All The Best UK Betting Sites (September 2020)

Here you can find a comprehensive list of the best UK Betting Sites by ThePuntersPage, as well as an extensive guide on everything you will ever need to know about the top betting sites. Our UK betting sites list is constantly being updated with new betting sites, lucrative promotion links and more in-depth reviews!

You can also specifically view the new UK bookmakers we have added.

Full List of All The Best UK Online Betting Sites

Best Bookie #1 bet365 4.8 / 5 Sports betting giant Brilliantly designed site Live streaming on a huge variety of sports LATEST OFFER Up to £100 in Bet Credits (For New Customers Only) READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2000

#2 Paddy Power 4.9 / 5 Worldwide streaming Odds on some very entertaining bets Very easy for Beginners LATEST OFFER £20 Risk-Free READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using Cards or Apple Pay will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. Paddy's Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 1988

#3 888sport 4.6 / 5 Highly competitive betting odds Build your bet feature High usability platform LATEST OFFER Bet £10 Get £30 + £10 Casino Bonus READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY Minimum deposit of £10 using deposit code 30F - A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 placed on any sports market - Minimum odds of 1/2 (1.5) - Free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days - Free bet stakes not included in returns - Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days • To withdraw bonus/related wins, wager bonus amount x40 within 14 days • Wagering req. vary by game • Deposit methods, Withdrawal restrictions and Full T&C’s apply UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 1997

Best Bonus #4 William Hill 4.7 / 5 Founded in 1934 Over a dozen promotions Unique special bets outside of sports LATEST OFFER Bet £10 Get £30 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY New customers using Promo Code P30 only, min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15 (30 days expiry), free bet/payment method/player/country restrictions apply. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 1934

#5 Betfair 4.7 / 5 Fantastic Selection of Betting Markets Highly Competitive Odds Very fair Welcome Offer LATEST OFFER £100 In Free Bets READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY New customer offer. Place 5 x £10or more bets to receive £20in free bets. Repeat up to 5 times to receive maximum £100bonus. Min odds 1/2 (1.5). Exchange bets excluded. Payment restrictions apply. T&Cs apply. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2001

#6 Coral 4.1 / 5 Top quality betting odds Stunning live streaming service Lots of exciting promotions LATEST OFFER Bet £5 Get £20 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY 18+. UK+IRE only. Paypal & some deposit & bet types excl. Min first bet £5 a odds 1/2 or more. Tote and Pool excluded. Must be placed within 14 days of account reg. £20 credited as 2 x £10 free bets. Not valid with CashOut. Free bet valid for 7 days. Free bet stake not returned. 18+ T&Cs Apply. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 1926

Tip of the month #7 SportNation / 5 London based firm Only open to UK and IRL customers Nice Welcome Offer LATEST OFFER 50% up to £125 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY Valid for new UK customers who have registered from 31/03/2020. Deposit using code SNWEL125. Valid once per customer. Bonus expires after 90 days. 6x turnover at 1.7 minimum odds before withdrawal. Max contribution to turnover requirements per bet is £100. Multiple bets on the same market do not qualify. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2017

Best Newcomer #8 Betiton 4.1 / 5 Founded in 2020 Simple, yet modern Design One of the best upcoming betting sites LATEST OFFER Bet £15 Get £10 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: £10, max £10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. Neteller,Skrill and Paypal not eligible. T&Cs apply UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2020

#9 BetVictor 4.9 / 5 Best UK/Ireland horse racing odds Very good support including live chat Includes Virtual Sports LATEST OFFER Bet £5 Get £30 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY New Customers opt in and bet £5 at odds 2.00+ within 7 days of registration; excludes cashed out bets. Get 2x £10 Free Bets, set events only at odds 2.00+ plus a £10 Casino Bonus, not for Baccarat, wager 35x to withdraw, game weighting: Slots/Instant Win:100%; Roulette/Table Games/Video Poker:20%; Blackjack:10%. Bonuses expire in 7 days. PayPal and Card payments only. Geo Restrictions. T&Cs Apply. 18+ begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 1946

#10 BetBull 4.5 / 5 Fantastic app with an array of unique features User-friendly betting experience Focus on social betting LATEST OFFER Up To £50 in Free Bets READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY New users only. Min deposit £20. Place qualifying bets of £20 to £50 in first 7 days after deposit to unlock free bets. Free bet rewarded as 4 free bets that total first deposit amount. Min odds 1/1, 3+ legs & expire in 7 days. Winnings credited in cash. Full T&Cs apply UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2015

#11 Ladbrokes 4.3 / 5 In business over half a century Over 15,000 employees More than 30 sports available LATEST OFFER Bet £5 Get £20 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY 18+ Eligible UK+IRE players. Paypal & some deposit & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cash-out, restrictions & T&Cs apply. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 1886

#12 BoyleSports 4.7 / 5 Over 270 Retail Locations Founded back in 1982 VIP Offers for Bingo and Casino LATEST OFFER £25 In Free Bets READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY 18+. UK Customers (Excluding NI) only. Cash stakes only. Min £10 stake required for initial £5 free bet. Min odds ½. Max £25 in free bets. Subsequent free bets equal 50% average of each 3 qualifying bets. 13 bets required to receive full £25 free bet. Qualifying bet must be placed within 30 days of opening account. Cashed out bets will not qualify towards your average stake. One free bet offer per customer, household or IP address only. Free bet expires after 7 days. Payment method restrictions apply. T&Cs apply. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 1982

#13 Vbet 4.3 / 5 Cutting-Edge Modern Betting Site Very low minimum stake Bonus offers also for existing customers LATEST OFFER £10 Risk-Free + 10 Free Spins READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY Only available to verified customers registered from 11.09.20 to 12.10.20. Place a first sports bet (min. £20; min. odds 1.8). Get £10 in free sports bets + 10 free spins on eligible NetEnt games if you lose. Get 10 free spins on eligible NetEnt games if you win. T&Cs apply. 18+. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2003

Best live betting #14 10Bet 4.6 / 5 Founded in 2003 Over 50 sports available 24/7 Live Chat coverage LATEST OFFER 50% up to £50 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY New Customers only; Min. deposit £15; Bonus amount 50% of deposit up to £50; Wager deposit and bonus 8x within 30 days; 4/5 Min. single odds or 2/5 min. acca selection odds; Max. stake contribution equal to the initial bonus; Certain bet types and payment methods excluded; See full terms; Terms apply; 18+ UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2003

#15 Betfred 4.3 / 5 Over 50 years of Tradition Includes Sports Commentary Live Betting on many popular markets LATEST OFFER Bet £10 Get £30 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY New UK & NI customers only. 18+. Sign up using promo code ‘SPORTS60’. Deposit & place first sports bet at a minimum of £10 in one bet transaction at evens (2.0) +. £30 paid in free bets within 48 hours of bet settlement, expires 7-days after issue. E-Wallet & Prepaid Card restrictions apply. Your first bet must be settled within 60 days of bet placement. SMS validation may be required. Game restrictions apply. Maximum 30 Free Spins on selected games. Free Spins expire after 7 days. Full T&Cs apply. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 1967

#16 BetRegal / 5 Sports betting and casino games from a single source Excellent gaming experience High competitive odds LATEST OFFER Bet £20 Get £10 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY New Customers Only. Max one £10 Free Bet. Qualifying bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater. Paid as bonus token with min 4/5 odds req. Skrill, Neteller & PayPal not eligible. T&Cs apply. 18+ UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2017

#17 32Red 4.5 / 5 A wide range of fascinating betting products A number of payment methods on offer A feature-laden live betting arena LATEST OFFER Up To 100% Profit Boost READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY 18+. begambleaware.org. Opt in. Min. Odds Evs, Max. £10 stake, Max. additional profit £100. Skrill and Neteller deposits are not eligible See full terms. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2002

#18 Unibet 4.6 / 5 Live stream your favourite sports Multinational: available in over 100 countries Excellent customer service including 24/7 live chat LATEST OFFER £40 Money Back Offer READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY New customers only. 18+, BeGambleAware.org. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus. Wagering requirements: Sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), Casino 35x. Only one bonus can be used at a time, Sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the Casino, unless the bonus has been forfeited. Bonus will expire after 7 days of opt-in. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 1999

#19 Karamba 4.2 / 5 Many Instant-Deposit methods Wide Portfolio of betting markets Native App available on iOS/Android LATEST OFFER Bet £10 Get £15 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only. Min Deposit: £10. Max bonus £50. 100 spins require 3 deposits. WR 35x, spins valid for 24hrs, on selected games. Full T&Cs apply. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2005

#20 Quinnbet 4.1 / 5 Numerous sports and markets Extensive range of promotions No deposit welcome bonus LATEST OFFER £5 Free Bet when you Bet £10 + 5 free spins READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY 18+ | New players only | Min deposit req. £10 ; excludes deposits via Neteller/Skrill | Min Odds 1/1 (2.0) | Max FreeBet £5 | Excl Horse Racing | T&Cs apply UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency

#21 bwin 4.4 / 5 Part of World's largest sports betting and gaming group Includes Live Casino and Poker More than 20 Million Customers LATEST OFFER £20 Backup Bet READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY 18+ | New UK players only | Min deposit req. £10 | Certain deposit methods excluded | Place 1 sport bet (3+ selections) | Excl Horse Racing | Min stake £10 | Max stake £20 | Min Odds 1/5 (1.5) for each selection | Max FreeBet £20 for football only | FreeBet valid for 7 days| FreeBet stake not returned | T&Cs apply UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 1997

#22 22Bet 4 / 5 Wide range of sports and markets Several payment options Generous welcome bonus (For non-UK users only) LATEST OFFER 100% up to €122 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY Register with 22Bet. Make a deposit of at least €1. Get 100% bonus up to €122 for sports betting. The bonus will be credited to your account automatically after the deposit is made. Only one 100% first deposit bonus per customer. Before withdrawal the bonus amount needs to be wagered 5x in accumulator bets. Each accumulator bet must contain at least 3 selections with odds of 2/5 (1.40) or higher. 18+ UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2018

#23 Colossus Bets 4.0 / 5 Pool-Based Betting System Partners with i.e. Betfair and BoyleSports Refer-a-Friend and Loyalty System LATEST OFFER 100% up to £100 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY Colossus Bets will match the value of your first 72 hours of play in bonus funds up to £100 (or currency equivalent). The time starts counting from the point when you make your first real money (not FreePlay) bet and the maximum amount of bonus funds that can be awarded to each new player is £100. You can use your bonus funds to fund any bet into a Colossus pool. Colossus Bets will automatically use bonus funds ahead of cash to fund your bets. You can use a combination of bonus funds and cash to fund a bet. Bonus funds may take up to 3 working days to be credited to your account after the completion of the 72-hour period and you have 12 months to use them. T&Cs apply. 18+ UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2012

#24 MansionBet 4.2 / 5 Over 30,000 live events on a monthly basis An excellent Sportsbook app Sections dedicated to statistics, and results LATEST OFFER Bet £10 Get £20 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY New customers only, min deposit and bet £10 (£20 if E/W bet) from UK Debit card only. Paypal not accepted. Min odds evens (1/5 per multi selection). 4x £5 Free Bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned, no cash out. T&Cs apply. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency

#25 Betsson 4.3 / 5 A wealth of sports-based betting markets Dedicated “Statistics & Live Scores” section Excellent all-in-one Sportsbook & Casino app LATEST OFFER Up to €125 Bonus money READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY Please note: betsson Welcome Offer not available for UK residents. This offer is only eligible to new customers who haven't used a sports welcome offer of Betsson before. Players will need to verify their age before being able to register an account. Bonus amount must be wagered 10x at a minimum odds of 1.50. System Bets do not count towards wagering. Wagering requirements must be met within 30 days for bonus money to become real money. Bonus money which has not been converted to real money after 30 days will be forfeited. The minimum Deposit for the Sport Welcome Bonus is €10. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2002

#26 Marathonbet 3.9 / 5 Over 1.5 million users Multilingual customer service team Outstanding odds up to 98% LATEST OFFER Currently no Welcome Offer READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY - UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 1997

#27 Novibet 4.7 / 5 Beautifully designed betting site Huge amount of betting markets Excellent casino offering too LATEST OFFER Up to £25 Matched Free Bet READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY 18+ | UK new customers only | KYC verified | Max £25 free bet | Min bet £10 | Min of 3 selections in accumulator | Min odds per selection 7/10 (1.70) | Free bet stake not returned | Certain Markets/sports/payment methods restrictions apply | Qualifying bet must be made within 30 days | Free bet valid for 30 days | T&Cs apply and General Promotion Terms apply UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2010

#28 Smarkets 4.2 / 5 Great analysis tools Excellent “Blog” section Magnificent mobile app LATEST OFFER £10 Welcome Bonus READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY 1. Once the bonus is credited to your account, losses will be refunded up to the bonus amount. 2. You must deposit at least the qualifying deposit of £20 (or currency equivalent) in a single amount with your first deposit to be eligible for the rebate. 3. To withdraw rebated funds, you must bet at least the qualifying deposit on any combination of markets within the promotional period; otherwise rebated funds will be forfeited. 4. Unused bonuses expire after seven days of being credited to a user account and will be removed after this period. 5. Users making their first deposit by Skrill, Neteller, PayPal or a virtual/prepaid card will not qualify for this promotion. 6. The sign up offer is strictly limited to one per individual, family, household address, email address, same payment account number, and shared computer. 7. This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other sign-up promotion. 8. Smarkets standard terms for promotions apply. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2010

#29 GentingBet 3.7 / 5 Company is Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur Innovative Loyalty Bonus System Native Apps for iOS and Android LATEST OFFER £10 Risk-Free READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY New Customers. First settled bet £/€10+ (£/€10 E/W+) at odds 2.0+ qualifies. If first settled bet loses, free bet credited within 24 hours of bet settlement, use within 7 days, Stake not returned. Full T&Cs apply. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2014

#30 Interbet 4 / 5 Established in 2018 Vast Variety of market options Fascinating VIP Program LATEST OFFER Deposit £10 Get £10 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY New Players Only. Minimum stake £/$/€10, minimum odds 1.5, stake not returned. 10x wagering the winnings from the free bet. Wagering occurs from real balance first. Wagering requirement is calculated on bonus bets only, wagering starts from real funds. Free bet is valid for 7 days from issue. Max conversion: £/$/€20. Excluded Skrill deposits. Full Terms apply. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2018

#31 Mr Green 4.6 / 5 Offers a wide range of betting products Household name with world class reputation Much more than just a casino LATEST OFFER Bet £10 Get £10 Acca Bonus READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY T&Cs apply. New players only. Qualifying bet(s) must have minimum odds of 3/1 and must be settled before triggering free bet. Free Bet must be used on an accumulator with 3 or more selections. 18+. begambleaware.org. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2007

#32 Dafabet 3.8 / 5 Great selection of sporting disciplines Very competitive odds Comprehensive customer support LATEST OFFER Currently No Welcome Offer READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2004

#33 Grosvenor 4.7 / 5 One of the best known Casino brands in the UK Sports Section is fairly new and small Good Quality of Odds LATEST OFFER Double the Odds READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY Maximum stake is £10. Exclusive to new members. Keep it fun – set your deposit limit. T&Cs apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2016

#34 Betfair Exchange / 5 World’s largest Online Betting Exchange Separate Exchange App with Live Streaming Cashback Welcome Offer LATEST OFFER £20 Free Exchange Bet READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY New customers only, max £20 cash refund. Bet must be placed in first 7 days of account opening. Payment restrictions apply. T&Cs apply. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2000

#35 Betsafe 4.3 / 5 A wide range of innovative betting products Comprehensive “Statistics & Live Scores” section An all-in-one Sportsbook, Casino and Poker app LATEST OFFER Currently no Welcome Offer READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2006

#36 LeoVegas 4.5 / 5 Perfectly for mobile use Numerous deposit and withdrawal methods Very fair welcome bonus LATEST OFFER Double Winnings up to £100 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY New customers only. Deposit £10 min and claim in 'My Offers' 1 x 100% profit boost. Offer is only valid for in-play bets placed via mobile. Max stake £10. Max extra winnings £100. Valid for 30 days. Skrill/Neteller deposits do not qualify. Please read full T&C's below. 18+ www.begambleaware.org UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2011

#37 Sportsbet.io 3.9 / 5 Quality odds on offer Magnificent all-round live betting arena Several betting features LATEST OFFER Currently No Welcome Bonus READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2016

#38 VStarBet / 5 Over 45 different betting markets Daily livestreams for eSports Relatively new bookmaker LATEST OFFER Deposit £10 Get £10 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY New players only. Minimum stake $/£/€ 10, minimum odds 1.5, stake not returned. 10X wagering the winnings from the free bet. Wagering occurs from real balance first. Wagering requirement is calculated on bonus bets only, wagering starts from real funds. Free bet is valid for 30 Days from issue. Max conversion: $/£/€ 20.Excluded Skrill deposits. Full Terms Apply UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2018

#39 BETDAQ 4.3 / 5 0% commission fee for select markets A Sportsbook, Exchange, and Casino Dedicated “Football Statistics” section LATEST OFFER Bet £10 Get £10 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY 18+ only. Certain countries only. API/RDT customers excluded. Min £10 exchange or sportsbook bet at odds 2.0 or greater within 14 days of acc reg. Free bet valid on exchange for 7 days. Stake not returned. Depositing directly via bank card. No cashout. New customers only. The free bet will be credited within 72 hours to your account once the staking requirement has been met. T&Cs Apply. UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2000

#40 NetBet 4.1 / 5 Plethora Of Deposit And Withdrawal Options Free deposits and withdrawals Wide Array Of Specials To Choose From LATEST OFFER £15 in Free Bets READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY 18+ / Customers will be awarded £15 in Free Bets and £15 in Free Spins for Casino and Vegas. New Customers only. Free Bets valid for 3 Days. Free Spins valid for 30 Days. T&Cs apply UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2001

#41 1xBet 4.6 / 5 Thousands of betting markets Offers the most Competitive Odds Fantastic Betting App LATEST OFFER 100% up to €100 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY Please note: Access to 1xbet is restricted for UK residents. New Customers only. 100% on first deposit up to €100. The minimum required deposit to activate the bonus is €1. Before making a deposit into their account, customers must agree to receive a sports betting bonus either on the ‘Account Settings’ page in the My Account section, or directly on the ‘Deposit’ page. This bonus is automatically credited to customers’ accounts once the first deposit has been made, provided that the account details have been completed in full and a phone number has been activated. Wager 5 times the bonus amount in accumulator bets. Each accumulator bet must contain 3 or more events. At least 3 of the events included in an accumulator must have odds of 1.40 or higher. The start dates of all of these events should not be later than the validity period of this offer. The bonus must be used within 30 days of registration. After 30 days the bonus and all winnings made on the bonus will be revoked. T&Cs apply. Curaçao eGaming Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2007

#42 Casumo 4.8 / 5 Colourful and Friendly Style Although it's best known as Casino, their Sportsbook is very comprehensive Massive Amount of live sports Coverage LATEST OFFER Bet £10 Get £10 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY 18+. New UK customers only. Min bet £10 to receive £10 Free Bet (placed and settled 35 days from registration). Min odds of 3/5. Free Bet credited at qualifying bet settlement and placed within 35 days. T&C's apply. Please gamble responsibly, www.begambleaware.org UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2020

#43 betway 4.7 / 5 Huge array of betting markets and sports to choose from Mobile app available on iOS and Android Free phone support LATEST OFFER £30 In Free Bets READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY New UK & Ireland customers only. Min Deposit: £10. First deposit matched up to £30. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. Terms apply UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2006

#44 Sportingbet 4.75 / 5 Amazing variety of betting markets World class quality design Perfect for people new to online betting LATEST OFFER £10 Backup Bet READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY 18+ | New players only | Min deposit req. £10 ; excludes deposits via PayPal | Max stake £10 | Min Odds 1/1 (2.0) | Max FreeBet £10 | Excl Horse Racing | T&Cs apply UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency

#45 mr.play 3.9 / 5 Eye-catching welcome bonus Plenty of sportsbook markets Lots of banking methods LATEST OFFER Deposit £10, bet £10, get £10 READ REVIEW CLAIM BONUS T&Cs APPLY, 18+ ONLY 18+ | New players only | Min deposit req. £10 ; excludes deposits via Neteller/Skrill/PayPal/Paysafe | Min Odds 1/1 (2.0) | Max FreeBet £10 | The bet token will not be included in any winnings and cannot be exchanged for real money | T&Cs apply UK Gambling Commission Live Stream VIP Program Cashout Bet Builder Support 247 Native App Crypto Currency Established in 2017

Betting online is big business in the United Kingdom, and we have compared all the online bookies in order to help you find what exactly you need.

On this page, we have listed the best betting sites for UK punters. Whether you are looking for UK bookmakers for football, horse racing, tennis or greyhounds, or perhaps even an online casino, we have the best online betting sites for you.

Why Bet Online with the Top UK Betting Sites?

To be honest, this is a no-brainer. There are almost too many reasons to bet online to list. For starters, it’s convenient. There is no reason to leave the house or workplace to get your bets on for the afternoon as per the old days. If you fancy a flutter, just reach for your nearest device, and bet how you please.

It's also worth remembering that your payouts are instant, and go directly into your betting account. It’s easy to do so and, because of the seemingly endless amounts of online bookmakers in the UK, a highly competitive market has emerged where there is a constant barrage of the best betting site offers and promotions for bettors to take advantage of so as to get better value for their money. Live streaming is another advantage of betting online, as is the wide variety of markets – and, of course, it is entirely safe.

Online Bookmakers vs High Street Bookmakers

There was a time when high street bookmakers were romanticised, but those days are over now, lost to a previous generation. As we evolve into a cashless lifestyle, independent bookmakers will need to update their systems as well as their shops, as social distancing becomes the norm. To counter this, betting online is as socially responsible as it gets, with no cash transactions taking place whatsoever. Plus, with the action taking place all day, every day, and with no reason to leave the house, betting online has practically become recession-proof.

What Makes a Good Betting Site

A good betting site needs to be user-friendly, easy to navigate and work as well – if not better – for mobile devices. It is also critical that the site is regulated by an appropriate authority, and that it utilises the latest encryption technology to keep user details safe. At the end of the day, it is all about what a betting site can offer you, the bettor.

A good betting site will offer as many markets as possible, from a good old fashioned sporting bet to TV to politics to specials. They will also provide virtual betting opportunities and esports markets. And, within each of those categories, sites should offer as many betting opportunities as are available while accepting requests for more. Promotions and offers should be plentiful, while allowing for different types of banking methods. Plus, for added fun, bookmakers can provide online casinos, bingo, poker and lotto.

World’s Most Bet-On Sporting Events

Of all the sports that are popular across the globe, some stand out more than others when it comes to betting.

Best Football Betting Sites

The world’s most popular sport, viewers, fans and just bettors in general love to get involved with football games going off anywhere all over the world.

There's perhaps no better test of the quality of a bookmakers market variety or odds than this, so universal is its usage on all but very niche sportsbook betting sites. And it is easy to see why, it's not just a terrific sport to play and to watch, it's also a fantastic betting option thanks to its dramatic strategic nature and depth.

In terms of sheer market options too, there are few capable of competing with the world of football. On quality examples, you can bet on everything from goals scored to players being sent off, handicap bets and more. Not only that there tends to be excellent live coverage featuring graphics and statistics even when live streaming is not possible, so great is the demand and the competition among the best football betting options out there.

On an international level, your biggest tournaments include the likes of the World Cup and Euro 2020. Indeed, these tournaments are so huge that it attracts people who don't usually bet otherwise. Tournaments are also great for accumulators to give casual bettors an incentive to stay interested at every stage.

Although to be fair, they provide terrific markets in general. And a final, vital point, the competitiveness you can find here means you can often get truly excellent odds to bet UK and internationally. The means that the betting site that comes out on top here has to be something truly special.

And for more regular bettors there is no shortage of domestic options from all around the world. All are great choices, but there's little doubt that Europe’s big four leagues are what draw the most attention: the English Premier League, Germany’s Bundesliga, Italy’s Serie A and Spain’s La Liga. There are even international tournaments between the best clubs like the Champions League.

But what are the best bookies to bet on football? We recommend the following:

#1 bet365

#2 Paddy Power

#3 William Hill

#4 Betfair

#5 Ladbrokes

#6 Coral

#7 888sport

#8 Unibet

#9 Betfred

#10 BetVictor

Best Horse Racing Betting Sites

Horse Racing is a big deal in the UK as well as internationally, and is the second most bet-on sport in the world.

With races taking place on almost every day of the year, save for a few days on and before Christmas Day, there is so much to look out for, whether you prefer National Hunt racing and its mighty jumps or flat races that are held in the summer.

It's also a more international sport than a lot of people realise. For example, the Melbourne Cup is not only a big deal in its native land but has around 650 million people watching worldwide. Not only would there be enough horse races to satisfy even the most ardent fan in the UK and Ireland alone, but there's also races all throughout the world meaning that the level of variety here is absolutely sensational. There's no doubt that world-renowned colossal events like the Grand National are part of the appeal of horse racing, but they are far, far from all that is available.

In addition, the popularity of this market has two very big positives. One of which is that the odds here, just as was the case with football, are extremely competitive. That competitiveness also means you can get some very generous promotions as well. Best Odds Guaranteed offers, for instance, are very common.

There is no betting option with a richer history, and only perhaps greyhound racing can claim to have similarities with its unique tactical characteristics. It's a classic, and it's not looking to go anywhere soon. This also means that there's a huge amount of betting websites variety out there, meaning there's no shortage of options for the best gambling sites for horse racing.

In our opinion, the best horse racing betting sites are:

#1 William Hill

#2 Coral

#3 Ladbrokes

#4 Paddy Power

#5 Betfred

#6 BetVictor

#7 BoyleSports

#8 bet365

#9 Betfair

#10 Unibet

Best Tennis Betting Sites

Tennis is one of the biggest and most loved sports in the world, and remains popular amongst punters in many countries and not just a select few. Tennis is a 2 or 4 player sport that must be played to a win, which makes it great for matched betting because a tied outcome has been eliminated as a possibility. It's also one with events all across the world all throughout the year.

You will have no doubt have heard of many, the likes of Wimbledon and the US Open are household names, with the former practically being a cultural phenomenon. Its popularity can also be seen in its betting markets, picking winners of these tournaments alone counts for huge business throughout the betting world.

Part of the reason we think that Tennis is such a great market for betting sites UK is that as a sport it has a huge amount of depth, in terms of expertise and strategy, but many of the markets remain simple enough for casual fans and bettors to enjoy and get involved in.

You don't need to be an expert to back a winner for instance, just like you don't need to be an expert to enjoy watching a great Tennis match. It's immediately engrossing.  It is also one that many aficionados consider being the most exciting sport in the world. But just which are the best sites to bet on tennis? Take a look below at our top recommendations:

#1 bet365

#2 Unibet

#3 888sport

#4 Marathonbet

#5 Ladbrokes

#6 Coral

#7 Pinnacle

#8 10bet

#9 William Hill

#10 32Red

Best Greyhounds Betting Sites

Greyhound racing, or simply dog racing, is the second most popular form of daily racing for the best betting sites UK.

Pretty much everything that we have said about horse racing can also be applied here. Even if the racers are a fair bit smaller. And that's quite the high compliment as horse racing ranks among many people's absolute favourite methods of betting. If you are a horse racing fan who wants to expand their horizons, or you just want to try something new that doesn't take years of understanding to get into, this is a great choice.

The comparisons to horse racing though can be a bit of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it's a great way for people who have never bet on a greyhound to immediately understand the markets and how to bet on them. They are, after all, close to identical. There's not really two other sports which can boast that kind of crossover.

On the other hand, greyhound betting can sometimes exist in the shadow of horse racing. However, this is far from a fair way of looking at it.

On its own merits, greyhound racing is an incredibly popular and exciting sport to bet on, with huge events like the English Greyhound Derby and the Melbourne Cup (separate to the horse racing event of the same name)  taking place all around the world.

It also has one of the most interesting histories of any option on this list. And to this day, greyhound betting exists as part of the daily offering of available races for punters to back at all betting companies. This means a huge amount of competition for the best bet offers UK and beyond. In other words, if you're not getting involved, you could be missing out on what might potentially be your new favourite way to bet. With that in mind, we think these are the best greyhound betting sites:

#1 Ladbrokes

#2 William Hill

#3 Coral

#4 bet365

#5 BoyleSports

#6 Betfred

#7 BetVictor

#8 Paddy Power

#9 888sport

#10 Unibet

Best Virtual Sports Betting Sites

Virtual Sports give bettors the opportunity to place wagers on virtual sports 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Virtual Sports are shorter, more frequent, electronically generated simulations of the top sports we all know and love, and are especially great when regular sports are not available.

It is fair to say that some people have the wrong, often an outdated, idea about virtual sports. Indeed, some people have memories of not quite technically sound options from years ago at their local bookie, or from the earlier days of online gaming. And we aren't going to talk those efforts down. They laid the groundwork for the level of quality we enjoy today and were great ambitious endeavours at the time.

That said, virtual sports have moved on so drastically from that period and even in the last couple of years that if you have not checked out virtual sports for a long time then you owe it to yourself to do so. They are now transformed into an incredibly realistic, engrossing and interesting way to bet. I mean, just consider the Virtual Grand National as an example of how far they have come, and an astounding 4.8 million viewers mean that vision of the future is here to stay. 

Below, we have listed the top ten virtual sports betting sites:

#1 Betfred

#2 bet365

#3 Unibet

#4 bwin

#5 Sportingbet

#6 Mansionbet

#7 Coral

#8 BetVictor

#9 Bethard

#10 William Hill

Best esports Betting Sites

The world of esports has garnered immense momentum over the years, with stars of the gaming world becoming professionals and signing up to sports teams.

They are no longer a niche market. However, it is true that there is quite a lot of difference between bookmakers. Most operators will, for instance, have a solid selection of football markets. They are so common that even weaker examples tend to have a fair amount of variety, if not necessarily the quality. esports, on the other hand, may often be present, but often this is with options quite thin on the ground.

It is common, for instance, to find an esports section that only has the absolute most popular games like Dota 2 and League of Legends and only a few markets. The better options that are available have a much wider selection. The question has to be not whether a bookmaker has esports options, but actually how varied those markets are, how they are presented, the live options and the quality of the odds.

The average level of quality for esports betting options is sadly lower than the average level of quality for some popular traditional options. And quite frankly, considering the popularity of esports, the League of Legends Mid-Season invitational 2018 for instance, had an astonishing 60 million viewers online and had a million-plus prize pool, there is simply no reason to not demand the same from esports as we would any other example. At this point, those who are not providing excellent esports markets are far behind the times.

Essentially, your standards for traditional market need not be lowered for esports. The betting market for esports is on the rise and for our recommendation, we won't accept anything less than the best. Here are the best esports betting sites:

#1 bet365

#2 Luckbox

#3 Forest Bet

#4 Unibet

#5 888sport

#6 Marathonbet

#7 Mr Green

#8 Pinnacle

#9 10bet

#10 22bet

Best Betting Apps

Your betting app experience is one of the important aspects when it comes to online betting UK. Mobile betting is now the most popular form of online betting, and a good app that is fast loading, easily navigable and super secure is a vital element of a good betting service. For many people, it is their sole and preferred way to bet. That means we take mobile betting every bit as seriously as desktop, and our expectations and standards are every bit as high. Research into this subject has led us to draw up the following list of the top 10 betting apps:

#1 bet365

#2 Betfair

#3 William Hill

#4 Paddy Power

#5 BetVictor

#6 Ladbrokes

#7 Coral

#8 Betfred

#9 Unibet

#10 888sport

Best Cash Out Betting Sites

One of the very best things to have come out of online betting is the notion of Cash Out, which allows bettors to walk away from a bet that might be turning against them. The great thing about this is that you can minimise losses or save losing bets, but see things through to the finish. Things we take into account when considering the best cash out betting sites is the consistency of markets it is offered on, whether partial or automated cash outs are available, as well as the generosity of the cash outs offered.  We recommend the following Cash Out betting sites as the best around:

#1 Betfair

#2 Paddy Power

#3 William Hill

#4 Betfred

#5 BetVictor

#6 Coral

#7 Ladbrokes

#8 bet365

Best Betting Sites For Minimum Bets

There might be any number of reasons why bettors might need to bet a minimum stake, but not all sites allow for minimum stakes as low as a penny. Of course, for many people, this is vitally important because a lot of users only wish to bet casually and for small amounts. Nevertheless, whether betting for fun over profit or simply using up funds, the best low minimum bet bookmakers online are:

#1 Bethard

#2 Betregal

#3 Betsafe

#4 Betsson

#5 BoyleSports

#6 bwin

#7 Ladbrokes

#8 LeoVegas

#9 Marathonbet

#10 William Hill

Best Live Streaming Betting Sites

These days, we all have the opportunity to watch football, horse racing and any other sport imaginable through the website of our favourite online bookmaker, allowing us to make bets in real-time. This is commonly known to many as in-play betting. And the jewel in the crown of any great in-play betting selection is live streaming. It's actually so logistically and technologically difficult, that many bookmakers are simply unable to provide it. That makes those that can very special indeed. And these are therefore the best of the best. Because this is such a popular option for punters, we have listed the best live streaming betting sites below:

#1 Coral

#2 Unibet

#3 Betsson

#4 William Hill

#5 bwin

#6 bet365

#7 Paddy Power

#8 BetVictor

#9 Betsafe

#10 888sport

Other Betting Options

Of course, you may have logged in to your preferred gaming operator looking for a different type of wagering fun. After all, there is much more to betting beyond the world of sports – read on below for more of this in detail.

Best Betting Sites with Online Casinos

One major factor in people’s satisfaction with a particular betting site is whether or not they also provide a strong online casino. Here, players can enjoy online slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and more if they are not in the mood for sports betting. With that in mind, here are the best betting sites with online casinos:

#1 LeoVegas

#2 888sport

#3 32Red

#4 NetBet

#5 Mr Green

#6 William Hill

#7 Ladbrokes

#8 MansionBet

#9 bet365

#10 bwin

Best Bingo Betting Sites

The great game of bingo has – to great success – made the transition to the online world. Fans of this classic game can enjoy some good old-fashioned, uncomplicated fun while winning some money at the same time. We believe the best online bingo betting sites to be the following:

#1 bet365

#2 Paddy Power

#3 Betfair

#4 Betfred

#5 Coral

#6 Ladbrokes

#7 William Hill

#8 Unibet

#9 32Red

#10 BoyleSports

Best Lotto Betting Sites

Like bingo, people are now able to bet on the outcome of lottery draws, and it has proven to be extremely popular with customers too. Although different from playing the lotto draw, there is nothing to be confused about, as it really couldn’t be easier to bet on the lottery. Here are the best betting sites to do exactly that:

#1 Betfred

#2 bet365

#3 BoyleSports

#4 Coral

#5 Paddy Power

Best Poker Betting Sites

The strategic game of Poker has become very popular online over the years, and with millions available to win every single day, it is easy to see why. But which are the best betting sites to play poker with? We recommend the following:

#1 bet365

#2 Betfair

#3 Betfred

#4 Coral

#5 Paddy Power

#6 William Hill

#7 888poker

#8 Unibet

#9 Ladbrokes

#10 BoyleSports

What is a Bookmaker?

In essence, there’s nothing complicated about the answer to the question of ‘what is a bookmaker?’ A bookmaker is a person or an organisation that is in the business of betting. Specifically, they accept bets based on agreed-upon odds, and then pay off those bets if the outcome goes the way of the bettor.

Bets are generally based upon sporting events, but can be on practically everything. Other common UK betting sites options include political events or even the outcome of popular TV shows. Casinos are not necessarily considered bookmakers, although some do also accept money on sports, which would make them a bookmaker alongside a casino. It is believed that the first bookmaker stood in Newmarket in 1795.

Of course, this is just an overview. Today, betting sites are billion-dollar businesses which provide a huge variety of betting markets, options and promotions, to give just a few examples. However, their most important job is to provide odds for you to bet against.

If you’re going to have a better chance of beating the bookies in that prediction game, you’re going to need a deeper look into how they create a business which has created predictable profits, despite the markets often being very hard to predict.

We always say that the key to smart betting is research and being as informed as possible. But this doesn’t just stop with the sports themselves. Only by knowing exactly ‘what is a bookmaker' and how they work can you know what makes a good bookie. This allows you to get better value for money and improve your chances of winning and winning more.

Our table above shows some examples of those which we consider amongst the very finest and best UK betting sites, and any of those are excellent choices. However, always pick the one that better suits you and your individual needs. We’ve provided a selection of the best, and by diving deeper into what is a bookmaker, we hope you’ll be able to find what is the best of the best for you.

What do Bookmakers do?

When you sum up what is a bookmaker, it can sound like their job is very simple. In fact, a lot of people seem to think that their skills and efforts largely lie around collecting money.

However, that is far from the reality. Not only does a bookmaker have to contend with the hard-to-predict nature of sports (and other events) themselves, but they also have to do so in the most competitive market the betting world has ever seen.

That’s right: moving online has been wonderful for the bettor, but all that choice has meant that the bookmaker’s job has become ever more complex. To understand ‘what is a bookmaker’ in the modern day, we are going to be looking at all the things they do to help you recognise when a bookmaker is or isn’t providing a quality service.

Online Experience

We are, of course, going to talk more deeply about the different individual parts that make up an online UK betting site. However, it’s also worth looking at this as a whole, because the amount of staff, money and effort that goes into making a quality online experience of any kind is absolutely staggering.

That’s why so many of the best online UK betting sites have been around for so very long; in many instances, that is how long it takes to get enough resources to compete in this ultra-competitive market.

Promotions

Speaking of that crazy level of competition, there’s perhaps no better example of the lengths a bookmaker will go to than their promotions. Often people have the idea that the betting deals offered aren’t very good value. Sometimes that can be the case, but painting promotions in that way generally is far off the mark.

UK betting sites know that promotions, especially a welcome bonus, are often the first things people look at when picking who to bet with. Bookmakers have every incentive to make the best betting offers as good as they can possibly afford, and often do. In terms of figuring out what are good and bad promotions, the key is always in the terms and conditions. It’s in the T&Cs where you’ll be able to work out in practical terms which bonuses are worth your while.

UK Betting Sites Customer Service

For those of you who do wrongly imagine that a bookmaker’s job is an easy and simple one, consider just how complicated running a 24/7 live chat function must be. We know that not all UK betting sites have this, but think of it just as an example. You have to have a small army of trained, knowledgeable and friendly staff, as well as the right technology in place and specific procedures for all the different questions people may have.

On top of that, a lot of places have phone lines, e-mail responses and, of course, huge help guides to provide answers. The number of issues and questions that can arise in something as complicated as a bookmaker are endless, and trying to keep on top of this is a mammoth task. That’s why we take good customer service so seriously in our assessment of what makes a good bookmaker.

A UK Betting Site's Wide Selection of Sports

This is probably among the most obvious things that a bookmaker provides, but most people don’t really appreciate the extent of it.

Of course, a bookmaker provides a selection of sports to bet on and in the past, that probably was fairly straightforward. However, with the level of competition that is available today, not only do you need all the most popular sports but in order to appeal to a broader demographic, there’s also a huge amount of left-field options to consider.

Big UK betting sites will often cover, in huge detail, sports that many people have never even heard of. On top of that, there’s the extent to which these sports are covered. It’s no longer enough to provide odds on the Premier League; the expectations are now across all divisions and all across the world.

When people ask, ‘what is a sports bookmaker’, a huge selection of sports is one of the first things they imagine. Of course, what is relevant to you depends on your tastes, but when you put all of that into perspective, it’s clear that to be among our best UK betting sites out there, you need to excel even in what seems like the simplest of areas.

A Huge Array of Betting Markets

And it’s not just the number of sports either. The number of betting markets available in good UK betting sites is also staggering. Apart from simply predicting which team is going to win a game, you now also have options to bet on everything, from the amount of goals scored to whether a player will be sent off the field.

That’s just a couple of the simpler examples too. Betting markets can be as complicated or as simple as you want them to be, and that’s one of online betting’s greatest strengths. It can be tailor-made exactly to how you like to bet and to where your strengths are, and if a bookmaker doesn’t offer that, then you should look elsewhere.

Other Markets

Even when you consider all the sports and all the markets that are available, the betting options do not end here; there are also all the additional markets to consider. These include virtual sports, esports and even betting on non-sporting events like politics. The latter is something that hasn’t changed since the move to online betting. A bookmaker’s job still extends beyond the sporting world on occasion. However, today, there are so many more hats for them to wear.

Live Streaming and Coverage

One of the most impressive things about the modern bookmaker is their ability to stream live sports. The ultimate example of this is live streaming, which allows you to watch the sports as you bet. Although this has been around for a while, this technology and the amount of effort that goes into it still astounds us.

Of course, not every bookmaker can do this. For many, it is simply beyond their capacity, and often there are licensing issues. Thankfully though, there are tons of other ways bookmakers can cover live sports. Often, they provide graphics which follow and update alongside the action. Some even provide news pieces, statistics, tables and tips to help you bet smarter. We’ve even found some with their own commentary.

All of this shows us bookmakers are going the extra mile, whether or not they can manage live streaming.

Casino Options

While this doesn’t technically fall under their bookmaker duties, it is important to note that many bookmakers now also provide casino options.

In fact, some of them will be more than capable of competing with the very best casinos in the world. They can also provide extensive options for things like poker and bingo, alongside others. Each of these is a hugely complicated business in itself, and really opens up the sheer amount of work that goes into making many of those household names what they are.

How much this is of interest to you is, once again, down to what you are looking for. Many bookmakers don’t have casino options, and for plenty of people, that’s just fine. We hope, though, that this perspective helps you see just how enormous the job of the bookmaker is.

Mobile

Consider just how massive these sites actually are with all the elements we’ve discussed, and then imagine the complexity of getting all that onto a mobile device. Well, that is often what it takes to compete as a top bookmaker. A solid mobile site or betting app is a must for many, with the best providing next to no loss of experience from the site shrinkage.

Odds

Perhaps the most important thing that a bookmaker offers is the one at its very core: odds. Bookmakers offer odds on the likelihood of an outcome. That is at the absolute fundamental level of what is a bookmaker.

We mentioned at the beginning of this article that part of the complexity of a bookmaker is being able to maintain a profit while essentially – just like the bettor – taking a gamble on the outcome of a sports event. Ultimately, the relationship between the bookmaker and the bettor sees each make predictions. And of course, those predictions could be right or wrong.

However, what separates the bookmaker – and what means they consistently make money – is something called an overround. This is also known as the bookmaker’s edge or margin.

The way it works is simple. Say you have two outcomes on an event. Logically, when you convert the odds to percentages, it should come out to 100%, because there is a 100% chance of either of those things happening. However, when using a bookmaker, it will come out as slightly more than 100%, and that extra return is how they consistently make a profit and stay in business.

The simplest example of this would be a coin toss. There are two outcomes, each with a 50% chance of winning. The bookmaker, naturally, gives them even odds. Let’s say the amount bet on either outcome is £100. If one person bets £50 on heads, and another bets £50 on tails, then the bookmaker would give out all of the stakes at the end of the bet, leaving the bookmaker with nothing.

To make a profit, the odds must therefore be changed so that the outgoings are lowered. Let’s say the odds are lowered to 1.90. In this scenario, the bookmaker would give out £90, meaning they receive a £10 profit. That profit is the result of the overround. This is a really simple example, and, of course, the way bookmakers work with all the markets and outcomes they have to consider is much more complicated. But this is essentially the principle on which the profit of bookmakers is built.

What is a reasonable overround is a matter of some debate, but generally speaking, less than 110% is considered decent. Top bookmakers also tend to offer 105% or less on top leagues because these markets are so competitive.

Many people wrongly think the overround is proof that the betting system is unfair. However, that is far from the truth. Without that overround, as we can see, bookmakers would find it impossible to run a profit. That profit allows for all that technology, customer service and innovation. You should absolutely look for the best odds you can, and we will only recommend bookmakers where that is the case. However, a small overround is the price we pay for having the incredible betting scene we currently enjoy.

What Makes a Bookmaker Trustworthy?

There is perhaps no more important positive attribute for a bookmaker than trustworthiness. Ultimately, without that, nothing else a bookmaker does is worth very much. This is a place where you will be placing your hard-earned cash, after all, so anything less than complete confidence will simply not cut it.

Luckily, in the United Kingdom, we have plenty of ways to assess trustworthiness. First up, there’s licensing. Any bookmaker you use needs to be properly licensed, whether that be from the UK Gambling Commission or through any other reputable governing body. This means that the bookmaker is operating within the law, and is the absolute minimum anyone should expect.

Another hugely important factor is encryption. This is how your sensitive financial and personal data is kept safe over the internet, and is an absolute must for any decent UK betting site. Speaking of data, there’s also the matter of Privacy Policy. The law means this is kept strict in the UK, and any site with a licence shouldn’t cause you much of a concern. Nonetheless, all sites should have their privacy policy available in full for you to check out and see if you approve of how they use your data before you sign up.

Next up, there’s their commitment to responsible gaming. Once again, this is taken very seriously in the United Kingdom. There should be plenty of information on this subject, along with several options to help those who think they have an issue. Ideally, however, the bookmaker should also ideally provide options of its own to help their players. This includes providing deposit limits, time outs and self-exclusions.

Finally, on a more general level, there’s trust in the quality of the product. This means that the site has a reputation for providing a quality service across the board, like fair terms and conditions for its promotions, a site which functions properly and a helpful customer service team that responds promptly.

Remember that, in this day and age, the amount of options available for players in the UK and elsewhere is vast. That means that you don’t have to put up with anything less than the absolute best in every respect we have discussed, and especially not when it comes to trust.

A History of UK Betting Sites and Bookmakers

They say you can’t understand the present if you do not know your history. Well, we decided to give a little bit of context to our examination of what is a bookmaker with a brief look at the history of bookmakers in the UK. This is an especially relevant market for this subject because as we mentioned earlier, the first bookmaker was recorded in 1785.

The owner of that bookmaker was a man named Harry Ogden, and he operated his business from Newmarket Heath Racetrack. For those who know anything about gambling in the UK, it should come as little surprise that it all began on a racetrack.

Of course, gambling has routes far before this point. Earlier versions of betting games, like Keno, were found in ancient China. However, this is what most people consider to be the first version of what, from a modern lens, would recognisably be considered a bookmaker. Importantly, Ogden had studied and provided odds for each horse: an innovation which would pave the way for the huge amount of betting markets we enjoy today.

Betting Legislation in the UK

Legally, the next big move was the Gaming Act of 1845. The two most important elements of this were that gambling was restricted to the racetrack and wagers were now considered contracts. Refusing to pay out was now punishable by jail, meaning that bookies had to keep up their end of the bargain.

However, gambling couldn’t be contained by the racetrack, and by the mid-20th century, what we now know as brick-and-mortar bookies began to become commonplace. Just as important as the change in location was the change of betting parameters. Bettors weren’t restricted to the racetrack physically or in terms of their betting options. You could now bet on all kinds of sports, with the likes of football and cricket proving especially popular. This built and built until there was barely a town left without a bookmaker, and the only place left to go was online.

The 2005 Gambling Act was brought in amongst the gambling revolution and ensured that licensing was compulsory, setting out rules and regulations. This turned out to be something vital to the online market, where it seemed like anyone could set up shop. Today, online betting is the dominant force in the UK, and indeed the international betting scene. This means that you can bet from the comfort of your own home, with more options than could once ever have been imagined, and thanks to the strict standards in the UK, you can do so with confidence that the bookmakers you are using are both trustworthy and legitimate.

The main controversies in the United Kingdom at the moment generally centre around whether bookmakers are doing enough to help the small percentage of problem gamblers. This is why that with any good online bookmaker, you’ll find a huge amount of support – just as we discussed in our section regarding trustworthiness. Right now, the United Kingdom is a great place to bet, both in terms of safety and the number of options available.

💰 What does a bookmaker do?

The main thing a bookmaker does is provide odds on an event and pays off bets. However, your modern bookmaker often runs shops, websites, provides around the clock customer services, organises and delivers on promotions, and has a huge amount of sports and betting markets to choose from. They also have responsibilities regarding licensing, encryption and responsible gaming, to give but a few examples.

💳 Is a casino a bookmaker?

While a casino can be a bookmaker – and many are – a casino is not necessarily a bookmaker unless they offer odds on sports and other events.

💶 What is an overround?

This is the margin the bookmaker has in order to make a profit. To work out the overround, add together the percentages of the odds of every possible outcome. So, for instance, in a football game, this would be the odds percentage of each team’s chance of winning, and the possibility of a draw. The number above 100% is the overround.

⚖️ Why is there an overround?

Although some may be resentful of the overround, it is hard to imagine any traditional bookmaker being able to stay in business without it. So, to put it simply, the overround is how the bookmaker makes a profit and provides all the things we’ve discussed in this article.

🛡️ Are some bookmakers objectively better than others?

Yes. For example, if one bookmaker does not have a licence, it is objectively worse than one that does. However, many bookmakers are excellent but simply have different target audiences. So, one bookmaker may be better for you than another, although objectively they are both very good. Our job is to guide you towards the selection of excellent bookmakers, so you can then decide which one is right for you.

ThePuntersPage Final Say

So, there you go: everything you could possibly need to know regarding the best betting sites for and in the UK. Whatever it is you are looking for, be it a certain sport and its connected markets or perhaps other types of online gaming, we will have listed our recommendations above so you can feel free to enjoy at your own leisure.

A bookmaker is both simple and complex. Ultimately, what is a bookmaker has remained the same for centuries. They provide odds on events and you can bet on them. However, that has today morphed into a hugely complicated billion-dollar industry.

We’ve discussed at length all the things a bookmaker in today’s market does, and we’d only be repeating ourselves here. However, what we would say in summary is that the market is now so vast and varied that, as long as the core of what you are looking for remains connected to the basic premise of a bookmaker, it can be almost anything you want it to be. If you can imagine some sport, some market to bet on, you can likely find it. And that’s the magic of online bookmakers in the modern world.