With so many online sportsbooks out there, picking out one that best suits you is easier said than done. Fortunately, the Compare.bet team has made things simple. We’ve scoured the market for the best sports betting sites, considering bonuses, betting markets and mobile compatibility as part of our shortlisting process. All you need to do is read our expert reviews, compare the UK’s top bookies and pick out a favourite — it’s as simple as that!
Our Top 10 Best Betting Sites
Best Betting Sites - Our Top 10 for 2024
1. 10bet – Matched deposit for new customers
10bet have been a really solid bookmaker for quite some time now and for us they offer one of the best sign up offers about. New customers can claim a matched deposit up to £50 as a 100% matched bonus when they first join and deposit. They also offer a lot of existing customer bonuses which reward you for staking so much throughout the week on certain events.
When it comes to their sportsbook they offer tons of sports such as Golf, Horse Racing, Football, Tennis and even eSports. They offer in-play betting on all of these sports apart from racing. They also offer a ton of deposit methods which are processed fast and when it comes to getting your withdrawals they are also speedy on that front.
What We Like:
- Plenty of sports betting options;
- Fast withdrawals
- Great promos
What We Don’t Like:
- Casino bonuses have wagering requirements
2. Parimatch – Best Betting Site for Golf
Parimatch comes in at number one for golf betting sites thanks to its extensive coverage of the sport. At the time of writing, I found a number of ongoing international tournaments, specials and ante-posts on all the 2024 majors, and even outrights as far ahead as the 2025 Ryder Cup. Each event comes with a full complement of markets such as 3-balls, match-ups, and round betting to name a few.
The payment options are pretty limited at this betting site, although the inclusion of Apple Pay is a boon for iOS bettors. On the plus side, I was pretty impressed with the support I received — my query was sorted in a few minutes via live chat, but customers can also get in touch by SMS or social media.
What We Like:
- Plenty of golf betting options;
- Easy-to-use sportsbook layout;
- Live betting and cash out supported.
What We Don’t Like:
- Limited payment methods.
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets: While you can’t use this offer on golf, Parimatch gives players a choice of £30 in free bets — football, horse racing, or Esports — in return for a £10 qualifying real money bet.
Exciting Offers for Existing Customers:
- Weekly Acca Bonus – Get 40% added to your odds if your football acca with 5+ legs wins.
- Run For Your Money – Get a real money refund if your horse loses all chance at the start of a race.
Available Markets and Odds at Parimatch: Although I’ve waxed lyrical about the golf options at Parimatch, this betting site has plenty else to offer.
The full roster includes: American Football, Australian Rules, Baseball, Basketball, Boxing, Cricket, Cycling, Darts, Entertainment, Esports, Football, Formula 1, Gaelic Sports, Golf, Greyhounds, Handball, Horse Racing, Ice Hockey, MMA/UFC, Motorsports, Politics, Rugby, Snooker, Squash, Table Tennis, Tennis, Virtuals, Volleyball, Winter Sports, Water Polo.
3. BetMGM – Best Betting Site for Free Bets
If it’s a generous package of free bets you’re after, look no further than BetMGM. I kicked off the welcome offer with my £10 qualifying real money bet and received £60 in free bets in return. I love the fact these encourage you to try out different areas of the betting site — horse racing, football, a Bet Builder, and an acca.
I do feel BetMGM could improve its selection of payment methods, although I was rather pleased to see Apple Pay supported considering I frequently bet from my iPhone rather than my laptop. My test withdrawal was pretty speedy too, arriving the next morning after request.
What We Like:
- Excellent range of promotions;
- Slick site design;
- Supports Apple Pay.
What We Don’t Like:
- Free bet valid for just 7 days.
Bet £10 Get £60 in Free Bets: I’m a huge fan of this promotion — not only is it substantial in size, but it gives you a taste of everything this diverse sports betting site has to offer over four £10 free bet stakes. Watch out for the somewhat shorter 7-day expiry.
Exciting Offers for Existing Customers:
- Bet and Spin Mondays – Get slots free spins when you place bets through the week.
- Free Bet Thursdays – Get a free £5 Bet Builder every week when you place £20 of Bet Builders.
Available Markets and Odds at BetMGM: This betting site has a truly comprehensive selection of betting markets, including a number of sports I rarely see.
Punters can wager on the following: American Football, Aussie Rules, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Boxing, Cricket, Cycling, Darts, Esports, Football, Formula 1, Gaelic Sports, Golf, Greyhounds, Handball, Horse Racing, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Motorsports, Politics, Rowing, Rugby, Snooker, Speedway, Squash, Surfing, Table Tennis, Tennis, TV and Novelty, UFC/MMA, Volleyball, Winter Sports, WWE/Pro Wrestling.
4. Betano – Ongoing promotions at Betano
Betano recently saw a lot of success during Euro 2024 where they were one of the main sponsors of the historic tournament. During this time they had regular promotions for sportsbook users which is something have carried on post tournament. They are often one of the better priced bookmakers for sports selections and thanks to them being powered by the BV brand, they have a top notch sportsbook on offer for their customers.
With that in consideration that will often mean you can see price boosts and other special bets on the biggest events. Getting on to payment methods they accept a wide number and it’ll be rare that you withdrawal takes longer than 24 hours to hit your account once it has been submitted.
What We Like:
- Great sportsbook and casino
- Fast withdrawals
What We Don’t Like:
- Current sign up offer could be bigger
- Lack of live streaming
5. Sky Bet – One of Britain’s biggest bookmakers
Most of you will already know of Sky Bet by now but for those that don’t, we’ve got you covered. Sky Bet are one of the biggest bookmakers around these days and they will always cover the biggest events. From football accumulators to outright betting they’ll always have one of the best selections of sports markets and that’s why so many people use them.
One of the best features of Sky Bet is the amount of price boosts they do on big events. Most weeks they will offer a certain bet that has been boosted from under even money to above evens which offers punters a lot of value for their money. On top of this you can claim £30 in free bets for joining and placing a 5p bet.
What We Like:
- Sign up offer requires a small deposit
- Amazing price boosts
What We Don’t Like:
- Max stakes on price boosts
6. Paddy Power Sport – Top quality Sportsbook
Paddy Power are another big player in the game and one a lot of people will have heard of. For those looking to claim their first bookmaker signup offer Paddy Power is a great choice as you can pick between casino and sports for your welcome bonus. On top of that their site is incredibly easy to use for anyone letting you bet on various sports at just the click of a button.
Paddy Power have a rewards club which is a great feature for those that dedicate themselves to one bookmaker. This means you can get rewarded with a free bet for staking a certain amount every week with Paddy Power.
What We Like:
- Nice sign up offer
- Weekly bet club
What We Don’t Like:
- Lack of existing customer free bets
7. All British Sports – Great casino and Sports action
All British Sports have been around for some time and many of you may now their other side of the site which is All British Casino. What we’ve enjoyed after testing All British Sports is the market they offer on football games. You can build some great bet builders on All British Sports and combine selections such as card markets and shots on target.
They are also really good when it comes to withdrawals with the vast majority of their methods having an instant processing time once your account is fully setup.
What We Like:
- Great for football punters
- Vast amount of deposit methods with fast withdrawals
What We Don’t Like:
- Lack of free bets
8. Pub Sports – Great football bookmaker
For those that enjoy a bet on the weekend for the football, you should give Pub Sports a look at. They offer weekly boosts on football accumulators which can often give you much bigger returns if your bet goes on to win. Despite the lack of free bets on offer at Pub Sports they’re still definitely worth signing up to with the amount of boosts you will receive on your football accumulators.
What We Like:
- Great for football punters
- Boosts on accumulators
What We Don’t Like:
- Lack of free bets
9. 32Red – Best UK Betting Site with Online Casino
Among the best betting sites UK for combined sports betting and casino games is 32Red. I like the casual feel of this bookmaker, fronted by the inimitable Keith Lemon.
While 32Red feels first and foremost like an online casino, the sports betting side certainly isn’t lacking. I found the platform to be more than capable, with plenty of depth across the major sports. The live streaming functionality is also a highlight, including events as prestigious as the Australian Open at the time of writing.
I do feel like 32Red could improve its offering significantly when it comes to promotions. It feels like they’ve been left by the wayside, with very little on offer in comparison to the glut of casino promos.
What We Like:
- Top mix of sportsbook and casino;
- Diverse betting markets;
- Excellent live streaming features.
What We Don’t Like:
- Limited range of promotions.
100% Profit Boost: New customers get their odds doubled on their first bet up to £10 at 32Red with minimum odds of evens or greater. Personally, I’d rather see a free bet instead but this is a good way to kick off your time at the site with some extra value.
Exciting Offers for Existing Customers:
- Horse Racing Price Boosts: Enjoy enhanced prices on selected daily UK and Irish racing.
Available Markets and Odds at 32Red: I found 32Red’s market coverage to be pretty comprehensive, offering a wealth of betting options no matter your interests.
32Red’s list of markets includes: American Football, Australian Rules, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Boxing, Cricket, Cycling, Darts, Esports, Football, Formula 1, Gaelic Sports, Golf, Greyhounds, Handball, Horse Racing, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Motorsports, Olympic Games, Politics, Rowing, Rugby, Snooker, Table Tennis, Tennis, Trotting, TV & Novelty, UFC/MMA, Volleyball, Winter Sports, WWE/Pro Wrestling.
10. Hyper Sports – Great casino with a solid sportsbook
Whilst Hyper as a brand may have more of a focus on their huge casino, they still offer punters a great way to bet on sports online. For those that do want to try out the casino side, you can enjoy a huge bonus when you first sign up where you can claim up to £100 on your first deposit to try out their casino games.
The current sportsbook offers a huge variety of sports markets with hundreds of events for each sport. As soon as we logged on we can instantly see 176 eSports events to bet on which should tell you how deep this sportsbook runs.
What We Like:
- Huge array of casino games
- Diverse betting markets;
What We Don’t Like:
- Limited range of promotions.
- Lack of live streaming.
100% Profit Boost: New customers get their odds doubled on their first bet up to £10 at 32Red with minimum odds of evens or greater. Personally, I’d rather see a free bet instead but this is a good way to kick off your time at the site with some extra value.
Exciting Offers for Existing Customers:
- Horse Racing Price Boosts: Enjoy enhanced prices on selected daily UK and Irish racing.
Best Betting Sites Compared
| Betting Site | Welcome Offer | Deposit Time | Fastest Withdrawal Option | Fastest Withdrawal Time | Acca Bonus | Acca Insurance |
| Bzeebet | Bet £10 Get £10 | Instant | PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, MuchBetter | Instant | Yes | No |
| Mr Play Sport | Bet £10 Get £15 | Instant | PayPal | Within 24 hours | Yes | No |
| Luckster | Bet £10 Get £10 | Instant | PayPal, Skrill, MuchBetter | Instant | Yes | No |
| BetMGM | Bet £10 Get £60 | Instant | Debit cards | Within 24 hours | Yes | No |
| Parimatch | Bet £10 get £40 | Instant | Debit cards | Within 24 hours | No | No |
| Grosvenor Sports | Double the odds | Instant | PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, MuchBetter | Instant | Yes | No |
| 32Red | 100% Profit Boost | Instant | PayPal | Instant | No | No |
| Unibet | Money Back As a Bonus Up To £40 + £10 Casino Bonus | Instant | PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, MuchBetter | Instant | Yes | No |
| HeySpin | Bet £15 Get £10 | Instant | PayPal | Within 24 hours | No | No |
| BetVictor | Bet £5 Get £30 | Instant | Visa Fast Funds, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller | Within 24 hours | No | No |
This Month's Top Markets
A Closer Look at Betting Options at Top Betting Sites in January
We’re halfway through March and with Cheltenham coming to a close, what else is there going on in the world of sport at the moment? Here’s a preview of some hotly-tipped events to bet on.
Indian Wells
One of tennis’ finest tournaments Indian Wells takes place in March and the best of the best will be in action. One of the most highly anticipated matches of the tennis season is soon to bless our screens as Jannick Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz face each other in the semi-final. This rivalry is only growing more intense as the two youngsters trade blows. The Italian now leads the head-to-head matchup 4-3 with his most recent win in Beijing.
On the women’s side we still have world number one Iga Swiatek in action with Sakkari and Gauff also booked into the semi-finals. The world number one is the current outright favourite but Gauff and Sakkari are no pushovers. There will be plenty of betting angles for this tournament such as set betting, match winner and even the outright market to have a punt on.
FA Cup
The FA Cup action continues as we approach the quarter-final stage of the competition with teams like Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea still left in the competition. The most highly anticipated fixture has to be Manchester United vs Liverpool which is a game that is crucial to both managers. Jurgen Klopp is on his farewell tour at the moment with Liverpool and will be looking to claim every trophy possible in his final year at the club, on the other hand, Erik Ten Hag is always desperate for trophies at Manchester United with silverware being much more elusive to the Manchester-based club these days.
Punters can still place bets on the outright market for the FA Cup but at this stage, most people will be placing multiples on the match result market.
Champions League
Although it isn’t in March, the draw has just been made for the Champions League quarter-finals and we’ve got some huge games lined up for early April.
- Arsenal vs Bayern Munich
- Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund
- Real Madrid vs Manchester City
- PSG vs Barcelona
The quality of football in the Champions League is always going to be high and punters can still back various markets such as “Top English Club”, “To Reach the Semi-Final” etc. Other markets such as game-specific bet builders are always an option where you can pick players to be carded, match results and other bets like player shots on target.
The Best Betting Sites by Category
The best betting sites typically provide their customers with a wide range of choice when it comes to betting markets. From popular sports like football and cricket to the more niche pursuits of table tennis and sailing, you can usually find something of interest. To help you choose the best site for your sporting preference, we’ve listed our reviews by the sport we feel they cover most comprehensively. Read on to find out more.
Best Betting Site for Football — BzeeBet
One of the newest sites in the UK, BzeeBet launched in 2023 under the umbrella of Aspire Global International. Sister sites include Spin Rio, Plaza Royal and Hey Spin to name a few. As expected for such a force in the industry, Bzeebet is already competing with the best. In terms of first impressions, I was particularly impressed with the site design and how easy it is to navigate. Sports betting fans will also be pleased with the amount and diversity of sports betting markets available – including thousands of football options. They’ve included many other important features such as in-play listings, live chat, a multitude of payment options and some unique promotional opportunities for existing customers. This includes Free Bet Thursday and BZ Bet Builder that’s eligible across all sports both pre-match and live in-play. Overall, I would recommend Bzeebet as a betting site. Despite its recent entry in the market, it feels like a confident first year for the team.
What we like:
- Clear and well laid out site
- Large amount of sports markets available
- Useful features such as a ‘favourites’ tab and on-page bet slip that offers 1-click betting
What we don’t like:
- There is currently no app available for Bzeebet customers
Best Betting Site for Horse Racing — BetVictor
The design of BetVictor is one of my favourites. It’s relatively simple in style but clear with individual units down the page outlining each section of information. Horse racing fans will enjoy the availability of betting markets, including virtual horse racing around the clock. Daily races are listed below the current markets so you can work out which you’d like to bet on. Aside from this, there are many other sports to test out, plus casino and live casino offerings. The mobile version of the site is another positive to mention, plus of course the highly recommended BetVictor app that’s available to download.
What we like:
- Many promotions for existing customers including horse racing matched deposits, cash back and best odds guaranteed
- Great selection of sports markets to bet on
- Live streaming options for horse racing and other sports
What we don’t like:
- Would benefit from a few more payment methods
Best Betting Site for Boxing — HeySpin
Despite the name, HeySpin is a popular sports betting site that offers over hundreds of sports markets to its customers. At first glance, one thing I love about the HeySpin site is its unique black and yellow colour theme. For me, the dark background makes it easy to read, plus the signposting for important pages is well labelled. At the time of writing there are four promotional offers available. This includes a welcome offer, a bet builder, a cashout opportunity and an odds boost. It’s great to see regularly updated promotions but as ever, be sure to read through the terms and conditions of use. Overall, HeySpin is a great sports betting site with lots to keep you entertained.
What we like:
- Wide range of sports events to bet on
- Most top payment methods are supported, such as Paysafecard, Neteller, Trustly, MuchBetter and PayPal
- Easy to switch between casino and sports betting
What we don’t like:
- No live streaming available
Best Betting Site for Golf — Parimatch
As a first impression, the Parimatch site is quite busy to look at. However, the sports, offers and general features are well laid out so I didn’t find it overwhelming or difficult to find what I wanted. Heading straight for the offers page, Parimatch provides a small range of promotions for new and existing customers. At the time of writing this includes a selection of ‘bet and get’ style free bets and an acca bonus. Interestingly, there’s also a daily and weekly ‘free to play’ option of casino games that require no deposit. Golf fans will enjoy the selection of international tournaments, Champions Tour and Ryder Cup options, to name just a few.
What we like:
- Easy to navigate site
- Unique features like the Parimatch Hat-Trick Hunt and the £20,000 Raffle
- Switch easily across to casino and live casino games
What we don’t like:
- Live streaming for horse racing only
Best Betting Site for Accas – BetMGM
A new UK online bookmaker for 2023 so not one I’m hugely familiar with. However, at first glance, I was impressed with the layout of the BetMGM site. The gold and black colour theme is a nice backdrop to the great variety of sports markets available to customers. I particularly like the inclusion of smaller sports that are native to specific countries – as an example, bandy is not hugely well known outside of Scandinavia. Nevertheless, it’s included as an option on BetMGM. The sports homepage provides a wealth of information, including suggestions for trending bets and an outline of how to read betting odds. Acca fans, be sure to take a look at the Golden Acca promotion that provides five profit boosts on accas each week.
What we like:
- Unique promotions such as Golden Goals for accas fans
- Great range of sports markets to choose from
- You can easily switch across to the casino or live casino side of the site
What we don’t like:
- The site could provide a few more payment options to customers
Best Betting Site for Free Bets – bet365
Bet365 doesn’t need much of an introduction – operating as one of the leading UK betting sites and holding regular EFL partnerships. Landing on the site and registering for the first time you can claim a welcome offer that provides £30 in free bets when you bet £10 of your own money. Be mindful there are some strict limitations in terms of eligible payment methods but nevertheless, an extra £30 is a great way of familiarising yourself with the site. The layout of the site is clear and easy to navigate, with sports listed down the left hand side and links through to the casino and live casino side of the site at the top of the page. Overall, bet365 is a site I return to regularly. They provide competitive odds, a decent selection of promotional offers and all the sports you’re likely to want to bet on.
What we like:
- Generous free bet welcome offer
- Mobile app available to download on iOS and Android devices
- Great range of sports, esports and even politics markets to bet on
What we don’t like:
- Strict limitations on bonus acceptance payment methods
Best Betting Site for Cashback – Bet Storm
The first thing I did when checking out Bet Storm was to accept the welcome bonus of £10 off the back of my first £10 bet. It’s not a huge offer but certainly gives me the chance to try out a few extra bets. There’s only 1x wagering requirements on this offer so the play through isn’t too high. Those looking for a cashback offer can choose the promotion by sport. I was impressed to see cashback promotions for a range of sports including football, tennis, Formula 1, cricket, plus many more. Overall, I love the design of Bet Storm, it’s one of my favourite sites because of the background images and the sports being listed by icons down the left side of the page. It’s a really easy site to navigate and one I will return to again.
What we like:
- Unique range of promotions including the Sports Stars leaderboard and sports-specific cashback offers
- The Free Bets Monday offer requires a very high £50 minimum bet for qualification
- While there is no native app for Bet Storm, I think this is one of the best sites, in terms of clarity and design, for mobile betting
What we don’t like:
- No live streaming available
New Betting Sites
Our Top Picks for New Bookmakers
In your search for the perfect bookmaker, you’ve likely asked yourself the question — should I opt for an established and well-known brand, or venture off the path and give a new bookie a try? There are plenty of reasons for both. While the older betting brands have a wealth of experience behind them, many new sites do things a little bit differently to gain a competitive edge, and sometimes that novelty appeals to punters. Here are some other reasons to consider a new betting site:
- Exciting Betting Markets – The days of a basic win/lose bet are far behind us, and the best new bookies offer an array of exciting betting markets to sink your teeth into. Some allow you to build your own bets, and others have a wide variety of niche events to bet on options.
- Bet Builders – Our top-rated new UK betting sites must have sophisticated bet builders, enabling punters to combine several selections under one overarching wager. For example, you could choose the goalscorers, number of yellow cards, total corners, and match winner for a Premier League fixture.
- Live Streaming – New UK betting sites offer live streaming on wide-ranging sports to match the industry heavyweights. Not doing so is unforgivable in the current climate, as most bookies worth betting with have some level of live streaming capabilities. High-ranking new sports betting sites offer seamless integration with in-play betting markets, allowing punters to watch games and bet accordingly with ease.
- Forward Thinking Design – Many of the best new sports betting sites provide players with some of the freshest designs you can find online. From the bright colours of Rizk, to the simple format employed by 10bet, there are a variety of techniques employed by new betting sites to not only attract new players but make their betting experience as good as it can be.
- Competitive Odds – New bookies need to draw customers away from their usual betting site, and one way in which they can do this is by offering competitive odds. It’s always worth checking out a new site’s odds to see if you could unlock better value for money.
- Creative and Generous Bonuses and Promotions – Similarly, a new betting site can attract new customers through unique and attractive bonuses and promotional offers. In this light, a new bookies may have the edge over a more established site that doesn’t need to provide its loyal customers with increasingly generous promotional opportunities.
Now you’re up to speed on the advantages of new betting sites, keep reading to discover our top picks.
Best New Betting Sites for Free Bets
Free bets are the most common welcome offer you’ll find at new betting sites. Here are some of our favourites:
- BetMGM offers £40 in free bets when you first wager £10 of your own money.
- Parimatch currently has a welcome offer of £30 in free bets when you bet £10 of your own money.
- Copybet features a generous Bet £10 Get £40 for new players.
- BetTarget is currently giving new customers a £10 free bet in return for staking £15.
- Rhino Bet has a welcome offer of £10 in free bets when you bet £25.
Best New Betting Sites for Acca Boosts
Another welcome bonus format gaining popularity at new betting sites is the acca boost, which increases your payouts if you land a successful accumulator. Here are our top picks:
- Pub Sports is giving new customers a 50% acca boost on football.
- Hyper Sports boosts winning football accas by 50%.
- 32Red gives players a 100% profit boost token. This isn’t strictly an acca boost, but it’s another offer where you can increase payouts on a winner.
Mobile Betting
Top Mobile Betting Sites
Mobile sports betting is how the majority of punters lay their wagers these days. As such, all of our recommended sportsbooks offer mobile compatibility. As well as mobile-friendly websites, some of the best mobile bookies have also developed native betting apps to create the best possible handheld user experience.
Our Top Mobile Betting Apps:
Top Online Bookmakers Compared
| Bookmaker | App? | Bet Builder? | Live Streaming? |
| Bzeebet | No | Yes | No |
| HeySpin | Yes | Yes | No |
| BetMGM | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Grosvenor | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Parimatch | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bet Storm | No | No | No |
| 10bet | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Vegas Mobile Sport | No | No | No |
| 32Red | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Luckster | No | Yes | No |
| Luckland Sport | Yes | Yes | No |
| All British Sports | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bwin | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tebwin | No | No | No |
| BetGoodwin | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bet Target | No | Yes | Yes |
| Slotsnsports | No | No | No |
| Quinnbet | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Betiton | No | Yes | Yes |
| Unibet | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bet365 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Coral | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mr Mega | No | Yes | Yes |
| Boyle Sports | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bet Victor | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sky Bet | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Bet | Yes | Yes | No |
How We Rate
How We Rate the Best Online Bookies
Here at Compare.bet, we only want to recommend the best betting sites in the UK. That’s why we always review and rate bookmakers carefully before introducing them to our readers. Below, we’ve listed some of the top features that help determine if new UK betting sites make the cut.
Sports and Betting Markets
Most bookies take bets on major UK sports like football, rugby and cricket. But the very best betting sites rise to the top with loads of different international sports, as well as deeper market coverage. Be sure to verify the sports you want to bet on are available before registering. The top bookies often feature around 30+ different categories, including popular sports in the US, and less popular sports around the world, such as table-tennis or volleyball. On this last point, football offers the perfect example, with the best football betting sites laying out many hundreds of ways to bet on the match.
Licensing and Safety
Some betting site features are ‘nice-to-haves’, but a licence from the UK Gambling Commission is non-negotiable. A current licence from the UKGC tells us that a site is legal, regulated, and undergoes regular audits. Most importantly, it also tells us that a betting site is safe for customers like you. Checking for a licence is the first thing you should do before registration.
Competitive Odds
The best sites try to offer the most competitive odds, while also adding features like odds boosts, enhanced price offers, and bet builders. Sometimes, you can also request custom odds over social media. Ladbrokes, for example, invites customers to request a price via Twitter by tweeting @Ladbrokes with #GetAPrice.
Usability
Naturally, we expect a bookmaker to offer a wide range of sports and betting markets, generous promotions, and mobile betting options. But these things need to be presented to customers in a clean, intuitive way. The best bookies put real effort into ensuring that their sites and mobile apps are well-designed, fast-loading, and simple to navigate. This makes it easy for customers to enjoy all the perks on offer.
Mobile Capabilities
These days, bettors are leaning towards a preference to mobile betting. To cater to this trend, all online bookies offer an on-the-go version of their main site. While mobile sports betting sites are readily available through phone and tablet browsers, the best betting sites stand out by releasing native mobile apps. These provide greater convenience, enhanced security, and push notifications for betting offers, so we’ll always give brownie points if an app is available.
Bonuses and Promotions
We love to see bookies rolling out the red carpet for customers old and new, but a generous welcome bonus always catches our eye. Be mindful that even leading betting sites can hamper a generous sounding bonus with complex terms and conditions. In order to alleviate potential confusion, we always give the small print a once-over. Of course, it doesn’t bode well for our overall judgement of a site if their terms are neither clear nor realistic for the player. So this will be reflected in our overall review. You will be able to accept your welcome bonus at the point of registration. Be sure to deposit using an eligible payment method to ensure your account receives this initial boost.
Payment Options
We can’t promise that every bookie we recommend will offer your payment method of choice, but we do like to see a diverse range of options. The best sites often accept debit cards and Trustly, along with at least one e-wallet and a prepaid option like Paysafecard. Some go the extra mile and let you make deposits through your mobile phone bill, or with a cryptocurrency. It goes without saying that instant, fee-free deposits come as standard at the best betting sites.
Customer Support
Friendly and efficient customer support is a hallmark of the best online sports betting sites. The leading bookies back up the good stuff on their sites and apps with robust customer support options. It’s not uncommon for brands to offer 24/7 live chat alongside telephone and email support, with some sites also happy for customers to hit them up over social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
Our Team of Experts
Alice Soule
Alice is an editor for Compare.bet. She has worked in the gambling industry for over five years, joining us from Gambling Insider. Alice is a huge sports fan, supports Arsenal FC and Saracens in the rugby premiership. In terms of betting, Alice’s favourite betting site is Bet Storm because of its clear mobile design and easy to read layout.
Marcus Lawrence
Marcus is Head of Content at Compare.bet who has over five years of experience as an editor and writer, appearing in The Times and iGamingFuture. A big football fan, Marcus’ favourite betting site is Bzeebet, where he takes advantage of Free Bet Thursday to bet on his beloved West Ham’s adventures in Europe.
Betting Features You Should Look Out For
These days, many of the UK’s best betting sites offer unique features in a bid to stand out from the crowd. For example, some online bookies offer helpful statistics and betting guides to help you make an educated bet. Others have bet calculators so that you better understand your potential returns. Certain online bookmakers, such Betfair, even have community platforms where you can discuss your bets and share tips with other punters. Our online sportsbook reviews highlight all these helpful little extra features to help you find the best betting site for you.
In-Play Betting
On top of a wide range of markets, the best online bookmakers put punters into the heart of the action with in-play betting markets. These allow you to bet on events as they take place, giving you the chance to take advantage of changes in momentum. Not only does live betting provide a particularly exciting betting experience, but it also gives you the chance to benefit from some enticing odds.
A number of the UK’s best betting sites even let you watch events such as football matches and horse races through high definition live streams. The sports and leagues available for live streaming vary from bookie to bookie, so check what events are on offer to help find the right betting site for you. Keep in mind that you may need to wager on an event or have a funded account in order to access the live stream.
Accumulators
Give your potential winnings a boost by building an accumulator. Compare the best sportsbooks to find the best site for your accumulator bets.
Bet Editing
Correct a wager after you’ve placed it by wagering with the bet edit feature. Compare sites to find the best options for bet editing and learn more how this feature works.
Cash Out
Get your hands on your winnings early by cashing out before an event has finished. Whether you’re taking home a big payout before the final whistle, or cutting your losses, compare the best cashout betting sites to find the best one for you.
Betting Options
Wager on a Wide Variety of Sports
You can bet on football, horse racing and rugby, as well as US sports like the NFL and the NBA, at pretty much all the UK’s best bookmakers. However, not every bookie offers markets on more obscure sports. For example, if you want to bet on sports like handball, badminton or even WWE, you’ll have to find a bookie that offers those sports. Other common sports and events you can bet on at top betting sites include:
| Boxing | Entertainment | NHL |
| College Football | Formula 1 | Politics |
| Cricket | Golf | Snooker |
| Cycling | MLB | Tennis |
Betting Markets
Choose from a Range of Sports Betting Markets
The best online betting sites deliver a stellar choice of betting markets for punters. We aren’t just talking about the number of different sports available to bet on, but the choice of betting markets within each sport, such as the match result, handicap and winning margin markets. You’ll often find a fair amount of variation in market coverage from bookie to bookie when looking to bet on more obscure sports and competitions. Let’s dive into some of the key markets available to punters.
Match Result
The match result market is the simplest betting market available at online bookmakers and it’s reflected across pretty much every sport in the world. All you need to do is pick who you think will win a match, race, fight etc. You can place a bet on the overall winner before the event has started, but you can also bet on the action in-play.
Handicap
The handicap market is another great betting option if you’re looking for better value odds. Two unevenly matched opponents may throw up some pretty unattractive betting opportunities, but if you wager on the favourite win with a handicap, then the price can suddenly improve. In football, for example, if you wager on PSG to beat Krasnodar in the Champions League with a handicap of -2, then you would need the Parisians to win by a margin of two or more goals.
Each Way
Each-way betting is a market that you only see on a select few sports, but it’s nonetheless one of the most important betting options available to punters. You are most likely to come across an each-way bet when you’re wagering on horse racing and it’s essentially a way for you to increase your chances of making a profit, even if you’re chosen bet doesn’t win. You effectively place two wagers on a horse to either win, or come second or third, and if you’re horse places on the podium, you win!
Bets on Individual Players
When you’re betting on team sports at online bookmakers, you can also wager on individuals within that team. For example, you can place a bet on a goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in football, or a rugby player to score a try. These markets provide some real variety to the betting experience and can be really enhanced by digging into some statistics.
Outright Bets
Your betting opportunities at UK bookmakers are not just limited to individual games or fights, but can also be placed on the overall winners of entire competitions or tournaments. These can be wagered at the start of the competition, but you can also place them while it is ongoing. If you’re playing it safe, you may want to let the tournament or competition play out for a bit before you place a wager. Some tournaments run on for over nine months and a lot can happen in that time.
Bet Builders
Some online bookmakers also provide bet builders, which let you create accumulator bets for the same event. Say there’s a football match you have your eye on. By firing up the bet builder tool, you can pick out a whole array of selections, such as which team will win, how many corners will be awarded, which players will score, and so on. The bet builder will automatically combine your selections and give you the price for the whole lot. Bet builders only apply to one game, however, so you can’t combine wagers from a range of games or sports like you can with a standard accumulator.
Existing Player Promotions
Boost Your Bankroll with a Sports Betting Promotion
The best online bookies offer plenty of betting offers to existing customers. This can include enhanced odds, acca boosts or even price boosts that will increase the size of your winnings if your selection comes in.
Of course, like with welcome bonuses, the promos on offer vary between sportsbooks. While the promos available change at a pretty quick rate, looking at the deals on offer before you sign up can give you a good idea of what to expect in the long run.
Let’s take a look at some of the most commonly found sports betting promotions at the best online bookies.
Guaranteed Best Odds
Best odds guaranteed is a promo offered by some of the best online bookies. This means that the bookie strives to offer the best odds on the market.
Our top pick for guaranteed best odds – bet365 offer the best odds on all UK and Irish horse racing shown on ITV
Acca Insurance
Acca insurance is a promotion available across many sporting markets. It allows you to falter on one leg of your acca and still get your money back in the form of account credit or free bets. Occasionally you may receive withdrawable cash depending on the T&Cs of the betting site
Our top pick for acca insurance – you can boost, track and insure your acca with Ladbrokes
Enhanced Odds
Many online bookies offer enhanced odds deals to existing customers. These offers work by boosting the odds on a bet to give you more money back if you win. Bookies may offer enhanced prices on select markets, though some sites hand out odds boost tokens instead.
Our top pick for enhanced odds – Paddy Power provide enhanced odds on a wide range of markets
Request a Bet
Request a Bet allows you to request custom betting odds for just about any prediction you fancy. To get the odds, you’ll usually need to hit up the bookie’s customer support team using a certain hashtag on Twitter.
Our top pick for request a bet – Tweet #WhatOddsPaddy with Paddy Power
Betting Tools
Use our odds convertor and bet calculated to make the most informed wager possible and play with confidence each and every time.
Odds Converter
Convert betting odds from fractional, to decimal, to American and even to implied probability using our odds convertor. Read odds with greater ease and accuracy with our handy tool.
Bet Calculator
Get to grips with the maths behind each-way bets with our bet calculator. Find out the value of your total outlay, return and profit with our useful each-way bet calculator.
Betting Sites by Banking Method
Choose Your Betting Site by Banking Method
The best betting sites offer a range of deposit and withdrawal options, but the banking methods available at each site will vary.
Debit Cards
Debit cards are the most widely accepted payment method at UK bookmakers. Depositing using a debit card is instant, while withdrawals can be a little slower — with most bookies taking three to five working days to process. Visa Fast Funds service will give you your cash within four hours.
e-Wallets
If you’re after some of the fastest withdrawal times at UK bookmakers, then banking with an e-wallet such as PayPal, Skrill or Neteller could be the best option for you. Withdrawals can take as little as 24 hours in some cases.
Prepaid Cards
Prepaid cards such as a Paysafecard are the ideal option for safety-conscious bettors who are sceptical about sharing any sensitive data. Deposits are instant but you will need to find an alternative method for withdrawing your cash.
Trustly
Working via Open Banking, Trustly is a payment option that offers top level security and a speedy, reliable method of transferral. Deposits are instant, withdrawals can take up to 4 days.
Boku
Boku is probably the most well-known pay by mobile payment operator. As such, it’s the most commonly available option at the best online bookies. It’s a deposit-only service achieving instant deposits into your betting site account. Limits are low – usually no more than £30 a day.
AstroPay
AstroPay functions as a cross between a virtual prepaid card and an e-wallet. There is also a virtual Visa debit card option for customers. Deposits are instant whereas withdrawals can take up to 5 days.
Keep in mind that deposits made by Neteller and Skrill often aren’t eligible for betting bonuses. You can check this in the bonus terms and conditions.
Responsible Gambling
Responsible Gambling
We take responsible gambling very seriously and want to promote gambling in its healthiest light. As such, we have a dedicated responsible gambling section that we highly recommend you read. Here, you will find tips and advice on safer gambling habits, as well as suggested professional organisations that provide information, research and support.
Compare & Bet
Sign up to Start Betting on Sports
Now that you know all about what makes a top betting site, you have everything you need to find the perfect site for you. All you need to do is compare the online bookmakers on our list. Want to learn more about the UK’s best betting sites? Our expert sportsbook reviews have got all you need to know. Whether you’re searching for the best live football betting or the biggest selection of boxing markets, we’ve got you covered. Simply compare, sign up and bet!
FAQs
Betting Site Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best UK betting site?
Our current recommendation for the best UK betting site is Bzeebet, although the best site for you comes down to personal preference. The table at the top of this page is loaded with information to help you get an overview of what each betting site does best, and our expert reviews dive deep into the finer points to help you decide which site is right for you.
Should I follow sports betting tips?
Betting tips can be helpful, but we’d always recommend building up your own knowledge of sports, rather than simply following tips you find online. Read our tips for betting on sports to learn about the best ways to make educated sports wagers.
Can I play online casino games at UK bookmakers?
Yes. Many of the UK’s best online betting sites also offer online casino games, and most of the time navigating from betting to casino games is as simple as clicking on the respective tabs. Some top online betting operators even offer bingo and poker as well, meaning you can do all your gambling with a single trusted brand.
What is a betting exchange?
A betting exchange is simply a way for punters to bet against one another rather than against the sportsbook itself. The sportsbook will take a small commission of the bets, but it has nonetheless become an incredibly popular way for players to wager on their favourite sports action.
What is tote betting?
Tote betting is when punters enter into a collective pool with other punters. At the end of the event that’s being wagered on, winners will receive a proportion of the betting pool by way of a prize, with some of the pool retained by event organisers to pay for maintenance and running costs.
What is fixed odds betting?
Fixed odds betting is the traditional form of bookmaking, where odds are set, bets are taken, and winnings are paid out.
Which is the most trusted betting site?
You can trust a betting site provided it holds a UK Gambling Commission licence. All of the sites listed on Compare.bet are trustworthy, secure, and licensed by the UKGC, so you can rest assured that every site you’ll find here is held to strict ethical and regulatory standards. This licence indicates that a site has been vetted for fairness, will honour payouts, and will provide responsive customer support, SSL encryption on all customer data and transactions, and time and money management tools.
What betting sites offer free wagers?
Many UK betting sites offer free wagers, although you’ll need to make a qualifying deposit or initial bet to claim such offers. At the time of writing, BetUK, QuinnBet, Bet365, Coral, and Ladbrokes all offer free bets as part of their welcome bonuses.
Which UK betting site has the fastest payout?
If you’re using an e-wallet to make a withdrawal, many betting sites can offer fast payouts – you may even be able to get your cash on the same day you make a request! We currently recommend 10bet, BetUK, Bet Storm, Luckster Sport, and Tonybet as the best fast payout betting sites.
References
See our references & visit related external links
Please note that Compare.bet is not responsible for the content of third party websites.
- www.begambleaware.org – for help and support for those concerned about their own, or someone else’s gambling habits
- The UK Gambling Commission – for regulatory information on UK gambling sites
