Betting on competitive events is nothing new to sports fans in the United Kingdom, and many a wager has been placed on the outcome of a horse race, dog race, darts competition and football match. The tradition of betting on competitive events has been around for centuries, and is a pastime passed down from one generation to the next. UK betting sites are among the finest in the world and, in some cases, have been credited with really starting the modern online sports betting era.
Here are our top online sports betting sites for UK players:
Top UK Approved Sportsbooks
888sport
- Honest, accessible welcome bonuses
- Generous range of banking options
- Fantastic treatment of UK players
Betway Sports
The modern sports betting scene within the United Kingdom is heavily regulated by the government through regulatory bodies such as the UK Gambling Commission, who oversee the implementation of legal statutes pertaining to both real world and online gambling within the nation.
In fact, the online sports betting industry in the UK is currently experiencing a growth phase with multiple new betting sites launching every month. This is the most exciting time to get involved with online sports betting, not only within the UK, but anywhere in the world where wagering on sports online is permitted.
Growth is always a good thing for you as a bettor, since the more sites that become available to you, the more options you have. This allows you to determine not only the quantity but also the quality of the UK betting sites that you wish to use. We carefully assess all potential options, both new and established, before we collate the best betting sites for UK bettors.
Finding the Best Sports Betting Sites in the UK
New betting sites in the UK seems to be popping up all over the place these days. This is hardly surprising considering that this particular sector is expanding along with other top markets in the US, Canada and Australia.
Whether you choose to go with a new site or an older, more experienced one, knowing what to look for is paramount. If you’re pressed for time, simply pick a top 3 from our list of recommended UK betting sites. If you prefer to go it alone, ensure that you keep these tips in your checklist:
- Find out what real bettors are saying about the site
- Compare available markets with other top betting sites
- Compare odds and lines for value
- How early do they post their lines?
- How many markets are available, particularly for big events?
- Can you bank and bet in GBP?
Top UK Sports Betting Options
Traditionally, the top sports to bet on in the UK have always been football (soccer) and horse racing. This is why you’ll still find that the best betting sites in the UK still focus primarily on domestic football such as the English Football League and Premier league, as well as international football including EUFA Champions League, EUFA Europa League, and football action from USA, Africa, Asia and South America.
Aside from football, you’ll find plenty of horse racing in both the UK and Irish stakes, as well as horse racing action from Australia, France, Hong Kong, South Africa and Dubai. Most good UK betting sites will also feature plenty of value in other markets including more unusual ones like esports, politics and entertainment.
Online Payment Options at UK Sportsbooks
With the significant increase in new betting sites in the UK, a more diverse range of payment options are now available to bettors. While the extent of the range does depend on each individual sportsbook, there is always at least one or two in each category to satisfy most needs and preferences.
Most UK betting sites will feature the following payment options:
Credit cards or debit cards in Visa or MasterCard are still hugely popular at UK online sportsbooks, since they offer a dependable and reputable line of credit. Many bettors actually prefer using their debit cards to fund their betting accounts since they are only able to work if funds are available in your bank. This results in a very effective bank roll management system.
For those that prefer not to upload their banking or card details to their betting site, a number of eWallet options are also available. PayPal is the leading eWallet for many types of transactions including online sports wagering. Other popular options include Neteller, Skrill and EcoPayz, and they all work in a similar way, acting as a sort of ‘middle man’ between your bank and your betting site.
If you prefer even more distance or anonymity from your betting site, choosing a prepaid option like Paysafe Card is a good way to go. Paysafe Card is available from a variety of outlets including retailers and kiosks and works on a PIN protected voucher system with preselected amounts. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are becoming very popular due to their decentralized, web-based structure.
Your Top Sports Betting Bonuses
One of the biggest perks to signing up with new betting sites in the UK (as well as well-established ones), is that you can take advantage of some interesting and lucrative sports betting bonuses. Depending on the online sportsbook, a wide array of promotions is available to you, which can go a long way to bolstering your bankroll.
Introductory free bets are both commonplace and popular, allowing you to test the waters in a particular market without any undue risk to your bankroll. Once you deposit, you can take advantage of a match bonus of up to 100% on your deposit.
It’s also important to take note of playthrough or rollover requirements which are attached to all of these offers. These can vary from one sportsbook to another but usually include 3x or 5x rollover on a free bet offer, or anywhere between 25x to 50x wagering on a deposit match bonus.
Free Bets
Free bets give you the chance to get your feet wet without the fear of getting in over your head. Free bets are often available just for signing up with a sportsbook, allowing you to bet for free and keep your winnings. You could also land free bets at any time as part on another promotion and can get free bets in your account in the form of cash backs.
Deposit Bonus
To get you started with one of our top UK betting sites, you’ll be offered an initial deposit bonus, also known as a welcome or sign-up bonus. This can often be a great way to quickly increase your starting bankroll, especially if you’re able to land a 100% match on your deposit, which would effectively double your money.
Account Reload Bonus
Most betting sites aimed at UK bettors will encourage future deposits by offering reload bonuses. These work in more or less the same way as your initial deposit bonus, by offering you a match on your deposit. The strength of the match percentage varies and can be anywhere from 25% up to 100% (or more in some cases).
Bitcoin Bonus
Cryptocurrencies area a form of currency only available on the web, providing a safe, anonymous and decentralized payment alternative to fiat (USD, GBP etc) currencies. Many UK betting sites now accept cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin as payment options and may even offer an exclusive bonus to you if you choose to use this method.
Additional UK Betting Sites
UK Sportsbooks Betting Market
Betting sites for the UK market tend to focus on the sort of sports that most UK residents enjoy watching the most. This is why you will often find UK betting sites look and feel a bit different to sites that tend to focus on North American sports for example.
While you will still find great markets in sports like American football, ice hockey, basketball and baseball, UK sportsbooks focus more on local and international soccer, cricket, rugby and horse racing.
This is also why you’ll often find the markets to be slightly different:
- Outright Winner (similar to Moneyline bet)
- First Half Bets
- Second Half Bets
- Fulltime Score
- Props Bets (first yellow/red card, first scorer etc)
- Live Betting Markets
Live Sports Options
Live betting gives you the option to bet on your favourite sports in real time, as the events unfold. Live betting is an extra that the best betting sites in the UK offer, over and above their usual sports betting platform.
Live betting covers a wide range of sports including football, tennis, rugby, golf, horse racing and others. You can find some incredible markets here, with great value, along with additional enhancing features like live streaming of major events and early cash out.
Watch your match on the same platform you bet on, take advantage of markets as they open based on unfolding events and, if it all starts to go wrong, you can cash out early and avoid a total loss.
Sports Betting on the Go
Mobile sports betting is fast becoming the preferred method of engaging with top sports betting content in the UK. This is particularly true of new betting sites for the UK market that offer mobile betting platforms on par with their desktop versions.
Where mobile versions of websites used to be limited in function and scope, newer platforms now feature powerful technology that allows them to offer all of the same services and features for a fully functioning experience.
Mobile sports betting sites will give you all of your must-have markets covering as wide a variety of sports as you would find on desktop, plus live betting, secure payouts and more.
Top benefits of mobile sports betting include:
- Extensive range of sports and betting markets
- Grab the best lines and odds at any time
- Get secure payouts and mobile support
- Enjoy live streaming of your favourite events on the go
- Take advantage of exclusive mobile betting offers
Safe & Secure Betting with UK Sportsbooks
Online security is always a key issue with any website, but even more so with any site that requires your personal data, banking information, or where you are required to store your money. Our selected betting sites for UK players all include proven safety and security features.
As a minimum, this means 128-bit SSL (Secure Socket Layer) digital encryption, which ensures that all of your personal and sensitive data is encrypted (and remains so) while stored on the site’s servers. Additional protection includes anti-malware, anti-spyware and antivirus software, along with regular independent site audits and licensing through top regulators like the UK Gambling Commission.
Common Problems with UK Betting Sites
The best way to avoid common issues or problems with UK betting sites is to stick to our recommended listings. All of these sites have been selected precisely because they demonstrate far fewer problems than other new betting sites UK players have tried.
You’ll often find that the most common problems with UK betting sites have to do with banking or payment issues, terms and conditions or market availability. This is why it is always important to read thorough reviews and check what others are saying before you commit to any particular betting site.
Generally, the most common problems include:
- Limited range of usable payment options for the UK
- Not enough markets that may interest you or not enough value to be found
- Slow payout speeds or issues with paperwork/documentation relating to payouts
To avoid these sorts of common problems, always do your research and choose your UK betting sites that reflect the sort of markets that interest you, that provide great value in odds and betting lines, and feature the payment options that you prefer. In addition, always make sure that you’ve dotted all your I’s and crossed all your T’s when it comes to required documentation and paperwork (KYC, etc).
Final Thoughts
The UK has a strong tradition of quality sports betting from horse racing to football and many of the recommended options on our best betting sites UK listings bear this out. In fact, you’ll find that a number of top sites are born and bred right here in the United Kingdom, providing the best markets, betting in GBP or EUR, fast payouts and fantastic mobile betting platforms.
Provided that you stick with trusted recommendations, you are bound to have an extraordinary and positive experience when betting on your favourite sports at UK betting sites.