Finding the best online bookmakers isn’t always. After all, with so many to choose from, how you can be sure you’re picking the right bookie for you? From markets and odds to bonuses and payment methods, there are so many variables to consider.
Luckily, we’re here to help. We’ve done our research and picked out the best online bookmakers in the UK, putting each selection through a thorough review process. All that’s left for you to do is compare our top pics and choose the one that best matches your needs.
Get 50% Back As A Free Bet Up To £35 + 10 Free Spins
Get 50% Back As A Free Bet Up To £35 + 10 Free Spins
Bet £10, Get £40
Bet £10, Get £40
Double The Odds On Your 1st Bet
Double The Odds On Your 1st Bet
Get £20 in Free Bets When You Bet £5
Get £20 in Free Bets When You Bet £5
Bet £10 Get a £20 Free Bet
Bet £10 Get a £20 Free Bet
Many firms lay claim to being the best online bookmakers UK, but which are able to back up the boasts and which are little more than hot air? In this review, our team of sports betting experts review the best UK bookmakers and advise which you can trust.
Now let’s take a more detailed look at the best online bookmakers in the UK, considering the main pros and cons of each.
Another contender for the best online bookmakers UK. This UK based bookmaker covers all major sports, but there is no hiding the fact the trading team are big on horse racing, football and greyhound betting. And why not. These are the three most popular sports in the United Kingdom and the sports that generate the most income for online bookies. The trading team pushes the boat out on their horse racing markets and their odds, often being market top price. This helps them win favour and rank as one of the best UK bookmakers.
Quinnbet keeps its registration process clear and easy to follow. New players can sign up for an online betting account with this sportsbook in just a few minutes. When completing your registration, you’ll also have the opportunity to land a welcome bonus free bet. When signed up and betting, the website and mobile app are clean-cut, user-friendly and responsive. Perfect for live betting on sports.
This UKGC licensed site puts customers at the heart of everything they do. From your first visit to the site, you’ll be impressed by just how eager the team is to please. You’ll find options at every turn, from how to bet on horse racing to promotions and even the ways to pay for your bets. You are in complete control of your betting. One visit to this site shows why it’s one of the best online bookmakers UK.
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SpreadEx is a popular, UK Gambling Commission licensed online bookmaker known for its passion for spread betting. It continually rates as amongst the best online bookmakers UK. All the most popular sports are covered, including horse racing, football and greyhounds, but there’s also a healthy presence of the more niche markets. This bookmaker offers everything from volleyball to esports. The trading team aims to ensure you have a bet of interest each time you visit the site.
There are fixed-odds betting, and in this section, SpreadEx is competitive against the competition when it comes to odds. They compete against the big names of the sports betting industry, more than holding their own in a competitive market. If you are on SpreadEx for the unique spread betting markets, you won’t be let down. They live up to the hype, and it’s not hard to see why they are one of the best UK bookmakers.
Click any link on SpreadEx to register for an account and grab a welcome bonus. It’s not just new players they look after, however. There are also recurring promos for existing players. We’re confident you’ll find the site to be simple yet stylish.
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Sportnation may be one of the newer online betting sites covered in this article, but they have more experience than you might think. Launched in 2017 and gaining a UKGC betting licence to trade in the UK and a Malta license to trade in Europe, Sportnation was formerly known as Bet on Brazil. The latter was a popular bookmaker which regularly featured in major sports media outlets in its heyday.
It’s fair to say Sportnation are still finding their feet in the race to be a frontrunner in the UK gambling market, but the business boasts a considerable marketing budget. Much of this is spent on promotions, including an attractive welcome bonus. New players joining Sportnation will receive up to £50 in free bets which can be used on sports like football and tennis. When compared to sportsbooks of a similar age, the Sportnation promotion is generous.
You can enjoy the welcome bonus as a new customer and the recurring betting offers available to existing players. The promos page is updated regularly to ensure the deals are attractive, relevant to the sports schedule and ahead of the competition.
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2kBet is one of the new kids on the block in this best UK bookmakers list, but they aren’t prepared to ease their way into the industry and beg for a share. Backed by Progress Play, the team behind the scenes are experienced in what it takes to survive in this game, and they call on that experience to give bettors a fantastic online sports gambling experience.
Licensed to operate in the United Kingdom through the UKGC, 2k bet was launched in 2020. When comparing their odds on the most popular sports, including football, they measure up and, often, leave other new sites in their rearview mirror. As well as sports betting, members can also enjoy casino and esports play.
The best way for new sites to make waves in sports betting is to offer a generous welcome bonus to new players. 2k bet understands this. They know they must entice you into giving them a try. That’s why when you sign up and bet £10 on sports, you’ll receive a £30 free bet. Join one of the top UK bookmakers online.
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Grosvenor may be better known in the gambling industry for casino play. They are among the top names in world casinos with land-based sites in every major city in the UK. You can visit one of their high street casinos or play through the website and mobile app.
Calling on this experience of catering to high-stake casino players, Grosvenor moved into the world of sportsbook betting. They know what it means to give players an excellent service, and they are always eager to offer that. Members get VIP treatment from the moment they sign up.
This bookie allows customers to bet on a range of sports, including football, tennis and golf. But you can also switch between sports and casino using the same account. Place bets on the afternoon’s Premier League match, then swap over and enjoy an evening playing your favourite casino games.
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TonyBet is a popular online bookmaker that offers a wide range of sports and some great promotions. For example, as well as a £50 sign up offer, TonyBet also offers a very generous 5% weekly cashback promo. This means you can get 5% of your losses back from sports betting each week!
This bookmaker offers a wide range of sports, and it’s a particularly good choice for live horse racing. You can bet on all the UK races as well as events from around the world, and there’s also a great selection of greyhound races to bet on. You can bet on all the other major sports, in addition to many esports at TonyBet.
TonyBet boasts an impressive site design as well as a great mobile app so you can wager on the move. You can get in touch with the customer service team through several different methods, including telephone, and TonyBet also has an impressive selection of payment methods, including PayPal.
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Always on the list of the best online bookmakers UK. The London based betting company went through a merger with old rivals Ladbrokes a few years ago, joining forces with the team from across London. Two of the biggest names in sports betting, putting their differences aside and joining forces to create a betting giant. They are now one of the best online bookmakers.
Coral online bookmakers has a user-friendly website and an award-winning mobile app that allows members to gamble on the go. Their English speaking customer service team are based in Stratford, a stone through away from the London 2012 Olympic village. They are always on hand and ready to help with any questions through live chat, email or telephone.
When it comes to sports betting, there aren’t many that do it better than Coral. As well as betting on just about every sport you can imagine, they also offer lots of betting markets. Their multi-bet feature is excellent, allowing members to place multiple bets on the same football fixture to target a big win off small stakes. Easily one of the best UK bookmakers online today.
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Although we don’t recommend these sites, here are some other UK bookies:
Okay, so now you know the UK online bookmakers who impressed us and made it onto our list of the top sportsbooks. But how did we arrive at our decision? Before going any further, we think it’s worth explaining the thought process behind our decisions.
To be considered for a place in the top 10 bookmakers, online safety is key as you need to be betting with a secure site that protects you and your payments. A secure betting site allows you the peace of mind to gamble on sports knowing you are protected.
Coral utilise the latest online gambling security measures, including Secure Socket Layer technology. Their encryption programme means another person, including the staff, never sees your payment details and private information.
Quinnbet offers new customers an attractive welcome bonus that allows them to enjoy the site and familiarise themselves with the layout without posing a significant risk to your funds. New customers receive a risk-free first day on the site. Open an account and place bets on your favourite sports. You will receive cashback on any first-day losses, capped at £25.
It’s not just the new players that benefit from promotions and bonuses. All of the best betting sites also look after their existing customers, driving repeat business. Quinnbet offers members a list of eye-catching deals, including cashback on horse racing and profit boost on winning football accumulator bets.
More ways to bet means more ways to win. Sports gamblers are no longer impressed by the basics. They want to see new and exciting ways to bet on their favourite sports, including specials and unique markets.
SpreadEx is the standout site for betting markets, especially on football. Their spread betting markets are unique to this online bookmaker, and you won’t find anything like it elsewhere. They have over 100 pre-match markets available with just as many in-play betting options.
As well as edgy promotions and big odds on sport, the most successful UK online bookmakers try to stand out against the competition by offering modern, user-friendly features. Gamblers want to play with the most up-to-date site offering modern features.
An example of this is Coral’s stunning live streaming section. This allows you to watch all UK and Irish horse racing on your desktop computer or mobile app free of charge. It’s an HD quality service with no buffering or lagging.
How bettors pay for their gambles is another feature UK online bookmakers must get right. There should be a range of options, including debit card payments and e-wallets. Some sites even allow members to deal in cryptocurrencies.
Grosvenor customers can instantly transfer cash to their betting site, allowing them to deposit and bet without delay. They can do this by a significant debit account, such as VISA or Mastercard, but can also use PayPal, Skrill, Neteller and other e-wallets.
Bettors usually wish to be left alone to get on with their gambling, but they also demand a reliable customer service team on hand to help when needed. The customer care crew should be available by telephone, email, live chat and post.
Sportnation’s customer service team are a helpful, friendly bunch who are always ready to offer assistance. Contact them through the live chat link by typing your message into the chatbox, and you’ll get a quick answer through the same channel.
You will find the recommendations of our team on the UK online bookmakers worth your attention. But it’s not just about going with a popular site that offers a massive range of promotions. The sportsbook needs to be tailored perfectly for your needs as a bettor.
You want the best service possible and a bookie you can keep around for a long time. The first thing you should look for is the sports offered. Do they have all the leading sports, competitions and teams? You may enjoy betting on niche sports. Do they have what you are looking for with lots of ways to bet?
For example, Fanteam is big on esports and doesn’t try to hide it. If you like betting on esports, you could go with a standard sportsbook that treats your passion as an afterthought or bet with Fanteam, who share your love for esports. They have more competition and markets available on esports than most.
If you want to bet on the move, fitting your gambling around your busy schedule, you’ll require a bookmaker with a modern betting app. Coral’s app is one of the best in the business and can be downloaded to Android and iOS devices. It has all the same sports betting features and promotions as the desktop version but is ready when you are.
Bookmaker offers an important tool used to help a betting site compete in such a crowded industry. A successful bookmaker encourages new players to trust a site and register or drive repeat business amongst existing members.
The bookie offers come in all shapes and sizes as the leading marketing teams constantly battle to outdo rival sites. Some of the most popular offers include free bets, risk-free bets, cashback, enhanced odds, profit boost and extra places each way. There’s something for everyone.
Below we look closer at some of the popular recurring offers available to existing members.
The two words free bets make you sit up and take note to a fan of sports gambling. Bookies offer new and existing customers free bet offers on all popular sports, but there is a variety. The most popular free bets are deposit bets.
For example, if you deposit £20 and bet on football in midweek, you’ll receive a £20 free bet for the weekend fixtures. Another is a risk-free bet where you gamble on sports and get your cash back if your bet loses.
This is, by far, the most popular promotion in the online gambling industry. It isn’t as widely available as it once was, but there are still some offers out there, and if you are lucky enough to find a free bet with no deposit, we suggest you grab it.
In the example above, you must deposit a certain amount of cash to your betting account and place a qualifying bet on a sportsbook market with minimum odds, usually evens or greater. You’ll then bag your free bet. The no deposit option is better, however, as it doesn’t cost you anything. Stay alert when searching for online bookmakers free bets no deposit.
Free bets and promotions may be eye-catching and exciting, but it’s important to remember they each have terms and conditions attached. You should read the small print in full before accepting any offer from your bookmaker. This ensures you have a strong understanding of what is required of you to use the promotion and withdraw any winnings made from it.
Some of the standout terms include wagering requirements. We have covered this above, where you must first deposit and wager to release your bonus. Time limits are applied to most promos with free bets, for example, expiring in seven days.
Be aware of any win limits before you get carried away with your bets. There’s no point placing a £10 free bet on a 100/1 selection if the total wins possible is £20. Minimum odds are used in most promotions. For example, a qualifying bet needs to be on a selection with odds of evens or better. This stops bettors from abusing the bookies’ generosity.
Cash-out has become a popular feature amongst sports bettors as it allows bettors to profit from a selection that would, otherwise, be a loser. Place your bets and track your cash out value which will rise and fall depending on how well your bet is doing.
Not all online sportsbooks offer the cash-out feature, so it’s important to bet with one that does. That could be the difference between profit and loss on your bets. Each of the betting sites mentioned on this page offer members the cash-out feature, and we found the offers to be generous against the competition.
Online bookmakers offer a growing number of secure payment options that allow members to deposit cash to their betting account instantly and withdraw winnings quicker than below. You can use debit cards, e-wallet and even cryptocurrencies. It’s worth pointing out, however, that in the UK, payments by credit card have been banned since 2020.
Below are three of the most popular payment options.
VISA
The most popular way for online bettors to deposit cash to their gambling account and withdraw winnings. VISA is fast and secure, giving instant access to your deposits. This means you can add funds and gamble without delay. Withdrawals can take between 3-5 business days to hit your bank account, but this process is getting quicker.
PayPal
The standout when it comes to e-wallets. Many online bettors use PayPal to fund their wagers every day. However, it should be noted that PayPal transactions usually don’t grant you access to the welcome bonuses. This is due to some bettors abusing the service in the past. PayPal gives you instant access to deposits, and withdrawals take up to 24 hours but are often quicker.
Skrill
Used by thousands of bettors every week to add cash to their online gambling account. Skrill is a payment option accepted by just about every bookie as it’s secure, fast and reliable. Add funds to your betting account with a single click and get winnings paid quickly with withdrawals advertised as under 24 hours.
The UK gambling market is one of the most crowded and competitive in the world. It already boasts all the big-name betting sites from the high street, but that doesn’t deter new online bookmakers UK from joining every year.
You shouldn’t be put off joining an online bookmaker simply because they are new, however. There are many benefits to gambling with a new site. They are often eager to make an impression, so offer high odds in an attempt to stand out.
Their welcome bonuses are usually generous to entice you into giving them a try. Joining the market at this stage gives them the benefit of seeing where others went wrong, and they learn from that. The technology regarding payments and mobile apps is often impressive.
Bet £10 Get £20 Surprise Bet
Bet £10 Get £20 Surprise Bet
As any sports bettor knows, there is no guaranteed way to beat the bookie and make a profit from all your sports bets. There is, however, ways in which you can improve your chances. Below are some small bits of advice to keep in mind.
Research your bets. The more research you do into a fixture, the better your chance of landing a winner. Find out the head-to-head scores, the recent form of both teams, injury news and anything else worthwhile.
Get the best odds. The difference in price between two major bookies may seem small on individual bets. For example, one firm could offer 10/11 and another evens. These little differences build up over time, though and could have a major impact on your profits at the end of the year.
Familiarise yourself with the available markets. Don’t just bet on the same market because you’ve always done it and it’s what you. Find out what other betting options there are. There could be an easier way to bag a winner.
Firstly, we hope you found our review of the best UK betting sites informative and easy to read. We tried to give you an in-depth, impartial and reliable take on the current state of the sports betting industry in the UK.
When researching this article into the best online bookmakers UK, we found many sportsbooks worth mentioning and are confident every sportsbook covered on this page will be able to offer you a fantastic service. Read the page and choose the online bookie you want to bet with, then click any link to get started. You’ll even land a welcome bonus for your troubles.
Another important point to take from this review is that, although the leading bookmakers are worth having an account with, you shouldn’t write off the new and less experienced sites. Often new online bookmakers crash onto the market work hard to catch your eye. They do this by offering big odds and exciting welcome bonuses.
Bet £10, Get £40
Bet £10, Get £40
Many top bookmakers UK claim to be the best, but, in reality, the best online bookie is the one that’s best for you. It has all your favourite sports, promotions and great odds. Flick through the list of bookmakers on this page. The biggest bookmakers include Coral, Ladbrokes and William Hill. These firms have been around since before sports betting was legal in the UK. They are now joined by the likes of Paddy Power, Betfair and 888Sport. There are dozens of active online bookmakers in the UK, and more join the industry every year. The sports betting industry is a competitive one that is great news for gamblers as they choose and a range of free bets. You will find a selection of the best new bookmakers we believe you can rely on this page. They offer attractive welcome bonuses and generous odds in an attempt to stand out from the crowd and grab a share of the industry. The top bookmakers UK offer customers cash out on their bets, but not all bookies have this feature. Bet with any site mentioned on this page, and you’ll benefit from a generous cashout on football, tennis and other major sports. Sportsbooks employ a team of traders who set odds on various sporting events and markets. The greater the chance of a team winning, the smaller their odds will be. A good bet is a winning bet but also one at bigger odds than it should be.
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Which are the biggest bookmakers?
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