All Betting Sites
The 5 Best Betting Sites in the UK
The gambling industry has embraced the internet culture and online sports betting is more popular than ever. Betting on the go is now an easy process and there are more and more options available to punters. Betting.com bring you a run down of the UK’s best betting sites to help you find the best sportsbook for you.
2. Unibet
A major player in sports betting across Europe, Unibet was originally founded in 1997 and launched online in 1999. Lately they have added a number of features to enhance your betting experience. Unibet is a trustworthy bookie with attractive odds, great in-play betting and excellent live streaming. They give punters a wealth of stats and information to make more informed betting picks. As well as the hugely popular sports and events Unibet cover more niche markets, often in detail. They are up there with the best in Britain.
3. BetUK
- Best Odds for EPL
- Best Odds for UCL
- Great football and horse racing coverage, including daily specials
- A clean, professional website design and layout
- Multiple methods of customer support
BetUK have excellent coverage of football and horse racing. They present consistently competitive odds and are constantly improving. They are developing into an excellent all round bookmaker with a good range and a generally good depth to their sports markets along with a good in-play section. Horse racing and greyhounds benefit from excellent live streaming.
4. Betway
- Easy to use and highly accessible for both new and returning customers.
- Wide variety of promotions that are updated regularly.
- Competitive odds on sporting events.
Betway are an excellent bookmaker. They have a great range and depth to their sports markets, a great in-play section and consistently offer attractive odds. Betway provide a great deal of information and statistics to help you with your pre-bet research. Their website is both stylish and functional. They are a great all round sportsbook, however, they are particularly strong in football, cricket, tennis, golf and esports.
5. Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes are a superb bookmaker. They offer great range and depth to their sports markets, and have fair and, at times, attractive odds. Their live betting section is of a high standard and is complimented by live streaming. Ladbrokes are a bookmaker worth thinking about for novices and seasoned bettors alike.
| The 5 Best Betting Sites in the UK: Did you know? |
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| Bet365 have a longstanding association with Stoke City whose stadium is sponsored by the Potteries based bookie. Ladbrokes were founded in 1886. |
What are the main factors we considered when rating the best betting sites?
There are a huge amount of factors to take into account when rating a betting site. The sportsbooks who made the toplist at Betting.com have all proved themselves to be industry leaders in a variety of ways. Here are the factors which we take into account.
Mobile Experience
The quality of provision on mobile devices is an increasingly important factor in sports betting, with many punters wagering on the move. Top betting sites will have a speedy and user-friendly mobile app, which gives you access to everything that the desktop site has to offer.
Features
All of the best betting sites will have additional features to enhance your betting experience. Selecting a bookmaker is a choice you must make as an individual. Some betting sites will have features which suit your wagering habits better than others and will, therefore, give you greater enjoyment and value. Some of the main features to look for are explained below:
In-play Betting
Live betting is a growing part of the industry and is an exciting part of sports betting and is a key component to consider when selecting the best sportsbooks. The best betting sites in the UK provide a wide selection of in-play wagering opportunities. This includes live markets for all major and most minor sports, and a load of betting options, such as which team or player will win the next point or the overall match-winner.
Live Streaming
Live streaming is great for in-play bettors, but it can also be useful for punters who bet in the pre-event markets. A comprehensive streaming service is a major plus for any betting site and is something to look out for.
Cash Out
Cash out feature is where a bettor can settle a wager before the event is finished to achieve a win or cut their losses. Cash out is a great way to manage betting risk, the cash out level will vary depending on which online bookie you use. Most of the UK’s leading sportsbooks offer cash out, therefore it is a factor to consider when selecting a betting site.
Bet Builder
The vast majority of the leading UK betting sites will have a bet builder, allowing you to construct your own wager. This was often only available for football, however, they are now becoming more common in a range of other sports, including basketball, both codes of rugby, tennis and ice hockey. Many online bookies will have a feature that allows you to contact them with a specific bet, which they will then price up, if you still cannot find what you are looking for.
Bonuses and Offers
An interesting and generous welcome offer can give you a great start at a sportsbook and the best betting sites will provide you with something to think about in this regard. It is the first thing that potential customers will see on a betting site, therefore bookies view this as an important way to attract new customers. Existing customer promotions are vital too. Punters want rewards for loyalty and are on the lookout for incentives such as free bets and enhanced odds and it is important that bookies give their customers plenty of interesting features and opportunities to maximise value. The best betting sites will have plenty of promos on offer and will have transparent and fair terms and conditions, with minimal or zero wagering requirements and other restrictions.
Odds
Betting sites can offer variety, features and plenty of variety, however, it is crucial that they offer fair and competitive odds. Punters are looking for good value and for the best possible payout on any potential winnings. If there is a price that is better with one online betting site than the other, then the bettor will go with the online betting sites with the best price. The sportsbooks on the top list are fair across the sports and, in most cases, very competitive.
Banking
Safe, secure and efficient banking is vital to any online bookmaker. It is of great importance that payments and withdrawals are straightforward, secure and speedy. First of all bettors want to know that their cash is safe, then they want the process to be quick and easy. A range of methods is important too as everyone has their own preference when it comes to payment methods. The best betting sites offer security, flexibility and speed.
Sports, Leagues and Markets
The range, depth and quality of sports, leagues and markets covered are a vital factor and the best betting sites in the UK provide a good all round service. There are some bookies who are outstanding for one or two sports or who specialise in promotions or an area of betting, but the sportsbooks who made the top list offer depth across the board. It is important to have a choice of sports to bet on along with plenty of betting options and features.
Licencing and Security
Safety is always a priority when betting online. You should only gamble on licensed betting sites to be confident that your data and personal information is protected. All of the betting sites in the UK market which are recommended by Betting.com are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. This means that they are well regulated and must adhere to a strict code of conduct. This ensures that all bets, bonuses and promotions are fair, data and cash are secure and that players are encouraged to gamble responsibly.
Customer Support
Customer service is vital. If something goes wrong or you have a query, it is important to be able to access fast and efficient customer support. The best sites will give you a range of contact methods with a 24/7 live chat being a feature of most top sportsbooks.
Responsible Gambling
The betting industry has a responsibility to protect customers from the risk of problem gambling and gambling addiction. Top betting sites allow customers access to a variety of support services and tools, including Time Outs, Self-Exclusion and links to outside agencies. The level of this support indicates that a sportsbook takes their duty of care to their customers seriously.
| Main factors when rating a betting site: Did you know? |
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| All UK betting sites must be licenced by the UK Gambling Commission The Ladbrokes Grid allow punters to use their account online and in store. |
Find the best betting sites for you
Selecting a betting site is a personal decision. You need to look at what you want to get out of your sports betting and make a decision accordingly. This section outlines the best performing UK betting sites in a range of categories, sports and leagues.
Best betting sites per category
There are different factors which contribute to selecting a betting site. Betting.com have rated the leading UK sportsbooks in a number of different categories and you can find more details from the links below.
- Best Betting Sites with Early Cashout
- Best Fast Withdrawal Betting Sites
- Best Free Betting Sites
- Best Live Betting Sites
- Best Mobile Betting Sites
- Best New Betting sites
- Best Betting sites Without Verification
Best sports betting sites ranked by our experts
Betting.com have ranked the leading UK betting sites for a range of different sports. Follow the links below for four of the most popular sports for UK bettors. We also have reviews for a whole host of other sports on the website.
- Best football betting sites
- Best tennis betting sites
- Best horse racing betting sites
- Best rugby betting sites
Best Leagues betting sites ranked by our experts
Betting.com have looked into betting on all of the major leagues and competitions in the UK and around the world. You can find details of a huge range of leagues on our site. For details on four of the most popular leagues among UK bettors follow the links below.
- Best Premier League Betting Sites
- Best Champions League Betting Sites
- Best EFL Championship Betting Sites
- Best Scottish Premiership Betting Sites
Why should I trust the reviews of the best betting sites?
All of the betting sites mentioned above are fully licensed and are well regulated. Betting.com only promote licensed betting sites. All of our reviews are completed honestly after thorough research has been conducted.
Is it legal to use betting sites in the UK?
The Gambling Commission regulates arcades, betting, bingo, casinos, gaming machine providers, gambling software providers, lottery operators, external lottery managers and remote gambling (online and by phone) that use British-based equipment. Gambling within the UK is regulated by the Gambling Act 2005.
In the UK, you need to be at least 18 to gamble legally, whether that is online or live. Gaming establishments, including online casinos and sportsbooks, are legally obligated to confirm that customers are at least 18 years old by requesting ID and, if necessary, other supporting documents.
Best Betting Sites in Britain: Enjoy UK Sports Betting with Betting.com
Betting.com’s list of the top five betting sites in the UK give you a selection of top quality sportsbooks to enjoy your wagers. These sites all have their individual strengths, however, each provides a great overall service and all featured heavily in our reviews of the best betting sites for different leagues and sports. Remember that choosing a bookmaker is a very personal decision so be sure to use the criteria we have outlined and the top lists of betting sites for sub-categories, sports and leagues to undertake your own research and choose accordingly. Remember to always read terms and conditions and to gamble responsibly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Great question. We only partner up with sports betting sites that have a United Kingdom Gambling License (UKGC) license. A license means that the site is legally allowed to offer online sports betting.
As of 2020, the UKGC imposed a ban on credit cards for online gambling operators in the UK to protect players from spending money they shouldn’t on online gambling. It’s a welcomed aspect of responsible gambling and we support this 100%.
All sports betting sites use high level encryption protocols. The best ones use the same 128-bit SSL encryption used by online banks. In other words, it’s perfectly safe.
First off, “live stream” is a little misleading since it’s going to have a few seconds delay. Your live bets won't exactly be live if you plan on using the live stream for information. Also, not all new sites will offer live streaming since a lot of leagues, including the Premier League, is not available due to broadcasting rights.
Kind of. The stake is free to use on a bet as long as it’s within the terms and conditions. If your bet loses, your account balance will still be the same, but if you win you get to keep the winnings minus the stake. You can’t just convert the stake from a free bet to withdrawable money.
Chris is a former athlete and a qualified PE teacher. He is a keen football fan, watching many matches at different levels throughout the season, and enjoys following many different sports. With betting and sports sites, he has a keen eye for detail and can to highlight positives and negatives for users. His experience in sport as a performer, teacher, writer and fan allows him to see things from many different perspectives.
