Looking for betting sites that British sports fans can use might seem difficult at first. There are so many of these sites to choose from, with a mixture of household names and others that you might not yet be familiar with. This is why Globusbet has decided to look at the betting sites UK punters might want to join. Take a look at the key factors that have been taken into account to help you choose which online bookie you might want to try.
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Online betting sites
The list of betting sites consists of bookies that have strong reputations for different reasons. If you’re looking to place some bets in a secure environment and with good odds, these are bookmakers you’ll want to check out. It’s a mixture of old and new betting sites, so the key points have been listed for each one so that you can quickly see which brands catch your eye.
- Unibet – Excellent cashback welcome offer
- 10bet – Ideal for niche betting categories
- William Hill – Insightful blog and other betting content
- Betfred – Ideal for live betting
- Betway – Good bet builder tool
- Casumo – Great choice for newcomers
- Grosvenor – Boosted odds for new players
- 32Red – Many betting markets to choose from
Don’t forget that all of the bonuses and offers you’ll find on these sites have terms and conditions attached to them. Take a moment to understand what you need to do to claim the bonus before you get started, as this will help you to make the most of the deals.
Sports betting sites – Bookmaker breakdown
This part of the article covers everything you want to know about the big players in this market and will let you understand what to expect if you sign up at any of them. Each bookmaker below is listed with one standout feature followed by a brief look at the other most important parts of the website and the overall service provided.
Unibet - Money back if your first bet loses
Another of the online betting sites you need to know about, Unibet, gets you off to a flying start with an offer that gives you back up to £40 if your first bet loses. There’s a lot to like about this bookmaker once you get going, with all of the UK’s favourite sports plus a few you might not have expected to see.
Take a look at their “odds boost section” to discover improved odds.
They’ve also got a live streaming service, so you can catch the latest action on the mobile app if that suits your lifestyle. It’s clear that they’ve put a lot of effort into getting a community feel for this site, with an interesting blog and a useful forum section where you can look for answers or just join in with the chats.
Note that full T&Cs apply: Selected races only. Opt-in in bet slip. Max free bet refund £20. Min stake £1. Offer can't be used with Uniboost. Available on singles only. Read the full T&Cs here.
10bet – Online betting site with lots of niche bets
10bet is another one of the popular online betting sites that you’ve probably heard of. Their site gives you a strong welcome bonus, but you need to check the details carefully, as not every deposit method qualifies for the free bet. After that, it’s easy to find the events you might be interested in or check out the latest promotions.
This bookie has everything you could hope for, including sections on niche bets such as politics, specials and e-sports. But if you’re looking for the biggest football, cricket and horse racing bets, then you’ll find plenty of options and offers, too, making this a solid choice for any type of sports fan.
Note that full T&Cs apply: 18+. New bettors get 50% of deposit up to £50. 1x per household. Min deposit £15 (no Skrill/Neteller). Wager deposit & bonus 8x. Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus. Valid 60 days. Some bet types exclude. Read the full T&Cs here.
William Hill – Live streaming, radio and video content for online bettors
The powerful William Hill brand is one of the UK’s most recognisable betting names, and their site is as impressive as you’d expect it to be. Enhanced odds help to draw your attention to upcoming events, and there’s a lot to enjoy as you look through their content.
In terms of live streaming, radio shows and podcasts, William Hill offer a rich level of content for every online betting player in the UK. Use this content to help you make better gambling decisions or just to find some entertaining views on the sports you love, as well as a great way to watch the latest action unfold. Read the full T&Cs here.
Betfred – A variety of live betting markets
The stylish Betfred sports betting site is safe to use, and it gives you the sort of long list of sports and matches that you expect from popular online betting sites. Their tab listing live events that are due to start soon is a nice touch that makes it easier to find something to bet on right away.
In fact, live betting is neatly laid out so that you can quickly find markets like both teams to score and total goals or else search directly for the match or event you want to bet on. Their promotions are mainly focused on major sporting events, which is why a lot of offers can be seen for Cheltenham at the time of writing. Read the full T&Cs here.
Betway – Build your own bets
The next betting site on the list that punters can access, Betway is a big name in the industry, and it’s easy to see why. Their website gives a useful free bet offer on your first accumulator and adds some free spins so you can check out their casino slots if you want to.
Their bet builder option gives you a very simple way to add different wagers onto a single betting slip. It’s also worth checking out the Betway Boosts to see what enhanced odds you can take advantage of in upcoming games.
Note that full T&Cs apply: This offer is only valid to New Customers who reside in the United Kingdom. Min stake: £5. Maximum Matched Free Bet: £30. Read the full T&Cs here.
Casumo – Action-packed online betting site
With a simple, friendly design, Casumo gives you one of the easiest sports betting sites to get started with. However, despite the minimalist design, this bookmaker has many of the latest odds on various sporting events. You can quickly choose a sport or decide to go straight to a league or country that particularly interests you.
A tab covering live and upcoming events lets you see what you could bet on right away if you don’t want to wait a long time for the results to come through. Right now, there are only casino promotions on this site. Read the full T&Cs here.
Grosvenor – Improved betting odds for new players
New players at Grosvenor get welcomed to one of the most popular betting sites with an eye-catching package that doubles their odds. That’s a good way to get started with a renowned bookmaker that covers numerous markets and a great variety of sports.
With tabs marked as ‘right’ and ‘starting soon’, it’s easy to find things to bet on quickly, while the overall range of sports and markets is what you’d hope to find in online betting sites with a good reputation.
Note that full T&Cs apply: Max £10 bet. New members only. Paid in Cash. Read the full T&Cs here.
32Red – Variety of online betting markets available
A bright, fun look leads you to a sports betting site where you can find all of the UK’s most popular sports as well as a smaller selection of niche sports. Live streaming is available for registered members, which goes well alongside their in-play betting options.
This is another of the betting sites sports fans can use without any fuss. The promotions page focuses more on casino offers, but you can take advantage of boosted odds on some horse races. Read the full T&Cs here.
Online sports betting sites – How are bookmakers ranked
You might wonder how Globusbet has managed to put together a betting sites list when this is such a crowded market with numerous great bookies to choose from. Well, its first strategy is to only add those sites it has personally checked out, so you can be sure that it has looked into their strengths and weaknesses before adding them to the list.
- Licensing and security have to be the starting point, as every UK bookmaker needs to be licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Globusbet also wants to see a safe site that uses the latest encryption techniques and technology to ensure that all data is kept safe.
- The quality of the site is of vital importance, and it covers a range of factors that need to consider. These include the usability and how good the overall layout looks.
- The list of payment methods accepted by these betting sites lets you see how easy it will be to add or withdraw funds. In general terms, the greater the range of secure, trustworthy methods offered, the more people should find it suitable for their needs.
- Bonuses and promotions can help to make your first few bets more rewarding. The types of bonuses in betting sites vary greatly, and some bookmakers let you carry on picking up offers during your time with them.
- The number of sports covered lets you see how attractive a site will likely be for different types of fans. While the most-loved British sports, like football and horse racing, are widely covered on all these sites, others go the extra mile to add niche sports and even entertainment bets.
- Different markets make these betting sites more interesting, as this means that you can place wagers on a variety of events occurring rather than purely betting on the final results.
- Each bookie’s odds vary, but Globusbet looks for sites that offer consistently good odds that you can trust. Any bookmaker that is regularly out of touch with the market isn’t going to give you value for money.
- Live betting lets you take part and wager while the games are going on. The live streaming on some sites added an extra element to be aware of.
- Good mobile compatibility gives you extra flexibility; you can place wagers and manage your account wherever you go.
- Finally, Globusbet looks for a good level of customer care. Ideally, popular betting sites should have a comprehensive FAQ section and the chance to connect with an agent through live chat.
Properly licenced and secure betting sites
One of the most important things to look for in British sports betting sites is their licence to operate in the UK. This is issued by the UK Gambling Commission, and if you see their badge on the site, then you can feel more relaxed about playing here. You might also see licences issued by other authorities, which confirms their ability to operate in other global markets.
Ensuring their users carry out responsible gambling habits is another sign of a trustworthy betting website. They also ensure that their clients’ data is kept safe at all times by using secure encryption technology that protects the site’s information from hackers. These professional bookmakers use the latest technology to ensure fair odds and fast payouts.
Bearing in mind the strict regulations put in place by the British Gambling Commission, seeing that the site is properly regulated by this authority is the most important point. To keep this licence, they need to provide a safe, responsible environment for their users, so the rest of the points follow naturally from this.
New betting sites vs established bookmakers
As you've seen, this market is dominated by a combination of highly-established bookmakers who are household names in the UK and new betting sites that maybe aren’t so well-known yet. Is there a difference between these options that you need to know about?
- Established bookmakers have a strong reputation to uphold, which makes them likely to remain professional at all times.
- They can also use their vast experience in the UK betting market to offer what they know the customers like in terms of bet types, markets and offers.
- It may be easier to find reviews and customer feedback for existing bookmakers with a long history.
- On the other hand, a newer operator may introduce innovations like new technology or bet types.
- You might also find that one of the newer betting sites has more interesting promotions as they attempt to get a foothold in the British market by attracting new members to join them.
- What this means is that you can choose either type of bookmaker – new or established – to meet your needs. Provided they meet the quality aspects looked at earlier, you can feel comfortable using any good betting site.
Sports betting bonuses and rewards programs
A good welcome bonus gives you a great start by letting you grab something extra during your early days with the bookmaker. This is something that most of the online betting sites offer to their new players, while some of them also give regular offers and rewards to their existing members.
What are the types of bonuses and promotions that you’re going to see most often, and which should you be interested in accepting? The following list lets you see the different sports betting promotions that you need to be aware of.
- Free bets give you a chance to place a bonus wager without using your own funds. This type of offer may have conditions such as only being available in certain markets or at certain odds.
- Deposit match bonuses are used to boost the funds that you add. This is typically used to increase the value of the first deposit made after registration but can also be an ongoing offer for existing members making new deposits.
- Some odds you’ll see offered are designed to give you the best possible return in the market on a certain game or event, meaning that you don’t need to shop around.
- Promotions for specific odds will give you boosted odds or other benefits when you wager on a major event like a horse racing festival or a football tournament.
- Loyalty rewards tend to give points for each bet made, with these points then available for converting into cash or other rewards once a certain level has been reached.
- Referral bonuses may also be offered, giving you a bonus if you refer your family and friends to the site and they join up.
- Cashback offers kick in if your bet loses, giving you money back in this case so that you can try again.
Going back to the original question of which type of betting bonus may be better for you, it depends upon your personality and what you like to bet on. For example, if you want to bet on big football games, then you’ll be keen to see an offer this fits. You could also consider whether to place many small bets or try to win with a single large wager.
Online betting sites with user-friendly interface and easy registration process
The registration process for betting sites has to be fast and straightforward, as otherwise, you might quit before you’re fully registered as a user. This is why the big operators put a lot of effort into making life as easy for you as they can. They want you to get going as smoothly as possible in just a few steps.
The first step is to click on the button for new members, which normally says something like ‘join’ or ‘sign up.’
Complete the details you’re asked for, like username and email address
Confirm that you’re aged 18+ and that you accept their terms & conditions
If there’s a welcome package, you’ll be asked to accept the terms of this bonus too
Add funds so you can start placing bets
The identity verification process can be carried out after this, but you won’t be able to withdraw winnings until you do it
This full process should only take a few moments in the popular betting sites with clear, user-friendly interfaces. In this way, you’re ready to start using it with no delays.
Betting on sports online – How to make a bet
The majority of British gamblers are interested in the nation’s most popular sports, led by football and horse racing. The likes of cricket, tennis and rugby are also popular, and you’ll find these sports on just about all good betting sites online UK gamblers can access. Others include less widely popular sports like table tennis, volleyball and so on, while the possibilities for betting on esports are growing more over time.
As for the popular markets, betting on an outright win is still something plenty of people do, while football has some extremely popular bets like both teams to score, first scorer and the number of corners or cards accumulated during a game. Horse racing wagers like each way or place bets remain as sought-after as ever. Other sports have a range of markets based on the most important factors in those sports.
The next thing you need to know about is the odds, which thankfully aren’t as difficult to understand as you might think. When you look at the odds, they’re simply telling you how likely the outcome is to occur, and the less likely it is, the higher the potential payout will be.
The good news is that you can see how much a win would earn you when you place the bet. Simply choose the wager you’re interested in and how much of a stake you want to use. You’ll then see the return automatically generated, so you don’t need to calculate to see whether the bet’s worth making.
If the odds and possible profit look good to you, and you have funds in your account, you just need to confirm the bet and wait to see what happens. If you correctly predict the outcome, you’ll get a payout based on the odds you saw when placing the wager.
Live or pre-match betting online
Live betting and pre-match betting differ in respect of when you place the wager. To understand which approach suits you best, you need to look at the main differences you’ll find. Since most betting sites offer both of these ways of wagering, you can decide when to do either.
Pre-match betting is carried out at any point until the match or event starts
The odds are likely to vary as new information is released about the weather conditions, injuries etc.
In-play betting– also known as live betting – is carried out while the action is taking place
The odds may vary drastically depending on how the game is going
With live betting, you may have the option of cashing out early if things are going the way that you predicted
For many sports fans, live betting adds to the excitement of watching a game
The likes of next goalscorer, under/over goals and halt-time/full-time score, are among the most popular in-play bets in the football market
Live streaming is an additional service offered by some of the online betting sites but not all of them. This is a way to watch the events as they happen, which in theory, should help you to decide which bets to place. The most popular sports like football and horse racing are most frequently shown in this way.
Those bookies with live streaming usually give access to all their active registered members, although in some cases, you might need to have placed a bet in the recent past to be able to use this service. Those sites that don’t have live streaming will often show live score details with constantly updated information and graphics showing how the game is going.
Bookmakers with mobile apps are ahead of the game
All of the popular betting sites users can access are mobile-optimised so that you can easily place bets and carry out account maintenance tasks where you are. In some cases, a mobile app is available for download on Android and Apple devices. Still, in other cases, you just enter through the site’s website in a mobile browser, where a mobile-friendly version of the site will adjust perfectly to your screen.
If there’s an app, you might see a link to download from the bookmaker’s official site, but you could also check the Play Store or App Store for one. Some operators include their casino and sports betting together on a single app. The listing will tell you any specific requirements in terms of the minimum system requirements to install and then run it.
You can then switch between the mobile and desktop versions if that suits you, as you’ll be able to place bets and manage your funds across devices using a single login at any of the popular betting sites.
Bookmakers list a variety of payment methods
Moving money across to bet with shouldn’t be a major issue, and neither should taking out any winnings when the time comes. All of the bookies reviewed in this article offer a wide selection of the UK's most popular banking methods, such as the following.
Debits cards like Visa and Mastercard
E-wallets, including NETELLER, Skrill and PayPal
Bank transfers
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Litecoin
Not all of these bookmakers accept the same banking methods, but they generally offer as many as they can to make it easier for new members to join them. A wide range of payment methods and fast deposits/withdrawals are among the most important areas people look at before signing up. Not paying enough attention to this can cost betting sites customers.
The full list of accepted banking methods is often listed in the site’s FAQ or a separate banking section. Once you register on a bookie’s site, you’ll be able to enter the banking section of your account and check in this way what’s available.
Betting sites with quality customer service
The customer service offered to their users is another area that betting sites need to put a lot of thought into. Setting up an account and betting is pretty easy, but they need to consider the fact that some people might run into problems for one reason or another.
The best solution is to offer a variety of ways of getting in touch and getting any questions answered. Since we all like to speak to customer service agents in different ways, the following are some options you will find available to you.
Live chat is offered, with some bookmakers having 24/7 support using this method
Email is another popular option, and you may be able to fill in an on-site contact form with your details to request a reply
Phone calls aren’t always accepted, but if they are, then you’ll see the number listed on the bookmaker’s site, together with the hours when they answer calls.
Social networks provide an alternative for getting answers, with the likes of Facebook and Twitter giving you fast access to the support team.
Before you get in touch in any of those ways, you might like to check out the site’s FAQ page. This is where you can find answers to the most commonly asked questions, usually covering areas such as registration, account verification and banking, among others.
FAQs
How do I place a bet online?
This is done by opening an account with one of the regulated betting sites, funding it and then choosing the game or event you want to bet on. Place the stake amount and confirm the bet, with the amount you could win stated on your betting slip at the outset. If you win, you’ll get paid the winnings automatically and can choose to withdraw them or bet again.
Where can I bet on sports in UK?
You need to look for regulated online betting sites to operate legally in the UK. These bookmakers have a British Gambling Commission license, meaning they meet all the requirements to operate here. The popular betting sites players can use, as mentioned by Globusbet, includes big names such as Grosvenor and Betway.
Which is the most trusted betting site?
Any of the online betting sites with a British Gambling Commission licence can be trusted. Among the most respected names in the industry, you can find the likes of William Hill, Betfred and Grosvenor. However, there are also emerging online bookies that are trustworthy, provided that they hold the right licence.
Which is the most popular betting app?
Some of the popular betting sites in the UK have mobile apps, while others have a mobile-optimised website where you can enter using any mobile browser. There’s not a single app Globusbet can single out as being the most popular in the industry, as many of the best-known names in sports betting have an excellent approach to mobile apps.
Which is the most popular sport to bet on?
In the UK, football remains the most popular sport to bet on, as can be seen in the way that many of these sites focus on football games and tournaments. Other popular sports include horse racing, cricket and golf, while an increasing number of niche sports are also now offered, and the likes of esports and virtual sports are becoming more popular.
Which betting site has the best odds?
It’s worth checking on a few betting sites to see the odds you’re particularly interested in at any given time. This is because Globusbet can’t simply say that one bookmaker has the best odds in every case. They each set their odds competitively for every sport and market, but this means that some games could have better odds on one site while another has better odds elsewhere.
Disclaimer: You should always remember that gambling is meant to be fun and that you should never bet more than you can afford to lose. If you feel that your betting gets out of control, there are several responsible gambling helplines listed in all regulated UK bookmaker sites.
To find out more about online casino sites and their licenses, you can visit the Gambling Commission website for more information. This list is compiled by Globusbet.com.
It's important to note that the value of cryptocurrencies is volatile and the value can go down as well as up. Please gamble responsibly. You must be 18 years of age or older to gamble at the online casinos featured on this page. Be sure to gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org.
