On this page, you'll find a comprehensive list of British online bookmakers compiled by our team at ThePuntersPage, as well as an extensive guide to everything you will ever need to know about betting in the UK.
- Online Betting in the UK Explained
- Our Top Best Online Bookies
- All the Best UK Online Bookies Ranked for Each Sport
- How We Ranked the Best UK Betting Sites
- What Makes Betting Sites in Our List Trustworthy?
- Best UK Online Bookies for Apps, Cash Out, and More
- Are UK Sports Betting Sites Legal?
- Online Bookmaker UK Products
- Popular Payment Methods at the Best UK Betting Sites
- The best bookmakers guides
- How Do Online Bookies in the UK Protect Punters?
- Why Bet Online?
- More Offers
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
- References
- Best Online Bookies FAQs
Best Online Bookmakers Available in the UK
Bet £5 Get £20 18+ New Customers Only. Opt in and bet £5 on sports (odds 2.00+) within 7 days. No cash-out. Get 4x£5 Free Bets for set markets, which expire in 7 days. Selected payment methods only. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Bet £10 get £40 18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any football market at minimum 1/1 odds. No cash out. Get £40 in Free Bets on selected events. Free Bets expire in 7 days. Debit card / Apple Pay payments only. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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£10 Weekly ACCA Free Bet + 100 Free Spins 18+ UK only. Sports: Place a minimum 2x £10 pre-match 4 leg acca cash bet where odds accumulate to 3.0 (2/1) or more and get a £10 bonus funds to use on multiples (3 or more selection, min odds per selection 1.5 (1/2)). Cashed Out, Asian Handicaps, Draw no Bet wagers or bets with void legs do not qualify for this promotion. Free Bet credited every Monday by 12pm. Maximum 1 free bet per customer per week available from this promotion. Casino: New players only. 1 welcome offer per customer. Deposit and Stake £10 on casino slots and receive 100 Free Spins on ‘Big Catch Bass Fishing’. Spin value is £0.10. No wagering on winnings. Free Spins 7 day expiry. Full T&C's apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Up to £50 in Free Bets, Odds Boost Token, 20 Free Spins & £10 Casino Bonus 18+ New players only | Available until 23:59 GMT 31.12.2025 Each challenge has its own TCs. Eligible Bets must be placed for each respective Challenge during the Promotional Period including the following: ACCA, Football, In-Play, and Casino. Each challenge has its own set of TCs and can only be completed 1x. Available to claim: 20 Free Spins, Odds Boost Token, £10 Free Bet, 50% Back up Free Bet up to £20, £10 Casino Bonus when you wager £50+. If all are completed you will receive Max £20 Free Bet to be used on any sport. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Up to £50 in free bets 18+ Free bets and spins must be claimed within 28 days of opening. Free bet/spin stake not included in any winnings. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Bet £10, Get £30 in Free Bets 18+ New cust only. 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. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. Full T&Cs apply. Bet Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org #ad
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Online Betting in the UK Explained
The table above is a list of choices for the best bookies and sports betting sites. Select what you want to feature (bonuses, features, payment methods) and hit the search button. You can also re-arrange the table by newest bookies and order them alphabetically.
Betting online is big business all over the world, and we have compared all the top betting sites online in order to help you find exactly what you need. Whether you are looking for online bookmakers for football, horse racing, NFL, MLB, cricket, tennis or greyhounds, or even perhaps an online casino, we've got you covered.
Our Top Best Online Bookies
Between numerous operators available in the market, these are the top UK bookmakers selected by our reviewers for you to help you make an informed decision when choosing the right platform for your online betting needs.
Parimatch
Parimatch is a renowned online betting operator that has gained popularity worldwide. With a wide range of sports and events to bet on, Parimatch provides a user-friendly interface and a seamless betting experience. It offers competitive odds and various betting options to cater to the diverse preferences of its users.
- Extensive sports coverage, including popular and niche sports.
- User-friendly platform with easy navigation.
- Competitive odds and attractive promotions for new and existing customers.
- Quick payments
- Strong website design
- Limited availability in certain regions.
- Customer support response time can be improved.
- Some users may find the website design outdated.
BetVictor
BetVictor is a well-established betting operator with a strong presence in the industry. It offers a comprehensive sportsbook, casino games, and other betting options. BetVictor is known for its commitment to providing competitive odds and a wide range of betting markets to suit different preferences.
- Competitive odds and a vast selection of betting markets.
- User-friendly website and mobile app for convenient betting.
- Generous bonuses and promotions for new and existing customers.
- Attractive football betting markets offered
- Fast withdrawal time
- Restricted access in certain countries.
- The customer support system could be more responsive.
- Some users may find the withdrawal process slightly complicated.
The Pools
The Pools is a unique betting operator that focuses on pool betting. It offers a different approach to traditional sports betting, where players compete against each other rather than the bookmaker. The Pools covers various sports and provides exciting gameplay for users seeking a fresh betting experience.
- Pool betting offers a social and interactive betting experience.
- Diverse sports coverage with attractive jackpots.
- The Pools' user-friendly platform and intuitive interface.
- Limited betting options compared to traditional sportsbooks.
- Availability may be restricted in some regions.
- The Pools may not offer the same level of depth as other operators in terms of markets and odds.
Sportingbet
Sportingbet is a popular online betting operator with a strong emphasis on sports betting. It covers a wide range of sports and leagues, catering to both casual and professional bettors. Sportingbet offers competitive odds, live betting, and a user-friendly platform for a flawless betting experience.
- Extensive sports coverage with a focus on popular leagues and events.
- Competitive odds and a wide range of betting markets.
- Live betting feature for real-time wagering on ongoing matches.
- Excellent Welcome Bonus
- Limited availability in certain countries.
- The website design could be more modern and intuitive.
- Some users may find the customer support response time slower than expected.
SpreadEX
Spreadex is a unique betting operator that specializes in spread betting. It offers a range of sports and financial markets for spread betting enthusiasts. Spreadex provides a combination of traditional fixed-odds betting and spread betting, allowing users to choose their preferred betting style.
- Innovative spread betting platform with a wide selection of markets.
- Competitive spreads and flexible betting options.
- The ability to profit from both rising and falling markets.
- Great customer support
- Top-notch spread betting service
- Spread betting may be more complex for beginners.
- Limited availability in certain regions.
- The website design could be more modern and user-friendly.
10bet
10bet is a reputable online betting operator that offers a diverse range of sports and betting options. With a focus on delivering an enjoyable user experience, 10bet provides competitive odds, a wide range of markets, and attractive promotions to enhance the betting journey.
- Extensive sports coverage with a variety of betting markets.
- Competitive odds and regular promotions.
- Intuitive platform and mobile app for convenient betting.
- Quick payouts
- The Ten club – The new VIP experience
- Restricted access in certain countries.
- Customer support response time could be improved.
- Some users may prefer more comprehensive statistics and live-streaming options.
Betway
Betway is a well-known and reputable online betting operator with a strong presence in the industry. It offers a wide range of sports, including popular and niche markets, along with an extensive casino section. Betway provides competitive odds, attractive promotions, and a user-friendly platform for an ideal betting experience.
- Diverse sports coverage with competitive odds.
- User-friendly website and mobile app for easy navigation.
- Generous bonuses and promotions for new and existing customers.
- Betway Insider – an extensive blog that’s updated daily
- Restricted access in certain countries.
- The customer support system could be more responsive.
- Some users may find the withdrawal process slightly time-consuming.
All the Best UK Online Bookies Ranked for Each Sport
Of all the sports that are popular across the globe, some stand out more than others when it comes to betting. Make sure to check out our detailed 2023 sports calendar so you don't miss any events over the next year!
Football
As undoubtedly the world’s most popular sport, there is no single market more important to online bookmakers.
Few market options are capable of competing with those available for football. On quality examples, you can bet on everything from goals scored to players being sent off, handicap bets and more. You can also expect excellent live coverage, featuring graphics and statistics even when live streaming is not possible.
On an international level, the biggest tournaments include the likes of the World Cup, the Euros, and the Copa América. Indeed, these tournaments are so huge that they attract people who do not usually bet otherwise. They're also great for accumulators, which in turn give casual bettors an incentive to stay interested at every stage.
As a final, vital point, the competitiveness you can find here means you can often get truly excellent odds.
There’s also scope for more regular bettors, with no shortage of domestic options from all around the world. All are great choices, but there's little doubt that Europe’s top 5 leagues are what draw the most attention: the English Premier League, Germany’s Bundesliga, Italy’s Serie A Spain’s La Liga, and France’s Ligue 1. There are even international tournaments between the best clubs like the Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Having said all this, what are the best bookies for football? Click the link to see all our top picks.
Horse Racing
Horse racing is one of the most popular sports internationally, and is the second most bet-on sport in the world.
It's also a more international sport than a lot of people realise. For example, the Melbourne Cup is not only a big deal in its native land of Australia, but also attracts around 650 million viewers worldwide. There would be enough horse races to satisfy even the most ardent fan in the United Kingdom and Ireland alone, but there's also races all throughout the world, meaning that the level of variety here is absolutely sensational.
There's no doubt that world-renowned colossal events like the Grand National Betting and Cheltenham Festival are part of the appeal of horse racing, but they are far from all that is available.
In addition, the popularity of this market has two very big positives. One of which is that the odds here, just as was the case with football, are extremely competitive. That competitiveness also means you can get some very generous promotions as well. Best Odds Guaranteed offers, for instance, are very common.
Don't miss our list of the best horse racing online bookies.
Tennis
Not only is tennis one of the biggest and most loved sports in the world, but it also remains popular with bettors all over the globe. It's a two- or four-player sport that must be played to a win, which makes it great for matched betting, as a tied outcome has been eliminated as a possibility.
You will no doubt have heard of many prestigious tennis events that are held throughout the year. The likes of Wimbledon and the US Open are household names, with the former practically being a cultural phenomenon. Its popularity can also be seen in its markets on online bookmakers; betting on winners for these tournaments alone counts for huge business among online bookmakers.
You don't need to be an expert to back a winner, for instance, just like you don't need to be an expert to enjoy watching a great tennis match. But just which are the best bookies for tennis? Click to find out.
Greyhounds
| Bookmaker | Reason |
|---|---|
| Parimatch | Competitive greyhound odds |
| William Hill | Top-notch live streaming |
| bet365 | Best odds available |
| BoyleSports | Best odds on UK and Irish dogs |
| Betfred | Fair greyhound betting odds |
| BetVictor | 33,000 races annually |
| Coral | Coral Radio greyhound commentary |
Greyhound racing, or simply dog racing, is the second most popular form of daily racing in the likes of New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, South Africa and the USA, to give just a few examples. It’s also a commonly found sport across the best online bookies in the UK.
Greyhound betting can sometimes exist in the shadow of horse racing. However, this is far from a fair way of looking at it. On its own merits, greyhound racing is an incredibly popular and exciting sport to bet on, with huge events like the English Greyhound Derby and the Melbourne Cup (separate to the horse racing event of the same name) taking place all around the world.
It also has one of the most interesting histories of any option on this list. And to this day, greyhound betting exists as part of the daily offering of available races for punters to back on almost all online bookmakers. In other words, if you're not getting involved, you could be missing out on what might be your new favourite way to bet. With that in mind, we think these are the best online bookies for greyhounds.
Virtual Sports
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1.
Betfred
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2.
Bet365
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3.
Unibet
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4.
Bwin
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5.
Sportingbet
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6.
Coral
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7.
BetVictor
Virtual sports are shorter, more frequent, electronically generated simulations of the top sports we all know and love in real life, and are especially great when regular sports are not available. You'll be able to place wagers on them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The technology behind virtual sports has come a long way, having undergone a drastic transformation that has resulted in an incredibly realistic, engrossing and interesting way to bet. Take the Virtual Grand National results as an example – an astounding 4.8 million viewers mean that this vision of the future is here to stay.
We have listed the top ten best online bookmakers for virtual sports in a separate guide.
Esports
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1.
Vbet
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2.
Unibet
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3.
Bet365
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4.
Luckbox
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5.
Ladbrokes
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6.
BetVictor
The world of esports has garnered immense momentum over the years, with stars of the gaming world becoming professionals and signing up for sports teams. Although this is no longer a niche market, there is quite a lot of difference between bookmakers in terms of quantity available.
It is common, for instance, to find an esports section that only has the most popular games like Dota 2 and League of Legends, and only a few markets for each. The better online bookies that are available have a much wider selection.
Essentially, your standards for the traditional market need not be lowered for esports. For our recommendations, we won't accept anything less than the best.
How We Ranked the Best UK Betting Sites
In order to ensure you have the best and most secure online gambling experience we run bookmakers through a series of tests. These tests are done for all bookmakers ranked on our website as they help us to confirm that they are trustworthy and see how they compare to other sportsbooks online. To do this we ensure the following criteria are met:
Safety and Regulations
Safety is paramount in the online betting world, especially in the UK, where stringent standards for encryption and licensing are upheld. Every operator must meet a baseline of safety and comply with authorities' requirements. Additionally, the banning of credit cards on gambling sites in April 2020 has influenced the variety of banking options available.
Odds Quality
Odds quality is a vital consideration for any sports betting site, with the competition driving operators to offer competitive odds. Our detailed betting odds comparison between reputable platforms like Ladbrokes, bet365, and Unibet can guide you to the best options.
We’ve created a detailed betting odds comparison between some with the best reputation. At the end of the day, however, you can get quality odds at all decent UK betting sites, a testament to the quality of the market and the importance of competition.
Promotions
Promotions also play a significant role, with a crowded market leading to attractive bonus offers. Understanding the terms and conditions is key to assessing the true value of these bonuses.
Check out our detailed guide to the best betting promotions to learn more about what's up for grabs. Alternatively, if you already have an account, check out our extensive list of betting promo codes.
Design and User Experience
A betting site's design is a subjective but crucial aspect of user experience. A seamless structure and technical prowess contribute to stress-free navigation. Examining the layout and ease of accessing sports, events, odds, and markets is essential for a comfortable user experience.
Variety of Options
A top-tier sportsbook should offer a diverse selection of sports and markets globally, covering top leagues, mid-tier leagues, lower leagues, esports, virtual sports, and more. The same applies to casinos, where a wide range of quality games from top software developers enhances the overall gambling experience.
Any sportsbook worth its salt should offer amazing selection of sports and markets from all over the globe: top leagues, mid-tier leagues and lower leagues covered, esports, virtual sports, the works.
The same applies to casinos – you want the widest selection of quality games possible from the best software developers out there. Karamba, LeoVegas and Mr Green all spring to mind in that regard. Sites like these allow you the chance to get all your sportsbook, casino, poker, bingo, and other gambling needs all from one place, or everything offered by a single brand, like with 888sport.
Mobile Options
With the increasing trend of mobile betting, having a mobile-compatible app or site is crucial. Our list of the best betting apps for Android and iOS ensures a worthwhile mobile experience, allowing punters to access all facilities seamlessly.
If, like many other punters, you prefer betting on mobile, we’ve got you covered with a brilliant list of the best betting apps for Android and iOS.
Livestreaming
Modern UK bookmakers excel in live sports coverage, with features like livestreaming enhancing the betting experience. While not all bookies offer livestreaming, alternative options such as graphics, news pieces, statistics, tables, and betting tips contribute to a dynamic betting environment.
Thankfully though, there are tons of other ways online bookmakers can cover live sports. Often, they provide graphics which follow and update alongside the action. Some even provide news pieces, statistics, tables and betting tips to help you bet smarter.
Customer Service
Quality customer service is universally desired. Beyond round-the-clock live chat, the effectiveness of the team and the helpfulness of responses, including in the help/FAQ section, contribute to a positive customer experience.
Even the help/FAQ section is vital. The strong baseline of customer service in the UK means that some sites which do have excellent customer service don’t always get the credit for it, like with Vbet, or 32Red, to give a couple of examples.
Banking Options
Banking options are another added bonus for online betting, giving punters a chance to use their preferred method of making transactions. Needless to say, the more options the better – so long as they are safe and reliable.
The variety of options possible is vast, with the key exception being that credit cards were banned from use on gambling sites in April 2020. Most of the best online bookies UK have a broad variety. We’ll go through the most common methods in more detail later on in the article.
If you wish, you can also check out our article comparing the betting sites with the fastest withdrawal time per payment method.
What Makes Betting Sites in Our List Trustworthy?
There is perhaps no more important attribute for a bookmaker than trustworthiness. This is where you will be placing your hard-earned cash, after all, so anything less than complete confidence will simply not cut it. This is the case whether you are a complete beginner learning how to place a bet online, or a seasoned punter with years of experience.
Luckily, we have plenty of ways to assess a bookie's credentials and legitimacy. First up, there’s licensing. Any UK bookie you use needs to be properly licensed through a reputable governing body. This means that the bookmaker is operating within the law, which is the absolute minimum anyone should expect. All our bookmaker reviews specify which licence a online bookie holds.
Another hugely important factor in our list of online bookmakers is encryption. This is how your sensitive financial and personal data is kept safe over the internet, and is an absolute must for any decent online bookies – along with having a quality privacy policy. All sites should have the latter clearly visible for visitors and customers, so you'll be able to see how they use your data before you sign up.
Then there's also the bookie's commitment to responsible gambling to consider. There should be plenty of information on this subject, along with several options to help customers monitor their gambling behaviour. Ideally, the bookmaker should provide options of its own to help their players. This includes providing deposit limits, time outs and self-exclusions.
The final trait needed to be featured on our list of online bookmakers is the quality of the product. This means that the site has a reputation for providing a great service across the board, like fair terms and conditions for its promotions, a site which functions properly and a helpful customer service team that responds promptly.
Remember that, in this day and age, the amount of options available for players in practically every market is vast. That means that you shouldn't have to put up with anything less than the absolute best in every respect we have discussed, and especially not when it comes to trust.
Best UK Online Bookies for Apps, Cash Out, and More
Top Betting Apps
Mobile betting is now the most popular form of online betting, and a good app that loads quickly and which is easily navigable and super secure is a vital element of a good bookmaker. We take mobile betting every bit as seriously as desktop, and our expectations and standards are every bit as high. Research into this subject has led us to draw up the list of the best betting apps.
Best Cash Out Feature
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1.
Parimatch
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2.
Betvictor
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3.
The Pools
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4.
Sportingbet
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5.
SpreadEX
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6.
BetUK
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7.
kwiff
One of the very best things to have come out of online betting is the Cash Out feature, which allows bettors to walk away from a bet that might be turning against them. By doing so, you can minimise potential losses and still secure some profit.
Things we take into account when considering the best cash-out online bookies are the consistency of markets it is offered on, whether partial or automated cash outs are available, as well as the generosity of the cash-outs offered. We recommend our guide to the best online bookies offering Cash Out to see our top recommendations.
Lowest Minimum Bets
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1.
Boylesports
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2.
bwin
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3.
Ladbrokes
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4.
William Hill
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5.
Betvictor
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6.
Parimatch
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7.
bet365
There could be any number of reasons why bettors might need to bet a minimum stake, but not all sites allow for this. The inclusion of low-minimum stakes can only increase the appeal and quality of the online bookmaker. With that in mind, here are our top picks for the best bookies ranked by minimum bet amount.
Highest-Quality Livestreaming
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1.
Parimatch
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2.
Betvictor
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3.
bet365
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4.
Sportingbet
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5.
Boylesports
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6.
Coral
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7.
Betway
These days, punters have the opportunity to follow football, horse racing, and any other sport imaginable through the website of our favourite online bookmaker, allowing us to make bets in real time. This is commonly known to many as in-play betting.
The jewel in the crown of any great in-play betting selection is live-streaming. As we mentioned above, however, many UK bookmakers are simply unable to provide it. That makes those that can very special indeed. Click to see our list of the best bookies for livestreaming.
Are UK Sports Betting Sites Legal?
The first important thing to know about betting in the UK is that you need to be at least 18 years of age or over in order to do so legally, whether on the high street or online. This goes for casino games, sports betting, and bingo halls. However, some forms of gambling, like the National Lottery (but not lotto betting), are legal for those over the age of 16.
Gambling in the United Kingdom is regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, who put in place strict laws on things like advertising and responsible gaming. An example of the latter is the multi-operator scheme GAMSTOP, which is there to help combat problem gaming.
There are strict regulations that every legal gambling site in the UK must adhere to, not just those which make our list of best betting sites. Although they admittedly are extensive and can be rather complicated at times, they are there to protect you as a customer against unfair practices. It prevents, for instance, a betting company from refusing to pay you after you have fairly won a wager, or from making promotional promises they have no intention of keeping.
Online Bookmaker UK Products
For a truly complete betting experience, you should expand your horizons and try out other available options apart from sports betting. Along with the sportsbook product, we've listed some of the best alternatives in this section.
Sportsbook
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1.
Parimatch
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2.
Betvictor
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3.
The Pools
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4.
Sportingbet
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5.
SpreadEX
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6.
10bet
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7.
Betway
The product most familiar to sports fans, a bookie's sportsbook is where you'll find markets for all kinds of sports to bet on. Top betting sites will provide generous coverage of both major and minor events, including tournaments such as the Premier League and other, more niche competitions.
If you're not sure where to start, the best UK sportsbooks can be accessed through the top online sports betting sites available online.
Fantasy Sports
Fantasy sports in the UK is dominated by football. Fantasy sports gives punters a chance to choose a team of players and earn points depending on individual performances. These tournaments often take place over an entire season.
However, the rise in Daily Fantasy Sports in the US has spread across the pond to the UK with sites such as bet365 recently adding it their range of products. Here’s our guide to fantasy sports, we suggest you get to know more about the product before you give it a go.
Online Casino
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1.
Magical Vegas
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2.
Coral
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3.
Grand ivy
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4.
Jackpot Village
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5.
SpreadEX
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6.
Atlantic Spins
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7.
Regal Wins
The Online Casino products work the same way as a regular in person casino and often include slot machines as well as blackjack, roulette and a whole host of other options.
The top UK online casino sites will have great offers and promotions, to find out more check out our best online casinos guide. Make sure you understand the games before placing any bets.
Online Poker
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1.
bet365
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2.
Ladbrokes
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3.
William Hill
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4.
Pokerstars
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5.
Party Poker
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6.
Unibet
Online Poker is offered as a separate product to the rest of the casino due to the sheer size of the industry. The most popular card game in the world, unlike other casino games, poker requires much more skill and knowledge to play.
With so many options and styles to play, you’ll need to be well prepared. Take a look at our in depth guide to online poker for all you need to know. There are many sites which focus solely on poker, however there are sites which offer this alongside other products.
Online Casino Games
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1.
Betvictor
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2.
Coral
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3.
Betway
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4.
bet365
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5.
Netbet casino
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6.
VBET casino
Certain sports betting sites also offer a casino section with slots, table games, and a few other options too. The latter are much more dependent on luck as opposed to strategy or experience, meaning that they could be a fun alternative should you be in the mood for something that doesn't require too much thought. Just be careful not to get too carried away!
Online Bingo
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1.
bet365
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2.
Coral
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3.
Ladbrokes
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4.
William Hill
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5.
Unibet
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6.
Boylesports
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7.
Paddy Power Bingo
Hugely popular in the UK, online bingo is fairly self-explanatory as it functions in the same way as it does in real life – with quite a few added advantages.
Games are constantly available, with many options for stakes and prizes along with loads of bonuses and promotions. Finding the right site for you may be tricky, so here is our detailed online bingo guide with our list of recommendations.
Lotto Betting
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1.
The Pools
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2.
Coral
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3.
bet365
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4.
Boylesports
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5.
Betfred
This is one of the most popular forms of betting; however, placing a bet on the lottery is different to actually entering it. Rather than participating in the actual competition, you'll instead be betting on the outcomes, with few added features and promotions – like online bingo – on top.
Another key difference is that when you enter a lottery, your winnings are taken from a prize pot; if you've won a wager on a particular draw, then your bookmaker will pay out your winnings. To learn more, head over to our in-depth lotto betting guide.
Fun fact: In 2022, almost a third of the UK (27%) participated in the National Lottery.
Popular Payment Methods at the Best UK Betting Sites
Some people are not aware which payment methods are actually available to them and thus aren’t sure what to look for when researching the best online bookies, or casino betting sites, that may be right for them. Here is a quick breakdown of some of the most popular UK betting payment methods.
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Debit Cards: Although credit cards are no longer usable on sports betting sites in the UK, debit cards most certainly are, with Visa being the most popular in the UK. If you have ever bought anything online, you should know what to do here. Input the relevant information, tell them how much you want to deposit, and the results should be near instant.
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Paysafecard: This is a simple, prepaid online solution which works like a mobile top-up card and has natural security benefits. You can purchase a voucher at a retail outlet and, using the attached 16-digit code, add funds to your account.
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NETELLERSkrill: We decided to mention these two e-wallets together here as they work in very similar ways, allowing you to easily transfer money all around the world and enjoy the benefits of fast withdrawals. However, it is near standard in the UK for promotions to not accept those depositing with e-wallets, so keep that in mind.
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PayPal: This is the most popular e-wallet out there and is accepted by a vast amount of online betting sites in the UK. It enables you to manage multiple accounts in one place – as a result, what was once quite complicated has been streamlined for intuitiveness and simplicity.
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Bitcoin: As the dominant cryptocurrency out there, Bitcoin offers much more availability in all walks of life than any other competitor, by a significantly wide margin. This includes the world of gambling, where it is becoming more and more common all over the world, including in the UK markets. The added security and anonymity provided by Bitcoin is a big part of its popularity, even in a secure, well-regulated market like the iGaming sector.
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Fast bank transfer: This payment method is ideal for those who want a reasonable level of convenience but prefer traditional deposit and withdrawal options. This is exactly what it sounds like – a transfer of funds from one account to another, completed as quickly as possible. It is important to have such an option, as not everyone is comfortable with more technologically advanced alternatives.
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Apple Pay: Another option that has been steadily gaining traction all over the country is Apple Pay, which allows people to make transactions through accounts set up on their Apple products. Its popularity is partly due to the convenience of allowing people to pay for things in real life through scanning their phone, and that popularity is now beginning to translate across more and more online betting sites across the UK.
The best bookmakers guides
How Do Online Bookies in the UK Protect Punters?
All that choice is backed up by the strict regulation of the UK Gambling Commission. As long as you choose a licensed and reputable site, there are certain safeguards that you should be able to expect. Below, we have broken down the security measures we considered to be absolutely fundamental for any of the best betting sites listed to be considered legitimate.
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Licensing: As mentioned previously, gambling licences in the UK are provided by the UK Gambling Commission. What this means is that, on a basic level, the site you are using is both legal and legitimate, and must therefore adhere to the laws of the land regarding gambling products.
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Encryption: By their very nature, the best online bookies in the UK require you to input sensitive, private information. This can include photographic identification, as well as financial information. Rest assured, however, that licensed sports betting sites utilise encryption technology in order to ensure that your data is kept safe from online criminals.
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Privacy Policy: Another concern that customers often have is also what the site itself does with that information. Allow us to put your mind at ease by assuring you that this is strictly regulated, and you should be able to find a full and comprehensive privacy policy on any and all top betting sites available to UK punters.
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Responsible Gaming Measures: Apart from providing links to external sources (e.g. GAMSTOP), bookmakers should implement practical tools on their platform, such as Time Outs and Deposit Limits for those who need them.
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Safe Banking Methods: One thing that is often overlooked is the need for a wide variety of safe banking methods. The legitimacy of the banking method depends on its individual credentials, but needless to say, you need to be able to deposit and withdraw money safely using any options provided by the operator.
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Fair and Random Games: If you are a casino player, then there is nothing more important than the games you are playing being provably random and fair. One of the easiest ways of ensuring this is by only using the best UK betting sites that use trustworthy and reputable software developers. Random number generators (RNGs) and independent audits from the likes of eCOGRA can also be used to ensure this is the case.
Why Bet Online?
There are almost too many reasons to bet online to list. For starters, it’s convenient – there is no reason to leave the house or workplace as per the old days. If you fancy a flutter, just reach for your nearest device, and bet how you please.
It's also worth remembering that payouts are instant and go directly into your betting account. In addition, because of the seemingly endless amounts of online bookmakers, a highly competitive market has emerged where there is a constant barrage of the best bookmaker offers and promotions for bettors to take advantage of. Livestreaming is another advantage of betting online, as is the wide variety of markets – and, of course, the entire process is entirely safe.
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ThePuntersPage Final Say
So, there you go: everything you could possibly need to know regarding the best online bookies and sport betting sites, all on one page! Choosing the right betting site for you is a crucial decision for every punter – our above list of recommended UK bookmakers will help you make that choice.
Knowing the ins and outs of betting legislation and payment methods will also help give you peace of mind when betting in the UK adding to your experience. If you're not sure about which site to use, you can always sign up to multiple bookmakers – it is the best way to benefit from different promotions and features.
The problem here is not finding good sports betting sites – it is picking out the best betting sites among a whole army of excellent options!
References
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UK Gambling Commission: Official Gambling Regulator
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Gamstop: Self-exclusion Help
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GambleAware: Responsible Gambling Support
Best Online Bookies FAQs
All legitimate online bookies in the United Kingdom must carry a licence that is provided to them by the UK Gambling Commission.
So long as the betting sites in question are reputable, have all the safety measures they require in place, and you gamble responsibly, then yes, they are as safe as they possibly could be.
Yes. For example, if one bookmaker does not have a licence, it is objectively worse than one that does. However, many bookmakers are excellent but simply have different target audiences. Choosing the right site for your needs is the most important step in creating a great betting experience.
The main thing a bookmaker does is provide odds on an event and pays off bets. However, your modern bookmaker often runs shops, websites, provides around the clock customer services, organises and delivers on promotions, and has a huge amount of sports and betting markets to choose from.
Credit cards have been banned from all UK online bookies, which was a decision made by the Gambling Commission in 2020 in order to help curb problem gambling. As a result, you will no longer be able to use credit cards on any legitimate betting sites UK punters can sign up to.
The biggest bookmakers in the UK include well-established names like Bet365, William Hill, Ladbrokes, and Betfair. These companies have a long history in the industry and are widely recognized for their sports betting services.
The time it takes to open a new betting account can vary between different bookmakers. Generally, the process involves providing personal information, verifying identity, and making an initial deposit. This can typically be completed within a few minutes to an hour, depending on the efficiency of the platform and the verification process.