Using the best betting sites UK operators means having access to the widest range of betting markets, promotions, payment methods, and unique features.
We’ve found several high-quality sportsbooks that provide you with all of these perks and more. Keep reading to learn more about them and how we make sure we only show you the best available sites.
List of the Best UK Betting Sites
We have combed through a wide array of platforms to ensure only the best make our UK betting sites list.
- Jackpotraider – The number 1 UK sportsbook
- XtraSpin – Cash out your live bets early
- Bullspins – Over 40 sports to bet on
- SpinBuddah – Weekly cashback on sports betting losses
- MyStake – Claim a free bet after every three bets
- NewKing – Expert tips and predictions for popular sports
- Betfoxx – Hundreds of football games & markets to bet on
- Slotsamigo – Detailed prematch & live stats available
- MadCasino – Stellar range of pre-match combo bets
- Trino – An incredible range of sports betting promos on offer
How We Test the Best UK Betting Sites
As you may know, there are hundreds of online betting sites in the UK. That can make it challenging to know which of these sites offers the best experience. Well, this is how we ensure that we only select the best:
- Betting Markets & Odds: From betting on Premier League Football to Premier League Darts, the top UK betting sites have to offer not only the most popular leagues and sports but also more niche options. Furthermore, it’s important that we test what kind of betting markets you can use and how competitive the average odds are.
- Bonuses & Promotions: Our team will always check up on the promos you can claim. These sportsbooks should have a nifty welcome bonus, but we also like to make sure there are other perks available, like reload bonuses, no-deposit offers, cashback, acca insurance, combo boosters, and more.
- Live Betting & Streaming: It’s a must to be able to place bets on matches that are still live. We test the quality of the feature and the range of live markets. Moreover, we like to see if we can also stream matches on these sportsbooks.
- Customer Support & Responsiveness: There will come a time when you might need a question answered or some help sorting out an account issue. It’s important that when that time comes, you can access multiple contact methods, preferably in multiple languages. We test the range of customer support options, their operating hours, and how quickly they respond.
- Mobile Compatibility & Betting App: Most people will want to place a bet while they are on the go at some point. As such, we must review whether these sites have mobile apps. But if they don’t, we test how well their mobile sportsbooks have been optimised for iOS and Android browsers.
- Payment Options & Security: To fund your account easily, we expect to find plenty of crypto, credit card, e-wallet, and bank transfer options with the best betting sites in the UK. Payout times should be speedy and fee-free, and come with flexible minimum and maximum limits as well. Furthermore, we like to see options for 2FA, which ensure the security of your transactions.
- Reputation & Trustworthiness: We’ll never recommend a site we don’t know for sure to be trustworthy, whether with timely payouts or the strength of security. In addition, we like to make sure these hold up to scrutiny by checking out user reviews that have been written about them. If these reviews are generally positive, it’s a safe bet to assume the sportsbook deals well with user queries and needs.
- User Experience & Ease of Use: All in all, these sportsbooks have to be easy to use. From the intuitive nature of their layouts to how quickly their pages load, we test every element to ensure you have a hassle-free, enjoyable gambling experience.
UK Bookmaker Reviews
Now, let’s get into who some of the best UK bookmakers are, what their betting options are like, and what kind of perks and features you can make use of once you sign up.
1. Jackpotraider – The Number 1 UK Sportsbook (9.8/10)
| Year Established | 2024 |
| Licensed With | Curaçao |
| Welcome Bonus | Up to £450 + 250 Free Spins over three deposits |
| Fastest Payout | Within 24 hours |
| How Many Sports | 35+ |
| Payment Options | Cryptocurrencies, credit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets |
| Customer Support | Live chat: 24/7
Email: [email protected] |
| Mobile Compatibility | iOS, Android |
| Rewards Program | Yes |
| Live Streaming | No |
At Jackpotraider, you have one of the best UK sports betting sites in terms of the promos you can claim. They have a superb 3-part matched deposit bonus you can cash in on when you sign up.
Once you’re into the site, you can take advantage of a 1.5x multiplier on your combo bets as well. The loyalty program is stacked with perks, too, as you can claim weekly reload offers, cashback, and even get yourself a dedicated account manager.
Your betting options on the site are diverse, with over 35 sports available. Of course, these include the most popular options in the UK, like football, cricket, and tennis. They cover all the top leagues like the WSL, EPL, and Men’s and Women’s leagues in Spain, Italy, Germany, and other top footballing nations.
You can also bet on Premier League Darts, snooker, horse racing, tennis, golf, and a host of other popular sports. The market selection for football betting is where you’ll find the most options, as they usually have well over 100 to choose from per game. Jackpotraider also has early cashout options for in-play betting, bet builder tools, top bets suggestions, odds boosters, and more.
Jackpotraider Pros:
- Weekly cashback
- Early cashout options
- Massive range of football markets
Jackpotraider Cons:
- Could offer WSL live streaming
2. XtraSpin – Cash Out Your Live Bets Early (9.7/10)
| Year Established | 2024 |
| Licensed With | Curaçao |
| Welcome Bonus | Up to £450 + 250 Free Spins across the first three deposits |
| Fastest Payout | Instant |
| How Many Sports | 35+ |
| Payment Options | Cryptocurrencies, credit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets |
| Customer Support | Live chat: 24/7
Email: [email protected] |
| Mobile Compatibility | iOS, Android |
| Rewards Program | Yes |
| Live Streaming | No |
XtraSpin is certainly one of the best betting sites UK options for bonuses and promos. You can cash in on a super 3-part deposit offer when you sign up at first.
After that, they have £10,000 in prizes to give away based on your betting activity every week. The pick of the lot is arguably the combo betting booster, which boosts your bet by 1.5x.
The XtraSpin sportsbook has plenty of sports you can bet on, from football, cricket, darts, and snooker to horse racing, Formula 1, greyhounds, tennis, and more. You can make use of a bet builder feature, early cashout options, in-play betting, and more. We also loved that they showed us the top combos and events for the day, as well as top outrights.
XtraSpin Pros:
- Cash prizes to be won every week
- Daily hot combo bets
- Instant payouts
XtraSpin Cons:
- Email support could be better
3. Bullspins – Over 40 Sports To Bet On (9.6/10)
| Year Established | 2025 |
| Licensed With | Curacao |
| Welcome Bonus | 100% up to £500 |
| Fastest Payout | Up to 72 hours |
| How Many Sports | 40+ |
| Payment Options | Cryptocurrencies, credit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets |
| Customer Support | Live chat: 24/7
Email: [email protected] |
| Mobile Compatibility | iOS, Android |
| Rewards Program | Yes |
| Live Streaming | No |
We found plenty of casino promos at Bullspins, but compared to other betting sites UK operators, they were lacking in sportsbook promos. They have a £500 welcome bonus, but aside from that, there were no other bonuses that could be used for sports betting when we checked.
However, they did throw in a refer-a-friend promo where we could earn another £50. They also seem to have a VIP program, but it is currently invite-only.
The sportsbook offers more than 40 sports and thousands of events across them. The markets for women’s and men’s football are superb, with a host of player and team props to choose from.
We also found some great betting options for sports like darts, snooker, cricket, rugby, and tennis. The in-play betting options added even more to the experience and made it quite easy to place those last-minute bets.
Bullspins Pros:
- Generous welcome bonus
- Refer-a-friend promo is easy to claim
- A diverse range of sports to bet on
Bullspins Cons:
- Could offer more sports betting promos
4 SpinBuddah – Weekly Cashback On Sports Betting Losses (9.5/10)
| Year Established | 2025 |
| Licensed With | Curaçao |
| Welcome Bonus | Up to £450 + 250 Free Spins |
| Fastest Payout | Within 24 hours |
| How Many Sports | 35+ |
| Payment Options | Cryptocurrencies, credit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets |
| Customer Support | Live chat: 24/7
Email: [email protected] |
| Mobile Compatibility | iOS, Android |
| Rewards Program | Yes |
| Live Streaming | No |
At SpinBuddah, you’ll be able to get your hands on a nifty welcome offer. It may not be all that big, but the T&CS are more than fair, making it an attractive promo.
They also have a combo booster like we’ve seen with many other betting sites UK bettors can take advantage of. We found the VIP program, which gave us cashback benefits, to be quite useful. If you deposit more than €5,000, you can get 12.5% cashback.
There is no doubt that the biggest draw in their sportsbook is the football betting options. We had a look around their betting options and found we could bet on everything from the Women’s Super League all the way down to the Men’s National League.
That means you can bet on your local team, whether you are a Liverpool fan or a Forest Green Rovers fan. We also loved that they had such good coverage of the WSL, offering plenty of markets for all games across the season.
The markets on all sports were diverse, but we found the props available for football matches to be the best. From betting on over/under the number of corners to betting on which player would score first, we had ample options.
The horse racing and greyhound racing options weren’t too shabby either, as we could filter tracks from around the UK and the rest of the world.
SpinBuddah Pros:
- Weekly cashback
- Strong WSL markets
- Quick payouts
SpinBuddah Cons:
- Could use existing customer promos
5. MyStake – Claim A Free Bet After Every Three Bets (9.5/10)
| Year Established | 2020 |
| Licensed With | Curaçao |
| Welcome Bonus | 120% up to £600 |
| Fastest Payout | Instant |
| How Many Sports | 30+ |
| Payment Options | Cryptocurrencies, credit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets |
| Customer Support | Live chat: 24/7
Email: [email protected] |
| Mobile Compatibility | iOS, Android |
| Rewards Program | Yes |
| Live Streaming | No |
The welcome offer of up to £600 is pretty decent when you sign up, but it’s their range of additional promos that got us interested. Existing users can claim a “35% up to £125” reload offer.
They also have a stellar 3 + 1 promo. Here, after every three bets you place (win or lose), your account will be credited with a free bet. The free bet value is 15% of the total value of the bets you placed up to £100.
MyStake is clearly geared towards football betting, as the first 10 listed are all European football leagues. Of course, there is an ample supply of other sports that you can bet on as well, including rugby, rugby league, darts, snooker, golf, and more. While most of these sports have a strong range of markets, none have more than football.
Compared to other betting sites UK bettors can enjoy, MyStake is superb when it comes to the range of betting markets we can choose from. For example, a UWCL game we checked out had everything from handicaps to player props on goals scored, specials on whether the game would go to extra time, and so much more.
They even had a bet builder that made it easy for us to select multiple markets for the same game. That was all for the Arsenal vs. Lyon semi-final of the UWCL.
MyStake Pros:
- Bet builder works a treat
- 3 + 1 free bet promo is superb
- Ample specials and props on football
MyStake Cons:
- The welcome offer comes with a steep rollover
6. NewKing – Expert Tips And Predictions For Popular Sports (9.5/10)
| Year Established | 2025 |
| Licensed With | Kahnawake Gaming Commission |
| Welcome Bonus | Freebet up to £100 |
| Fastest Payout | Up to 48 hours |
| How Many Sports | 35+ |
| Payment Options | Cryptocurrencies, credit cards, bank transfers |
| Customer Support | Live chat: 24/7
Email: [email protected] |
| Mobile Compatibility | iOS, Android |
| Rewards Program | No |
| Live Streaming | No |
Promotions are the name of the game at NewKing, where you can claim some nifty bonus offers. For starters, they offer free bets to every new sign-up along with a 50% combo bet booster for all users. The latter can potentially turn your wins into some seriously beefy payouts.
The sportsbook at NewKing is seriously good. If you’re keen on men’s and women’s football, they have all the biggest leagues to bet on and a plethora of markets for each game.
They even have a dedicated bet builder to help you shape your wagers. We also found that they had a stellar calendar feature where we could check out upcoming games and the results of previous fixtures.
A standout feature we loved that we haven’t seen with many other betting sites UK operators we’ve tried was the expert tips they gave us. When we loaded up an EPL and WSL game speciality, both came with multiple tips.
For example, showing us why an over bet on 2.5 goals would be wise based on the previous home form. There are several such tips available, which we think are a great addition to the site.
NewKing Pros:
- Stats offered for all big games
- Expert tips on pre-match football markets
- A wide range of EPL and WSL props
NewKing Cons:
- Could offer a rewards program
7. Betfoxx – Hundreds Of Football Games & Markets To Bet On (9.3/10)
| Year Established | 2024 |
| Licensed With | Curaçao |
| Welcome Bonus | 100% up to £250 + 20 free spins |
| Fastest Payout | Up to 24 |
| How Many Sports | 30+ |
| Payment Options | Cryptocurrencies, credit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets |
| Customer Support | Live chat: 24/7
Email: [email protected] |
| Mobile Compatibility | iOS, Android |
| Rewards Program | No |
| Live Streaming | No |
When it came to their range of promos, Betfoxx could do better. They have a decent welcome bonus up to £250 that you can claim, but outside of that, there didn’t seem to be any other promos for sports betting or a VIP program that we could use. It’s something we hope they add at some point.
Where they may fall short with promos compared to other betting sites UK, Betfoxx did not disappoint with their betting site. At the time of checking them out, they had markets for more than 800 football matches. They also had abundant markets over plenty of other sports, from Aussie Rules and Gaelic Football to the likes of horse racing, darts, rugby, and cricket.
The platform also has some nifty features, like setting your favourite sports so you can access events more quickly. It also has a schedule tab so you can see upcoming events well in advance.
Another interesting aspect of the site is the number of markets you can choose from. A WSL game we checked out had a myriad of over/under, handicaps, and team and player specials.
Betfoxx Pros:
- Hundreds of markets for each game
- Excellent sportsbook interface
- Covers a ton of sporting events
Betfoxx Cons:
- Needs a better range of promos
8. Slotsamigo – Detailed Prematch & Live Stats Available (9.2/10)
| Year Established | 2024 |
| Licensed With | Curaçao |
| Welcome Bonus | 100% up to £1,000 |
| Fastest Payout | Within 24 hours |
| How Many Sports | 30+ |
| Payment Options | Cryptocurrencies, credit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets |
| Customer Support | Live chat: 24/7
Email: [email protected] |
| Mobile Compatibility | iOS, Android |
| Rewards Program | No |
| Live Streaming | No |
Slotsamigo may sound like it’s all about casino gaming, but they also have a great betting platform. We’d like to see them add a little bit more to the table than just the sports welcome offer, though. They are lacking in other promos for their existing users, with the exception of a decent refer-a-friend bonus.
Where plenty of betting sites UK offer only a handful of sporting events and markets, Slotsamigo’s betting options number in the hundreds. From the WSL to the 3rd tier of Swedish football, if a ball can be kicked, they probably cover it with a few betting options. Most sports on the site come with a bet builder option, a ton of specials, and super competitive odds.
Slotsamigo also releases their betting lines nice and early, so you can potentially snap up some value odds before they shift closer to kick-off time. Furthermore, they offer fair early cashout returns on live bets along with pre-match and live games stats.
Slotsamigo Pros:
- Cashout options
- Generous welcome bonus
- Massive range of betting markets
Slotsamigo Cons:
- Needs more promos & a rewards program
9. MadCasino – Stellar Range Of Pre-Match Combo Bets (8.9/10)
| Year Established | 2025 |
| Licensed With | Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority |
| Welcome Bonus | 250% up to £3,500 |
| Fastest Payout | Within 24 hours |
| How Many Sports | 40+ |
| Payment Options | Cryptocurrencies, credit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets |
| Customer Support | Live chat: 24/7
Email: [email protected] |
| Mobile Compatibility | iOS, Android |
| Rewards Program | No |
| Live Streaming | No |
If you sign up on MadCasino, you can kick off with a sizable £3,500 welcome offer package. However, they do not have a ton of other offers besides a weekly reload bonus up to £1,000. Well, the two available promos are certainly among the best you can find on the best betting sites in the UK.
In addition to this, they also offer detailed pre-match stats that show you everything from league table standings and current form to detailed player stats. Outside of their superb football coverage, we found that we could also access a wide range of markets for top UK sports like cricket, horse racing, darts, and more.
What stood out to us about their range of markets for most sports was the exciting combo options, where you could bet on things like the team to win and score more than 2.5 goals. The odds were always a lot more enticing than your average moneyline bet. In addition, Madcasino also offers plenty of live markets and a smooth in-play betting interface, so your bets are always in on time.
MadCasino Pros:
- Exciting combo betting markets
- Weekly deposit reload promo
- Competitive in-play betting odds
MadCasino Cons:
- Could offer live streaming
10. Trino – An Incredible Range Of Sports Betting Promos On Offer (8.8/10)
| Year Established | 2024 |
| Licensed With | Curaçao |
| Welcome Bonus | 300% up to £3,000 + 300 Free Spins across first four deposits |
| Fastest Payout | Instant |
| How Many Sports | 30+ |
| Payment Options | Cryptocurrencies, credit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets |
| Customer Support | Live chat: 24/7
Email: [email protected] |
| Mobile Compatibility | iOS, Android |
| Rewards Program | Yes |
| Live Streaming | No |
If we had to take you through every single Trino promo, we’d be here all day—that’s how many they offer. The welcome offer is great for when you start out, but they also offer free bets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and another on Saturdays and Sundays.
They also have a weekly reload bonus up to £300. In the VIP program, you can earn up to 20% cashback when you reach the higher levels. Even newbies get 2% cashback on losses.
So, while they are blowing other online bookmakers in the UK out of the water when it comes to promos, what about their sportsbook? From what we saw, we could bet on more than 30 sports, each covering all the biggest leagues all the way down to the smaller ones, even semi-pro leagues. That went for football, rugby, tennis, cricket, and the other popular sports.
Prop betting options were aplenty, while their bet builder feature made it easy to craft bets. Additionally, early cashout options are available for live bets.
In addition, we could also find detailed stats for most of the bigger sports. However, they could do with better stat coverage for the smaller events.
Trino Pros:
- Plenty of sports betting promos
- Superb welcome bonus
- Early cashouts available
Trino Cons:
- Lacks live streaming options
Is UK Sports Betting Legal?
Yes, sports betting is legal and well-regulated in the UK, both online and in physical betting shops. The primary legislation governing this is the Gambling Act 2005, which came into full effect in 2007. The UK has been a country that has championed sports betting, as it goes hand in hand with the country’s fanatical love of most sports.
Online Betting Sites vs High Street Bookies
The UK boasts one of the highest concentrations of betting shops globally, with approximately 6,000 establishments. These venues continue to blossom thanks to their social nature and the appetite for betting in person in the UK. However, while these in-person betting shops are great for the social element, they still don’t compare to online sportsbooks.
With online betting sites UK, you have several advantages over traditional high street bookies. These online sites offer a broader range of betting markets, competitive odds, and generous promotions. Additionally, online platforms often feature in-play betting options and a good variety of payment methods.
Let’s have a look at how they compare in the table below.
| Online Betting Sites | High Street Bookies | |
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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Betting Sites UK Bonuses & Promotions
We’ve just been talking about the perks of using betting sites UK bettors have access to, and one of the best of these is the promotions that boost your bankroll. These are some of the offers you can look forward to using on these sites:
Welcome Bonus
This is the main offer you’ll see when you first join a betting site. It’s often a matched deposit, so if you deposit £20, the site might give you an extra £20 to bet with.
Sometimes, it comes as free bets once you place your first wager. For example, one of the better welcome offers you can claim is the £450 matched deposit bonus at Jackpotraider.
Reload Bonus
A reload bonus is given to existing customers. It works like a welcome bonus, but usually on later deposits. So if you’re already a member and are making a deposit to your account, the bookie might reward you with a bonus.
These reload offers keep your account looking healthy. The £300 weekly reload you can cash in at Trino is a good example of one of these bonuses.
Risk-Free Bets
With this promo, you can place a bet knowing that if it loses, you’ll get your stake back, usually as a free bet. It’s a good way to try out a new market or just have a go without the usual risk. Trino actually has one of the best risk-free bet promos, running a risk-free bet offer on Saturdays and Sundays, giving you up to £100 if your initial bet loses.
Odds Boosts
Odds boosts increase the payout on certain bets by offering better-than-usual odds. These can apply to popular events or special markets that the bookie wants to highlight.
You get more potential winnings without any extra risk, which is always a win. Plus, you can find odds boosters with most of the top betting sites UK bettors can enjoy in our guide.
Acca Insurance
Accumulator insurance gives you a bit of backup when you place a multi-leg bet. If one leg of your acca lets you down, the sportsbook will refund your stake, usually as a free bet. There didn’t seem to be one available with the sites in our guide at this time, but they have been known to run these kinds of offers on a fairly regular basis.
How To Sign Up and Place a Sports Wager at UK Online Bookies
Those of you who have never signed up on betting sites UK may be a little nervous about the process. No need to panic, signing up on betting sites is a breeze, as you’ll see from below:
1. Select an Online Bookmaker
Take a look at our reviews of the top sportsbooks in the UK. Check out the promos, betting options, and features, and settle on a site you want to use.
2. Register
Head to their homepage, find the sign-up button, and bring up the registration page. Fill in info like your name, email, and password, and open your account. It usually takes at most 5 minutes (if that long).
3. Deposit
Most of these sites will take you straight to the deposit page from there. You can then use an e-wallet, credit card, or crypto to make your first deposit. Fill in your details and the amount you would like to deposit.
4. Claim a Bonus
Make sure that you have had a look at the welcome bonus on these sites. Most of the sportsbooks in our guide don’t need a promo code, but double-check to be sure when you make your first deposit. Otherwise, simply make sure you deposit the minimum deposit amount of the offer to cash in on part of the bonus.
5. Start Betting
Your bonus and your deposit will show in your account immediately, and you can get started with your betting right away. Look around the available markets first and place your bets only after careful research.
Popular Sports to Place Bets on in Online Bookmakers in the UK
The most popular sport is obviously subjective, but in the UK, it’s very clear which sports attract the most eyes and also betting action. The following is a rundown of the most popular sports in the UK, all of which can be found with the best betting sites UK.
Football
Footy is by some distance the most popular sport in the UK. Premier League and WSL matches draw huge attention, not just from attendance but also from the number of bets placed every game week.
In-play betting is also very common, letting you place bets as the action unfolds. Markets like Both Teams to Score, First Goalscorer, and Correct Score are also fun options to work with. From what we have seen, football generally has the best selection of specials markets as well as handicaps, over/unders, outrights, etc.
Horse Racing
Horse racing has long been part of UK betting culture. Big meetings like Cheltenham, Royal Ascot, and the Grand National attract huge numbers of bets. You can back a horse to win, place, or even predict the exact order with forecasts and tricasts.
Ante-post markets let you bet weeks in advance. Races run daily across the UK, giving you constant action and a wide range of betting types.
Greyhounds
Greyhound racing is popular with punters who enjoy short, exciting events. Races usually last under a minute, and you can place bets similar to those in horse racing: win, place, forecast, or tricast. It may not be as popular as horse racing, but it still gives you ample chances to win big.
Darts
Darts has grown massively in recent years, especially with tournaments like the PDC World Championship and Premier League Darts gaining TV coverage. Betting markets include match winners, total 180s, correct score, and player checkouts.
It’s popular with fans who enjoy the atmosphere and personalities of the sport (and there are some pretty big personalities to be fair). In-play betting is also available, allowing punters to react to momentum shifts during matches.
Tennis
Tennis offers year-round betting thanks to a packed calendar of ATP, WTA, and Grand Slam events. UK punters enjoy markets like Match Winner, Set Betting, and Total Games. The Grand Slams are always the most fun, but the bigger ATP events can also throw up some interesting markets on betting sites UK bettors will enjoy.
Golf
Golf attracts steady betting interest, particularly during major tournaments like The Masters or The Open Championship. The most common bets include Outright Winner, Top 5 or Top 10 finishes, and Head-to-Head matchups between players. With tournaments lasting four days, there’s also a growing market for in-play betting across rounds.
Cricket
Cricket betting is especially popular during big international series and tournaments like the Ashes, the IPL, and the Cricket World Cup. Markets include Match Winner, Top Batsman, Total Runs, and over/under for individual overs or innings. The different formats (Test, ODI, T20) mean varied betting styles, from slow and strategic to fast-paced action and quick decisions.
Types of Sports Wagers Offered by UK Online Bookmakers
Whether you are betting on the biggest horse races or Arsenal Women to beat Man City Women away, plenty of markets are always available. This is what keeps things interesting with betting sites UK operators.
Straight Win
This is the most basic and widely used sports betting market. You simply choose which team you think will win the match. If your team wins, so does your bet.
For example, if Manchester United Women are playing Liverpool Women and you back United for a straight win, you just need them to finish the match with more goals. This type of wager is ideal for beginners and is the go-to option for many football punters in the UK.
Correct Scores
With this bet, you’re picking the exact final score, not just who will win. It’s much harder to predict, which is why it often comes with higher odds (which means bigger winnings if you’re right).
For example, you could bet on a 2-1 win for Arsenal Women over Aston Villa. If the match ends with that exact result, the bet pays out.
Accumulators
An accumulator, often called an “acca,” is a single bet that combines multiple selections. All parts of the bet must win for the bet to be successful.
These are popular for weekend football in particular, where you have a lot of games to choose from. You might back several teams like Spurs, Chelsea, and Arsenal all to win their matches. The appeal is that even small stakes can give you large payouts, but the risk increases with each added selection since one loss means the whole bet fails.
Forecasts
Forecast bets are most often used in racing but can also apply to football. You pick which two teams or players will finish first and second in a specific order. For example, if you’re betting on who will finish top two in the Premier League this season, you could forecast Chelsea to finish first and Arsenal second.
For the most part, punters will use this market with horse racing, picking the jockey and horse they think will finish first and second in a particular upcoming race.
Tricasts
A tricast bet is like a forecast but includes the top three finishers, again in the exact order. It’s most commonly used in horse and greyhound racing.
For example, you might predict that Horses 5, 2, and 9 will finish first, second, and third in a big race at Aintree. Tricky to get right, but it has enormous payout potential.
Handicaps
Handicap betting is a way to make one-sided matches more balanced from a betting point of view. The sportsbook gives one team a virtual lead or deficit.
For example, if Chelsea were playing, say, Everton, they would be massive favourites. As such, you might bet on them to win with a -2 handicap.
This means they must win by more than two goals for the bet to succeed. It turns boring bets with low value odds into something more interesting.
Yankees
Yankees are popular with horse racing punters. It’s a type of multiple bet comprising 11 separate bets from 4 selections: 6 doubles, 4 trebles, and a four-fold accumulator.
Say, you might back four horses to win separate races. With a Yankees bet, you don’t need all of them to win to see a return. This is why many punters prefer Yankees to riskier single accas where it’s more all or nothing.
Ante-Post
Ante-post betting involves placing a bet on an event well in advance of its start, often days, weeks, or even months ahead. It’s useful because odds often shift closer to the time of the event, so you will often get better odds by placing your bets earlier.
For example, you could bet on a horse to win the Grand National three months before the race. If the horse competes and wins, you’d likely have done much better than if you placed your bet on the day.
Payment Methods Accepted by UK Betting Sites
You can fund betting sites UK with multiple payment options. From crypto to bank transfers, moving your funds in and out of your account is easy. These are some of the more reliable methods you can use:
Credit & Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard)
Credit and debit cards are still the most popular among gamblers on online sportsbooks. They are accepted by virtually all the sites in our guide and give you quick and easy fiat payments that most are already familiar with.
Visa and Mastercard transactions are typically processed quickly, with deposits appearing instantly and withdrawals taking up to 48 hours to clear. However, they do come with fees from your bank most of the time.
E-Wallets (PayPal, Skrill, Neteller)
E-wallets like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller have become super popular on betting sites UK as they have speedy transaction times.
Transactions are often processed within 24 hours, making them one of the fastest options available. Additionally, the best e-wallets also have simple interfaces, making them easy to use even for beginners.
Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, etc.)
Cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum are becoming more and more popular every day. They give you instant processing times, low fees, more privacy, and flexible deposit and withdrawal limits.
Bank Transfers & Prepaid Cards
Bank transfers are still used by many punters, but mostly for withdrawals. However, wire transfer withdrawals can sometimes take up to 7 days to clear, which is a hefty waiting time compared to instant transactions offered by crypto.
On the other hand, prepaid cards like Revolut offer a simple way for you to deposit funds without linking a bank account. Prepaid cards are a great choice for making deposits.
Affordability Checks & Responsible Gambling
The UK places a strong emphasis on responsible gambling to protect you from potential harm. Betting sites UK are required to implement affordability checks to ensure you are not spending beyond your means.
It may seem a little invasive, but it’s always in the best interest of the punters. If you think you might need help sooner than that, you can check out:
Summary: Our Best UK Betting Site
After reviewing several top betting sites UK, we have come to the conclusion that Jackpotraider is the way to go right now. Their sign-up process is easy, and they also offer a stellar welcome bonus, along with a myriad of betting options.
The platform also felt super user-friendly, so even novice punters won’t have difficulty navigating it. Jackpotraider also covers the women’s sports events superbly well, alongside the biggest men’s sports events like the EPL, UCL, IPL, Big Bash, Ashes, etc.
| Top Five Benefits | ✅ Combo multiple promo available
✅ Great coverage of men’s and women’s football ✅ Superb in-play betting options ✅ Averages 100+ markets for most sports ✅ Exiting loyalty program in place |
UK Online Sports Betting FAQs
Which is the best betting site in the UK?
Jackpotraider. Right now, they have the best range of sports and markets, along with generous promos, a helpful support team, reliable payment options including crypto, and more.
How many UK betting sites are there?
There are more than 6,000 betting shops that you can visit in person, and the number of online sites exceeds that.
Is online betting legal in the UK?
Yes. You can find a number of legal betting sites in UK, like the ones in our guide.
Can I claim free bets from UK online bookmakers?
Yes. There are a few sites that have free bets promos that you can use. Check out reviews to see which of these sites has the best weekly free bet promos.
Is betting taxed in the UK?
No, winnings from sports betting are completely tax-free for players. This includes both in-person and online winnings.
Do you have to declare gambling wins to HMRC?
No, you do not need to declare gambling winnings to HMRC. The UK government treats gambling as a form of entertainment, and any money you win is yours to keep, tax-free.