Best Betting Sites in the UK – Top New & Online Bookmakers 2025
Will Jackson 
Craig Jones
Explore the top new betting sites, licensed by the UK Gambling commission, with our expert views and the latest exclusive free bets.
Betting Sites & New Customer Offers
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Biggest Events to Bet On with Betting Sites This Week
It's the Nations League Final between Spain and Portugal today, as well as the men's French Open final.
Here are our highlights:
- Sunday - French Open Men's Final (Tennis), The Canadian Open (Golf), England v West Indies - Second T20 (Cricket), Nations League Final
- Monday - Belgium v Wales (World Cup Qualifier), Liechtenstein v Scotland (International Friendly)
New Betting Sites Update and Guide
You will be familiar with the regular betting sites that have been around for a while and are generally the most popular, but there are always new betting sites coming onto the scene or sites with lower profiles generally.
Each week we will pick a new betting site to have a look at a bit closer, including the welcome and existing offers available.
Featured New Betting Site of the Week
Ruby Bet - Established in 2019
Ruby Bet might not be the biggest name among betting sites, but it’s steadily growing a reputation as a reliable and user-friendly platform with solid promotions and plenty of betting options.
Whether you’re into football, horse racing, tennis, or something a bit more niche like futsal or eSports, Ruby Bet has a surprisingly deep sportsbook for a relatively new face.
Their welcome offer is a good starting point: Bet £10 and get a £20 free bet. It’s straightforward and gives new users a chance to try out the platform without too much of a commitment. Just place a qualifying £10 bet (minimum odds 1.5), and you’ll receive your free bet once it settles.
When it comes to sports coverage, Ruby Bet has all the major events covered – including football leagues from around the world, big golf tournaments, Grand Slam tennis, and more. They’ve also got a decent live betting section if you enjoy getting involved mid-match.
For existing users, Ruby Bet keeps things ticking with regular promotions. These include cashback offers, seasonal specials, and reload bonuses that pop up during major tournaments or events.
The site itself is clean, easy to navigate, and works well on both desktop and mobile. While Ruby Bet doesn’t have the flashy reputation of some bigger brands, it holds its own in terms of value and variety.
If you’re looking to try out something new or want a break from the bigger betting sites, Ruby Bet offers a fresh alternative with a strong mix of promos, betting markets, and a no-nonsense user experience. It’s definitely one to keep on your radar if you like discovering lesser-known platforms with plenty to offer.
Established vs New Betting Sites - Compared
When choosing a online betting site to open a new account, one usually wonders: should I go for an established name or a new bookmaker? There is no clear answer to that question, but here we are going to outline the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of both.
| Feature Compared | New Sites | Established Bookmakers |
|---|---|---|
| 🎁 Welcome offers | Usually Higher | Lower but stable |
| ⚽ Odds | Competitive but volatile | Consistent and Fair |
| 💳 Payment Options | More selection - crypto, e-wallets | Traditional |
| ⭐ Reputation | Less track record | Established Reputation |
| 📲 Mobile UX | Optimised, app first | Varies |
| 🤝 Customer Support | Can be limited | Usually 24/7 |
Now that we've compared some features lets dive in the pros and cons of the two.
Pros & Cons of New Betting Sites
- Better Offers
- Innovative
- Better UX and Apps
- Less proven reliability
- May lack payment options
Pros & Cons of Established Betting Sites
- Trusted Reputation
- Secure and Consistent
- Better Customer Support
- Lower Bonuses
- Lacks innovation
Which one is Best for You?
Choosing a particular bookmakers always boils down to preference and how much comfortable you are with the platform offered. We tried to simplify the choice for you to help you start your evaluation:
Best Overall? That is up to you to decide but a mix of both might give you the best deal.
Best for Casual Play: Established betting sites as these are the safest and most reliable.
Best for Promo Hunters and Innovation fans: New sites usually offer better promos and a modern platform.
What to Look Out for with New Online Betting Sites
Here’s a handful of key areas that you should look out for when you are looking at new online bookmakers and potentially signing up with one of them.
- Sign Up Offer - The bonus you get when you open an account is a one-time opportunity, so look around, choose one you like and be sure to check the terms and conditions of the offer.
- Existing Customer Offers - Look at what else is on offer. After your sign-up offer has gone, you want new betting sites to keep giving you offers. Of course these will not be as big as the initial offer, but they are still worth taking.
- Mobile App or Site - The entire world continues to move towards mobile, and betting is no different. Many people bet on the go, and use their phones to place a wager, so check out the mobile service, what it looks like and how to get it.
- Payment Methods - You should feel safe and secure when adding money to your account, and withdrawing any winnings. If you are using a new betting site, this is perhaps even more important, so look for what payment options are available, and make sure there is at least one that you like and are familiar with.
- Key Site Features - If they’re important to your online betting, make sure they are there. The sports you bet on, in play betting, streaming and cash out, these are all great features, and you don’t want to lose them if moving from somewhere else that currently offers them.
- Customer Support - The hope is that you never need this, but it’s always good to check, just incase. Look at opening times, how they’re contactable and work out if that fits with what you are comfortable using.
What are the Advantages of New Betting Sites?
The decision to go with an established online betting site, or a new betting site, is ultimately a personal one. There are advantages with both, and in terms of using new betting sites, we've put together five main advantages that they give to players who sign up.
Bigger Welcome Bonuses
New sites often give more generous sign up offers to attract attention with bigger deposit matches or risk free bets that you might not find on more established platforms.
Fresh Features and Modern Design
New betting sites are usually built with the latest tech and user experience in mind. That often means faster loading, smoother navigation, and mobile optimised platforms from the start.
Creative Promotions
To stand out in a crowded market, newer sites often run unique or more frequent promos like cashback offers, bonus challenges, or game specific deals you won’t always see on older sites.
Less Crowded Competitions
If a new site runs tournaments, prize draws, or leader board contests, there may be fewer players to begin with, giving you a better shot at climbing the ranks to get a reward.
Responsive Customer Support
Smaller, new betting sites tend to work harder to build trust early on. That can mean faster response times and a more personalised customer service focus, while they’re still growing their user base.
Sign Up Process at New Betting Sites
Most betting sites keep the sign up process very similar, and that's no exception with new betting sites.
Remember, in a bid to grow and gain new customers, it's things like this where they'll place extra focus and attention, to make life as easy as possible for prospective new customers.
So with that in mind, here's our three step guide to the sign up process at new betting sites.
Top 10 Rated Betting Sites in the UK
| Betting Sites Rank | 🏆 Online Betting Site | Our Rating ⭐ | UKGC Licence 📝 |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 🥇 | Pub Sports | 4.5 / 5 | 38758 |
| No. 2 🥈 | bet365 | 4.5 / 5 | 55149 |
| No. 3 🥉 | Tote | 4 / 5 | 54779 |
| No. 4 | talkSPORT BET | 3.5 / 5 | 39576 |
| No. 5 | Betfred | 4.5 / 5 | 39544 |
| No. 6 | BoyleSports | 4.5 / 5 | 39469 |
| No. 7 | KWIFF | 3.5 / 5 | 44448 |
| No. 8 | Livescore Bet | 4 / 5 | 56859 |
| No. 9 | Bet442 Sport | 4 / 5 | 39483 |
| No. 10 | Lottoland Sports | 4 / 5 | 38991 |
Top 10 Betting Sites in the UK Reviewed
Check out our mini reviews of the top 10 sports betting sites below, where we give a brief overview of the top sites in the UK.
Pub Sports: Great for Football
Pub Sports may be new to the UK sports betting scene, but they’ve hit the ground running, especially when it comes to football betting.
With a wide selection of leagues, solid market depth, and useful extras like an acca boost, they’ve clearly focused on giving football fans exactly what they’re after. The in play experience is also a strong point, making live betting easily accessible.
The platform itself is quick and easy to use, which only adds to the appeal. For a newcomer, Pub Sports is making all the right moves and looks like a brand with real potential.
bet365: Biggest Betting Platform
bet365 has earned its reputation as one of the top names in the sports betting industry, offering a standout experience across the board, from a wide range of sports markets and famous bet builders to generous free bet promotions.
Their in play section is a real highlight, packed with live betting options across dozens of sports. You’ll find quick odds updates, excellent market variety, and high quality live streaming, all designed to keep you fully immersed as the action happens.
With a clean, user friendly platform and a commitment to top tier service, bet365 continues to be a go to choice for many punters looking for both quality and reliability.
Tote: Stand Out Horse Racing Brand
While Tote is best known for its heritage in horse racing and pool betting, the modern platform offers much more, with a full sportsbook that covers a wide range of sports.
That said, they haven’t forgotten their roots. Racing remains a key focus, and Tote delivers in style with standout coverage, including extra places, price boosts, daily specials, and international markets you won’t always find elsewhere. It’s a great fit for racing fans who want more than the basics.
A trusted name in the industry, Tote continues to hold a strong position in the market, blending tradition with a modern online betting experience.
Talksport Bet: In Play Leaders
Modern betting is all about finding value, through price boosts, money back specials, and staying sharp even after the game kicks off.
Talksport Bet really leans into that approach, especially with their in play offering. With strong live coverage across a wide range of sports and leagues, plus a smooth, user friendly interface, it’s easy to get your bets on quickly, which matters when the odds are constantly shifting.
Add in daily boosts, tailored specials, and regular money back promotions, and you’ve got a well rounded, modern platform built for today’s punter.
Betfred: Excellence with Horse Racing
Betfred are widely recognised as the best bookmaker for promotions, with Betfred founder Fred Done quoted as saying he “knows exactly what punters want”.
Betfred have a great reputation as being one of the best sports betting sites when it comes to promotions.
What’s great, and really makes their service stand out, is the further offers for existing customers that you can use after you’ve signed up and taken the welcome promotion.
Boylesports: Value with Strong Betting Odds
While every bookmaker has their moment with odds, Boylesports have proven themselves to be a market leader time and time again in this department.
Offering exceptional value with strong odds across a wide variety of sports, it may only be fine margins, but they'r better in your favour, than against you.
If you're looking for where to get the very best edge, taking the biggest odds, then Boylesports is a great place to start.
Kwiff: Cutting Edge & New Innovations
Regardless of what part of life we're talking about, many people love a brand that's at the forefront of change, bringing out new ideas and having a real cutting edge about them, in gambling, that may be Kwiff.
With innovative features such as boosting odds randomly and giving out personal promotions to players, they're trying to deliver a new betting experience, and doing a very good job.
If your preference is for something unique and different, then Kwiff may give the answers you need.
Livescore Bet: Leading In Play & Streaming Platform
Built off the success of the Live Score results service, it should be no surprise to see where the online sports betting brand has the edge.
They offer an excellent in play service, combining good coverage with live streaming on many sports, and when streaming isn't available, text updates and score changes as they happen.
There's plenty more, but if live betting is key for you, then they definitely tick this box in a big way.
Bet442 Sport: Football Leading Service
With the name Bet442 Sport, it's hardly surprising that football betting is the area to mention on this sports betting site.
It's their strength, not the only thing they offer, but definitely where they excel. Think coverage of every league you can imagine, competitive odds on the games, and loads of in play options after kick off.
For those trying to find the perfect football betting brand, Bet442 could offer exactly what you need.
Lottoland Sports: The Perfect All-Rounder
There are many people that like to do a little bit of everything with their bookmaker, and Lottoland certainly have a sports betting platform that caters for that.
No real standout at anything in particular, just great across the board, many different sports covered, decent odds, good for in play, everything anyone might need, they've got it covered well.
If you're an all rounder, and want a good level across the board, this could be the site for you.
More Betting Sites Reviewed
Paddy Power: Football Specials and Bet Builders
Paddy Power is synonymous with making sports betting fun, with humorous ad campaigns, alongside being recognised as one of the best bookies for Horse Racing.
When the big events come around, Paddy Power offer regular enhanced odds offers for players, so you can get even more value with these events.
From football to horse racing and many other sports, these enhanced odds will be available ahead of the big action.
Betfair: Promotions and Free Bets
Betfair is one of the biggest names in the business, with it’s hugely popular Exchange and Sportsbook.
Of all the sports betting sites, Betfair have one of the very biggest services on offer. Their choice is excellent, with a huge range of betting markets available for all sports.
So if it’s size and variation you want from your online betting, Betfair could make a great partner for you.
BetMGM: Existing Customer Offers
Big in the US, and over here to now crack the UK market, BetMGM have put together a list of sponsorship deals and ambassadors to get their name out.
With a very strong welcome offer, and further existing customer offers, they are great for those looking to source the biggest deal.
After success in the USA, BetMGM are already making big strides in the UK, and plenty of players are joining them on the ride.
Unibet: Mobile Betting Platform
Always seen as a strong name in the industry, and one offering an excellent mobile platform, which is of course where more and more people are now heading to bet.
With simple and easy to use menus, clearly labelled markets and sports betting options, this is the perfect mobile app to get started.
They’ve spent a long time in the industry, a long time in the UK market, and have a service that showcases that to players.
Betway: Competitive Odds
Betway are another long standing company in the UK market, and have a reputation for offering a complete gambling platform, as they also offer high quality casino gaming.
When it comes to sports betting, they offer highly competitive odds, and are usually either offering the best on the market, or close to it, as they look to give the best value to players in that way.
So if it’s the best odds you want, then Betway may be the brand for you.
10Bet: Diverse Sports to Bet On
If it’s a diverse sportsbook, without a real leading sport and instead, offering strong coverage across a number of different sports and events, then 10Bet offer that to their UK players.
Of course, they cover the main events, but dive deeper, with sports coverage strong elsewhere, really rounding off their service.
If you don’t want to stick with just one sport, then 10Bet can give you multiple options on their platform, all covered in depth.
Copybet: Football Markets
Copybet have come onto the UK market with a diverse sportsbook, but there is no doubt that football betting is the main part of their service, and what they want to pride themselves on.
With plenty of leagues and competitions covered, and many ways to bet, including a range of specials and enhancements to choose from.
If it’s football you’re looking for, then the action packed football part of the Copybet site is going to tick plenty of your boxes.
William Hill: Odds Boosts
A big name high street brand in the UK, William Hill have been associated with the UK betting industry for decades.
They’ve taken their platform forward by offering an excellent online service, and as part of that, regular odds boosts to try and give customers the best possible value.
So whether you want to boost your own selections, or take advantage of special site boosts, they’ve got you covered.
Best Betting Site for This Week's Main Event
Epsom Derby 2025 – Our Top Betting Site
Betting online with Betfred is a great option if you're after a mix of tradition and modern features. One of the more established and best betting sites in the UK, Betfred continues to deliver with strong offers, wide sports coverage, and regular promos to keep things interesting.
Plus, with Betfred sponsoring the Epsom Derby this week, it’s the perfect time to get involved.
New customers can snap up a solid welcome offer – Bet £10 and get £50 in bonuses - making it one of the strongest welcome offers with online betting sites right now.
When it comes to sports, Betfred covers everything from football and horse racing to darts, boxing, tennis, golf, and more. Their horse racing section is especially strong – no surprise given their Derby sponsorship – with price boosts, extra places, and Best Odds Guaranteed offered daily.
Existing customers aren’t left out either. Regular promotions include Double Delight & Hat-Trick Heaven (great for first goalscorer bets), acca insurance, daily price boosts, and a generous free bet club.
The betting site and app are easy to use, whether you're placing a quick acca, backing a favourite at Epsom, or diving into in-play betting.
If you’re looking for a reliable, promo-packed platform with great horse racing focus – especially this week with the Epsom Derby in the spotlight – Betfred is one of the best betting sites to check out.
🎯 Best Betting Sites by Feature
Looking for the best UK betting site? It all comes down to what matters most to you, this could be odds, offers, apps, or features.
We’ve picked the top brand in each key area to help you find the one that fits your betting style best.
🔢 Best for Odds: Paddy Power
Paddy Power consistently ranks among the most competitive sports betting sites when it comes to odds.
Whether you're betting on football, horse racing, or tennis, you'll often find prices above the market average.
If getting maximum value from your winning bets matters to you, this is a great place to start.
While the differences may only look small when you are comparing individual events, over the course of a month, or even a year, this can have a crucial impact on your profit and loss, and really mount up a difference.
🏆 Best for Market Variety: bet365
bet365 offers a huge selection of sports betting markets across nearly every sport imaginable.
Whether you're looking for niche player props, alternative handicaps, or pre built accumulators, this site delivers.
It's particularly strong with football and in play variety, making it perfect for those who love having options.
You may never use some of the markets and sports on offer, but it's not a bad thing to have them there. Many people change how they bet, or what they bet on. If you're set up with bet365, and you decide to make that change, you won't have to move brand to get the bets on you need, which you may have to do if you're with others.
🎁 Best for Promotions: Paddy Power
Paddy Power leads the way with its creative and frequent promotions, often catching the imagination of the public, and making us laugh.
From money back specials and free bets to enhanced odds and light hearted campaigns, there’s always something happening here.
They don’t stop at the welcome bonus either, with ongoing promos for existing players being a big part of the experience on this site.
If you are looking for more, and want free bets and boosts galore, then Paddy Power are one of the best brands for giving that to their players, long after you've spent your welcome bonus.
📱 Best for Mobile Betting: Betfair
Betfair’s mobile app is sleek, reliable, and packed with functionality, a great tool for on-the-go betting.
Whether you're betting on the Exchange or using the sportsbook, everything runs smoothly. It’s ideal for placing quick bets, cashing out, and managing your account on the move.
The menu is easy to navigate, the bet slip easy to put together, and there's no slow speed here, everything moves lightning fast.
If you're intending to be betting on your phone a lot, a trusted, quick and easy to use app is a must, and Betfair have delivered exactly that to their players.
📺 Best for In-Play Betting: bet365
Live betting is one of bet365’s biggest strengths, they began as one of the market leaders in this category and have remained ever since.
You’ll find real time odds, fast market updates, and live stats on thousands of events every week, across a wide number of sports.
Add in live streaming for many games and races, and you’ve got the ultimate in-play sports betting platform, allowing you to not just bet in play, but also watch the action unfold.
Everything you need is available under one roof, get your stats, latest updates, live stream and of course the markets to bet on, all on one page.
⚙️ Best for Betting Tools: William Hill
William Hill stands out for its wide range of built in features and tools, all designed to make your online betting life easier.
From live streaming and cash out to daily bet boosts and the popular #YourOdds feature, there’s a lot to love here.
It’s a great choice for punters who want more than just the basics, if you're looking to add in offers, types of bets, or even daily promotions to what you currently do.
These tools and features are ways in which betting sites can offer that little bit more to players, and stand out in a crowded market place, and William Hill do a great job of that.
🔐 Best for Security & Trust: Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes is one of the most established and trusted names in UK betting, and has been a main stay on the British high street for decades.
Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, they offer a secure and trusted place to play, doing all that's needed to keep you safe.
Features such as secure payment methods, verified accounts, and excellent responsible gambling tools can all be found here, If trust and safety are your priority, Ladbrokes is a strong pick.
✅ Final Thoughts on Site Features
There’s no one size fits all betting site. What’s best for one punter might not be for another.
Use this guide to narrow down what’s most important to you, using our sections above.
Whether that’s standout odds, a top tier app, or generous promotions, you can then use this to choose a site that delivers in that area.
All this, should, give you the best possible betting experience and put you on the right track for the future.
The Best Online Bookmakers for Each Sport
Whether you’re into football, horse racing, or niche markets like darts and golf, it’s important to choose a bookmaker that delivers the best experience for your sport of choice. From live betting to exclusive promotions and in-depth markets, here are our top picks for the most popular sports among UK punters.
⚽ Best Betting Site for Football: bet365
bet365 is the best place to go for football betting, with plenty of sports betting markets, including competitive odds and live betting on leagues and competitions all over the world.
They also have their popular 2 Goals Ahead promotion - if the team you back to win goes two goals ahead at any stage during the match, bet365 will settle your single bet as a winner regardless of whether the opposition comes back to draw or win the game.
The Nations League Final is the pick of the football action this weekend, with both the final and third-place play-off taking place on Sunday.
Spain were involved in a nine-goal thriller against France on Thursday and as European champions are favourites to lift the title against Portugal, while France and Germany will also play after losing out in the semis.
🏇 Best Betting Site for Horse Racing: William Hill
William Hill are a trusted name in horse racing betting, offering a wide range of markets and competitive odds on races worldwide.
It’s a quieter day on the UK horse racing front this Sunday, but there’s still a few cards worth keeping an eye on. Perth hosts a jumps fixture, offering some competitive handicaps and novice contests, while Goodwood delivers a solid flat meeting with a mix of sprint and middle-distance races.
It’s a great chance for punters to find a bit of each-way value, especially with smaller fields and some unexposed runners on show.
Whether you’re backing favourites or looking for something at a bigger price, there’s enough on the cards to make it an enjoyable day for racing fans.
🎾 Best Betting Site for Tennis: Paddy Power
Paddy Power offers top tennis odds, live in-play markets, and fun promotions, making it one of the go-to betting sites for both casual and serious tennis punters throughout the season.
Known for their competitive odds and unique promotions, Paddy Power is a popular choice for punters.
It's the men's turn to compete for the French Opem title on Sunday. Jannik Sinner was our pre-tournament tip to go all the way but with Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz also in the final four, he has his work cut out.
🏌️ Best Betting Site for Golf: Betfair
Betfair is ideal for tennis betting thanks to its competitive odds, live markets, and unique exchange platform, giving punters the flexibility to back or lay players throughout every tournament.
Betfair has more betting markets for golf than most betting sites, so whether its 2/3 balls, top finishes, match bets or one of the more popular markets, Betfair has it all.
The RBC Canadian Open is under way in Toronto, where Scottie Scheffler is looking for another win while Rory McIlroy is looking to build on a good record at the course.
🎯 Best Betting Site for Darts: BetMGM
BetMGM is a solid choice for darts betting, offering strong odds, regular promotions, and a user-friendly interface with extensive markets on PDC events and major televised tournaments.
The Premier League Darts is sponsored by BetMGM, so you can be guaranteed the best prices, new markets and plenty of offers when the competition is on.
Quickly on the back of the Premier League finishing, the World Series of Darts Tour is back up and running this weekend in Copenhagen, with Stephen Bunting and Rob Cross the top two seeds in the 16-man field.
What Makes the Best Betting Sites?
There are many areas where the best sports betting sites go head to head in a bid to show they are one of the best online bookmakers, and a site you should be using.
Not all of the different elements will be important to you, and some will have far more importance than others, which is when choosing between UK betting sites becomes a little more personal, and we will help you with that below.
But before, it’s best to take a general look at online betting sites, what they offer, and where they try to stand out from the crowd.
Best Odds
If we’re looking at this realistically, you won’t get the best odds guaranteed every single time you place a bet, unless you have a sports betting account with almost every operator.
So when we talk about best odds from a realistic point of view, we’re talking about claiming the best odds sometimes, and at other times, getting good, above average odds.
Every time you land a winning bet and you don’t have the best odds, you will be leaving profit behind, you should try and make sure you don’t do this often.
The sites will offer competitive odds, better than the market average, because they know how important they are.
These will allow them to stand out from other online betting sites, because comparing the best odds has never been so easy. With many options such as comparison sites, people no longer have to do manual, time consuming work, to find the best odds, they can get them in just a few clicks.
This means if betting sites are not offering good odds, and at least being competitive, they those who are taking part in online betting, will find out.
Choice of Markets
This really depends on the sports you are wagering on. For example, with horse racing betting, choice is limited anyway, where as with football and other popular sports, there’s potentially huge choice for you out there.
Other sports events, such as tennis betting, are somewhere in the middle, where you can find a little extra choice, if you look around.
But you should always look at the sports markets on offer and see how many are available for you to use with the most popular betting sites in the UK.
It’s always worth looking at the best new betting sites for this too. They often hit the market with a point to prove, and a plan to stand out from the crowd, creating new markets and ways to bet could be their choice, which is great news for punters.
This also extends to in play betting, for those who take part in that, a growing area of online betting, and one set to get bigger.
Many popular sports have a wide range of sports betting options for players, some more than others and while you may never use some of the markets on offer, choice is always a good thing when it comes to betting.
Betting Offers
When you sign up with a new betting site, you should receive a welcome bonus for new customers. These are a great way to get started, allowing new customers to explore the website, and claim free bets along the way.
We don’t just look at the size of that offer though, as the top names will also offer free bets and bonuses to their existing customers from time to time.
This could be free bets, a deposit bonus, money back offer, enhanced terms or something else, but all are capable of giving you a better deal with your sports betting, when they come around.
If you want the best betting deal, then finding UK betting sites that offer free bets and promotions on a regular basis is key.
You don’t want them to stop after claiming the welcome offer, these should continue, other UK sports betting sites will offer them, make sure yours does too.
Mobile Apps
The best brands will offer you the convenience of sports betting via their website, or using betting apps to place your bets.
This means your online betting site is just a few clicks and swipes away, after you’ve downloaded the app to your device.
Perfect for in play betting, where markets and odds change within seconds, using apps is the most convenient way to place a wager.
In Play Betting
In play betting, also known as live betting, is becoming more and more popular with players, and sites are responding to what their players want.
We are seeing in play betting grow with UK sports betting sites, the online betting hub is the best place for it to shine.
Check out the in play betting service, looking out for the best odds and what markets are available to you across the sports that you bet on.
Not really relevant for horse racing, but if you are looking for tennis betting sites, or you are a regular when it comes to betting on football, then in play betting is highly likely to be part of your overall strategy.
UK customers have many live betting options, if you take part in this type of sports betting, then make sure you’re searching through betting sites that offer it to players.
Betting Features
Thanks to a highly competitive market, you should find plenty of interesting features across UK betting sites.
We’ve already mentioned in play betting and apps, they deserve their own section, but something else that is big, and continuing to grow, is having a live streaming service.
If you are taking part in live betting, then this is perfect, allowing you to watch the action while looking at the sports markets, so you can decide whether to bet or not.
Elsewhere, if you’re looking for a new betting site then check out any regular offers, such as money back or boosts. These are more popular with football than any other sport, but can be found on others.
Often quite small, but given the fact they’re regular, you can take advantage every week, which all adds up over many sporting events, enhancing your sports betting deal.
Security
It goes without saying that security should be right at the top of your priority list. From keeping accounts secure to using a trusted payment method, you can do your bit.
But online betting sites need to do their bit too. This begins with UK betting sites that are licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, where they are given a license after proving they operate correctly.
This means they will have demonstrated how they keep your payment method safe, how they look after funds, and what other measures they have in place to help new UK customers.
Make sure your online betting takes place on a site that is safe for UK customers, on a betting site that you trust, which will go a long way to helping your enjoyment.
Get this right, and sports betting can be something you enjoy without worry, using online betting sites to place wagers on the sporting events you are excited about.
How to Choose the Right Betting Site for You
There are many betting sites to choose from, and there are some punters that decide to have multiple accounts open at the same time.
But if you get the right online betting site for you, then there shouldn’t be any need for that.
Picking between the best UK betting sites is not easy, and it’s not a decision you should take lightly. Get this decision right, you’ve got one sports betting account that fulfils your needs, allowing you to enjoy your betting for years to come.
Get it wrong though, and you’ll be left wanting to find new betting sites to use, and worse, you could be left missing out, either on the best deals, odds, or even betting markets, if your online betting site isn’t the right one for you.
The phrase ‘for you’ has already been mentioned quite a bit, and that’s incredibly important. Betting is personal, the sports betting sites that works for you, may not work for your friends and family.
This is why we give a large choice to players when it comes to UK betting sites, so you can take our information, and choose the best bookmaker for you.
Below, there are three areas we believe are key. These are not the only areas to think about, but if your sports betting service gives you positives in these areas, then it is certainly a good starting point.
This isn’t to do with why odds they give, the markets on offer, or any bonuses to new customers, this is about being happy while betting, having a connection to your online betting site, and being able to enjoy your gambling, without worry or fear.
Trust & Confidence in the Site
Firstly, when you look at the many online bookmakers you can choose from, you should always think about how you view the site.
Having trust in your sports betting company is absolutely vital.
Without this, you’re unlikely to ever fully relax, and be able to enjoy your online sports betting, and it doesn’t matter what kind of betting features the site offers.
Confidence is also key. When you open up betting websites, you are usually making a money transaction, it could be placing a bet online, or it could be using a payment method to add funds.
Even if this is a minimum deposit, you still want to be assured that your money, and the details of your payment method, are safe, so you can start betting straight after.
If a betting site doesn’t demonstrate that they have customers online safety as number one priority, then you won’t have the confidence you need.
UK customers are protected with this, by the UK Gambling Commission, but of course, you want to see and feel it yourself, especially if using a new UK betting site.
When you are using UK betting sites, trusting your provider and being confident that your UK betting site has you protected, is vital to your long term enjoyment of online betting.
Reliability & Place in the Market
A similar point to the one above, but looking at things from a slightly different angle, is playing with sites that are reliable, and have a place in the market.
When you choose your betting site, it should be one that you are going to play with for many years.
Whether you're betting on horse racing, football or something else, whatever you plan to do on the betting site, should be a long term plan.
But you will only get this, if you go with online bookmakers that are reliable, and have a place in the market so you know they are going to stick around.
Not knowing if your UK betting site is going to stay in the market, is going to give you something else to worry about, as we’ve just mentioned above.
Instead, the best betting sites, will offer you reliability, they are going to be by your side, offering you online betting for as long as you need them.
Whether new betting sites or old ones, they’ve got a place in the market, a way to attract new customers online, and are building their UK betting platform up, for the long haul.
Does the Sports Betting Site Serve Your Needs?
The best betting sites will always be those that deliver the needs of their customers. But those needs are always slightly different, so for you, it needs to be the best betting site for your own personal needs.
You should never find yourself looking at other UK betting sites and seeing something available there, which isn’t available on your current sports betting account.
The best way to approach this is to work out what it is that you want from your betting site. Think of the sports betting markets you need, any in play betting requirements, specific payment method, apps as well as one that offers sports betting on a website, and anything else you have.
This list is going to be personal to you, and your own needs, and this is why we give many options when it comes to the best betting sites, because you need to do your own tests.
The sporting events you want to bet on, should always be there, whether it’s football betting, tennis betting, golf betting or something completely different.
These will be different to what other people want, someone who only takes part in horse racing betting will not care about tennis betting, or golf betting too much. On top of that, in play betting is very rare in horse racing, so they won’t be interested in that either.
However, flip that round to a football fan who also likes tennis betting and makes a lot of their bets using in play betting markets, and you’ve all of a sudden got a very different set of needs and requirements, to find the best betting site for this person.
It goes without saying, but the list you create has to be detailed and correct, to ensure you get the best betting site from it.
How We Select The Best New and Established Online Bookmakers
When looking out for a new bookie to bet with, everyone has their list of wants and nice-to-haves. We select our favourite betting sites by reviewing them against the following benchmarks:
- Licensing: We ensure the betting site is licensed and regulated by a reputable gambling authority, such as the UK Gambling Commission.
- Security: Online security is essential, so we look for sites with SSL encryption to protect your personal and financial information.
- Payment Methods: We ensure the betting site offers payment methods that are convenient for you, such as debit cards and e-wallets.
- Betting Odds: We want to provide value for our followers, so we only recommend UK sports betting sites that provide competitive betting odds.
- Betting Markets: Any betting site we recommend provides a wide range of markets, including the sports and events in which punters are interested.
- Features: Useful extras such as live-streaming, in-play betting & bet builders can help separate the best from the rest.
- Bonuses & Promotions: Here at Freebets, we work with some of the biggest names in the sports betting industry to bring you unique betting bonuses and promotions.
- Customer Support: We look for brands that provide good customer support, ideally via 24/7 Live Chat, to answer your queries and resolve any issues.
Alongside the above, we have learnt to take a mobile first approach when it comes to finding out the best online bookmakers.
Our own site statistics show that many of our users are visiting on their mobile device. The number of people downloading apps has seen a huge increase over the past five years, based on stats from the various app stores such as the Apple Store and Google Play Store.
With this in mind, to service our users the best, based on their habits, we have done all the above and put it alongside a mobile first approach. This should mean that we deliver the right information and facts for you, and cater specifically to your needs.
We work with many brands on the site, but not all, and this is because we look at the brands and make sure they pass our test, before reviewing them and putting them onto our site.
This is an important step for us, because we want to be known as a brand that won’t just work with everyone, we only work with brands that we are happy to recommend, and satisfied that they are going to offer a good service to players. Of course, some are better than others, but minimum requirements need to be met.
Firstly, we look at the safety of our players, the most important part, and ensure that all brands we work with are licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. By having a license, they’ve demonstrated their ability to keep you and your funds safe to the organisation in charge of gambling in the UK.
Next up we take a look at the service they offer. Bare minimum requirements we look out for include the number of sports and markets on offer, competitive odds, in play betting, types of bet accepted and more, as we try to showcase only brands that offer enough for customers, regardless of the sports they love.
Of course, a big part of our work is done around offers and free bets. We want brands to have free bets available to new customers as a minimum requirement, while others such as existing customer offers and money back deals are all seen as added extras on top, which separates the very best brands from the rest.
By putting all of this together, we build up a picture of what we need to see from a brand, in order for them to be placed on our website. When that is confirmed, and we are happy, then we will begin to work with the brand, and showcase what they have available to our readers.
How We Find New Betting Sites
When a new betting site hits the UK market, it is always an exciting time. We’ve been in the industry for more than a decade now, so have enough contacts to know when brands are coming to the UK, what their launch date will be, and what they are going to offer.
With this, we can plan, we can take a look at the sites as soon as they are live, and put together a review of the service, in order to help players decide if this is the new betting site that is for them.
The reason for this is because with each new betting site, we’ve got a potentially market leading product that we would like to share. These sites may have specific focuses, and may not be for everyone, but if the new site is a good one, then it will appeal to some people.
The team at Freebets will remain close to the industry, so we can keep one step ahead when it comes to the launch of new betting sites in the UK.
Why Trust Freebets?
At Freebets, trust is the foundation of everything we do. Here’s why you can rely on us for your sports betting needs:
Expertise You Can Count On
Our team of passionate writers are true sports betting enthusiasts with in-depth knowledge across a wide range of sports, including horse racing, football, cricket, and greyhound racing. With their insights, you’ll receive accurate, detailed guidance tailored to your interests.
Exclusive Offers Just for You
As part of GDC Media Limited, we have access to exclusive bonuses and promotions that you won’t find on other affiliate websites. These unique deals are designed to enhance your sports betting experience and give you added value.
Safety and Security Guaranteed
We only feature offers and promotions from fully licensed and regulated operators. This ensures your sports betting experience is not only enjoyable but also secure, with your personal information and transactions fully protected.
Honest, Unbiased Recommendations
While we do receive commissions from operators, our writers maintain complete editorial independence. This means you can trust our honest and impartial advice about the best places to bet and the most rewarding offers available.
Committed to Responsible Gambling
We actively promote safe and responsible gambling. Our reviews clearly highlight important terms and conditions, ensuring you’re fully informed when signing up or claiming promotions.
By prioritizing your safety, security, and satisfaction, Freebets stands out as a trusted source for all your sports betting needs. Start your journey with confidence today!
How We Rate Brands
We have a full page around how we rank and rate betting sites for those who want to get the full detail on our process.
However, if it's a quick overview of what we do, then the points below cover our process.
- The biggest factor we look at is security and trust, we want safe sites only
- Next we look at payment methods on offer, so you're comfortable when making a deposit or withdrawal
- Features and sports markets are the next element, as we look for choice
- The welcome bonus and promotions come next, so we can ensure you're getting a good deal
- Building further on getting a good deal, we look at the quality and variety of odds on offer
- Next we look at the interface, experience and design, so you can use the site or app with ease
- Finally, we compare the customer service options, for peace of mind, just in case you need help
Regulation & Licensing of Bookmakers In The UK
Gambling laws in the UK provide some of the world’s most stringent legislation and protections. Gambling licences are in place to protect not only punters from unlicensed operators but also bookmakers and sports betting operators.
The UK Gambling Commission licences all UK online bookies and all members of other key organisations, prioritising punter and operator safety.
These organisations include the ‘European Sports Security Association’, GamCare (a leading national provider of information, advice, support and free counselling for the prevention and treatment of problem gambling) and IBAS (an authoritative, independent third-party with adjudication for customers who have an unresolved dispute with their UK bookmaker).
Fair & Safe Betting Sites
As with any online transaction, finding a fair and secure website is paramount for sports betting. The sites we recommend are fully licensed and regulated to operate in the UK, with many holding a UK Gambling Commission license and are part of GAMSTOP.
With safe betting sites, you can focus on enjoying your gambling and not worrying about your funds and whether you are being given a fair deal.
Responsible Gambling
UK bookmakers are required to promote responsible gambling. They must offer tools and information to help people gamble safely and avoid addiction - these include:
- Setting limits on how much money people can deposit and bet
- Offering self-exclusion tools that allow people to take a break from gambling
- Providing information about gambling addiction and how to get help
If you are concerned about gambling, contact the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133.
Here are some additional tips for responsible gambling:
- Only gamble with money that you can afford to lose
- Set limits on how much time you spend gambling
- Take regular breaks from sports betting
- Be aware of the signs of gambling addiction
- If you are concerned about your gambling, seek help