Best betting sites | March 2024 | Check out these bookies

Best betting sites UK: March 2024

Everything you need to know about the UK’s best betting sites

bet365 is one of the most popular bookmakers in the UK and worldwide for good reason. It offers an exceptional range of markets, providing users with the facility to place bespoke bet builders by selecting options from sports that are typically not available with other bookmakers.

Even after an event has started, your options to wager with bet365 do not end. The firm featured highly on our list of the best in-play betting sites as the range of markets is second to none, as shown in the pictures below. Similarly we rated it highly in our list of the best cash-out betting sites as it is one of the only firms to have full cash-out, partial cash-out and auto cash-out.

It is difficult to think of any drawbacks to bet365 but it would be good to see the popular firm offer a daily free game that customers could use regularly. The current free game –  the 6 Scores Challenge – is a weekly one in which you can win up to £1,000,000 if you predict six football scores correctly. And there is also £10 in bet credits up for grabs via the Goals Giveaway, but you have to remember to log in and update the game each day to have any chance of winning come the weekend.

Telegraph Betting rating: 5/5

• Click here to claim the bet365 sign-up offer
• Check out our full bet365 review

2. William Hill

What has been really beneficial for William Hill is that it ranks high in our list of the best betting sites. The bookmaker’s existing customer offers make it very easy to earn free bets and the Epic Odds promotion that runs weekly is one of the best in the industry. 

There is a scratch of the day promotion that gives punters a guaranteed reward each day, such as a free bet or enhanced odds, an example of which can be found below. 

William Hill becomes a must-have bookmaker through its Epic Odds promotion each week, in which almost dead-certainties are boosted to evens (maximum bet £10). For example, it boosts a Premier League fixture to have over 0.5 goals each week and it comfortably lands more times than not. 

Despite ranking second in the 2023 UK Bookmaker Awards for market selection, William Hill could further improve its bet builders by including additional selections such as player fouls, which have been introduced by other bookmakers.

Telegraph Betting rating: 4.5/5

• Click here to claim the William Hill sign-up offer
• Check out our full William Hill review

3. Paddy Power

Paddy Power is known for its humorous adverts and social media campaigns but the sportsbook deserves to be treated seriously. If you are looking for a firm that regularly rewards you then Paddy Power could be the one for you. 

Paddy’s Rewards Club gives you a weekly chance to unlock a nice amount with a £10 free bet on offer to customers. It also continually offers Power Prices, such as the one shown in the picture above, and free bet offers that are shown clearly on the home screen as soon as you access the platform, as shown in the screenshot above.

If anything lets Paddy down, it is the odds on its regular markets. In the UK Bookmaker Awards in 2023, the firm ranked 11th (out of 26) for horse racing odds and 20th (out of 26) for football odds, so it would be good to see those improved, outside the regular boosts.

Telegraph Betting rating: 4.5/5

• Click here to claim the Paddy Power sign-up offer
• Check out our full Paddy Power review

4. Sky Bet

One of the most recognisable bookmakers in the UK, Sky Bet has an easily accessible platform on mobile and web with features that are on a par with some of the best sites.

The firm offers a number of features that make betting easy while keeping you informed, such as the Rewards Bundle section that features all the price boosts, free games and personalised offers. Another handy feature is the Acca Assist, which shows you the form and various stats of sides ahead of games, as illustrated in the screenshot below. 

Sky Bet’s accumulators are also made more enticing as you can combine 2 Up selections, so you will be paid out once any side you have backed goes two goals clear.

Telegraph Betting rating: 4.5/5

• Click here to claim Sky Bet sign-up offer

5. Betfred

Betfred ranked No 1 in the UK Bookmaker Awards for existing customer promotions and it is easy to see why bettors keep returning to the platform. These promotions range from the innovative Double Delight and Hat-trick Heaven goalscorer offers to regular free bets and acca insurance.

While others have embraced prop markets such as player shots on target, Betfred only offers them for specific games, for example, last season’s Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan. Also, it is slow to provide odds for more niche games from around the world. But if you are looking for a bookmaker that covers the big events well, Betfred is a great option.

Telegraph Betting rating: 4/5

• Click here to claim Betfred sign-up offer
• Check out our full Betfred review

6. BoyleSports

BoyleSports has all the usual markets from across the world of sport but the Irish firm really stands out when it comes to its horse racing offering. 

Besides a range of enticing promotions, such as a free bet if your horse comes in second to a starting-price favourite and extra place races available every day of the week, it also offers a best odds guarantee that starts as early as 8am. This feature sets it apart from other bookmakers who only offer similar promotions later in the day.

While the bookmaker is great when it comes to horse racing and football, there is a lack of niche sport markets and the platform does feel a bit dated but you should be able to look past that.

Telegraph Betting rating: 4/5

• Click here to claim BoyleSports sign-up offer

7. Unibet

Unibet managed to clinch second in the UK Bookmaker Awards and it also ranked highly for both football odds and market selection. 

Placing accumulators and bet builders is helped by the firm’s market insights feature, shown below, which will give you key stats before you make your selection. It also has a great range of markets away from football including all the big horse races from around the world to niche events like chess.

Compared with other platforms, its user interface may present some difficulties. Additionally, while other sites on this list provide existing customer promotions that encourage customer loyalty, this particular platform lacks such incentives, which may detract from its appeal.

Telegraph Betting rating: 4/5

• Click here to claim Unibet sign-up offer
• Check out our full Unibet review

8. Betfair

Signing up for Betfair is like registering with two separate bookmakers as you gain access to the firm’s sportsbook and industry-leading exchange – and you can flip between the two with a simple click. 

The sportsbook has all the markets from the big sports, including horse racing from across the world. Meanwhile, the Betfair betting exchange offers you the opportunity to bet against fellow regular punters where you can often find the best odds and is something that very few bookmakers offer.

Telegraph Betting rating: 3.5/5

• Click here to claim Betfair sign-up offer

9. Coral

With a vast selection of markets ranging from popular sports such as football and horse racing to niche events such as swimming and trotting, Coral offers a diverse range of options. But it is the array of creative promotions that sets this platform apart and will encourage you to come back for more.

While Coral’s regular odds are arguably sub-par, there are regular boosts, including cross-game specials that can be found straight from the home screen as well as bet bundles that give you the option to pay £2 or £5 and get a £5 or £10 bundle of bets to use on horse racing or football.

Telegraph Betting rating: 3.5/5

• Click here to claim the Coral sign-up offer
• Check out our full Coral review

10. Tote

UKBA data not available.

Tote completes our list of the top 10 betting sites for the unique nature of its platform. Instead of a traditional fixed-odds bookmaker, Tote betting is similar to an exchange where you essentially bet against fellow punters and the rewards can be much higher. 

It also offers various promotions such as the Tote guarantee, which means you will always be paid out at least the starting price, and the Tote Placepot where at least £100,000 is up for grabs each day.

It does feel slightly unfair to mark Tote down for only offering horse racing betting as that is what the platform was designed for, but modern punters are used to having a wide-ranging sportsbook. If you want to bet on horse racing only, especially around big events such as the Cheltenham Festival, the Grand National, Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood, Tote will more than satisfy your betting needs.

Telegraph Betting rating: 3.5/5

• Click here to claim Tote sign-up offer
• Check out our full Tote review
• Here is our full guide to how Tote betting works

Your guide to new and established betting sites for March 2024

Looking for a new betting site? Look no further than our monthly round-up, featuring the top UK bookmakers, from well-known favourites to up-and-coming online operators.

Each platform highlighted here presents exclusive welcome offers designed to entice new customers eager to enter the realm of betting.

Stay ahead of the game with our additional line-up showcasing the latest and most promising betting sites in the UK market.

Whether you’re an experienced online bettor or just starting out, our list is designed to help you find the perfect platform to match your preferences.

Best betting sites: What sport can I bet on this week? 

On Tuesday, England continue their preparations for Euro 2024 with a home friendly against Belgium and Scotland look to bounce back from losing 4-0 to the Netherlands as they face Northern Ireland in Glasgow. Other friendly internationals that night include Spain vs Brazil and Germany vs Netherlands.

But the big game of the evening takes place in Cardiff, where Wales and Poland meet in a European Championship play-off final. Robert Page’s beat Finland 4-1 last Thursday to set up the one-off match while Poland beat Estonia. A place in this summer’s finals in Germany is the reward for the winners.

On Wednesday, Chelsea should book their place in the last four of the Uefa Women’s Champions League when they take a 3-0 lead into the return leg of their quarter-final against Ajax at Stamford Bridge. Two days later, domestic football is back with a full programme of EFL matches, including Bristol City vs Leicester City, Blackburn vs Ipswich and Watford vs Leeds in the Championship.

In other sports, the Indian Premier League T20 cricket continues with matches every day and the Miami Open tennis builds towards a climax in the men’s and women’s singles competitions.

There’s also horse racing every day and we will have all the news and tips you need as the week builds towards the Easter weekend.

Best betting site: Sky Bet – £30 in free bets when you place any bet

Sky Bet takes the title of our best betting site this week. Not only is its welcome offer one of the best but the operator also provides regular enhanced odds on site.

With the weekend jam-packed full of top-quality Premier League action, Sky Bet is a great option to bet with. It has existing customer promotions such as free bets and boosts, and often provides some of the best value within football and horse racing.

The welcome offer also only requires any amount wagered over £0.05 to unlock £30 in free bets, one of the best offers in the industry. 

About the author: Connor Whitley

I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have turned my love for sports betting into a rewarding career. It allows me to delve into the world of betting and create engaging content, including in-depth reviews and articles covering a wide range of promotions.

To ensure the utmost accuracy and reliability, I have personally created accounts with all the bookmakers highlighted here. This hands-on experience has provided me with a deep understanding of the unique strengths and weaknesses of each platform.

My unwavering commitment is to offer readers valuable insights into the leading online betting sites in the UK. My ultimate goal is to empower users by equipping them with the knowledge and expertise they need to make well-informed decisions in their betting endeavours.

• Read more from Connor Whitley

How we chose the best betting sites: The premium categories to look out for

When assessing the top new betting sites, we have certain fundamental features in mind, which we will outline in detail later. But it is the best online betting sites that distinguish themselves with their premium qualities. In the following sections, we highlight some of these distinctive characteristics.

• UK Bookmaker Awards

Our team of experts, in collaboration with data professionals from the UK Bookmaker Awards, have used their extensive industry knowledge and conducted qualitative analysis to create this comprehensive guide to the best UK betting sites for new customers.

To ensure an unbiased rating and identify the best operators, we have gone above and beyond by creating accounts, depositing funds and placing bets with each bookmaker. Throughout this rigorous evaluation process, we place significant emphasis on the unique features offered by UK betting sites.

Maintaining the accuracy and relevance of our list is of utmost importance to us. We continually review and update our rankings and assessments to reflect latest market trends. If new information emerges, we promptly adjust our ratings of UK betting sites to incorporate these changes.

You can find out more about the UK Bookmaker Awards on its website.

• Offers

We search for welcome deals and ongoing promotions, such as free bets, on leading UK gambling platforms. If there are good offers, that plays a big part in them being rated among the best betting sites and being worthy of a place on the list.

• Betting site

The site itself is definitely key and it has to be accessible and easy to use as well as having all the features that are needed by users.

• Mobile

If you can access the site on mobile then it will certainly go up in our rankings. Mobile access is now a key part of betting within the industry as people want to play on the move, so a mobile app will help a site to be rated as one of the best.

• Odds

As always in betting, odds are important and if one site is continually offering better odds in bigger sports such as football and horse racing, then it’s important it gets the recognition it deserves.

• Payment methods

Having many different payment methods is important for the best betting sites with PayPal, debit card and Apple Pay all desired by UK customers.

For example, CopyBet has great payment methods and you can check out its welcome bonus here: 

• Support

Live support has become crucial for many betting sites in the UK with lots of questions asked by customers looking for help. If it’s quick and easy then it helps the site rank higher within our list.

• Early payout

The early payout feature has become a notable innovation among popular bookmakers such as bet365, Sky Bet and Paddy Power. While the specific details of such promotions may vary among bookies, the core concept remains consistent. If the football team you have placed a wager on takes a 2-0 lead, you will receive a full payout regardless of the final outcome of the match. It is important to mention that this promotion may not be available in other markets where the odds are slightly higher.

• Range of markets

While established bookmakers typically cater to popular markets such as major football leagues and horse racing, not all of them extend their offerings to more niche sports, events or even markets on reality TV shows such as Love Island and I’m a Celebrity...

In our evaluation process, we go beyond assessing the range of offerings and also consider the comprehensiveness of football markets, including specific details such as player fouls that may not be covered by certain bookmakers.

• Streaming

The inclusion of live streaming for popular sports such as football and horse racing has become a key feature for many bettors, and the best online betting sites consistently recognise its significance. Prominent platforms such as bet365 offer live streaming for leagues such as La Liga and Serie A.

In our evaluation of the leading UK betting sites, we consider the availability of live streams, the related deposit and betting conditions and how they contribute to the overall platform.

The importance of live streaming is reflected in the betting experience category of the UK Bookmaker Awards. This allows us to showcase the top five bookmakers based on their performance in this area, highlighting their dedication to delivering an exceptional live-streaming experience for users.

• Bet builders

In the past few years, the popularity and usage of bet builders in football betting have grown rapidly, making it one of the fastest-growing features among punters. Bet builders enable you to combine multiple choices within a game, creating attractive and high odds.

However, it’s important to note that not all bookmakers offer the same range of markets or allow the combination of selections across different events. This factor plays a significant role in our rankings. We consider the availability and flexibility of bet builders when evaluating the top UK betting sites to ensure we provide a comprehensive assessment.

• Best-odds guaranteed promotions

If you have the horse racing bug, you will want to bet with a bookmaker that has best-odds guaranteed so you can maximise your winnings, especially for the biggest events in the calendar, such as Cheltenham, the Grand National, the Derby, Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood. 

While a lot of the biggest bookmakers will have this as standard practice it is not universal across the whole of the industry so it certainly came into our consideration when creating our list. A best-odds guaranteed promotion is considered in the UKBA horse racing odds category, the top five from the recent awards is shown in the table below.

Top betting sites for football

1. bet365

One of the world’s biggest bookmakers, bet365 continues to have one of the best football sections available in the industry.

The availability of prop betting in the form of passes, tackles, free-kicks and goal-kicks puts it in the upper echelons of football betting – as well as the fact that its prices remain competitive.

bet365 offers overs/unders on almost every football market, which sets it apart from others who will only offer overs on specific markets so that they can dictate the price.

2. Sky Bet

Sky Bet is another of the most popular bookmakers in the UK and is constantly improving its football betting offerings.

There are numerous betting opportunities within football when playing on Sky Bet, with countless markets on every game as well as plenty of super boosts that are available every weekend.

Sky Bet also offers enhanced odds as much as any other bookmaker and has promotions such as its Acca Freeze, which can benefit punters placing a multiples bet on football.

3. Ladbrokes

Ladbrokes has been a high-street bookmaker for many years but its online offering of football markets is second to none.

It comes into its own with its bet-builder section that allows for a variety of combinations within the markets such as mixing player shots with player tackles among others.

As well as this, there are plenty of competitive prices for accumulators with many bettors using Ladbrokes because of its reputation for providing good accumulator prices.

4. Paddy Power

Paddy Power is well known for its great marketing promotions and this is no different when it comes to football.

The bookmaker has lots of ‘power prices’ and special ‘stat markets’ that help them to rank highly in our best betting sites for football.

5. Coral

Coral has been around for a long time and that has led it to become a well-established bookmaker with many punters often placing their accumulators with the popular site.

It often has a diverse range of markets with its ‘Build A Bet’ feature particularly prominent on some of the biggest games throughout the season.

Top betting sites for horse racing

1. William Hill

William Hill continues to shine in the horse racing world and the bookmaker has lots of special offers such as non-runner, no-bet and best odds guaranteed available for all the biggest races in the world.

With the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National coming up, be sure to check out William Hill for some of the best offers available for new and existing customers.

2. BetVictor

BetVictor has been a mainstay in the horse racing betting market for a long time and it’s clear to see why, with lots of promotions on hand during the biggest festivals and meetings.

Any punter wants free bets to use during the biggest meetings such as Cheltenham and BetVictor can provide them, whether you are a new or existing customer.

3. bet365

bet365 is very good at offering competitive markets for lots of sports and horse racing is another in which it stands out.

It has enhanced prices and super boosts for every single day of the Cheltenham Festival were excellent and it continues to make them one of the best betting sites to use for horse racing.

4. BoyleSports

BoyleSports is one of the best for horse racing and the main positive to the bookmaker is that it has a great selection of horse races with meetings from all over the world.

5. Unibet

Unibet’s big attraction is the money-back offer that new customers can claim, but as well as that the bookmaker offers a huge number of enhanced odds on a regular basis.

The site has been one of the best for years now and continues to maintain that reputation when it comes to horse racing.

Top betting sites for greyhound racing

1. BoyleSports

BoyleSports stands out as a leading betting platform for greyhound racing, providing a money-back offer in the form of a free bet if your selection finishes second to a starting-price (SP) favourite.

Furthermore, BoyleSports ensures the best odds guaranteed on greyhound races in the UK and Ireland. Beyond these promotions, the platform offers live streaming of races and features virtual greyhound racing.

2. BetMGM

BetMGM is one of the best new betting sites and the greyhound racing section of its site boasts competitive prices that rival the best.

The bookmaker has some great markets, including forecasts, that allow you to target a potentially big win when betting on the greyhounds at BetMGM.

3. SBK

SBK isn’t as well known as some others but the races that are on offer through the bookmaker make it well worth trying.

The website itself also has a classy Betting Zone featuring tips available for some of the biggest meetings and races across the month.

4. Betfred

Betfred is a staple site in the industry and this is shown with its range of greyhound racing markets. 

Its reputation precedes it and it’s clear to see why Betfred is such a highly rated bookmaker across the UK with lots of greyhound markets available all the time.

The odds available on Betfred are second to none and the site’s accessibility means that it has never been easier to place a bet.

5. Parimatch

Parimatch continues to increase its popularity in the industry and, by attacking more niche sports such as greyhound racing, continues to improve its reputation in the industry.

It has recently shown that it is growing in stature and in doing so, markets such as greyhound racing have improved and helped Parimatch to evolve into one of the best betting sites for the sport.

Top betting sites for tennis

1. Coral

Tennis continues to be popular, especially its four grand-slam events, and Coral covers every tournament with lots of outright markets that are worth considering.

2. Unibet

Unibet’s in-play tennis section is one of the best and makes it easy for punters to place bets on live tennis throughout the day.

3. bet365

bet365 offers a tennis accumulator bonus that enhances the amount you have a chance of making from the bets you place. Perfect if you’re an avid tennis bettor.

The bet-builder options that are available on bet365 make it a fantastic place to bet on tennis. So does its ‘retirement guarantee’, that means if you back a player who retires mid-match, you will be awarded your stake back.

4. Virgin Bet

Virgin Bet has a good reputation within the betting industry and its tennis markets have slowly improved over the course of the last year. It’s definitely a site worth signing up to in the future.

5. BetMGM

BetMGM, as mentioned previously, is new to the industry in the UK, however it has a similar in-play section to Unibet and is definitely worth utilising on the tennis.

There are great supporting statistics that help back up the bets that you place before the match begins – and in play there is the facility to see the serve percentage among other useful pointers.

Top betting sites for golf

1. William Hill

William Hill offers some of the best each-way prices, especially for some of the biggest events such as The Masters.

The betting site also covers a host of different events, even some of the smallest tournaments in the sport of golf, making it a must-have in your golf armoury.

2. bet365

bet365 is fantastic when it comes to promoting golf and it has a golf tracker on its site that is one of the best features to use when betting on the sport.

In-play betting is one of the biggest parts of betting on golf and bet365 tracks it fantastically, ensuring the site’s inclusion in our best golf betting sites.

3. Parimatch

Parimatch has lists of all the different golf offers available as well as all the different tournaments that take place each week – making it very useful for new customers.

The offering of odds from Parimatch is comprehensive and allows lots of bets on different players within the tournament as well as some extra options such as match bets, where you can bet on who comes higher out of two different players.

4. Betfred

Betfred is another site that has some great prices on the biggest tournaments, as well as enhanced odds on certain individuals to win the tournaments.

5. Virgin Bet

Virgin Bet has ventured into golf and it offered extra places in the last Masters, which was a positive.

With the Masters coming up again next month, there’s no reason not to sign up with Virgin Bet with its odds among the most competitive within the golf industry.

Best betting sites by categories

• Betting exchanges

1. Betfair

The Betfair Exchange stands out as a top choice for its competitive prices for both backing and laying bets.

This platform offers an array of enticing betting opportunities, including in-play betting and cash-out options. Additionally, users can explore a diverse range of sports to bet on, from football and horse racing to cricket and tennis. With the option to back or lay bets, users can exercise greater control over their individual betting strategies.

Moreover, the exchange features markets for major sports tournaments, as well as political or TV events that may pique customers’ interest.

• Head to Betfair here

2. Matchbook

Matchbook, a prominent betting exchange, has been steadily expanding in recent years as it strives to compete in the upper reaches of the industry.

Despite not being as widely recognised as some of its counterparts, Matchbook has introduced innovative strategies to attract and retain customers. It boasts substantial liquidity, competitive commissions and provides odds on a wide array of sports. Setting itself apart from traditional sportsbooks, Matchbook allows players to set their own odds and directly compete against each other across markets.

A major advantage of using Matchbook is its low commission rates, with customers only being charged a commission of 2 or 4 per cent on their net profit for each market. This customer-friendly approach ensures that no commission is levied on losing bets.

Check out all of the best betting exchanges here

• Spread betting

Spread betting is where you either ‘buy’ or ‘sell’ according to whether you think the outcome of an event will be higher or lower than the spread. You are given a two-way price for the market and, if you then believe that the outcome will be higher you buy, and if you believe it will be lower you sell.

1. Spreadex

Spreadex differs from a lot of bookies in the UK and offers both a fixed-odds sportsbook and a betting exchange, giving its users a number of options.

When you want to make a fixed-odds bet on Spreadex, you must make sure you place your bet by clicking the odds displayed under ‘back’.

It is important that you look when you’re placing your bets as if you are to press ‘Sell Buy’, then this means you will be using their spread betting platform.

You should always be aware that when spread betting, your losses can exceed your deposit.

• Head to Spreadex here

Betting sites for sports

As mentioned above, there are lots of betting sites available for all of the best sports in the world.

Here you can find our lists:

• Best football betting sites
• Best horse racing betting sites

Best new betting sites

Now we have considered and justified our list of the best betting sites, it is time to look at the UK’s best new betting sites.

As these are often smaller than the best betting sites and less established, they may not have the same features as the best betting sites so below, we discuss some of the more basic features that we consider when ranking the best new betting sites.

For now, here is a table of the best new online betting sites for you to take a look at.

New betting sites UK: Best offer this week

BetMGM

The current new customer offer from BetMGM is among the very best from new betting sites and even rivals those from the biggest and most popular UK betting sites, especially for Cheltenham.

For an industry-standard £10 deposit you can unlock £60 in free bets. These are credited in a way that allows you to fully explore the BetMGM platform. You unlock free bets that are there to take advantage of both horse racing and football.

After you have used the BetMGM new customer offer, you can enjoy the rest of the unique platform that offers both a traditional sportsbook and lots of special boosts.

How we choose the best new betting sites: What to look out for

Welcome offer

The first thing you look for when selecting a new bookmaker is the best welcome offer, and companies compete to provide the most attractive promotion. It is recommended that you search for the highest number of free bets and bonuses with the lowest deposit requirement.

Our evaluation takes into account the different amount of free bets provided by a bookmaker, as well as the other elements that each offer can provide to its individual customers. These factors include wagering requirements, the validity period of free bets, the time required to obtain them and how they are credited.

Wagering requirements commonly accompany the best offers across the UK and frequently cause difficulties for new and experienced bettors with their occasionally perplexing nature. Should a bookmaker’s welcome offer feature wagering obligations, and many of them do not, they must be easily understandable and not overly burdensome to qualify for our list.

Free bets are usually available for seven days, although this may vary depending on the bookmaker. Free bets are frequently credited to your account immediately after making a qualifying deposit or bet, but they may be awarded only after your qualifying bet has been settled. They come in various combinations, such as a single £30 bet or two £15 punts.

Security

With the significance of online betting regulations, it’s natural for punters to have apprehensions, notably when it comes to new and less well-known online betting sites. To alleviate these concerns, every bookmaker on our list holds a UK Gambling Commission licence. Moreover, we have thoroughly examined and placed bets with all the operators featured on our website, ensuring that they are the safest and securest options for users to bet with.

Some are also commissioned by gambling commissions around the world, and we have the significant terms and conditions below each of the operators. We strongly recommend you read the full terms and conditions on the individual sign-up pages once you click through.

Payment methods

Each bookmaker has its own different way of depositing and withdrawing funds and we judge the best on some select criteria. We are looking for online betting sites that have the lowest deposits, quickest transactions and most varied payment methods for customers, including e-wallets and PayPal, which are being used more and more by punters.

It is important that bookmakers ensure customers can freely deposit and withdraw their money simply and safely when using a betting site with that being the most vital part for many. Punters regularly raise concerns about operators if these basic functions are difficult. The variables here include how long you have to wait for your withdrawal to reach your account, which is usually five working days, and who has the lowest withdrawal amount.

The results of the banking award at the 2023 UKBA can be found in the table below.

Existing customer promotions

Existing customer promotions are not limited to loyalty rewards but these do play a major part in our rankings. 

A lot of leading bookmakers have reward clubs that encourage you to bet regularly by promising a free bet when you have stake a certain amount within a week, with one of the best being Sky Bet.

The best new betting sites in the UK are likely not to have loyalty clubs but there are other existing customer promotions that we look out for.

These include free-to-play games, regular price boosts, free spins and money-back specials where you will receive your money back if the outcome you backed fails to land.

The top five in the UKBA existing customer promotions category can be found below.

Mobile betting and desktop experience 

Almost all punters now like to bet via their mobile devices through various apps. Therefore, we have of course considered the difference between UK betting sites’ websites and apps. Both have to be clearly laid out and easy to navigate, and there should be no major differences between the two.

It is always absolutely vital that the most watched and biggest sporting events on the calendar are right at the top of the home page for customers in standout view so that they can see them as soon as they head on to the site, with ease of access and navigation important to finding the most popular markets.

There needs to be a variety of in-play markets as well as forthcoming events, such as having imminent fixtures visible on the home page. Navigation to each market should be simple and each function, such as cashing out, should be clear for the user to see.

A full list of the best betting apps can be found here.

How does the UK Gambling Commission regulate the best betting sites?

The UK Gambling Commission holds sway over the oversight of gambling sites in Great Britain – a space that includes online casinos, bingo, sports betting and of course online betting, all within the Gambling Act of 2005.

Embracing its duties, the commission is entrusted with the licensing and regulation of gambling operators, ensuring unwavering adherence to stringent compliance measures and the safeguarding of players.

In its pursuit of responsible gambling, the Commission imposes mandates upon betting companies to validate the age of users, maintain the segregation of customer funds, and show the pathways of rules, odds, and risks for all to behold.

Furthermore, the bookmakers are called upon to give relevant responsible gambling tools, self-exclusion schemes, and help services, as well as ensuring they uphold fairness and support for all players.

Summary and conclusion

When looking for the best betting site, there are many factors we take into consideration to assess which will be for you.

We ensure the trust of each site and judge them on their reputation and reliability as well as ease of use and whether they have the payment methods needed to thrive.

We’ve made categories so you can clearly distinguish the best betting sites for each:

Frequently asked questions about best betting sites