The top new betting sites offer bigger bonuses, slicker mobile apps, and more odds boosts. But how do brand-new bookmakers in the UK compare to more established operators? Are they truly better in terms of user experience, reliability, and value, or do they fall short in some critical areas?
In this guide, we will cover the top new betting sites in the UK, their standout features, comparisons with established operators, and insights on bonuses, odds, and mobile apps. You’ll also learn about our review criteria, safety measures, and tips for responsible gambling, ensuring.
New Online Bookmakers vs Established Betting Sites
We go to great pains here at Punters Lounge to earmark new sports betting sites. They must pass certain criteria to earn a spot on our new online bookmakers list:
- Launched in the UK within the last 2 years
- Relaunched or rebranded with a new back-end & design
- Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission
- Recently added to the Punters Lounge website
There are, of course, benefits to picking a new gambling site. Perhaps the welcome bonus is bigger to bring in new players who may be unaware of the brand. In addition, the bookmaker may throw in some competitive odds to get attention in a crowded market.
However, new online bookies won’t have the same reputation as the best betting sites that have established a name for themselves. It won’t have built up a rapport with customers or won any industry awards.
It’s essential, therefore, to look out for the right licensing and responsible gambling protocols to be in place. Even if independent bookmakers are completely new-to-market, they should have gone through the same background checks as established companies. They should also have an operator licence in place from the UKGC.
Why Choose New Bookmakers Online?
So, what are the benefits of picking new gambling sites for UK customers? And are there any drawbacks to lumping your hard-earned cash straight into a new bookmaker account?
- State-of-the-art lobby design and mobile apps
- Competitive odds to attract new players
- Bigger welcome bonuses to bring in new customers
- Fully licensed by the UK Gambling Commission
- Attractive loyalty schemes with regular sports betting bonuses
- Little time to build up customer reviews
- No established reputation as a trustworthy operator
- Prize giveaways may not be as competitive as established bookies
How We Review New Betting Sites
At Punters Lounge, we constantly evaluate how we review gambling sites to ensure you get the best impression possible. Our team explores every facet of all new bookmakers online to ensure their mobile apps, odds, and payment functions are up to standard.
Here are some of the criteria we explore when selecting new gambling sites for UK players. Only the best operators make it onto our recommended lists.
New UK bookmakers should launch with pre-built mobile apps for download or instant-play. For Android betting sites, you can access a new app from the Google Play Store.
You should be able to download straight from the Apple App Store for iPhone betting apps. In addition, you can make bets through a mobile browser if you don’t have the right OS running on your device.
As for security measures, you can use Touch ID or Face ID for totally secure log-ins. This isn’t always available on older mobile betting apps.
New betting sites don’t always come with enhanced odds as standard. That’s why our review team checks the quality of prices for all popular markets. They should be competitive for the biggest Premier League football markets and daily races.
Plus, if the online bookmaker offers a betting exchange, it should come with sweeteners such as low commission and cashback.
New betting sites should come with a range of special features so they can stand out from the crowd. Good live betting markets should come as standard so that you can bet in-play on the game as it happens. Plus, we look for tools that are now standard at established gambling sites, such as Cash Out and Bet Builders.
In addition, top new UK bookies offer live streaming on a selection of horse races and sports. The bookmaker may not have the budget to employ pundits and commentators, however. Those are the sorts of qualities our PL team looks for in new betting sites.
The latest bookmakers have new customer offers that should out-perform most established betting sites. New bookies need to work harder to bring in fresh blood. That’s why they should go live with attractive first-deposit match deals or free bets.
In addition, new bookmakers keep hold of customers with daily odds boosts and Best Odds Guaranteed on horse races.
- Odds boosts on selected markets
- Acca boosts on winning multiples
- Money back on losing wagers
- Early payouts on winning bets
Daily bonuses for new bookmakers should be enhanced with other money giveaways. The quality of free-money giveaways is linked to how well the software platform operates. The best new betting sites can program predictor competitions and other contests.
Plus, they have the budget in place to give away huge prizes, regardless of how many entrants there are.
Brand-new bookmakers in the UK should come equipped to accept deposits from a range of safe payment options. UK debit cards, e-Wallets, bank transfers, and prepaid vouchers should all be available as standard. Ideally, there should be low deposits in place so that casual gamblers can transfer as little as £5 in one hit.
There’s no excuse for new online bookies to slow down cash-outs, either. We always check that new bookmakers allow fast withdrawals so you aren’t waiting around for your money. Though cryptocurrencies are prohibited by licensed bookies, they should allow other fast-cashout options such as VISA Direct.
Multi-language sports betting is desirable at all new online bookmakers. With so many markets and bonuses to navigate, it’s important that more customers can enjoy the same experience.
We track the number of languages supported by a new betting site. Plus, we evaluate whether the customer service channels support multiple languages aside from English. That can cover phone support, email help, or live chat.
Are New UK Betting Sites Safe?
New betting sites are safe if they are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. At Punters Lounge, we only recommend licensed bookmakers because they must adhere to the following safety measures under their licence:
Protected Player Information
The best new bookies should be built on secure websites with a HTTPS extension. Plus, new bookmakers must employ SSL (Secure Sockets Layer), an encryption-based protocol that means your data is protected.
Promote Responsible Gambling
New UK betting sites will offer limit tools so you can set your maximum deposits and spend. The Gambling Commission also advises on which UK banks provide a gambling-blocking service.
Player Funds Protected
One of the licensing conditions of new UK betting sites is holding customer funds in segregated accounts. That ensures that your money is protected in case of problems. Plus, all new online bookies must have enough cash in reserve to cover liabilities.
Independent Audits
Under the terms of a betting license, new bookies will be routinely audited to ensure payouts are fair and accurate. Plus, operators are checked to ensure withdrawals are processed accurately and quickly without needless delays.
New Online Bookies Bonuses & Promotions
New UK bookmakers sometimes take time to build up a roster of promotions. However, sign-up bonuses tend to be larger than those at better-recognized betting sites. Here are some of the best offers and bonuses we’ve come to expect from new bookies.
Welcome Bonus
The welcome bonus is reserved for new customers who are opening an account for the first time. Sign-up bonuses usually include some sort of free bet deal, and you’ll need to make a deposit first. Some betting bonuses require you to make a first bet before receiving free bet tokens.
Alternatively, the welcome bonus may feature a deposit match. Your first deposit is matched 100% with bonus funds which you can use to bet on sports. Wagering requirements may be low to help attract new customers.
Free Bets
New gambling sites for UK players offer free bets to entice fresh customers and keep them betting. Free bet tokens are easy to issue and sit in your account until you use them when placing a wager.
Though free bets are usually awarded as part of a welcome bonus, they can also be issued during major tournaments. The bookmaker may offer free bets to use on the next big football tournament or Olympic Games. However, a small reload may be required first, and some wagering requirements may apply to any winnings.
Enhanced Odds
Short-term odds boosts have been a regular feature of UK betting sites for years. New sports betting sites may offer huge prices on one or two specific markets (e.g. an outright bet on a team to win the English Premier League). Alternatively, odds boosts are offered on a televised match for a limited time only.
Bet Builders
The Bet Builder is a relatively new addition to top betting sites. Brand-new bookmakers in the UK will also offer these special deals.
Essentially, a Bet Builder is a single-game acca, which is perfectly legal to gamble on in the UK. The bookmaker selects a mix of low- and high-risk outcomes, bundles them in one wager, and boosts the total odds.
You can also claim an acca boost on winning multiples. The more legs your acca contains, the more you stand to win. The best new betting sites can offer up to 75% as a profit boost on your winning accumulator.
Predictors & Prize Giveaways
Big prize giveaways are commonplace at established betting sites. However, new UK betting sites are beginning to offer contests and competitions with similar jackpots.
Prediction contests are normally timed to coincide with big sporting events, such as the World Cup. You use the mobile app or online betting site to predict the outcome of multiple football matches. The more you correctly predict, the more cash you can win.
Mobile Betting
New bookmakers offer mobile sports betting apps that let you place wagers through an Android or Apple smartphone. You can deposit, place bets, or chat to live support in real-time, all via a single mobile app.
New UK bookies offer a choice of mobile betting options. You can either install an iOS app directly from the Apple App Store, or you can download an Android app from Google Play. Some bookmakers also offer Android users an .apk package for download without using the Google Play Store.
You can also simply make bets through your mobile web browser. Log in to your account using your mobile Safari or Google Chrome browser, and use the mobile-optimized betting platform to place wagers.
Benefits of New Gambling Sites for UK Mobile Bettors
- Mobile-optimized apps for touch-screens
- Downloadable apps for iOS or Android devices
- Use Touch ID or Face ID for added mobile security
- Make mobile-friendly payments using Apple Pay or Google Pay
Payment Methods at New Betting Sites
New online bookies accept a host of easy payment options. Debit cards offer the best way to make fee-free payments directly from your bank account. There are no fees, and minimum deposit limits are low. Under UK laws, new bookies can’t accept credit cards.
Instant, fee-free deposits from £5–£10 using your debit card.
Make anonymous, safe transfers from a digital wallet without using cards. There are many bookmakers that accept PayPal as an ewallet payment method. Other altnernatives are Skrill or Neteller.
Purchase online vouchers and transfer cash into your betting account. Paysafecard bookmakers are very popular for those who prefer not to use their debit card directly.
Make secure payments from your current account without the need for a debit card. However, the processing time can be longer than using your debsit card.
New online bookmakers with mobile apps allow smartphone payments using Google Pay and Apple Pay. Send cash directly from your bank account by registering a debit card on your phone.
How to Sign Up and Make a Deposit
It’s easy to open an account at new gambling sites and make a deposit. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide using bet365 as our example:
Find a new betting site
Compare the best new betting sites on this page through our expert reviews. Once you’ve found a one, click on the ‘CLAIM OFFER’ button which will take you to the bookmaker. Once there, tap the JOIN button to start the registration process.
Create an account
Fill the registration form with your personal details, including name and address as well as create a special username and strong password. You can also enter a promo code if you have one.
Deposit Funds in Your Betting Account
Log in for the first time and open the banking page to make a deposit. Some welcome bonuses aren’t eligible for e-Wallet payments.
Make Your First Sport Bets
Armed with free bet tokens, you can place your first sport wagers to win real money. Take advantage of Best Odds Guaranteed or enhanced odds on select sport markets.
Make a Withdrawal
You can make a winnings withdrawal by opening the banking page again and selecting a valid cash-out option. You must enter your account password to complete any payment request.
See What Our Forum Said About New Bookies
The Punters Lounge forum has been a haven for UK gamblers to share information and tips for over 20 years. There are 1000s of pages where you can chat with other sports bettors about the upcoming footie tournaments or the big picks on the next race at Newmarket.
In addition, we offer a dedicated PL Bookie Chat page where you can share horror stories with other members. Alternatively, chat about which new sports betting sites are worth investing time and money in.
Responsible Gambling
All new sports betting sites should encourage responsible gambling. They must offer deposit limit tools and give you the chance to self-exclude. We have also collected a few invaluable resources that can provide help if you are suffering from problem gambling.
Final Thoughts: New Betting Sites
New betting sites offer the best software and mobile betting options. Bookmakers’ new customer offers can sometimes be bigger than those provided by established betting sites too. Read our reviews of the best new bookies and see what you can claim when you open an account.
New Betting Sites FAQ
What are the best new bookies?
At Punters Lounge, we have a full list of the best new UK bookmakers available for 2024. Our recommended new bookies have gone through a rigorous test on software, licensing, security, and markets.
How long does signing up to new gambling sites in the UK take?
It only takes a few minutes to install an app and set up your betting account. Alternatively, you can register online with a unique username and password before placing bets.
How secure are payments to a new betting site?
Online payments to new UK betting sites are 100% safe. Transfers are encrypted so that money isn’t stolen by hackers.
Are new online bookmakers trustworthy?
We vet every new online betting site that comes to market to ensure it’s owned by reputable operators and that it possesses a UK Gambling Commission licence. Blacklisted betting operators will never make it into our reviews.
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.
Which new online bookies in the UK offer free bets?
You can find new online bookmakers with free bets on our recommended list. All top-rated UK betting sites offer free wagers when you sign up, deposit, and place a first wager.
What information do I need to open a new betting site account?
You must provide your name, address, and email when setting up a new sports betting account. You must also create a username and password to use on future log-ins.
Can I live-stream sports at new betting sites?
Yes, the best new betting sites offer live streams on up to a dozen different sports, including horse racing. The top bookmakers also provide podcasts, radio broadcasts, and tipping services for players.
