Online Sports Betting – The Best UK Online Sports Betting Sites

The UK online sports betting market almost doubled in size between 2017 and 2023. The annual growth rate of this industry is around 11%, which means one thing: British people like to bet on their favourite sports online.

If you’re among them, you need to make sure that you register and wager at the best UK sportsbook. Finding a platform that’s secure and matches your preferences can be hard. That’s where Bestbet steps into play. We’re going to help you find the best online sportsbooks in the UK and share everything you need to know about them.

The Best Online Betting Sites in the UK

After careful research, our team was able to compile a list of the best online betting sites that offer their services to UK punters. All of the platforms below are licensed operators that will allow you to wager on pretty much any sport that you like.

How We Pick the Best Betting Sites

Bestbet is all about transparency and honesty. We're here to set the record straight; we're not just featuring random brands that we come across. We make sure to test their services, and here are some of the things that we pay the most attention to.

UKGC Licence and Regulation

Every UK sportsbook needs to possess a licence from the UK Gambling Commission. That’s how they can offer legal services to the residents. They must enforce verification procedures, use SSL encryption and provide punters with responsible gambling tools.

Available Sports and Odds

The more sports British punters can bet on, the better. We’re not just looking for diversity, we’re also looking for quantity. Each sport should allow you to choose between multiple betting types. We compare the odds to see how well they rank among other bookmakers.

Bonuses and Promotions

Bonuses and promotions are where we get extra serious. We're not looking at promotions that can give British punters a decent reward. We're also checking their terms and conditions to determine whether punters from the UK can claim and use them easily.

Payment Methods

Some popular payment methods in the UK are debit cards, Apple Pay, PayPal, Skrill and Neteller. Each sportsbook should feature these options. The more alternatives it has, the better. More so, we inspect the banking policies to check the minimum and maximum limits, processing times and fees.

User Experience

Every expert will tell you that the devil’s in the details, so we make sure not to miss anything. We’re testing the sportsbook’s mobile compatibility, customer support, available odds types, page load speed, design and registration process. All of these factors can make a huge difference.

Online Betting Laws in the UK

The UK is one of the best-regulated markets not just in Europe, but in the world. The Gambling Act 2005 has laid the foundation for online sportsbooks and gambling sites. According to the Gambling Act, online sports betting sites are allowed to operate in the UK, but only if they hold a valid licence from the UK Gambling Commission.

Players need to be over 18 years old to be able to place bets on sports online. Every operator is required to verify the identity of each registered player before they make their first deposit. After a study found that credit cards can lead to gambling addiction, the UK Gambling Commission decided to ban them in 2020.

British bettors can't use credit cards to make deposits and withdrawals, and can't connect credit cards to e-wallets so that they can use the funds to bet on sports online. Each operator is required to enforce responsible gambling practices.

They need to feature self-exclusion programs, provide players with limits and have partnerships with UK-based responsible gambling agencies such as GamCare, the Responsible Gambling Council and the National Helpline.

Additional laws are also present, but they apply to online casinos only. One of them is a restriction on the maximum bet per round. Under-24s can wager a maximum of £2 per round. Players aged 25 or more can wager £5 per round. The latest law changes also state that bonuses and promotions cannot have wagering requirements that exceed x10.

Most Popular Sports to Bet On In The UK

The best online sportsbooks offer a variety of sports that you can bet. That provides punters with flexibility in their choices. Of course, some sports are more popular than others when it comes to placing bets. In the UK, the top three sports on which residents like to place bets are:

• Football
• Horse racing
• Cricket

Football

Football is the undisputed king of sports in the UK, not just for betting but for watching as well. On average, around 30,000 people attend games in the top-tier league in the country – the Premier League. The Championship draws around 15,000 people in attendance per match every year.

Thousands more like to place bets on football leagues as well as tournaments such as the FA Cup and the Community Shield. Some bet types that English people like to place are:

• Match winner
• Over/under goals
• Handicaps
• Exact score

Horse Racing

Some of the world's most prestigious horse racing events take place in the UK. These include the Cheltenham Festival, Grand National, and the Royal Ascot. One of the main reasons why people visit these events is so that they can place bets on them.

Others like to enjoy the online atmosphere and, as such, they register at the best online sportsbooks in the UK to do so. To win, to show, to place, Superfecta, Quinella, and Trifecta are some of the bet types that British people often choose.

Cricket

Interestingly enough, cricket is the third most popular sport to bet on in the UK. In terms of viewership, cricket grabs the no.2 spot, but if we take sports betting into consideration, it drops to the third place.

This sport has been a part of the culture for centuries, and residents aren't shy to place bets on competitions such as the One-Day Cup, T20 Blast and even the Cricket World Cup. A few popular bet types for British players are: 

• Over/under
• Match winner
• Outrights
• Man of the match
• Top bowler
• Innings runs

How To Start Placing Bets On Your Favourite Sports

The process of placing bets on your favourite sports at UK bookmakers is very simple and fast. If you’re relatively new to the game, here’s what you need to do to start your betting journey.

Pick a UK Sportsbook

Browse our list of online sportsbooks that can operate in the UK legally. Check their features and see what they have to offer. Compare their services and see which ones come out on top. Then, pick a site that’s closest to your preferences.

Register an Account

Access the official website of the UK sportsbook and click on the registration button. Provide the bookmaker with some basic information about yourself. Make sure you read the terms and conditions before you accept them. Review the information and finalise the process.

Complete the Verification Process

As soon as you register, the bookmaker will require you to verify your account. You can do so by sending a photo of your ID and a utility bill in your name. The idea of verification is to determine your residential address, your legal age, and to check if you’re enrolled in a problem gambling organisation.

Deposit Money To Your Account

Click the cashier section and go to the deposit menu. Browse the list of accepted payment methods and pick one that suits your taste. Enter the deposit amount. This amount can't be lower than the minimum requirement. Confirm the transaction and check your casino balance.

Start Placing Bets

The money should arrive in your account within seconds. If eligible, you'll also claim a welcome bonus. Browse the sports and pick your bets. Click/tap on the bet type that you want to place, and it'll automatically be added to your slip. Enter your bet amount and send the ticket.

Bonuses and Promotions at UK Betting Sites

UK betting sites offer a variety of bonuses and promotions to registered punters. They can help you have a much more entertaining experience. You should keep in mind that every bonus at UK bookmakers features terms and conditions.

Some of them are minimum deposit requirement, wagering requirements, validity period, minimum odds, number of selections, etc. If you want to claim a promo, use it and then withdraw the winnings that you make with it, you must meet them. The types of bonuses that you can come across at sports betting sites are the following.

Welcome Bonus

As the name suggests, this bonus is offered to new players at a UK sportsbook. It's a one-time promotion, and it expires forever after you claim it. Bookmakers usually match your deposit and give you extra funds to bet with. In some cases, they might give you the match bonus in the form of a free bet.

Free Bets

Free bets can be deposit or no deposit bonuses. They're usually valid for specific sports. When claiming them, you'll often come across minimum odds requirements and a minimum number of selections.

Deposit Bonuses

Match and reload bonuses are usually weekly promotions that require you to make a deposit. They match your deposit and give you extra funds to bet with. Wagering requirements are a common term here, so make sure you pay extra attention to them.

Cashback

When you bet for real money at UK betting sites, you might be eligible to claim cashback bonuses. They redeem some of your lost real money amount. Your cashback is a percentage of the money that you lose, and the percentage depends on the policies of the bookmaker.

How to Find the Best Sportsbook in the UK?

When searching for a UK bookmaker that offers security and entertainment, you must always make sure to implement your personal preferences. There are also a few must-check features that will determine whether the bookmaker is a legitimate operator. With that being said, here’s how you can find the best sportsbook in the UK.

1. Double-check the licence. Every sportsbook displays its licence on the footer. Some might fake the credentials, which is why it's important to visit the regulator's website and double-check the information.
2. Take a look at the available payment methods. Does the sportsbook feature your preferred payment method? If yes, are the banking policies pleasing? If not, check whether the platform has decent alternatives.
3. Available sports to bet on. There's no point in registering at a bookmaker that doesn't feature your preferred sport. So, make sure that the platform has your preferred categories. Any extra sections to bet on are just a nice bonus.
4. Extra features. Some punters like to enjoy extra features like having a mobile app, a dedicated casino section, etc. Whatever your preference is, it's great if the bookmaker can meet your expectations.

Verification at UK Betting Sites

UK’s Gambling Act states that every sports betting site is required to verify the identity of registered punters. You must complete verification immediately after you sign up. The documents that you need to upload and send are:

• Proof of ID (a photo of your government-issued ID, passport or driver’s licence)
• Proof of residence (utility bill, bank statement)
• Proof of funds (bank account statement)

Find the Best UK Online Bookmakers and Dive Into a Unique Experience

The online betting industry in the UK is among the best-regulated in the world. There are plenty of legitimate operators that offer their services to residents, and our team made sure to find the ones who meet the highest standards.

You're more than welcome to compare their features and pick a site that suits your preferences. After registering, you can claim a welcome bonus and use it to boost your overall experience.