The Best & New Betting Sites in the UK – December 2024
We have compiled a list of the UK’s top bookmakers to help you improve your betting experience. We signed up for each bookmaker in the UK. We thoroughly tested their features, offers, and user experience to ensure our recommendations are reliable and comprehensive, guiding you to make informed choices.
New Customers Only. Sign up to easyBet with Bonus Code: EB20. Bet and settle £20 on at least two events at odds of 2.0 or more. Qualified users will get 4 x £5 free bets on markets listed on promotional page only. Exclusions apply. 18+ only. T&Cs apply. New cust only. 3 days to claim & 7 days to place a qualifying bet to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 Horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 Football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply. 18+ New Customers Only. Opt in and bet min £5 (max £40) on Sports (odds 1/1+) within 3 days of registration. No cash out. Get your initial stake in Sports Free Bets, which expire in 7 days. Scroll down for T&Cs. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly Full Terms and Conditions Apply | Subject to a £10 minimum deposit | Receive £5 Single bet credit, £5 Multi-bet credit, 5 x £2 Fantasy Tickets | New Customers Only NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. FIRST SINGLE & E/W BET ONLY. ODDS OF 1/1 OR GREATER. 4 X £10 BET TOKENS. FREE BET STAKES NOT INCLUDED IN RETURNS. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. FREE BETS EXPIRE AFTER 30 DAYS. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&CS APPLY. 18+. GAMBLEAWARE.ORG #AD 18+ New UK Customers Only. Sign Up using the Promo Code b20g10 and make a min deposit of £20. Then place a min £20 bet with min odds of Evens (2.00) and get a £10 free bet upon bet settlement. Free bet expires 7 days from date and time of issue. Cashed Out or void bets do not qualify for this promotion. Build a bets do not qualify, If your first bet fails to qualify, then you will not receive the free bet. Full T&Cs apply. #AD 18+ New customers only. 50% Money back, if your first bet loses, as a free bet. Use code psb50. Max award £25 free bet. Min award £5 free bet. Min stake £10 required, min odds 2.0. 1st bet settlement must be within 7 days of account registration. Winning first cash bets do not qualify. Free bets credited by 12pm the day after bet settlement.- Free Bet credits have a 7-day expiry from date of issue. GambleAware.org. Full T&Cs apply. 18+. New customers only. £10 minimum deposit required. Your £30 in free bets will be bonus funds. Minimum bet £1. 3x wagering requirements. Bonus expiry 30 days. Payment method, withdrawal, player, time, restrictions apply. Terms apply. GambleAware.org 18+ Only. Terms and Conditions Apply. GambleAware.org Essential terms: £50 max bet. Singles only. Available from 11am on 29/11/2024. Prices subject to fluctuation. Available while stocks last. Visit starsports.bet for full T&Cs. If your first bet is a Treble or Up on Any Sport (minimum 3 selections) AK Bets will boost the profit gained on that initial bet by 25% in the form of a Free Bet up to a value of £100. Applies to new customers who sign up to AK BETS with the promo code AKACCA100. 18+ GambleAware.org. 18+. New customers only. Min wagering on sport £15. Max one £10 free bet. Qualifying bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater. Paid as bonus token with min 4/5 odds req. PayPal, Neteller, Paysafe or Skrill not eligible. Bet expires after 14 days of being credited. Gambling can be addictive. Please play responsibly, www.begmbleaware.org. T&C’s apply. New Terms #AD 18+ This offer is for new customers only and is available once per household. Max. Free Bet Token amount: £15, Min Deposit: £10.Min wagering on Sport to activate the Free Bet Token: £10. In return for qualifying, eligible players will receive 1 x £15 Free Bet Token.Void/cancelled or Cashed Out bets do not count towards wagering to activate the Free Bet Token. Customers who deposit using PayPal, Neteller, Paysafe, Skrill or Skrill 1-Tap will not be eligible for any Free Bet Token offer. Full T&Cs apply. If your account has Sportsbook losses at the end of your first day’s betting, QuinnBet will refund 50% of your losses as a Free Bet up to £35 (min 3 bets) Plus 10 Free online casino spins at QuinnCasino. Even if your account is up, you’re guaranteed a £5 Free Bet Plus 10 Free Spins provided you place at least 1 bet of £10 or greater at the minimum odds. T&Cs apply | 18+ New UK Customers Only | GambleAware.org | Gamble Responsibly New customers only. Min £10 deposit and bet on odds 1/1 or greater. Deposits via PayPal, Neteller, Paysafe, Skrill or Skrill 1-Tap will not be eligible for any free bet offer. Extra bet and bonus spins issued within 24 hours of qualifying bet being settled. Extra bet valid for 14 days, stake not returned. Bonus spins valid for 24 hours, selected games only. 18+ T&Cs apply. New customers only. Min £10 deposit and bet on odds 1/1 or greater. Deposits via PayPal, Neteller, Paysafe, Skrill or Skrill 1-Tap will not be eligible for any free bet offer. Extra bet and bonus spins issued within 24 hours of qualifying bet being settled. Extra bet valid for 14 days, stake not returned. Bonus spins valid for 24 hours, selected games only. 18+ T&Cs apply. 18+ only. New Players Only. Wagering occurs from real balance first. 50X wagering the bonus. Contribution may vary per game. Available on selected games only. The wagering requirement is calculated on bonus bets only. Bonus valid 30 Days from receipt. Max conversion: 3 X the bonus amount. Limited to 5 brands within the network. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms Apply. New customers only, aged 18+. Min deposit £10. Place a £50 bet on any sport at at odds of Evens (2.0) or greater to qualify for three free bets on settlement: £10 on Football, £10 on Greyhounds and £5 on Virtual Sports, plus 10 Free Spins on Reel King. Free Bet & Spins expire in 7 days. Additional T&Cs apply. Please bet responsibly. T&Cs apply. 18+ New customers only. You must place 3 x £10 sportsbook bets to qualify. Money back as free bets up to £50. Must use code welcome50 when creating an account This promotion is for new customers only.- Customers must be 18+.- This promotion is only available to Welsh residents.- Sign Up using the promo code bet15get10 and make a minimum deposit of £15.- Place a minimum £15 bet on any selection with minimum odds of evens (2.0) and receive a £10 free bet within 24 hours of bet settlement. GambleAware.Org 18+ Only. Terms and Conditions Apply. GambleAware.org New Players Only. Free bet – one-time stake of £50, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £200. Valid for 7 Days from receipt. Limited to 1 sport & 5 casino brand/s within the network. Withdrawal requests void all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill and Neteller deposits. Full Terms apply. 18+ New customers only. Opt in via mobile or app & bet £10+ on any football market at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 6x £5 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly 18+ New customers only. Bet £10+ on pre-match accas with 4+ legs, min odds 3/1 (4.0) within 14 days of sign-up. Get 4x £5 Free Bets and 50 Free Spins, valid for 7 days on selected bets and games only. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
EasyBet: Bet £20 and Get £20 in free bets
Bet £20 Get £20 in Free Bets
Betano
Get your stake back up to £40 in free bets
AK Bets
Up to £100 Winnings Boost on your first Acca
Highbet
Bet £10, get £15 in free bets
Quinnbet
50% back up to £35 + 10 Free Spins
Neptune Play Sports
Bet £10 Get £10
Q88
Bet £10, get £25 in free bets plus 20 free spins
BresBet
50% Back as free bet up to £50
Dragon Bet
Bet £15 Get £10 in Free Bets
talkSPORT BET
Bet £10 Get £30 in Football Free Bets
Midnite
Bet £10 and Get £20 in Free Bets plus 50 free spins
Our Top 20 Betting Sites Are:
We curated the following list based on feedback from our betting experts, who tested many online sports betting sites.
The research included registering, making deposits, and placing real bets. However, we also consider other factors, such as design, mobile play, customer service, and real feedback from customer reviews.
Here are 20 of the Best UK Betting Sites:
- bet365 – Best overall betting site
- BetMGM – Best new betting site
- Betfred – Highly rated football betting promotions
- Betway – Tops the list for live in-play football betting
- Paddy Power – Best for horse racing & best odds guaranteed
- Coral – Best for international horse racing coverage
- CopyBet – Leading platform for cricket betting tips
- Betfair – Best Betting Exchange Market
- Spreadex – Best spread betting site for cricket
- BetUK – Site with the most user-friendly interface
- BoyleSports – A leader in horse racing promotions
- Sky Bet – Best for football betting stats and results
- SBK – Outstanding mobile betting app
- Parimatch – Top competitive odds for rugby
- Betano – Best for rugby live betting options
- Ladbrokes – Best for football betting futures
- talkSPORT BET – Best mobile app for rugby betting
- Unibet – Top horse racing streaming service
- AK Bets – Best for cricket variety
- 10bet – Leads the way for rugby betting promotions
Comparing Offers From The Top 20 Betting Sites
| Bookmaker | Sign-Up Offer | Link/Bonus Code | Offer Terms |
| Bet365 | Bet £10 get £50 | Click Here | New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £50* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. |
| BetMGM | Bet £10 get £60 in Free Bets | Click Here | 18+. New cust only. 7 days to opt in by placing a £10 qualifying bet at 1/1 (2.0) odds or greater to receive 6x Free Bets: 3 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca and 1 x £10 football. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply.gambleaware.org |
| Betfred | Get £50 in bonuses when you stake £10 | Click Here | New customers only. Register with SUMMER50. Deposit £10+ and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply. 18+ only. gambleaware.org. |
| Betway | £30 matched free bet if your first acca loses + 100 Free Spins | Click Here | New UK customers only. Min Stake: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football or Horse Racing multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. 100 Free Spins on More Unusual Suspects (£0.10 per spin) credited on settlement of qualifying Acca bet. No wagering requirements on free spin winnings. This offer is valid 7 days from the new account being registered. 18+ GambleAware.org.. Full Terms apply |
| Paddy Power | Bet £20 and get it back as cash if it loses | Click Here | New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any market at odds of min 2.0 (EVS) and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using cards will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. |
| Coral | Get £40 in free bets when you bet £10 | Click Here | 18+ New UK+IRE Customers. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 1x £20 free bet. Free bet available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. T&Cs apply |
| Copy Bet | Bet £10, get £50 in free bets | Click Here | New UK customers only. Place a Single or Acca (2+ selections) bet of £10 or more with odds of 1.9+ within 7 days of signing up. Get 5 Free Bets (£10 each) with minimum odds of 2: 1x £10 Free Bet on any Pre-match Football (single), 1x £10 Free Bet for Horse Racing (single), 1x £10 Free Bet for Acca (min 2 selections), 1x £10 Free Bet for Acca (min 3 selections), 1x £10 Free Bet for Acca (min 4 selections). Max payout £500. 18+. GambleAware.com |
| Betfair | Bet £10 get £50 in free bets | Click Here | New customer offer. Place a min £10 bet on Sportsbook on odds of min EVS (2.0), get £50 in Free Bet Builders, Accumulators or multiples to use on any sport. Rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via cards or Apple Pay will qualify. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org |
| Spreadex | Bet £10 get £40 in free bets | Click Here | New customer offer. 18+ gambleaware.org. Spread betting losses can exceed deposit. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org |
| Bet UK | Bet £10 and get £30 in free bets | Click Here | T&Cs apply. New customers, Deposit & Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 free bets: 1 x £10 Horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 Football. Stake not returned. Opt-in required. 18+ GambleAware.org |
| Boylesports | Bet £10, get £10 in free bets & £10 casino bonus | Click Here | New UK customers only (excl. NI). £40 in Free Bets: £30 sports, £10 casino. Min £10 deposit and stake at Evens odds or higher. Free Bets expire in 7 days. One offer per customer/household/IP. Accept £10 casino bonus within 14 days; active for 3 days with 5x wagering, max redeem £100. Cashed-out/Free Bets don’t qualify. 30 days to meet terms. 18+. T&Cs apply |
| Sky Bet | Get £30 in free bets when you bet anything | Click Here | New customers only. First single & e/w bet only. 5p minimum stake. 3 x £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets exclude virtuals. Free bets are non withdrawable. Free bets expire after 30 days. Eligibility restrictions and further T&Cs apply. 18+. Begambleaware.org |
| SBK | Bet £10 get £20 in free bets | Click Here | New UK, IE & Malta customers only. Min £10/€10 first deposit using Debit Card. Place a bet of £10 at min odds of 1.5 and get £10. Further £10 credited after 7 days and a further £10 credited after 14 days. 18+. GambleAware.org. Full T&Cs apply |
| Parimatch | Bet £10, get £50 in free bet | Click Here | 18+ New Customers Only. Opt in and bet £10 on football (odds 2.00+) within 7 days. Get 4x£10 Free Bets for set markets and a £10 Slot Bonus for Big Bass Splash, 30x wagering, to withdraw max £250. Rewards expire in 10 days. T&Cs apply, see below. GambleAware.org |
| Betano | Bet £10 Get £30 in Bonuses | Click Here | New Customers Only, opt in and bet £10 on any EPL market (odds 1/1+) within 3 days of sign up. No cash-out. Get 5x£5 Free Bets for set markets (odds 1/1+) and a £5 Slots Bonus on Age of the Gods: God Of Storms, 30x wagering, max redeemable £125. Bonuses expire in 14 days. Click for T&Cs. GambleAware.org. |
| Ladbrokes | Bet £5 and get £20 in free bets | Click Here | 18+ New UK+ROI Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 5x £5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. |
| talkSPORT BET | Bet £10 and get £30 in free bets | Click Here | 18+ New customers only. Opt in & bet £10+ via mobile on any sports at 2.00+ odds within 7 days. No Cash out. Get 3x £10 Free Bets on selected markets. Free bets expire in 7 days. Card payments & Apple Pay only. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org. |
| Unibet | Bet £10 Get £40 in bonuses | Click Here | 18+ New GB customers only. Min £10 debit card deposit. Place a £10+ bet at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days. Opt in for £20 in free bets and £20 Casino Bonus. Valid for 7 days. Geographical restrictions and T&C’s apply. |
| Ak Bets | Up to £100 Winnings Boost on your first Acca | Click Here | If your first bet is a Treble or Up on Any Sport (minimum 3 selections) AK Bets will boost the profit gained on that initial bet by 25% in the form of a Free Bet up to a value of £100. Applies to new customers who sign up to AK BETS with the promo code AKACCA100. 18+ GambleAware.org. |
| 10bet | 100% up to £50 Welcome Bonus | Click Here | New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+ |
Looking for the best new betting sites around? Find out all the latest reviews and offers from reliable new bookies looking to establish themselves among the best newly licensed UK bookmakers further down below.
Leading Events to Bet on This Week at Top Bookmakers
The sporting calendar is never-ending, and we’ve checked out three popular events you’ll find covered by the top betting sites.
Horse Racing
Of course, there’s always horse racing on across the UK. There’s no letting up in the action with races across the likes of Kempton Park, Uttoxeter, Doncaster, Warwick and Cheltenham. It’s the Christmas Meeting at Cheltenham across Friday and Saturday, while there is also a Christmas Jumper raceday in Carlisle on Sunday.
England cricket
Friday brings the start of the third and final Test between New Zealand and England. England have already won the Series with an unassailable 2-0 lead, and they have been comfortable. Bazball was at its best in the second Test with England winning by 323 runs, declaring at 427 in their second innings before bowling New Zealand out for 259. In their first innings, New Zealand were restricted to just 125, chasing 280. While the win is already secured, England will want the whitewash for their confidence and a good end to a difficult year.
American Football
As we near the end of 2024, we’re edging closer to the completion of the regular NFL season. There are just four gameweeks left before the playoffs, and teams are starting to book their places in the postseason. In the NFC, Detroit Loins and Philadelphia Eagles are already guaranteed a playoff berth, while the New York Giants have been eliminated. In the AFC, Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills are already through, but Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders are out of contention.
In-Depth Review of the Top 20 Betting Sites in the UK
Bet365 – Rating: 9.5/10
Bet365 was established in 2000 and quickly built a fantastic reputation. They offer a generous Bet £10 get £50 welcome offer for new customers and an excellent variety of payment options, from debit cards to Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal.
Bet365 has always had excellent market coverage on more than 25 listed sports, including Esports and a huge range of racing. They have a live streaming service that includes racing, and Bet365 runs 20,000 bet boosts per month, mostly across football and racing. They offer early payout markets throughout the sportsbook too. For example you can get paid out if your team goes two goals ahead if you’re backed them in the Win-Draw-Win football markets and likewise if you bet on an NBA team to win you’ll be paid out when they go 20 points ahead in a game.
There’s an app for both iOS and Android, and Bet365 excels with its long-standing promotions, such as 2 Goals Ahead early payout, 0-0 Bore Draw, and Acca Boosts. Their Bet Builder+ feature allows bet builders from multiple games to be combined.
Although they offer extensive casino and bingo options on site, Bet365 is as popular as it is across the globe for its commitment to creating the best possible sports betting platform. It also leads the way in terms of innovation, having been among the first bookmakers to adopt cash-out and in-play betting functionalities.
And fitting those new functionalities and features into what must be one of the best user experiences you will find in any online sportsbook or betting apps . It’s incredibly easy to navigate to the sport and event you, with bet boosts and the likes equally easy to find within the app – even if the green, grey and black colour scheme isn’t always the most attractive.
Customer Rating & Reputation
Customers are generally happy in playing at bet365 as their sportsbook, hence why it is the most popular with users from across the globe. In reading reviews you can find that customers name the varied withdrawal and deposit methods, the large range of daily specials and the user-friendly platform to be among the most appreciated features. Bet365 were winners of Operator of the Year at the 2017 EGR awards.
In terms of the odds, while not necessarily the consistently best-priced bookmaker on the market they are competitive at least and their reputation gives them a reliability. However, some customers have complained that bet365 are quick to assume foul play and as a result restrict and even on some occasions shut down accounts.
Pros
- Fantastic offers for existing customers
- Great market depth
- Excellent racing coverage
Cons
- The site design isn’t very appealing
- The app can be slow to load
Bet365 at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 9.5
- Android / IOS App Rating: 9.8
- Customer Service: Rating: 9.1
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 9.5
- Payout Speed: Within 24 hours
- Welcome Offer: Bet £10, get £30 in free bets
BetMGM – Rating: 9.5/10
A relatively new online bookmaker to this country having launched in the UK in 2023, BetMGM offers a user-friendly website and a mobile app for iOS and Android devices, perfect for UK punters. The platform provides a generous welcome offer for new players that sees you receive £60 in free bets when placing a £10 qualifying bet.
The BetMGM sportsbook features diverse betting markets, covering over 20 sports, including favourites like football, rugby, and cricket. BetMGM provides a comprehensive racing section for horse racing fans with competitive odds on races from the UK, Ireland, and beyond.
However, BetMGM’s standout feature is the in-play betting experience, which offers a range of betting options for punters to enjoy – even lower-league football matches can have well over 100 in-play betting markets.
There are further casino and bingo options available on an app that’s among the better designed on the market right now. While it’s not the quickest app, it’s easy to navigate and with a black white and gold colour scheme it’s certainly easier on the eye than some of the other bookmakers featured on this list as well.
It’s that new customer offer that really draws you in though with a huge range of free bets on offer for an initial £10 outlay and after that you will continue to find a good range of competitive odds as well as a handful of boosted prices on the football every day with this bookmaker.
Customer Rating & Reputation
While there are some negative reviews for BetMGM on the market, these mostly originated during Cheltenham 2024 when the site was slow to load and to offer new customers the free bets they had signed up for – however it seems that these issues are a thing of the past as this bookmaker has now started to carve out the much more positive reputation that it deserves since then. They have since partnered with the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur of the Premier League.
Customers are unsurprisingly quick to mention the In Play betting options as a serious positive but above all, the new customer offer is what really attracts the customers to BetMGM. This new customer offer is among the best on the market right now and it also offers punters the opportunity to bet on a range of different markets, allowing them the opportunity to really get to grips with the site and the mobile app once they’ve joined.
Pros:
- Extensive in-play betting options
- Generous welcome offer
- Wide variety of betting markets
- User-friendly mobile app and website
Cons:
- Loyalty rewards programme could be more comprehensive
- Customer support response times could be quicker
BetMGM at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 9.7
- Android / IOS App Rating: 9.5
- Customer Service: Rating: 9.0
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 9.8
- Payout Speed: Within 24 hours
- Welcome Offer: Bet £10, get £60 in free bets
Betfred – Rating: 9.3/10
Betfred is a well-known High Street bookmaker established in Salford, Greater Manchester in 1967 by Fred Done. They offer new customers an excellent Bet £10, Get £50 welcome bonus when they get started and they also offer many horse racing and football promotions, including the long-running Double Delight Hat Trick Heaven promo which allows punters to get double the odds and treble the odds if their first goalscorer pick manages to score two or even three goals – plus Acca Flex, Racing Extra Places, and Free Bets if your horse finishes 2nd.
That’s one big area where they stand out, but Betfred is also highly competitive with their odds. Their sportsbook isn’t quite as extensive as others, but there’s excellent market depth on what is there, plus live streaming. That can all be enjoyed on the Betfred mobile app as well. Betfred is one of the few bookmakers who still provides a phone helpdesk and live chat.
We like the old-school nature that permeates through Betfred’s online offering, with coupons for selected markets and a back to basics approach in terms of some of the markets available and if you prefer a more traditional betting experience then you may enjoy the lack of live updates and the likes that come when betting with this long established high-street bookmaker.
Where others focus solely on sport, Betfred certainly offer far more than others in the way of Casino, Online Slots and Bingo games and it’s no surprise that they call themselves the Bonus Kings when you take a more extensive look through this area of the site, with a range of promotions available not only with the aforementioned sports offers but also plenty of casino and bingo bonuses to utilise.
Customer Rating & Reputation
Betfred are one of the bookmakers that seem to be valued highly by those that use them. While other bookmakers may be more ‘flashy’ with what they can offer, punters who play with Betfred appreciate their quick payouts and the fact that you can use the telephone for customer support, plus the huge array of casino offerings.
In reality it depends what you’re looking for in a bookmaker. Those who are looking for a more extensive offering can be left disappointed by a smaller range of markets and a rather poor user experience, but Betfred are still seen as a very trustworthy sporstbook with most punters, aided by it’s longevity and high street presence no doubt.
Pros
- Telephone customer support
- Brilliant racing and football promos
- Fast mobile app
Cons
- Sportsbook could be more extensive
- Promotions don’t include a great variety of sports
Betfred at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 9.1
- Android / IOS App Rating: 8.7
- Customer Service: Rating: 9.7
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 9.7
- Payout Speed: Within 24 hours
- Welcome Offer: Bet £10, get £50 in free bets
Betway – Rating: 8.6/10
Betway was founded in 2006 and is a well-established, highly reputable betting site. The platform offers competitive odds and good bookmaker margins across high-profile football matches, usually around 105-106%.
The sportsbook offers fantastic coverage of over 30 sports, including live streamed domestic and international racing including from France, Japan and the USA as well as British and Irish racing.
What’s more, there is a generous £30 Matched Free Bet if your first acca loses via their welcome offer, and Betway has a free bet club for qualifying trebles and accas.
The graphics for in-play betting look great, and many early cash-out markets are within the live betting. Their Bet Builder is available pre-match and in-play, and Betway boosts cover many sports.
One thing that’s particularly worth noting with Betway is the fact that their mobile app is among the best-rated on the market and is noted for its sleek layout and ease of use.
Customer Rating and Reputation
It really is the mobile app that Betway customers are most happy with. The bet-builder options are often praised, although some punters would prefer to see more stat-based markets added – something which we’re obviously in agreement with here at Squawka!
Customer service provides quick and efficient replies and the ease of use of both the mobile app and the web version of the site are both often praised. When it comes to the welcome offer it really is a matter of preference as for accumulator bettors it’s visibly one of the best on the market right now.
Pros
- Extensive sportsbook
- Great in-play live betting
- Mobile app
Cons
- Accumulator-based welcome offers may not appeal to everyone
- More country restrictions than with other bookmakers
Betway at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 8.2 (Sportsbook)
- Android / IOS App Rating: 9.5
- Customer Service: Rating: 9.2
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 7.8
- Payout Speed: 2 hours – 3 working days
- Welcome Offer: Get a £30 Matched Free Bet if your first Acca loses + 100 Free Spins
Paddy Power – Rating: 8.6/10
Paddy Power, another famous Irish bookmaker, was established in 1988 and merged with betting exchange Betfair in 2016 as part of the Flutter Entertainment group. Through its sign-up offer, new customers can get £50 in Bet Builder Bets when they stake £10 on football.
Paddy Power were among the first bookmakers to adopt cash-out and bet-builder functionalities and they also offer live streaming plus the #WhatPricePaddy feature, where you can request a bet to be priced up.
They also run quick offers like Beat The Drop and Wonder Wheel for bonuses, and coupled with more than 30 sports, it is a very engaging platform. The huge array of markets available to add to a bet-builder is what helps make Paddy a bookmaker you’ll return to again and again.
Their Esports range is extensive, and their Best Odds Guaranteed feature is available on all UK and Irish racing. Paddy Power has a dedicated mobile betting app, which is fantastic for live betting on football, cricket, and many other sports.
Customer Rating and Reputation
Paddy Power are a popular bookmaker among punters – and not just for their tongue-in-cheek humour on social media! They have an extensive list of markets, particularly on football, and a huge depth of sports available to bet on – as well as a live streaming product that keeps customers coming back on a regular basis.
The ability to withdraw instantly with a Paddy Power plus card is another benefit that many punters are happy with but as with other bookmakers featured on this page, one drawback is the focus on customers from UK & Ireland.
Pros
- 30+ sports listed
- Live streaming
- Best Odds Guaranteed on horse racing
Cons
- Smaller-sized welcome bonus offer max amount
- Lack of locations for international punters
Paddy Power at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 7.7 (Sportsbook)
- Android / IOS App Rating: 8.4
- Customer Service: Rating: 9.1
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 9.2
- Payout Speed: 2-5 Working Days
- Welcome Offer: Bet £10, get £40 in free bets
Coral – Rating: 8.5/10
Coral went into business in the 1920s and has one of the biggest online and High Street presences around. It is an outstanding site for horse racing betting, covering the domestic and international scenes extremely well.
It’s a packed racing section with Best Odds Guaranteed, Tote betting options, live racing streams, and Extra Place races.
Punters can also build their own race card to study things with more focus. Racing and greyhounds are just part of an overall range of around 40 sports listed at Coral.
New customers can receive their £20 Free Bet When You Bet £5 welcome bonus offer and get the full experience on the Coral mobile app. They also receive a free guaranteed daily reward through their Rewards Shaker, which credits a super boost.
There’s good value odds available on Coral and as such a long-running bookmaker there’s an element of trust and reliability when betting with Coral.
Customer Rating and Reputation
There are mixed feelings about the layout of the Coral app, with some finding it an easier one to use and others finding it clunky and old-fashioned. The quick payouts however and the large range of long-running, continuous boosts and bonuses for both sports and casino players.
On the whole though, reviews are much more positive than negative, with odds that possibly aren’t consistently among the best available but are at least competitive and the site has been described as efficient and reliable.
Pros
- Outstanding horse racing betting
- Mobile betting app
- Daily Rewards
Cons
- Promotions mostly for racing
- Bookmaker margins can be high
Coral at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 7.4
- Android / IOS App Rating: 8.2
- Customer Service: Rating: 9.5
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 9.1
- Payout Speed: 2-5 Working Days
- Welcome Offer: Bet £10, get £40 in free bets
CopyBet – Rating 8.4/10
CopyBet delivers a unique feature for punters, as the platform is primarily tip-based. Real users are listed on the site along with their tip performance for all to see. Other customers can copy a tipster’s strategy for their betting at the quick click of a button.
There is a bet £10, get £50 sign-up bonus at CopyBet, and they have profit boosts and an accumulator bonus for existing customers. For one of the new betting sites, this is comfortably one of the best value offers on the market right now for new customers and that’s part of the reason why this company is attracting so many punters at the moment.
There is a weekly free bet club, plus CopyBet’s full sportsbook still lets you go your own way with your bet selections if you don’t want to follow tipsters.
The site lists 25+ sports, including racing and coverage through live betting. This bookmaker, launched in 2016, is a licenced, well-established platform that offers a mobile app for iOS and Android.
Customer Rating and Reputation
The unique nature of the CopyBet site means that with a certain style of punter who looks to combine tips with placing their bets. There’s also a lot of praise for the new customer offer which, by offering new customers the opportunity to get £50 in free bets for just a £10 qualifying stake, is one of the best around.
Unfortunately, there are some issues with both the site and mobile app being glitchy which has put some customers off but on the whole the unique platform, new customer offer and recurring free bet bonuses are real positives that people mention within online reviews of this relatively new bookmaker.
Pros
- Unique tipster-copying platform
- Mobile betting app
- Weekly free bet club
Cons
- The menu is a little cumbersome to navigate
- No live streaming
CopyBet at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 7.7
- Android / IOS App Rating: 7.6
- Customer Service: Rating: 9.2
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 9.2
- Payout Speed: Within 2 working days
- Welcome Offer: Bet £10, get £50 in free bets
Betfair – Rating: 8.4/10
Betfair is the biggest betting exchange around. It was launched in 2000 and is a prominent alternative to traditional sports betting. The strength of the betting exchange comes through their odds and punters being able to lay and back options.
Betfair also has a fixed-odds sportsbook, which boasts around 30 sports and extensive betting depth. Their live in-play betting is excellent, with markets that refresh quickly and good horse racing coverage, including ante-post and tote betting.
A Betfair mobile app is available on both iOS and Android, and registering for their sportsbook comes with a Bet £10 Get £50 welcome bonus offer. Live streaming, including horse racing, is available at Betfair.
The depth of markets, particularly around the bet-builders with the player stats that are available, makes Betfair a very popular option among punters.
Customer Rating and Reputation
One of the main things that people mention about Betfair is the new customer offer. The current offer allows punters to get £50 in free bets when they join and place £10 – but there are a range of offers that are available at different times although these aren’t necessarily backed up by the most regular free bet offers available after sign up.
The option to use the exchange or the sportsbook is valued by some punters but using the exchange can prove to be a more complicated task for more casual gamblers. The depth of markets, particularly those that are added to bet-builders, is another reason to play with Betfair that’s mentioned frequently online.
Pros
- Sportsbook and exchange options
- Mobile betting app
- Good welcome bonus
Cons
- A steep learning curve on exchange betting
- The variety of promotions is not great
Betfair at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 8.2
- Android / IOS App Rating: 7.9
- Customer Service: Rating: 8.3
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 9.1
- Payout Speed: Within 2 working days
- Welcome Offer: Bet £10, get £50 in free bets
Spreadex – Rating: 8.8/10
Formed in 1999, Spreadex have quite rightly developed an excellent reputation for offering a huge range of spread betting markets, as well as a latterly developed fixed-odds service to rival some of the biggest names on the market.
While the spread betting platform is comfortably one of the best around, it’s the impressive range of markets in the fixed-odds sportsbook that may come as a pleasant surprise to punters that haven’t used it before.
As you’d expect from a Spread Betting service, the layout is very analytical and can take some time to get your head around, but with the sheer amount of information and odds available that’s to be expected and indeed once you get to grips with it, it’s actually a very usefully displayed sportsbook.
With some recurring sports offers such as Acca Boosts and First Goalscorer Insurance, there’s plenty of reasons beyond the Spread Betting to play with this well-trusted bookmaker – even beyond that excellent sign-up offer.
Customer Rating & Reputation
Spreadex has earned itself a name as one of the industry’s most reliable and trusted brands. As with most bookmakers, there are some negative reviews, but from what we can see, these centre around customer dissatisfaction with the casino product that Spreadex offers.
Customers are particularly impressed with the vast number of markets available, and the app’s easy navigation allows for a swift and accurate betting experience. With a generous sign-up bonus and a reputation as a credible financial trading platform and sportsbook, it’s easy to see why Speadex makes plenty of appeal to punters.
Pros
- Live streaming
- Spread and fixed odds options
- Mobile apps
Cons
- Losses on spread betting can exceed the deposit
- Sportsbook is not the most extensive
Spreadex at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 8.5 (Sportsbook)
- Android / IOS App Rating: 9.5
- Customer Service: Rating: 9.0
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 8.0
- Payout Speed: 2-5 Working Days
- Welcome Offer: Bet £10, get £40 in free bets
BetUK – Rating: 8.0/10
BetUK offers good football betting options, including plenty of future outrights on competitions. This pairs nicely with live in-play football betting on a simple, user-friendly interface on their website and the BetUK mobile app.
BetUK offers fast withdrawal options and accepts payments from debit cards to e-wallets like PayPal. The sportsbook, founded in 2012 and sold to the LeoVegas Group in 2018, also features a bet builder feature and cash-out markets. The BetUK welcome bonus is Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets.
Over the last few years, BetUK has worked hard to provide on-trend football markets that can be combined to create a bet builder on a selected football match. Markets such as player fouls and player shots on target have been added, and notably, competitive prices are offered.
BetUK has applied a modern approach to betting with its attractive website layout and app design. Its casino offering also ranks highly compared to similar brands; however, its main strengths lie in the sports betting sector.
Customer Rating & Reputation
BetUK has some of the most competitive odds for sports such as football. Horse racing punters are also drawn to the Best Odds Guaranteed offer and the streams available; however, this is the only sport where live streaming is currently available.
In our experience, the cash-out feature can be slow sometimes, but the main issue customers have encountered is verification checks. On both sign-up and withdrawal attempts, players have endured having to send numerous documents for approval, which has proved tedious at times. We must stress that this is only a tiny minority of customers, and on the whole, the betting experience provided by BetUK has been seamless and enjoyable.
Pros
- Competitive odds
- Good features
- Mobile betting apps
Cons
- Racing-only streams
- Not many offers
BetUK at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 9.3
- Android / IOS App Rating: 7.5
- Customer Service: Rating: 7.0
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 8.0
- Payout Speed: 2-3 Working Days
- Welcome Offer: Bet £10, get £30 in free bets
BoyleSports – Rating 7.9/10
Independent Irish bookmaker BoyleSports was founded in 1982 and is an excellent platform for sports betting promotions. A regular money-back special running event provides coverage for horse racing if your selected runner is second to the SP favourite in chosen races.
Extra place races are daily, and the BoyleSports promotions cover many sports. Their welcome bonus is a Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets offer, while acca rewards come in insurance and boost formats.
The BoyleSports sportsbook offers 40+ sports options and excellent live in-play betting. In-play betting includes live streaming of various sports, such as football, tennis, and cricket.
Market depth is superb across many sports, and Visa Direct offers withdrawals between 2 and 12 hours.
Customer Rating and Reputation
BoyleSports has earned a strong reputation with customers in the UK and Ireland as one of the best bookmakers for popular sports such as football, horse racing, greyhound racing and hurling. An app that is simple to use and a wide range of markets and tools are available. Customers are impressed with their Bet Builder feature for football, which allows customers to include player tackles in selected football matches. This is only available with a few bookmakers and is an excellent example of the brand going above and beyond to extend its range of markets.
Having been trading for over 40 years, BoyleSports has become a trusted name online and on the high street with its shops. With lotto, bingo and casino products also available, the security of choosing a firm like this is a significant pull for customers who enjoy a range of gambling activities.
Pros
- Fast withdrawals
- Great for promotions
- Extensive sportsbook
Cons
- Bonuses can be slow to be credited
BoyleSports at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 7.5
- Android / IOS App Rating: 8.5
- Customer Service: Rating: 8.0
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 8.0
- Payout Speed: Within 1-5 Working Days
- Welcome Offer: Bet £10, get £40 in Bonuses
Sky Bet – Rating: 8.8/10
Sky Bet was founded in 2001 and has become a highly renowned online betting site. It has one of the best sign-up promotions – any bet from 5p and up will return £30 in free bets. There are good overround margins on match outrights, and it is very competitive against other major industry leaders.
Sky Bet has an acca freeze feature, where an acca’s winning leg can be locked in at any point. The sportsbook is excellent, with 35+ sports listed, and the in-play betting section is extensive, including Build A Bet options, Intervals, and RequestABet.
The site offers live streaming, including horse racing and racecards with statistics and forms integrated from Sporting Life. All this can be enjoyed through the SkyBet mobile app. The SkyBet Club VIP program rewards a weekly free bet, and there are also free-to-play prediction games.
Customer Rating and Reputation
Head to any football ground in England, and many fans will have the Sky Bet app downloaded to their phone. This speaks volumes about how synonymous the firm has become with casual football punters over the last ten years. With promotional Super Boosts, an incredibly easy-to-use app, and an interface that even first-time gamblers can get their head around, they provide an engaging experience.
It is rare to hear any negative reviews of Sky Bet’s sign-up process, which allows customers to claim £30 in Free Bets when they bet just 5p. With even bigger enhanced sign-up offers for key events, such as 50/1 for Jude Bellingham to make a pass in the Euro 2024 final, they can draw in a varied audience for the biggest sporting spectacles.
Pros
- Excellent choice for beginners to betting
- Great welcome bonus
- Excellent mobile app
- Fantastic range of markets
Cons
- Odds are not the most competitive
- Heavy focus on football
Sky Bet at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 7.0
- Android / IOS App Rating: 10.0
- Customer Service: Rating: 8.0
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 9.5
- Payout Speed: Within 24 Hours
- Welcome Offer: Bet 5p, get £30 in Free Bets
SBK – Rating: 8.9/10
SBK was launched by Smarkets in 2019 and is only available through an app download, so you’ll need a smartphone or tablet handy. After grabbing that, registration comes with a welcome offer of Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets.
The app is fantastic, very user-friendly, and, importantly, quick to browse and responsive. SBK’s biggest advantage is the ability to switch between an exchange and a sportsbook.
SBK is transparent with its prices and offers excellent margins across the major sports. It has a full sportsbook with 25+ sports and many Winnings Boost offers. SBK curates popular multiples for quick betting as well.
The site offers racing, greyhounds, betting tips, and extensive in-play markets. It also provides some live streaming.
Customer Rating and Reputation
SBK is perceived as one of the best bookmakers for football. By offering an exchange that appeals to the more shrewd punters and a sleek sportsbook, they appeal to a wide range of customers.
SBK’s ambition to stay focused on the latest betting trends is evident in its extensive range of esports markets, which allow users to filter events by competition and date. Another emerging area of the betting industry is betting on politics. With SBK offering markets that reflect current affairs, it has become a desirable brand for players to wager on.
Pros
- Exchange and Sportsbook
- Odds transparency
- Good boost options
Cons
- Minimum deposits are high on some options
- No website
SBK at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 9.0
- Android / IOS App Rating: 10.0
- Customer Service: Rating: 8.0
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 8.5
- Payout Speed: Within 48 hours
- Welcome Offer: Bet £10, get £30 in Free Bets
Parimatch – Rating: 8.5/10
Parimatch was established in 1994 and entered the online betting market in 2000. Parimatch operate online and via their own, bespoke app. Using either of those methods, you’ll be able to register and use their welcome offer, which is currently Bet £10, get £50 in free bets.
Both the website, and app, are clean and give users a nice experience when navigating between pages allowing a seamless journey from signing up to placing a bet.
Parimatch falls in line with most other bookmakers when it comes to margins and odds offered and its sportsbook is packed with a huge sports offering.
The site offers football, racing, tips, and a full range of in-play markets. It also provides some live streaming on events.
Customer Rating and Reputation
Parimatch is one of the newer bookmakers when it comes to their presence in the UK market but they’ve made a big impact with some interesting offers and marketing which has been able to catch the eye and help them grow.
Parimatch’s ambition to become a leader in a heavy populated market is clear to see from their offering on their sportsbook and their ability to break the norm as they continue to penetrate the UK betting market.
Pros
- Good range of sports in their book
- Unique and clean look
- Great regular welcome offers
Cons
- Their app can feel a little fiddly at times
- Standardised odds compared to competitors
Parimatch at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 8.0
- Android / IOS App Rating: 8.0
- Customer Service: Rating: 9.0
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 9.0
- Payout Speed: Within 48 hours
- Welcome Offer: Bet £10, get £50 in Free Bets
Betano – Rating: 8.25/10
Betano is one of the newest bookmakers in the UK, entering the market in 2024. Their name has quickly become one of the lips of many though with high profile collaborations and some eye catching offers, including their current offering of Bet £10, Get £30 in free bets.
Their website follows a similar pattern to many other bookmakers out there, without a real defined and unique look which can be unappealing to some.
When it comes to odds and margins they match their competitors and this is reassuring in that you know you won’t be losing out by signing up with a new brand.
The site offers a range of sports to wager on, and a full range of in-play markets. It also provides some live streaming on events.
Customer Rating and Reputation
As the new kids on the block, Betano might have struggled to make an impact in a hugely populated market but their affiliation with Aston Villa, as well as their good welcome offers throughout Euro 2024 and the start of the Premier League season have allowed them to make their mark.
Betano have big ideas when it comes to staking their claim on the UK gambling scene and they will be looking to continue with the huge strides they’ve already made in becoming a market leader.
Pros
- Exchange and Sportsbook
- Unique and clean look
- Great offers around big events
Cons
- Generic looking website
- Promotions don’t include a great variety of sports
Betano at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 8.0
- Android / IOS App Rating: 9.0
- Customer Service: Rating: 8.0
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 8.0
- Payout Speed: Within 48 hours
- Welcome Offer: Bet £10, get £30 in Free Bets
talkSPORT Bet – Rating: 8.5/10
talkSPORT Bet was launched in 2022, by the BetVictor brand in conjunction with the popular and long-running sports radio station talkSPORT, building on the brand recognition for what is an institution for many football fans in the United Kingdom.
Much like the other BetVictor-owned brands in this list, talkSPORT offer very competitive odds on their sportsbook which is very well-designed to provide the easiest possible experience for the user.
Thankfully, talkSPORT have been able to tap into that partnership with BetVictor to provide a much larger range of odds on football than you would expect for a newer bookmaker at prices that you equally perhaps wouldn’t expect.
While there are still things for talkSPORT to improve on, for a bookmaker that’s been around for less than three years at the time of writing we’re really impressed – particularly with the great value new customer offer at talkSPORT Bet.
Customer Rating and Reputation
Interestingly, there’s a lot of appreciation for the customer service team at talkSPORT Bet within customer reviews online. They also have some very quick pay-out options, which is always a popular feature with users online.
The fact that the talkSPORT Bet app has an average rating of 4.8 on the app store shows how popular this app has been with it’s users with people citing the depth of markets, the good value odds and the aforementioned customer service teams as reasons for their high marks.
Pros
- Competitive odds
- Popular customer service team
- Large range of football markets
Cons
- Not the greatest existing customer offers
- Below-par casino offering
talkSPORT Bet at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 8.5
- Android / IOS App Rating: 7.4
- Customer Service: Rating: 8.5
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 6.8
- Payout Speed: 40 minutes to three working days
- Welcome Offer: Bet £10, get £30 in Free Bets
AK Bets – Rating: 8.2/10
AK Bets describe themselves as the new kids on the block of UK and Irish bookmaking having been formed in 2021 and moving online in 2023 – and they’ve carved out something of a niche so far by appealing to high rolling, loyal customers.
While the £100 winnings boost new customer offer may not appeal to everybody as it only applies to accumulator winnings, there’s still plenty of reasons to join AK Bets including their well-designed and intuitive website and app.
One of the main appeals for AK Bets is their great value odds which are far better than most of the new bookmakers on the market and with a fast verification process and decent enough pay-out time there’s not a lot to complain about with this particular bookmaker.
What’s more there’s also the AK Bets podcast that features some of the biggest names in sports and has been proven to give a unique insight into upcoming tournaments and events.
Customer Rating and Reputation
Pros
- Good array of markets
- Comfortable user experience
- Interesting podcast content
Cons
- New customer offer only appeals to some punters
- Mixed customer service reviews
AK Bets at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 8.9
- Android / IOS App Rating: 8.8
- Customer Service: Rating: 7.7
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 6.9
- Payout Speed: 2-5 working days
- Welcome Offer: Up to £100 Winnings Boost on your first Acca
10bet – Rating: 7.6/10
Formed in 2003 and headquartered in Malta, 10bet have been around for some time but continue to go from strength to strength as they enter their third decade.
When it comes to layout and design, 10bet are one of the frontrunners in the UK and Irish bookmaking scene as they’ve won awards for some of their campaigns and the slick layout of the site makes it one of the easiest to use – when it hasn’t slowed down that is.
In terms of a new customer offer, the 100% bonus up to £50 on offer is very reasonable and there’s a large variety of live games which pay out more regularly than most. They also have quick payouts, which are always popular with online customers.
The sports odds are rarely among the best on the market but they are at least competitive when compared to most and 10bet have a good reputation for customer service too.
Customer Rating and Reputation
10bet pride themselves on making the user experience as comfortable as possible and their designs were recognised at the 2019 Brand Impact Awards and Fresh Awards. Their slick layout and graphics help make the experience of betting with 10bet visually engaging.
In addition to that, the focus on quick payouts and a very reasonable new customer offer make 10bet a very popular destination for punters – even if there are some bugs within the app that perhaps need fixing to further enhance that experience.
Pros
- Strong new customer offer
- Award-winning design
- Quick payouts
Cons
- Buggy website that can be slow at times
- Several location restrictions
10Bet at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 7.6
- Android / IOS App Rating: 6.8
- Customer Service: Rating: 8.5
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 7.5
- Payout Speed: Within 24 hours
- Welcome Offer: 100% up to £50 welcome bonus
Unibet – Rating 8.4/10
Unibet has been a respected name in the bookmaking landscape in the United Kingdom since 1997. The Kindred Group runs the company, which offers a wide variety of markets across a wide range of sports. The simple and easy-to-use interface allows punters of all levels to familiarise themselves quickly with the product.
One area that Unibet excels in is competitive odds. The firm provides some of the most modern markets on the biggest sports, such as football, with odds provided for player props such as shots on target and fouls. From experience, we have found these prices to be consistently better than those of rival bookmakers such as Sky Bet.
Besides having an excellent sign-up offer where customers can get up to £40 in Bonuses, Unibet also likes to take care of its existing players with monthly and weekly promotions. For example, punters are often credited with a ‘second chance’ offer, which allows a stake to be returned as a free bet if one leg lets down your Bet Builder. Odds Boosts and Uniboosts are also available for competitions such as the Premier League, providing opportunities to take prices perceived to hold value.
Unibet’s extensive casino offering stands out as one of the market leaders in this area. With over 550 casino games available via the app or website, the company leaves no stone unturned when it comes to giving customers choices.
Customer Rating & Reputation
Punters are generally very happy with their experience at Unibet, which has grown in popularity over the last decade to comfortably sit as one of the top 10 brands in the United Kingdom.
The wide range of football markets and consistently strong prices provide plenty of reason for customers to return week in and week out. One area customers have been a little disgruntled with is the customer service department, which often has slow response times to withdrawal requests that have not gone through.
Pros
- Attractive New Customer Offer
- Wide range of markets
- Consistently good prices on sports such as football and horse racing
Cons
- Hard to locate live-chat feature
- Often slow customer service
- Easy to be restricted
Unibet at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 9.7
- Android / IOS App Rating: 8.5
- Customer Service Rating: 7.0
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 8.5
- Payout Speed: Within 3 Days
- Welcome Offer: Bet £10 Get upto £40 in Bonuses
Ladbrokes – Rating 8.5/10
Ladbrokes is a familiar and trusted name in British bookmaking, and it has one of the highest numbers of shops on the high street. Positioned as one of the most prominent firms in the industry, Ladbrokes has a reputation for being an engaging brand that supplies customers with a wide variety of betting markets via its app, website, or shops.
Online, Ladbrokes is one of the best bookmakers for live-streaming sporting events from around the globe, enhancing your betting experience. This is coupled with an excellent in-play product that provides live odds for competitions such as the Premier League and Champions League, allowing you to place bets while following the live action.
Ladbrokes stands out as having one of the best welcome offers for new players. Unlike most bookmakers who require a £10 qualifying bet upon sign-up, Ladbrokes only require a £5 qualifying bet to receive £25 in Free Bets.
Horse Racing punters are also drawn to Ladbrokes thanks to their Odds Boost token, which can be used daily to bolster the odds of a selection. Furthermore, Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) is available from 8am each day, ensuring you get greater odds should the horse you have backed start the race at a more significant price.
Customer Rating & Reputation
Ladbrokes has worked hard to engage with a younger generation of punters through social media, and one area they have excelled in is on platform X. Customers particularly like the #GetABet feature, where they can use the hashtag on X and request odds for selections that you can’t ordinarily place on the website.
Regarding banking methods, Ladbrokes customers have praised the low minimum deposit requirements and the extensive options. They can use PayPal, Skrill, or PaySafe, along with more traditional methods such as Debit Cards and Mastercard.
Pros
- Excellent features such as Best Odds Guaranteed
- Many banking options
- Daily Odds Boost token
- Trusted name
- Strong sign-up offer
Cons
- Not the most competitive odds
- No weekly free bet
Ladbrokes at a glance:
- Quality of Odds Rating: 8.0
- Android / IOS App Rating: 9.0
- Customer Service Rating: 8.5
- Bonus and Promotions Rating: 8.5
- Payout Speed: Within 3 Days
- Welcome Offer: Bet £10 Get up to £40 in Bonuses
Comparing the Top New Betting Sites in UK
| Bookmaker | Year Established | Betting Markets | UKGC License | Live Stream | Price Boosts | Bet-Builder | Mobile App |
| BetMGM | 2023 | 300+ per match | 39198 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CopyBet | 2021 | 300+ per match | 53774 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AK Bets | 2023 | 200+ per match | 9177 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| PlanetSport bet | 2021 | 30+ sports | 50122 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Gentleman Jim | 2023 | 20+ sports | 39483 | No | Yes | No | No |
| Dragon Bet | 2022 | 20+ sports | 41125 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Midnite | 2020 | 200+ per match | 42647 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bet Goodwin | 2021 | 30+ sports | 2927 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TalkSport Bet | 2022 | 30+ sports | 39576 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Fafabet | 2021 | 30+ sports | 57385 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Rhino | 2021 | 50+ sports | 50122 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| JeffBet | 2022 | 30+ sports | 39335 | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| BetZone | 2021 | 50+ sports | 61997 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Highbet | 2021 | 48+ sports | 1014834 | No | Yes | No | No |
| Britain Bet | 2020 | 30+ sports | 39335 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| PricedUp | 2024 | 23+ sports | 001776 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Luckster | 2022 | 30+ sports | 39483 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Neptune Play | 2020 | 30+ sports | 39483 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Magic Red | 2023 | 30+ sports | 39483 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Bresbet | 2023 | 30+ sports | 50122 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Lottoland Sportsbook | 2021 | 30+ sports | 38991 | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Best New Betting Sites for 2024: Our Picks
1. BetMGM
The number one new bookmaker that we recommend to you right now is BetMGM, not least for their incredible new customer sign-up offer that allows punters to get £40 in free bets when they join and bet £10. With a long-running history in the United States, BetMGM is looking to bring its unique style to the UK market and with a deep sportsbook, In-Play betting, and plenty of casinos offers, it isn’t hard to see why we’re expecting them to flourish in doing so.
What we like about BetMGM
- Fantastic new customer offer
- Trusted brand name after several years of operating in the US
- In depth sportsbook and array of markets
- Unique opportunities to win on Golden Goals
- Excellent casino and live casino options
What we would like to see improve on BetMGM
- Better customer support options
- Improved experience on Mobile App
2. CopyBet
One of our favourite new betting sites in 2024 is CopyBet. With a deep array of football markets on events from all around the world and an incredible new sign-up offer, this is one of the best new bookmakers on the scene at the moment. The unique thing about CopyBet is that customers can copy the top betting strategies of the site’s tipsters and the most successful tipsters can earn further fees by sharing their success in the Tipsters section of the site
What we like about CopyBet
- Incredible value new customer offer
- Unique tipster tool allowing you to copy successful punter’s bets
- Good array of football bets
- Easy to use mobile app
- Several free bet offers and price boosts for existing customers
What we would like to see improve on CopyBet
- More sports – no horse racing available at the moment
- Casino and poker games
- 24/7 Customer Support
3. Rhino Bet
Rhino Bet is a UK-licensed bookmaker that has streamlined the betting experience for its users and is one of the newest betting sites available. Although it’s still early days for this bookmaker, its user-friendly interface and competitive markets have proven popular with its users so far. They also have a unique new customer offer where punters can get a £20 Uber Eats voucher when they join and bet £20.
What we like about Rhino Bet
- Unique sign-up offer that allows you to ‘Bet Twenty & Eat Plenty!’
- Streamlined experience designed to make things easy
- Mobile betting website alongside user-friendly app
- Best odds guaranteed on horse racing
- Very competitive odds for a new bookmaker
What we would like to see improve on Rhino Bet
- Customer support only available via email
- More variety of casino games
- 24/7 Customer Support
4. Midnite
Although originally known for its E-sports betting offerings, Midnite now has an improving sportsbook with innovative features, including Acca Assist, Free Bet Fridays, and VIP draws. They also offer a terrific new customer offer of Bet £10, get £20 in free bets, for which you can read the full T&Cs above.
What we like about Midnite
- Excellent value new customer offer
- Easy to use sportsbook layout including Acca Assist
- Well-designed mobile app
- Free Bet Fridays with a chance to win Free Bets on social media
- Depth of Esports markets
- Live Streaming on Esports markets
What we would like to see improve on Midnite
- More stats markets on football bets
- Lack of casino games to be addressed
5. JeffBet
One of the newest bookmakers on this page, JeffBet, was founded as recently as 2022 and is licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority. Impressively, for a bookmaker that’s only been around for such a limited period of time, they do offer some excellent promotions and rewards programmes, particularly for the casino section of the site. With a familiar and user-friendly layout, they’re likely to become very popular with punters before too long.
What we like about JeffBet
- Bet £10, get £30 in free bets new customer offer
- Excellent Casino focus
- Huge amount of promotions and reward programmes
- User-friendly sportsbook
- 24/7 live chat support option
What we would like to see improve on JeffBet
- Lack of racing markets
- Below-par live betting options
- Several location restrictions
6. Britain Bet
With a strong focus on in-play betting and cash-out functions, Britain Bet is another brand to consider when looking for a new sports betting website. They’re offering a terrific new customer bonus right now, too, where new players can get a £50 free bet when they join and place a £25 qualifying bet using deposit code BB50.
What we like about Britain Bet
- Reliable live betting and cash-out functions
- Strong depth of markets on specific sports
- Stand-out esports coverage
- Good commitment to promoting responsible gambling
- Cryptocurrency deposits accepted
What we would like to see improve on Britain Bet
- Quicker withdrawal times
- More sports to bet on
- More price boosts and recurring offers
7. Gentleman Jim
Launched in 2023, Gentleman Jim is now starting to make its presence felt in the crowded local betting market and they have a very competitive sportsbook offering and a wide range of markets.
What we like about Gentleman Jim
- Good value new customer offer for relatively new bookmaker
- Comfortable sportsbook layout
- Good commitment to safe gambling
- Boosted winnings with Acca Club
What we would like to see improve on Gentleman Jim
- Improved app usability
- More variety of casino games
- 24/7 Customer Support
8. PlanetSport Bet
One of the brand new betting sites with a brilliant new customer offer is PlanetSport Bet. Their sign-up bonus allows you to claim a £10 free bet when you place your first bet of £20. With a huge array of live tables and games, Planet Sport Bet’s sportsbook offering has been improving recently, and it’s becoming a more viable option for punters in the UK and beyond.
What we like about PlanetSport Bet
- Huge array of casino games from several software providers
- Safe and secure
- A large amount of payment options and fast payouts
- Live chat customer service
What we would like to see improve on PlanetSport Bet
- More in-depth football markets on specific games
- Lower playthrough requirement on deposit bonus
- An easier to navigate sportsbook
9. Bresbet
Brestbet is one of the newer bookmakers around and there’s plenty to like, with competitive odds, a wide range of markets and a nice looking sportsbook. They’ve shown improvement since their arrival on the scene and have emerged as one of the better new sportsbooks around.
What we like about BresBet
- Secure website
- Fast payouts and multiple deposit methods
- Good customer service
What we would like to see improve on BresBet
- Improved experience on Mobile App
- Below-par live betting options
10. MagicRed
MagicRed is one of the newbies on the scene, and we’ve really enjoyed their offerings since their arrival. Their website has a different look, something welcome in a saturated market, and, with their casino origins, there’s a really good amount of games away from the sportsbook.
What we like about MagicRed
- Innovative new website with good features
- Good casino offering
- Good customer service options
What we would like to see improve on MagicRed
- Deeper markets available on key sports
- Improved payment methods
11. NeptunePlay
NeptunePlay is another new bookmaker that has transitioned from casino to sports in recent months. Their transition has gone really smoothly, and they’ve made a decent impact in a relatively short time. With an excellent base in casino to fall back on, the future looks bright for NeptunePlay.
What we like about NeptunePlay
- Unique website with good features
- Impressive casino offering
- Responsive customer service
What we would like to see improve on NeptunePlay
- More options available on key sports
- Differing payment methods
11. DragonBet
DragonBet launched into the betting scene in 2022, finding a niche in their Welsh roots. Their sportsbook offering is deep and has some really interesting features giving them a nice introduction to the market. The future looks bright for DragonBet if they can continue to find their feet in a busy market.
What we like about DragonBet
- Niche markets
- Excellent sportsbook offering
What we would like to see improve on DragonBet
- Improved customer service options
- Differing payment methods
12. HeySpin
HeySpin is another bookmaker that has entered the sports betting world, and it’s been a success so far. There are plenty of markets on offer and a reasonable welcome offer for new customers. Things are looking good for HeySpin, especially if they can continue to build their inplay offering to complement their pre-match markets.
What we like about HeySpin
- Plenty of markets on offer
- Good welcome offer
What we would like to see improve on HeySpin
- Improved sportsbook interface
- Increased number of payment methods
13. TalkSportBET
TalkSportBET is our final bookmaker to make the list following their arrival in the sportsbook world in 2022. They’ve made a good impression with a easy to use website, nice price boosts and some nice offers for both new, and existing, customers. TalkSportBET is definitely one to watch when it comes to new bookmakers.
What we like about TalkSportBET
- Good welcome offer for new customers
- Existing customers are given nice perks
- Easy to navigate interface
What we would like to see improve on TalkSportBET
- Improved pre-match markets
- Increase in in-play offering
Best New Online Betting Site By Category
Bet Goodwin – Best For Football Betting
Bet Goodwin is one of the newer bookmakers with really competitive prices. We feature them heavily on our daily tips as they often offer the best prices, including those offered by more established bookmakers. The prices offered for more niche competitions are what really sets them apart, with competitions like AFCON really benefiting from the odds they offer.
BetZone – Bets For Odds Boosts
There are plenty of offers available on BetZone, but their Odds Boosts are the real focus, with most sports receiving boosts across the week. This is helped by a really clear online interface, making it clear where you are receiving the boosts and how much extra you could get in your pocket with a winning selection.
Fafabet – Best For Horse Racing Betting
Fafabet focuses on horse racing, with its best sportsbook offers around the GGs. It also operates with Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG), meaning you’ll get the best prices when placing your bets on the nags.
AK Bets – Best For Bespoke Betting
AK Bets is fairly new to the online betting scene, but it’s been around the racetracks for a long time, building a reputation as one of the best trackside bookies around. It offers a more bespoke betting experience, especially in horse racing, and it is well worth checking out if you are looking for a new bookmaker.
Copy Bet – Best for New Customer Offers
Copy Bet have one of the most desirable welcome offers for new customers at the moment, giving you £50 in free bets when you make your first qualifying bet of £10 or more. Other bookmakers come close but this is definitely the best offer available on the market and sets Copy Bet apart as the best new bookmaker for new customer offers.
BetMGM – Best for Existing Customer Offers
Keeping your existing customers happy is also hugely important, and BetMGM does this well. They’ve got a variety of existing customer deals, offering regularly boosts on accumulators on an array of sports. Not only this, but they offer some great free-to-play options, with the daily spin and Golden Goals promotions giving you a great chance to pick up some free bets and cash.
Rhino – Best for Other Sport Betting
Rhino has quickly garnered a reputation for offering a wide array of other sports betting, with rugby, cricket, and tennis especially in focus. Whilst they aren’t the biggest new bookmaker around, they have a familiar feel about them and are worth a look.
How To Open a New Sports Betting Account
When it comes to signing up, bookmakers usually follow a similar pattern. Here, we’ll run through the most common way to sign up and claim your Free Bets.
- Head to the bookmaker landing page by using one of our links above. These links will take you straight to the right page to sign up and claim any offers.
- Press the join button to begin the account creation process.
- Enter your personal details. It’s important to make sure these are correct as you’ll likely need to verify them. Incorrect details could stop you from being able to claim any bonuses.
- Create a username and password. You’ll need these each time you log in with your bookmaker, so make sure you can remember them and that the password is secure.
- At this point, some bookmakers will ask you to verify your identity. This might involve uploading a copy of your ID, utility bills or proof of income.
- Make your first deposit. Most bookmakers offer various payment methods, including debit cards, online wallets (such as Paypal), and mobile payment methods (such as Apple Pay). Please note that bookmakers cannot accept deposits via credit cards.
- You may have to place your first bet to qualify for any Free Bet so check the terms and conditions to make sure your first bet meets the criteria.
New Betting Site To Avoid
Just as we look for quality in an online betting site, there’s a whole host of red flags that we look out for when reviewing any new bookmaker that comes to market.
Certain things should always be looked for as standard when signing up to a new bookmaker. If any of these things are causing issues or any of the red flags listed below are spotted, then you should think twice about creating your account.
Untrustworthy or unregulated
Any betting site that does not hold a license issued by the UKGC cannot legally offer gambling to any players within the UK.
Most of the non-licensed bookmakers are unavailable to sign up with in the UK anyway, but it may also be worth looking at the reasons why they are not operating within the UK, which can differ from site to site.
It may also be worth looking into the site’s reputation and how trustworthy its current users consider it. Many online resources offer customer reviews, where people share their real experiences gambling with these new bookies. It’s worth checking these reviews before depositing any money into your account.
Minimal offers and bonuses
Although a lack of offers or bonuses doesn’t necessarily mean a bookmaker isn’t to be trusted, it does mean you could be missing out on some of the perks that are available on other sites if you’re placing too much faith in a bookmaker that doesn’t offer these bonuses.
The new online bookmakers listed above offer great value for a £10 deposit, and that’s just the welcome offer available—many of the above-listed brands also offer regular price boosts, free bet clubs, casino bonuses, and more.
So if a bookmaker isn’t offering these kinds of incentives, they may not be worth signing up for, as you could be getting more value for your bets elsewhere.
Poor market coverage and odds
And when it comes to poor value, there’s nothing quite as poor value for money as a bookmaker failing to offer odds that are regularly competitive with other bookmakers.
Although not every bookmaker can offer the best possible prices, there are other reasons to sign up, and if they can offer competitive prices, then those other additions may make them worth signing up to.
However, if a bookmaker’s odds are consistently falling way below what the other, more well-known brands are offering, then you may be missing out on significant profits from your bets.
Likewise, you want a bookmaker that offers a wide range of markets and competitions. It can be very frustrating to find that the bet you have in mind is not available on the website of your chosen firm.
Charges on withdrawals/deposits
Although it’s not a common practice, a handful of betting sites charge a fee for depositing money or withdrawing winnings from an account.
These fees are often dependent on your chosen banking method and are either a small flat rate or a percentage, but the more successful your bets are, the more you withdraw and the more money you’re losing to bookmakers that charge on withdrawals and deposits.
Underdeveloped/poor app or website experience
With less experience of punters using the site and navigating the app, it’s perhaps understandable that newer websites sometimes find themselves lacking on the user experience front.
That said, it can be a frustrating time spent looking to navigate a sportsbook on a desktop or mobile that isn’t fully developed as yet or is very slow to load. And with so many other options out there, it may not be worth spending too much time on a bookmaker that hasn’t managed to get that side of its business quite right as yet.
Poor Online Reviews and Reputation
One of the best ways to determine a bookmaker’s quality is to look at reviews by other customers.
It’s important to remember that people generally will offer details of a bad experience rather than a good one, but if a bookmaker has an overwhelming number of negative reviews, then it could well be a sign that they are struggling to provide a good experience.
Sites like Trust Pilot are a good place to start as they offer impartial reviews of websites and can give a really good insight into how the public are viewing a certain bookmaker.
Limited Customer Support Options
All websites, regardless of their experience in the market, will have issues at times, but the most important thing is their speed and accuracy in responding to these problems.
If a bookmaker offers limited customer support options, especially via email, it could be a sign that your problem won’t be dealt with as speedily as you may like.
Good options include telephone customer support or live chat, which give you an immediate response to your issue. If those options are lacking, it might be a sign to try another bookmaker.
Vague or Unfair Terms and Conditions
Terms and Conditions are part of every bookmaker’s structure, regardless of how long they’ve been around, and they are important in protecting both the bookmaker and punters.
They should, at the very least, be clear, concise, and fair. If they don’t fulfil those obligations, then serious questions should be raised about whether they are the place to put your money.
If the terms are misleading, say little at all, or require punters to jump through multiple hoops to perform simple actions or pick up promotions, then it’s definitely best to avoid that bookie.
Limited or Unreliable Payment Methods
Having multiple payment methods isn’t a necessity but it can be a good indication that the bookmaker is serious about how they are about attracting new customers.
Above all else, the payment methods offered should be secure and fully licensed in the UK. If they can’t guarantee your funds are safe, then it’s definitely best to avoid that bookmaker at all costs.
Slow or Complicated Withdrawal Processes
The withdrawal process should be simple, and with banking systems accelerating constantly, withdrawals can even be instant.
Whilst this isn’t pivotal, it’s a nice bonus to be able to access your funds straight away. Withdrawing to a debit card could still take up to five days to arrive in your account, but this is less common now and definitely shouldn’t take longer.
It is important that the withdrawal process doesn’t have multiple layers. It should be as simple as requesting your withdrawal and waiting for your funds. If you have to start jumping through hoops to get access to your money, avoiding that bookmaker is definitely for the best.
History of Changing Names or Ownership
Sometimes, businesses change hands; it’s an inevitability. But if a bookmaker has changed hands or names multiple times, it could be a sign that they are trying to shed a negative image and aren’t the most trustworthy place to keep your money and place your bets.
Stability breeds trust and this is definitely true when it comes to bookmakers.
Are New Betting Sites in 2024 Better Than Established Names?
Comparing new and existing betting sites does get a little tricky when generalising both service types.
However, the bottom line is that although both new and established betting sites may offer similar products, each has pros and cons.
For example, new betting sites are much more likely to focus on innovation with a fresh approach to the UK betting industry. Similarly, these betting sites are popular due to their often attractive welcome and sign-up bonuses. Another thing to remember is that every punter can only claim the welcome bonus once. And most experienced punters already have accounts with established betting sites. So new betting sites get business from experienced punters looking for new customer offers.
Conversely, existing betting sites have a wealth of experience, a reputation behind them, and bigger marketing budgets. It all boils down to what bettors want in a betting site. If they want to play it safe, the established betting site is the way to go. However, if they want a fresh and innovative betting site, a new bookmaker is an option.
What Types of Offers Do Bookmakers Provide?
There are several different types of offers available to new customers with a range of sportsbooks and betting websites. These include bet and get offers and matched deposit bonuses, and they all differ in terms of value too.
Take a look at some of the more common types of free bets offers available on the market right now:
Bet and Get offers
The most common style of bookmaker new customer offer is a ‘bet and get’ offer, where you will be rewarded with a specified amount of free bets when you join and place a specific qualifying bet.
These range in value, with some bookmakers offering as big a reward as £50 in free bets for just a £10 qualifying stake (such as CopyBet for example) whereas others will offer fewer free bets for a larger qualifying stake. There are also often limitations around both the qualifying and the free bets – for example you may receive the bonuses as bet tokens in differing nominations that can only be used on certain markets or events.
Always read the terms and conditions for these offers as you may need to place a qualifying bet of a specific amount and at minimum odds – but these are often a great way to get started with a new bookmaker, particularly when the initial outlay is low for a large amount of free bets in return – such as Sky Bet’s bet 5p and get £30 in free bets.
Matched deposit bonus
A matched bet is when your deposit or qualifying bet is matched with a free bet of the same amount up to a certain limitation. One example of this is Betway, who will match your qualifying accumulator bet with free bets worth up to £30 if it turns out to be a loser once you create your account.
These are similar in many ways to bet and get offers but again there are variations in terms of the amount of free bets you are entitled to and the amount you must stake.
Free Spin bonuses
While these are more common with casino sites than sportsbooks, many bookmakers such as Midnite also offer ‘free spins’ as an added bonus alongside your sportsbook free bets.
Some bookmakers offer their new customers the chance to choose either a sportsbook bonus, which usually comes in the form of the aforementioned ‘bet and get’ style welcome offer, or a free spins casino bonus if they prefer. These are usually limited to one selected game from your chosen site.
Winnings Boosts
Rather than offer free bets, some bookmakers such as AK Bets will offer a boost on your winnings if your first bet proves to be a winner. In the case of AK Bets in particular, you’ll receive up to £100 as a boost on your winnings if your first accumulator proves to be a winner.
While the free bets on offer with some bookmakers can offer new punters the opportunity to place a few bets and get to grips with the site, if you’re looking to land a big bonus then this kind of sign-up offer may be more appealing to you.
Money back on first day losses
Some bookmakers, particularly those with a focus on horse-racing, will offer some punters a percentage of their first-day losses back in the form of free bets rather than offering free bets as a reward for placing an initial stake.
Bet Goodwin are one such bookmaker – they offer new customers 50% of their first-day losses back in the form of free bets up to a limit of £25 – as is the case with BresBet’s new customer offer.
Comparing Features of Top UK Bookmakers
While you find our bigger snapshots of the leading bookmakers above, here is a quick-glance guide:
| Bookmaker | Cash-Out Option | Mobile App | Live Streaming | Loyalty Program |
| Bet365 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| BetMGM | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Betfred | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Betway | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Paddy Power | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Coral | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CopyBet | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Betfair | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Spreadex | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| BetUK | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| BoyleSports | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sky Bet | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SBK | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Parimatch | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Betano | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Ladbrokes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| talkSPORT BET | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Unibet | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AK Bets | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| 10bet | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
UK Bookmakers: UKGC Licences and Owners
eCOGRA (eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance) is the UK’s industry self-regulation system and certification body. We only feature eCOGRA approved and fully licensed operators on Squawka and you can find the license number and owner of each of our featured bookmakers in the table below.
| Bookmaker | UKGC License Account Number | Owner |
| Bet365 | 55148 | Hillside |
| BetMGM | 39198 | LeoVegas Gaming PLC |
| Betfred | 49528 | Petfre (Gibraltar) |
| Betway | 39372 | Betway |
| Paddy Power | 39439 | PPB Counterparty Services |
| Coral | 54743 | LC International |
| Copy Bet | 53774 | CopyBet |
| Betfair | 39439 | PPB Counterparty Services |
| Spreadex | 8835 | Spreadex Limited |
| Bet UK | 39198 | LeoVegas Gaming |
| Boylesports | 39469 | Boylesports |
| Sky Bet | 38718 | Bonne Terre |
| SBK | 39173 | Smarkets |
| Parimatch | 39576 | BV Gaming Limited |
| Betano | 39576 | BV Gaming Limited |
| Ladbrokes | 54743 | LC International |
| talkSPORT Bet | 39576 | BV Gaming Limited |
| Unibet | 45322 | Platinum Gaming |
| Ak Bets | 9177 | Star Racing |
| 10bet | 43173 | Blue Star Planet |
Common Types of Bet
Single
A single bet is when you include just one selection on your bet. As a result, you just need one outcome in order for your bet to be a winner.
Within football, many people will place single bets on outright markets – which is where you select a certain team to win a competition outright or a certain player to win a top scorer award for example.
Double
A double bet is when you combine two selections to create just one bet.
With a double bet, you need both your first and second selections to be winners in order for your bet to come in and your money to be credited. It’s not necessarily the case that this kind of bet is less likely to win though – it all comes down to the odds on each selection.
Accumulator
Accumulators are a combination of four or more markets and these kinds of bets are particularly popular among football supporters on Saturday afternoons in the United Kingdom when the majority of matches are being played at the same time.
Much like a double, you need every one of your selections to come in for your accumulator bet to be a winner but you’ll often get far bigger odds on this kind of bet, hence why they can be popular among punters!
Lucky
Lucky bets are particularly popular amongst horse-racing fans and are similar to accumulators in some ways as you need to make at least four different selections to place a bet, but differ in that you don’t need every selection to win in order to earn a return.
A lucky places every possible outcome of winners from within your selections – so for example if you pick four teams to win you will place a Lucky 15 as that places 15 separate bets – on four singles, six doubles, four trebles and one fourfold accumulator – and any winner at all will mean some returns, although it may be less than your total stake.
How do betting odds work?
The type of bet you place determines how the odds of your bet works. The simplest explanation from the above examples is when placing a single bet. There are fractional, decimal and american odds available on every bet, although the most common in the United Kingdom is fractional, so we will use this in our example.
The way fractional odds are displayed works almost as a ratio for the amount of returns you will receive for your stake. So if you were to place a bet at odds of 5/1, you will receive £5 for every £1 you stake. You will also receive your stake in return, meaning your returns will total £6 altogether in that example.
When you add several selections to your bet slip for a multiple bet, the stake of each bet is added to the last, meaning the cumulative price is the one that you will eventually be placing your stake on. So if you place £1 on three selections and the first one is a winner, then the entire stake of that bet if it was a single is placed on the second selection – and the same process occurs for the third selection.
Other bets such as Yankees and Luckys mean that you are placing several different bets for the same stake and you only need some of your selections to come in for the bet to return some money.
What is the Best Sports Betting Site for Beginners?
We recommend SBK because its app is easy to use and read and offers superb odds. Bet365 is another good beginner option, as it provides great coverage for betting options and offers straightforward, long-standing promotions.
Newcomers to sports betting sites may prefer simple platforms with easy-to-read, clear market listings. Note that the first bookmaker you register for as a beginner may be one you continue to use for a long time, so getting a good fit from the start is essential.
How to Open an Account at a UK Betting Site
Getting set up with an online betting site is straightforward, and an account can be opened in under five minutes.
Here is an overview of what you must do at any online betting site, although there may be slight variations.
Step 1: Select a Betting Site
The first step is to find a bookmaker who is right for you. This page has suggestions to help you out.
Step 2: Register
Registration will require specific mandatory details like a full name, address and date of birth. A working email and phone number will also be required, which are essential for the operator’s current communications.
Step 3: Confirm Welcome Bonus
If you plan on taking a welcome bonus, double-check the terms and conditions before proceeding. Also, check to see what deposit methods qualify and the minimum deposit.
Step 4: Deposit
Select a payment method. Debit cards and bank transfers are among the most commonly used. E-wallets like Paypal, Skrill, and Neteller are popular alternatives. When you select an option, it will be linked to your account and used (in most cases) for withdrawals. You can add more than one payment option to an account.
Step 5: Account Verification
An important step is complete account verification. For security reasons, the details entered during registration must be verified before the first account withdrawal. Copies of a driving licence and passport can be used to verify name and date of birth. At the same time, a bank statement or utility bill is an option to confirm the current address (the same document can’t be used for both ID and address verification), and copies can be emailed or uploaded to the operator.
How Squawka Rates & Ranks Betting Sites
We perform an in-depth study of all the online betting sites we visit. Here are some of the key areas that we look at:
- Licencing and privacy
- Market Variety
- Mobile Betting
- In-play Betting
- Odds Quality
- Features
- Deposits and Withdrawals
- Bonuses
- Customer Service
- User-friendliness
For more detailed information about how we rate and rank the best bookies, visit our methodology page.
Why We Don’t List All UK Bookmakers
There are over 100 bookmaker sites in the UK, but we only list the top 20. We do not list bookmakers that are not safe and trustworthy and have many customer complaints. Our main criterion is that we only list operators that the UK Gambling Commission licenses for player safety.
We cut risk by only mentioning reputable bookmakers that real players have found trustworthy, usually because they have been established for a long period of time.
How To Choose The Right Bookmaker For You
There are many essential elements of a leading betting site, starting with being a licensed platform, but here are some other tips for choosing the right bookmaker:
Odds & Market variety
The quality of odds needs to be strong, particularly in bookmaker margins, to get quality prices on your preferred markets. Some bookmakers such as BetVictor and Bet365 stand out by consistently performing well at the top of odds comparisons. Coupled with the need for solid odds, good market variety ensures you get the bets you want.
Payment Options
The right payment method is also important because if you only want to use PayPal, you need sites accepting secure transactions. It’s good to have a main payment, usually a debit card for bonuses, but also a second source like an e-wallet because of faster withdrawal times.
Sportsbook Features
Features are also important. While all sites have cash-out, the markets on which they are available vary greatly. Look for other features that suit you, including options like a dedicated mobile betting app for players on phones or tablets, Bet Builders, and live streaming.
Promotions & Bonuses
Promotions and bonus incentives should be taken into consideration as well. It’s important to remember that the welcome bonus is just a one-time deal. Finding the correct long-term value through offers is more important, like a bookmaker with good acca insurance if you play accas. Look for long-standing offers that fit your betting style.
Customer Services
Another essential factor of a good betting site is customer service. In case any issue comes up with a bonus or you have a query about a particular bet, you’ll need to reach out. That goes for complaints and aid with Responsible Gambling tools. Good customer service is necessary, and the best is a site with 24/7 live chat, which is much faster than email.
Payout Speed
It’s also worth noting that with some bookmakers you may have to wait a designated period of time to receive your winnings as withdrawals can take up to five business days to process. Other bookmakers, such as Bet365 and BoyleSports offer near-instant withdrawals meaning you won’t have to sit around and wait for your money to hit your bank account. If this is important to you, then definitely check the bookmaker’s payout times before you deposit and play.
Best Betting Sites for Football
Skybet and Bet UK
When it comes to Football, Bet365 is among the best bookmakers around due to its depth of markets, competitive odds and extensive live streaming profile. We’re also a big fan of Paddy Power as they offer some of the best price boosts available on every Premier League and Champions League match among others.
Sky Bet, unsurprisingly given their links to Sky Sports, possess some of the best stats markets available and with their bet-builder feature you can add several selections from the same match in order to place a single bet – while they also have some cool accumulator features and a highly user-friendly interface.
Best Betting Sites for Horse Racing
BetGoodwin and Betfred
BetGoodwin offers Free Bet refunds on nose losers, Free Bet refunds if your horse is beaten by under half a length in a chase, Free Bet refunds if your horse falls at the last fence or hurdle when leaning, and several other money-back offers.
Many bookmakers offer Best Odds guaranteed on Horse Racing and live streaming from big meets. Betfred falls into this category by allowing racing punters to take advantage of both of those features on their site.
Best Betting Sites for Tennis
Bet UK and Unibet
Bet UK is one of our biggest recommendations for betting on Tennis. The reasons are quite simple – they offer a huge array of markets on tennis, some of the most competitive odds on the market for this particular sport, and an excellent new customer offer to boot.
Many bookmakers offer Tennis price boosts during Wimbledon, but all year round, with Unibet, you can get a 5% Live Profit Boost on any tennis tournament between 18:00 and 06:00. They also offer live streaming on some of the biggest tennis tournaments around the world.
Best Betting Sites for Cricket
Rhinobet and Betfair
Rhinobet might not be one of the most recognisable names in online gambling – but perhaps that will change among the cricket betting community in the coming years as they offer a large array of cricket markets and some of the most trustworthy customer services options around.
Betfair also offers early odds for many cricket matches, be that Test Cricket or the IPL, and a strong in-play offering that isn’t always available with other online bookmakers on this particular sport.
Sports to bet on at UK betting sites
Football
Football is the main focus here at Squawka and indeed it’s among the most popular sports to be on with most UK betting sites. With Premier League, La Liga and Serie A fixtures occurring most weekends throughout the year, there’s rarely a lack of football to bet on – especially with continental Champions League and Europa League also taking place in midweek.
Every second summer break from the European Leagues we also have an international competition, with the 2026 World Cup next on the horizon in the USA, Canada and Mexico, before the United Kingdom hosts the European Championships in 2028 with England hoping to win the competition on home soil having lost the last two finals.
Horseracing
Perhaps the most popular sport to be on historically, horse racing remains an obsession to it’s dedicated followers in the United Kingdom, Ireland and beyond, with the USA, France and Australia also playing host to a sport that is almost intertwined with betting.
In terms of the UK calendar, the week to really look out for in horse racing is the Cheltenham Festival, which takes place in March every year. There’s also the Epsom Derby, the Grand National and Royal Ascot, all of which attract thousands of supporters and many more punters both in the bookmakers and online every single year.
Tennis
The range of markets available to bet on in tennis matches has increased in recent years and it remains a popular sport to place bets on within the sports betting fraternity.
Of course from a United Kingdom perspective the main event is Wimbledon, which takes place every summer in London. The other majors are the Australian open, which is played in January, the French Open in May and June and the US Open in August and September and these are the most popular competitions among many that you will see tennis punters placing bets on during the year.
Cricket
Particularly popular among spread bettors for the interesting markets you can back within the sport, cricket has grown generally in popularity as a betting sport in recent years with the dawn of the shorter-format T20 games, particularly with the Indian Premier League and the Blast in the UK.
There’s always further interest when England are in action, be that at the ODI or T20 World Cups or during Test Matches, particularly the Ashes where the Three Lions take on Australia twice every four years.
Other Sports
Obviously there are tonnes of other sports featured on the bookmakers on this page, some more popular with punters than others.
Some of the other biggest events for bookmakers during the year include the World Darts Championships in December and January, the major golf events including the Open in July, Rugby Union’s Six Nations in Spring and of course every four years we have the Olympics, with the next one coming in 2028 in Los Angeles.
Looking for a Bookmaker Alternative? We Got You Covered
While our top recommendations are a great starting point, we’ve also selected additional options from our top 20 bookmakers. We’ve listed some of the best alternatives to the leading bookmakers to assist you further.
William Hill Bookmaker Alternatives
William Hill is a long-established betting operator which is superb for horse racing offers and coverage. Unibet is a site that matches up well with them in terms of quality racing service, as they also have many international racing and live streams, Best Odds Guaranteed, streams, and integrated insights from the Racing Post.
Bet365 Bookmaker Alternatives
Bet365 is a betting site that boasts an extensive sportsbook with great live in-play betting and long-standing promotions. For a similar vibe, we recommend checking out BoyleSports, another highly-rated operator, for user-friendly in-play betting and outstanding promotions.
Betfair Bookmaker Alternatives
The Betfair sportsbook is user-friendly, with easy-to-find markets and a great app. Betfair merged with Paddy Power several years ago, and you will find many similarities in appearance, account management, and bet markets between the two sportsbooks.
Ladbrokes Bookmaker Alternatives
Ladbrokes is one of the oldest gambling companies in the UK, and it merged with Coral in 2016. Their sites are very similar and outstanding for racing, and the overall volume of covered sports, but promotions vary quite a bit.
Betway Bookmaker Alternatives
Betway’s site has many extra features, like a free bet club, price boosts, and a free prediction game. Betfred checks many of the same boxes if you are looking for a similar platform.
What are the Safest and Easiest Payment Methods used for Online Betting in the UK?
Most online sportsbooks in the UK offer a wide range of payment methods that bettors can choose from when looking to make a deposit.
Below, bettors can find a comprehensive list of the deposit methods available when placing bets with a UK sportsbook.
The most common online payment type in the UK as of June 2024 for all services was Debit Card, with 69% of all purchasers in the country using that method. 55% of users have used online payment services such as PayPal, Google Pay and Klarna too.
Debit card
The most popular method of making a deposit at a UK betting site is with a debit card with Visa Debit and Mastercard Debit supported by most betting sites. Bettors are able to both deposit with a debit card and, just as importantly, withdraw from a betting site with the same method.
Credit Card
Although once a popular method of deposit in the UK, credit cards are no longer accepted by online betting sites.
Research conducted by the UK Gambling Commission surrounding problem gamblers found that 22% used a credit card to fund online betting. This figure prompted a government review and in April 2020, all UK-licensed betting sites ceased to offer the payment method as a deposit option.
PayPal
The online eWallet PayPal is the payment transfer option used by over 300 million users worldwide and is a popular choice among bettors in the UK. Similar to debit cards, PayPal can be used on betting sites to both deposit and withdraw although bettors using credit cards to fund their eWallet will not be able to use the method.
Click to Pay
Click to pay is an extension of the debit card payment method, allowing bettors to make a deposit with a single click of a button. The idea of the method is to make transactions as efficient as possible, saving the 16-digit card number, expiry date and CVV number to make instant deposits at betting sites.
Boku
One of the lesser-known payment methods popular among a small number of UK-based bettors is Boku, a payment company allowing players to make deposits via carrier billing and mobile wallets. The main idea behind a Boku deposit is that bettors can add their deposit to their mobile phone carrier bill – offering an alternative method that suits some players.
Skrill
Similar to PayPal, Skrill is another example of an eWallet that allows for both deposits and withdrawals with the money transfer method. Skrill can be used both in the UK and in over 120 additional countries globally.
Paysafecard
A Paysafecard gives bettors the opportunity to deposit at a sportsbook in exchange for a voucher that can be purchased in-store with cash. The Paysafecard received contains a 16-digit code that can be entered at a betting site to add funds. A Paysafecard cannot be used to withdraw funds from an account.
Neteller
Neteller is another example of an e-money transfer service that can be used to both deposit and withdraw from an online betting site. The payment method is popular among betting fans and can be used to both withdraw funds to a bank account or directly to a Net+ card.
Apple Pay
Apple Pay allows bettors to make deposits at sportsbooks when using a dedicated sportsbook app when using an Apple iPhone. Apple Pay is quickly becoming one of the favourite ways to pay at any online betting site, although withdrawals are not possible with the service.
Google Pay
Similar to Apple Pay, Google Pay allows users of Android devices to make payments when using their devices to access sportsbooks and online casinos. Again, similar to Apple Pay, bettors are unable to make withdrawals with Google Pay.
Wire transfer
A wire transfer is often offered as both a deposit and withdrawal method with the majority of UK betting sites supporting the banking method. Bettors can use a wire transfer with their bank account by choosing the option in the cashier.
Cryptocurrency
At the time of writing, BTC and other Crypto are now perfectly legal payment options with registered and secure gambling sites. It is only available with specific bookmakers and countries and indeed with specific cryptocurrencies, so be sure to read the full terms and conditions for your chosen website. A handful of UK bookmakers currently allow deposits via crypto but none of the firms featured on this page will allow you to deposit with cryptocurrency methods.
Cash
Cash is offered as both a deposit and a withdrawal option from a number of UK bookmakers that also operate in brick-and-mortar stores. By heading to a supporting betting shop of choice, deposits and withdrawals can be made with cash, although additional cards may be required to complete transactions.
Online Betting Sites Frequently Asked Questions
Is Betting in the UK safe?
Sports betting in the UK is one of the safest forms of wagering globally with the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) recognised as one of the strictest in the world.
Formed in 2005, the UKGC focuses on keeping gambling fair and safe for all, requiring operators to meet strict regulations to offer their betting markets in the UK. Unlike many other European counties, the UK requires betting sites to obtain a UK-specific license, issued by the UKGC, to ensure that bettors have access to safe and fair betting.
Bettors are given a large number of responsible gaming tools including deposit limits and self-exclusion at all sportsbooks. This is complemented with the GAMSTOP service offered in the UK, offering full exclusions from all UK licensed gambling companies for the chosen period of 6 months, 1 year or 5 years.
Can I trust this new bookmaker?
Not all new betting sites are created equal, so the level of trust associated with each site will differ depending on its individual credentials.
It is important to first look at whether the new betting site has a license from the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC). This license is a key requirement for all bookmakers, casinos, and poker sites, to allow gambling online within the United Kingdom.
The UKGC is responsible for the safety and fairness of betting for players within the UK. It ensures that all brands adhere to strict rules and betting regulations. If a new betting site does not hold a UKGC license, players should avoid using it.
All of the new betting sites in our top list are verified as trustworthy and guarantee that each one holds a UKGC license and that the sites use SSL data encryption.
How often do new bookmakers come to market?
It is hard to come by high-quality trustworthy new bookmakers in the UK, whilst a number of new sites are launching globally, they are not all worth looking at.
Each new bookmaker must meet strict criteria not only to be granted a UK license but also to be successful with punters. Sites that don’t offer many promotions, offer low odds, few markets, and lack any sort of a loyalty scheme are unlikely to prosper in the incredibly competitive UK betting world.
Therefore, we are focused on the best new bookmakers that we think will be valuable in the UK instead of highlighting every single one that comes to market. So check this page often for the newest bookmakers.
Are there betting sites that offer live streaming of all sports?
Most betting sites, such as Paddy Power and Sky Bet, offer live streaming, which is free for funded account holders.
Are there betting sites that offer virtual sports betting?
Most betting sites, like Sky Bet, have a virtual sports section. Virtual sports are random number-generated games of chance.
What should I do if I encounter problems with customer support?
The Gambling Commission site has a Resolver tool that can help with advice and reach out to a bookmaker. This is why it is important to play at licensed sites.
Who is the biggest bookmaker in the UK?
Long-established bookmakers like William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral, and Bet365 are major players with considerable trading power.
What is the UK’s number 1 betting app?
SBK has a fantastic app. It’s a very modern design with great odds, and it indicates when they are top odds on prices. Bet365 is highly rated, too.
Which betting site has the fastest payout in the UK?
Bet365 site offers quick withdrawal options, and with Visa Direct, payouts can happen in up to four hours.
Are winnings from sports betting taxed in the UK?
Generally, this is not the case, as the government sees gambling as entertainment and not a commission. Professional gamblers may be subject to tax, and rates range from 20% to 45%.
How much does the average person gamble in the UK?
According to the Gambling Commission, the average person spends £141 a year, or £2.70 a week, on betting and gaming.
Are there any betting sites that specialise in esports?
Many sites, including Betway, BoyleSports, and talkSPORT BET, are perfect for esports betting. All offer a wide range of games and markets.
What betting site has the most comprehensive coverage of international sports?
Bet365 is an outstanding choice for international sports – their range of competitions within sports is exemplary.
Are there any betting sites that offer exclusive sports markets?
Paddy Power offers a variety through its curated Bet Builders, WhatPricePaddy feature, and in-play markets like intervals.
How do betting sites handle customer data privacy?
Betting companies are allowed to use personal information for KYC (Know Your Customer) purposes and for security reasons when you first open your account. You will always be notified to give your consent before providing that personal data and these sites will use sophisticated encryption technologies such as SSL to guarantee the safety of the data you provide them.
Can I access UK betting sites with a VPN if I’m outside the UK?
The short answer is that it depends on the bookmaker. With some bookmakers being restricted within certain countries, VPN users may be blocked from entering UK bookmaker websites for legal purposes.