Best Betting Sites UK

best betting sites

If you are looking for the best betting sites then we’ve compiled a list for you of some of our favourites. There are so many bookmakers and sportsbooks on the web these days and it can be hard to sift through to find the best and most reliable. Our list of the best online bookmakers helps tackle this problem and point you in the right direction.

You trust these companies with your money as an online bettor, so you must be trustworthy and feel safe while betting with them. After all, betting is meant to be an enjoyable thing!

The bookmakers we have listed here are in no particular order, so the one at the bottom could be as good as the one at the top. Be assured that all these bookmakers pass our tests to be on the list of best online bookmakers. Any rogue or untrustworthy companies our industry experts have not listed here. We feel that they don’t need a review if they are bad. 

It’s just unnecessary promotion for them. If you are also interested, we’ve compiled a list of the best free betting offers available in March 2024.

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bet365 – BET £10 & GET £30 IN FREE BETS

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MIN ODDS 1.5
MIN DEPOSIT £5

bet365 is one of the most popular sports gambling websites in the world, with millions of customers worldwide. As well as feature sports gambling, you will also find bingo, casino and lottery games on the site. So whether you are one of those people that want to bet on a horse race or one of the various football leagues in the world, bet365 has you covered for everything you need.

18+ 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 requiredT&Cs Apply

Virgin Bet – BET £10 GET £20 IN FREE BETS

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MIN ODDS
MIN DEPOSIT £5

Virgin Bet is the biggest upcoming bookmaker in the UK, which has been a real hit with players. Most people will recognise this brand through the name Virgin, but the bookmaker doesn’t disappoint with a big variety for sports available to bet on.

*New members. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Click here for Rules & Exclusions. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org 18+ T&Cs applyT&Cs Apply

Livescore Bet – Bet £10 Get £20 In Free Bets

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MIN ODDS
MIN DEPOSIT £10

Even though LiveScore Bet is not the most well-known online bookie in England, it has undoubtedly developed in reputation in recent years so that it has become a site where bettors can get their hands on some pretty incredible markets on major sporting events.

LiveScore Bet’s strategy is to retain its punters on the site by providing incredible current customer offers.

*New members. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook, placed & settled at 1.5 min odds within 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. 2 non-withdrawable £10 Free Bet Tokens: accept in 7 days, valid for 7 days from crediting (ex. E/Ws & Multiples), stakes not returned. Click here for Rules & Exclusions Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.18+ T&Cs applyT&Cs Apply

BetVictor – BET £5 GET £30

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MIN ODDS
MIN DEPOSIT £5
*New Customers only. Deposit and place a £5 qualifying bet at odds of 2.00 or greater within 7 days of opening a new account; excludes cashed out bets. Receive 2x £10 Free Sports Bets, valid on set events only (1 at odds 2.00 or greater), expires in 7 days, plus a £10 Casino Bonus, expires in 7 days. Wager the Casino Bonus 40x to withdraw winnings. Credit or Debit card only. Geographical Restrictions. T&Cs Apply, See Below.T&Cs Apply

Coral – Bet £5 Get £20 In Free Bets

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MIN ODDS 1.5
MIN DEPOSIT £5
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 1x £20 free bet. Free bet available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bet valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions +T&Cs Apply

William Hill – Bet £10 Get £30 Free Bets

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MIN ODDS 1.5
MIN DEPOSIT £10
18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only, Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets).T&Cs Apply

BetUK – BET £10 GET £30 FREE BET

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MIN ODDS
MIN DEPOSIT £5

In terms of its age, BetUK bet is a relatively young online bookmaker. It is setting out to establish itself as one of the most reputable establishments for betting on sportsbooks and gambling in the industry.

If you decide to use the bookmaker, various proms are available, which are pretty easy to obtain.

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. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.T&Cs Apply

Highbet – Bet £10 Get £15 In Free Bets

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MIN ODDS 2.00
MIN DEPOSIT £10
New customers only. Max one free £15 bet. Qualifying bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater. Paid as bonus token with min 4/5 (1.80) odds req. Skrill, Neteller & PayPal not eligible. T&Cs apply. 18+T&Cs Apply

BoyleSports – BET £10 GET £20 IN FREE BETS

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MIN ODDS
MIN DEPOSIT £10

A total of over 270 retail outlets are operated by BoyleSports, making it the largest independent bookmaker in Ireland and the United Kingdom at the time of this writing. One of the industry’s pioneers, BoyleSports has been around for over a century and is also the largest bookmaker in Ireland.

Being founded in 1982 by John Boyle, they are currently considered one of the top betting operators in the online world. As well as having the best mobile betting applications available on the Google Play Store and the App Store, they also have a great betting website.

New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Payment method restrictions. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs applyT&Cs Apply

BetStars – GET £20 IN FREE BETS

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MIN ODDS
MIN DEPOSIT £5

Sportingbet – Up To £50 In Free Bets

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MIN ODDS
MIN DEPOSIT £10
The promotion will run from 12:00 (GMT) on 09.03.2021 to 23:59 (GMT) on 31.12.2021 (the ” Promotional Period”). This Promotion is not available in conjunction with any other offer on www.sportingbet.com (the “Website”). By taking part in this Promotion, you hereby agree to the below Promotional Terms and Conditions below, the Standard Promotional Terms and Conditions and to our General Terms and Conditions.T&Cs Apply

SBK – Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets

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MIN ODDS 1.5
MIN DEPOSIT £10
New UK, IE & Malta customers only. 18+. Min £10/€10 first deposit using Debit Card or Trustly. Place a bet of £10 at min odds of 1.5. Free bets expire in 90 days.T&Cs Apply

Tote – BET £5 GET £20 IN FREE BETS

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MIN ODDS 0
MIN DEPOSIT £5
New customers online only. Place your first bet on racing pools for a minimum of £/€5 and win or lose you will receive £/€20 Tote Credit. £/€20 Tote Credit rewarded as £/€10 redeemable against racing bets only and £/€10 redeemable against UK and Irish placepot bets only. Tote Credit cannot be withdrawn, exchanged, or substituted and expires after 7 days. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool bet added to the bet-slip. Ten to Follow, virtual and football bets do not qualify. Totewin will be the qualifying bet when a Totewin and a Toteplace bet are struck at the same time. UK & ROI customers only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. BeGambleaware.orgT&Cs Apply

Betfred – Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses

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MIN ODDS
MIN DEPOSIT £10

As a result of sponsorship partnerships at major horse racing, tennis, darts, and football events, Betfred has continued to develop in recent months. Even beginners in sports betting will have heard of BetFred and recognise it as one of the finest sports betting sites in the United Kingdom.

In addition to its solid reputation as one of the best sites for fantastic football markets, along with daily odds that are constantly increasing, it also provides new users with one of the finest 1st deposit welcome offers available on the market.

New UK 18+ only. Register (excl. 13/04/2024) with promo code WELCOME40, Bet £10+ on Sports in one transaction within 7 days of registering. Get £30 Free Bets & £10 free spins within 10hrs of bet settlement. Bonuses expire 7 days after issue. Min odds, eligibility & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply.T&Cs Apply

Betway – £30 FREE BET BONUS

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New UK & Ireland customers only. Min Deposit: £10. First deposit matched up to £30. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Credit Card, Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. Terms Apply-T&Cs Apply

Ladbrokes – Bet £5 Get £20 In Free Bets

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MIN DEPOSIT £10
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.T&Cs Apply

10Bet – £50 WELCOME BONUS

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MIN DEPOSIT £10
New bettors get 100% of deposit up to £50; Once per household; Min deposit £15 (no Skrill/Neteller); Wager a total of 8 times deposit + bonus, with max qualifying bet stake equal to your initial bonus amount; Bonus expires after 60 days; Min odds of 4/5 on singles, or 2/5 per leg for acca; Some bet types excludedT&Cs Apply

Betfair – BET £10 GET £30 FREE BET

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MIN ODDS
MIN DEPOSIT £10
New customers only. Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards or Apple Pay will qualify. Please Gamble Responsibly.T&Cs Apply

888Sport – £30 Free Bets + £10 Casino Bonus

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#ad 18+ Min deposit £10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days and expires after 14 days • Bonus valid on selected Casino games only • Bonus wins capped at £500, excluding Jackpot wins • You must wager Bonus amount x40 – this requirement varies by game. www.begambleaware.orgT&Cs Apply

Unibet – £40 MONEY BACK BONUS

+ £10 CASINO BONUS
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MIN DEPOSIT £10

In the past, Unibet was considered an underappreciated bookmaker; however, in recent years, Unibet has made significant progress toward being regarded as one of the top bookies in the industry. Its welcome offer alone is enough to flag it as a serious rival to some of the most popular sites available on the market.

The sportsbook offers various markets, and new ones are added regularly. Besides the excellent experience that can be obtained both on desktop computers and mobile devices, price boosts are one of the main selling points of this online bookmaker.

New customers only. 18+, BeGambleAware.org. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus. Wagering requirements: Sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), Casino 25x. Only one bonus can be used at a time, Sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the Casino, unless the bonus has been forfeited. Bonus will expire after 7 days of opt-in. Further T&C’s apply.T&Cs Apply

Quinnbet – GET 50% BACK AS A FREE BET UP TO £35

+10 FREE SPINS
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MIN ODDS
MIN DEPOSIT £5

Since QuinnBet, based in Ireland and started its online sportsbook in 2017, some gamblers may not have had the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of using this particular platform. Despite the fact that it is still one of the smallest sites on the current list and is not as well known, it manages to hold its own with a fantastic sign-up offer and amazing incentives that will be more than enough for the casual bettor.

If your account has Sportsbook losses at the end of your first day’s betting (23:59), we’ll refund 50% of your first day’s losses as a Free Bet up to £35 (normally £25) plus, you get 10 Free Spins on Reel Diamonds (minimum 3 bets required). 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 minimum odds evens (2.00) or greater. T&Cs apply | 18+ New UK Customers Only | BeGambleAware.orgT&Cs Apply

BoyleSports – BET £10 GET £20 IN FREE BETS

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MIN DEPOSIT £10
New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Payment method restrictions. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs applyT&Cs Apply

Parimatch Sports – Bet £5 Get £30 In Bonuses

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MIN ODDS 2.0
MIN DEPOSIT £5
18+ New Customers opt in, bet £5 & get 2x £10 Free Bets for set events (odds 2.00+) + £10, Slots Bonus, selected games, 35x wagering to withdraw max £250. Bonuses expire in 7 days. Card Payments only. T&Cs Apply, see below. | begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsiblyT&Cs Apply

Mr Play Sport – UP TO £100 WELCOME BONUS

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Mr. Play is another online bookmaker that many bettors may not know about. Still, this bookmaker is worth checking out if you are looking for an online casino that offers a generous welcome bonus, an extensive selection of sporting events, and a satisfying range of odds.

With our user-friendly website and mobile app, you can place bets on a wide range of sports, from Champions League football to horse betting and futsal, all of which are available on the Mr Play website and app.

New customers only. Min. deposit £10 (no Skrill/Neteller/Paypal/Paysafe Card); Bonus amount is 100% of deposit up to £100.T&Cs Apply

Spreadex – 100% Cashback Up To £300

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Please Gamble Responsibly.Place a £10 World Cup winner outright bet before your chosen team has played a match and get a free £10 fixed odds bet, free £10 spread bet and 30 free spins as well as an extra free £10 fixed odds bet and 10 free spins each time your selection wins! (includes ET & Penalties) T&Cs apply. 18+. New customers onlyT&Cs Apply

Online betting has become a global phenomenon. Its initial uprising occurred in the United Kingdom but is hugely popular in many countries. Mainland Europe and some states in America now have many bookmakers both native to the country and from countries away from that nation.

Africa has also recently seen a boom in online bookmakers, and the countries of Nigeria and Kenya have been a hotbed for this. It is a competitive market. Bookmakers typically offer sports, virtuals and casinos (including poker, blackjack, slots, and roulette); however, the extent to which these are offered varies greatly. We will give you some pointers regarding the main things you should look for when looking top betting sites and opening an account with them.

How Have the Bookmakers Been Evaluated?

We are constantly adding new reviews to this section. An online gambling site can be challenging to understand, but here are some of our review criteria.

As part of our evaluation, we consider every bookmaker currently available in the United Kingdom, including the newest betting sites that may be available. After this, we simulate the behaviour of regular customers by placing a sports bet and interacting with the website in other ways, just as if we were them.

Our staff members are all seasoned gamblers who play by the rules and regularly wager on high-stakes sporting events like football, tennis, and horse racing. As a result of this process, we now have a solid foundation upon which to base our evaluations of the various sites.

We consider several factors when determining the rating of each website. As you can see below:

Licensed

It is necessary for any website offering online betting to be licensed and regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission. Thanks to this regulation standard, customers can place bets on a betting site free from danger. This is considered to be the gold standard in the gambling industry. 

Betting sites that want UK Gambling Commission approval must prove they are committed to promoting responsible gambling. In addition, they also need to make available payment methods that are reliable and safe.

You can be sure that the sites recommended on this page all hold current licences from the UK Gambling Commission.

Quick Facts

  1. There are a variety of different types of betting sites, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.
  2. The most popular type of betting site is the sportsbook, which offers a wide range of different sports to bet on.
  3. Other popular types of betting sites include casinos, poker rooms, and bingo.
  4. Betting sites typically offer a variety of different bonuses and promotions to attract new customers.
  5. Most betting sites require customers to create an account and deposit money before they can start betting.
  6. Betting odds are typically displayed in either decimal or fractional format.
  7. The amount of money that can be won or lost on a bet depends on the size of the bet and the odds of the particular outcome.
  8. Betting on sports events is generally considered to be a form of gambling.
  9. Customers should be aware of the risks involved in betting before they place any bets.

Ease of Use

To make our list of the top sport bookmakers, we only included operators that offered an excellent user experience regardless of whether you access them from a mobile device, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer. For them to be successful, they must be easy to use, without unnecessary distractions and packed with features that improve the betting experience.

Many websites were not particularly user-friendly, entering your user details was cumbersome, and the site is run on poor quality betting software when online betting burst onto the scene. However, in 2024, this is not the case. The website is almost always impressive whether we talk about established bookmakers in the UK.

There are exceptions to the rule, so it is still worth checking, but most bookmakers now have fully functional websites that can be viewed from desktop, mobile and tablet. Most of these websites are also optimised to be viewed from a phone.

Cash Out

As you choose a bookmaker to work with, it is paramount that you choose one that offers reliable cash out betting option, as this will allow you to maximise your winnings and reduce the amount of money you lose.

When choosing an online betting site, punters will frequently look for the possibility of cashing out their winnings, as well as other benefits that the site may provide them with, which will facilitate them in making decisions as to where to place their bets.

As soon as you cash out, you can collect your winnings before your bet has even been determined to have been successful. That is one of the advantages of cashing out. After you have cashed out your winnings, you will still be able to keep the money you used to place the bet, even if you lose it.

Whilst this was regarded as a novelty at one time, we wouldn’t regard an online bookmaker as one of the best sites if it didn’t offer this feature. Cash out is particularly useful when football betting, and if you are looking for a new football betting sites, our experts have you covered.

Mobile Apps

One of the things that have led to the increase in the number of bets being placed is mobile betting. Due to the development of HTML5 in the last few years, all of the online sportsbooks in the United Kingdom now provide a mobile optimised version of their sites. The website interface should look fantastic and work flawlessly on all iOS and Android based smartphones and tablets. 

However, this isn’t always the case, so some bookmakers also provide a betting app that can be downloaded for iPhone and Android. Using a mobile app, you can use payment methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay and the facial recognition capabilities of the in-built camera or fingerprint recognition. This provides a better user experience and greater security for your betting account.

For more information on which sites offer the most enjoyable mobile betting experiences on mobile devices, please visit our betting apps page on our website. 

Customer Promotions

A key decision when joining a sports betting site is the value of its signup offer. It is highly recommended that you take advantage of any welcome offers a betting site offers when you sign up for an account for the first time. When it comes to getting a free bet or bonus from a bookmaker, however, the terms and conditions of the bookmaker mustn’t be overly restrictive. If we lived in a perfect world, the minimum odds for a qualifying bet would be very low, and the wagering requirements would be as little as possible.

We only recommend sports betting sites that provide enticing bonuses that do not come with wagering requirements that are impossible to meet.

Key Takeaway

The key takeaway from this article is that many great betting sites are available in the UK, each offering different features and promotions. Some of the top choices include Bet365, Betfred, Betvictor, William Hill, 888 Sport, Grosvenor Sport, Coral and Ladbrokes. 

These sites all provide competitive odds across various sports markets, along with generous welcome bonuses for new customers. Additionally, they offer various payment methods, such as PayPal and Neteller, plus exclusive promotions like free bets or cashback deals.

When signing up for a new bookmaker, you will often be allowed to enter a promotion or a bonus code to activate the bonus. This may be the case with a particular online bookmaker; if so, we will bring this to your attention and consider it part of our review process.

Apart from the welcome bonus, numerous other offers will interest you, such as money back specials, accumulator bonuses, and insurance for accumulators. Each of these factors is taken into consideration when conducting the review.

There are also many promotions for significant sporting events like the World Cup, Premier League opening weekend, or horse racing events like the Grand National or Cheltenham Festival.

Sports Betting Markets

Although it is undeniable that football betting is by far the most lucrative betting market in the United Kingdom, that does not mean that all other sporting events should be relegated to the background. As it has been said, that variety is the spice of life, and when it comes to betting markets, it is essential to have a wide range of options to choose from. In the world of betting, variety is vital.

The more markets a sports betting website offers, the better it will be for the customer.

Whenever you place bets on football, you will find that the best online bookmakers will have a wide range of markets that will allow you to bet according to your thoughts and feelings about the game. Whether it’s football, horse racing betting, cricket, rugby, snooker, golf or tennis, we are seeking sites where the betting options are practically limitless, which applies both to the selections made before the event and to the selections made during the event.

Additionally to traditional American sports such as baseball, American football, basketball, and ice hockey, combat sports such as mixed martial arts and ultimate fighting should also be covered extensively by the media. Several other sports deserve coverage, such as horse racing, greyhound racing, tennis, and golf.

There is no doubt that some of the best new betting sites in the UK offer sections for professional video gaming, known as esports betting, which needs to be addressed as well, given the growing popularity of betting on electronic sports (eSports). You can look at our recommended esports betting sites to find out more.

Great Betting Odds

Not every betting site offers the same odds, so it usually helps to have several betting accounts to ensure you are getting the best odds. In addition, betting exchanges like Betfair, which Paddy Power owns, typically offer better odds than traditional online sports betting sites.

You can take an early price in horse racing on a specific horse. You know that you will either get paid out at these odds or the starting price, depending on what is bigger, if you participate in the horse racing concession known as “Best Odds Guaranteed,” also known as “BoG.” 

This is a fantastic horse racing opportunity. In either case, you will no longer be faced with the dilemma of whether you should accept the current odds offered by the bookmaker or wait to see if they decrease or increase as we get closer to the event if you place your bet with a bookmaker that uses the BOG system.

As soon as you place a bet on a horse with a site that offers the best odds guaranteed, the site will typically automatically provide you with the price of the horse. On the other hand, if the SP is higher than what you were expecting and your horse wins, the site will adjust your winnings to reflect that the Best Odds Guaranteed promotion was activated and that you received a higher price.

Customer Support

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been betting on sports or how experienced you are; there is always the possibility that something will take place that will cast you adrift in the sea of sports betting.

The more different channels of customer support that are available, the better. Live chat is currently the most popular method of communication. Every betting site featured on this page will have this facility available to their customers, ideally around the clock. 

A response to your issue via live chat should be expected within a few minutes, along with the provision of an email address and a toll free phone number, as well as our expectations for how responsive live chat should be.

If a deposit does not appear in your account, a withdrawal seems stuck, or you won a bet but did not pay out, you will want to contact customer support for assistance.

Quick Facts

There are various sports betting options available to gamblers worldwide, including football, horse racing, cricket, boxing, golf, tennis and more. Esports gambling is also growing in popularity, with real money tournaments now available for popular video games such as Counter Strike Global Offensive and Dota2. Popular types of bets include match winner predictions, top batsman bowler picks and total runs scored during an innings or series overall.

In any of these situations, providing customer support is necessary, and we are not talking about an unattended email inbox here. As far as we are concerned, having dedicated and appropriate live support available at all times of the day and night and a telephone line connecting to a real person during the working hours of the day is an absolute necessity.

Payment Methods

When you make your initial deposit, you should access various payment methods. In addition, you should be able to fund your betting account without encountering any technical difficulties instantly. We also think a betting website must have an instant withdrawal option to get your winnings as quickly as possible.

Although Visa is by far the most popular payment method available (due to rules imposed by the UK Gambling Commission, customers are not permitted to use credit cards to make deposits at either established or newly launched betting sites; this includes no MasterCard, Amex, or Diners Club), some people are uncomfortable with the idea of using a debit card at online sports betting site. 

The best gambling sites to place bets online in the United Kingdom give customers various payment options. These methods include e-wallets like Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, and ecoPayz, as well as cryptocurrency options like Bitcoin and Litecoin.

There is no need to state the obvious regarding the fact that the most popular betting sites in the UK do not levy any fees on either deposits or withdrawals. However, most betting sites will impose a min deposit amount due to the processing fees involved with taking payments.

Live Streaming

As a punter, one of the most critical features you are looking for when searching for the best online betting site is the ability to watch live streams to track your bets’ progress in real-time.

Several gambling sites have made live streaming of events available to their customers to improve the overall experience. As a result, customers can now place bets while watching sporting events.

Quite a few sports bettors today would rather watch live streaming of the action as it occurs. Online gambling sites have responded to their demands by acquiring the rights to live broadcasts of various sports, including horse racing, football, tennis, and many others.

As a result, gamblers have benefited from the competition between bookmakers to provide the best live-streaming service. Moreover, especially for those who are fond of in-play betting, it has been a boon as more sporting events are regularly added to live-streaming services.

In Play & Live Betting

It is infrequent for a bookmaker to not offer In-Play live betting in 2024. It is a massive business. However, in rare instances, some bookmakers will not provide a live betting option. To add to this, some bookmakers will offer options on a limited scale. If in-play betting is what you are after, check out what the bookmaker offer. In-play markets are usually found on the homepage.

The in-play package on offer can also differ significantly. In some instances, you are provided with a live stream and informative graphic display as a visual reference, a plethora of stats during an event and an extremely responsive sportsbook allowing you to place bets in seconds. Sadly this is not always the case, so check out the bookmaker first.

Early Payout

It is no secret that early payment has become a crucial part of everyday betting, especially now that ever-popular bookmakers such as bet365, Paddy Power, and most recently Sky Bet are willing to pay out a winning wager on a football bet if the bettor chosen team wins by two goals. This is a wonderful incentive for the bookies to do so as well. This is an excellent move and will help the bookies maintain their position as some of the best online betting sites in the world.

Bet Builders

A bet builder is one of the most popular features of betting, especially on the top betting sites in the UK. Once a bettor has registered with a betting site, they need access to a great section that allows them to place bets using this function.

Min/Max Stakes

Most markets are generally available for you to place a bet from as low as 10 pence on most leading betting sites, which generally apply a very low minimum stake for most markets. However, the maximum bet tends to change depending on the bookmaker and the market in which you are betting. For example, a bookmaker will accept a more significant stake for a betting market with football, such as a result at full time, at the expense of some less significant markets.

When you are experiencing a run of good luck and place several bets that turn out to be winners on a particular betting website, there is a possibility that the website may limit the size of your wagers. Bookmakers with the highest reputation level will consider many different aspects of the situation. This will enable them to decide whether or not to set limits on their players. The good news is that bookies are becoming more aggressive regarding how they pay out winnings. Bet365 is one site that processes withdrawal requests within hours of being submitted.

Casino Games

Casino & Gaming options can vary hugely between bookmakers. Many bookmakers offer over 200 slot choices, a variety of roulette and blackjack options, impressive poker variations, and live options of a host of table games.

However, this is not always the case. Some bookmakers offer no casino and gaming options, while others have few games. Some also provide these games using dated and limited software, making the gaming experience somewhat negative.

Many bookmakers allow you to play free casino games and have a gaming section on their websites for fun i.e. not using real money. So why not give the site a practice run before opening an account? Some bookmakers will also give you a casino bonus as a welcome offer.

Betting Bonus Types Available

When you sign up for the first time at a particular online sports book, you will most likely be offered a deposit bonus. This is because online sports books are competing for your business. This is an excellent method for ‘testing the water’ at a site to determine whether or not it lives up to the expectations you have for it. 

Three types of deposit bonuses can be used for sports betting. We will walk you through the processes necessary to claim each of these bonuses.

In some cases, you might already be a customer of the bookmaker. However, top gambling sites are constantly developing new promotions available to all players. In some instances, this might be in the form of a money-back special, price boost, enhanced odds, or even the chance to score a bonus on an accumulator bet or even the chance to get accumulator insurance.

You have a wide variety of welcome bonuses available if you have not yet registered for a betting site. In most cases, once you have made your first deposit, placed your first bet, and settled that bet, you will be eligible for a free bet. There is a possibility that you can activate the bonus as soon as you deposit money into your account, even though this is not always the case.

Free Bet

In essence, a free bet is exactly what it sounds like: a wager you can place without actually spending any of your own money, which you have earned through hard work. Once you have created an account with the betting site, you will most likely be required to make a minimum deposit before being eligible for any free bets.

Free bets are among the most common welcome bonuses offered to new customers and available at all the top sites. I think that the opportunity of having the option to place a bet with bonus cash is terrific. But, to do so, you have to activate the free bet first. 

In other words, the terms and conditions have been met, with the typical requirement being that customers place a qualifying bet.

There may be a requirement that a bet with minimum odds be placed before a free bet can be claimed, and the free bet may be subject to the exact requirements as the original bet.

Money Back Offer

A particular type of bet is known as a ‘money back’ bet, which cannot result in a loss because if the bet doesn’t win, you get the stake back as a free bet. In the best online betting sites, new customers are frequently offered welcome bonuses in the form of money back on bets at the start of their betting journey.

As a condition of the use of the service, you must place a minimum wager on either one specific event, a range of events, or any combination of events they choose. If the wager is successful, you can withdraw your winnings. If you meet the minimum odds requirement and the other requirements of the terms and conditions, you will have your stake returned in the form of bonus cash as compensation.

Some bookmakers refer to this as a risk free betting offer.

Enhanced Odds Offer

Suppose you can bet on a particular event with odds significantly improved over what you would usually be offered. In that case, you should accept any enhanced odds offers that come your way. This indicates that if the bet is successful, you will receive a significantly higher return than what you would get under normal circumstances. 

However, there is typically a “catch” in that any winnings over what you would have otherwise received are given to you in the form of bonus money, which cannot be cashed out, rather than actual cash.

Take, for instance, the scenario in which you are presented with an improved odds offer on Liverpool achieving a victory over Aston Villa at Anfield. You are being offered odds of 5.0 (4/1) despite the standard odds being 2.0 (evens). If you accept the offer, place a wager of ten pounds. If Liverpool come out on top, you would get your original ten pounds plus an additional thirty pounds in bonus cash because your winnings were multiplied by two and five, respectively.

Because enhanced odds offers are typically connected to particular events, you need to act quickly if you want to take advantage of them. Check out our enhanced odds page frequently to stay updated on the most recent bonus offers.

Matched Deposit Bonus

If you are interested in starting with a specific online betting site, this can be a great way to do so. You should check it out. In most cases, you will be able to get a deposit matched 100 per cent by the bookmaker. It means that your initial deposit amount will be effectively increased by the same amount as well.

There is no doubt that you have encountered this kind of welcome bonus one time or another since it is the most common type of welcome bonus offered by online gambling sites. In most cases, you will need to meet a wagering requirement that requires you to play through your initial deposit and the bonus funds a predetermined number of times before you can clear the bonus funds.

First Deposit Bonus

This is very similar to having your deposit doubled. However, a betting website can offer you a bonus equivalent to 200% or 50 per cent of your deposit up to a certain stake amount. 

Existing customers have a greater chance of qualifying for deposit bonuses, also referred to as reload bonuses in some contexts. Customers who want to place sports bets with more significant amounts are typically eligible for this welcome offer, often made available at online sportsbooks.

A first deposit bonus is one of the less common betting bonuses that can be found on sports betting sites. However, it’s very popular on online casino websites. A minimum deposit will be required to qualify, much like the matched betting bonuses described earlier. 

There is a maximum award, which means that even if you make a larger initial deposit, the bonus you receive will be capped at that amount.

No Deposit Bonus

Occasionally, players can take advantage of a bonus that requires no initial deposit. If you are looking for this bonus, then you must sign up for a betting account. Players do not need to deposit anything into their betting account in order to receive it. You can find our more about no deposit free bet offers and what is currently available.

You will need to register a payment method in order to complete your verification, if you were fortunate enough to win with this bonus, there is a good chance that there will be a wagering requirement in place before you would be allowed to make a withdrawal. You don’t tend to find many of these bonuses for bookmakers, but plenty of casino free bet offers are available.

Bet X Get X

In almost all cases, the very most reputable online betting sites will provide new customers with a welcome bonus in the form of a free bet stake worth a specific amount following the players’ fulfilment of certain wagering requirements. In many instances, it is not uncommon to see an offer that says “Bet £10, Get £30”, which requires nothing more than making a bet of £10 on a particular betting selection aren’tpecific odds. 

A free bet of £20 will be given to you after the outcome of this wager has been determined.

Conclusion

The amount of choice available to punters in almost all countries is multiple. As such, the quality of each bookmaker can differ significantly depending on where you are located on the globe. So be sure to shop around before opening an account.

Look at each bookmaker and make your decision based on our analysis. As we have already mentioned, they are all great bookmakers; there are just little differences that separate them and might make you lean towards a particular company.

These differences aren’t necessarily good or bad points, but rather preferences that might suit some people and not others. For example, bet365 has a great mobile site, so someone who bets on their mobile a lot might prefer to bet with them over another bookmaker who hasn’t yet tweaked their mobile site for an optimal user experience. Or for example, PaddyPower uses a lot of humour on their site and in their advertising. This humorous approach may attract some users more than others.

So whichever bookmaker you decide to sign up with, you can be assured that our selection has some of the best in the industry. Nothing is stopping you from joining more than one bookmaker either! Many people join several and take advantage of the introductory free bet offers and the ability to bet with the bookmaker with the best odds for the market they are looking at.

Good Luck!

About Joe Kizlauskas

Joe is a seasoned iGaming copywriter and speaker who has been in the business since 2015. He's written more words on all elements of Casinos, Slots, Bingo & Sports Betting than he likes to remember, and he's contributed material to a number of well-known brands. Joe may be seen playing 5 a side, at the gym or playing games on his Playstation when he is not writing.