Betting Sites UK | Best Online Bookmakers

Are you looking for the best UK betting sites? Our industry experts have picked out the top licensed platforms, all approved by the UK Gambling Commission. The selections we have listed provide the highest quality, fully legal betting experience for UK players.

Our Top Betting Sites Picks Explained

In this section, you will find a list of the top-rated UK betting sites, as judged by Nostrabet experts. For each bookmaker, we outline the reasons why the brand was good enough to beat the competition and make it onto this exclusive UK betting sites list. Read our full reviews for more information on each.

Bet365

Bet365 have established itself as one of the biggest names in global betting, and it is easy to see why. The brand offers an exceptional level of choice across the site, whether looking at sports coverage, selection of markets or in-play events. It is not a case of size over substance either, as Bet365 offers so much in terms of quality. Great promotions, regular live-streams and superb mobile apps (iOS and Android) help make Bet365 a complete package. They even run a series of Fantasy Sports games paying cash prizes, many of which are free to play (others require a small buy-in).

Ladbrokes

With history dating back to 1886, Ladbrokes is a brand that has earned much trust over the years. Although still retaining a large high street presence, their online offering attracts more new customers. Full of bonuses, a good selection of markets, and great customer support, it is a place that welcomes all kinds of bettors. Although they focus on so many sports, Ladbrokes is exceptionally good for horse race betting. Boasting so many offers, extra markets, and special bets, it is a paradise for fans of the sport.

William Hill

Another giant of UK betting, William Hill, is one of the most widely recognised bookmakers in the UK. Although their web/app design could perhaps do with a more modern makeover, they provide all the features you would expect from a big name, and more! One of the main benefits of betting here is just how much players can tailor their bets. Through the Bet Builder hub, users can combine several bet builders into a single accumulator bet. Additionally, through the #yourodds feature, players can request odds for markets that do not exist yet. If this was not enough, William Hill would also be big on their odds boosts, allowing users access to top value bets every day.

Betway

This well-established bookmaker is known for its excellent market coverage, competitive odds and responsive, user-friendly platform. Its strengths do not stop there, though, as Betway have plenty of them. They are not as old as some of the other sites here, but have slowly grown into a top-notch UK betting site. They are one of the best brands for Esports betting, and their mobile apps are extremely popular due to their reliability and speed. Speaking of popularity, the Free Bet Club promotion is one of many that Betway customers enjoy, as they can earn £10 in free bets each week.

Perhaps a more underrated element of Betway is their support offering. They keep their extensive help pages regularly updated and have a quality live chat system in place to deal with queries.

LeoVegas

This award-winning brand has scooped up many industry accolades over the years, including the prestigious EGR Operator of the Year award in 2023. Like Betway, they are a slightly newer UK bookmaker but have patiently grown and improved their sportsbook offering. LeoVegas tends to receive more praise for its selection of casino games, but the sportsbook is not a neglected extra. Instead, it is an increasingly important part of the brand’s offering and one that continues to improve. This has seen it introduce a long list of regularly updated ‘special bets’, varied markets on sports like horse racing and football, and great cash out availability.

Hollywoodbets

Hollywoodbets has recently launched a new and improved website, which not only looks great but functions well too. It boasts some excellent features, such as the ‘My Combo’ bet, which lets you create accumulators based on minimum returns or odds per selection. There is also the ‘If Bet’, a type of wager that will only place the next bet if the bet before it wins. Even if you want regular bets, though, this is a great place to wager your money. Hollywoodbets provides strong odds across sports and has a similarly impressive range of markets.

For those of you who like to have their loyalty rewarded, players here can earn perks by completing ‘Missions’. This is a nice extra feature, though not an overly generous one.

Coral

While Coral is a great all-rounder, horse racing is an area where they really stand out. They offer so much here, including regular promotions, extra places, and the useful ‘My Stable’ feature. Players can even sign up for the Coral Racing Club, where they stand to win yard visits and free racing tickets.

Other perks of Coral include their free-to-play games, like the Racing and Football Super Series and their daily Rewards Grabber. Playing these allows users to receive coins, which they can exchange for rewards like bet builders or cash. Coral also provides some of the most extensive responsible gambling controls you are likely to find.

Bwin

The Bwin website offers a useful search function, a personal ‘favourites’ page, well-organised markets, and an enjoyable platform. It may look a little dated with its basic colour scheme and focus on plain text, but it functions impressively well. For people into system bets, note that Bwin has an optional ‘banker’ system which lets you make a certain feature in every line. This is a great option when you have high confidence in a selection.

Elsewhere, Bwin has a small but high-quality selection of virtual sports games including football, basketball and American football.

Betfred

Betfred is a family business and a great UK Success story. From very humble origins, it has grown into one of the UK’s most familiar bookmakers. Part of the reason for their sustained popularity is their array of promotions. As well as offering generous deals for new players, Betfred always runs rewarding offers for existing customers. Typically, sports promotions focus on horse racing and football, but they can also relate to others, e.g. greyhounds. Betfred has many more offers covering other parts of the website (e.g. bingo, casino).

Moving back to sports, Betfred generally provides good markets, lots of in-play events and decent odds. The solid choice of markets does not always extend to sports without a popular following in the UK, though.

How Nostrabet Reviews and Rates UK Bookmakers

At Nostrabet, we follow a structured and expert-led process for all the online betting sites we review. We start by questioning the legitimacy of the site, ensuring it is operational and fully licensed. For UK betting sites, this means having a valid license issued by the Gambling Commission. We also check for any safety vulnerabilities to ensure it is a site we can trust.

If this first hurdle is cleared, our experts will begin with the main review. This means looking at all aspects of the site during a rigorous test of the desktop and mobile platforms. All Nostrabet reviews consider at least 10 factors: security, licensing, customer support, payment methods, sports betting/casino games, betting features, bonus offers, mobile compatibility, player opinion and the user experience. We will also take into account other relevant aspects such as responsible gambling options and the registration process.

Each factor is weighted depending on how important it is. This helps us produce an overall score. You may notice that the betting sites we review tend to score quite well. This is because we are selective with who we choose and focus on brands we would be willing to recommend. We have no favouritism towards any specific brand as we are committed to impartiality. The final opinion of our experts reflects their honest judgement and the findings they have made.

The Best Betting Sites By Sport

We know some of you are interested in betting on a specific sport, rather than a wide mix. With this in mind, we have highlighted the best bookmaker for eight of the most followed sports in the UK. Check out our sport-specific pages for even more information on this.

⚽ Football: Bet365 Scores at Football

When it comes to football betting sites, nobody does it better than Bet365. One standout feature is their range of ongoing football promotions. You have the very valuable ‘sub on play on’ plus ‘2 goals ahead early payout’. They also offer enhanced prices on a lot of top competitions, giving them some of the best odds around.

Don’t forget about the acca boost, which will increase potential winnings on all qualifying football accas. Even a fairly modest five-game acca will enjoy a 10% boost. All these offers aside, Bet365 also do the fundamentals extremely well. This means excellent coverage, regular bet builders and access to great pre-match stats. Elsewhere, Ladbrokes is a strong option for accumulator football bets and for suggesting trending/popular wagers. Betfred is also another fine consideration due to their excellent range of football promotions, such as ‘double delight & hat-trick heaven’, which can even apply to in-play bets.

🏇 Horse Racing: Coral No. 1 for Horses

Given the interest in the sport, many bookmakers manage to impress with horse racing betting. The brand that stands out just above the rest, though, is Coral. Best Odds Guaranteed, regular extra places and special bets are all consistently available. The platform also features handy tools such as ‘build your own racecard’ and ‘My Stable’, which lets you save notes for specific horses. Betting in-race is also a great feature, and coverage extends way beyond the UK & Ireland. Coral covers all notable horse races happening across the globe.

Throw in their fun, free-to-play ‘Racing Super Series’ and you have one great horse racing package. Offering very similar perks is Ladbrokes, which is also a great option. Betfred is also impressed with their built-in ‘Racing Post’ toggle switch, which gives you all the key information in an instant. Finally, Bet365 deserves a mention for its excellent markets, such as winning distance, match-ups, and ‘either to win’. If racing is your thing, then read our horse racing betting sites guide.

🏏Cricket: Bet365 Hits Cricket for Six!

The bookmaker any avid cricket fan should consider first is Bet365, as the experience is top tier. Starting with coverage, Bet365 excels in this area, both in terms of pre-event markets and fixtures. It is worth adding that the choice of in-play markets is especially strong, too. Head into most live matches and you will find a great selection, including some ‘flash bet’ options. These short-lived markets often relate to the action for the current/upcoming over. Bet365 even supports in-play bet builders for some cricket matches, which is a very impressive feature.

In addition, you have regular live streams and a fantastic array of outright markets for the big competitions. There is even a dedicated cricket tips page, featuring insightful articles relating to upcoming events. Although we believe Bet365 is a clear cricketing winner, William Hill supplies an excellent choice of markets, while Bwin has impressive in-play markets and stats. Once again, our cricket betting guide provides more information on this.

🏎 F1 & Motor Racing: Rev up at Bwin

Formula 1, despite its popularity, is not (yet) one of the biggest betting sports. Subsequently, you will find many bookmakers offering a few markets for it, outside of the main ‘race winner’ or ‘world championship winner’ options. The situation is improving though, thanks to sports betting sites like Bwin.

Bwin stand out because they offer a range of unique markets for races and publish the odds early. So, if you wish to place a bet several days before the upcoming Grand Prix, Bwin makes it possible. The only thing Bwin lacks is the option to back a driver to win a race as an each-way bet. You do have this option at Bet365, though, and you are able to access a large selection of outright F1 markets. The choice offered by Bet365 is the best and most varied you will find.

🎮 Esports: Top-rated Betway is Great for Esports

Esports coverage varies significantly at bookmakers, with some taking the sport seriously and others barely paying attention. Betway firmly falls within the former category as they have shown a real commitment to Esports betting. Firstly, they are one of the very few sites offering an Esports-specific bonus for new customers. Secondly, the range of Esports they cover is very strong. Outside of popular options such as League of Legends, CS2, Dota 2 and Valorant, they provide odds for other games such as Overwatch, Call of Duty, Rainbow Six and Honor of King. Their selection of markets for Esports fixtures is just as impressive, with most games having a wide variety available. Finally, Betway regularly provide live streams for Esports fixtures.

For us, Betway is a clear favourite in this area, but Bet365 also covers a long list of Esports fixtures and is great for outright markets.

🎾 Tennis: Bet365 Also Aces Tennis

Not for the first time, Bet365 stands as our top-rated name for a specific sport. There are a few reasons why our experts picked Bet365 over the rest when looking at tennis. For one, they provide some extremely useful pre-game stats. Selecting the bar chart icon will reveal genuinely useful stats such as head-to-head performance, surface record, form, and recent results (including past odds). Bet365, as they do in so many areas, also boasts a wonderful selection of markets, allowing punters to try out many different betting options. Double faults, breaks, aces, sets betting, game betting, handicaps – you will find all these and a lot more. On top of this, Bet365 commonly offers Bet Builders and Bet Boosts across their tennis offering.

Coming in second place is Hollywoodbets, as they too offer an extremely wide choice of tennis markets in many instances. Betfred, meanwhile, takes third spot thanks to covering so many tennis matches in-play. Additionally, they provide good odds – learn more in our tennis bookies guide.

🎯 Darts: Bullseye for Hollywoodbets

We are giving the darts crown to Hollywoodbets thanks to their superb selection of markets. Even excluding big championship matches, Hollywoodbets will regularly give customers many markets to pick from. Common options include leg betting, checkout betting, handicaps, 180s and correct score. They also provide very solid odds across their darts markets, comparable to the best names, making them good value for money. Another perk about placing your darts bets at Hollywoodbets is the large number of good-quality live streams.

Coming in with a very similar offering as Hollywoodbets for darts is Bet365, making them another excellent option. With Bet365, you also have the added benefit of using bet builders to combine multiple darts markets into one bet.

🥊 Boxing: Ladbrokes KOs the Opposition

Payout rates for boxing tend to be lower than those for other sports, but some provide better rates than others. After crunching the numbers, our experts found that Ladbrokes were among the leading names for payout rates, meaning they have good odds for boxing. They offer cash out for most markets, too, of which there tend to be many. Ladbrokes features all the big fights, as you would expect, but also many more minor affairs.

Given that Coral runs on the same platform, they are also a great option for boxing. You can occasionally find different odds on Coral, but they are often the same as those of Ladbrokes. Two other great boxing options are Bet365 and Hollywoodbets, as for the ‘to win the fight’ market, they do not usually offer a draw. This means, should a draw occur, you will get your stake back. As most other bookmakers offer a draw in this market, they do not give refunds in the event of a draw.

Best Betting Sites by Feature

Rather than sport, some players are more interested in a particular feature when they bet. Features can make a huge difference to the playing experience. Popular options include bet builders, cashout and best odds guaranteed (for horse racing and greyhound racing). Some features give bettors greater control, others provide value for money, while others simply improve the experience.

Odds

Picking the top site for odds is slightly tricky, as some names give better payout rates for some sports but not others. Others also enhance winnings on certain bets or regularly ‘boost’ odds on selected markets. All things considered, though, Hollywoodbets shines the most when it comes to odds. They offer consistently strong payout rates across the board, ensuring customers always have good value bets. Across many sports, you can find them with a payout percentage close to the 94%-95% mark. Many other names come in a bit lower, more consistently around 91%-93%. Although it may not seem like much, this does add up over time.

Spread Betting

Spread betting can mean a type of bet where winnings/losses are determined by the accuracy of the wager. So, the more accurate the bet, the more you win, but the more inaccurate it is, the more you lose. Here, though, we mean spread betting in the sense of a handicap bet. So a team or player to win when a specific points value has been applied. You may see this listed as ‘spread’ bets or handicap/Asian handicaps. American sports tend to have this feature more than most, but Bet365 provide such markets extensively, across many sports. This makes them the top choice in this area.

Market Variety

There is only one name we can pick for this, and it is Bet365. They have such a commitment to giving users access to a varied selection of markets. Among their options, you can find unique markets that you will struggle to find elsewhere. What is especially impressive is how many they offer across sports. Where other bookmakers might just have a few for a mid-tier tennis or cricket match, Bet365 usually have lots. Pick a random sporting fixture, and it is usually Bet365 offering the most markets. Hollywoodbets does a solid job in this area, though, even if they fall short of Bet365’s offering.

Offers

William Hill deliver a varied range of betting offers that extends across various sports and into the casino side of the website. Their extensive offering is ideal for players who like to bet in different areas or have a particular focus on football. William Hill runs several long-standing football deals that can really make a lot of difference to the success/payout of bets. Bet365 are also great at running offers across sports, often in the form of early payouts.

Other shoutouts go to Betfred for their excellent horse racing and football offers. Additionally, Coral for their great selection of free-to-play promotions.

Mobile Betting

There are a lot of exceptional mobile apps out there, but Betway is our pick of the bunch. Performance-wise, you could not ask for any more. Pages load extremely quickly, and the simple design is very user-friendly. It also has a great general search function and even a search tool within fixtures to help locate markets. Unsurprisingly, both the Android and iOS apps are extremely well-rated in the App Store and Google Play Store. We also like that Betway regularly update both apps. Through this, they can make regular improvements and fix any minor issues.

In-Play Betting

Given that live betting often requires players to make bets fast, it is important that they can access the game and market they want quickly. With this in mind, Bwin is a great live betting choice. The design of the platform makes betting rapid, as you can see key information on the overview page. If heading into a specific fixture, there are lots of category options rather than an overwhelming list.

Match statistics can be a little lacking in detail, however. If you want a superior selection of these, Ladbrokes is a better option as they are perhaps the best for this kind of information. They also tend to provide a great selection of markets, giving in-play bettors real choice in their wagers.

Betting Tools

The best betting sites UK all offer a range of tools to enhance your experience and give you more control over your bets. Tools can come in the shape of information that aids your bets, such as statistics and match trackers, or they alter the actual bet like bet builders and cash out.

William Hill and Ladbrokes are great picks for betting features because of their ability to combine different bet builders. Then you have brands like Coral offering full and partial cash out, rather than just the former. Overall, though, Bet365 have the most complete package as they have many such tools, plus the most sophisticated pre-game statistics available.

Live Streaming

You can find reliable, good-quality streams at an increasing number of bookmakers today. So, what separates Bet365 from the rest is the sheer number of streams they have available. Helpfully, their in-play page has ‘streaming’ as one of the category options, so you can filter only matches that come with live footage. Be warned, there is likely to be a lot of them. The requirements for accessing streams are low, too. All you need is a funded account or to have placed a qualifying bet.

While unable to compete with Bet365, Ladbrokes and Coral both offer a lot of live streams. Helpfully, you can select the ‘watch live’ button on the in-play page to only show fixtures with this feature.

Casino Games

Given that LeoVegas is more of a casino featuring a sportsbook than the other way around, it is little wonder it leads the way for casino games. Offering a huge selection of games ranging from slingo to blackjack and from bingo to ‘crash’ games, the selection here is excellent. This also applies to live casino games as LeoVegas has teamed up with the top providers to give customers access to the most immersive and original games. If this was not enough, LeoVegas has its own progressive jackpot prize, exclusive games and an excellent range of casino promotions.

If online casino play does interest you, check out our page looking at the best online casinos in the UK.

Security & Trust

All our top UK betting sites score brilliantly well here. However, founded in 1967, Betfred is a brand that scores especially well for security. It has helped that there has long been a public face of the business, owner Fred Done. They have had no reported data breaches over the years, which says a lot about their security measures. The only minor downside is that, according to the Gambling Commission’s insolvency rating system, funds in Betfred accounts are not protected. Given Betfred’s profits, this is of no real concern, but firms like Bwin, Ladbrokes and Betway, among others, all offer higher protection.

For account security, having access to two-factor authentication can make a big difference. This is something Coral offers and they will also send alerts the moment a new device accesses your account.

How To Choose The Right Betting Site For You

With so many UK betting sites available today, finding the right one for you can feel a little overwhelming. While a seasoned punter may like to keep multiple accounts open to take advantage of different offers and odds, others simply want everything on one site.

If you make the correct choice, it is possible to have all your needs met by just one bookmaker. You are unlikely to randomly find the right choice for you, however. This is why it is worth doing a bit of research before settling on a bookmaker. Picking the wrong choice may cause you to face a frustrating experience.

Here at Nostrabet, we can highlight the best overall brands and the best bookmakers for certain sports and features, but we cannot tell you what the best option is for you. Betting preferences are ultimately down to the individual and vary significantly. If you are unsure which bookmaker to try, we recommend thinking about these three areas:

• Trust & Confidence – As bookmakers deal with your money and personal information, safety is always a priority. Stick solely to secure and fully licensed sites where you are confident that your transactions and personal details are safe. A wide range of responsible gambling measures can also increase your levels of confidence while playing.
• Reliability & Market Presence – Look for a bookmaker that is well-established, as they are most likely to still be around in a few years. Betting is a tough market to crack, and a lot of new names disappear after a short while. That may leave you out of pocket at the worst, or looking for a new UK betting site at the best.
• Personal Fit – Lastly but not least, think about what is most important to you, what things do you want your bookmaker to provide? The best way to determine what matters most is to create a checklist of your habits and priorities. Odds, range of markets, offers, and site style and navigation are just some of the factors to consider.

Most Common UK Bookmakers’ Deposit Methods

To get started at a bookmaker, most players will need a minimum deposit of just £5 or £10. Users can usually pick from a small range of payment methods, with the most common options outlined below. Normally, players will need to withdraw to the same account that made the deposit. The minimum withdrawal amount is often £5/£10, and requests are usually processed immediately. Delays can occur if players are required to complete some verification steps, however.

PayPal

A popular e-wallet that has been a staple of British bookmakers for decades. It is widely available (list of sites accepting PayPal) and avoids the need to share any card details. Typically, any deposit or withdrawal using PayPal will not incur any sort of fee.

Google Pay

A convenient mobile payment option which is especially popular among Android users. It links to your debit card and allows for fast, secure deposits directly from your device. Note, you cannot use credit cards via Google Pay due to Gambling Commission regulations.

Apple Pay

Another popular mobile payment option, but one exclusive to Apple devices such as iPhones. As with Google Pay, Apple Pay links to your selected debit cards, enabling quick deposits in just a couple of taps.

PaySafeCard

A prepaid voucher system, which avoids you having to share financial information. PaysafeCard is a good method for exact spending, as you can only top up your account by the value of the prepaid code.

Debit Cards

A classic way to pay, but still one that is extremely popular and is the most widely available. Just enter your debit card details for quick deposits and withdrawals, usually with zero fees. Many bookmakers support near-instant withdrawals when using participating Mastercard and Visa cards.

Phone

Pay By Mobile sites allow customers to top up their betting account via a mobile phone or by adding deposits to a phone bill. Usually, this method comes with a lower upper deposit than most others.

Other popular UK deposit methods

Apart from the aforementioned payment methods, UK betting sites also offer additional alternatives. They include the following options:

• Bank Transfer
• EcoPayz
• Neteller
• Revolut
• Skrill
• Trustly

Regulation & Licensing of Bookmakers In The UK

Online betting in the UK is governed by some of the most stringent gambling laws in the world, designed to protect both consumers and operators. This regulatory framework ensures that betting remains safe, legal, and responsible for everyone involved. Every UK-licensed bookmaker must be authorised and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. This is a government body that enforces strict standards around fairness, security, and responsible gambling. Companies found breaching their licensing terms can be hit with big fines, often worth several million pounds.

In addition to the required licensing, many reputable bookmakers are also affiliated with respected industry bodies such as IBAS (Independent Betting Adjudication Service) and the International Betting Integrity Association. Others may also show ISO/IEC certifications provided by eCOGRA and/or have partnerships with responsible gambling organisations like GamCare.

Such partnerships and certificates help show us that sites are secure and committed to fair play. Nostrabet would never recommend sites we felt were lacking in these areas.

Responsible Gambling

Licensed UK bookmakers are required to support responsible gambling by offering tools that help users stay in control. These include deposit limits, reality checks, self-exclusion options, and direct links to professional support services. Although there are regulatory minimums, some bookmakers offer more tools and resources than required. If you ever feel your gambling is becoming a problem, 24/7 support and advice are available via the National Gambling Helpline at GamCare.

New Gambling Commission rules require all UK bookmakers to prompt customers to set a financial limit before making their first deposit. We strongly advise using this option to set up a limit suitable for your budget. We also stress the importance of taking regular breaks and being aware of the early signs of addiction.

The Advantages of Online Betting vs. High Street Bookmakers

Online betting has surged in recent years, partly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which removed the option of offline betting. With more punters no longer requiring physical stores to place their bets, the number of high street betting stores is on the decline. Still, there are several brands such as Ladbrokes, William Hill, Coral and Bet365 (among others) that you can find in towns and cities across the UK. These shops continue to serve people who prefer the more social and tactile experience of placing bets in person. It also allows players to place bets in cash.

Despite this, most people prefer the sheer convenience of online betting, especially via their smartphone. Through the top online betting apps, customers can browse hundreds of markets effortlessly, instantly see the projected winnings, and place bets in just a few taps. In the event of a winning bet, players can collect their winnings immediately rather than having to travel to a shop. Another benefit of the online experience is its 24/7 nature, as betting shops close every night.

Summary & Conclusion

Choosing the best UK betting site comes down to expert insight, trusted user reviews, supported payment options, and overall reliability. By focusing on these key factors, bettors can find a site that fits their individual needs and preferences. Based on thorough research and comparison, the UK bookmakers featured in our guide represent the top choices across all major categories. Each provides a safe, enjoyable, and well-rounded betting experience and reading our analysis will help you find the perfect fit for you.

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