The Best Betting Sites in UK - December 2023

Our top 20 betting sites for 2023 are:

Finding the best online bookmaker in the UK isn’t the easiest of tasks and with so many different sites all claiming to be the best, the noise levels in the industry can be a little deafening.

We’ve worked with careful criteria to compile a trusted list of the best betting sites and welcome offers in the UK:

Bookmaker	Sign-Up Offer	Link/Bonus Code	Offer Terms
BetMGM	Bet £10, get £40 in free bets	Click Here	18+. BeGambleAware.org. New customers only. 3 days to claim and 7 days to place a qualifying bet to receive 4 x 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.
Bet365	Bet £10 get £30	Click Here	New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £30* 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. Registration required.
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
Copy Bet	Bet £10, get £40 in free bets	Click Here	18+ only. New customers only. For verified UK clients only. The qualifying bet should start at £10 and have 1.5 or greater odds. Following the qualifying bet, you will receive 4 free bets that can be used one after another. Each free bet lasts for 7 days. Single bet only. Pre-Match or Live. No Cash-Out. Max payout – £500.
Betfair	Bet £10 get £30 in free bets	Click Here	New Customer offer. Place a min £5 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £20 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly
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.
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+. BeGambleAware.org. Full T&Cs apply.
Rhino Bet	Bet £30, get a £5 free bet	Click Here	This promotion is for new customers only. Customers must be 18+. Customers must be residents of the UK/IE. Sign Up using the promo code ‘b30g5′ and make a minimum deposit of £30. Place a minimum £30 bet on any selection with minimum odds of evens (2) and receive a £5 free bet upon bet settlement. BeGambleAware.org. Full terms & conditions apply.
BetGoodwin	50% back as a free bet up to £25 on first day losses	Click Here	18+ only. Register a new online account with Betgoodwin. Must have a minimum of 3 bets of £10 or more on separate events at odds of evens (2.0) or bigger on first day. First day losses equals all settled stakes less all returns. The day finishes at 23:59 on day of registration. Free bets must be used in their entirety and stakes are deducted from returns. Free bets non withdrawable Free bets to be credited within 24 hours.  Full Terms and Conditions apply.
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+ BeGambleAware.org.
Grosvenor	Get double the odds on your first bet	Click Here	New customers. Max £10. 100% Odds Boost token. Keep it fun – set your deposit limit. T&Cs apply. 18+ only. BeGambleAware.org
Lottoland	Get your first stake back as a free bet up to £5	Click Here	This offer is valid to new sports customers only. This promotion is valid until 31/12/2023 22:59 GMT. This promotion is valid once for players who have opted in before placing their first bet. If a player’s first bet loses, a £5 Free Bet will be assigned to their account. The minimum bet to qualify is £5. The maximum Free Bet amount from this promotion is £5. The maximum win from a Free Bet is capped at £100. If bets are void then no reward will be given and your initial bet amount will be refunded. 18+ only. Terms & conditions apply.
Boylesports	Bet £10, get £10 in free bets & £10 casino bonus	Click Here	New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. £20 in FREE Bets (FB) as £10 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7-day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+. T&Cs apply.
Betway	£30 matched free bet if your first acca loses	Click Here	18+ only. New customers only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. Min Deposit: £10. First deposit matched up to £10. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card deposits only (exclusions apply). Free bet will expire 7 days after the 1st deposit. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way. Full Terms apply
Unibet	Money back up to £40 if your first bet loses plus £10 casino bonus	Click Here	18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first sports bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. Visit Unibet.co.uk for full T&C’s.
Ladbrokes	Bet £5 and get £20 in free bets	Click Here	18+ New UK+IRE 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 4x £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.
Kwiff	Bet £10 and get a £30 surprise bet	Click Here	Qualifying real money bet of £10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer awarded immediately but could be issued the next working day in exceptional circumstances such as technical fault. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
Luckland	Bet £15 and get £25 in free bets	Click Here	New Customers Only. Max One £25 Free Bet. Min Qualifying Stake £15. Qualifying Bets Must Be Placed At Odds Of 1/1 (2.00) Or Greater. Paid As Bonus Token With Min 4/5 (1.80) Odds Req. Skrill, Neteller & Paypal Are Not Eligible. T&cs Apply. 18+
Jeffbet	Bet £10, get £30 in free bets	Click Here	New Players Only. Min £10 qualifying bets, stake not returned. Free bet – one-time stake of £30, 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 issue. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Excluded Skrill deposits. Full Terms apply. begambleaware.org
Betfred	Get £40 in bonuses when you stake £10	Click Here	New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required. Full T&Cs apply.

Leading Events to Bet on This Week at Top Bookmakers

It’s a busy week of sporting action, and we check out three popular events you’ll find covered by the top betting sites.

Women’s Big Bash League

One of Saturday’s finalists is already known – the Adelaide Strikers await their opponent as they look to win the tournament for the second consecutive year. On Wednesday, the Brisbane Heat will take on the Sydney Thunder, with the winner taking on the Perth Scorchers. The winner of the Perth game goes on to play the Strikers in the Final. Beth Mooney of the Scorchers has the most runs in the tournament for a fourth consecutive season.

Nottingham Forest vs Everton

Forest have only lost once at home in the league before this Saturday’s game at 5:30pm, which came in their most recent contest, falling 3-2 to Brighton. They have a win over Aston Villa at the City Ground with their three other games all score draws. Everton lost 3-0 at home to Manchester United last weekend and, in general, have done their best work on their travels this season. No one has more than four wins away in the Premier League – Everton has three to their credit already.

UK Championship Snooker

The York Barbican is the venue for the UK Championship, with defending champion Mark Allen dumped out in the opening round at the weekend by Ding Junhui. One of the three triple crown events is second in status, with only the World Championship at the Crucible holding more prestige. Ronnie O’Sullivan has won this event on seven occasions, a record for the tournament, which started in 1977.

The Top Bookmakers Reviewed by Our In House Experts

Bet365

Bet365 is the world’s most popular online bookmaker with more players than any other and with an incredibly easy to use interface, a huge array of markets and constant innovation, it isn’t difficult to see why.

Bet365 Regular Promotions

• Bet Boost – Get a bigger price on a selected runner for every UK & Irish horse race and on chosen markets for other selected sports
• Price Promise – Bet365 will not be beaten on any price on any horse for all UK and Irish races shown live on ITV Racing
• 2 Goals Ahead Early Payout Offer – Get your single bets paid out if the team you back goes 2 goals ahead – for multiple bets the selection will be marked as a winner.
• Soccer Accumulator Bonus – Up to 70% bonus for accumulators on a wide range of selected leagues and competitions
• Soccer Substitute Guarantee – If your player is substituted before half-time Bet365 will return your stake as Bet Credits on selected markets – for multiple bets your remaining selections will be left to run.

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of Bet365’s betting site

Bet365 always appear to be at the forefront of innovations and were among the first bookmakers to offer live streaming, In Play betting and cash out functionalities, all of which they remain at the forefront of now and they offer the best live streaming product of arguably any bookmaker in the world. They have a huge selection of sports, several continuous bonuses and offers, competitive odds and for many punters the easiest to use sportsbook both on desktop and mobile app.

Cons

Honestly, there aren’t too many cons when it comes to Bet365 which is such a well rounded site with so much to offer. One issue is that they do seem to restrict players quicker than most in the industry. It would also be handy to have a phone number for customer services – although live chat and email support is available.

Sky Bet

Sky Bet are another highly popular bookmaker who offer some of the best price boosts for existing customers alongside their ever-changing but always excellent new customer offers. With a brilliantly easy to use website and app, their popularity will not be waning any time soon.

Copybet Regular Promotions

• Sky Bet Club – Bet £30 or more and get a £5 Free Bet to use at Sky Bet every week
• Price Boosts – Enhanced singles and acca prices every single day on football and more
• Free To Play Daily Game – Up to £3m in Free Bet giveaways
• Extra Places – Regularly paying ‘Extra Places’ on the biggest UK and Irish horse racing
• Free Bets – Occasional free bets for specified events
• 2 Up Early Payout – Get paid out early if your team is winning by two or more goals

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of Sky Bet’s betting site

Sky Bet has got pretty much everything you might need from your online bookmaker. A great user interface, a huge array of markets, competitive pricing and regular free bets and prize giveaways. We’re particularly impressed of late with the depth of some of the markets available on Premier League football, with stats bets that you never thought would be possible now appearing regularly on Sky Bet for the biggest games.

Cons

Although Sky Bet do offer live streaming on horse racing, they don’t offer any football, basketball or tennis platform to live stream events unfortunately. Like Bet365, they are also a little hasty when it comes to restricting and blocking accounts from time to time.

Copybet

Although a new name on the online gambling scene, Copybet are already right up there among our favourite bookmakers. They have an interesting USP and a fantastic new customer offer to get players started on their journey

Copybet Regular Promotions

• Enhanced Odds – Regular price boosts to get maximum payouts
• £5 Free Bet on QPR – New customers will receive a £5 free bet for the next QPR fixture – the Championship club that Copybet are partnered with.
• Start Copying – Copy all the bets of the professional tipsters with the Tipsters section that shows in real-time which experts are in the best betting form
• Prediction Challenge – Guess the score in the challenge and win a football shirt or a Free bet worth £50
• Acca Bonus – Winner bonus of up to 20% to your winnings if you meet wagering requirements (odds of 1.5 minimum, 5+ selections)

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of Copybet’s betting site

Copybet’s new customer offer is a really stand-out one, allowing punters to receive £40 in free bets when they join and bet £10 – with full terms and conditions written higher in this page above. Their ‘Their rating system for tipsters allow you to follow who the best tipsters are and copy their strategies and you can automatically copy the bets with their process.

Cons

As is often the case with newer bookmakers, Copybet’s odds are perhaps not the most competitive in the world right now and nor do they have the largest depth of markets. We would anticipate improvements being made in this area though as this is a strong platform with huge potential for growth in the coming years.

Betfair

Through their exchange platform and their standard sportsbook, Betfair have developed a reputation among punters for offering good value, a huge array of football stats markets and one of the better bet-builder functionalities around.

Betfair Regular Promotions

• Price Boosts – Enhanced odds on specified markets on every Premier League and Champions League game plus plenty more
• Earn £10 in cash for every friend you refer – Refer a friend and earn £10 cash. As simple as that!
• Substitution guarantee – Receive money back if the player you’ve backed is substituted in the first 10 minutes of the match
• Lengthen the odds – One for the Racing fans. Bets will be settled on the official distance between the named selection & the horse that finishes 2nd.
• Extra Place races – Get more places on specified races when placing place or e/w bets in the horse racing with Betfair.
• Daily cash drops and weekly giveaways in the Casino – It’s not just the sportsbook where you can earn prizes and bonuses with Betfair.

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of Betfair’s betting site

The real stand-out for Betfair is the exchange, where you can often get a better price for your punt by betting against other customers rather than the bookmaker itself. Betfair’s exchange is now the largest in the world and is run excellently – but standard sportsbook users have plenty to take advantage of too and we particularly like their bet-builder functionality which is easy to use and offers decent value odds.

Cons

Unfortunately, many countries are restricted with Betfair which will prevent many punters from joining them. We’d also like to see a better In Play offering as for the moment, there are no graphics on-site for games that aren’t being live streamed.

Paddy Power

Known for offering some of the best promotions and bonuses on the market, Paddy Power like to keep their most loyal customers coming back for more. They’re also a great follow on social media, often poking fun at the world of football and beyond.

Paddy Power Regular Promotions

• Free Bet-Builder promotions – For example at the time of writing, if you place a £5 bet-builder on England vs Denmark in the Women’s World Cup you’ll receive a free £5 bet-builder
• Power Prices on selected markets – These are enhanced odds on selected markets from the biggest and best competitions in world football. Nice.
• Money back as a free bet if 1 leg lets you down on an acca – Pretty self-explanatory – but be sure to check your accumulator bet qualifies for this promotion before placing.
• Early pay-out if your team goes 2 goals up – Like some of the previously featured bookmakers on this page, Paddy Power will pay out early if the team you’ve backed take a two goal lead
• Beat The Drop game – Start with a £5000 prize pot – answer 15 questions and money left in the pot after all the questions is yours to keep!
• Get £20 for every friend you refer – You’ll get £20 and your friend will get a special sign-up offer
• Justice Refund – Get money back if the player you have backed is subbed before half-time

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of Paddy Power’s betting site

Paddy Power are great for punters in many ways, not least through the list of promotions above and their regular price boosts. With quick withdrawal times and speedy customer support, they often offer the best odds for goalscorer markets too, if that’s one market you’re particularly fond of.

Cons

Unfortunately like Betfair, many countries are restricted with Paddy Power. Although specific markets do seem to compete very well, across the board you won’t often get the best odds available at Paddy Power and they do not have the best live streaming capabilities on-site either.

SBK

SBK’s odds are based on the Smarkets betting exchange which means you’ll get some of the most competitive odds available on the market. In addition to this, they possess one of the most user-friendly apps around with an excellent, fresh layout and well signposted markets.

SBK Regular Promotions

• Weekly Offer – Changes weekly. At the time of writing, the offer is – Opt-in and bet £50 on any markets and get a £10 free bet.
• Live Racing – SBK are now offering live streams on selected horse racing for funded accounts
• Tips Section – Follow Tipsters when they post their bets for specified games
• SBK Price Plus – If you see the green triangle next to any market, this means you’re getting the best possible price for your bet
• TV & Specials – Bet on TV markets such as BBC Sports Personality of the Year and the Next James Bond

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of SBK’s betting site

The fact that SBK’s best odds available are signposted so easily as well as the social aspect of the app with tipster’s bets for specific matches and competitions being posted make SBK a very viable bookmaker for any punter – but our favourite thing remains their app, which is arguably the best on the market.

Cons

We’d like to see some more price boosts from SBK – although with such competitive odds, they aren’t always needed. They’ve only just started live streaming Horse Racing too, so hopefully we’ll see this section of the app expanded into other sports in the not too distant future.

Rhino Bet

Rhino Bet are one of the more impressive new bookmakers on the scene, offering competitive odds and a stripped-back sportsbook that’s easy to use and uncluttered for fans of sports like football and horse racing. They have virtual sports betting and regular price boosts and enhanced odds too.

Rhino Bet Regular Promotions

• Off To A Flyer – Bet £10 on selected races and get 50 free spins if your horse is a winner
• Second Chance – Bet £20 on selected races and get 50 free spins if your horse finishes second
• Rhino Reels – Wager £250+ on selected slots and get 50 free spins
• Drops & Wins – Opt-in and load a participating game for a chance to win the jackpot
• Best Odds Guaranteed – On British & Irish Horse Racing
• Price Boosts – Regular enhanced odds on selected sports markets for existing customers.

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of Rhino Bet’s betting site

Rhino Bet are offering competitive odds on a huge array of sports and they have a strong casino focus too, as you can see from the regular promotions listed above that allow punters to win cash prizes and free spins. They also have a great app, which is rare for a bookmaker as new as this one.

Cons

We’d like to see slightly better customer support with a Live Chat option available which is currently missing. Although they’re clearly attempting to achieve a ‘stripped-back’ style of sportsbook, a larger array of markets wouldn’t go amiss for those looking to bet on more obscure sports.

Bet Goodwin

Step forward horse racing fans – this one’s for you. Bet Goodwin have been around for many years offering one of the better telephone betting systems in the United Kingdom but they’ve now branched out to an online sportsbook with plenty of promotions that racing fans in particular can take advantage of.

BetGoodwin Regular Promotions

• Free Bet Up To £100 – If your horse is beaten by a nose
• Free Bet Up To £100 – If your horse is beaten by under half a length in a chase
• Free Bet Up To £100 – If your horse falls at the final hurdle
• Free Bet Up To £100 – If your horse finishes second to a 50/1 or bigger price horse
• Best Odds Guaranteed – On British & Irish Horse Racing
• Specials – Dedicated specials section with unique betting opportunities

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of Bet Goodwin’s betting site

Bet Goodwin offer some very interesting markets, particularly in the aforementioned specials market and we find the sportsbook to be one of the more attractive among the newer online bookmakers with a crisp layout and stand-out colour scheme of black, yellow and red. Plus, if you’re a racing fan, it’s hard to ignore those Free Bet promotions.

Cons

With the focus so heavily on racing, as football punters it seems as though we’re missing out on some free bets and promotions of our own. We’d also like to see an improved customer service section as there’s currently no opportunity to live chat with any customer support to solve any queries.

Bet UK

Bet UK are among our very favourites of the new bookmakers on the online gambling scene. With a unique layout, an excellent new customer offer and some really interesting football stats markets, Bet UK has blown quite a few of it’s competitors out of the water so far.

Bet UK Regular Promotions

• 20% Profit Boosts – Boost your winnings up to £1000 with a 20% profit boost on selected markets
• Acca Club – Get 5 Profit Boosts to use on accas with different numbers of selections if your bet qualifies
• Get 2 x £3 Free Bets Every Week – When you bet £15 or more on horse racing at odds per selection of 2.0 or greater
• Free Bet-Builders – Get £5 free bet-builders on selected matches and tournaments
• Specials – Unique and enhanced multiples in the clearly signposted BetUK Specials section

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of Bet UK’s betting site

We love how much Bet UK continues to improve on a regular basis with an easy to use and fresh layout, very competitive odds, a decent array of stats-based football markets and of course a new customer offer that’s competitive with some of it’s much more established rivals.

Cons

Although the deposit and withdrawal process is fairly easy, some more payment methods would not go amiss. They are also lacking in some of the customer support options and don’t currently offer anything special in the way of live streams.

Grosvenor

A very established name on the casino scene, Grosvenor now offer a fairly comprehensive sports betting section on their site to boost and as you’d expect for a casino site they have some excellent running promotions and games to play on their popular online offering.

Grosvenor Regular Promotions

• Cash Back – If your horse finishes 2nd to the starting price favourite
• Grosvenor Sport Club – Stake £25 each week and earn a free £5 bet
• Scratch and Win – Play a daily scratch card to try and win a prize
• Get Back 10% of In Play Losses – On selected tournaments and matches
• Grosvenor Top Prices – Boosts for all customers on one football market per day

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of Grosvenor’s betting site

Their ‘double the odds’ new customer offer is one of the more interesting offers around at the moment and something different to the usual Bet and Get offers. Of course, their casino offering is among the best around and they offer jackpots, casino tables, poker and slots among other games on the site.

Cons

Although there’s a great array of offers and promotions, you are limited with some of these in terms of only being able to activate them with specified payment methods. We’d like to see some better Responsible Gambling tools put in place also for this site.

Lottoland

Although they may have started as a Lotto website, Lottoland now offer a pretty comprehensive sportsbook with a deep array of markets, leagues and competitions available for football betting among several other sports.

Lottoland Regular Promotions

• 50 Free Spins – When you place 2 bets on the Irish Lotto
• Weekly Bet Club – Get a £5 free bet every Friday when you bet £25 or more on accas between Saturday and Thursday
• Bingo Specials – Spend £20 on Bingo each week to be invited into Mega Mondays!
• Scratch & Spins Deal – Get 5 Lottoland Scratchcards plus 50 Wager-Free Rainbow Jackpots spins for £5
• MegaMillions Jackpot – Get 2 bets for the price of 1 on the US MegaMillions

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of Lottoland’s betting site

If you want to combine betting on sports with casino, lotto, bingo and scratchcard offerings, then you’d do well to find a better site than Lottoland that offers comprehensive options in all of these areas. We also like the layout of the site, with the light green and white colour scheme being particularly fresh and appealing and they do offer some good football stats bets for a newer site.

Cons

Although the depth of markets is good for a newer sportsbook, we’d like to see more competitive odds from Lottoland as a general rule. We’d also argue that the Mobile App could be slightly more user-friendly in comparison to some of it’s contemparies.

Boylesports

Boylesports are an instantly recognisable name in the UK and Ireland as a well established high-street bookmaker but they also have a strong online offering with plenty of different sports to bet on and an excellent customer support section with live chat and phone support.

Boylesports Regular Promotions

• Acca Rewards Boost – Get up to 100% winnings boosts on accas with 5 or more selections
• Acca Rewards Insure – Get money back as a free bet if your acca with 5 or more selections loses by one leg
• Acca Loyalty – Get a free accumulator for every 5 accas places
• Extra Places – Available on selected races and golf competitions for place and e/w bets
• Money Back as a free bet if your horse finishes 2nd to the SP favourite – On selected races

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of Boylesports betting site

Being as established as they are, Boylesports are a trustworthy and successful bookmakers to play with. They have one of the biggest ranges of deposit and withdrawal methods and the speed of transactions both in and out of your account is among the best in the business to boot. We’re impressed by the decent new customer bonus on offer too.

Cons

Although there is a large array of payment methods, it isn’t possible to claim the sports welcome bonus with all of these methods, nor can you claim it if you’re signing up from outside the UK and Ireland. We’d like to see some improvements made to the user interface too, as it isn’t the easiest website to navigate as things stand and is a little cluttered.

Betway

Betway have grown in popularity in recent years and as a result, their online sports betting offering has gone from strength to strength. They have a uniquely designed website and app that offers a smooth betting experience and a good range of sports to bet on.

Betway Regular Promotions

• Free Bet Club – £10 in free bets if you bet £25 on sports trebles and accumulators each week
• Wheel of Millions – Over £3m worth of Guaranteed Prizes up for grabs
• Betway Boosts – Daily boosted trebles and accumulators
• 4 To Score – Correctly predict the first goalscorer in four selected matches to win up to £100k
• 4 To Win – Correctly predict the horse to win each race and win a daily cash prize

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of Betway’s betting site

Betway’s wide variety of sports as well as their excellent live betting and casino options make them a more than viable option for any self-respecting punter. They have a decent array of games and promotions where you can win free bets and cash prizes too and their sportsbook is incredibly easy to navigate.

Cons

Again, geo-restrictions will stop players from outside certain territories from playing with Betway, which can be frustrating. Although their Live Chat customer service option is strong, there are no other ways to get support when needed, which should be addressed.

Unibet

Originally founded in 1997 and currently based out of Malta, Unibet have a very good reputation among online punters for their uncomplicated sportsbook layout, variety of odds and markets and excellent live streaming services.

Unibet Regular Promotions

• Odds Boosts – Daily Matchday specials with boosted prices
• New & Improved Bet-Builder – Build your own bet, available on all Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1 matches
• Football Fever – Complete football bingo moves to win scratchcards, prizes and other rewards
• 25 free spins – on Forgotten Family every Friday with a bet and get offer
• £10 bonus at Unibet Lightning Roulette – Land a straight-up win on a flash number to win a £10 bonus
• Casino Club – Earn points to qualify for rewards with the Casino Club

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of Unibet’s betting site

Unibet are constantly improving, as shown by their new and improved bet-builder function and they offer great odds boosts and of course one of the best live streaming services around. It’s worth noting that they have one of the better value new customer offers on the market too and very few geo-restrictions.

Cons

While that Casino Club offer for casino players is great, it would be nice to have something similar in place for the sportsbook users among us. We have found that the app could be a little more reliable too, but on the whole Unibet are one of the better bookmakers around at the moment.

Ladbrokes

Ladbrokes is quickly approaching it’s 150th anniversary and with such a history, it’s no surprise that they’ve learned how to treat their customers. With a great value new customer offer and several continuous promotions as listed above, they’re a very dependable choice to place your online bets with.

Ladbrokes Regular Promotions

• Odds Boost – Boost the odds of a bet of your choice every single day!
• Best Acca – Boost, track, edit and insure your accumulator with Ladbrokes’ Best Acca
• 2up&win – Get paid out early if your team take a two goal lead
• Lucky Dip – Land incredible odds by taking a lucky dip selection for a tournament winner
• Best Odds Guaranteed – On all UK & Irish Horse Racing
• Tote Guarantee – Win a share of up to £100k on selected races weekly!

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of Ladbrokes’ betting site

We love some of the offers that Ladbrokes have for new customers and existing customers alike, but we’re also impressed by the massive array of sports they have available. Their website and app are both easy to use and with such a storied history, you can be comfortable that you’re using a secure and trusted bookmaker when playing with Ladbrokes.

Cons

For such a large bookmaker, we’d expect slightly better customer support options. The main issue however is the prices, as we feel there are more often than not better value odds to be had on our bets with other bookmakers.

Kwiff

Kwiff are well known for their unique ‘supercharge’ bets, where you can get huge boosted odds unexpectedly on any random bet. But aside from this different approach, there are plenty of other reasons why Kwiff are worth your time as an online bookmaker.

Kwiff Regular Promotions

• Supercharged Bets – The chance to get huge boosted odds on any bet you place
• Supercharged Cash Out – Kwiff’s betting app is the only one that could boost your winnings when you hit the cash-out button
• Guaranteed Weekend Supercharge – Place a 3+ fold acca on any sport and have your bet Supercharged on selected weekends
• Football Acca Shield – Get money back up to £20 on accumulators with 4+ selections that lose by just one
• Kwiff Sports Club – Stake £25, £50 or £100 in sports bets between Monday and Friday to receive a £5, £10 or £20 free bet
• First Past The Post – Get paid out if you’ve backed the horse that crosses the winning line in first place – even if your selection gets disqualified or demoted

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of Kwiff’s betting site

Of course the Supercharge aspect of the Kwiff betting site is a real selling point, but so are the continuous offers listed above for regular customers. They also have some of the best customer services around and if it’s not just sports betting you’re after they also offer an extensive range of live casino games and more.

Cons

Although the app is excellent, the desktop version of the site leaves a little to be desired in terms of navigation. We’d also like to see a little more variety in terms of sports and more options for deposits and withdrawals which are fairly limited at the moment.

Luckland

As their casino chip logo shows, Luckland is first and foremost a casino website, but a very popular one that has now been able to branch out to sports. The reasons for that popularity are clear with great specials on offer and quick, easy deposits and withdrawals.

Luckland Regular Promotions

• Drops and Wins – Up to £2,000,000 in prizes per month with Pragmatic Play
• Daily Spin Frenzy – Get up to 50 spins when you complete the daily Spin Frenzy challenges
• Monthly Madness – Up to £1000 in prizes with BuyWin games
• Top Offer – Daily price boost on the sportsbook
• Bet-Builder – Build your own bet on the Luckland sportsbook

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of Luckland’s betting site

Luckland is a website that continues to grow and develop and they seem to be heading in the right direction with their specials and their expanding sportsbook. The website is relatively easy to use and with the focus on casino, there are over 1000 casino games to play on site.

Cons

The sportsbook is still in a development stage, so there are teething issues in terms of the technical side of the website and at times the odds aren’t the most competitive. We’d also like to see some of the casino promotions replicated in the sports section of the site.

Jeffbet

One of the newest bookmakers on our top 20 list, Jeffbet still have room to improve but with a large variety of payment options, several casino games and sports to bet from and a familiar sportsbook layout, they’ve made a good impression thus far.

Jeffbet Regular Promotions

• Double Delicious – Claim a 25% bonus up to £250 twice
• Free Bet Mondays – Deposit £50 or more with code FBM, place £50 in qualifying bets and claim a £20 free bet every Monday
• Tennis Cashback – Get 10% of your deposit losses back up to £500 when you deposit £10 or more with the code: ACE
• Sports Stars – Place bets to climb the leaderboard and win a cash prize
• Sunday = Funday – Get a 20% bonus up to £500 when you deposit with code: SUN on a Sunday

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of Jeffbet’s betting site

While the focus is still very much on the casino and live casino aspects of the Jeffbet site, the sports side is improving all the time and they have a good array of sports to bet on with decent markets. They also have one of the better new customers offers available among the newer betting sites, as seen in the table above.

Cons

At the time of writing, there is still no Horse Racing available on the Jeff Bet site which does seem to be quite a large oversight. Also, we’d like to see an app for mobile users in the not too distant future to make the process of placing bets via a mobile device a little smoother.

Betfred

A high-street bookmaker that has grown it’s online offering in recent years, Betfred don’t call themselves the ‘Bonus Kings’ for no reason. With over 50 years of experience, they have kept punters returning for a reason – and have won many admirers with their generous welcome offer.

Betfred Regular Promotions

• In Play Double Delight/Hat-Trick Heaven – Get double the odds if your player scores next and then scores again. If they score next and then score a hat-trick you’ll get treble the odds on selected games.
• Acca Insurance – Get money back as cash if your 5-fold+ football accumulator loses by one leg
• Best Odds Guaranteed – On UK and Irish Horse Racing
• Free Bet If 2nd – Get a free bet if your horse finishes 2nd in selected races
• Virtual Weekly Rewards – Get 5% of your Virtual Weekly Rewards back as free bets up to £100 if you stake £250 during the week

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of Betfred’s betting site

Alongside their excellent bonuses, it’s worth noting that Betfred have some great features such as a #PickYourPunt feature similar to the bet-builders found at other sites and one of the most in-depth betting blogs around. Their live streaming service is also much better than it once was with Betfred  focusing on improving this platform in recent times.

Cons

The desktop version of the Betfred sportsbook is a little clunky and in comparison to some of the other established names, is not the easiest to use and nor do they have the depths of markets, particularly on Premier League and Champions League when you cannot find the kind of player stats bets that are available elsewhere.

Quinn Bet

Although relatively new to the online market, Irish bookmakers Quinn Bet are already developing a trusted reputation among online gamblers. They have options for their welcome bonus, which always goes down well with punters, long-running promotions and pretty competitive odds in comparison to most new bookmakers.

QuinnBet Regular Promotions

• No Goals No Worries – Free bet refund on selected markets if a match ends in a 0-0 draw
• Acca Bonus – Free bet up to £50 for Winning Trebles, Four Fols and Five Folds+
• Crossbar Insurance – Get a free bet refund up to £10 on select markets if the crossbar is hit at any stage during the game
• 2nd to the favourite – Get a free bet if your horse finishes second to the favourite (minimum 6 runners required, favourite must go off at odds greater than 6/4)
• Fallers Insurance – Free Bet up to £10 if your selection falls in select races.
• Tennis Tie-Break Special – Get a Free Bet up to £10 if your player is beaten in a final set tie-breaker decider. 

Here’s a few more of our favourite aspects of QuinnBet’s betting site

QuinnBet’s website is very easy to use in comparison to most new bookmakers, making it a site that punters feel comfortable returning to regularly. As well as the aforemention promotions, the general odds on the site offer great value on horse racing and football and since they’re still new, we’re excited to see how QuinnBet continue to improve and grow.

Cons

As things stand, QuinnBet don’t have the largest range of payment methods which could prevent some punters from depositing with their preferred method. They also do not offer cashout on all markets which could be improved upon in the future.

How Squawka Reviews the Best Betting Sites

To narrow down the competition and find the best possible bookmakers in the UK, there are important criteria that we use to find the best betting sites for UK players.

What we look for in a Bookmaker

There’s a huge amount considered when searching for the best bookmaker in the UK from the reputation and sign-up offers to the markets and quality of odds on offer at the site.T

Safety/reputation

The safety and the reputation of a bookmaker sit at the top of the list of criteria that we look for when searching for the best betting sites.

Every sportsbook in our list is licensed and regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), ensuring that it is safe and legal for them to operate within the UK. We also ensure that every website that makes our top 20 list above has SSL encryption which establishes a secure connection as it means that nobody intercepts the data from that website.

Genuine customer experience is just as important as the safety protocols in place at a sportsbook. Issues reported by players at different sportsbooks are considered when making a final judgement.

Quality of odds

The quality of the odds available in the betting markets is another key area of consideration when ranking the best betting sites. Not all bookies are created equally and although some may look good on paper, once the odds between sites are compared, the truth is quickly unearthed.

One of the keys to profitable betting is making sure that you’re getting the best possible odds on your bets as by taking a lower price, you’ll receive less in the way of returns when your bet is successful. A practical example is as follows:

If Manchester United are playing Arsenal and Bookmaker A are offering a price of 11/8 on Manchester United to win, then a £20 stake will return £47.50 if successful.

However, if Bookmaker B are offering odds of 13/8, then that exact same £20 stake will return £52.50 if successful. That £5 may not seem like too much in the grand scheme of things, but over the course of several bets, it definitely adds up – and you want to make sure you’re receiving the best returns possible from your bets in order to be more profitable.

Payment and withdrawal options

The list of payment and withdrawal options available for sportsbooks in the UK is long and should be reflected by the top sportsbooks.

A betting site offering Boku as their only deposit option is best avoided, whereas a bookmaker covering a long list of trustworthy, reputable banking solutions will always rank higher.

Sign up offer quality

Although ephemeral, the quality of the sign-up offer is an important part of the sports betting experience for many players.

This can be difficult to digest at first glance, but bettors should dig into the terms and conditions to spot dodgy deals. High wagering requirements, limited deposit options and pseudo free bets are among the problem areas – the top sportsbooks tend to stray away from these offers.

Here at Squawka, we’ll never recommend a bookmaker we’d not sign-up with ourselves, with that in mind below are some of our bookies with the best welcome offers;

• Bet365 – Bet £10 and get £30 in free bets
• Sky Bet – Bet anything and get £30 in free bets
• Copy Bet – Bet £10 and get £40 in free bets
• Paddy Power – Bet £20 and get it back as cash if it loses
• Bet UK – Bet £10 and get £30 in free bets

Customer Service

If something does happen to go wrong or you have a query about something related to the sportsbook, customer service is the port of call.

Good customer service is imperative at a top sportsbook and although a range of different methods can be used, 24/7 live chat is the top option. Bettors may also find high-quality help centres, FAQs and other forms of contact (telephone, email, Twitter etc.) when searching for help. We will only include bookmakers with trustworthy customer service within our list of the Top 20 bookmakers above.

Ease of access and use

By nature, sportsbooks are a messy sprawl of information that can be hard to comprehend.

The top sportsbooks manage to organise and categorise this information into an easy-to-use platform that bettors can swiftly navigate. A difficult to access and use sportsbook is one that we would never recommend in the top bookmaker list.

Gambling safety safeguards

Responsible gambling is one of the most important features of any betting site and the top bookmakers in the UK offer bettors the best tools for controlling their gambling.

Tools including deposit and loss limits, timeouts, cooldown periods and self-exclusion are vital for taking control of betting habits. The majority of the top bookmakers now incorporate at least some form of safeguards, but it’s recommended to check out and familiarise yourself with what’s on offer before signing up.

For more information on gambling awareness, please visit begableaware.com

Quality of existing offers

Unlike the initial welcome offer, the existing offers tailored to the long term customers of a sportsbook are with you for the whole time spent at the betting site.

The quality of these existing offers should be high with the top-quality sportsbooks offering bettors the chance to benefit from loyalty schemes, acca insurance, free bets and more. New bettors are typically free to check out the existing player promotions before signing up to see the top offers that they’re able to claim.

For example, some bookmakers such as Bet365 will pay out on teams that are winning by two clear goals, while others will offer an ‘acca club’ whereby you’ll receive a free bet if you stake a certain amount on a weekly or monthly basis. Many including Betfair, Paddy Power and Sky Bet also offer price boosts on selected matches – including every Premier League and Champions League fixture in the case of the aforementioned trio.

Why should I avoid a betting site?

Not all UK betting sites are created equally and although there are plenty of good ones available out there, there are just as many subpar and downright dodgy sites that should be avoided.

License: The first red flag to look out for is the licence held by a bookmaker, if the betting site does not hold a license issued by the UKGC, it’s your sign to walk away. Licenses from Malta and the Government of Curaçao just won’t do, bettors need to ensure that the UKGC license is offered for legal play in the UK.

Fees: Betting sites that charge for either deposits and/or withdrawals are the next thing that players should look out for. A bookmaker looking to take a fee for a withdrawal isn’t one that we’d recommend, just as bookmakers offering limited, obscure banking solutions is one we’d avoid.

Poor and Inconsistent Odds: Bookmakers’ key task is providing competitive odds across varied markets. If a site presents inconsistent odds or scant market coverage, it likely falls short elsewhere too. Hence, bettors should pursue the best odds and avoid subpar bookmakers. Rest assured, we at Squawka.com only feature bookmakers offering the most competitive odds in the market.

No Welcome Bonus: Finally, sportsbooks that don’t offer a welcome bonus or any promotions for existing players are betting sites that we tend to steer away from at Squawka. There’s simply too much choice in the UK market to settle for subpar offers and limited welcome bonuses when there are other sportsbooks out there offering great loyalty schemes and top-tier bonuses.

Changing Terms on the Fly: Some disreputable sites will change the terms and conditions to suit them in the event of a dispute. This is a clear sign of a site to avoid.

Spammy Email Practices: Many bookmakers will spam your email with less than attractive offers and bets. We disapprove of this kind of use of your data and will avoid bookmakers that look to advertise in this overbearing way.

Delayed Payments or No Payments: Many of the poor reviews for bookmakers online are centred around a delayed or incomplete payment upon withdrawal. When a player wins a large amount, some less reputable bookmakers will drag their feet or look to avoid paying out via a loophole in their terms and conditions – but this kind of tactic will only prevent them from winning customers in the long-term.

Bonuses Too Good to be True: Reading the terms of an offer for a new bookmaker site, you can often tell when the deal seems to good to be true. Some untrustworthy sites will use this tactic from time to time, so be sure to read up on the terms and conditions and only use reputable firms – like the ones listed in our Top 20 above.

Lack of Transparent Information: Some bookmakers will not list things like their Gambling Commission license number or their full terms and conditions on-site. For us, this is a huge red flag and we’d urge customers not to sign up and give their details to a website that isn’t being fully transparent about such key details.

Poor Online Reviews: There are not just reviews for many of these websites on our own site, but you can find several others across the internet. Finding poor reviews are usually as a result of poor experiences of previous users which is another thing to be cautious of when choosing an online bookmaker to use for your bets.

Best Betting Sites for Football

When it comes to Football, Bet365 are among the best bookmakers around due to their 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

They offer 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 as well as live streaming from big meets and Betfred fall into this category of allowing racing punters to take advantage of both of those features on their site.

Best Betting Sites for Tennis

When it comes to betting on Tennis, Bet UK are one of our biggest recommendations. The reasons are quite simple – they offer a huge array of markets on tennis as well as some of the most competitive odds on the market for this particular sport – and an excellent new customer offer to boot.

During Wimbledon, many bookmakers will offer Tennis price boosts, 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 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 offer early odds for many cricket matches, be that Test Cricket or the IPL as well as a strong In Play offering that isn’t always available on this particular sport with other online bookmakers.

Cons of Online Betting

It’s worth being very wary of the pitfalls of Online Betting before you sign up to any of the bookmakers online – including those we’ve added to our Top 20 list above.

Gambling can be highly addictive and there are several untrustworthy bookmakers around the internet, so it’s important to be safe and secure and only use bookmakers that are licensed by the UK gambling commission.

We recommend utilising www.begambleaware.org to familiarise yourself with the best practices for online gambling and how to deal with any issues you may encounter when gambling online.

Many bookmakers also offer tools that you can utilise to limit your spending so that you can ensure you’re only gambling what you can afford such as deposit limits, time limits and self-exclusion.

How do I sign up with a UK Bookmaker in 2023?

An account is required when betting online in any discipline in the UK, in order to verify the identity of the player and to ensure that they are of legal age to gamble. The sign-up process is similar for all UK-licensed sportsbooks with the following steps outlining the process of opening an account.

Step1: Click the link to visit the sportsbook of choice

When looking to claim a welcome offer with Sqwaka, new bettors looking to sign up to a new betting site can do so by clicking the link of their chosen sportsbook.

This directs bettors to the landing page of the sportsbook, home to the information surrounding the welcome offer. Bettors are able to view the terms and conditions of the new player bonus and also are able to quickly and easily sign-up and open their account from this gateway.

Step 2: Click the “sign-up” button

Once new players have familiarised themselves with the terms and conditions, they are then ready to open an account with the sportsbook by pressing the “sign-up” button.

These are usually impossible to miss and although they may be called something a little different e.g. “join now”, they’re usually the biggest button on the screen. Once it’s clicked, it’ll take players over to the sign-up form.

Step 3: Complete the sportsbook sign-up form

The sign-up form is where players are able to share their personal information with the sportsbook.

This is done to ensure that players are legally allowed to open an account and place sports bets in the UK. The personal information required includes:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Postal address
• Telephone number
• Email address
• Password
• Security Question
• Username

Betting sites in the UK will use this information to verify the identity of all of their players with a third party check which, for the majority of people, will be enough to open their account.

However, if for whatever reason there is an error with the verification, bettors may be required to supply additional documentation to open their account. This can typically be uploaded as an image with popular documents including valid photographic ID (Drivers license, passport etc.) and proof of address (council tax bill, bank statement etc.).

Step 4: Claim the welcome offer

Once the account has been created, it’s time to claim the welcome offer.

Bettors should note that the way in which welcome offers are claimed differs between sportsbooks and even types of offer. For some, a promo code is required on sign-up whereas, for others, bettors are simply required to deposit a minimum amount to claim the offer.

The way in which welcome offers are claimed can be found on the new player promotion landing page of any sportsbook.

Which 2023 Online Betting Sites Offer Live Streaming?

There’s a long list of different betting sites that offer live streaming in the UK with the feature proving to be one of the most popular among UK bettors. The Betting sites that offer live betting & live streaming include:

• Bet365: Bet365 were one of the first bookmakers to offer live streaming and they now offer an extensive live streaming platform upon which UK customers can watch live football from La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and beyond as well as several other competitions and sports.
• Betfred: As an in-store bookmaker originally, Betfred have a key focus on Horse Racing and they offer a strong Horse Racing live streaming service with every UK & Ireland race streamed live. They also have football, basketball and tennis live streams available from time to time.
• Unibet: Unibet are one of the best-known bookmakers for live streaming as they offer all of the expected sports and some of the biggest European football leagues too – as well as the likes of American Football and Darts which aren’t always available elsewhere.
• Betfair: In terms of streaming quality, Betfair may be the best bookmaker to watch live sports with – although it’s worth noting that they have a smaller schedule with only Football, Horse Racing and Tennis available at the time of writing.
• Sky Bet: With Sky Bet you can only stream Horse Racing, but you need only to have placed a £1 bet on the action to watch any race from the UK and Ireland with this bookmaker.
• Ladbrokes: Live streaming is available at Ladbrokes for any customer with a valid and funded account. They offer streams on Football, Tennis, Basketball, Darts and of course Horse Racing.

Do Betting Sites Offer Free Bets and Promotions to Existing Customers?

Quality sportsbooks, despite offering high-end service, competitive odds and flawless user experience can’t lean on their reputation alone to keep new players. Instead, almost every sportsbook in the UK uses free bets and customer promotions for existing players.

This is done not only for sportsbooks to show their appreciation to their players, but to prevent customers from switching sides and claiming a welcome bonus from a competitor sportsbook. Here, we present the top five betting sites renowned for their promotions for existing customers;

SkyBet

SkyBet offers a range of existing promotions to existing customers including:

• Weekly rewards
• Sky Bet Club
• Price boosts
• Enhanced accumulators
• Daily free spins
• Free to play games

Bet365

Bet365 is no stranger to offering existing players a range of promotions including:

• Bet boost on selected markets
• Accumulator bonuses
• Early payouts on selected events
• Best odds guaranteed (horse racing/greyhounds)

Paddy Power

Examples of the promotions available to existing players include the following:

• Free Bet-Builder promotions
• Power Prices on selected markets
• Money back as a free bet if 1 leg lets you down on an acca
• Early pay-out if your team goes 2 goals up
• Beat The Drop game
• Get £20 for every friend you refer and they will get a special welcome offer
• Money back if the player you have backed is subbed before half-time

Betfair

Examples of the promotions available to existing players include the following:

• Price Boosts
• Acca Boosts
• Earn £10 in cash for every friend you refer
• Substitution guarantee
• Lengthen the odds
• Extra Place races
• Daily cash drops and weekly giveaways in the Casino

Bet UK

Examples of the promotions available to existing players include the following:

• 20% Profit Boost on selected tournaments
• Bet UK Acca Club
• 2 x £3 Free Bets every week when you bet £15 or more on Horse Racing
• Free Bet-Builder Offers
• BetUK Specials – Daily Price Boosts

Is Online Betting Legal in the UK?

Online betting is perfectly legal in the UK with residents (over the age of 18) able to place sports bets, enter online casinos, play poker and enter the national lottery from the web.

Although this may be seen as lenient in other parts of the world, the UK comes with some of the strictest gambling laws, rules and regulations for the companies that offer it. The UK is one of the few countries in Europe that regulates its own gambling industry, requiring each gambling business to hold a license granted by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission UKGC.

The UKGC requires a license for each arm of a betting portfolio that a company offers. For example, to operate in the UK, 888 requires a separate gambling license for the sportsbook, the poker rooms, 888Ladies and the casino.

Any gambling business that is found to have broken the UK rules or regulations is fined, a penalty that is often in the millions.

Is Safeguarding Important to the Best Betting Sites in the UK?

Safeguarding is one of the most important factors in determining the best betting site in the UK.

The UKGC

All bookmakers and betting sites in the UK are required by law to be licensed by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), one of the strictest bodies in the global gambling industry.

The UKGC is responsible for ensuring that all players have access to fair and safe gambling and regulates the UK industry to ensure that all license holders play by the rules. This includes every gambling business from William Hill to the National Lottery.

All betting sites, casinos and lotteries that can be accessed in the UK must be licensed by the UKGC to legally offer gambling. A public register, listing all licensed gambling businesses and the type of activity that each company is permitted to offer can be accessed at the UKGC website.

The public register highlights the information about gambling businesses including their address, website domain names, trading names and current licence status. This is incredibly valuable as a UK bettor, allowing any checks to be completed when considering a new betting site.

The UKGC website is home to a huge amount of information surrounding everything related to responsible gambling in the UK. Bettors can find information on safer gambling within the UK, what to look out for when claiming a welcome offer and how to file a complaint against a gambling business.

Encryption

Encryption is used at all of the top UK-licenced betting sites to ensure that private data remains out of the hands of hackers.

The latest SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) technology is used at betting sites, encrypting personal information and preventing leaks onto the web. Websites that make use of this technology will hold an SSL certificate and can be recognised by a padlock symbol, found next to the URL at the top of the browser.

All sportsbooks listed in our top list ensure that safety is taken seriously and a large part of the pie comes from data encryption.

Safe and trustworthy banking methods

Depositing and withdrawing from any gambling business can be a nerve-wracking experience, but this isn’t something that bettors should worry about in the UK.

Thanks to the tight regulations, all banking solutions offered at UK-licensed sportsbooks are both safe and fair with the commission ensuring that only trustworthy methods make their way through the net.

Bettors will find that the majority of deposit methods at online betting sites do require a closed-loop approach, meaning that the same withdrawal method must be used where appropriate. This is done to prevent money from moving between different sources via betting sites.

The banking methods available when looking to claim a welcome offer can be different to those typically offered at a betting site. For example, a sportsbook offering a free bet welcome promotion may not accept PayPal and Skrill for the qualifying deposit despite allowing these methods for subsequent transactions.

Responsible gambling measures

Top online bookmakers value responsible gambling and will often work to include a number of responsible gambling tools as part of their gaming package.

In addition to the responsible gaming tools, gambling businesses are required to dedicate at least 200% of advertising space to responsible gambling messages. The gambling tools listed below are not used by every UK sportsbook, but the majority of the top bookmakers will offer various similar tools that players are able to use.

Deposit and loss limits

A deposit or loss limit is one of the most effective ways that bettors can choose when looking to limit their exposure to online gambling.

A deposit limit does exactly what it says on the tin, limiting the amount that a bettor can deposit inside of a predetermined window. For example, a bettor could set a deposit limit of £10 per week which prevents more than £10 from being added to the account within 7 days, regardless of the banking methods chosen.

Similarly, a loss limit can be set on some betting sites and prevents players from crossing a threshold at a maximum loss that they are willing to incur. For example, a bettor could set a loss limit at the value of £20 per week and, if the limit is reached, no further bets can be placed until the restart of the loss limit timeframe.

Timeouts, restrictions and session timers

The majority of UK sportsbooks use time as a way to work on responsible gaming with timeouts, time restrictions and session timers used to help bettors.

Timeouts are most popular with online casinos games, particularly slots due to their addictive nature, but this is a feature that has made its way over to sport betting sites. Bettors interested in the time restriction features can check their chosen sportsbook to find what options they are able to access.

Limited access / partial exclusion

Limited access to a betting site, also known as a partial exclusion, is a valuable tool that gives bettors the chance to exclude themselves from one or more sections of a betting site.

For example, if a bettor knows that they are prone to trouble with slots, they are able to self-exclude themselves from this area. For more information on partial exclusions, bettors should head to the responsible gaming section of their chosen sportsbooks.

Cooling off periods

A cooling-off period is a feature similar to a self-exclusion, allowing bettors to take time away from the betting platform for shorter periods of time.

Cooling-off periods can be as short as 5 minutes, depending on the betting site, and give bettors as much time as they need to clear their heads before returning back to the markets.

Self-exclusion

The option of self-exclusion is a feature that is supported by all betting sites and can be achieved in a handful of different ways.

The first option is via the help centre of the chosen betting site. This can help bettors self-exclude themselves for a predetermined length of time from this specific gambling business. Alternatively, bettors that are looking to exclude themselves from all UK-licenced betting sites can access GAMSTOP for a UK-wide exclusion.

GAMSTOP

GAMSTOP is one of the best tools available to bettors in the UK and offers a free online self-exclusion service for all UK licensed gambling sites. Bettors that feel they are developing problematic behaviours can use GAMSTOP to exclude themselves from all UK licensed gambling companies for the chosen period of 6 months, 1 year or 5 years.

GAMSTOP is also home to a wealth of support options, helping problematic gamblers regain control with practical controls, gambling support, emotional support and debt support available.

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.

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.

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.

Best Online Bookmaker FAQs

Have a question about finding the best online bookmaker in the UK? Check out our frequently asked question section below to solve your query.

Why do betting sites give you free bets?

The UK Gambling industry is one of the most competitive with a huge range of high-quality bookmakers that bettors can choose from.

Betting sites, therefore, use a welcome offer as a kind of “sweetener” to persuade new players to make an account with a sportsbook. These welcome offers typically have some important details in the terms and conditions that prevent the sites from losing too much money, if any at all, from new players.

It’s always worth checking the small print to get clued up on exactly what is expected of you and what should be expected from the bookmaker when opening a new account and claiming a welcome promotion.

How do I claim my free bets or welcome bonus?

Welcome bonuses and free bets can be claimed in a handful of different ways, depending on the betting site and the offer advertised.

All free bets and welcome bonuses will require players to open a new account with the operator. This is typically a quick and painless process that allows for accounts and identities to be verified and is required for bettors in the UK to place any sports bets online.

Depending on the bonus, new bettors may be required to make an initial deposit at the site with a specified banking method (typically preventing deposits from PayPal, Neteller etc.). Alternatively, a no deposit bonus can be claimed, although these do tend to have smaller benefits.

The majority of welcome bonuses can be claimed without a promo code by clicking on the promotions tab or visiting the promo landing page by clicking through a third party. However, some promotions do require a bonus code at a point during the sign-up or deposit process. It is important not to miss this step otherwise players will risk losing out on claiming their bonus.

Who are the biggest bookmakers in the UK?

The list of UK bookmakers might be larger than you would first think – but not all betting shops and online sites are created equally.

n terms of in-store gambling, the bookmaker with the most shops in the United Kingdom is William Hill with 2,200 followed by Ladbrokes, Coral, Betfred, Paddy Power and Boylesports. Each of the biggest bookmakers has something a little different to offer and although the business is similar at the core, different bookies are tailored to different bettors (football-focused, horseracing specialist etc.).

Bettors looking for the best bookmakers in the UK can check out our list of the top bookmakers in the table at the top of the page.

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.

Why can’t I use a credit card on UK betting Sites?

UK-licensed sportsbooks and betting sites were banned from accepting payments from credit cards in April 2020, a decision made in light of research made by the UK Gambling Commission.

The UKGC found that credit cards were used by up to 22% of problem gamblers, a figure that led to a government review and ultimate ban on credit card usage for gambling. The ban includes indirect credit card payment, such as via eWallets (PayPal etc.), requiring players to use alternative payment methods for all gaming use.

The best alternative to using a credit card for online gambling is the simple debit card – used in exactly the same way without the borrowing of funds.

What is cash out in sports betting?

Cash-out betting sites provide users with greater flexibility and control over their bets, enabling them to lock in profits or minimize losses based on the current state of the event.  This feature provides users with more control over their bets, allowing bettors to settle their wagers before the conclusion of an event.  Cash out is particularly useful in situations where the outcome of the event is uncertain, and the bettor wants to secure a guaranteed return. Beware of some drawbacks when using the cash out feature such as the potential for reduced payouts and the possibility of missing out on a larger win if the event turns in the bettor’s favor.

Is a ‘Free’ Bet actually free?

The terms and conditions of free bets tend to differ from bookmaker to bookmaker with some promotions offering better benefits than others.

Typically, any free bets that are offered by betting sites are done so with the small print that the bet amount will not be returned with any winnings. For example, when placing a £10 free bet that returns £15, bettors will only have £5 returned. These free bets may also have a required minimum odds that they can be placed on, set by the bookmaker.

Free bets can also be subject to wagering requirements, meaning that the value of the free bet must be wagered a set number of times before a withdrawal can be made. For example, a 2x wagering requirement on a £10 free bet means that the free bet must be used in full twice, once as a free bet and once with the returns from the free bet.

Ultimately, it’s down to the player to scan the terms and conditions for these important terms, learning how to understand and quickly tell apart a good free bet from a bad one.