, and best lap time, etc.
Best Betting Sites For Greyhound Racing
Hopa and Boyle Sports UK bookmakers both have excellent greyhound racing support and cover all the major races in the UK, Ireland, and Australia. Boyle Sports in particular provides excellent coverage as you can watch the races live and they give notifications when the stream is about to start.
At these platforms you can place a range of wagers including to win, top 3 finish, inside v outside, and odds vs evens. Boyle Sports offers more for Australian coverage, while Mopa often has odds boosts on certain races.
Best eSports Betting Site in UK
Online betting in the UK also extends to esports and Bet365 has a brilliant offering. You can place bets on all the popular esports games including CS2, LoL, Dota 2, Valorant, SCII, Mobile Legends, and Rocket League. The CS2 coverage is incredible and it features all major competitions like the ESL Pro League and you can watch some of the matches live.
How to Choose the Right Betting Site in the UK
When trying to find the best sports betting UK sites you should consider a range of factors including licensing, bonuses, odds, and the banking system, for example. Below, we have listed the factors we look for during our testing process.
Licensing & Safety
We only recommend the top betting sites UK that have a gambling licence from the UK Gambling Commission as this ensures you are protected from scams and unethical practices. If a sports betting site has a licence, it means it must adhere to regulations for gambling and is audited too.
UK Bookmaker Awards
Where possible we select sports betting sites in the UK that have won industry awards. This can be for innovation, UI, design, or other disciplines. Regardless, we look for real awards that show the platform's credentials, quality, and dedication to their customers.
Big Bonuses and Regular Promotions
We love a big welcome bonus of either a matched payment bonus or a chunky free bet so this is the first promotion we check out at online betting sites in the United Kingdom. After that, we delve deeper and check the promos for existing customers such as boosted odds, cashouts, deposit match bonuses, and cashback offers.
Mobile Betting Experience
All top betting sites must give a fantastic mobile experience whether that’s via a downloadable mobile program, or a responsive version of the desktop browser site. Either way, you should be able to place wagers and manage your account from your smartphone without issue.
Competitive Betting Odds
Although the variance in odds between sites is minimal, there can be a difference – even if we are talking about fractions. Therefore, we always look at odds comparisons and go with the bookmakers who offer competitive rates.
Available Payment Options & Payout Speed
You should be able to make deposits and withdrawals easily with a range of common payment options like Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, e-wallets, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Bank Transfer. Deposits should be instant and without any fees, while withdrawals should be processed no slower than 24-hours and without any fees or small cashout limits.
Range of Sports and Betting Market
The best platforms feature all the top sports betting markets including football, tennis, rugby, NBA basketball, NFL football, NHL, MLS, MLB, golf, cricket, and more. Essentially, we expect coverage of every major sport plus some of the less-popular options like handball and volleyball. All the major tournaments should be covered too like the Champions League, Grand Slam Tennis, and Masters golf tournaments.
Bet Builders
While many people like single bets, it’s always nice to have the option for bet builders too. These are multi-selection bets where you bet on 5 different EPL matches, for example. We like it when the bet builders are easy to create and you can make selections across multiple leagues and bet types.
Live Betting and Streaming
Following the matches while your place bets offers quite the thrill so we look for live in-play betting and live streaming of sporting events. This gives you extra immersion and also allows you to make on-the-fly decisions about your bets.
Usability & Design
A sportsbook could support all the sports in the world but have a rubbish site design and be terrible to use which is why we look at UI and design. Ideally, the site should look great, have a clean, modern design, and a logical navigation where all the sports are separated into clear categories.
Early Payout
Unless you are the luckiest person in the world, sometimes bets don’t go your way. When this is happening, it’s nice to know that there is an option for an early cashout. Sure, the returns can be diminished compared to your original stake, but still, having the option to recoup some of your bet is great.
Trustworthy and Industry Regulation
Not only is a gambling licence imperative, but other regulatory actions are great to look for too. For example, some sportsbooks are audited by third-party organisations like eCOGRA.
Customer Feedback
While your own experiences should be the driving factor for your online gambling, it’s wise to look at customer feedback and what other people are saying about the platforms. We look at public reviews to gain a general feel about the reputation and usability of the bookmakers and if there are any glaring issues.
Customer Support
Hopefully you never experience problems when using these platforms but if you do, knowing there is a responsive customer support team at the tip of your fingers is a big help. We only like to use bookmakers that offer 24/7 customer support (or close too), and a range of methods including live chat and email support.
Extra Features
The best sites go beyond simple betting functionality and offer extra features like helpful blogs, betting guides, and social media content. This adds to your overall gambling experience and gives you a more immersive time when using the sportsbooks.
Different Types of Online Betting Promotions and Offers
One of the main things we look for at UK sportsbooks is the promotions they offer. This includes the initial welcome bonus but also promos and free bets for existing customers. It’s essential you understand the different promo types, why they are beneficial, and how they work so we’ve picked the most popular options below:
Bonus name | Description |
---|---|
New customer welcome offers | Most bookmakers provide a welcome offer when you register an account. This could be anyone of the below promos but is usually a deposit bonus or free bets. |
Deposit bonus | The deposit bonus gives you a percentage amount of bonus funds based on how much you deposit. For example, there could be a 100% deposit bonus of up to £50. So if you deposited £20, you’d get £20 in bonus funds. These are great offers but always check wagering requirements. |
Free bets | Nice and simple – you get a set-value free bet to use on a specific sports market such as football or tennis. Many sites offer these promos and they usually range between £5-30 in value. Check bet and odds limitations and any wagering requirements on the winnings. |
No deposit bonus | This can be any type of offer but the underlying theme is you don’t have to spend anything to claim it. For example, a sportsbook might give you a £5 free bet for registering an account. |
Enhanced odds | These essentially give you a boosted payout if your bet comes in. For example, William Hill boosts odds of 10/3 to 4/1 on some events. Nice and simple and these promos usually don’t have any downsides. |
Cashback offers | Some sportsbooks provide cashback on your losses to help keep your account topped up. The percentage is usually around 10%, and the cashback is usually credited as non-withdrawable bonus funds. |
Acca insurance | Here your stake is protected if one of your acca selections fails. Usually, the stake is returned as non-withdrawable bonus cash. Pretty good offers as you can use the funds again and still make profit. |
Betting apps bonus | If the platform has a mobile app they may provide specific mobile-only promotions and these could be a combination of any of the above. |
Choose Your Betting Site by Accepted Payment Methods
To be able to gamble at the best UK bookmakers you need the right payment method. The platforms we’ve recommended above all have a robust selection of payment methods ranging from debit and credit cards to e-wallets and crypto. Below, we delve further into the most popular payment methods these sites offer.
Visa and MasterCard (Credit and Debit Cards)
The most common payment methods. Most people have either a credit card or debit card and use card systems like Visa and MasterCard. They have many upsides including quick withdrawals, no payment fees, and ease of use.
PayPal
After debit and credit cards, PayPal serves as the most popular payment option and the best e-wallet. It’s used by millions of UK customers and is renowned for its security and robust payment system. You can link multiple accounts to your PayPal account and easily shift money between different sources.
E-wallets
Other popular e-wallets include Skrill and Neteller and these offer similar functionality to PayPal. They are widely used at UK bookmakers and also benefit from easy account management and instant withdrawals where the sportsbook has the processing capacity.
Apple and Google Pay
Apple and Google Pay are becoming increasingly popular at UK bookmakers as many players are adopting these easy payment methods on their smartphones. You can link multiple accounts to the apps and it makes topping-up your account a breeze.
Bank Transfer
Bank transfer remains one of the most secure options for online sportsbooks as this payment method has additional security and insurance means compared to other methods. The downside is that for withdrawals, bank transfers can be slower for processing. However, the deposits are usually still instant or within 10 minutes.
Cryptocurrency
Crypto payment with currencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Tether are accepted at some UK sportsbooks although they aren’t as common. Crypto has the benefit of incredible security and non-repudiation of transactions and the payment processing speeds are incredibly quick.
PaySafeCard
PaySafeCard is great for online sports gambling as it allows you to control your spending and avoid dipping into your bank accounts. These are pre-paid cards with preset values of £5, £10, or £25, for example and you can buy them from local stores or online. You can then use the card to top up your sportsbook account. The downside is that they can’t be used for withdrawals.
AstroPay
AstroPay is another popular money wallet that offers secure online payments around the world. One of the best benefits is that you can use multiple currencies but you can also transfer money easily between accounts and to other AstroPay users. At the time of writing this, the services are not available for UK players though as the UK vendor makes improvements.
Trustly
Trustly partners with a range of sportsbooks and online casinos and it is quickly emerging as one of the most popular payment apps available. The security features are fantastic as you can easily activate things like 2FA and you can also setup recurring payments if you want to make a small monthly deposit to your bookmakers, for example.
How to Deposit and Withdraw Funds
Now that you know the best payment options, we can look briefly at how to deposit and withdraw funds. We’ve given a simple step-by-step process below:
- Login to your sportsbook account
- Go to your account section or banking.
- Select the deposit option.
- Choose the deposit method and enter payment details.
- Enter the deposit amount.
- Process any payment authorisation.
This is exactly the same for withdrawals but replace the word deposit with withdrawal! Please note that for some sportsbooks, the exact location of the deposit and withdrawal options may be different.
Award-Winning UK Betting Sites
Within the iGaming and sports betting industries, events are often held annually where awards are given. It’s important to recognise these awards as they point towards the quality of the sportsbooks and show those who consistently achieve above average. The following are some awards from 2023:
- Global Gaming Awards – Bet365 – Online Sports Betting Operator of the Year
- SBC Awards – Bet365 – Sportsbook Operator of the Year
- SBC Awards – Bet365 – Esports Operator of the Year
Responsible Gambling Online
The sports betting sites we’ve listed above all have excellent responsible gambling tools to help control your spending and make sure your prioritise fun. However, we want to go one step further and provide some additional advice:
- Be disciplined: Discipline is the key with responsible gambling. You have to be self-aware of what you are doing, how much you are depositing, and how much time you are spending on sports betting platforms.
- Set limits: To manage your funds, set limits. Deposit limits per week or month, and maximum bet limits. By doing this, you can make sure you don’t spend more than you can afford, and that you never empty your account on one wager.
- Use gambling tools if necessary: Platforms offer the means to help control your gambling including self-exclusion, timeouts, and resources to check on your gambling health. Use them!
- Don’t fall into the loss spiral: The loss spiral is where you go on a losing streak and continue to bet to try and recoup your losses. Don’t do this. Your judgement usually becomes clouded, you make poor decisions, and it’s a sure-fire way to empty your account.
Regulation & Licensing of Bookmakers in the UK
The UK has some of the most stringent gambling legislation but at the same time it isn’t restrictive. The laws ensure we, the customer, are protected, but can still enjoy an immersive gambling experience which is shown via the quality of UK betting sites.
The primary means of control and compliance is licensing which is overseen by the UK Gambling Commission. This body is responsible for issuing licensing to not only sportsbooks, but also third-party auditors and organisations responsible for security and complaints like the IBAS and GamCare.
Why We Only Recommend Betting Sites UKGC Licensing
The UKGC is one of the most respected regulatory bodies in the sports betting industry which is why we only recommend bookmakers who have obtained a licence from it.
They have a strict range of compliances that sportsbooks must adhere to and have set a high standard for sports betting in the UK. You only have to look at the quality of UKGC-licensed sportsbooks compared to platforms around the world to see the difference.
How Does the UK Gambling Commission Regulate the Bookmakers?
We've talked a lot about the UKGC, but what do they actually do and how do they ensure that bookmakers are compliant with the law? Firstly, the UKGC is responsible for licensing and gambling in the UK and they have various legal capabilities.
Second, they are active in ensuring that licensed bookmakers comply with the terms of their licence and adhere to UK gambling laws. They also impose mandates and make sure platforms comply with things like showing odds, clear T&Cs, and the availability of responsible gambling tools. Essentially, the UKGC is a constant force that applies pressure on bookmakers and ensures they are operating ethically.
General Terms and Conditions for Bookmaker Offers
We’ve touched on promotions earlier, but we want to make you aware that they usually have a range of T&Cs to consider. It’s important you read the T&Cs of any promo fully so you don’t void the promotion and we’ve listed the most common terms below:
- Age limitations: All sportsbook promos have a minimum age limit which complies with the legal gambling age in the UK which is 18+.
- Account limitations: Most promotions are limited to once per user, unique account, IP address, or even once per household (depending on the offer type as some are recurring offers).
- Expiry periods: Bonuses don’t last forever. Usually there is an expiry period. This could be a set timeframe you have to use deposit bonus funds, or a set period you have to use your free bet.
- Wagering requirements: Some offers have wagering requirements which means you have to spend a set amount before withdrawing winnings or the bonus funds. For example, a deposit match bonus might have a 5x wagering requirement on the bonus funds. This means if you got £10 in bonus funds, you’d have to spend £50 before withdrawing thar £10.
- Odds limits: Oftentimes promos like free bets have minimum odds limits. For example, usually you can’t place free bets on 50/50 odds bets or better.
- Sport/League/Match limits: Usually, promos like free bets and bet odds apply to specific sports, matches, or leagues and you can’t simply use them on whatever match you want.
FAQs
Is sports betting legal in the UK?
Yes! Providing you are of legal gambling age and are a UK resident you can place bets online at UK sportsbooks.
Why online sports betting is superior to offline betting?
Online sports betting gives better accessibility, is available 24/7, and can be done from the comfort of your home.
How do online bookmakers calculate odds?
Online bookmakers have vast databases of information and teams of analysts to create accurate odds.
Is online gambling a skill or a matter of luck?
Both. The skill is in analysing matchups and statistics to make more informed decisions, the luck is that any team or player could have a random amazing or horrific performance on any given day!
What if I get banned from an online sports betting site?
You should first contact the customer support to check why you have been banned and try and get it overturned. If no luck, check out our other recommended UK sportsbooks.
Can I bet with a credit card?
Yes! Virtually all top UK sportsbooks accept credit cards and debit cards as a valid payment method.
Which betting sites accept PayPal?
Most of the top bookmakers like Bet365, Betway, Ladbrokes, BetVictor, and William Hill accept PayPal for deposits and withdrawals.
How do I place a bet online?
First, register an account with your chosen bookies. Second, login to your account and navigate to the sport and match you wish to bet on. Then, select the bet you wish to place and enter an amount in GBP – the bet is then added to your bet slip.
How many online betting sites are there in the UK?
Hundreds! But not all are worthwhile. This is why we use our experience and testing to bring you a list of the top UK sportsbooks.
Which betting sites give free bets?
Sites like Betway provide free bets as welcome offers for new customers and oftentimes these have no wagering requirements.
Final Words
We hope you now have a better understanding of sports betting in the UK and the amazing bookmakers you can use. With our years of experience and knowledge, and rigorous testing regime, you can rely on our review and recommendations and get the best online betting experience possible.