Best Betting Sites UK: The Best Bookmakers Online for 2024

Below we list our favourite five sites for this month, explaining why as well as what they’re best for.

There are various factors that we take into consideration when choosing the best betting sites to suggest to UK bettors. Take a look at our key criteria below.

Licencing and Security

Player safety is easily one of the most important factors we consider, which is why the licencing and security at sportsbook and casino sites is taken so seriously. Any sports betting site you use should be licenced by the UK Gambling Commission no matter what; additional licences from the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA), and the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) will prove the site is safe and secure. Security measures we expect to be in place include encryption technologies (SSL), fraud prevention teams, firewalls, two-factor authentication, secure payment methods and more.

Betting Markets

All of the best sportsbooks should offer a large selection of betting markets for users to enjoy. These markets should be available for leagues and events around the world and should be easy to access and bet on. We expect to see mainstream, niche, and speciality betting markets. Examples of these include football (mainstream), trotting (niche), and politics (speciality). We would like to see at least 10 sports markets available to bettors but the best sites will likely have many more. A site is made even better if it also offers a selection of casino games.

Live streaming and in-play betting are two different concepts; however, they tend to go hand in hand. In-play betting is a betting feature that allows bettors to place bets on events that are currently taking place. It tends to be available for most sports.

Live streaming is much less common. This feature allows bettors to watch their chosen market from their betting site. It is great when available but usually it is only offered for limited markets. The specifications will be set out in the site’s terms and conditions.

Using mobile devices to bet online is becoming increasingly popular, especially at online sports betting sites. This allows customers to place wagers on their favourite sporting events on the go or when they are not at home with access to a computer or laptop.

For this reason, we always ensure that the betting sites we recommend offer their services on mobile in one way or another. The two ways to bet on mobile are via dedicated mobile apps, which can be downloaded on iOS and Android or through mobile internet browsers. The site should function just as well as the desktop version.

The final factor we take into account is the user experience offered by the site, which is heavily reliant on the site design. Every bettor wants the online betting site they use to be easy to navigate and well-designed with quality graphics in easy-to-read colours. The best sites will organise all of their markets by category and offer a search bar which allows users to find whatever they need quickly and without issues.

We also take into account how real users felt about the site by reading customer reviews across various platforms. By doing this, we can not only assess what the site may be lacking but also how the team at the site dealt with any complaints and whether or not they were resolved.

1. Pick one of the sites from the list; experts have thoroughly assessed each one. Then click the provided link.
2. Create your account. You must enter all required information correctly and check it over before submitting it. At this step, you should also read the site’s terms and conditions and privacy policy (and agree to them).
3. Verify your account. You can do this later, but you will not be able to withdraw winnings if you have not done so.
4. Make a minimum deposit and place your first bet. The welcome bonus will specify the amount of this initial deposit and bet if you want to claim it.
5. You should receive your bonus once your deposit has been registered or your bet has been settled. When you do, ensure that you use it within the set time period.

If you are new to sports betting and are wondering what the best sports and markets to get you started are, we’re here to help. Below, you will find the top 5 sports for betting online alongside the best sites for betting on them.

Easily the most popular sports betting market, football is the best possible place to kickstart your betting experience at a top online sportsbook. There are various huge football events and leagues to take an interest in; some of the most exciting include the World Cup, the Euros, the Premier League, La Liga, the Champions League, and many more. This market also tends to have the best competitive odds. For a list of the best football betting sites, check out our dedicated page.

Our top pick for football betting is Betano, thanks to the quality competitive odds and range of markets for football events and leagues around the world.

Horse racing is another hugely popular sport to bet on in the UK. This is due to the excitement of the races and the vast number of horse racing events that occur throughout the year. Popular horse racing events punters can bet on include the Cheltenham Festival, Royal Ascot, Goodwood, and the Grand National. Most live streaming services will offer horse racing streaming.

Betfred is our number-one pick for betting on horse racing thanks to the range of markets on both well-known and less-watched events. Check out this top site today.

This has become a more popular sport to bet on in recent years, thanks to the excitement surrounding the events and the rise of star players like Luke Littler. Darts events to look out for include the UK Open, The Masters, World Grand Prix, PDC World Championship, World Series of Darts Final, and Darts Premier League.

If you are interested in betting on Darts, Betfred is one of the best options; users can find competitive odds for all the top events and some great betting promotions.

Players looking for a sporting event that lasts longer than the average sport should check out Cricket betting markets. Cricket events can last from 90 minutes to five days, with the longest recorded cricket match lasting 10 days. Popular cricket events include Test Cricket matches, such as The Ashes, T20 World Cup, Cricket World Cup and The Hundred.

Fitzdares is a great site for betting on Cricket events. During top events like the T20 and The Hundred, customers can find a range of betting options and top competitive odds.

The final recommended sports market on our list is boxing; this is not only because this sport is exciting to watch with a range of fights but also because it is slightly different from most other sports markets available. This is because there are no specific boxing events which take place; instead, fighters compete for titles. There are five organisations: World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Council (WBC), International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Organisation (WBO), and The Ring. Each boxing weight class has its own titles.

We think that bet365 is one of the best betting sites for Boxing, as users can find a range of betting options and promotions during top boxing fights. 

These are the most common types of promotions available at online sports betting sites, and they come in many different forms. The role of these bonuses is to entice new customers into signing up for the betting site, and they tend to be the most generous offers provided by the site. Popular welcome promotions include free bets, matched deposits, no deposit, cashback, and boosters, all of which are explained in more detail below.

Free bets are one of the most popular sports betting promotions available to UK bettors as they offer users free funds to use on top sports markets. The free bet value will depend on the site and the promotion, and there are sometimes market restrictions attached. Most free bet offers are in the form of Bet X Get Y and, as such, will require you to bet a minimum amount. Once this is done, you will receive your free bets for sports betting. Be sure to read the terms and conditions of the offer.

This is a very common offer at UK betting sites and has become very popular across many major brands. A matched deposit bonus works as follows: The site offers a 100% matched bonus up to £60, with a minimum deposit of £10. If you were to deposit £10 for this promotion, the site will match this 100%, meaning that you get an additional £10 to play with, so £20 in total. This will apply to whatever deposit you make (up to the predetermined amount, in this case, £60).

This promotion is available only on UK and Irish horse racing markets, but it is worth mentioning as it is extremely generous and widely enjoyed. A Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) offer allows punters to place a bet on a market and the bookmaker will then pay out at the best odds available, even if it is higher than the starting price. If it is lower, bettors will receive the SP (starting price).

A cashback promotion is a money-back offer that returns a punter’s stake if their bet does not succeed. The cashback offer will either be some or part of the initial stake. These promotions are available on a range of sports betting markets, including football, horse racing, tennis, boxing, cricket, darts, golf, and many more. As you can imagine, like any other betting promotion, this bonus will come with extensive terms and conditions that players should read and fully understand before claiming.

This is a promotion that is offered by bookmakers who want to attract more bets to a particular event or market. Fortunately for bettors, these bonuses tend to be offered on major sporting events, such as Premier League football games, the Cheltenham horse racing festival, and Wimbledon tennis matches. The boost will depend on the site and specific offer. Be sure to read all T&Cs before claiming.

Most commonly, new customer offers, such as no deposit bonuses, are promotions that do not require users to make a deposit in order to claim. These promos will require users to do one of two things: create an account and verify it, or create an account, verify it, and then enter valid banking information (a deposit does not need to be made). No deposit bonuses at online sportsbooks tend to be free bets only. These offers also tend to come with high wagering requirements, which users should look out for.

Live streaming betting is a service that allows online bettors to place bets and watch their favourite sports all from one platform. It is a less commonly available service at online betting sites but is highly desired. It is important to note that just because a site offers in-play betting does not mean it offers live streaming. Sites which offer live streaming tend to make it rather clear, as it is such a desired feature. To help you spot live streaming services, look for TV, Play, or Video icons next to your preferred markets. Common markets available for live streaming include football, horse racing, and greyhound racing.

Below, we have listed and explained all of the most popular betting options available in the top online sportsbooks. Ensure that you understand each fully before placing bets.

• Win: Bettors pick the team/player they think will win.
• Each Way: A popular bet, particularly in horse racing and golf betting. Half of your bet is placed on the win market and half on the place market. If your horse doesn’t win but finishes in the top 3 (usually 3, but check the terms for your specific market) they the place part of your bet still wins. This offers more of an insurance than a traditional win bet.
• Double: A bet combining two different selections. Both selections must win for your bet to be successful.
• Treble: A bet combining three different selections. All selections must win for your bet to be successful.
• ACCAs: This is when a customer selects more than one bet at once; all selections must be correct for the customer to win.
• Point Spread: Users bet on how many points/goals the team or player they have chosen will win by (margin of victory).
• Over/Under (Totals): This is the number of points or goals scored during a game/match. Punters can guess the exact number or whether the total will be more or less than a predetermined number.
• Proposition: This is a bet on a particular outcome of a match or game. For example, in boxing, punters can bet on whether the fight will end by knockout.
• Ante-Post/Future: Customers place bets based on the outcome of an event in the future.
• Live/In-Play: These are wagers made while the game, match, or event is in progress.
• Handicap: One team or person is given a virtual advantage or disadvantage. For example, in a football match, a handicap of -1 on Manchester City against Manchester United would mean Man City would be 0-1 down at the start of the game and would need to score at least two goals to win.
• Double Chance: This is when you bet on two outcomes rather than the usual one (usually a football bet). E.g., Arsenal to draw or win, OR Crystal Palace to win or draw.

As fun as gambling online is, it can easily become addictive, which is why it is vital for an online betting site to offer various responsible gambling tools and be licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Holding a licence from the UKGC is required not only because the body ensures site security but also because it ensures that a site promotes responsible gambling.

Responsible gambling tools users should be able to find include time-outs, reality checks, deposit limits, self-exclusion, time tracking, and more. Each site will also offer various links to responsible gambling bodies, including GamCare, GambleAware, GamStop, and Take Time To Think.

If you have any concerns regarding your gambling habits, you can make use of the following:

Our top pick for betting on football markets is Betano.

All betting sites licenced by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) are safe and secure.

Yes, many sports betting sites offer no deposit offers. These are most commonly found as new customer promotions.

Absolutely. Free bet bonuses are the most widely available betting promotion at the top UK sportsbooks.

City AM is committed to responsible gambling. Please gamble responsibly and only bet what you can afford. To gain help, support and advice for a person struggling with gambling, contact the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. If you are worried about your gambling or that of a friend visit gambleaware.org.