Betting on sport is a hobby for millions in the UK, but since there are so many betting sites to choose from, it’s not always clear which bookmaker is the right fit for your own preferences.
That’s why I’ve been spending the past few months researching the best betting sites for The Independent, who strive to deliver impartial and reliable insights for readers.
Placing a small deposit into a newly opened betting account usually enables punters to access free bets to use on sports of your choice, which helps to get a feel for the bookmaker you’ve just invested in.
Our review of the top betting sites in the UK draws on research, experience and first-hand testing to assess each platform’s odds selection, security measures, bonus offerings and more.
By leveraging trusted third-party data and our reporting standards, I endeavour to provide readers with an accurate and up-to-date guide to choosing the right bookmaker.
Whether you’re backing Willie Mullins to enjoy another fantastic Cheltenham Festival or investing in Liverpool to complete a stellar Premier League and Champions League double, there should be something below to grab your attention.
Why Trust Me?
Having spent 17 years as the Daily Mail’s lead betting tipster, I have learned a thing or two about bookmakers over the years.
I have a proven record of successful tipping too, having won the Racing Post’s National Press Challenge award five times, while I’ve been runner-up on four occasions.
As well as being a tipster, I am also a seasoned horse racing journalist and broadcaster with over three decades of experience, including stints at the BBC and Adiyat Racing Plus, the UAE’s leading weekly racing magazine.
Applying my journalistic expertise and betting background, I’ve undertaken a detailed evaluation of the best betting sites in the UK, taking into account which areas each top bookmaker excels in and what type of bettors they might be suited to.
Top 10 Betting Sites UK 2025
Now that you know why my recommendations can be trusted, it’s time to reveal my favourite UK bookmakers in order of preference.
Rest assured that all of my recommended bookies are fully regulated and licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and I’ve even provided a link to their license number on the UKGC website in the table below.
Rank |
Bookmaker |
Best For |
UKGC Account No. |
Welcome Offer |
1 |
Bet365 |
Football |
Bet £10 get £30 in free bets |
|
2 |
William Hill |
Horse Racing |
Bet £10 get £30 in free bets |
|
3 |
BoyleSports |
Golf |
Bet £10 get £30 free bets + £10 casino credit |
|
4 |
Parimatch |
Boxing |
Up to £60 in free bets |
|
5 |
Unibet | Cricket |
Bet £10 get £40 in bonus funds |
|
6 |
BetMGM |
In-Play Betting |
Bet £10 get £40 in free bets | |
7 |
Betway |
Free Bet Club |
Bet £10 get £10 free bet |
|
8 |
Betfred |
Accumulators |
Bet £10 get £50 in free bets |
|
9 |
BetVictor |
Live Streaming |
Bet £20 get £40 in bonuses |
|
10 |
NetBet |
Bet Builders |
Bet £10 get £20 free bet builders |
1. Bet365 – Best For Football Betting
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The last 20 years have seen Bet365 become the industry leader among football betting sites, while their all-round appeal has led to their popularity with all types of punters.
The Stoke-based firm cater for their customers with innovative markets on all sports, but they are particularly strong on football and recently backed up this commitment by agreeing a three-year deal to become Uefa’s first betting partner for the Champions League.
Bet365’s European football offerings have only improved since the partnership was announced last August, with an abundance of price boosts, early payouts and free-to-play games surrounding the continent’s premier club competition.
The only slight disappointment with Bet365’s football product is that live streaming of Champions League matches is not available, but hopefully that is in the pipeline.
Meanwhile, readers of The Independent can use the Bet365 bonus code INDY2024 to claim a new customer offer which sees players receive £30 in free bets when they deposit and stake £10.
New and existing customers can also take advantage of the Bet365 Super Boost, where odds are bolstered on a particular selection in one of the most popular betting events that day.
Bet365 Pros
✓ Biggest variety of Champions League odds I’ve seen
✓ High quality live streaming service
✓ One of the strongest welcome offers going
Bet365 Cons
✗ No Champions League streaming despite Uefa partnership
✗ Less free bet promotions than a lot of their rivals
Overall, the positives absolutely outweigh the very slight drawbacks on Bet365, and it’s not only football that they specialise in. In my eyes, they’re up there with the best for horse racing and tennis too.
2. William Hill – Best For Horse Racing Betting
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Established in the industry since 1934, William Hill is a well-respected, award-winning bookmaker. And having picked up the award for Best Horse Racing Betting Operator at the 2024 EGR Operator Awards, William Hill is the premier option for racing punters in the UK.
One of the main reasons it’s the best option for racing bettors is because of their best odds guarantee promo for bets placed after 8am online. It’s a handy concession for early-morning backers and 8am is the earliest BOG commencement time I’ve found.
Like Bet365, Hills offer new customers a sizeable bonus for signing up, with players gifted £30 in bonuses once they register and bet £10 via a mobile device after using the William Hill promo code R30. The bonus is paid out as three £10 free bets and can be used on any sport.
Not only do they offer healthy bonuses for new customers, but Hills offer regular price boosts with their Epic Boost feature, and they are also a bookmaker that gives away free bets to existing customers for big events like the Cheltenham Festival.
On the negative side, William Hill’s live streaming package is not quite up to scratch compared to some other horse racing betting sites, like Bet365’s for example, who give users access to a large archive of horse races to study.
William Hill Pros
✓ Sign up offer is valid on horse racing odds
✓ Racing Epic Boost promo available on any race
✓ BOG promo begins at 8am daily
William Hill Cons
✗ Live stream service not as good as Bet365
✗ Sign up offer needs to be claimed via mobile device
✗ No free-to-play racing prediction game unlike rival bookies
With top price guarantees, BOG and Non-Runner Money Back on Cheltenham, William Hill’s racing product is unbeatable at the moment. I’d like to see a free racing prediction game like you’ll find on Bet365 and Betway, but other than that it’s a really strong offering.
3. BoyleSports – Best For Golf Betting
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Established by John Boyle in 1982, BoyleSports is one of the best bookmakers available in the UK, especially when it comes to golf betting.
The Dundalk-based operation has steadily built up their high street presence and, courtesy of some innovative online promotions, their online market share has grown too.
Each-way betting is very popular with golf punters and Boyles allow customers to choose their own terms. For example, you may want to back Rory McIlroy each-way but you can select six, 10 or 12 places with the odds reflected accordingly.
Boyles also run regular promotions around the majors, most notably their early payout feature whereby you’ll receive a return if your tournament winner pick is the outright leader after three rounds, regardless of the final result.
There’s no shortage of alternative ways to bet on golf at BoyleSports, with Mythical 2 Balls, top 10 finishes, first round leader and more all regularly available.
Away from golf, live streaming of horse racing is available on the BoyleSports site as well as their online betting app and the quality of the stream is excellent. As are the various promotions and bonuses available to customers which are neatly dotted around the site.
The BoyleSports loyalty programme, called BoyleXtra, provides free bets and exclusive offers as well as prize draws to ensure you get the most out of your time betting with them.
New players can gain £30 in free bets via the BoyleSports sign up offer once they have placed a minimum bet of £10 at odds in excess of evens, while they’ll also throw in £10 credit for their casino sites too, with slots, live casino and poker all available.
BoyleSports Pros:
✓ Lots of promotions for golf and various other sports
✓ New improved welcome offer
✓ Easy-to-use betting app with live streaming available
BoyleSports Cons:
✗ Live chat customer support not available 24/7 like some rival bookies
✗ In-play statistics not as comprehensive as other bookies
It proved very hard for me to find many meaningful faults with BoyleSports, which is why I’ve given it a five-star rating. Their golf offerings are second to none but they’re also very good for racing and rugby betting.
4. Parimatch – Best For Boxing Betting
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Established in 1994, Parimatch has gained a fine reputation for innovation since entering the UK market in recent years, so much so that they’ve become the go-to online bookmaker for big boxing and UFC bouts.
It’s very common for Parimatch to run special welcome offers ahead of big fights, usually in the form of a ludicrously large price boost on either fighter to win. For example, in the recent rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, new customers could pick their winner at odds of 50/1.
They do similar offers for UFC betting and big Premier League games too. The only downside is that such offers are usually restricted to new customers only.
Meanwhile, Parimatch is known to be one of the safest betting sites for responsible gambling, with their current CEO Sergey Portnov a former ‘Leader of the Year’ winner at the prestigious SBC Awards, thanks to his commitment to maintaining ethical practices.
In 2015 Parimatch cooperated with Federbet to prevent match-fixing and in February 2020 the company joined forces with the eSports Integrity Commission to assist with battling cheating and fraud in eSports.
New customers can currently gain a welcome bonus of up to £60 in free bets, but if the terms and conditions don’t suit you there are various other Parimatch sign up offers under their offers tab.
Parimatch Pros
✓ Genuine enthusiasm for responsible gambling
✓ Wide variety of sign up offers
✓ Unique promotions for boxing betting
Parimatch Cons
✗ The best offers are reserved for new customers
✗ T&Cs not always the clearest on welcome promos
While not perfect, I’ve given Parimatch a very healthy score of four stars due to the emphasis on responsible betting and the value on offer in their welcome promos. More promos for existing customers would bring this bookie up another level.
5. Unibet – Best For Cricket Betting
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Launched online in 1999, Unibet has a long history of award-winning bookmaking. During the noughties, they were recognised as the European Sportsbook of the Year in 2006, 2008 and 2009 by the international magazine Egaming Review, while they were also crowned Sportsbook Operator of the Year at the 2014 IGA Awards.
Today, they rank among the best betting sites across all of Europe and in particular the UK where they have really improved their offers on horse racing, football and cricket betting.
For cricket, Unibet offer a range of promotions for major events such as the IPL and The Hundred, while they also offer live cricket streaming for select events on Unibet TV.
They have lots of outright markets for future cricket events, while their in-play cricket product is exceptional thanks to live stats and info such as weather conditions and win probabilities, all of which can be used to judge your bets.
As sponsors of many sports teams and major events, including the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and Nicky Henderson’s Lambourn stable, the Unibet brand is very recognisable and new customers can pick their welcome offer.
The standard Unibet sign up offer provides new players with £40 in bonuses if they deposit and bet £10, but £20 of this credit is a casino bonus which may not appeal to every punter.
Unibet Pros:
✓ Choice of sign-up offers
✓ Excellent in-play betting experience
✓ Multi-award winning sportsbook
Unibet Cons
✗ Main sign-up offer restricts 50% of bonus funds to casino
✗ App could be improved when compared with other UK bookies
One of the major positives when betting with Unibet is the variety of markets they offer for smaller and niche sports. If you are a player that scours the betting landscape for value and innovation then Unibet is a solid choice.
6. BetMGM – Best For In-Play Betting
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
BetMGM is undoubtedly one of the best new betting sites in the UK having begun their journey into the British gambling market in 2023. They have wasted little time establishing themselves and have taken a decent share of the market.
Arriving with a reputation as one of the best casino sites and sports betting operators in the US, BetMGM have made giant strides in the UK in the last 18 months, aggressively marketing their horse racing and in-play products in particular.
On a daily basis you’ll find a vast selection of in-play options, from the most popular sports to bet on such as football and tennis, to niche betting events in eSports and table tennis.
The data available to punters when live betting on tennis is particularly impressive, with real-time stats and head-to-head records, plus winning first serve and break point conversion percentages all updated by the minute.
The BetMGM sign up offer provides new customers with £40 in free bets once you sign up and bet £10. It comes in the form of four £10 tokens that are free to use across several different sports and features, namely football, racing and bet builders.
For existing customers, the best promotions are centred around odds boosts such as Golden Silks, which is their daily boosts on horse racing, and golden acca which is a profit boost for football accumulators.
BetMGM Pros:
✓ Valuable welcome offer valid on multiple sports
✓ Top quality in-play betting product
✓ Golden Goals promo gives customers a chance to win £1m
BetMGM Cons:
✗ Not the fastest for processing withdrawals
✗ Not as many ongoing promotions as rival bookies
I particularly like BetMGM’s in-play experience and also their international racing markets, with races from America, Dubai, Australia and more all available on a daily basis.
7. Betway – Best Free Bet Club
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
There is little doubt Betway are one of the most recognisable bookmakers in the country given their huge sponsorship presence in any number of sports, but predominantly football.
The simplicity of Betway’s Free Bet Club makes it stand out as the best loyalty promotion among the best UK betting sites. Moreover, you don’t have to stake a huge amount in order to qualify for the weekly free bets, unlike some bookies out there.
With the Betway Free Bet Club, punters who bet £25 per week on sports multiples – either accumulators or bet builders with three or more selections – will be rewarded with £10 in free bets (two £5 tokens).
All you have to do is opt in via the Betway promotions page and meet the qualifying terms week to week to collect your free bets.
The current Betway sign up offer is a £30 matched bet plus 100 free spins on their casino, but readers of The Independent who are on a lower budget can choose a bet £10 get £10 alternative offer via the link above.
Betway Pros:
✓ Best Free Bet Club on the market
✓ Very good betting app with live streaming
✓ Great for multis with bet builder and acca insurance
Betway Cons:
✗ £10 minimum withdrawals, other bookies allow £5
✗ Website not easy to navigate compared to the app
What I like about the Betway Free Bet Club is how much value you get back. By meeting the weekly criteria, you receive £10 in free bets for every £25 staked, effectively giving you 40% back to reinvest. It’s a great way to get extra bets for your money.
8. Betfred – Best For Accumulators
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Any top 10 bookmaker list has to feature Betfred who have been a leading bookmaker in the UK since the 1960s and, after accumulating a large number of high street betting shops since the turn of the century, have since embraced the move to the online betting market.
Founded by die-hard Manchester United fan Fred Done, it’s no surprise Betfred offer a strong football betting platform and the Mancunian outfit are market leaders for those looking to place accumulators on a wide range of sports.
New customers can enter a Betfred promo code then bet £10 to get a £50 welcome bonus, which includes two free £10 accumulator bets, while the remaining three £10 tokens can be used on any sports betting markets.
There’s no doubt this welcome offer is up there with the best of them, but once you move past the newcomer stage there’s lots of ongoing promotions to take advantage of, including Acca Flex whereby you can receive a bonus on your football accumulator winnings, or cash back if your multi only fails by one result.
There are similar offerings for racing fans too, with 10% bonus funds added to winning Tricasts, Lucky15s and Yankees for example. The same bonuses can also be collected for winning greyhound accumulators.
As well as several accumulator promotions, Betfred’s punters can earn sizeable profit boosts with Goal Fever, Double Delight and Hat-Trick Heaven, among other solid football bonuses. Darts, rugby and NFL are all catered for too with ongoing bonus offers found under the promotions tab.
Betfred Pros:
✓ One of the best sign-up offers on the market
✓ Accumulator promos available on several sports
✓ No wagering requirements on free bet offers
Betfred Cons:
✗ Only 7 days in which to use the £50 bonus funds
✗ Multis must have 5+ results to qualify for Acca Flex promo
✗ Bet builders are not eligible for cash out
Betfred are undoubtedly one of the top 10 bookmakers in the UK. The only reason I haven’t given them a five-star review is because there are a lot of T&Cs to meet in their promos so make sure you do your homework before opting in.
9. BetVictor – Best For Live Streaming
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The BetVictor sign up offer may not be as appealing as some of their competitors, but players who sign up have access to a multitude of unique sports betting markets, with a strong focus on football and horse racing in particular.
BetVictor boast a really good live betting platform and have an excellent user-friendly app and website which gives bettors access to their high-quality live streaming service.
This will appeal to horse racing fans in particular, as BetVictor stream live racing from the UK, Ireland, France, USA, South Africa and the UAE. All you need is a positive betting balance in your account, or you’ll also have access if you’ve placed a bet within the last 24 hours.
However, be aware that if you plan to unlock a live stream by placing a bet, only outright markets will qualify and promotions such as price boosts for example are ineligible. Therefore, the simplest route to accessing live streams is to have some funds resting in your account.
Regular racing offers for new and existing customers – including price boosts, lucky dips, BOG and daily specials – make them one of the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.
As alluded to above, the current BetVictor welcome offer may not be to everyone’s taste. It’s a bet £20 get £40 in bonuses offer, but £20 of the bonus funds are reserved for casino activity and can’t even be used on their online slots.
BetVictor Pros:
✓ High-quality live streaming service on desktop and app
✓ Only a funded account needed to access streams
✓ One of the top racing betting sites in UK
BetVictor Cons:
✗ 50% of welcome bonus restricted to casino
✗ £20 deposit required for sign up offer, more than most other sites
✗ Only outright bets will unlock live streams
Not all sports betting fans will enamoured by BetVictor’s sign-up package, but beyond the welcome offer there’s a lot to like. I particularly enjoy their daily specials on racing, while their live racing streams are as smooth as I’ve come across.
10. NetBet – Best For Bet Builders
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
NetBet is one of the top new betting sites in the UK and their rise to prominence is down to their dedication to bet builders.
Bet builders are a relatively recent phenomenon in the bookmaking industry. They enable punters to pick and choose several potential outcomes within one game and combine them on one slip at accrued odds.
It’s similar to an accumulator except the focus is usually on one specific match, although the best bet builder sites will allow you to combine selections across multiple matches and even multiple sports.
NetBet is one such bookmaker. They pride themselves on their bet builder product and boast one of the largest lists of sports on which bet builders are permitted. Many betting sites restrict their bet builders to just football, but on NetBet you can choose football, cricket, basketball, American football, ice hockey, baseball, rugby and AFL.
It’s the most comprehensive list of sports available for bet builders that I’ve found, and the fact you can combine selections from different sports on the one slip makes NetBet’s product all the more unique.
Even NetBet’s promotions page is dominated by bet builder offers, with football punters often rewarded with a free £5 bet just for placing a £10 bet builder on a specific game, while similar offers are commonplace during the NFL season.
As I suspected, the NetBet sign up offer centres around bet builders. It’s a bet £10 get £20 offer whereby new customers will receive two £10 bet builder tokens when they sign up and place a £10 bet builder at minimum odds of 3/1.
NetBet Pros:
✓ Ideal sign-up offer for bet builder fans
✓ Lots of ongoing bet builder promos
✓ Wide range of sports permitted for bet builders
Netbet Cons:
✗ Welcome offer not as lucrative as others
✗ Verifying account process can be slow
✗ Withdrawal process could be quicker
I experimented with several bet builder sites over an extensive period and NetBet was the clear winner. Being able to combine NFL bet builder picks with NBA selections on one slip is a real treat for US sports fans, and the full list of sports you can include on your bet builder is impressive.
Best Betting Site For Free Bets – QuinnBet
Free bets are highly desirable for most sports betting fans. They usually come with no wagering requirements, unlike most free spins offers, and basically reward your custom with another roll of the dice free of charge.
The free bet market is therefore extremely competitive among UK bookmakers, so which site is best to sign up to for a consistent flow of free bet offers? I recommend QuinnBet.
While free bet clubs such as Betway’s are fantastic for a weekly guarantee of free bets, the qualifying criteria can often become tiresome, especially when there’s a wide variety of free bet promotions to choose from elsewhere.
That’s precisely why I like QuinnBet – their free bet promotions offer variety and new deals come about very often. Their promotions section is littered with free bet offers on horse racing, football, golf, tennis, greyhounds and US sports.
I found tons of different free bet offers across the most popular sports on QuinnBet, with plenty of daily and weekly offerings.
You can expect to get money back as a free bet if your horse finishes second to the favourite, earn free bets just for betting in-play on football, money back as a free bet if the match you’ve bet on finishes 0-0 and free bet bonuses for winning tennis accumulators. That’s only the tip of the iceberg, really.
With a site that is easy to use and navigate, it is little wonder that QuinnBet have an ever-growing volume of new customers taking advantage of their sign up offers and free bet promotions.
The live betting at QuinnBet is also first-rate, while their app is simple to use. There is a vast array of markets available on their bet builder feature (Create-A-Bet as they call it) and the speed of their cash out betting feature is right up there with their competitors.
5 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Betting Site
Now that I’ve established my top 10 betting sites and the best UK bookmaker for free bets, I’d like to provide some advice on what you should consider before choosing the bookie that appeals most to you.
1. Payment Methods
Gone are the days when only debit card and bank transfer payments were accepted by online betting sites, with most bookies now offering several modern banking methods for depositing and withdrawing.
E-wallets like Skrill and Neteller are handy and allow punters to lodge funds in their betting account without sharing their banking details. PayPal betting has been available on the best betting sites for quite some time now, but Apple Pay and Google Pay are becoming more popular.
There are many more common options too, like Trustly which facilitates private bank transfers and Paysafecard which is like a topped-up debit card and allows you to deposit without sharing bank details. Whichever method floats your boat, be sure to check if the bookmaker you are considering accepts your favourite payment provider.
2. User Experience
It’s all well and good having a good sign-up offer and ongoing promotions, but if the website or app is horrible to use then you’ll soon be looking elsewhere. Before signing up to any bookmaker, I recommend scouting out their website and mobile site and navigating around the markets you’d likely be betting on.
This will give you a good idea of the general user experience. Are the odds you want easy to find? Does the speed of the site meet your expectations? These are the types of questions you should be asking yourself when doing your own homework.
If betting apps are what you’re after, a quick download will give you an idea of how much room a bookie’s app will take up on your phone, while first impressions on navigation once you open the app should be taken on board.
3. Customer Support
Testing out the efficiency of a bookie’s customer support is something I always like to do, because you never know when you’re going to need it and you don’t want to be let down when you’re having trouble accessing or withdrawing winnings, for example.
The first thing I recommend is to try out the live chat service with a general query about the bookmakers’ product, just to see how quickly your question gets resolved and how long you have to spend in the digital queue.
If you’re not short on time, sending a query by email to customer support will give you an idea of their response time to less urgent matters. If the bookmaker you’re considering doesn’t provide live chat or e-mail, then you have to question if they take customer support seriously enough.
4. Betting Features
You might expect every bookmaker to provide the most popular features for betting in 2025, but not everyone can offer the likes of live streaming, in-play betting, cash out betting and bet builders.
I’ve highly rated the bookmakers who can provide all of these and more, but it’s the customer’s responsibility to check if the bookmaker you’re eyeing up can cater for your needs. If you plan to place regular bet builders, for example, be sure that they have this feature and that it’s available on your favourite sport.
This is a good way to test out the customer service response times as mentioned above. If it’s not immediately obvious that they provide your favourite betting features, navigate to their help section and ask.
5. Responsible Gambling Tools
All regulated betting sites are legally obliged to provide responsible gambling tools but some sites do it better than others, and it can pay dividends to check out which protective measures your potential new bookmaker provides.
You may feel as though your gambling is under control and that you’re not in any danger of addiction, but the truth is anyone who registers with a bookmaker is at risk – don’t forget this.
There are many different reasons why a punter’s betting can spiral out of control, from personal circumstances such as financial problems, stress, family matters and lots of other things that are not always in our control. That’s why I urge punters to ensure a betting site has sufficient responsible gambling tools to protect you from anything that’s around the corner.
How I chose the best betting sites
There are certain expectations that both I and The Independent hold before being comfortable with recommending a betting site. First and foremost, the bookmaker must hold a license with the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Regulation is non-negotiable.
All the bookmakers featured on this page are fully licensed, which means punters can rest assured that each operator I’ve recommended guarantees player protection from gambling harm, operates fairly and safeguards your data. If in doubt, anyone can search the business register on the UKGC website.
Once regulation is assured, we look at a bookie’s reputation. Names such as William Hill and Betfred have been operating in the UK for generations, but we also take into consideration what a brand’s reputation is like abroad.
For example, BetMGM made a name for itself in America, but has taken their years of expertise into the UK market and come up with a very polished product. Likewise, Parimatch began life in eastern Europe but launched in the UK with a strong reputation across the continent.
As alluded to earlier, customer experience is very important to me so I always put bookies through the ringer to make sure they’re worthy of a recommendation. Customer experience includes user friendliness, fast withdrawals and customer care, among other things.
A well-functioning site and app is essential. Indeed, one bookmaker I was considering for a recommendation didn’t quite make the grade because the site was down for maintenance a little too often for my liking.
Promotions are also high on my agenda. A good welcome offer is key to getting off on the right foot, but I won’t recommend a bookie if their promotions dry up once the welcome period is over.
Promotions should be varied and available across a multitude of sports. From acca insurance to money back deals, the best betting sites must have no shortage of promos to keep customers engaged.
Finally, I can’t stress enough how important it is that bookmakers take responsible gambling seriously. They’re all required to provide tools to prevent gambling harm, but some websites plug their tools more readily than others.
For example, when navigating around the Bet365 website, I noticed that every page has a link to their responsible gambling section no matter where you browse on their site. It’s a similar story on Betfred, where their ‘Safer Gambling’ portal is an ever-present link on their main nav. I value this approach greatly when evaluating betting sites.
Online Betting vs In-Store Betting
Given the large-scale advertising around sporting events, you would be forgiven for thinking that online sports betting dominates the UK gambling industry, but recent data from the UK Gambling Commission confirms otherwise.
The UKGC’s 2024 survey data revealed that 48% of UK adults surveyed had gambled in the previous four weeks, but lottery (32%) and scratchcard activity (14%) made up a large proportion of that figure.
Among UK adults, 9% reported placing a bet during that time, making betting a significant but smaller component of overall gambling activity compared to those who only gamble on lotteries (21%).
A closer look at the sports betting data reveals 8% had put a physical bet on in the previous four weeks, while 6% of those surveyed had placed a bet online.
The bar chart above highlights key trends in UK gambling participation. A key takeaway from this UKGC data is that in-person betting remains slightly more common than online betting, with bookmaker shops and racetrack activity still holding their own in the industry.
While traditional betting venues still attract a slightly larger volume of activity, the small gap between online and in-person betting is likely to shift towards digital platforms as betting sites and apps offer greater convenience, more competitive odds and better promotions.
Please Gamble Responsibly
Before you engage with gambling sites, it is important to be aware of the facts so you don’t accidentally fall into the trap of problem gambling.
According to data collected in the most recent Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB), the most reported social consequences of gambling were embarrassment, conflict and stress-related health problems.
Males aged 25 to 34 have the highest gambling participation rates (when lottery activity is excluded) but anyone who engages with a betting site is at risk of falling foul of responsible practices.
Indeed, online gambling generally poses higher risks than offline gambling due to its accessibility and immersive design – that’s according to a study by Bournemouth University on the risk of gambling products in Great Britain.
If you’re sure you want to register with a betting site, the best way to protect yourself from problematic gambling in the long run is to make best use of their safer gambling tools.
From the moment you sign up I recommend you set a deposit limit – choose an amount you can afford to lose and not a penny more. Reality checks are also good tools to make use of, with the bookmaker sending a pop-up notification to remind you how long you’ve spent logged in. It can be a real eye-opener.
If you feel as though your betting is getting the better of you, the Time Out tool can give you some breathing space. Most bookies allow you to block your own access from their site for 24 hours, 48 hours, a week, all the way up to six weeks in most cases.
If you feel as though you need to make use of the maximum Time Out period, then you should probably consider using the Self-Exclusion tool. This allows punters to ban themselves for a minimum period of six months, with no way of recovering your account until the Self-Exclusion period runs out.
If you do find yourself using the Self-Exclusion tool, you may want to register on GAMSTOP, a free service that enables people to block themselves from all online gambling companies licensed in the UK.
Here are some more organisations in the UK that provide support for problem gambling, should you need it:
Best Betting Sites UK: Summary
On this page I have revealed my top 10 picks for the best betting sites in the UK, but always remember that the topic of the best online bookmaker is subjective.
I’ve given you my recommendations based on my own research, but you should only choose a betting site that works for you and meets your personal requirements and preferences.
To reiterate, all the betting sites recommended on this page are legitimate and licensed by the UKGC, which exists to protect consumers. This licence ensures that the bookie operates fairly and legally.
The two most popular sports to bet on in the UK are football and horse racing and my recommendations for these are Bet365 and William Hill, respectively. But you might only be interested in golf betting, in which case I suggest BoyleSports.
Whatever your fancy, you can take it from me – an experienced betting tipster and horse racing journalist – that all of the bookmakers recommended on this page are of a high quality and can be trusted to provide you with a solid betting experience.
If you do take up any of my recommendations, please remember to stay in control of your gambling by betting responsibly.
We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Betting Sites UK: FAQs
Which is the best betting site?
I’ve given my recommendations for the best betting sites in certain categories, but ultimately the choice of the best bookie comes down to personal preference. Punters are best off picking an online bookmaker that suits their particular betting needs. The information in this article can steer bettors in the right direction when it comes to finding their best betting site.
Are online betting sites safe?
All UK betting sites that are regulated and licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) are safe to use. To receive a license from the UKGC, betting sites must prove they are secure, employing the highest levels of cyber security to keep a bettor’s personal information safe and fair. Never use an unregulated bookmaker. You can check the UKGC’s register here if you’re not sure.
What betting sites take credit card?
UK betting sites and betting shops are no longer legally able to accept any financial transactions made by credit card. The law was changed in 2020 to prohibit credit card use for gambling in an effort to protect vulnerable people from unsafe gambling habits.
Can I still claim welcome bonuses when depositing via e-wallets?
Some modern banking options, like Neteller and Skrill, are available to use on betting sites but may not qualify for certain welcome bonuses. Always check the bookmakers’ terms and conditions to see which payment methods are eligible for sign-up offers.
Are free bets the same as free spins?
No. Free bets are restricted to sportsbook activity and cannot be exchanged for free spins. Free bets often come with stipulations such as maximum win amounts, minimum odds and in some cases can only be used on certain bet types. Free spins, meanwhile, are typically tied to slot games on casino sites and usually come with wagering requirements.
