Reviews and ratings for top online sports betting sites and bookmakers in the UK. Sportsbook Review has reviewed more than 1,000 online bookies since 1999. We can help you separate the best betting sites from the ones to avoid.
Best legal online betting sites:
William Hill Review
William Hill has been a leading player in the gambling world for decades now, and it’s easy to see why. The company has adapted to an ever-changing gambling scene, introducing numerous new developments and cutting-edge technology to keep ahead of its competition.
Features
Features
- Favorable odds due to player-to-player exchange.
- Large limits.
- Great customer service.
Matchbook Review
Matchbook is a betting exchange, so it works slightly differently from your typical bookmaker. Still, it has a great selection of sports and hugely favourable odds for bettors, new and experienced alike.
Features
Features
- Big name in sports betting.
- Solid reputation as a trustworthy company.
- Cutting-edge betting site and app.
Ladbrokes Review
Ladbrokes Welcome Bonus: Bet £/€5 and Get £/€20
Simply bet £/€5 within 14 days of registering your account at minimum odds of 1/2 (1.5, -200) and get £/€20 in free bets (broken into 4 x £5). Your free bet must be used within 7 days of being credited to your account; otherwise, it will expire. Free bets are only valid on select sportsbook markets and for players 18+ in UK or Ireland only.
Features
Features
- Great reputation amongst UK players.
- Disruptive technology to predict changes in the market.
- Wide range of sports offerings, including esports.
Smarkets Review
Smarkets is a UK betting exchange with a strong emphasis on horse racing. But there are many other sports to bet on at Smarkets, from football and cricket to boxing and tennis. Smarkets also takes bets on eSports and offers in-play betting on a huge range of games.
Features
Features
- Extensive list of betting markets.
- Massive live betting selection.
- Clean web interface.
Coral Review
Coral is a major player in the UK gambling scene, along with the likes of Bet365 and William Hill. They remain a leading name in sports betting, offering many markets on all the sports players love to bet on.
Features
Features
- Set your own odds with their exchange.
- Large wagering limits.
- Quality software.
Betfair Review
Betfair Welcome Bonus: Get £100 in Free Bets
Betfair offers new UK sportsbook users a maximum of £100 in free bets. Only deposits made using a Credit/Debit Card or ApplePay are eligible. To achieve £100 in free bets, you must place five £10 single bets at the sportsbook, each at min odds of 1/2 (1.5). After your five qualifying bets have been settled, you will receive a £20 free bet. The process can be repeated up to five times.
Features
Features
- Well-established on UK online gambling scene.
- Good selection of welcome bonuses and promotions.
- Extensive range of sports betting options.
Sportingbet Review
Our review team has been consistently impressed by the extensive collection of markets available at Sportingbet, not to mention the tempting odds and brilliant live betting options.
Features
Quick links On this page
- Best legal online betting sites:
- Great Bonuses
- Variety Of UK Betting Options
- Fast Withdrawal Times
- Strong Banking Options
- Sleek Mobile Interface
- Great Customer Service
- Reduced Juice
- Early Lines
- Country Restrictions
- Which UK Betting Site Is Best?
- Our Standards
- Betting sites by category
- UK Betting Sites FAQs
Great Bonuses
The UK sports betting market is a crowded one, with plenty of great options available to new players and veteran punters alike. One way to stand out from the crowd is by offering a compelling sign-up bonus offer. Sports betting operators can be extremely creative when it comes to providing a bonus, and we will analyze how strong each operator is compared to their rivals.
You cannot simply take a betting site bonus at face value. A betting site might offer you up £1,000 in free bets as a 50% bonus when you sign up for a new account, but the rollover requirement might be 10 times. A rollover requirement is an amount you must bet – graded, settled wagers only – before requesting a withdrawal.
This means you need to bet your sportsbook bonus money 10 times and still have a profit at the end of it before you can think about making a withdrawal. The true bonus is therefore 2.5% as opposed to 50%. Some betting sites offer everyone a straightforward 100% sign-up bonus, whereas others throw in all manner of stipulations on the bonus they provide. Our reviewers take all this into account when assessing the strength of each sports betting site’s bonus.
We also distinguish between a free play bonus and a cash bonus when assessing the relative strengths of the gambling sites that we review. A sports betting cash bonus is more appealing than a free play bonus, as it means you keep your stake if the bonus wager at the sports betting website is successful. We will always explain the actual value of each sports betting bonus in clear terms in order to earn maximum value for anyone that wants to bet on sports. Once you have signed up for an account, a betting site should work hard to retain your business. After all, rival betting sites are constantly bidding to lure you away. Many betting sites therefore offer ongoing bonus deals, free bets and loyalty programs to keep sports bettors happy and loyal. You can often benefit from attractive reload bonuses when you visit the best sports betting sites. They are not always as impressive as the welcome bonuses at the best betting sites, but they can help you earn a profit over the course of the season while you bet online. We will also take these reload bonus deals into account when reviewing a sports betting site. The top sports online gambling sites will also provide regular tournaments, competitions and boosted odds offers for sports betting customers. These promotions take place on a short-term, seasonal basis over the course of the year. You can therefore benefit from a steady stream of exciting offers, and it often pays to sign up for accounts at multiple UK betting sites to ensure you do not miss out. We will shine a light on the best betting sites in the UK for bonuses, but we only recommend safe, secure, reliable operators that have a long history of paying customers out in full and on time.
Variety Of UK Betting Options
This is the most important consideration for many sports bettors. Great sports betting sites will cover all the major competitions – football, horse racing, tennis – along with greyhounds, golf, American football, U.S. college football and basketball, NBA, NHL, boxing, MMA, motor sports, table tennis, cycling, rugby, cricket betting sites and athletics. Anyone that likes betting on sports online will appreciate a broad pool of sports to choose from on a daily basis. The market leading sports wagering sites will cover a number of more niche sports too, including Aussie rules, badminton, chess, darts, futsal, handball, lacrosse, volleyball, wrestling, Gaelic sports and winter sports. Esports are also growing extremely popular, and the top sites offering wagers on sports online will all have dedicated sections for competitive gaming. Most cover League of Legends, CS:GO and Dota 2, along with a range of sports sims, but the top sports betting operators cover the likes of Overwatch, Call of Duty, Rocket League, PUBG, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Hearthstone and fighting games too. Entertainment markets are also featured at many leading sports wagering sites. Politics wagering is another important category for UK sports wagering operators.
A great sports betting site will also cover each sport in significant depth. When it comes to football, it is not enough to simply cover the Premier League, Champions League, La Liga, Serie A and Ligue 1. The best betting sites will offer lines on a range of tournaments taking place around the world.
Sports bettors also appreciate the opportunity to choose from a number of betting markets on each game. Some betting sites simply offer the classic moneyline, point spread and totals options, but nowadays many top sports betting sites offer alternate lines and all manner of props, including player props, game props and exotic props. When it comes to a marquee tennis match, for example, you can bet on outcomes like number of sets, number of points, winner of the third game of the second set, total points between both players and so on.
Live, in-play betting is becoming an increasingly important part of the mix, and top sports betting sites will offer live wagering on all the big games and many smaller games. You should find a range of betting lines to choose from while the action unfolds, and live betting provides you with a really exciting way to enjoy a game. The odds will change in real time while you watch the game.
Many people that bet on sports online prefer live wagering to pre-match betting, as it gives them a chance to soak up the action and make plays from a position of strength. If one sports team makes a sluggish start, you can react quickly and enjoy live sports betting markets while the odds compilers are still playing catch-up. Some of the top sports betting websites even allow you to live stream the action while betting on the sports. If that is not possible, you should benefit from regularly updated stats and perhaps an interactive graphic while the sports betting markets are updated.
Fast Withdrawal Times
Betting sites are always keen to take your hard-earned cash, but making withdrawals can be another matter entirely. Many betting sites have a reputation for failing to pay customers their winnings, while others will delay payments for a long time before finally agreeing to release the funds. We have been holding these shady sports betting sites to account since 1999 and we will always shine a light on rogue operators. Withdrawal times naturally vary according to the method you choose. One really quick method is Bitcoin. Many sites will pay you out within an hour if you choose BTC or another popular cryptocurrency. Withdrawals to e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller are generally rapid, but you may have to contend with processing fees. One method that is really slow is a check. This can take many business days to arrive, and the same is true of a wire transfer, so choose one of the faster methods like Bitcoin if you are in a rush to get your money.
Regardless of the method you choose, good sports betting websites will strive to pay you in a prompt fashion. A number of the best online sports betting operators pride themselves on rapid payouts, as they know that this will boost their reputation and keep customers coming back to bet again and again. We consult our vast community of online sports bettors and gauge feedback on payout times, while we also bet with real money at each of the betting sites in operation and make withdrawals before judging how strong it is on this front.
Strong Banking Options
The ease with which you can make deposits and withdrawals is a key consideration when choosing the UK betting sites that are right for you. Most sports fans appreciate a wide range of deposit options to choose from. Lots of betting sites allow you to deposit using major credit cards or make e-wallet deposits through the likes of Skrill, Neteller, PayPal and many others. Credit card processing varies depending on the sports betting operator you visit. Our detailed review pages are intended to assist you in this matter. Sports betting sites have also fully embraced the cryptocurrency revolution, and many will allow you to deposit with Bitcoin and other digital coins. There are generally plenty of obscure deposit options to choose from when betting online, including prepaid cards, vouchers and pay by phone methods. You should be able to deposit and withdraw cash in a safe and secure manner when betting online.
The best betting sites use the top rated SSL encryption software to protect your financial details when making a deposit. Some bettors like to use Bitcoin for deposits as it does not require any personal details, but sports betting sites should offer safe deposits regardless of the method used.
You should be aware that many betting sites change the range of deposit and withdrawal options in different countries. Some sports fans in the United Kingdom may not be able to use Skill or Neteller when making a deposit, for instance. Credit cards, bank transfers and even checks can be used in these circumstances. If you are struggling to make a deposit, get in touch with customer service. All the best sports betting sites will have friendly, helpful customer service staff that are keen to help you out.
Sleek Mobile Interface
Nowadays most people like to enjoy betting on sports from a mobile device due to the speed, ease and convenience it offers. You can enjoy sports from the comfort of your own home or while on the go. The best online sports betting sites will have mobile optimized sites or high-quality apps that make the mobile betting experience as seamless and painless as possible. They incorporate all the features you will find on the desktop version of the sports betting website, but make it really easy to navigate.
You should be able to get your bet on quickly, with minimal fuss. You should also be able to find leagues, games and markets in an intuitive fashion. The software should look slick, polished and attractive on a mobile device, and clutter should be minimized. Functionality is key, and the mobile site or app should never crash at inopportune moments. We test each sports betting site’s mobile offering on iOS, Android and Windows Phone operating systems across multiple devices before arriving at our conclusion.
Great Customer Service
A strong customer service team is a fantastic asset to any serious online sports betting site. Staff should respond to your requests rapidly, and they should be polite, friendly and helpful. The best online gambling sites will have a customer service team working 24/7, 365 days a year, and sports fans will be able to choose from multiple means of communicating with it, including phone, email and live chat. A robust FAQ section is another bonus. We interact with the customer service team at each website we review and ask various questions to test competence, speed and helpfulness.Customer service representatives should be able to answer all manner of sports betting questions in a polite, friendly and professional fashion. The best sports betting website customer service teams are experienced, knowledgeable and eager to help. You should benefit from minimal or non-existent wait times, and the answers you receive should be clear, concise and relevant. Many operators fall down on customer service, but great operators offer a superb all-round experience, which is why it is rated as one of our top sports wagering sites.
Reduced Juice
Some betting sites offer reduced juice in a bid to stand out in a crowded sports betting market. That often means the operator will assign odds of 21/20 on either team covering the spread or on over/under betting, as opposed to the usual 11/10 that most online sports betting sites offer. Reduced juice makes a betting site really attractive, as it can significantly boost your margins over the course of a season.
But you must also make sure it ticks all the right boxes when it comes to impeccable customer service, attractive sports betting bonuses, a compelling live betting offer, plenty of markets on major sports, comprehensive deposit and withdrawal options, fast payouts, a great user experience, a top mobile platform and so on.
You can also check how appealing the betting odds are at each betting site using our Odds Comparison section. This allows you to compare the odds offered by all the leading online sports betting operators to check where the most attractive lines can be found on a wide range of sports. You can also see whether the lines are moving in favor of a team or against it.
We offer a range of free services to help sports fans succeed in their efforts to beat the books, including stats, picks and more, making it a great hub for anyone that likes to bet online. You can research lines, choose bets, make those bets, and see if you won or lost, all on one website. It helps to sign up for accounts with a few different websites, as that will ensure you do not miss out on the best odds.
Early Lines
Some online sports bettors appreciate early lines, as it allows them to place a bet before the market moves. Some of the best online sports betting sites will issue early lines, as they have confidence in the ability of their odds compilers. Some books are renowned for providing early lines, and many rival operators wait to see what it offers before setting their own lines. If you seize upon these lines quickly, you can often gain favorable odds on a big favorite that you want to bet on, take advantage of the line moves and capitalize on the rare mistakes that odds compilers make. This can be a very lucrative enterprise for seasoned bettors.
Many people that like betting on sports wait to bet late in the day, as you can find better prices on the team the public has faded, it gives you more time to prepare, and it allows you to react to any late injuries or line-up changes. However, it is nice to have the option of betting early too, so we will highlight the sports betting sites that are ahead of the curve when it comes to issuing lines on major sports in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Only the top websites will have the confidence to release early lines, so that is often a sign of a great operator.
Country Restrictions
People from all over the world love to bet on sports and the leading online wagering sites often try to cover as many countries as possible. However, some betting sites will restrict players in certain markets, including England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so we have created a handy filter tool that allows you to find the online wagering sites that cover your country. We also examine the language that you can view the website in before making recommendations. You can then check out our trusted ratings to find the number one online sports betting destination for your particular needs, take advantage of the bonus offers, deposit your cash and start to bet on your favorite sports online, safe in the knowledge that you are using an appropriate website for your country.
Which UK Betting Site Is Best?
Here are the UK betting sites we recommend, in order, and what their known for:
Bookie | Known for |
---|---|
William Hill | Fast payouts |
LadBrokes | Big name |
Matchbook | Favourable odds |
Coral | Extensive betting markets |
Betfair | Set your own odds |
Sportingbet | Well-established |
Smarkets | Great reputation |
Betfred | Global betting experience |
888sport | In-play betting |
Your task is to find an online betting site that perfectly caters to your needs. Some gambling sites excel when it comes to sharp lines and bonuses, while others offer reduced juice on your bets and some really perform better than all their rivals when it comes to rapid withdrawals. However, the best betting sites all have some things in common: a strong reputation for treating online gambling customers fairly, the liquidity to cover any winnings, a commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards, a history of prompt payouts, one of the slickest mobile sports betting apps on the market, and strong market coverage of major sports leagues, popular sports including boxing, tennis and soccer, and pursuits like college football.
We only assign A or A+ ratings to the online betting sites that excel across the board. Check out the online betting sites that have received these coveted ratings and then delve a little deeper to find your perfect match.
How often will you be betting? How many sports will you be betting on? Do you value a sign-up bonus more highly than sharp lines? What type of bets does it offer? Do you like to bet on a range of sports? Are you so busy that you need a betting site that allows you to simply place a bet as quickly as possible? Do you need a betting platform with a robust in-play section? Do you need a strong casino, poker room and race book alongside the betting site? Do you prefer to bet in dollars, or would you like to take advantage of the manifold benefits that Bitcoin offers to the modern sports bettor?Work out your priorities and then choose the right online gambling company for you. It is also sensible to sign up for multiple accounts with the best online betting sites, because you can take advantage of multiple bonus offers, and then choose the sports betting website that has the most attractive odds on the market you are interested in each time. The best online betting sites excel across the board, with generous odds, great bonuses and a fantastic user experience.
Our Standards
Modern life is busy enough without having to trawl through hundreds of betting sites to find the perfect one, so we have done your homework for you, allowing you to focus on the important business of picking winners and having fun. We maintain really high standards when it comes to monitoring the various online sports betting sites battling for your business, allowing you to rapidly separate the great online betting websites from the time wasters, the scam artists and the shady online betting sites. We have conducted an in-depth review of more than 1,000 online betting sites and we have placed bets at them all. Only an elite minority have been deemed worthy of a place in SBR‘s list of the top sports betting sites. There are many issues that cause a website to fail to make the cut:
Make sure you avoid the untrustworthy betting sites that hold ratings of D- and F and use SBR to find a safe, reliable online sports betting operator. We have signed up for accounts at all of these betting sites, made a deposit, placed bets, tested the withdrawal speeds each operator provides, checked to see if the bonus is awarded correctly and spent hours navigating the website to ensure it runs smoothly across a range of devices. If you’re looking for an online betting site to join today, we’re confident that the ones we have assigned an A+ or A rating will impress you.
Betting sites by category
UK Betting Sites FAQs
What are the best online betting sites?
The best online betting sites have a long history of delivering superb customer service and paying bettors out in full and on time. You can use our industry-leading ratings guide to identify the betting sites that have secured top ratings, such as Ladbrokes, Betfair and Coral. These sites are all safe, legit, and trustworthy, and they also offer average odds, interactive bonuses, and broad coverage of the sporting world.
What online betting sites have the best odds?
You can use our betting odds section to quickly find which betting sites offer the best odds on hundreds of big games each week. Betting sites with reduced juice pricing models generally offer the best odds on sides and totals. You can also find great moneyline, futures, and prop betting odds on sites like Ladbrokes, Betfair and Coral.
Which betting site has the highest payout?
All betting sites take a house edge, which is known as juice. A sportsbook that takes standard juice will typically offer 11/10 lines on sides and totals. That means you would receive a $100 profit by successfully betting $110 on a team to cover the spread. Reduced juice betting sites can offer 25/27 or even 20/21 lines on sides and totals. If you find 20/21 odds, known as nickel lines, you only need to wager $105 in order to potentially make a $100 profit.
How do you get your money from online betting?
Head over to the “Cashier” section of your online betting site and click “Withdraw.” Choose your preferred method, enter the amount you wish to withdraw, and click to confirm the transaction. The withdrawal time varies according to the sportsbook and the method you choose. Each site also sets a minimum and maximum withdrawal limit, so make sure you check what they are before requesting a payout.
What sports can I bet on?
You can bet on a huge range of sports by visiting the best online betting sites. Football, horse racing, greyhounds, tennis, American football, MMA, tennis, and golf are generally covered in great detail at the top online sportsbooks. Most sites also provide odds on ice hockey, baseball, Rugby Union, Rugby League, cricket, Formula 1, darts, snooker, pool, table tennis, volleyball, NASCAR and cycling. You can also bet on more niche sports, such as chess, bandy, surfing, futsal, floorball, and handball, plus entertainment, politics, eSports, and virtual sports.
Are betting apps safe?
That really depends on the app you choose. Some sports betting apps are perfectly safe and secure. They are operated by licensed, legitimate operators, and encrypted using the latest SSL software in order to protect your personal and financial details. However, some betting apps are unsafe, as there are always scam artists and shady operators trying to lure you in. You must therefore stick to the legit sportsbooks that receive strong ratings in our market-leading online betting site review guide.