The Best UK Online Bookmakers in 2024
From football and horse racing to politics and water polo, the best UK online bookmakers accept bets on virtually anything. But with so many UK licensed bookies to choose from, where should you sign up and bet? Below we list the bookies in the UK, explain the role of the Gambling Commission, and cover everything else you should know.
Best UK Online Bookies – April 2024
Everygame Sports
Payment Options
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- AUD
- CAD
- USD
- Competitive sign-up and promotional offers
- Excellent statistics section to aid customers
- Pain-free deposit options
- Accepts both high and low limit bettors
- Lengthy and expensive withdrawal procedure
BetUS Sports
Payment Options
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- BTC
- LTC
- ETH
- Premier destination for US bettors
- Racebook covering daily races
- Esports and virtual sports markets
- In-depth sports stats and tips
- Intuitive live betting markets
- Limited withdrawal options
MyBookie Sports
Payment Options
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- LTC
- USD
- Generous bonuses and promotions
- Great range of betting markets
- Extensive racebook
- Very good customer service
- Only a few withdrawal options
- Fees for withdrawing funds
BUSR Sports
Payment Options
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- BTC
- Trusted by publications such as ESPN
- Access a dedicated racing section
- Crypto-friendly sportsbook
- Adjust odds format and time zone
- Support options include call back
- Quite low sportsbook limits
BetOnline Sports
Payment Options
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- USD
- Accepts players from all over the world
- Known for their live betting offers
- Lots of secure banking options
- Great bonuses and promotions
- High fees for some deposit options
- Support agents are often slow to reply
Bovada.lv Sports
Payment Options
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- BTC
- Top-rated US online sportsbook
- Mobile site for iOS and Android users
- Diverse range of betting markets
- Excellent customer support options
- Lines come out very late in the day
- Odds not as favorable as other books
BookMaker.eu Sports
Payment Options
Average Payout Speed
0 – 24 HoursCurrencies
- BPS
- CAD
- EUR
- Popular book that accepts large max bets
- Huge focus on football and basketball
- High-spec live in-play platform available
- Downloadable client for Windows & Mac
- Odds are not amazing on non-US sports
- User interface could be improved
UK Bookmakers Licensing & Regulation
All UK online bookmakers must have a UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence to operate. But what does this actually mean?
Ultimately the UKGC is there to protect players from fraud, unfair gambling or problem gambling.
Licenses can be taken away or fines issued if a site doesn’t adhere to the UKGC rules. All our recommended UK bookmakers are licenced by the UKGC and observe their strict regulations.
What We Look For in a Good UK Bookmaker
With so many UK online bookmakers claiming to be the best thing since sliced bread, we understand that it can be hard to know which one to choose.That’s why we select our recommended bookies based on the things that really matter. We take many factors into consideration when reviewing UK bookmakers, including:
Betting Offers
Getting a free bet, deposit bonus or special to use on your favourite sport is something all punters love. We know that joining a new site and taking advantage of these offers is really important. It can give you the edge on a bookie and turn a good bet into a great one.
Sports Betting Apps
With features like in-play betting and cash-out, sports betting on an app has become key. Want to make the most of your bets and get the edge on a bookmaker? It’s crucial that you can stay up to date and connected on a solid, secure, and speedy app.
Football Betting
It goes without saying that football is the most popular sport to bet on in the UK, but not all UK bookmakers are equal when it comes to the beautiful game. Our recommended sites offer competitive football odds, a vast range of markets – including Asian handicap – and regular specials for footy fans.
Features of the Top UK Betting Companies
There’s a reason why certain big-name bookies sit at the top of the pile and regularly out-do their competition. They can afford to offer the most competitive odds and biggest bonuses because they are well established. If most sports bettors have an account with a particular bookie, there’s probably a reason for that.
There are some other really important things that many people take for granted at bookmakers, but we always check. These include:
- Valid UKGC license
- Customer support
- Licensing and regulation
- Average odds offered
- Range of sports and markets
- Payment options available
- Registration and verification process
- In-play betting markets
- Site speed and usability
- Statistics and information available
- Live streaming service
- Free bets and promotions
- Brand reputation
- Mobile experience
- Cash out and other features
100% Trusted, Secure & Approved Betting Sites
- Fully licensed and certified by independent regulators.
- Approved for secure financial transactions and data protection.
- Reputation for dealing with complaints quickly and fairly.
Claim Free Bets at UK Bookies
Nearly every bookmaker offers attractive looking welcome bonuses and promotions to persuade you to deposit. But what actually are the best ones? Are some better than others? Are free bets actually free?
Some bonuses are too good to be true. Huge sums are offered but often you have to ‘playthrough’ loads of times.
This means that you have to bet the money you were given on numerous occasions before you can withdraw any winnings – this obviously increases your chances of losing.
With so many different types of offer available, it can be hard to know what’s best. That’s why we’ve selected the bookies below. They each offer you actual free credit to make bets with – you don’t have to lose and there aren’t ridiculous playthrough requirements.
With these UK bookies it’s simple – after your first deposit, you get to make some risk-free bets on your favourite sports.
New Bookmakers for UK Punters
New online bookmakers pop up all the time. But how do you know if you can trust a site that doesn’t come with a long-standing reputation? Ultimately there are pros and cons to each online bookmaker and it’s up to you to choose whichever one suits your needs. But we can help.
When it comes to discovering new betting sites in the UK, we have our finger on the pulse. We track the latest bookies coming to market, review them and let you know the score. We will tell if any new betting sites have brilliant welcome bonuses and how easy the sites are to use.
Below we have selected the best new bookmakers that welcome you to their site with outstanding bonuses:
The Most Popular Sports for Betting in the UK
Two sports dominate UK betting: football and horse racing. Despite the rise in popularity of betting on other sports, these two favourites are still the most important for bookmakers and punters alike. That’s why the UK bookies we recommend have the following features for football and horse racing.
Football
Range of Markets, Leagues & Promotions
Range of Markets, Leagues & Promotions
The UK bookmakers we recommend offer multiple markets on leagues from across the world. They can cater to your football betting needs, no matter what you’re looking for. You’ll be able to get Asian handicap odds on the J1 League or a free bet offer for next round of Premier League fixtures.
Cash Out & In-Play
Cash Out & In-Play
The ability to cash out if your bet isn’t going how you planned is crucial to modern sports betting strategy. So is betting in-play, where you can bet on live odds as the action unfolds. All the sites we recommend offer these features for football.
Acca Insurance
Acca Insurance
A football accumulator or acca is when you combine more than one bet together to increase your odds. If all your picks come in, you can win big, but the odds are often high. Many bookies now offer acca insurance which gives you a payout even if one of your selections doesn’t win.
Horse Racing
Worldwide Markets
Worldwide Markets
The best betting sites let you place bets on hundreds of races from around the world. You can bet on daily meets in the UK and Ireland, as well as on big races overseas like the Kentucky Derby.
Enhanced Odds Offers
Enhanced Odds Offers
Our partners offer enhanced odds on big races at major horse racing meets such as Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot. Special prices are usually reserved for a selected race of the day.
Non-Runner No-Bet (NRNB)
Non-Runner No-Bet (NRNB)
With a Non-Runner No-Bet offer, you win your money back if a horse doesn’t ride. That’s one advantage the best horse racing bookmakers provide online when compared to betting shops.
Guaranteed Starting Price Odds
Guaranteed Starting Price Odds
The Starting Price, or SP, can change considerably before a race begins. As our recommended sites are industry leaders, they will guarantee the best possible SP available that day.
How to Deposit at UK Online Bookmakers
Once you are used to a site, it’s easy to deposit, withdraw money and use different banking methods. However, if you are new to online sports betting or are trying a new bookmaker, there are a few important things to remember.
Firstly, UK bookmakers accept a wide range of payment options. You can fund your account using debit cards, digital wallets, prepaid cards, cryptocurrencies, and countless other safe and convenient options.
However, credit cards are no longer an option for UK punters. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) introduced a ban on credit cards for gambling on 14 April 2020. The Gambling Commission cited the number of problem gamblers accumulating debt by gambling on credit card as being the reason for the ban.
Ultimately, it’s important to choose the deposit method that is right for you. If you want to find out more about the benefits of each method, take a look at our guide to depositing at online betting sites.
If you’re not confident about depositing, take the hassle out of your first time with our step-by-step guide:
Popular Deposit Methods
Step 1
Sign up to one of our recommended UK bookmakers and click on the Cashier button – this is usually located along the top navigation bar.
Step 2
Choose your preferred deposit method.
Step 3
Enter the relevant details required and choose the amount you wish to deposit. Remember that some payment methods have a minimum deposit requirement.
Step 4
If your welcome bonus has a deposit code, then make sure you enter it at this stage. Hit ‘Submit’ when you’re happy with your selection.
Step 5
In most cases, the money will appear in your account in seconds, and you’re ready to start betting.
Withdraw Your Winnings From UK Bookies
There are no guarantees when it comes to sports betting, but at some point, you will likely want to withdraw funds from your account following a successful flutter. This can also take a bit of getting used to with your preferred site, but the option to withdraw should be available in the cashier.
When you withdraw your money from an online bookmaker in the UK, it’s important to be aware that you may be asked to verify your identity before you get your cash. The verification process is called Know Your Customer (KYC) and is used by UK bookies to combat fraud, underagegambling, and money laundering.
If you are asked to provide information as part of KYC, you usually have to send a copy of an ID and document to a customer support agent. These can include:
- Passport
- Driving Licence
- Birth Certificate
- Utility Bill
- Bank Statement
- Payslip
These checks don’t happen for every withdrawal but be aware that you may need to send proof of your identity to receive your winnings from UK bookies. It shouldn’t take too long, and rest assured that the bookmaker and the Gambling Commission are trying to protect genuine UK punters.
Choosing the Right UK Bookmaker for You
We have years of industry experience and have reviewed countless online bookies from around the world. The point of this page is to give you our advice on how to choose a good UK bookmaker, but ultimately the final decision is up to you.
It’s important to consider all the things we have mentioned within this page. When signing up to a new site its helpful to ask yourself things like:
- Does this site offer the banking option I want to use?
- Can I get odds on specific markets and on my favourite sports?
- Is this welcome offer actually worth taking or should I look elsewhere?
The bookmakers we have suggested on this page each score highly on important factors such as free bet offers and customer support.
UK Online Bookmakers FAQ
When was gambling legalised in the UK?
Is gambling tax-free in the UK?
Do UK bookmakers offer a cash out option?
How do you know if a new bookie is worth signing up to?
About the author
Alan Penny
Editor-in-Chief
Alan hails from Northern Ireland and is an avid fan of all sports. He has been with us since 2017 and serves as SBO’s Editor-in-Chief. Alan passionately covers everything from the latest regulatory developments across the globe to tips on the latest football matches.
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