With so many good bookmakers and reviews out there, we know how challenging it can be to find one that is right for you. To help you, we have compiled a list of the best betting sites for customers residing in the United Kingdom, along with the list of factors we take into consideration. Our list is evergrowing, so watch this space for the latest updates!
- What Does a Good Bookmaker Offer?
- Full List of All The Best Online Bookmakers
- How does the Bookmaker Review System at ThePuntersPage Work?
- Are the Bookmaker Ratings at ThePuntersPage Reliable?
- Why Have Some Betting Sites Been Rated Poorly?
- Advantages of Betting Online
- Bookmaker Review FAQs
- ThePuntersPage Final Say
What Does a Good Bookmaker Offer?
To sum up, a good bookmaker offers the following features:
- A streamlined registration process, which requires you to prove your identity.
- A variety of payment methods.
- Several promotional offers.
- An attractive VIP/loyalty programme.
- A good quality of odds and active betting markets.
- Betting features like Cash Out, Bet Builder and fast markets.
- A feature-laden live betting arena, complete with an option to live stream matches.
- Utmost security of privacy and funds.
- A valid licence/licences of operation along with regulation.
- Efficient customer support services.
- Easy navigation and a simple interface.
- A quality, free-to-download mobile app.
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How does the Bookmaker Review System at ThePuntersPage Work?
Each bookmaker review is based on 10 different categories, and we give each one a rating out of 5. We also evaluate non-sportsbook (and non-exchange) features and products in an 11th category to provide a holistic assessment of each operator, which does not count towards the final rating.
A typical bookmaker review at ThePuntersPage (TPP) includes a list of outstanding features at the top, a checklist of prominent features, pros and cons, detailed information about its welcome offer, in-depth insights about the topic of each category and a conclusion, where we give our overall bookmaker rating.
Below are each of the 11 factors that we take into account in order to determine the quality of a betting site:
1. Registration Process
A streamlined and straightforward registration procedure is one of the first signs of a high quality betting site. In order to judge its efficiency, we create a new account with the operator in question, fill in all necessary personal identification details, and take screenshots of each step to show you exactly what you can expect with a bookie’s sign-up process. We’ll also let you know about any betting promo codes that you can use to take advantage of a potential new customer offer. Bookmakers usually crosscheck your provided identification information, and ask you to upload documents to prove your identity and address of residence.
This is an important requirement as it guarantees authentic customers. If an online betting platform does not crosscheck your information, anyone and everyone can place bets, which may hamper security and lead to fraudulent behaviour.
2. Deposit and Withdrawal Options
A wide variety of deposit and withdrawal options adds to the appeal of an online betting provider. We determine payment methods, deposit limits, withdrawal limits, processing fees, processing durations, and the general ease of depositing and withdrawing so that you can make sure that you are using a betting site or app which suits your needs.
We also establish payment method restrictions (if any) regarding eligibility for welcome bonuses as well as identity checks during withdrawals (you may be requested to upload documents to prove your identity when you initiate a large withdrawal, or when you withdraw for the first time).
3. Welcome Offer
A good welcome offer often attracts new customers. We highlight the details of what customers can expect from this promotion and mention its bonus code (if any) along with all most important terms and conditions, including minimum stake, minimum odds, wagering requirement, expiry duration and much more. While determining the rating for this category, we take into consideration the quality of the welcome offer, the relative quality of welcome bonuses being offered by competitors, and the ease of converting bonus funds into real money.
The details of a welcome offer are mentioned at the beginning of a review as well.
4. Sportsbook Promotions
Next up are the sportsbook promotions offered by the bookie. A variety of sportsbook offers is an essential part of any quality online bookmaker; from accumulator bonuses to free bets and prizes, promotional offers can add some extra spice to your betting and could potentially lead to huge winnings.
The larger the array of promotional offers is, the better. As is the case with welcome offers, we evaluate the quality of the promotions on offer, the relative quality of promotions being offered by competitors, how easy it is to convert bonus funds into money and the number of sporting disciplines that are covered.
We also judge the quality of the VIP/Loyalty programme on offer (if any), as a good VIP scheme or club is designed to retain existing customers and plays a hand in attracting new ones.
5. Pre-Match Offer
The best bookmakers out there offer a generous selection of different sports to bet on. In our sportsbook reviews, we include the number of markets on offer (sports, leagues, tournaments, races, and more), as well as the most important information about betting limits, bookmaker margins, the quality of the odds on offer, and the nature of betting markets.
The lower the bookmaker’s margin is for a betting market, the better. To help you better understand this concept, we also calculate the bookmaker’s margin with the use of an example taken from the operator in question. This helps us establish whether a betting site offers competitive odds and active betting markets.
Within our pre-match offer section we also cover in detail esports betting and special betting markets, as well as the availability of useful betting features like Cash Out and Bet Builder.
6. Live Offer
When it comes to live betting, you can rest assured that every bookmaker review we write will have this covered too. The best bookmakers offer tools such as live streaming, a live scorecard, a graphical representation of an ongoing match, many exciting betting markets, a comparative match graph and in-depth statistics, which can include match information, head-to-head results, player/team form and past tournament results.
The provision of fast markets, an upcoming game calendar, a section dedicated to results, and multi-view are added perks. We know how important live betting is to many punters, so all these aforementioned features do factor into our rating for this category.
7. Security
Stringent security is paramount to the success of a bookmaker. We take security extremely seriously here at ThePuntersPage, which is why we make it a point to identify bookmaker licences, the level at which personal data is used by the bookie and the responsible gambling tools available.
We point out in detail which controls are available to each user when it comes to promoting responsible gambling while also advising on responsible gambling organisations which can help with any gambling concerns that you may have. We also determine whether a betting site has control over you winning or losing a bet, and whether numbers are generated on the basis of a random generation procedure.
8. Service and Customer Support
The quality of any customer support channels – including live chat, phone, email, availability (24/7 or otherwise) and accessibility – also contributes towards our rating. Overall, in our experience, live chat is often the easiest way of contacting a customer service agent, although this can vary from one betting site to another.
The provision of a detailed help centre with pre-answered questions is an added perk. A good bookmaker should respond to a query as soon as possible, which is why in many of our bookmaker reviews we contact customer support ourselves to determine how long they take to respond and how efficient their services are.
9. Design and Usability
A good betting site comes with a design that appeals to all sorts of people, along with accessible features that are easy for visitors or customers to locate and use. We evaluate the attractiveness of the site's design, the organisation and placement of essential features, the ease of accessing key features and tools, complications (if any) and any extra sections dedicated to statistics, results, and a blog. All these factors can significantly enhance your betting experience, which is why we have opted to include this category in our reviews.
10. Mobile
For those who prefer to bet on the go, a sportsbook app which offers the same quality and features as the main site is extremely useful, and a great incentive to sign up to a particular bookmaker. A good betting app is easy and uncomplicated to use, and will also offer additional special features not found on its desktop/laptop counterpart. Moreover, it should ideally be available to download for free for both iOS and Android users. Check out our full list of the best betting apps in the UK right here.
11. Other Products
Betting goes far beyond the realm of sports, so while the provision of products like casino, live casino, poker, bingo, and virtual sports do not factor into our bookmaker ratings, we always make it a point to discuss the other products that each bookie offers to their customers.
We cover non-sportsbook products in detail and analyse the various games on offer, together with any promotional offers, welcome bonuses and more.
Are the Bookmaker Ratings at ThePuntersPage Reliable?
Yes, our bookmaker ratings are reliable. We sign up to each betting site we review, test out deposit and withdrawal options, take into consideration customer feedback, contact customer support representatives to get any additional information that we need, check each feature of a betting site personally, place bets, and use the best betting sites out there as a cornerstone around which we establish ratings. To ensure that our content has all the latest information, we constantly update our reviews to cater to new bookmaker features and developments.
Overall, in every bookmaker review, we take into consideration the features that matter most to the well-being and convenience of the customer.
Why Have Some Betting Sites Been Rated Poorly?
Poor reviews are usually down to any of the key features mentioned above that are either missing or which fail to meet our (high) standards. Our reviews are fair and balanced, and are based on our own personal experiences – we make it a point to be honest and transparent with our readers about a poor experience.
Advantages of Betting Online
Our bookmaker reviews are solely based on online/mobile betting platforms, not betting shops. While betting at land-based establishments does come with its own advantages, the shift from betting in shops to betting online is becoming increasingly prominent, with the online betting industry projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.5% from 2020 – 2027.
The (many) benefits of betting online include the comfort of betting at any time and from any place, constantly updated promotional offers, unique betting features (Cash Out, Bet Builder, fast markets) live casino tables and so much more.
Bookmaker Review FAQs
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Based on our reviews, Paddy Power, bet365, BetVictor and William Hill are among the very best online bookmakers for UK bettors.
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Yes, the reviews at ThePuntersPage are reliable, fair and transparent. We base many of our ratings on our own experiences with bookmakers to give an honest review of the features and aspects which matter most to the customer.
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The whole betting process from registration to withdrawal needs to be smooth, reliable and enjoyable, and ideally offer a list of key features which we have outlined above.
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Football, horse racing and golf lead the way as the most popular sports to bet on in the UK.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
There are several factors you should consider when choosing a betting site. Given the sheer amount of choice that is out there, we have made this easier for you by putting together our own carefully evaluated and detailed bookmaker reviews. We're constantly updating our content, so make sure to follow us for the latest updates!