With over 175 active online bookmakers, finding the right ones can be downright tricky. We introduce you to the UK’s best betting sites, where you will find great odds, extensive markets, and sports coverage. Learn about their features, how to spot the best ones and which to avoid, as well as betting specials you can unlock.
The Best Sports Betting Sites 2025 By Category
| Non Gamstop Bookmakers – The Facts | |
| ⚖️Licencing By | The UK Gambling Commission |
| 💳 Top Three Payment Methods |
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| ⏰Average Payout Processing Times | 24 – 48 hours |
| 🛡️Safety Measures | SSL encryption, KYC requirements, dispute resolution policies |
| 🏆Best UK Betting Site Overall | BoyleSports |
| ⚽Best Football Betting Site | Highbet |
| 🐎Best Horse Racing Betting Site | Paddy Power |
| 📱Best Betting Site for Mobile Wagering | Betfred |
| 💰Best Bookie for Cashout | Sky Bet |
| ⚡Best Betting Site for Live Betting | Virgin Bet |
| 💻Best Betting Site for Live Streaming | Betfair |
Reviews of the Best Online Betting Sites
Choosing the right bookie is crucial if you want a first-rate betting experience. We have ranked the best betting sites in the UK based on the odds, markets, sports coverage, and bonuses they offer. Here are our top choices for each bookie:
Best Overall: Editor’s Pick
🏆Top Bookmaker: BoyleSports 
BoyleSports takes sports wagering to the next level. Covering 43 sports combined with competitive odds and extended markets, it isn’t hard to see why it’s listed as our top betting website. A cashout option, fast racing results, and a bet calculator are all added perks designed to beef up your betting experience. Over 35 bonus offers, such as early payouts, free bets, and 25% boosts, round off the bookie’s offerings.
- ✅ Why we picked: Provides top features like a bet calculator and cashouts
- ❌ Reason to avoid: Odds could be more competitive
🥈Runner Up: Sky Bet – A fantastic betting site, Sky Bet offers top odds on football markets and adds to the action of in-play betting by streaming most events live.
Best Football Betting Sites
🏆Top Bookmaker: Highbet
Highbet provides betting on over 100 international football leagues, which you can easily navigate using the football menu page. You can choose to display markets and odds on up to 10 leagues at a time, so you can focus on those all-important matches. Releasing its markets up to 10 days in advance gives you the edge and the hottest odds. Putting the bet builder to the test makes it easy to compile accas on the most anticipated games.
- ✅ Why we picked: Use the league menu to see only the matches you want to see
- ❌ Reason to avoid: Doesn’t offer live football streaming
🥈Runner Up: BoyleSports – Another of the leading UK bookies for football betting, BoyleSports offers top odds on over 77 leagues and pairs these with up to 400 markets on a single game.
Best Horse Racing Betting Sites
🏆Top Bookmaker: Paddy Power 
Paddy Power has been the top choice for horse racing bettors in the UK since 1988. It offers the earliest Best Odds Guaranteed, which it releases promptly at 8 am on race day. Featured events include everything from UK and global daily races to the most anticipated calendar meets, such as the Grand National and the Royal Ascot. Live streams and thrilling prices combined with offers like daily extra places send betting full throttle.
- ✅ Why we picked: Unlock power prices on anticipated races
- ❌ Reason to avoid: Could offer more ongoing racing bonuses
🥈Runner Up: Betfred – Access price boosts and 10% cash boosts right from the race card for instant bonus offerings. The Rewards4Racing loyalty scheme offers points for each £1 you stake, putting money in your pocket.
Best Betting Sites for Cash Out
🏆Top Bookmaker: Sky Bet 
Sky Bet places cash out options at the very top of its betting offerings. One click of a button loads all the cash out options for a particular match, allowing you to get your money out at any point in the game. Sky Bet offers cash out on 18 sports, including football, horse racing, and cricket. To spot cash out markets, look for the green cash out symbol, or visit the help and support centre to see precisely which bets you can cash out early on.
- ✅ Why we picked: Use cash out betting on top sports like football
- ❌ Reason to avoid: Could offer the cash out feature on more sports
🥈Runner Up: BoyleSports – Access cash outs on handicaps, match betting, double chance bets and countless other markets at BoyleSports for greater flexibility and more freedom when placing your bets.
Top In-Play Betting Sites
🏆Top Bookmaker: Virgin Bet 
In-play betting at Virgin Bet is packed with features, from high-definition live streaming to incredible live markets, including cash out bets. Digital match trackers are offered on all events that don’t come with live streaming and feature up-to-the-second updates. Use the bet builder on in-play matches to build high-payout accas and capitalise on in-the-moment odds. Virgin Bet highlights price boosts on live matches, so don’t miss out on the chance to maximise your betting returns.
- ✅ Why we picked: Provides top in-play betting features like price boosts
- ❌ Reason to avoid: Live streaming not available for all events
🥈Runner Up: Betfair – This bookie’s crisp, clean site makes it easy to keep an eye out for those quick-changing but lucrative live odds. At a glance, you can check out teams, markets, and odds changes on several teams. Stats and standings are a click away for those all-important details that could make or break your bets.
Our Picks for Bet Builders
🏆Top Bookmaker: William Hill 
William Hill doesn’t play around with its bet builder offerings. Highlighted above a game’s markets is the bet builder feature, and with a quick click of the “Build” button, you can start compiling your same game accas. A visit to the Bet Builder Hub lets you combine bet builders from multiple games, which you can easily sort using the handy filter. William Hill’s bonuses are inclusive of bet builders, too, offering free bets to those betting on a football bet builder or a 25% bet builder winnings boost.
- ✅ Why we picked: Offers bet builder-based boosts and free bets
- ❌ Reason to avoid: Bet builder limited predominantly to football
🥈Runner Up: Sky Bet – Access Sky Bet’s bet builder in a flash, with the betting option featured conveniently at the top of the bet slip panel. Make a minimum of five selections and you can make use of the Acca Freeze, where you can freeze one winning score in-play.
Comparing the Best UK Bookmakers
Compare the features found at our top 10 betting sites using the handy table below:
| Bookmaker | Early Cash Out | Betting App | Sports to Bet On | Live Betting | Live Streaming |
| BoyleSports | ✅ | ✅ | 43+ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Highbet | ✅ | ❌ | 46+ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Paddy Power | ✅ | ✅ | 32+ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Betfred | ✅ | ✅ | 25+ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Sky Bet | ✅ | ✅ | 37+ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Virgin Bet | ✅ | ✅ | 42+ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Betfair | ✅ | ✅ | 29+ | ✅ | ✅ |
| William Hill | ✅ | ✅ | 36+ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Jeffbet | ✅ | ❌ | 50+ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Parimatch | ✅ | ✅ | 33+ | ✅ | ❌ |
Key Factors When Choosing a Top Sports Betting Site
The online betting sites you choose to play at can make or break your online gambling experience. To help you pick the best, most secure bookies, use the checklist below:
1. Check the Sports CoverageSince sports betting is the whole reason you’re visiting these bet sites, aim to find bookies that offer odds on 20-50 sports. The greater the local and international coverage, the more exciting your online sports betting options. |
2. Assess Site Safety and LicencingVisit the bottom of the betting website’s homepage to see whether it has a licence. Licenced sites are ultimately more secure, and this check can make or break your online gambling experience. |
3. Review the Odds ValueOdds directly affect your payout value, which means choosing sites that apply low vig and offer competitive prices is paramount. |
4. Look at the Quality and Range of MarketsThe more markets betting sites offer, the more ways you have to bet. Find bookies with varied markets which they release early for action-packed, high-return betting opportunities. |
5. Make Sure There are Secure Payment MethodsRecognisable, secure payment methods like E-wallets, Visa and Mastercard debit cards, and bank transfers are all options to look for when choosing UK sports betting sites. |
6. Compare the Promotions and BonusesDon’t get swept up in the generosity of welcome offers and bonuses. Make sure you check the bonus terms and conditions first to ensure they’re fair before committing to the site and claiming these offers. |
7. Test the Customer SupportTest the customer service options that betting sites offer before joining the site. Bookies that don’t offer 24/7 support or have unresponsive live chats or phone lines aren’t worth the hassle. |
8. Ensure Responsible GamblingThe best way to bet online is to do so responsibly. Always check that your new bookie supports responsible gambling by offering tools like self-exclusion programs and access to resources like GamCare. |
Betting Online vs In-Store Betting
Betting online offers a different experience than in-person wagering. Let’s compare how betting websites in the UK fare against their retail counterparts:
| Features | UK Online Bookmakers | Retail Bookmakers |
| Licencing | Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission | Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission |
| Registration Process | Placing online wagers at betting sites means you’ll need to register an account with your chosen bookie. | Retail bookies don’t require you to register; you can walk in and place a bet. |
| Operating Hours | 24/7 | Usually operate between 7 am and 10 pm |
| Payment Methods | Debit cards, bank transfers, E-wallets, and digital wallets | Debit cards |
| Welcome Bonuses | Offer more generous offers that are more varied in style and application | Typically offer loyalty programs and sometimes welcome offers, but usually much smaller in value compared to online offers |
| Sports Betting Markets | Provide betting on 20 – 50 sports and sports events based locally and internationally | Lesser coverage of sports, with the focus mainly on UK sports and events |
| Betting Odds | Betting sites offer better prices on markets overall | To account for operating costs, retail bookies often charge higher margins |
| Betting Features | Online UK bookies have fantastic features like bet builders, cash outs, and live sports streaming | The features offered by retail bookies are fairly limited, with no options like cash outs or bet builders |
Our Top Rated Betting Sites By Sport
Successful UK bookmakers cover a wide range of sports, ensuring they meet your betting preferences. If you prefer betting on a particular sport, check out our top-rated betting sites for each sport below:
Football
🏆Top Bookmaker: Highbet – Kick your football betting up a gear at Highbet, where you can find markets on over 100 international leagues and events, including the Premier League. Gain an edge with early released lines and competitive odds, and compile accas using the bet builder feature.
🥈Runner Up: BoyleSports – Early payouts, odds boosts, and bet builder boosts are just some of the hot offers you can pick up with football betting at BoyleSports. These promos make it even easier to take advantage of the 180+ markets on a single football event, of which the bookie covers thousands.
Cricket
🏆Top Bookmaker: Jeffbet – Betting on the Sussex Sharks or the Warwickshire Bears during the county championship or backing your top team during the IPL is easy at Jeffbet. Use popular markets, such as first innings lead, match winner, and win the toss bets, to back your top teams and capitalise on competitive odds.
🥈Runner Up: Highbet – Find bets on the T20 Blast or international test matches in a flash using Highbet’s quick cricket betting menu. Early release of top markets gives you an advantage, while over 80 markets on a game and a bet builder make it a breeze to capitalise further on the competitive odds.
Golf
🏆Top Bookmaker: Betfair – Get odds boosts on whether Rory McIlroy will win two or more masters this season, or whether he will win all four. With top golf offers like this, Betfair slides in as our top golf betting site. Markets such as end-of-round leader, top finish, and overall winner are all wagers available on events like the China Open, the RBC Heritage, and the Corales Puntacana Championship.
🥈Runner Up: Virgin Bet – Currently covering 10 international golf championships, like the Open Championship, the RBC Heritage, and the Volvo China Cup, Virgin Bet ensures golfing fans always have options. In-play odds on golf tournaments add spice to your betting experience, and include special markets, like a winning margin of four strokes or more, and best 18 hole score.
Tennis
🏆Top Bookmaker: Sky Bet – Build tennis accas on the day’s matches for a riveting betting experience from the get-go. As one of our top tennis betting sites, Sky Bet covers over 40 of the most anticipated tennis tournaments from across the globe, complete with extensive markets and cash outs. Catch the ATP live and stream matches in high definition to keep ahead of the betting pack.
🥈Runner Up: BoyleSports – Watch live tennis matches in action using BoyleSports’ streaming services and make use of the game and player stats to level up your betting. Pre-game and live betting on tennis at BoyleSports comes with a broad variety of markets, many of which offer cash out options.
Horse Racing
🏆Top Bookmaker: Paddy Power – The unrivalled best horse racing betting site, Paddy Power, brings highly charged betting options on the most awaited races. Combining early release BOGs and hot power prices on races with quick combos on top racing accas, the betting options are endless.
🥈Runner Up: Betfred – Saddle up for some of the most diverse bonus offers and specials on horse racing at Betfred. Using these top offers and even a loyalty points system will give you the edge you need to place more bets on top international and national races.
Popular Bets at UK Betting Sites
One way the best sports betting sites earn their titles is by offering extensive betting markets. The most popular bets you can wager at these sites include:
Match Winner
🚀 Select the winning team Choosing the match winner is the most common and straightforward wager. All you need to do here is pick the team you think will win.
1×2 Match Result
🚀 Select match draw or a winning team Unlike a match winner bet where you only have two options to choose from (Team A or Team B to win the match), a 1×2 match result bet offers a third, where you can bet on a match draw.
Handicap
🚀 Bet on a team’s winning or losing margin UK betting websites level out the odds, making them more inviting by applying a handicap to teams participating in a match. A successful bet on the favourites means they must win the game by more points than those applied by the margin. If you bet on the underdog, they’ll need to win outright or lose by fewer points than those of the handicap for you to earn a payout.
Totals (Over/Under)
🚀 Bet on the combined points of both teams Another bet based on the outcome of a match is a totals bet. When placing this wager you must predict whether the total combined score of both teams will be over (more) or under (less) than the value the bookie puts forward.
Accumulator
🚀 Compose several selections based on one or many matches An accumulator or acca bet is a compilation of several smaller wagers or “legs” based on one or many sports matches. To win these bets, you must win each selection within your acca, making it a highly risky choice. It is popular among pro bettors, because the combination of bets leads to a far higher payout.
Live Betting at the Best Bookmakers
In-play or live betting offers an electrifying take on regular pre-game wagering. Instead of betting markets with fixed odds that close before kickoff, live betting keeps its lines open, even after the game has begun. But a key difference here is that live betting odds aren’t fixed, instead, they shift as the game progresses, reflecting the game’s progression. What this means for you is you have a very narrow window to place bets at the odds you want, making in-play betting a high-octane experience.
A keen eye will get you some of the best odds and you’ll find a far broader range of betting markets overall. Top sports betting sites add extra features to their live betting offerings, such as live bet builders, early payouts, and live sports streaming. Not all bookies stream sports matches, but the best sites for live betting, like Virgin Bet, do, offering real-time streams in high-definition.
Top Bonuses at Sports Betting Sites
Specials offered by betting sites with a welcome bonus or reload promos add extra value to your online experience. Knowing what these promos are and how they work makes it simple to choose the right ones for your betting style.
| 🎁Sports Betting Bonus or Special | 💡How It Works | ✅How to Maximise | ❌What to Look Out for | 💰Best Offer |
| Free Bet | Claim a free or risk-free bet on a specific sport, market, or event. If you place the bet and win, you keep the profits minus the original stake | Place your free bet on higher payout options, like accas. Since there is no risk, you might as well take the chance | Make sure the free bet doesn’t have any play through requirements – trying to withdraw before you’ve met these will cost you your winnings | Sky Bet – New Customer Offer: Get £30 in Free Bets |
| Deposit Bonus | This bonus matches the amount you deposit in bonus funds, up to a specified value | Opt for offers with low wagering requirements to get your winnings sooner | Always check the validity period of these promos, many of them have short seven-day windows with high wagering requirements | Claim a 200% deposit match of up to £50 |
| Cashback | This promo pays back a percentage of your losses when you bet over a set period | Take advantage of these offers during top events or matches to make back on any losses | Many of these offers only apply to a specific sport or timeframe, make sure to check what these are before betting to avoid losing out | Jeffbet – Weekend Sports Cashback of 10% up to £500 |
| Enhanced Odd/Price Boosts | Betting companies in the UK often provide increased prices on specific lines called odds boosts. Available only for a limited time, they offer payouts at these higher prices | Take odds boosts on markets with good potential for more lucrative payouts | Some odds boosts have a maximum bet amount, so make sure to see what this is before wagering the bet | Virgin Bet – Price Boosts for Days Offer |
| Acca Insurance | Acca insurance offers a refund on your original bet if you lose one leg of your selection | This offer is perfect if you’re sure about all but one of your selections | Acca insurance usually applies to accumulators with five legs or more, so check the requirements before betting | BoyleSports – Acca Rewards offers insurance if one leg loses |
| Accumulator Bonuses | Also popular at betting sites, these offers provide increased prices on acca bets. If you take the acca boost and win, you receive your payout at the increased price | Select fewer picks when choosing accas to boost – this gives you higher chances of winning | Always check the selections put forward by the bookie before taking the bet to make sure they’re solid | BoyleSports – Offers Daily Acca Boosts |
| Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) | Applicable only to horse racing, BOG offers payouts at improved odds if the starting price (SP) is higher than the odds you received when placing your wager | BOG is a top way to boost your winnings with minimal risk | Check the restrictions that apply to the BOG before placing your bets | Virgin Bet offers BOG on all UK and Irish races |
| Free Bet Clubs | Opt in for this special and wager a set number of bets at specific odds within a given time, to earn back free bet offers | Place informed wagers so even if you don’t meet the requirements to earn the free bets you still receive payouts | Make sure you use your free bets before they expire | Jeffbet – Free Bet Mondays |
Payment Methods at Online Bookmakers
All of the bookies on our UK betting sites list provide safe, user-friendly payment methods that meet the needs of all bettors. Here is lineup of the most common and secure ways to fund your betting account:
Prepaid and Debit Cards
In April 2020, UK Gambling laws introduced regulations against the use of credit cards, where UKGC-licenced bookies and top online casinos could no longer accept deposits made using a credit card. Nevertheless, these sites still accept prepaid cards and debit cards, so you can play with the funds you have.
- ✅ Pro: Allows you to play with funds you have.
- ❌ Con: Payouts take between 3 – 5 days.
- ⭐ Best Options: Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Paysafecard
- 💡Pro tip: Making one bigger deposit rather than several smaller ones will save on bank fees.
Bank Wire Transfers
Bank transfers provide a direct deposit into your bank account, but because of the processing time involved, transfers are only offered as a withdrawal method.
- ✅ Pro: Deposits your money into your bank account.
- ❌ Con: High transaction fees apply and payouts take weeks.
- ⭐ Best Options: Revolut, Sofort
- 💡Pro tip: If you want to withdraw large sums of money this is the best and most secure option.
Digital and E-wallets
PayPal, Skrill, Google Pay, and Apple Pay are all popular e-wallet systems offered by the latest betting sites. By connecting to your bank account or card, they allow you to transfer funds safely in a flash.
- ✅ Pro: Don’t require you to share banking information online.
- ❌ Con: Won’t allow payments from systems connected to credit cards.
- ⭐ Best Options: PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Neosurf, Google Pay, Apple Pay
- 💡Pro tip: Use e-wallets that allow you to keep funds for extended periods. Remember, with PayPal, you must transfer funds out within 30 days.
Sports Betting Apps & Mobile Sites
Most bookies offer mobile-optimised websites that are accessible to all bettors no matter what device they use. New sports betting sites usually offer downloadable apps, which you can access on the Apple AppStore or the Google PlayStore.
While often more convenient, these sports betting apps don’t always provide all the betting markets, features, or bonuses found online. Whichever option you choose to use, make sure you test the user-friendliness of the platform, its responsiveness, and the betting options it provides to make sure you have a seamless and well-rounded mobile betting experience. Top mobile betting sites include:
- 📱Betfred
- 📱Virgin Bet
- 📱Sky Bet
New Online Bookmakers
Brand new betting sites are popping up regularly. According to the UKGC, there are currently 175 active online betting sites licenced to offer sports wagering in the UK. These new online bookmakers are popular among bettors because they offer a fantastic selection of the latest betting features and offers.
| New UK Betting Sites | Launch Year | UKGC Licence |
| NRG | 2024 | ✅ |
| Jeffbet | 2022 | ✅ |
| Highbet | 2021 | ✅ |
| MrRex | 2021 | ✅ |
| Virgin Bet | 2019 | ✅ |
Why Bettors Choose New Betting Sites
Through our research, we found that the UK punters tend to choose new betting sites over more established ones. Some of the key reasons why bettors pick these new bookmakers include:
- ⭐Extensive Sports Betting Markets – Newly launched bet sites in the UK tend to offer a more extensive and diverse range of sports to bet on. More established sites may offer up to 25 sports, while newer platforms feature up to 50.
- ⭐Advanced Features – Bet builders, acca builders, bet calculators, and other features are all easily accessible at new betting sites. Since they make online wagering efficient and more effective, sites that offer them are a popular choice.
- ⭐Quicker Payouts – New bookmakers are introducing payment options like instant bank transfers and digital wallets like Google Pay and Apple Pay, which offer far quicker payouts, so you can get your winnings in a flash.
- ⭐Unbeatable Bonuses – New online casinos and betting sites that have recently hit the market want to get more bettors to join up. One of the ways they do this is by providing unbeatable bonus offers.
- ⭐Greater Security – As technology advances, so do the security measures that become available. Biometric login, two-factor authentication, and SSL encryption now add a greater level of online safety and security.
Responsible Gambling at UK Betting Sites
Placing wagers at online betting sites should be a source of entertainment. The minute it becomes a way to survive financially or an attempt to pay back debts, it is time to reassess your betting habits. Top UK bookmakers not on Gamstop offer responsible gambling tools which you can find at the bottom of the bookie’s home page or on a dedicated safe gambling page. Measures like self-exclusion programs, pre-set betting limits, and access to other recovery programs are all available.
If you’re struggling with gambling addiction, please reach out to one of the resources below:
- 🔷Gamstop – Offers a self-exclusion program that UKGC-regulated bookies must acknowledge.
- 🔷GamCare – Provides a national problem gambling helpline and support programs.
- 🔷GambleAware – A support tool that offers a phone line, a live chat, and access to local support groups.
- 🔷Gordon Moody – This non-profit organisation offers residential treatment and support for those battling gambling addiction.
The Best Online Betting Sites: Summary
Through our extensive research and exploration of online betting sites in the UK, we found the best options to offer a wealth of online betting options, from extensive sports coverage and competitive odds to outstanding markets, early lines, and live streaming. Top sites worth joining will also have a UK Gambling licence, secure payment options, and dynamic bonuses to claim.
