UK Best Sportsbetting Sites

The UK market is the unrivaled champion when it comes to the world of sports betting. There are hundreds of gambling sites UK players can choose from when betting online. With so many options to pick from, deciding for just one site to play at can be a difficult task for a casual punter. We review the best betting websites the UK has to offer to bring our readers the most accurate information on the latest and best betting offers, promo codes, and odds currently on the market. On our website, players can find reviews on both veteran and new online bookies. At BetCompare, you will find out everything there is to know about the best sports betting sites in the UK.

Betting with Real Money in the UK

The UK betting market is one of the biggest in the world and is home to some of the best online bookmakers. In view of this, the UK gambling and betting market require strict and precisely defined legislation. Sportsbetting and gambling have a longstanding history in modern British society, as they have been legal in the UK since 1960. The governing authority that oversees all betting activities in the UK is the UK Gambling Commission. It is the most respected gambling authority both in the UK and outside of UK borders. Without a seal of approval from the UKGC, an online betting site cannot operate within the borders of the UK.

The most important piece of legislation pertaining to the UK gambling industry is the Gambling Act 2005. This act is designed to cover all forms of gambling and applies to players and betting websites from England, Wales, and Scotland. The Gambling Act sets the most important principles of the industry, including the minimum legal gambling age for wagering at casinos or sports betting premises, which is set at 18 years of age for all UK players.

In addition to the gambling laws and player protection legislation, taxes pay a big role in the betting industry. This is also a frequently asked question among the players themselves. From the player’s standpoint, UK punters don’t have to pay any taxes on their winnings, no matter the amount. The current UK betting law places the tax burden on online bookies and currently stands at 15%. Such a player-friendly tax is just one of the many reasons why the UK market is one of the most competitive and popular ones in the world.

Regulations for Sports Betting in the UK

As the supervising authority of the UK online betting scene, the UKGC has created a detailed list of requirements betting sites online must abide by to be a part of the industry. All betting sites are required to comply with the following compliance rules:

• Age and Identity Verification – During the first years of online gambling, this activity was a very popular pastime among many underage players. To put an end to this, the UKGC has introduced a requirement for age and ID verification measures to all operators. This is a legal obligation for all operators that provide their services in the UK.
• Dispute Resolution Support – Another stringent obligation of every sports betting operator is to provide its customers with an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) free of charge that would serve as an adjudicator in case of a dispute. One of the most notable examples of an independent ADR is eCogra.
• Transparent Advertising – The UKGC has long battled providers to enforce more transparency, especially forcing sites to clearly state all of the important T&Cs pertaining to their offer. Today, every site that wants to operate in the UK must openly list its payment methods, betting markets, minimum odds, bonus requirements, and expiration dates and transaction limits, among others.

Why Do Betting Online in the UK?

Players who are betting on UK betting sites find themselves in a truly privileged position compared to bettors from other markets. With such clearly defined and effective player protection procedures in place on which we touched in the previous sections, it’s clear that UK players can revel in the comfort of playing at strictly regulated and completely safe betting sites. Taking this into account, those who decide to try their luck at the sports betting sites the UK has to offer can enjoy plenty of benefits, including:

Strict Licencing and Responsible Gambling Policies

The UKGC has taken on the role of the leading gambling authorities across the globe. Other jurisdictions like the Malta Gaming Authority and the GBGA in Gibraltar are also held in high regard but don’t quite enjoy the reputation of the UKGC. Betting sites licenced by the UK Gambling Commission are also required to cooperate with independent gambling organizations like GamCare, BeGambleAware, and GamblersAnonymous. With this in mind, UK players can sign up with any bookie from the list of betting sites featured here, knowing that they are well taken care of at all times.

24/7 Customer Support

The best betting sites, like those operating in the UK, show genuine care for their customers and take great effort in ensuring customer satisfaction. Most top betting sites offer around the clock customer support available at all days of the year. Typically, players can choose from three support channels – live chat, email, and phone support. Backed up with such a service, UK players can wager without any worries, knowing that the bookie’s support will always be there for them in case they need any assistance.

Best Odds

The main purpose of online betting is to provide entertainment for those who choose to engage in it. But, every player wants to win as much as possible and get the most for the money which is put into the site. That’s why most punters often decide to use bet calculators when playing online. Betting calculators are useful tools that directly compare odds from several sites to offer the best returns for online betting. Some UK sites such as William Hill, Boylesports 888sport and Genting Bet even offer best odds guaranteed promotions.

Emerging Trends in Online Sports Betting

The easy accessibility through user-friendly devices has enabled the online sports betting industry to grow in many different directions. With constant innovation through technology, the industry has seen a rapid emergence of two completely new forms of online betting.

Social Betting

Several accepted definitions are used to describe social betting. The most common one is that it is a type of betting that allows bettors to interact with other bettors and include them in a social betting circle. This type of online betting is especially popular among the younger betting audience, players who spend the majority of their online time using social media platforms. Social betting allows players to share tips and challenge one another, which makes the entire process of betting even more interactive and immersive. While social betting is still a growing market, it has the potential to become a big part of the UK online gaming sector.

eSports

Popular eSports games like CS: GO, Hearthstone and League of Legends have been breaking viewership records for quite some time now, but over the past couple of years, they have also broken into a whole different industry – sports betting. Since 2016, eSports betting has experienced exponential growth and is nowadays, one of the fastest-growing branches in the industry in terms of popularity, and can be found in some of the best betting sites in the UK. While most UK punters still aren’t quite familiar with how eSports betting works, the potential for this market is undoubtedly very high. eSports can be a lucrative betting market to wager on, but it’s important to know how it works and understand the betting odds since there are many different betting markets, based on the type of featured game.

Factors to look for in UK sports betting sites

When we take a look at the best gambling sites available out there, we can confidently the vast majority of the best online betting sites come from the UK. This is because UK players can enjoy enhanced benefits compared to bettors from other parts of the world. To pick the most suitable site, every punter should consider the following aspects:

Variety of Sports and Markets

Most UK websites offer several dozen types of betting markets and many more competitions and events to place their bet on. From simple bets that revolve around staking a wager on the winner to Asian handicap bets and, Win to Nil and over/under cards, UK players don’t have to worry about a shortage of betting options when wagering online. The sheer number of supported markets makes the UK gambling scene the richest in variety across the globe.

Mobile Betting

Mobile betting sites are quickly becoming the norm among UK players, and for a good reason. Mobile betting, especially through dedicated betting apps, is much more streamlined and convenient to use. Players can bet whenever, from wherever they want, as long as they have a stable internet connection. Some betting sites even offer special mobile bonuses and benefits for mobile customers. Today is certainly a great time to be a mobile player, and the future will certainly bring even more mobile gambling innovation as the industry continues to develop.

Live Betting and Streaming

Sportsbetting is exciting on its own, but it gains an entirely new dimension when paired up with live betting and live streaming features. With dynamic and constantly-changing odds, live betting has quickly become the preferred type of betting for many UK punters. Several top UK betting sites offer live streaming features. This includes sites such as Unibet, Coral, and Ladbrokes, which enable their users to place live bets and stream the game live to see how their bets unfold.

Betting Bonuses

Last, but definitely not least, betting bonuses are one of the biggest reasons many players opt for a specific site. With a saturated market, such as the UK gambling scene, bookies are competing with each other and offer many different bonuses and promotions in an effort to attract potential customers to their platforms. With special welcome offers, free bets, cashback promotions and many other deals, players can find the best free bet offers or cash bonuses according to their preferences and enjoy a highly-personalised betting experience.

FAQ Section

Should the welcome bonus affect my decision when choosing a sportsbook?

The welcome bonus offer should definitely play a part in every player’s decision making when choosing an online sportsbook, and you can find some of the best welcome offers in the market on this page. Picking the most suitable bonus based on individual preferences and budget can make a big difference when betting online. With that said, it shouldn’t be the biggest reason to sign up with a site, as players should always have in mind all of the other factors which we have mentioned above.

Is it safe to bet online?

Betting online is generally very safe for most players, as long as they choose a trustworthy site. In this regard, UK players are in the best position out of all sports betting enthusiasts, as the betting sites UK has to offer are some of the most reputable in the world. Every site that wants to operate in the UK needs to have a license from the UKGC, the most prominent licensing authority in the world of gambling.

What sort of payment options are allowed on UK betting sites?

The UK betting industry is the biggest and best-developed in the world. That’s why it comes to no surprise that UK sports bettors can enjoy a vast number of payment methods at their disposal. The most popular transaction methods include PayPal, e-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller, credit and debit cards, bank wire transfer and mobile banking solutions. Out of the lot, betting with PayPal is an especially popular option among players. Certain online betting UK sites also support cryptocurrency transactions, although the number of such casinos is still relatively low.

What devices can I use to access online betting sites?

Nowadays, UK sports betting sites provide their customers with the option of wagering from almost any device of their choosing. This means that players can place wagers from their desktop computers, laptops, tablets, mobile devices, or any other devices powerful enough to run a browser-based betting service. Moreover, the top betting sites in the country even provide their players with several different mobile betting apps, which are available on Android and iOS software, allowing them to enjoy an even more streamlined online betting experience.