United Kingdom betting sites

IN the United Kingdom sports betting is 100% legal and regulated, with 100s of different betting sites operating out of this country. The best UK sports betting sites are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and are some of the most regulated betting companies in the world. The top betting sites in the UK will cover everything from the popular sports like the EPL, Super Rugby and cricket, right through to smaller domestic sports from other countries. The best bookmakers in the United Kingdom in 2024 are:

Best UK online bookmakers

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#4	Discover more ways to play William Hill Deposit £10, get £30 free	Visit William Hill William Hill Review
Full terms

Best online betting sites in the UK

There are many great betting sites in the United Kingdom with this region one of the most developed in world sports wagering and gambling. For instance brands like bet365, William Hill and Ladbrokes all made their name as UK betting sites, before expanding to other parts of the globe.

With upwards of 100 betting sites operating out of the United Kingdom, under the stewardship of the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, the competition is hot for punters’ business, which means it is a good environment for you to wager in. Being the top jurisdiction for sports betting sites has been tempered somewhat in recent years because of higher levels of regulation, but the UK still sits among the best places to bet from.

The best online betting sites in the UK will grant you access to their products across a range of different platforms, with these including mobile betting, betting apps, desktop betting sites and basically anything with an internet connection and browser. You can see what is possible on Youtube, with some bizarre videos showing people wagering via their smart fridges — yep this is the world we live in now.

The top betting sites in the UK will generally boast a license from the UKGC although Gibraltar and the Isle of Man are also UK-approved.

In summary, to wager with the best sports betting sites UK you need to choose ones with a license and a strong reputation. The way to find these best betting sites is to do your homework, by essentially using websites like BettingPlanet.com and reading things like bookmaker reviews, by both experts and other players.

Feel free to contact us via the box below if you have any queries about the top online betting sites in the United Kingdom.

Top 10 betting sites in Great Britain

The United Kingdom has got some of the top betting sites in the world operating out of here, with the options basically endless. Many of the UK’s betting sites will also have an online casino attached to them, while others will also have online poker or lottery betting games also available.

Our top 10 betting sites for the United Kingdom are:

Mobile sports betting sites in Great Britain

Undoubtedly the most popular way to bet on sports and racing in the United Kingdom, is via smartphones. The best UK betting sites will feature both Android and iOS apps, on top of a mobile website, which is usually just a stripped back version of the app.

The best mobile betting sites in the United Kingdom include some of the biggest wagering brands, such as Paddy Power, bet365, William Hill, Betfred and many more. These mobile betting sites are 100% free to sign up at and will bear the market of the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, which is the regulator for all things mobile.

Mobile betting has largely surpassed retail wagering in 2020, with the convenience of betting able to bet on the go, a big factor in its rapid increase in popularity. The extra competition mobile betting has created, has also proven to be a windfall for players, with betting companies offering sign up bonus offers and promotion regularly.

Often at mobile betting sites, particularly at the bigger UK betting sites, you will be able to partake in other forms of gambling. This includes online casinos, poker, online slots and even lotto draws. Basically any forms of gambling you find on desktop computer, you will be able to partake in via your smartphone or tablet.

Bonus bets & free bets in the United Kingdom

If you’re in the UK and new to an online bookmaker there is every chance you will be eligible for a free bet, or a bonus bet promotions. Most UK online betting sites will have a sign up bonus available, while many will also have ongoing promotions surrounding upcoming events or sports.

With the United Kingdom’s bookmaker numbering so many, it’s important not to just choose the free bet bonus that looks the best on the surface, and check out the terms and conditions attached to each bonus — they can seriously make or break a free bet and in turn your bankroll.

Freebets generally work one of two ways, although the top betting sites are constantly changing their bonus offers, to keep the bookmaker fresh and new customers coming in.

The first way a free bet might work is when online betting sites give you a straight up free bet, which might be a £20 free bet, meaning you will have £20 to bet with, without the fear of losing real money. If you’re luck enough that your free bet wins, you will then have to clear the wagering requirements attached to your winnings before you can withdraw.

The second common way a bonus bet might work at a UK bookie site, is as a matched deposit bonus, meaning you sign up at an online bookmaker, make a deposit and then have this deposit matched at a certain percentage. For instance you might deposit £20 and have it matched at 200%, giving you £60 (£20 + £40 bonus) in total to bet with. Of course these offers also have wagering requirements attached to them, so you can’t just cash out the free bet.

BettingPlanet.com loves a free bet and punters in the United Kingdom are spoilt for choice. We’re constantly adding new UK bookmakers into the mix, so be sure to bookmark this page, and check back whenever you’re looking for a bonus bet deal.

Major UK sports to bet on

Some of the most popular sports betting markets UK residents like to have a bet on are:

• EPL
  The English Premier League is the most widely watched sporting league in the world. Founded in 1992, the EPL consists of 20 clubs. The season runs from August through to May each year. You can find a variety of markets available on the EPL, like win-draw-win, win no draw, first goal scorer, over/under 2.5 goals and handicap betting among dozens of others.
• Super League
  The English Super League is a rugby league competition that was established in 1996 by media tycoon Rupert Murdoch. 12 teams compete between February and July each year. Popular markets available on the Super League are outright/futures betting, head to head betting.
• Rugby Union
  The AVIVA Premiership was pioneered in 1987 and is the premier competition in the UK. It is contested by 12 teams during a regular season that gets underway in September and runs through to May. Some popular betting markets include head to head betting, outright bets, line betting and first try scorer just to name a few. All top British bookmakers will have betting on rugby available.
• Cricket
  The great British sport of cricket is often played the year around in one form or another. Whether it is Test cricket, one dayers or any of the Twenty/20 competitions or internationals held all around the world. Some of the most popular markets are win/draw/win, draw no bet, top run scorer and top wicket taker just to name a few.
• Basketball
  While the British Basketball League is of a decent standard and you can bet on it, it’s the NBA that we love to bet on. The NBA is the no.1 league in the world, with it running from October through to the new year and attracting betting interest all year round. All of the top bookies UK will have basketball odds available from competitions right around the world.

Horse racing betting sites

Horse racing is massive in the United Kingdom, with some of the best horses ever to grace the turf coming from here. There is nothing quite like the feeling of standing in the outer at Royal Ascot, in England.

The beer flows and in this scribe’s opinion it is one of the best horse racing courses in the world. The big meetings at Royal Ascot have that unique vibe, not dissimilar to the Melbourne Cup in Australian racing, where the party almost outshines the racing.

In terms of betting, horse racing in the UK is massive, with meetings on almost every day of the year across England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Not only a highly accessible betting medium in the UK, you can also bet on the races at online bookmakers all over the world.

More and more, horse racing is becoming a global pursuit, with many UK-based horses attempting to win the spoils at major overseas race meetings in places like Australia, France and Hong Kong. With horses from these racing jurisdictions also attempting to take the spoils when races like the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Golden Jubilee roll around each year.

In terms of the UK’s best betting sites for horse racing, there are many that accept bets on the thoroughbreds, but as a general rule, if you stick to the bigger online bookmakers, you will find yourself with an outstanding service. For instance William Hill started out as a bookmaker on course in the 1930s, before moving with the times and becoming one of the biggest UK horse betting sites.

Log on to one of our recommended horse racing online bookies now to take advantage of their sign up bonuses and promotions. Remember to have multiple bookie accounts across a range of providers so you can always get yourself the best odds on the bet you want to make.

GBP bettng sites payment types

Betting sites in the United Kingdom will cater extensively to the Stirling (GBP) and have payment types that are suitable for this currency. Because the United Kingdom has one of the most advanced betting industries in the world, it means the deposit options include web wallets like Paypal, Apple Pay and Neteller.

While you can fund online betting sites with bank card in the United Kingdom, credit card payments at bookmakers was banned in 2020, with the Gambling Commission declaring it was a factor in problem gambling.

Mobile payment methods like QiWI and SiRU are becoming increasingly popular in the United Kingdom, although these particular deposit types are mainly for facilitating micro-transactions, or ones under £20 or £30.

Bookmaker deposit options payment times will vary depending on the method you use, bust most will facilitate an instant deposit.

Full list of GBP Bookmaker payment types:

• Debit Cards
• Visa
• Mastercard
• Diners Club
• American Express
• Flexepin
• Paypal
• Neteller
• Skrill
• QiWi
• Apple Pay

NB: Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have never ben given the green light from the UK Gambling Commission and you won’t find these payments at UK betting sites.

UK online sports betting laws

All online gambling in the UK is governed by the 2014 Gambling Bill. Since then all forms of online gambling operating out of the UK must be licenced through the UK Gambling Commission. The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005.

Even offshore operators who offer gambling services to residents of the UK must pay a 15% Point of Consumption tax derived from their gross profits. Where traditionally online gambling was taxed upon where the provider was based, the POC tax targets where a company’s customers are.

Online gambling companies that are licenced and pay the POC tax are freely allowed to advertise their company via television thanks to relaxed advertising laws in the UK although these have tightened up considerably in the 2024 climate. .

Prior to the 2014 Gambling Bill things were a little different in the online gambling frontier of the UK. Offshore gambling providers who were “white listed” by the Gambling Commission were able to service UK customers and advertise.

The UK differs greatly from other countries around the world in their approach to online gambling. Unlike countries like the USA, prior to repelling PASPA, the UK has embraced the concept of online gambling. Not only that, but they have undertaken legislation to licence and tax online gambling providers, as well as give them leeway to advertise.

What does all this mean for your average punter? Not a lot. UK punters are free to use online bookies to their hearts content.

Another huge plus about betting in the United Kingdom, is that sign up bonuses and promotions are freely available to use and take advantage of. The Gambling Commission clamped down on free bets in recent years, making the terms and conditions much more transparent.

For instance, you will notice that all affiliate sites like this one, are now required to display the terms and conditions on any bonus offers we display to the UK, giving customers more information than they previously had.

About UK Gambling Commission

• Website: http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/
• Address:
  Gambling Commission Fourth Floor
  Victoria Square House Victoria Square Birmingham
  B2 4BP
• Email: [email protected]

Betting Sites UK troubleshooting

Becoming a member at UK betting sites can be a daunting task for new customers, with 100s of different online bookmakers attempting to woo customers. It’s important not to be afraid of asking for help, using resources like BettingPlanet.com, to make your online betting experience a safe and potentially lucrative experience. In short we’ll help you navigate the minefield, that can be online betting sites. Here are some of the troubleshooting questions we get asked about the top betting sites in the United Kingdom.

• Who governs sports betting in the United Kingdom?
  Gambling in the United Kingdom is a highly regulated industry with the United Kingdom Gambling Commission the body overseeing all gambling. The organisation was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to be Great Britain’s ‘go-to’ for gambling related matters. UKGC basically partners with the licensing bodies in the United Kingdom to give them a clear framework they must abide by. The Gambling Commission also regulates the National Lottery, after taking it over in 2013.
• Are online casinos legal in the United Kingdom?
  UK citizens are free to sign up and play at many online casinos, with these sites boasting the Gambling Commission tick of approval. Many of the best UK betting sites will also feature an online gambling site, including big names like William Hill and Bet365. Read about the top online casinos in the UK.
• What is the best UK bookie?
  The UK is home to many of the best online betting sites, and the best option to bet with, might change from week to week, or even day to day, depending on what the event is you wish to bet with. A couple of our favourite betting sites for Great Britain, include Bet365, William Hill and Bovada.