The best betting sites for UK players offer seamless gambling on dozens of sports and thousands of markets. Plus, you can claim the best bookmaker sign-up offers with the knowledge that prices and payouts are checked by the UK Gambling Commission.
In this guide, you can expect a comprehensive overview of the top betting sites in the UK, including a comparison between online platforms and high-street bookmakers, insights into how we rate and review these sites, and tips on choosing the best online bookmaker for your needs.
Betting Sites vs High-Street Bookmakers
The best betting sites give you a safe and easy way to place wagers anywhere in the UK. You can install a mobile app for gambling on the go, or log in on your desktop PC or laptop and place bets at home.
Now compare that to visiting a physical bookmaker on your local high street. You must make a special trip and use your card or cash to place bets. Plus, you can’t take advantage of the many special bonuses and giveaways promised by the best online bookmakers.
Online Bookmakers:
- Welcome bonuses and free bets
- Range of UK payment methods
- Retention bonuses and loyalty programmes
- Regular odds boosts and other customer deals
High Street Bookmakers:
- Cash or card payments only
- Limited betting markets available
- Time-consuming betting
- No bonuses or loyalty schemes
How We Rate & Review UK Betting Sites
It’s important to understand how we rate and review the best betting sites here at Punters Lounge. Our experts explore every avenue when assessing the best bookmakers to ensure a comprehensive and honest evaluation.
The best online bookies offer competitive odds on football, horse racing, and global sports throughout the year. We also compare and contrast rival UK bookmakers to see who’s punching above their weight.
The best betting sites offer 100s of markets on individual football games, plus 100s more in-play options while the match takes place. Plus, we look for enhanced deals on the major games, including odds boosts, early payouts, and acca win bonuses.
All UK betting sites must be licensed by the Gambling Commission to provide sports wagering legally in the country. Bookmakers who break their licensing terms will be fined or could lose their license if they keep breaking the rules. It also means that software platforms are encrypted, and your details remain safe.
The best bookmakers in the UK keep things interesting with regular deals on a range of sports, not just football. These may include money back on losing bets, prediction contests for money, and access to loyalty perks.
Online betting sites should make it easy to get money in and out of your account. The best betting sites with low deposits allow small transfers of cash so that casual punters aren’t shut out.
Only the best betting sites win awards in annual ceremonies such as SBC Awards. Our team checks who is carrying away the awards regularly.
Why the Best Online Bookmakers are UKGC-Licensed
Under current British betting laws, all online bookmakers must carry a UK Gambling Commission license.
Regulated Betting Platforms
The top safe gambling sites adhere to all regulatory requirements laid out by the UKGC. To gain an operating licence, betting firms must provide audited accounts, a business plan, and show proper compliance with RTS (Remote Technical Standards).
Player Protection & Responsible Gambling
Player safety is paramount at betting sites in the UK. The UKGC has partnered with Twitter to create guidance on limiting betting-related posts for customers. Plus, rules allow customers to request self-exclusion or a time-out by contacting the bookmaker directly.
Independent Dispute Resolution
The UK Gambling Commission offers a list of approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) providers, of which the best bookmakers must use at least one. You can use the ADR to handle problems over non-payment of funds and bonuses if you have failed to get a resolution from the bookie.
How to Choose the Best Online Bookmakers
With so many betting sites available in the UK, it can be hard to find the right one. Here are some of the main checks you should do yourself when looking for the best bookmaker.
Don’t forget, you can check out our Punters Lounge betting forum to find the latest online deals at the best bookies. We are blessed with thousands of dedicated forum members who know when and where the top deals can be found.
The overall usability of each online betting website is key. You should be able to navigate the lobby, access user-friendly betting slips, and make instant deposits and withdrawals.
The top betting sites in the UK offer 1000s of markets across football, horse racing, and other major sports. You can bet pre-match or bet on outrights months ahead of time.
The best bookmakers in the UK offer full live betting on games as they happen. Take advantage of updated odds and cash out bets during the game. Some top online betting sites and apps also offer live streaming on selected sports.
Cash Out is a common feature at the best betting sites in the UK. The top bookies also allow Partial Cash Out where you can settle only a portion of your bet.
The best betting sites should offer competitive odds throughout the season. There’s nothing worse than enduring terrible odds that consistently get out-priced by other bookmakers.
Get your online betting off to the best start possible with a generous welcome bonus. The best bookies offers include free bets for new customers. Some deals don’t require a deposit, either.
You can judge the best bookmaker by the quality of its bonuses and promotions. The best-odds-guaranteed bookies offer horse racing SPs that won’t change, even if the odds go down after you place your wager.
Enhanced odds on football and other sports should be offered as standard. Plus, look out for odds boosts on special accas and Bet Builder deals.
The top betting apps give you full access to bookmaker markets and bonuses via your smartphone. You can even place bets and make deposits through a smartphone browser.
Always do your homework and see whether the Android betting apps or iPhone bookmaker apps fit for purpose. You can usually get a feel for the quality of UK betting apps by reading user reviews on the Play Store or checking out the personal reviews at Punters Lounge.
Top betting sites allow instant payments via debit cards, e-Wallets, or bank transfers. Ideally, you should be able to transfer as little as £5–£10, the perfect amount for making small bets and triggering a sportsbook bonus.
Good customer service can make or break UK bookies. You’ll have access to English-language phone, email, and live chat support. Ideally, customer support is offered 24 hours.
10 Best Betting Sites in the UK
Let’s explore some of the best bookmakers online a little closer to see what they offer. We have compared welcome bonuses, total markets, and odds to see how the best bookies for UK players stack up.
1. bet365
bet365 is one of the UK’s oldest online betting platforms. You can bet on thousands of markets – particularly across football and horse racing – with a range of bonuses available. Of particular note are the odds boosts and early payouts: your football bet is settled as a winner if your team goes two goals ahead.
Pros:
- 20+ years’ experience as UK bookmaker
- Low minimum deposits from £5
- Enhanced odds on Bet Builders across multiple sports
- Big-money prediction contests available
Cons:
- Bigger welcome bonuses available elsewhere
2. 10bet
10bet is one of the newer UK betting sites on the market. It’s also our top pick for UK punters who are looking for in-play betting. 10bet is home to 100s of in-play betting markets on sports like football, tennis, and cricket. You can also claim £5–£10 free bets when you place sufficient wagers on selected markets.
Pros:
- Acca boosts up to 100%
- Fast withdrawal times of 1–2 days
- High max. withdrawals of £10,000 on many banking methods
- Live streaming on many horse races
Cons:
- Minimum deposit of £10 on all payment methods
3. Betiton Sport
Betiton is one of the top new betting sites, and it’s easy to see why. With a user-friendly desktop platform and betting on 30+ sports, it’s no surprise that Betiton won the Rising Star award at the 2023 SBC Awards.
Pros:
- Excellent desktop client and mobile app
- Easy sliders to find upcoming games
- Daily and weekly sports betting filters
- 120+ in-play markets on most football matches
Cons:
- Small welcome bonus vs. other UK betting sites
- Small number of retention bonuses
4. Smarkets
Smarkets is home to an award-winning betting exchange and its in-house SBK sportsbook. The sports betting side offers markets on 20+ sports, with horse racing getting special attention.
You can get a 25% winnings boost on many race wins while watching live streams of your favourite races. SBK has also introduced its Bet Builder X tool. It gives you the chance to combine multiple Bet Builders across different football matches.
Pros:
- Superb mobile download apps for iOS & Android
- 25% horse racing boosts on selected races
- Horse racing tokens for new app customers
- Industry-leading odds with Price+
Cons:
- Limited bonuses for sports bettors
5. BoyleSports
BoyleSports is one of Ireland’s largest bookmakers that also has a presence on the UK high street. Not only can you bet online in the UK at BoyleSports, you can also claim various in-store promotions if you live near a shop.
BoyleSports excels in its range of horse racing betting markets. You can bet on thousands of UK and Irish races, find enhanced odds, and claim money back as a free bet on many selected meets.
Pros:
- 24-hour phone betting available
- In-shop promotions available
- £5 free acca bets offered
- Money-back on losing horse racing bets
Cons:
- No special welcome bonuses available
6. Quinnbet
Licensed in Gibraltar, QuinnBet is one of the best independent bookmakers in operation in the UK. Like BoyleSports, it’s one of the largest Irish bookmakers operating online. Unlike BoyleSports, however, it doesn’t have high-street bookies in the UK.
Horse racing markets take centre stage at QuinnBet. As you’d expect, the bookmaker offers best odds guaranteed on most UK and Irish races, plus enhanced prices and money-back specials.
Pros:
- 50% cashback for new sign-ups
- Extra places paid on many UK horse races
- Free bets on winning accumulators
Cons:
- Bonuses tend to favour horse racing punters
7. Betfred
Betfred operates a comprehensive online sports betting site alongside over 1,500 high-street bookmakers around the UK. You can claim one of the best bookies sign-up offers as a new Betfred customer, with £50 free bets up for grabs.
Pros:
- Competitive odds on horse racing and football
- In-store deals & promotions available
- Comprehensive news & tips via the Betfred Insights page
- Bet £10, Get £50 Free Bets
Cons:
- Live betting options not as good as other UK bookmakers
8. Fitzdares
Irish bookmaker Fitzdares is licensed in the UK and offers a comparable range of betting and markets as BoyleSports and QuinnBet. There’s a focus on loyalty customers at Fitzdares: VIPs can get free bets every week. Plus, you can use the phone or text service to negotiate prices on dozens of races.
Pros:
- Competitive odds on UK & Irish racing
- Money-back deals on losing horse races
- Weekly free bets for loyalty customers
- Bet £50, Get £25 Free Bets
Cons:
- Best deals reserved for loyalty customers
9. Matchbook
Matchbook is a rival betting exchange to Betfair that offers competitive prices, and 0% commission on some sports. You can also claim money back as a free bet when you sign up. In addition, Matchbook has a tie-in with odds comparison site, Oddschecker, to offer ‘best prices guaranteed’ on Premier League football.
Pros:
- Bet offers on multiplers
- Low commissions on all betting
- Money-back as free bets on multiple sports
- Oddschecker-verified prices on football
Cons:
- Lack of fixed-odds betting available
10. Grosvenor Sports
Grosvenor’s online sportsbook feels like an afterthought compared to its solid casino. However, delve deeper to discover an easy-to-use online betting site that offers plenty of in-play gambling. There are only a dozen sports to bet on, but horse racing and football are covered.
Pros:
- Simple, user-friendly app and desktop client
- Solid in-play betting platform, inc. Live Bet Builders
- Daily prizes with Scratch-and-Win cards
- Double the odds on first sports bet
Cons:
- Online betting platform quite primitive
Deposits & Withdrawals at UK Betting Sites
The best betting sites allow fast payments via a selection of UK banking options. Credit cards are banned at the best bookmakers in the UK due to the current gambling laws.
You can also make fast withdrawals using your favourite debit cards or e-Wallets. Some UK bookmakers also accept VISA Direct, letting you get your hands on your cash within 2 hours.
Debit Cards
Major debit cards like VISA and Maestro are accepted at the best betting sites. There are some betting sites with just £5 minimum deposits and the bookmaker won’t charge a fee. Plus, you can withdraw funds back to the same debit card you used for making deposits.
e-Wallets
Secure e-Wallets are ideal for small deposits at a UK bookmaker without using a debit card. For example, with PayPal bookmakers, you can simply enter a stored email address and password, then move cash via your digital wallet. E-Wallet withdrawals are fast and are normally processed within a few hours.
Mobile Payments
The best bookies for UK gamblers allow mobile payments through your Apple Pay or Google Pay app. You simply connect your debit card to your smartphone for easy payments without making a bank transfer.
Online Banking
With an online bank transfer, you can send funds to the online betting site without sharing card information. Just make an online payment through your online banking service.
Prepaid Vouchers
Paysafecard is a great way to move cash to UK betting sites. You purchase one-off prepaid vouchers and then use the unique number to complete online payments at the bookmaker.
How to Sign Up at a UK Betting Site
Here’s how to get started with top betting sites. Under UK regulations, you may need to provide photo ID and a source of funds to continue betting.
- Find a suitable betting sites from our trusted list of online bookmakers
- Click the ‘CLAIM OFFER’ button to ensure you’re getting the best offer available
- Fill out your personal information
- Create a username and password
- Make a First Deposit and qualifying bet
- Use Free Bets on Selected Sports
Responsible Gambling
The best bookies offer resources and tools to help you stay in control. In addition to deposit limit tools, there are a range of resources in the UK to help with problem gambling. Never bet more than you can afford to lose, and make contact with the NHS or a registered charity like Gamblers Anonymous.
Final Thoughts: Betting Sites
The best betting sites offer a safe, user-friendly platform where you can make bets and claim bonuses. The best bookmaker sign-up offers guarantee free bets if you make the required deposit. Plus, you can claim enhanced odds or win money through prediction contests, either online or via the top mobile betting apps. Start today with an offer from the best online bookmakers.
Betting Sites FAQ
Who is the best online betting site?
We have rounded up the best betting sites that we feel offer an all-round experience for sports wagering online. Award-winning bookmakers like bet365 offer competitive odds and the best bookies offers.
Which site has the best odds in the UK?
Our team compares dozens of UK betting sites to find those offering the greatest odds year-round. We regularly compare the biggest prices on UK horse races and football markets.
Which is the most trusted betting site?
The best online bookmakers are fully-licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. This make them trustworthy for honouring bonuses and keeping personal data and funds safe.
What is the UK number 1 betting app?
The best bookmakers in the UK offer slick mobile betting apps that work seamlessly on iOS and Android devices. We keep our mobile bookmaker page regularly updated so you can find the best betting apps.
Can I bet with a credit card in the UK?
Unfortunately, UK-licensed online bookmakers are not permitted to accept credit card payments. This is to protect vulnerable gamblers from betting money they can’t afford to lose.
Is gambling tax-free in the UK?
Yes! Online gambling profits are tax-free under current UK betting laws. You won’t pay a penny in tax on winnings, unless you are registered as a professional sports bettor.
