Britain’s Top-Rated Online Bookies

We’ll highlight the various bonuses and promotions that online bookmakers offer, as well as list the numerous advantages that they have over betting shops. We’ll also give you our criteria for evaluating the quality of a betting site, as well as some technical information about what you can expect from an online bookie when it comes to security and payment methods. Don’t forget to sign up in the field above in order to get the latest updates and developments in the online betting scene! And we advise you to take a look at the new bookmakers on the market.

Betting Offers

Betting online has lots of advantages to betting at a bookmaker’s shop. Besides the obvious convenience of placing a wager without ever leaving the comfort of your own home, online bookies offer a huge variety of bonus offers and promotions that are available to the online punter. Competition is fierce in the online arena, so bookies offer welcome bonuses for joining up with them, as well as other regular bonuses and promotions to keep a punter as a loyal customer.

Types of Bonuses

There’s an endless array of different types of offers and promotions amongst the different online bookies. For example, the most common bonus is the Welcome offer, which, in layman’s terms, essentially means free money you get just for signing up and placing a deposit. Pretty much every betting site has a Welcome offer – the real question is how big it is! To see all the various offers available at our top five bookies, check out this handy table below.:

Deposit Bonuses

Deposit bonuses are often the most generous type of online bonus. Essentially, bookies will give you a percentage of the amount you deposit as a bonus. So for example, if a bookie is offering a 100% deposit bonus and you deposit £10, you’ll be given £10 totally free as your welcome bonus! Some offer more than 100%, some less, so we’ll give a useful run down of which operators have the most enticing offers.

Money-Back Specials

Money-back specials are pretty straight forward – if your bet doesn’t win, you’ll get your money back! There are of course a few conditions to be met that will vary between operators and offers. It could be if the match ends 0:0, or if one leg of an accumulator lets you down.

Mobile Bonuses

Some operators also offer mobile bonuses when a punter places their first bet or deposit from a mobile device. Again, these can vary just as much as welcome bonuses from site to site. But they’re another great way to receive some very generous offers. Also, some operators have enhanced odds specials available only for mobile users, so make sure to download your favourite bookie’s mobile app.

Cross-Platform Offers

As you may have noticed, a lot of online bookmakers don’t limit themselves just to sports betting. They also offer online casino games, bingo and other forms of gambling entertainment. Cross-platform bonuses cross the boundaries between them, giving you, for example, a bonus amount to use at the casino if you make a sports wager.

Others

There’s an endless variety of promotions available across the various betting sites each day, some of which are more common than others. The daily deals are a particular favourite; just as the name suggests, these are special bonuses that change depending on what day of the week it is. These are often enhanced odds on strong favourites, so be on the lookout for these bonuses in order to take full advantage. A little rarer are loyalty bonuses. Operators will issue small free bets or bonus funds to customers as a reward for their loyalty. These offers are a nice touch that reward punters for being a long-standing member of a site.

Bonus Terms and Promo Codes

So, how to pick the best bonus for you? While most welcome bonuses are very generous indeed, there are always T&Cs attached, so the biggest bonus might not always necessarily be the best one for you. Bonuses can expire within different time-frames, exclude certain types of bets or only be limited to a specific market. It’s important therefore to look in detail at the different bonuses available. One of the most important factors – especially with welcome bonuses – is the terms affecting the withdrawal of bonus funds. Most welcome bonuses will need to be rolled over – essentially that means the bonus amount must be staked – at least three times before any winnings from the bonus funds can be withdrawn. Always read the fine print with these offers to make sure that you can take full advantage and maximise your winnings.

• Minimum Deposit The minimum deposit is the minimum amount that you need to invest into the bookmaker in order to receive your bonus. The bonus is then (usually, it can be more or less) a 100% match of the amount you deposit. Always check what the minimum deposit is before depositing, to ensure you deposit enough to trigger the bonus, but also to make sure the minimum deposit is not more than you want to bet.

• Validity Period The validity period is the time during which your bonus amount will be available for you to use and play with. The validity period is usually around a month, but it could occasionally be shorter, so check the terms and conditions. Make sure to wager the entire bonus however many times that particular bookie requires, for it to be withdrawn before the period is up, as after this period the bonus will expire.

• Contributing Bets It really would be too good to be true if you could just receive the bonus and withdraw it straight-away. In order to withdraw your deposit you need to stake it a set number of times, which can be different depending on your bookmaker (though usually three or four). Some bet types are often exempt and will not count towards staking your bonus and most bookies will state minimum odds for contributing bets.

• BONUS/OFFER CODES Bonus codes, also known as offer codes, are special promotional codes that you can input when depositing, in order to receive special bonuses. These codes are usually unique and will be mostly sent to your e-mail address as part of a loyalty offer just for you. Most of them are also one-time use only and have some small criteria to be adhered to, so make sure to choose your bet carefully and use them wisely!

So, which bonus is right for you? We’ll provide all the information you need to make an informed decision, but ultimately, the decision is up to you. Rule number one is to always read the fine print. The terms of use aren’t a read that’s particularly fun or engaging, but it’s absolutely mandatory if you want to have the best possible betting experience. Understanding how everything works in any particular bookmaker is absolutely crucial to your success when betting, so being able to figure out the ins and outs of each bookie’s bonuses is a very important skill to have.

Available Markets

One of the biggest questions you need to ask yourself when choosing an online bookie is, ‘does this bookie have all the markets that I want to bet on’? Most leading online operators have all the markets you could desire, from all kinds of sports, to betting on real life events.

Betting on Sports

Unsurprisingly, sports markets are by far the most popular. The big three – football, golf and horse-racing – along with most other major sports, are sure to be provided by any popular online bookie worth his salt. As the graph shows, these sports dominate the market, with football three times as popular as the runner up, golf.

But to really maximise your profits, it’s best to also look outside of these markets to take advantage of other markets too. Our guide gives a comprehensive run down of all the markets offered by these online bookies, so look no further than the information provided here. Online bookies have made a conscious effort to provide markets for most sports and the selection really is ever increasing.

Special Markets and Political Betting

While sports is undoubtedly the king of betting markets, there’s been a huge increase in the popularity of political and other specialised betting markets. Bets such as who will be the next Mayor of London, or which party will win the General Election are now available at most online bookies. Betting on entertainment is also increasingly common. Punters can now even bet on shows such as X-Factor and Big Brother! Some bookies now have dedicated ‘Politics’ or ‘Entertainment’ sections for these types of bets. If not, don’t fear; check the specials menus at a bookmaker of your choice to see which of these types of bets they’re offering.

Advantages of Online Betting

It’s no wonder that the overwhelming majority of bookmakers have transitioned at least partially to online betting. It’s pretty clear that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, both to the punter and the bookies themselves. Here’s just four of the many reasons online betting has become so popular:

• Easy and Convenient Placing bets online is quick and easy. As long as you have an internet connection, you can make a bet anytime, anywhere, with the click of a button. In-play betting is also a huge feature of online bookies, which is mostly not possible in standard betting shops. On top of this, you’re also able to live-stream events upon which you have placed a bet. Quick, easy and super convenient.

• Better Odds Nowadays, online betting is way more common than betting shops. Although initially, to entice punters to use online services, bookies offered superior odds on their online platforms compared to in their shops. Thankfully, this trend has continued, and the best odds can almost always be found online. That’s not to mention the multitude of enhanced odds promotions most online bookies offer.

• More Events Betting shops are restricted by a wide variety of factors. But most of these don’t apply to online betting. There are markets for almost everything, with a vastly superior selection of bet types too. In-play betting is also huge online, so there are almost endless options for in-play bets. Whatever market you’re looking for, you’re far more likely to find it online than in a traditional betting shop.

• More Bonuses Bonuses are a huge draw for the online bookie. Everyday there are hundreds of bonuses to be taken advantage of, across a huge range of sports and bet types. However these offers are almost non-existent in betting shops, nor are you rewarded for your constant custom, unlike at online bookies, where you’ll offered be given free bets or cash as a reward for you loyalty.

Mobile Betting – The Future of Gambling

Ah, where would we be without our smartphones? The early 2000s were some pretty dark times, ones where doing something like betting on sports from your mobile phone was considered the stuff of science fiction. Thankfully, we now find ourselves in THE FUTURE, where betting from your phone isn’t just an option – it’s recommended for when you’re on the go! Indeed, pretty much every single bookmaker offers a mobile-friendly version of their site specifically designed for touch screens that you can access simply by typing in their web address from your phone! A few sites have even gone a step further and created downloadable apps for added convenience, which are especially common on iOS devices. The best of the best go as far as to offer native apps for Windows Phone, and you know a bookmaker is really dedicated to their craft when they decide to support Windows Phone!

“But wait”, you might be asking, “Why should I use mobile apps for betting at all? I mean, I’ve got my computer and stuff, right?” Well, the thing is, you don’t have your computer all the time, and even if you always carry a laptop around it’s not always convenient for you to open it in order to indulge your inner gambler. That’s where the mobile apps come in – pulling out your phone and placing a bet can be done quickly and efficiently wherever you are! And if you’re still not convinced, check out these awesome advantages:

Since you’re on your phone anyway, why not take a moment to learn more about the benefits of mobile betting? Just click right here for a handy-dandy diagram!

Live Betting and Streaming

By far one of the most attractive features made available by the vast majority of online bookmakers today is undoubtedly in-play betting. In-play betting essentially means that you’re able to place bets right in the middle of the event whilst it’s taking place. Most of the top bookies will have a separate page on the site dedicated to in-play betting that can be accessed directly from the landing page. Simply find an event in progress on the website of your chosen betting operator and have a good look through the available betting markets for the current in-play fixtures. Punters should bear in mind that odds are subject to change rapidly as the event progresses so if you’re thinking you can make a fortune by betting on the winning team in the 89th minute you’ll have to come up with a slightly more creative strategy!

To make in-play betting even more exhilarating, some of the better online bookies on the market have gone out of their way to sign licensing agreements and develop high-tech platforms that enable punters to stream live sports directly from the website. This luxury feature means that you can keep close tabs on the action as it unfolds and make well-calculated and accurate bets.

There are of course certain limitations in place, (certain sites only allow you to stream live sports if you’re logged in and have a positive account balance and some require you to have placed a bet of at least £1 on the event you wish to view) but for the most part, you shouldn’t have any trouble watching as long as you’re an active player. Also, given the advanced technology of the modern day smart phone; many online bookies have gone as far to as to allow live sports streaming directly from your mobile device. All you need is a strong 3G or wi-fi connection and the mobile application from your favourite betting operator and in most cases, you get the same high quality streaming experience as you would from from the desktop version.

Safety When Betting Online

Seem as though we are currently in the midst of a worldwide technological revolution where the internet is perhaps the most powerful and most entertaining global network known to man, it makes perfect sense that the world of gambling has too evolved with the times and we are now able to make bets, manage our accounts, watch live sport and bet- in play all from the comfort of our living rooms or from our mobile phones whilst on the move. This said however, it is important that punters are extremely careful and take the appropriate precautions when gambling online. As unfortunate as it may be, there are a large number of malicious and often fake betting operators whose sole aim is to rob people of their hard earned money by offering fake cash giveaways and seemingly too good to be true welcome offers.

However, you needn’t worry- you’ve already made the right choice by first coming here and reading our section on safe online betting. Each of the bookmakers that we’ve featured are 100% legitimate, trustworthy and widely accredited with providing an honest and fair service. To ensure that there’s no foul play involved, online bookmakers are subject to more rigorous checks and regulations than their retail counterparts meaning that they’re forced to be socially responsible and honest. If you’re still not convinced though, don’t worry – there’s actually a very easy way to check the site’s legality for yourself.

What Makes an Online Bookmaker Legal in the UK

First and foremost – it’s vitally important for you to know that EVERY legal online betting site has been licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and each have their own unique certificate and serial number. Do NOT trust any bookmaker that isn’t registered under the commission even if they claim they’re legitimate. You can easily check their licence by clicking on the UKGC logo normally found in the bottom footer of most online gambling websites.

It’s important to note that not every online bookie has the UKGC logo in their footer – some may have it in their About Us section, while others may not feature it at all, instead opting to only mention it in somewhere in passing (either that, or they only feature the logo without a hyperlink so you can’t actually see the licence itself). If that’s the case you’re going to have to do a bit of work yourself and luckily:that’s been made as straight forward as can be. All you have to do is head to the UKGC website and use their license search tool to look the bookie up in order to check if they’re legitimate. If you can’t find them, stay away: you’ve been warned.

Technical Security and Social Responsibility

While the UKGC is the largest organisation that looks after the punter’s security, they aren’t the only ones who are there to ensure your well being- far from it actually. There are in fact plenty of organisations in place who are working hard to make sure that punters aren’t getting ripped off and if they are, they’re then properly compensated. Sports betting always carries a certain amount of risk with it, but at least in theory; all of it should be very calculated and very intentional risk. The organisations we’ve mentioned below are there to ensure that most of the unintended risks are completely eliminated.

• IBAS The Independent Betting Adjudication Service are there for one purpose – to act as an arbiter in case of a dispute between a bookmaker and a customer that can’t be resolved between the two respective parties. If you feel you’ve been ripped off by a bookie you can always bring your case to them and leave it to their experts to decide if you’re entitled to any compensation. If it turns you are, they’ll make sure you get your due! IBAS are one of those online betting regulators who command a huge amount of respect- most legal bookmakers would think twice before crossing them!

• ESSA ESSA are an organisation that track all suspicious bet activities in real time and alert the proper authorities before any fraudulent activity can take place. We’ve spoken a lot about the rights and protections entitled to all online gamblers- it’s also important that bookmakers are protected against punters who are out to commit fraud and cash-in on dishonestly made profits. If you’re thinking about telling your friend who’s competing online to throw the match so you can both bet a few thousand pounds and split the profit you’d better think twice: ESSA are probably one step ahead of you.

• Norton You might recognise the name Norton – in fact, there’s a good chance that an anti-virus program of the same name is already installed on your computer. Even if you don’t own the program, your computer is still 100% protected from any malicious software that you could potentially gain from a website with the Norton logo in its footer. The legitimate online bookies generally contain any viruses but just in case, Norton still provide a bit of extra security.

• GamCare Throughout this article we’ve made it clear that we think online betting is the best thing since sliced bread. Sadly, this isn’t the case for everyone – considering how addictive online gambling can be, a lot of people allow it to disrupt and even ruin their lives. That’s why GamCare and other organisations like it exist. They employ well trained psychologists who are there to help anyone suffering from betting addiction without fear of judgement or accusation.

While GamCare is probably the most popular gambling addiction help services that exist, they are by no means the only one. Responsible Gambling Trust, GambleAware and UK Gamblers Anonymous are just a few of the many organisations that can help you if you believe you’ve got a gambling problem. We know that the rest of this article has been very light-hearted, but addiction is no laughing matter. If you believe that online betting, or betting in general has begun to affect your life in a negative or uncontrollable way then we advise you to seek help before it’s too late. Gambling addiction, like any other addiction can ruin your life and the lives of the people closest to you. If you spend an unreasonable amount of time and money on betting or feel that you can’t go a day without placing a wager then by all means get in contact with one of the organisations we’ve listed. As a wise man once said, the first step to solving any problem is admitting it exists.

Safe Payments

One question that’s common among people who want to try online betting, especially those who aren’t that internet-savvy in general is often, “How do I pay for this exactly?” It’s a question that makes sense – after all it’s simple inside a betting retail store- you simply hand the cash straight over the counter to the bookie- but how does it work online? Luckily for you, there are three different ways you can deposit:

• Debit Cards In the 21st century, most people own a Debit Card. Why wouldn’t you – it’s extremely convenient to be able to pay for almost anything you want without having to count coins. Luckily for you, you can also use your card to make deposits to online bookmakers. All you have to do is input your name, the card number and the security code on the back and you’re good to go.

• E-Wallets If you’ve ever bought anything from eBay, chances are you’ve already got a PayPal account all set up and ready to go! In case you don’t know, PayPal (alongside other similar sites such as Neteller and Skrill) serve as an electronic wallet, allowing you to receive and send money online safely and securely. E-Wallets are simple, convenient and well worth using even if you already have a debit card.

• Prepaid cards If you’re not keen using your debit card and you have a handy pre-paid top up card that you prefer then you can rest assured, the vast majority of online bookies support this kind of payment method.

Customer Support

It’s easy to disregard customer support as the sort of thing that you’d never need to use anyway, so what is it even doing there taking up space. In reality, support – especially GOOD support – is an absolutely essential part of any betting site. Don’t underestimate their power, as the people in charge of customer service can truly help you out with anything, from assisting with any questions and problems you might be experiencing to giving you advice on betting. Hell, I’m sure they can even help you find your remote if you ask nicely enough! Here’s how you can contact them:

• Live Chat Live chat does pretty much exactly what it says on the tin – you can chat with a member of the support team and communicate your problem to them in real time. This is probably our favourite way of talking to a customer service representative as it’s quick, reliable and gets straight to the point.

• Phone Dealing with issues and queries by the good old fashioned way of the telephone is still the preferred method of dealing with customer care service teams by a great number of punters. If you haven’t got the time or the opportunity to chat with someone via live chat or if you just aren’t that quick at typing, most betting sites have their phone numbers clearly displayed in their “Contact Us” section meaning that you can give them a call whenever the time suits you.

• E-mail Let’s face it – not every question is urgent enough to require live interaction with an actual human being. Sometimes you might have an issue or a query that’s not particularly urgent- but does need to be dealt with in the not too distant future. For these kind of issues email is probably your best bet. Just send your query to the email address listed under the bookie’s Contact Us page and you’ normally hear back from someone within 24 hours.

How We Evaluate a Betting Site

It’s easy to disregard customer support as the kind of thing that you think you’d never need to use and even easier not to take special time to carefully consider and review the different services provided. In reality, support – especially GOOD support is an absolutely essential part of any betting site. Don’t underestimate their power; the people in charge of customer support services can really be of great help when it comes to assisting you with any questions and problems you might be experiencing as well as offering some useful betting advice. Here’s how you can contact them:

Now that you’ve had a good look at all the key criteria, we advise that you remember them and use them yourself whenever you’re researching a bookie. Remember – only bookmakers who fit all of the criteria we’ve established above are worthy of your time! The rest could easily turn out to be illegal and or fake and could refuse to pay out your winnings, so do your research and don’t take unnecessary risks!

Conclusion

Even when taking into account all the criteria we’ve mentioned above, there’s still a whole range of British bookies that offer a highly enjoyable and safe online gambling experience. Even though the one’s we’ve listed have ticked all the boxes we think are the most important, the truth is that you’re going to have to try them all out for yourself to see which one best caters to your preferred sports, your favourite betting markets and uses an interface that you can really get along with. However, when all is said and done, we feel as though that despite being one of the lesser experienced betting operators in our review, Bet 365 were far superior in a number of key areas and thus, must be given the well earned title as the king of the of online bookies. It’s extensive list of betting markets, the outstanding bonuses on offer as well and the consistent high odds mean that for now at least, BET 365 can be crowned the online betting champion.

Frequently Asked Questions

We believe that the above article has been rather comprehensive, but that doesn’t mean we’ve covered everything. As such, we’ve answered some of the most popular questions below! If there’s something that’s still unclear to you, check out the FAQ’S below and see if you find a satisfactory answer! If we’ve somehow missed your question, by all means please send us a tweet at: @ukonlinebookies.

• You mentioned that some betting sites are legal while others aren’t. But isn’t sports betting illegal in general? Actually, no, it’s not! Well, in all honesty, it largely depends on your country, but in the UK and in most EU countries sports betting, whether online or offline, is perfectly legal. Still, double-check just to be on the safe side.

• You mentioned the UK a few times. I’m not from the UK, though. Can I still register and play? You can always register and play with your free bonus, but depositing and withdrawing is only allowed in certain countries. You should check the terms of use in order to verify whether your country is supported by a particular bookmaker or not.

• My first hunch was right and my bet has won! Now how do I withdraw my winnings? Withdrawing your winnings is as simple as depositing – go into your account and search for the Withdraw button. The process after that is easy – just select a payment method and the amount you’d like to withdraw, and then wait. It usually takes a few days for the amount to process, but it should arrive soon enough. Keep in mind that some bookmakers, especially those specifically for the UK market require some sort of identity verification which might require you sending them a scan of your driver’s licence.

• I’d love to play, but I don’t think I can afford to spend too much. What’s the minimum deposit I can make? We admire your restraint! The thing is, various sites have different minimum deposits, so you’re going to have to check the terms of use to see exactly what the limitations are. Another trick you can use is to attempt to deposit £1 – usually you’ll receive a message saying something along the lines of “You need to deposit at least £X”, and that’s how you’ll get your answer. Typically though, the lower limit is £5.

• I’m not exactly satisfied by the bookmaker I chose. How do I close my account? Finding details about how to Close can normally be found in the “My Account” section or “Acount section”. Try poking around there for a bit, see if you can find the right button. If that doesn’t work, you can always contact customer support and ask them to close your account. They might be disappointed to see you go, but they’ll comply with your request.