The Best Online Bookmakers UK
Sports betting is something that many gamblers in the UK enjoy. However, finding the right online bookmaker to bet is where many people tend to run into issues. Some players don’t know where to begin their search, while others fall into the hands of unreliable bookmarkers.
The truth is that this is a common problem many people tend to face because even though there are tons of bookmarkers to choose from, not all of them are reliable. Without the right information, you can easily find yourself stuck with the wrong online betting site and losing your hard-earned money.
Fortunately, UKonlinecasinoguide is here to help with this. In this article, we will be showing you everything you need to know about online betting websites. We will also cover how to choose the right online bookies, the best casino bonus offers, and the best betting sites list so you can begin playing your favourite sports.
Top UK Online Bookmakers list 2024
What is an Online Bookmaker?
Bookmarkers are companies are individuals that accept bets people make. They typically offer numerous bets on different sports ranging from football, NBA, etc. If you land a bet that wins, they pay you back your money along with any extra winnings. Bookmarkers operate from shops that many people refer to as bookies, allowing people to place bets.
The only option you had to place bets in the past was to head to a bookie close to your location. But things have changed with the advancement of the internet, and now we also have online bookmarkers, which are a more convenient option.
An online bookmarker or online bookie allows you to engage in online sports betting through a website. They do the same thing as your regular bookie, except that they operate via a website this time. In most cases, these bookmarkers will have a physical location but will utilize their websites to draw in players that don’t have the time to head to their shops.
The major edge that the best betting sites have over the land-based ones is that they allow you to bet any time of the day and even offer you a welcome bonus when you register with them. You can easily see the available bets, which is usually broader than what you would get from an offline bookmarker.
What Do Online Bookmakers UK Do?
The sports betting world is very broad, with options like football betting, horse racing, and many more. Today, punters can bet on almost any sport, resulting in tremendous growth in the sports industry. This is where bookmarkers come in. They open betting markets on various sports and provide odds on the numerous outcomes. The role they have today is not entirely different from what the first offline bookmarkers had as they still take wagers from UK players and payout any earnings.
However, in addition to these, they still have a few more responsibilities. Today, bookmakers also do the following:
- Set the proper bet prices or Vig
- Set and alter the betting lines
- Balance the book to eradicate the risk
The main aim of a bookmarker is to make higher than they pay out to customers. Even though they have no control over how a sporting event ends, they can determine how much they earn or lose on any outcome. Bookmakers determine the odds of every wager, thus helping ensure they make a profit.
Why Should You Use Multiple UK Bookmaker Accounts?
Like we already mentioned, bookmakers set the odds for wagers on the market. But not every UK bookmaker will set the same odds. You will find that some odds are much better than others and could give you a better edge on the market. That is why we recommend that you sign up on bookmarkers and compare each every time you want to make a bet.
This will help you determine who is giving you the best odds and make multiple bets. In addition to the above, there are many more reasons you should open numerous accounts in new online bookmarkers for your fixed odds betting, including:
- Welcome offers: Most bookmakers offer you amazing welcome offers when you sign up. But this is only a one-time offer on a specific bookmaker. However, by opening more than one UK bookmaker account, you get to enjoy this bonus multiple times.
- Choices: Using multiple UK bookmaker accounts will ensure you have more choices regarding the sports to bet on. While a specific bookmaker may not cover NBA, for instance, another may not. Having more than one account gives you choices.
We will cover a few more reasons in the headings below.
Compare the Odds
Most players search for competitive odds when it comes to betting, and the sad reality is that it is not certain on all betting sites. If you have only one UK bookmaker account, you are limited to the odds you get from that bookmaker, even if the odds are not great. But with multiple accounts, it means you have more choices and can pick the best enhanced odds from the betting market.
First Deposit Bonus
Most betting sites licensed by the UKGC will give you a first deposit bonus when you choose them for odds betting. You can use this bonus to make larger bets or play games that you may not originally have. However, this bonus is limited to only your first-time deposit, which means you can get it only once. If you sign on multiple bookmarkers, you get to enjoy this benefit more than once, along with very competitive odds.
How We Choose the Best Bookmakers
There are tons of bookmakers in the UK market today, and more are being developed each day. So, how do we choose the best online betting sites that we recommend to you? Contrary to what you may think, we don’t just choose anyone we like. Instead, our specialists properly evaluate each bookmaker using criteria like:
- Licensing: We only choose betting sites properly licensed by reliable authorities like the UK Gambling Commission.
- Easy Registration: Some bookies have a frustrating registration process. Therefore our list consists of only those with a seamless process when you want to open a betting account.
- Bonuses: We recommend only bookmakers that offer the best bonuses and promotions. These include a bonus on the first bet, free bets, etc.
- Fast payout: One aspect we evaluate thoroughly is the casino payout. We only recommend bookmakers that process payment quickly without any delays. Some bookmakers delay withdrawals and frustrate players, but we don’t want this experience for our readers.
- Device functionality: We understand that today more players are playing on their mobile devices. That is why we ensure that the betting sites on our list work flawlessly on both PC and mobile devices.
How to Choose the Best Bookmaker
How Do Online Bookmakers Work?
An online bookmaker works similarly to a land-based bookmaker or bookie. The only major difference is that the online bookmaker allows players to engage in sports betting via a website. Online bookmakers act as middlemen who help punters take bets. As you know, whenever there is a bet, there is bound to be a loser and a winner, and both are competing against one another. The bookmaker acts as the referee who oversees the competition.
They determine the price of bets and set odds in betting markets. Online bookmakers don’t influence the outcome of a betting event, but they will provide a bet that will get them the best returns possible at the least risk to themselves. Online bookmakers receive money on bets, pay winnings to those with winning bets, and keep the remainder for themselves.
How to Pick the Best Betting Offers
Many sports betting platforms offer you bonuses like free bets to use on sporting events. However, not all of these game bonuses are great, and some may have unsavoury terms and conditions you need to watch out for. UKonlinecasinoguide has put a list of things to evaluate so you can settle for only the best odds betting offers. These include:
Wagering requirements
This is one of the most important things to check out before accepting a betting offer. You will find them attached to most betting offers, and they can significantly affect the bonus. Wagering requirements are the number of times you will need to bet a betting offer and its earnings before you can withdraw.
This could range from 10x – 70x, and you want to go for those with lower numbers. If you fail to meet a wagering requirement, you will be unable to access your bonus earnings and may have to forfeit it in some cases.
Maximum winnings
In most cases, betting offers come with a maximum win amount. This is placed to protect the betting offers from being abused. If you win more than the stipulated max win amount, you will have to forgo the excess. In this situation, we recommend you choose betting offers with high max winnings.
Minimum odds
Some betting offers tend to come with minimum odds, which means that you can only make specific bets before fulfilling the requirements. The best betting offers come with low minimum odds of around 1/1 – 1/3.
Maximum deposit
In some cases, you will need to deposit a specific amount before claiming a bonus. The best betting offers usually require you to deposit £10 or less, which we recommend. However, others may be higher, which means you spend more. Ideally, you want the lower deposit option.
Time limits
Most betting offers come with time limits, and if you fail to meet the wagering requirements within the set time limit, you will forfeit the sportsbook bonus and its earnings.
The time limit can be between 24 hours – 30 days and tends to vary depending on the sports betting website. It is best to go for betting offers with higher time limits, as this will give you more than enough time to use up your free bets bonus.
Regulation & Licensing Of Online Bookmakers In The UK
The UK Gambling Commission is responsible for regulating and licensing online bookmakers in the UK. Once you spot the UKGC seal on an online bookmaker, it is a sign that the platform is properly regulated and can legally carry out its operations in the UK. This also means you can play on that platform without any worries about the safety of your deposit.
It is important to play on only sports betting platforms with a UKGC license in the UK, as the UKGC properly regulates these platforms. The body makes certain that players are not defrauded and treated fairly while playing on the platform.
UKonlinecasinoguide understands how crucial it is for the best odds betting sites to be licensed. That is why we only recommend platforms that have the UKGC license, ensuring that you are safe and secure with any of our options.
Are Bookies Illegal?
Bookie is a name used to refer to bookmakers. Depending on the country you are situated in, it may be illegal for anyone to play in them. However, in the UK, they have been legal since the 1st of May 1961. Any bookie that wants to operate legally as a venue for online sports betting must be properly licensed by the UKGC. This commission is responsible for properly regulating the bookies and ensuring they treat players fairly and don’t defraud them.
There are still many illegal bookies in the UK, but it is very easy to spot them. These bookies don’t have the UKGC license, and you can find out by checking the home page before you sign up for odds betting. If you don’t want to run into any trouble with the law by playing in illegal bookies, you can simply play in any of the bookies recommended by UKonlinecasinoguide. They are all properly licensed and regulated by the UKGC, and you should have no problems playing in them.
Betting Tips to Beat the Bookmaker
Online bookmakers always want to keep more than they pay out regardless of if you are engaging in football betting markets or horse racing. Since they set the odds, many punters feel that it is impossible to beat them. Well, this is not entirely true. Even though there is no specific strategy that will help you win against bookies, you can still improve your chances of winning with the following:
Research on the sports and team before you wager
If you don’t have adequate knowledge of the sports you want to wager on, it will be impossible to beat the bookmaker. Make sure you do extensive research on the various teams and players to know what to expect. In this situation, you don’t want to depend on luck if you want to make the most profit.
Get the best odds for your sports market
Not all bookmakers give the best odds, which is why it is important to compare the odds from various bookmakers before you choose. If you plan to beat the bookmaker, you need to go with one that has the best odds for your sports market. This is a great way to stay ahead and improve your winning chances.
Leverage the sports betting features
All betting sites offer numerous betting features that can boost your winning chances. Leveraging these features is a great way to make the most of your bets and beat the bookmaker. Some of the most popular features you will find include live betting, in play betting, system bets, live streaming, spread betting, request a bet, cash-out, among many others.
Take advantage of bonuses
Bonuses like the welcome bonus available on betting platforms are there to keep you ahead. Make sure you use them to your advantage, as they are your best tool if you want to beat the bookmaker.
Customer Support at Online Betting Sites
Betting companies offer numerous customer support outlets like those offered by online casinos. When you register in a betting site like those we recommend on UKonlinecasinoguide to play casino games, you enjoy 24/7 customer support. The customer support team is made up of highly experienced members who know the ins and outs of the betting platform to ensure you get back to gambling quickly.
You will be able to reach the support team via the following outlets when there is a hitch:
- FAQ page: Most of the reliable betting sites come with an extensive, frequently answered questions page that provides answers to some of the most common questions.
- Email: You also have the option of sending an email and getting a response within 24 hours or less.
- Phone: Some betting sites offer a toll-free telephone number to get help. You can find those that offer 24/7 call centres, while some may only be available during specific times.
- Live chat: This is the preferred choice for many players since they can get responses within seconds.
- Social media: Some betting platforms offer support via their social media pages including Twitter, and Facebook messages.
The Variety of Deposit & Withdrawal Methods at the Bookmaker
It is important to choose odds guaranteed betting sites that allow you to easily deposit and withdraw your earnings. Some betting sites have slow payments, and this can be extremely frustrating for players. Fortunately, the options we recommend at UKonlinecasinoguide offer tons of options to make payment easy, including:
- E-Wallets: These are digital wallets that give you the capacity to receive cash, store cash, and send payments to other people or organizations. This is a common method supported for both deposits and withdrawals in bookmakers. They are typically free to use, but some bookmakers charge a 2.5% fee or less to process payments. It also tends to reflect instantly when you make deposits with e-wallets, while withdrawals may take up to three days. Some popular e-wallets include Neteller, Skrill, PayPal, etc.
- Debit Cards: This option is the most popular among bookmakers. They are cards that are linked to your bank account and loaded on the betting website. Debit cards fund your betting account with money directly from your bank account. This method is one of the easiest, which is why people prefer to use it for transactions. Some common debit cards include Mastercard, Visa, etc.
- Credit Cards: This is like debit cards, except that you don’t need money in your account to use it. Instead, it is more like a loan you are given within a stipulated amount, which you can use and payback before the due date. Unfortunately, the UK government banned the use of credit cards for gambling in 2020. But, if you decide to play on offshore casinos or other betting sites, this payment option is still supported. Some popular ones include Mastercard, Visa, American Express, etc.
- Other popular options: Some other supported options include Cryptocurrencies, Paysafecard, Wire transfers, and Instadebit.
Depositing and Withdrawal Policies With Your New Sports Betting Account
Most online betting exchanges tend to have policies that affect both deposits and withdrawals. It is important to understand these policies, so you don’t run into a hitch when you want to make deposits or withdraw your earnings. These policies may differ between different bookmakers, but here are the most common ones:
- Identity verification: To withdraw your earnings, you will need to verify your account and identity. This will require you to send some documents like your ID card, passport, and utility bill to the bookmaker. Failing to do this can affect withdrawal requests by up to 3 days.
- Maximum and minimum bet amounts: Every sportsbook has a specific maximum and minimum amount for deposits and withdrawals. Before you can withdraw your earnings from betting on Irish horse racing, you need to have the minimum withdrawal amount available.
- Payout: Most online betting shops will require you to use the same payment option you chose for deposits to withdraw funds. However, some sportsbooks won’t allow you to use the same method. Make sure you read the terms in each platform before registering to avoid problems.
- Withdrawal days: Some betting platforms only allow withdrawals on specific days of the week. This could be on Mondays in a platform, while another may be on Fridays.
How We Select the Best Betting Sites
Choosing the right betting site can be a tricky mission considering there are many football betting sites in the UK today. To someone without experience, they are all the same, but trained specialists like those at UKonlinecasinoguide know that this is not the case. Not all betting sites are built the same way, with some offering a better experience than others.
The sad part is that there are betting sites that are only out to scam you. These betting platforms are not licensed by the UKGC and are not regulated. This gives them the chance to draw in unsuspecting bettors and rob them of their deposits. We consider a few important factors when choosing the best betting sites to protect you from this and ensure you get only the best betting experience. Some of these are discussed below.
Ease of registration
Registration can be a frustrating experience in some odds betting sites. This is particularly annoying when all you want is to register and bet on the best sports available. Therefore, we choose only betting platforms that offer easy registration. Once you decide to register in any free bets platforms we recommend, you can register and get your account running in less than 5 minutes.
Bonuses and gifts
Some major benefits of odds betting sites are the bonuses and gifts they offer. Some of the most common ones you will find include welcome bonuses, deposit reload bonuses, promotional offers, free bet offers, etc. However, these bonus offers differ between sports betting sites, with some offering more than others. Therefore, we recommend only platforms with the most profitable bonuses in terms of amount, wagering requirement, etc.
Fast Payout
After you have managed to win, you will want to withdraw your earnings as quickly as possible. Some betting sites take too long to process payments, and if you are in a hurry to get your cash, this can be very annoying. The best betting sites we recommend on UKonlinecasinoguide offer fast bet settlement since payments are processed between 24hours or less. However, depending on the payment method, it could take up to two days, which is still much better than many other options.
Loyalty program
The best betting sites reward loyal players who have been loyal to their platform via loyalty programs. These programs come in different tiers and serve as an encouragement to consistent players. Players can benefit from special customer service, exotic trips, free bets valid for 14 d, free cash, and a broad range of offers. Sometimes, players who surpass specific milestones are further elevated to a VIP status which comes with even more rewards. We want our players to feel appreciated, which is why we recommend only betting platforms with amazing loyalty programs.
Payment Methods
It is important to register on an online betting exchange that lets you use your preferred banking method or gives you numerous choices. That is why we only recommend betting sites based on their available payment options. The betting sites we recommend offer reliable and reputable options like Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Cryptocurrencies, among others. Regardless of the payment option you prefer in the UK, you will surely find something that works for you on any of our recommended platforms.
How we review the best online bookmakers
You may be wondering, “why should you trust the best online bookies we recommend?” Well, the answer is simple. We have a reliable team of specialists that review these football bookmakers using very vital criteria like:
- Licensing: We check to make sure the UKGC properly licenses the betting odds platform.
- Available sports: Our expert reviewers check out the sports available on the website. Ideally, we go with options that offer football betting, horse racing, NBA betting, etc.
- Payment options: We also review the available payment options in the horse racing bookmaker. All our online bookies must offer reliable payment options like credit/debit cards, e-Wallets, cryptocurrencies, wire transfers, etc.
- Bet options: We review the types of bets available on the sportsbook before we recommend them. In this case, we go with options that offer totals, spreads, money lines, exchange betting among others. This will allow you to choose from the tons of options available.
- User-friendliness: We focus on how easy it is to create an account on the platform and navigate the betting website. We choose only the best football bookmakers that allow you do this seamlessly as a newbie or experienced player.
- Device functionality: Our experts ensure that all the online bookies we recommend can run on both PCs and mobile devices. This way, you can still enjoy betting on sports markets on the go.
FAQs about Online Bookmakers
Which are the largest bookmakers?
The largest online betting sites in the UK include options like William Hill, Paddy Power, Betfair, and Bet365. These reputable betting online platforms are some of the leading options based on the traffic they draw in, customers, and profit. Depending on who you ask, these names may differ, but one of these should certainly be included. You can also go through Ukonlinecasinoguide’s list of recommended free bets sites for some of the leading bookmakers in the UK.
Which new betting sites are good?
Every new betting site recommended by UKonlinecasinoguide is good. But you can also find good new online bookmakers by checking out factors like licensing, available sports, payment options, customer support, etc.
Which are the best UK betting sites?
You can find the best UK betting sites on the UKonlinecasinoguide’s list of recommended sports betting platforms. They are all properly licensed by the UKGC, have a decent collection of sports, offer 24/7 customer support, and meet all our other important criteria.
Which betting sites give you free bets?
Most betting sites offer you free bets, but not all these free bets come with decent wagering requirements. You can choose from UKonlinecasinoguide’s list of recommended sports betting platforms to ensure you get only betting sites with the best free bets offers.
What payment methods can I use on UK bookmakers?
UK bookmakers support numerous payment methods for your bet transaction, including credit cards, debit cards, e-wallets, cryptocurrencies, wire transfer, and many others. Note that the minimum deposit may sometimes differ depending on the payment method you choose.
How many UK-based bookmakers are there?
There are numerous UK-based bookmakers with William Hills, Flutter Entertainment, and 888 Holdings leading the pack. You can also look through our recommended list for other popular names.
What information do I need to open an online bookmaker account?
Most live betting platforms will require your name, email address, and ID to open an account. However, some UK bookmakers may require other documents like your utility bill when you want to withdraw your earnings.
How long does it take to open a new betting account?
The time required to open a new betting offer account is dependent on the online bookmaker you choose. But if you register on any of the options we recommend, you can open your account in less than 5 minutes. You will also enjoy amazing odds betting bonuses UK offers when you register in any of them.
What deposit methods are available with online bookmakers?
You will find deposit methods like credit/debit cards, e-wallets, wire transfer, cryptocurrencies, etc., in odds betting sites in the United Kingdom.
Which is the most trusted UK Betting Site?
The most trusted betting sites in the UK are those that are properly licensed, offer numerous payment methods, 24/7 customer support, etc. You can also go through our list of recommended options to find them.
Who are the top UK horse racing bookmakers?
The top UK horse racing bookmakers include those in UKonlinecasinoguide’s list of recommended options. Check them out to choose the one that is ideal for your football betting and horse racing needs.