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While betting on horse racing or football is common, and politics and water polo are also not exceptional, the best UK online bookmakers will accept wagers on almost anything. With so many bookies licensed in UK to pick from, where should you sign up for an account and place your bets? Below we list the UK bookies, explain what Gambling Commission does, and cover everything else you need to know.

Best Betting Sites in UK

888sport Review
Best odds guaranteed on horse racing Regular promotions and free bets One of the most trusted betting sites Live in-play betting and cash-out feature Competitive odds and fast payouts
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; To withdraw bonus/related wins, wager the bonus amount 40 times within 14 days; Casino Bonus expires after 60 days; Withdrawal restrictions, payment methods, country.
Bet £10 Get £30 + £10 Casino Bonus

UK Bookmakers Licensing & Regulation

Every UK e-bookmaker must possess a license from the United Kingdom (UK) Gambling Commission (UKGC) so as to run their business. Nevertheless, what does that literally mean?

The main purpose of UKGC is to safeguard gamblers against fraud, unfair gambling and problem gambling.

Not following the UKGC policies could lead to licenses being withdrawn or fines levied. All our top recommended UK bookmakers are licensed by the UKGC and adhere to its stringent rules.

What We Look For in a Good UK Bookmaker

Since a number of the bookmakers on the internet in the UK claim to be as good as sliced bread, we know it can be difficult for you to decide which one to settle for; this is why we choose our recommended bookies based on what matters most. When critiquing UK bookmakers, there are many elements that come into play:-

Betting Offers

Every punter loves getting a free bet, deposit bonus or special for their favorite sport. We appreciate the value of joining a new site and taking up on such offers. Such moves can provide you with an advantage over a bookie and turn your good bets into great ones.

Sports Betting Apps

An app for sports betting has become important because of things like in-play betting and cash out. Do you want to maximize your stakes and have the advantage over a bookmaker? It is imperative that you stay connected on a fast, safe and stable app that will keep you well informed.

Football Betting

Though not all UK bookmakers are created equal when it comes to the beautiful game, there is no doubt that football is the most popular sport to bet on in the UK. For footy fans, our recommended sites provide competitive football odds as well as a vast range of markets including Asian handicap and regular specials.

UK Gambling Commission

Features of the Top UK Betting Companies

Big-name bookies occupy the topmost position in their field because they tend to excel constantly. They have a lot of money, and this is why they are able to come out with more favorable chances as well as bigger rewards since they started quite early. If most sports bettors have an account with a particular bookie, then there must be something that made them choose it.

At bookmakers, there are other really important things that many people tend to overlook but we always check. Some of these include:

  • Valid UKGC license
  • Customer support
  • Licensing and regulation
  • Average odds offered
  • Range of sports and markets
  • Payment options available
  • Registration and verification process
  • In-play betting markets
  • Site speed and usability
  • Statistics and information available
  • Live streaming service
  • Free bets and promotions
  • Brand reputation
  • Mobile experience
  • Cash out and other features

100% Trusted, Secure & Approved Betting Sites

  • Fully licensed and certified by independent regulators.
  • Approved for secure financial transactions and data protection.
  • Reputation for dealing with complaints quickly and fairly.

Claim Free Bets at UK Bookies

Just about every bookmaker has attractive welcome bonuses and promotions designed to entice you to deposit. But, which ones are actually the best? Are some better than others? Do free bets come for free?

Certain bonuses are too good to be true. They offer huge amounts, but often you will have to play lots of times.

Which implies that you must use the money you were given many times before it can be cashed out – this of course raises your chances of losing.

Because they are so diverse, it may not be easy to know the best among them. Hence we have selected some bookies for you. These ones give you real money credits for placing bet and without any risk of losing or excessive wagering demands.

It is as simple as that with these UK bookies; you get to place some no-risk bets on your favourite sports once you make your first deposit.

Big Ben in London

New Bookmakers for UK Punters

Online bookmakers continually emerge. Nevertheless, how can you tell if a website without any long-standing reputation is to be believed? In the end, every online bookmaker has its own advantages and disadvantages that you have to weigh up before making your choice. However, we can offer assistance.

We are always at the forefront of finding new gambling sites in the United Kingdom. New bookmakers are monitored, reviewed and rated by us to keep you informed. You will receive information on new betting sites with fantastic welcome bonuses and how easy they are to use on our website.

In the following paragraphs, we have compiled a list of the most popular new bookies, who offer their customers amazing promotions when they join them.

888 Sports
4.9/5
Rated by 539 users
Bet £10 Get £30 + £10 Casino Bonus
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T&C: 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; To withdraw bonus/related wins, wager the bonus amount 40 times within 14 days; Casino Bonus expires after 60 days; Withdrawal restrictions, payment methods, country. – Terms apply
Spreadex Sports
4.8/5
Rated by 312 users
Get £50 in Bet Bonuses
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T&C: Promotions available to 18+ aged individuals who are registered customers of Spreadex. 5 x £5 free fixed odds bets, 4 x free £5 spread bets + 50 free spins on Starburst. Min odds 1/2. Each free spin is worth 10p and there are no wagering requirements Free bets and spins must be claimed within 28 days of opening. Free bet/spin stake not included in any winnings. 18+ begambleaware.org – Terms apply
Bet UK Sports
4.7/5
Rated by 350 users
Bet £20, Get £60 In Free Bets
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T&C: 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. T&C’s Apply. 18+ begambleaware.org. – Terms apply
10Bet Sports
4.6/5
Rated by 312 users
50% up to £50
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T&C: New bettors; Code PLAY10; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+ – Terms apply
Bet365 Sports
4.6/5
Rated by 219 users
Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets
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T&C: 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. Time limits & exclusions apply. – Terms apply
Britain Bet Sports
4.5/5
Rated by 143 users
Get £10 Free Bet
Visit Site

T&C: New Players Only. Free bet – one-time stake of £10, 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. 18+  – Terms apply
Unibet
4.5/5
Rated by 513 users
Money Back As A Bonus Up to £40
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T&C: 18+. 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. begambleaware.org. Visit Unibet.co.uk for full T&C’s.  – Terms apply
Boyle Sports Casino
4.4/5
Rated by 289 users
Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets
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T&C: 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+.  – Terms apply

The Most Popular Sports for Betting in the UK

The UK betting industry is dominated by two sports: football and horse racing. Although other sports have gained popularity in terms of gambling, these two remain the most significant for both the bookies and gamblers in general. This is why we include various features for football and horse racing in our recommended list of UK bookmakers.

Football

Range of Markets, Leagues & Promotions

In the UK, we advise you to choose bookies that have multiple markets on leagues from all over the world. They can serve your gambling needs when it comes to football as well as other areas of interest. Therefore, you will be able to take Asian handicap odds for J1 League matches or get a free bet for some next Premier League fixtures being played in the forthcoming week.

Cash Out & In-Play

The modern sports betting strategy requires the ability to cash out early should your bet not be proceeding as expected; additionally, this also calls for in-play betting where you wager on live odds as they are updated. Football is supported by all sites we recommend.

Acca Insurance

In betting, a football accumulator or an acca is where you put more than one bet together to increase your chances. It could be very profitable in the event that all your predictions are right; nevertheless, the odds are often long. Many bookmakers provide acca insurance now which means you can still get some money back even if one of your choices fails to win.

Horse Racing

Worldwide Markets

Using the best betting sites, you can place bets on hundreds of races from around the globe. In addition, one can bet on daily meets in the UK and Ireland as well as traditional overseas races such as the Kentucky Derby.

Enhanced Odds Offers

Partners would have improved chances on important races at major meetings such as Cheltenham Festival or Royal Ascot. Special prices are typically set aside for a featured race of the day.

Non-Runner No-Bet (NRNB)

In horse racing wagering, there is a Non-Runner No-Bet offer where you can get your stake refunded if the horse does not go on the race. This is an advantage of online best bookmakers for horse racing compared to betting shops.

Guaranteed Starting Price Odds

The starting price, abbreviated as SP, can change significantly just before the off. They are recommended sites by us as they are at the forefront of industry and will ensure you get the best available SP on that day.

How to Deposit at UK Online Bookmakers

When you get used to a site, it is easy to deposit, withdraw money and use different banking methods. However, if you are new to online sports betting or are trying out another bookmaker there are some things that you should always remember.

At first, the UK sports books accept a broad assortment of payment options. To fund your account, you can use debit cards, digital wallets, prepaid cards, cryptocurrencies and many more safe and convenient ways.

By the way, credit cards are not a thing that UK punters can contemplate on anymore. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) introduced a ban on credit cards for gambling on 14 April 2020. For this reason, the Gambling Commission decided to ban problem gamblers indebted by playing with credit cards.

Finally, it is important to select the deposit method of your choice. To discover more about the advantages of these methods see our guideline on how to deposit with online betting sites.

You know what to do when you are not comfortable with depositing. Our step-by-step guide will, however, make their first time easier.

Popular Deposit Methods

Bank Transfer
Cheque
PayPal
Entroypay
INSTADEBIT
Neosurf
paysafecard
NETELLER
Skrill
View all 36 Banking Options
Step 1

You are advised to register at one of the betting sites we suggest from the United Kingdom and then hit the cashier button, which is usually found on top in the navigation bar.

Step 2

Choose your preferred deposit method.

Step 3

Provide all the necessary information and select your desired deposit. It is good to note that some payment methods have a minimum amount to deposit.

Step 4

Enter this deposit code if your welcome bonus comes with one. If you have made up your mind, click on the ‘Submit’ button.

Step 5

Usually, the cash will show up in your account within seconds, and you are ready to begin gambling.

Big Ben and flag of United Kingdom

Withdraw Your Winnings From UK Bookies

While betting on sports there are no sure bets, at some point, you will probably want to take out money from your account after a successful bet. Even though it may feel a little strange initially with your bookmaker of choice, there should be the ability to withdraw funds in the cashier section.

You must understand that before you get your money from an internet bookmaker in the UK, you might have to identify yourself. To prevent fraud, online bookmakers in the UK have a verification process called Know Your Customer (KYC) which they use to fight against money laundering and underage gambling.

When KYC asks for information, it frequently involves sending a duplicate of an identification document to a customer support representative. They may include the following:

  • Passport
  • Driving Licence
  • Birth Certificate
  • Utility Bill
  • Bank Statement
  • Payslip

It is imperative to note that not every withdrawal will be subjected to such checks but you may have to provide proof of your identity for your UK bookmaker winnings. This should not take too long also and the bookmaker and the gambling commission are working hard to protect honest UK bettors.

Choosing the Right UK Bookmaker for You

Our industry experience spans many years during which we have examined a plethora of internet bookmakers worldwide. This page is here to give you some tips on how to find a good British bookie, but the ultimate choice is still yours.

It is important to take all these things into account. It can help you asking yourself questions like:

  • Does this site offer the banking option I want to use?
  • Can I get odds on specific markets and on my favourite sports?
  • Is this welcome offer actually worth taking or should I look elsewhere?

Each of the bookies we have recommended on this page performs well when it comes to key aspects like free bets and customer support.

UK Online Bookmakers FAQ

When was gambling legalised in the UK?

Legal sports betting has been available in the UK since the 1960s. The 1960 Betting and Gaming Act legalised off-course and fixed odds betting. The Gambling Act 2005 allowed licensed online bookmakers to operate. Since the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014 was introduced, only UK online bookies carrying a Gambling Commission licence can operate in the United Kingdom.

Is gambling tax-free in the UK?

Yes. Tax on bets was removed in 2002. Customers can enjoy tax-free winnings on all sports betting.

Do UK bookmakers offer a cash out option?

A cash out service is available at all the best sites for sports betting. Many of them also include a partial cash out.
Q.

How do you know if a new bookie is worth signing up to?

A.
New bookmakers provide the latest software and apps. New customers may also receive a special welcome bonus on signing up, so always try to register with bookmakers that offer something to the user.
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