The United Kingdom is fortunate to enjoy the most competitive online gambling sector in the world. It is the largest and most developed online gambling sector, with the strictest regulation. This means that UK bettors can choose from a plethora of high-quality, reliable, secure, and licensed bookies. However, this makes it more difficult when it comes to identifying the best betting sites in the UK.
We’ve got you covered with top UK bookmaker reviews highlighting some of the most reputable betting sites with the pros and cons of each. All these bookies are fully licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission and offer new customer sign-up bonuses which can give you some free bets or other form of welcome bonus to get you started.
Top UK Bookmakers Reviewed 2024
- William Hill – Reliable & trustworthy bookie
- SpreadEx – Spread betting specialist
- 888sport – Over 25 sports to bet on
Reviews of the Best UK Betting Sites
Let’s take a closer look at the best UK betting sites, what they offer, why we like them and how to sign up and claim their new player welcome bonus offers.
1. William Hill – Reliable & trustworthy bookie
William Hill is a very well-known and established high-street bookmaker in the UK. With more than 12,500 employees, William Hill are one of the top betting and gaming businesses in the world. The company was established in the UK, where it was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1934. It also has become one of the leading US sportsbooks after taking a strong position in Nevada and expanding throughout the nation.
William Hill offers sports betting, casino, bingo and poker with an interesting mix of bonuses and free games. The bookmaker’s existing customer bonuses make it very easy to obtain free bets, and their weekly ‘Epic Odds’ promotion is one of the best in the business.
How to claim William Hill free bets
New customers at William Hill can enjoy a ‘Bet £10, Get £30′ free bet welcome offer. The £30 bonus is awarded as three £10 free bets. These will be credited to the player’s account after the original bet has been settled. Players must wager their £10 on a bet with odds of 1/2 (1.50) or higher. This free bet bonus is not available for those that deposit using PayPal in the UK. (18+ Only | T&C apply.)
- Live sports streaming on William Hill TV
- Licensed in UK, EU & some US states
- Daily free games such as ‘Stat Attack’ and ‘Bonus Drop’
- Weekly ‘Epic Odds’ promo
- Vast site can be overwhelming for new users
- Mediocre welcome bonus
Full Review Visit William Hill
2. SpreadEx – Spread betting specialist
Established in 1999, Spreadex are the only bookmaker to offer fixed odds sports betting plus sports spread betting from the same site. This means there are thousands of betting options available across hundreds of events with Live Streaming, Bet-Builder and 3 Cash Out options too.
How to claim a SpreadEx free bet
Join Spreadex and get up to £25 in free fixed odds bets plus earn up to £300 cashback on stakes on selected spread betting markets in your first 28 days. IMPORTANT: Note that with spread betting, losses can exceed deposit.
- Generous welcome offer on spread betting
- Helpful spread betting guides
- FCA regulated
- Solid reputation
- Spread betting can be complicated to understand
- Customer support is not 24/7
3. 888sport – Over 25 sports to bet on
888Sport is a cleverly named online bookmaker. Super suspicious Far Eastern culture dictates the No. 8 is a massively lucky number and it is a fact the gambling mad Chinese tend to gamble more on anything which has the number 8 associated with it.
How to claim 888sport free bets
From our viewpoint 888Sport betting offers loads of variety – a nice 888Sport free bet for new customers and they give their customers no end of bet boosts and promotions.
- Big name in the online gambling industry
- Huge range of payment options
- Large amount of promotions
- Live streaming on all US horse racing
- Mobile app for iOS & Android
- Welcome bonus could be bigger
- Lower limits for sharp bettors
- Live streaming is limited
Online Betting Offers in the UK
We take great pride in providing players with the top free bet offers across all major sport markets, including football, horse racing, tennis, F1, esports and more. To ensure you take advantage of bankroll-boosting bonuses and betting promotions, we are constantly looking for the most exciting free bet offers from the top UK bookies.
UK betting promos include welcome offers, reload bonuses, money back specials, cashback offers and free spins. Let’s take a closer look at these types of betting offers and explain how they work and how you can best use them.
Welcome Offers
This is a bonus directed at potential new customers, so is often the most lucrative on offer from an online casino or bookmaker. Most new customer welcome bonuses are matched to a certain percentage of your initial deposit and in many cases. your opening deposit is doubled, trebled or more. Casino welcome offers almost always come with rollover requirements but sports betting welcome offers usually have no wagering requirements. In many cases you can only choose one welcome bonus when joining a new betting site. Always read and understand all the key terms of a welcome bonus before accepting.
Reload / Deposit Bonuses
A deposit or reload bonus is similar to a welcome bonus in that your deposit amount is matched to a percentage. Many online casinos in UK will provide you with regular reload bonuses, possibly even on a daily basis. However, they are not as large as your first welcome bonus, and they will, like all promotions, be subject to numerous terms and limitations. These types of bonuses are more associated with casino deposits than sports betting.
Odds Boosts
In sports betting and odds boost is, as the name suggests, an increase to the normal odds of some sporting outcome. Most online sportsbooks include odds boosts in the daily offers but certain bookies sometimes offer really big odds boosts which are definitely worth considering. For example, bet365 have their ‘Super Boost’ offers with sometimes dramatically increased odds. Maximum stakes are limited but will vary for each customer in the range of £10 to around. £40. William Hill also occasionally release an ‘Epic Boost’ where you could back Manchester City to win at Evens instead of say, 2/7! These super boost offers usually come with a maximum stake to £10. Betfair Sportsbook is another good site to check for odds boosts.
Money Back Specials
A money back special is a betting promotion that has some built in insurance where your stake is returned if a certain condition is met. For example, Boylesports will give you your money back as a free bet (up to £25 max) if your horse finishes 2nd to the SP favourite. Paddy Power is the self-proclaimed ‘Home of the money back special’ and always has plenty of these promotions on offer. Your stakes are usually refunded in the form of free bet credits rather than actual cash.
Cashback Offers
Cashback betting offers, also known as cashback promotions, are a type of bonus or incentive provided by online betting sites to their customers. These offers are designed to provide a certain percentage of the bettor’s losses back to them as a cash refund or free bet credit. The concept behind cashback offers is to give bettors a second chance or a safety net in case their bets don’t result in a win.
Free Spins
When you play at online casinos, you can earn free spins as a promotional offer. Simply put, you are given a set amount of free spins to utilise on a specific slot machine. They are available as no deposit bonus or as part of deposit bonus packages. Although this appears to be too good to be true, it is a popular marketing strategy used by most online casinos to recruit new consumers. Furthermore, these bonuses are available at numerous $1 minimum deposit casino sites, allowing you to test the waters without putting too much money at risk. There is no catch to this offer; whatever you win when playing with free spins is yours to keep.
Competitions
There are always lots of competitions to get involved in such as prize draws, prediction games, slots tournaments, fantasy sports games and freeroll poker tournaments where you can win big. Always keep an eye on their bookmaker’s Promotions pages for any good ones and remember, you’ve got to be in it to win it!
Mobile Betting Apps in the UK
Mobile betting apps in the UK are applications developed by online betting operators to allow users to place bets, manage their accounts, and access various betting features directly from their smartphones or tablets. These apps have gained popularity due to the convenience and flexibility they offer to bettors, allowing them to engage in betting activities while on the go.
Here are some key features and aspects of mobile betting apps in the UK:
- Access to Betting Markets: Mobile betting apps provide access to a wide range of betting markets, covering sports events from around the world. Users can place bets on various sports, leagues, and tournaments, including football, horse racing, tennis, cricket, and more.
- User-Friendly Interface: Most mobile betting apps are designed with user-friendliness in mind, making navigation and placing bets intuitive even for those who are new to mobile betting.
- Live Betting: Many mobile apps offer live betting options, allowing users to place bets on ongoing matches and events in real-time. This feature enhances the excitement and engagement of betting.
- Secure Transactions: Reputable betting apps employ encryption technology to secure financial transactions, ensuring that user data and payment information are protected.
- Promotions and Bonuses: Users can often access the same promotions and bonuses offered on the desktop version of the betting site through the mobile app. These promotions can include free bets, enhanced odds, cashback offers, and more.
- Account Management: Mobile apps allow users to manage their accounts, including deposits, withdrawals, and account settings, directly from their devices.
- In-Play Stats and Information: Some apps provide real-time statistics and information about ongoing matches, helping users make informed betting decisions.
- Notifications: Betting apps often offer push notifications to keep users informed about upcoming matches, promotions, and other relevant updates.
- Compatibility: Most betting apps are available for both iOS and Android devices. Users can download the apps from the respective app stores or directly from the operator’s website.
- Customer Support: Reputable betting apps provide customer support services, allowing users to get assistance with any issues or inquiries they may have.
- Responsible Gambling Tools: Many mobile apps include responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits, time limits, and self-exclusion options to help users manage their betting activities responsibly.
- Regulation and Licensing: Betting apps in the UK are regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, ensuring that they adhere to strict standards of fairness, security, and responsible gambling.
It’s important to choose a reputable and licensed mobile betting app to ensure a safe and enjoyable betting experience. Before using any app, users should read reviews, check the operator’s reputation, and understand the terms and conditions associated with using the app. Additionally, practicing responsible gambling is essential to ensure that betting remains a form of entertainment and does not lead to negative consequences.