The 10 best betting sites for UK punters in 2024 – Pick your online bookmaker!

Who We Are and What You Can Discover About Sports Gambling Sites

We are a small team of sports betting enthusiasts who have dedicated their careers to finding the very best sites for you. Our aim is to give you the most concise and useful information for you to use in your pursuit of betting glory. When you go on to win big, don’t forget us!

Make Sports Betting Easy with Us!

Author: Luke Wright

I love sports betting and I have managed to turn my passion into a career. I know the importance of a good bookie, and it is my pleasure to help you on your quest to find the best!

In the following paragraph we will delve into a whole host of topics and discern some valuable information. From the evaluation criteria we use, to types of sports and leagues, or topics such as deposit methods and how to bet, we have got you covered. Keep reading to find out more.

• Criteria for the Best
• The Top Leagues
• Type of Bonuses
• How to Bet
• Deposits and Payments
• Betting Exchange
• New Betting Sites
• Betting in the UK
• FAQs

Odds and Payout Levels

For many, the notion of odds levels is far from their mind, however they are a key performance indicator when it comes to ranking the best sports betting sites. In simple terms the higher the percentage, the higher the payout, thus the more money you return on your stake. The percentage represents how much the operator pays out per bet, out of 100, meaning they will always have a margin of gain. In days gone by, bookies could skim up to 20%, however, in the online world and increasing competitiveness, this has begun to change. You will see in the table below most levels are similar. Even so, for the big stake players, even miniscule differences can have a big impact.

Sports and Leagues Covered

When it comes to using the best gambling websites you want to have a varied selection of sports you can bet on. The top ones offer up 40 different sports, meaning you’ll have ample choice to play. Within each sport, you’ll also want to be able to bet on the game you want. If you are into football betting, then coverage of just the Premier League or Champions League is simply not enough, after all some of you will want to bet on the Romanian Liga I, so it’s essential that there is strength in depth to the offering.

• Football
• Horse Racing
• Tennis
• Golf
• Cricket
• Basketball
• Baseball
• eSports

In-Play Betting Platform

Another aspect to look at is the in-play platform a site offers. This is different to the home page you would land on, as it is the place where all the live events take place. The top sports betting websites have many events on offer and allow you to place a wager whilst the game or race is in progress. There will be fewer betting markets for you to choose from per game, but you will have an advantage over the bookie as you can assess things as they happen.

Live Streaming

There is nothing better than watching an event take place and being able to bet on it. Live streaming has developed into an important part of a punter’s repertoire. Most sites should have some form of coverage. Of course, not every single event will be shown, but horse racing, greyhounds, and other sports tend to get most of the broadcasting. Some have the added bonus of football matches, and these are the operators that get the very best marks when we are reviewing them.

Cash out Option

Cash out is a real-time feature that puts you in control of your betting destiny. If you feel as though you have enough value, you can take your money and run, even before the bet is finished. Simply by clicking the ‘cash out’ option. The closer your bet is to winning, the higher the amount will be. But sometimes, it is better to use it to cut your losses before they get too great. This is a nuance you have to practice to get right, so you don’t do it too early, thus leaving money on the table. See our video below for a quick tutorial on how it’s done!

Betting Markets Offered

We love it when a gambling site has ample markets for us to choose from. When it comes to football, for example, you may think that the traditional 1 X 2 bet is all there is. But that’s is where you’d be terribly wrong. Things like both teams to score, Asian lines, handicaps, goal scorers all have markets to choose from. What’s more player specials take it to an all new level, who will get sent off, provide an assist, hit the post, or score a header? These type of bets add excitement to your experience, and it’s not just limited to football. Every sport has something to offer, and the top bookies cater to your needs.

Welcome Bonus and Promotions

When you first sign-up to your preferred operator you are usually welcomed with a nice little bonus. These can vary from free bets, matched deposits, or money back offers. The best sites usually have very little wagering requirements, meaning the money you win using the bonuses, is yours straight away. Even so, it’s always pertinent to check the specific T&C’s. One of our favourite welcome offers is found in the box below, the value you find here is unparalleled and you can really take advantage of it to win big.

Different Types of Banking Options

With the modern world comes new technology and no longer do punters like you just want to pay using a debit or credit card. There are now many exciting possibilities for you to choose from, and with the online sector booming, so has the advancement of e-wallets like PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, and others followed suit. That’s why when depositing and withdrawing at your bookmaker, you want to have ample choice. You’d be devastated if you couldn’t use your preferred method, so naturally, those with the most options tend to rank highly with us.

The Usability of the Website

Can you navigate around the site easily? How fast can you place a bet? These are just some of the questions we use to analyse the usability of a betting site. We don’t want to waste time figuring out where to go to find out sport and neither do you. Simplicity is key, but a good design is also pleasing to the eye. Those that find the right mix score very highly with us.

The UK’s Favourite Sports and Leagues

It goes without saying that the football is king in the UK, with the Premier League and Champions League leading the way. Other sports that punters like to have a go on include horse racing and greyhounds, then we come to things like rugby, cricket, tennis, and others. The importance of these sports cannot be underestimated and form an integral part of society. Understandably then, it’s important that the top betting sites provide the best coverage possible when it comes to betting on sports such as football.

Football

The greatest sport in the world was invented in the UK, and ever since has been ingrained in our society. From the passion on the terraces came the need to back your team and developed into the biggest sports betting market there is. Every bookie invests time and money into offering the best coverage of the game, and it is by the most important one found on the sportsbook. In England, this importance is no better emphasized by the number of football teams that have sponsorship deals with gambling operators in place.

Premier League

The most popular league is then of course the Premier League. With 38 match weeks per year, it provides ample opportunity for your betting desires. After only being formed in 1992 the PL has become the biggest entity in the footballing world. Everyone knows they spend the most money on players, and in turn attracts the most viewers. Some legends of the game have graced the tournament, from Thierry Henry to Alan Shearer, and Mohamed Salah to Harry Kane.

Championship

England’s second tier, the Championship also provides exciting grounds to bet on. With its unpredictability at the fore, it’s not one for the faint-hearted. Some sleeping giants take part, such as Leeds United and Nottingham Forest, and it is a notoriously difficult division to get promoted from. With 24 teams, and 46 match weeks per year, the calendar is jam packed with games to choose from. The league has great entertainment value and every football fan loves to watch the games from this competition.

Champions League

Europe’s elite tournament is where the stars come out to prosper. In recent years Real Madrid have dominated, but it still holds a mystical quality where every team want to be crowned champion. Surprises do happen though, with Ajax aptly demonstrating that this season. Fans from all over the world tune it to watch these games, and it truly the top-level on the footballing stage. Great players like Lionel Messi, Paolo Maldini, and Ryan Giggs have all won the tournament and remain in the memories of fans forever.

Europa League

The second-tier European competition is not as popular as the CL, even so, there are some great games played, and some top teams taking part. Teams finishing third in the CL group stages enter at a later stage, and this means ante-post betting can be tricky. What’s more in the past five years, the runners up have all come from different countries, including surprise package Dnipro FC. It’s a competition that allows the smaller European teams to blossom and is one of the reasons why it is a success.

Horse Racing

The second biggest sports market in the UK is horse racing. It is steeped in tradition, from the days when betting could only take place at the tracks, to its online form today. It is a staple of British betting culture and is the second most popular sport for punters to have a go on. From the world-famous Grand National, to the daily races at Newmarket, the best sports gambling sites will have unparalleled coverage. Often time specific promotions will also be geared towards the horses, in the attempt to entice you to play with them.

Cheltenham

The Cheltenham Festival takes place annually in March at the Cheltenham racecourse. It features some fantastic races such as the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, and the Stayers’ Hurdle. Hundreds of millions of pounds are wagered over the four-day event, and the raucous crowd has developed a great reputation, for the ‘Cheltenham Roar’. In 2019 record opening day crown of 67,934 attended the opening day.

Grand National

The most famous of horse races, the Grand National was first run in 1839. It is a handicap steeplechase, with 30 fences over two laps. Help at Aintree, in Liverpool it is the most valuable jump race in Europe. What makes this race special, is that even for those not accustomed to betting, they will take part just for this race. As a result, it has rooted itself in British culture and many families enjoying betting together.

Best Online Sports Betting Sites and Leagues

All of the very best online sports betting sites have a massive selection of sports and leagues on offer. In the table below you can see exactly how large the scope is. With Sports such as basketball having over 30 leagues covered. What’s more we haven’t even mentioned boxing, MMA/UFC, Ice Hockey, the NFL, or NBA. It’s crazy when you think about how much you can bet on!

Deposit and Payment Methods

It is important to know that you can deposit money, pay, and withdraw at betting sites in as many ways possible. For some of you, Maestro, Visa, and MasterCard is enough, however for others that simply isn’t the case. Nowadays, it is becoming more and more popular to use PayPal, Trustly, Neteller, and Skrill in order to manage your finances. Thus, it is expected that the online bookie caters for these needs.

Betting Exchange Platforms

Since the beginning of 2000, gambling has seen the rise of the so-called betting exchange. Punters now can act as the bookmaker themselves, whereby you can buy (back) and sell (lay) outcomes of an event. These exchanges are great for many punters, as you don’t get limited for winning big, instead all you have to do is find someone who is willing to counter your bet. It’s a great feat of putting power back into the gambler’s hand, however only the most experience usually use these sites.

The Newest Operators

Everyday new betting sites open and appear online. With the world at your fingertips it is easy to be flummoxed by the vast array of choice being disseminated. Our experts scour the web in order to find the best up and coming opportunities, and there are a number of factors we take into account. Not everyone can be trusted, but those listed below have been tried and tested by us, so you can get straight into the action.

Sites to Avoid

Whilst undertaking our research we often find some bookmakers that shouldn’t be touched with a bargepole. We’ve put a few on our blacklist over the years, and we have some for you listed below. We are constantly updating this and our on the lookout for more dodgy sites. There are certain markers that provide warning signs to us, and you can see them listed. Unfortunately, there will always be those looking to take advantage of people, so be vigilant, and stick with our top sites listed.

Alternative Forms of Betting: Friends and Shops

Now this page is dedicated to the best betting sites in the UK, however, it does not mean there aren’t other ways to make a bet. The most popular alternative is a betting shop, and as many of you know, you can find them on every high street in the UK. Many of you will also like a casual bet, and this is where friends or family come in and you can bet against them! Of course, nothing beats online, but there are some other ways to do it.

Tips and Strategies

The internet is full of tips and tricks to beat the bookie, but is there really a proven method to win? Well, yes and no. We will show you some very useful strategies in the following paragraphs, and only one is proven to bring guaranteed profit. Even then mistakes can be made. Read on to see how you can win big!

Matched Betting

In recent years matched betting has generated a buzz around the internet. Can you really make money so easily? Well, it isn’t necessarily easy, but it is a proven way to generate profit. In the box below we will describe how it is done, it may be a time-consuming experience, but it will be more than worth it when you look at your bank balance at the end of a long, hard month.

Arbitrage Betting

One of the oldest strategies in the book, this time-tested method has been used for decades when mathematical conditions at different bookies allows for odds to be exploited in a way were minimal gains can be achieved on each event no matter the outcome. Its slang name is arb, and those who use it are arbers and often receive the ire of the bookmakers.

Using Asian Handicap

The Asian Handicap is a type of bet where a team has to score more goals for them to win a bet. For example, if you bet on Man United to beat Cardiff at –1.5 on the handicap, you’d need them to win by two clear goals to win the bet. This can be used in various ways to the bettor’s advantage and one the strategies is described below.

The Betting Ecosystem in the UK

How is the betting world made up in the UK? According to the UKGC, around 63% of those eligible to do so partook in some form of gambling last year. There are 8,502 betting shops in the UK. Overall the gambling industry is worth £14 billion, and online gambling was the most lucrative sector. 32 million people gamble in some for throughout the UK and demonstrates how ingrained it is in British culture. It continues to grow year on year, and the upward trend continues.

Legality: The Betting Law in the UK

In the UK gambling has been legal in various ways for decades, starting with the Betting and Gaming act of 1960. Since 2005 the Gambling Act has taken precedent and now requires all those operating have a license. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has given regulation responsibility to the UK Gambling Commission, who make sure laws such as bettors being 18+ and those who are vulnerable being protected are enacted.

The UK Gambling Commission – Protecting Gamblers Like You

Ensuring that gambling is conducted fairly and openly, protecting any person that is vulnerable.

• Issuing Licenses: Only operators that have been issued a license and are regulated by the UKGC are legally allowed to operate in the UK.
• Monitoring: Ensuring that all licensees adhere to the Gambling Act 2005 and other standards set out by the government.
• Safeguarding: Safeguarding consumers and their money as defined in their 2018-2021 strategy and business plan.

A List of UKGC Approved Sites

“I want gambling consumers in Britain to be able to enjoy the fairest and safest gambling in the world“

Neil McArthur – CEO

The Betting Industry in the UK and the Oldest Sportbooks

As we have already insinuated, betting is part of the fabric of the society here in the UK. Gambling wasn’t fully legalised until 1960, yet bookmakers had long operated behind closed doors. Of course, they did so in order to placate a need that had been developed over centuries, in the following paragraphs we will highlight some of the most famous brands that have stood the test of time and still flourish today.

Betting in the Other Main English Speaking Countries

Many countries around the world like to bet too. Some of the companies listed here also have an international presence, and it really is a world-wide phenomenon. Each country has its own laws and regulations, so it is best to check if it is legal where you are. Generally, the big names like bet365, Betway, William Hill, etc. are all present where it is. See the flag below to have a glimpse at how many countries enjoy this pastime!

• Australia
• New Zeland
• USA
• India
• South Africa
• Canada
• Nigeria
• Ireland