Online Bookmakers
A person or an organisation in the betting business is considered an online bookmaker. Bets can be placed on everything but they are mainly based upon sports betting. Other popular online bookmakers options include political events or the outcome of TV shows. Casinos are not considered bookmakers as long as they do not accept bets on sports. There is a belief that the first bookmaker was in Newmarket in 1795.
Table of Contents
UK bookmakers are the best online bookmakers in the business. They offer a wide range of sports betting options, more betting markets, more promotions and, of course, licences and safe online betting for punters. Bet365 and Betfair are the leading UK bookmakers with their best sign-up bonuses. According to the new legislation of the UK betting industry, some UK betting sites had to stop their activity in the UK.
Best Bookmakers 2025
The main criteria to consider for new betting sites
When it comes to choosing the best betting sites UK, bettors have numerous great options. Sometimes it may become difficult to choose from the wide selection of online bookmakers. So the new customers should take their specific needs into account and consider the main factors for selecting the most suitable online betting site for them. Here are the main criteria for evaluating the online bookmakers:
Welcome offer and free bets
Sign-up offers have a big role in a punter’s decision to join betting sites. There are always great sign-up offers from bookmakers as they are trying to entice new customers with attractive offers. As for free bets, there are various characteristics for comparison including wagering requirements, validity period, waiting period for the reward.
Sign-up process
The registration is the first step to start a user experience on any top betting sites. A quick and simple account creation process will give an overview of the further functionality of the betting site.
Deposits/Withdrawals
Bookmakers offer various payment systems. Gamblers choose an online betting site with the minimum deposit limits which can be done quickly via various payment methods, including eWallets and PayPal. Bookmakers also need to have the simplest ways of payouts. The main variables here include the period for the withdrawal to reach your account, which is usually five working days.
Mobile betting and desktop experience
As most punters now use their phones for online betting, mobile optimization of the betting site is important. The app and website must have a simple layout and easy navigation opportunity excluding complex features.
Online bookmaker security
Everyone looking for an online betting site will have a legitimate worry about how regulated the site is, whether it owns a license from the UK Gambling Commission. Some bookmakers are also licensed by other gambling authorities around the world. Non-licensed bookmakers may not adhere to the strict rules set by the UK Gambling Commission, but customers will have serious problems in case of a dispute. So, UK regulated and licensed online bookmakers are in the first place.
Loyalty promotions and rewards
Once registering with a new betting site and getting a sign-up offer, customers will seek further bonuses and rewards for existing customers offered by the bookmaker. Some online bookmakers offer free bets clubs such as Betway. It gives a chance to claim free bets every week in case of betting a required amount with the bookmaker. Players can also find free-mode games with various online bookmakers such as Paddy Power’s Beat The Drop, 888sports Up For 8, Grosvenor Sport’s Million Pound Picks. Some other bookmakers including Betfred, Paddy Power and BetVictor have other promotions as well. They offer odds boosts, early payouts and money-back specials, which enable punters to get back their money in free bets in case of losing.
Player-friendly terms and conditions
All the customers seek online bookmakers with fair terms and conditions according to the industry standards. This point requires a full concentration as some online bookmakers may clear your funds in case of not using the account for a particular period, or may make charges for certain payouts.
Customer service
In case of running into issues, bettors look for efficient customer support from the bookmaker. It can be done in different forms, from frequently asked questions to live chat and technical support.
Extra features
Cash-out, bet builders, live streaming and live in-play betting are areas to be considered for a betting site. A bookmaker should offer more than just the sportsbook.
How to choose the best betting site for you
You can take a look at the best online bookies that will make an excellent choice. All online betting sites have various offers so you can choose the bookmaker that is more suitable for your needs and preferences. Consider all the criteria for choosing a bookmaker when making your selections. Here are some UK betting sites with great sign-up offers to start:
- William Hill
- Bet365
- Betfred
- Tote
- Betfair
Note that you are not limited to having just one online bookmaker account, you can make use of different betting sites and increase your winning chances.
Top 10 Betting Sites UK
- bet365
- Sky Bet
- Paddy Power
- 888 sport
- Tote
- Virgin Bet
- Mansion Bet
- Coral
- William Hill
- Betway
Bet365
Bet365 Group Ltd is a UK bookmaker established in 2000. It is headquartered in Stoke-on-Trent with further offices in Gibraltar, Manchester, Malta, Australia and Bulgaria. The bookmaker mainly offers sports betting and casino type games. The main factor of a punter’s decision to join a sports betting site is the value of its sign-up offer and bet365 is one of the best online betting sites in the scope of sign-up offers. New customers can benefit from strong and easy to claim offers with a minimum deposit limit. Bet365 also offers short withdrawal periods thus gaining the trust of its customers.
William Hill
This betting company was founded by William Hill in 1934. It is a UK bookmaker based in London. Having a great heritage, William Hill is one of the best bookmakers in the UK. It owns a user-friendly app and website that is very popular among the bettors. Though the bookmaker offers every market for betting, its horse racing section is one of the best on the market. Hill also offers a very competitive welcome offer.
Paddy Power
Paddy Power is a UK bookmaker founded in 1988, by the merger of forty shops of three Irish bookmakers. As an online betting site, it offers sports betting, online casino, poker, bingo and online games. Paddy Power has great offers for its customers including money-back specials. Its welcome offer is easy to understand and gives free bets for sports betting. This bookmaker is perfect for long-term experience as it has the best reward system among betting sites.
Best Small or Independent Online Bookmakers UK
There are numerous small or private bookmakers as well who are not keen on taking many new customers. Most of these bookies, who succeeded in establishing in the retail sector, have tried to create online betting sites in recent times.
However, the success stories of the bookmakers are not so many. It is difficult for them to compete with larger bookmakers. Betting with small bookies requires great caution as some of these companies cease their activity after a period.
New Online Bookmakers UK
The list of new online bookmakers UK include:
- PariMatch
- Quinnbet
- STS
- Betiton
- MrPlay
- Virgin Bet
- Betbull
- 2kBet
These betting sites may not consider themselves as new online bookmakers as they have been established for a considerable period. However, they are new as compared to the online bookies operating for several decades already.
Some of these new online bookmakers are new to providing betting services. For example, STS is Poland’s largest online bookmaker that has recently gained a UK license for a betting site.
Best Online Bookies for Sports Betting
Best online bookmakers for football betting
Being the world’s most popular sport, football is one of the most important betting markets for online bookmakers. Football is not only a terrific sport to play and to watch, but it is also a great betting option.
Few betting markets are capable of competing with football options. Here punters have the chance to bet on everything from goals scored to players being sent off, handicap bets and so on. It is even possible to get perfect live coverage and statistics even when live streaming is not feasible.
On an international level, the biggest football tournaments include the World Cup, the Euros and the Copa América. Domestic options from all around the world are also great choices for betting. Europe’s big four leagues are the most popular ones: the English Premier League, Germany’s Bundesliga, Italy’s Serie A and Spain’s La Liga. And international tournaments including the Champions League and the Fifa Club World Cup are also held between the best clubs.
Some of the key features for comparison of betting sites include market odds, variety of football betting markets and live in-play betting. Feel free to take a look at the best betting sites for football betting:
- Bet365
- Mr Play
- BetWay
- 10Bet
- Coral
Best online bookmakers for horse racing
Horse racing is one of the most popular sports internationally and takes second place in sports betting. In fact, horse racing is a lot more international sport than many people think. For example, Melbourne Cup, native to Australia, attracts millions of viewers all over the world.
In addition, there are two big advantages in the betting markets of horse racing. The first one is the odds which are highly competitive like in football betting. So strong promotions are also ensured, for example, best odds guaranteed offers. And the second one is the rich history of the betting option. It’s a classic, and it’s not looking to go anywhere soon. This means that there is a wide selection of betting sites for horse racing. You can find the best betting sites for horse racing below:
- Coral
- SBK
- Betway
- BetBull
Best online bookmakers for tennis betting
Tennis is a very popular sport around the world and remains one of the most common betting markets. The most well-known tennis events are Wimbledon and the US Open. Their popularity can also be seen in their markets on online bookmakers; just betting on winners for these tournaments is already a great business among online bookmakers. Tennis may be a great market for online bookies because of its huge expertise and strategy, while many of the betting markets are simple enough for casual fans and punters to get involved in. Here are the best online bookies for tennis:
- Unibet
- 888 sport
- Bet365
- Marathonbet
Best online bookmakers for greyhounds
Greyhound racing or dog racing is the second most common form of racing in the UK, Ireland, the USA, New Zealand and South Africa. It is also a popular sports betting type among online bookmakers in the UK.
Greyhound, similar to horse racing, gives great choices for betting. However, greyhound enables new bettors to immediately understand the markets and offers the best crossovers. The most popular greyhound racing events held internationally include the Melbourne Cup and the English Greyhound Derby. The best betting sites for greyhound racing include:
- NetBet
- Colossus Bets
- Mansion Bet
- William Hill
Best online bookmakers for virtual sports
Virtual Sports are great opportunities once the regular sports are not available as they are shorter, more frequent, electronically generated versions of the common sports. Virtual Sports are available 24/7 for wagering.
The technology behind virtual sports has undergone a full transformation creating a realistic and interesting way of betting. One of the most vivid examples here is the Virtual Grand National. Once searching for the best betting sites for virtual sports, you can take a look at the following bookmakers in the UK:
- Bet365
- Betfred
- Unibet
Best online bookmakers for esports
There is a big difference between bookmakers for esports in the scope of available quantity. It is more probable to find an esports section with only the most popular games such as Dota 2 and League of Legends and only a few markets for each. Better online bookies offer a wider selection.
As for their average quality level, esports betting options are behind any other popular sports options. So the standards for the traditional market need not be lowered for esports. Anyway, the betting market for esports is developing and here are the best betting sites for esports:
- Bet365
- Unibet
- Midnite Esports
- Luckbox
- Unikrn
UK bookmakers with the best betting offers
Bet 365 – Up to £100 in Bet Credits
T&Cs apply. Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers only. Deposit min £5. Free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement. Minimum odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Bet Credits stake not returned. Time limits and T&Cs apply. 18+.
William Hills – Bet £10 get £30 in free bets
T&Cs apply. 18+. Please gamble responsibly. Promo code H30. New customers only. Deposit min £10/€10, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15. Bet £10 get £30 free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement, free bets will expire 30 days after placing the bet. Payment methods/player/country restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.
888sport – Bet £10 Get Up To £70 In Free Bets
T&Cs apply. Welcome offer. New customers only. Min deposit £/$/€10 with promo code is required. Minimum stake of £/$/€10 at minimum odds of 1/2 (1.50) on a sports market that will be settled before the first match of Euro 2020 (June 11th 19:59:59BST). Free Bets valid for 7 days. Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time. General payout restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply
Paddy Power – £20 Risk-Free First Bet Money Back in Cash
T&Cs apply. New customers only. Place your first bet on any Sportsbook market and get your stake refunded in cash in case of losing. Max refund is £20. Only deposits via Cards or Paypal qualify. T&Cs apply. Paddy’s Rewards Club: Get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply. 18+.
Coral – Get £20 in Free Bets when you bet £5
T&Cs apply. 18+ Eligible UK+IRE players. Bet and payment method exclusions apply. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of sign-up at min odds 1/2 = 4x £5 free bets. Get £20 in free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days. Free bet stake not returned. No cashout, restrictions & T&Cs apply.
Unibet – £40 Money Back as Bonus on your First Bet + £10 Casino Bonus
T&Cs apply. 18+ begambleaware.org. Welcome offer. New customer only. Min deposit £10. Money-back as in case of losing the first bet. Wagering requirements: Sportsbook 3x at minimum odds of 1.40 (2/5), Casino 35x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. The bonus is valid for 7 days. No deposit required for NI customers. Full T&Cs apply.
Virgin Bet – Bet £10, Get £20 + a £5 Free Bet For Each England Game
T&Cs apply. Welcome offer. New customers only. Min £10 bet on sportsbook at 1.5 minimum odds placed and settled before kick-off of England’s first match on 13/06. 2x £10 Free Bet valid for 7 days from acceptance. Extra 1x £5 Free Bet Tokens for use on each match England play. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org. T&Cs apply. 18+.
Sport Nation – Get £50 In Free Bets
T&Cs apply. New customers only. Place the 5 specified bets to earn £50 In Free Bets. Each leg must have minimum odds of 1.8 (4/5). Applies to only sports betting. Valid once per customer. Free Bet valid for 7 days. Free Bet max winnings are 20x Free Bet stake. Qualifying bets must be accepted in popup messages. T&Cs apply. 18+.
Betway – Get up to £10 in Free Bets
T&Cs apply. New customers only. Min Deposit £10. 100% matched free bet on your first deposit of £10. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bets. Debit Card deposits only. Free bet valid for 7 days after registration. Full Terms apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Please gamble responsibly. T&Cs apply.
Betfred – Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets + 60 Free Spins
T&Cs apply. UK & NI new customers only. Promo code ‘SPORTS60’. Minimum deposit £10 & place first bet on sports at odds of Evens (2.0) within 7 days of registration. The first bet must be on Sports. Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets credited within 48 hours of bet settlement. Free bet valid for 7 days. Payment methods restrictions apply. SMS validation may be required. Max 60 Free Spins on Justice League Comics. Valid for 7 days. Full T&Cs apply. 18+.
Betfair – Get Up to £100 in Bet Credits
T&Cs apply. Sign-up offer. New customers. Place a minimum stake of 5 x £10 to get £20 in free bets. Repeat up to 5 times to receive a maximum £100 bonus. Min odds 1/2 (1.5). Betting exchange excluded. Payment restrictions apply. T&Cs apply. 18+.
Mr Play – Bet £10 Get £10
T&Cs apply. 18+. Welcome offer. New customers only. Min Deposit: £10, max £10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible. Full T&Cs Apply.
MansionBet – Bet £10 Get £2x 10 Free Bet
T&Cs apply. New customers only. Min deposit £10 (UK debit cards only). Bet £10 at minimum odds of evens (2.0). Multiple bets with cumulative odds of evens (2.0) count, each leg must have odds of 1/5 (1.2) to be eligible. Each way qualifying bets are eligible for this promotion as a £10 each way (total bet £20) at minimum odds of evens (2.0). Bet £10, get a £20 free bet bonus, made up of 2x £10 free bets. Get your first £10 free bet upon qualifying bet settlement. After the first £10 free bet credits, the remaining £10 free bet will be credited. Free Bet stake not returned after bet settlement. Free Bets cannot be redeemed for each way Betting. No wagering requirements. Valid for 7 days. Free Bet must be used wholly. Full T&Cs apply. 18+.
Boyle Sports – Bet £10 Get £30 + £10 No-Lose on all England matches
T&Cs apply. UK new customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Minimum stake £10. Minimum odds Evs. Free bet applied on first settlement of qualifying bets. 30 days to qualify. Free bets valid for 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Payment methods restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. T&Cs apply. 18+. Free/void/cashed out bets won’t qualify. On losing selections only. Full T&Cs apply.
Sky Bet – £25 Free Bet Boost When You Bet £1 On The ‘England To Win A Group Game’ Market And Your Selection Wins
T&Cs apply. New customers only. Min/max stake £1. Free bets credited on top of winnings. 5 x £5 bet token. Free bets for horse racing and football only. Free bet stake not returned. No cashouts. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions and further t&cs apply. 18+. Begambleaware.Org. Please gamble responsibly.
10Bet – 50% Up To £50
T&Cs apply. New Customers only Minimum deposit £15. Bonus amount 50% of deposit up to £50. Wager deposit and bonus 8x within 60 days; 4/5 Min. single odds or 2/5 min. acca selection odds. Max. stake contribution equal to the initial bonus. Certain bet and payment method exclusions apply. T&Cs apply. 18+.
Tote – £10 Welcome Offer
T&Cs apply. UK & ROI customers only. Place your first bet on sports pools and get your stake returned in cash in case of losing. Max refund is £10. Totewin will be the qualifying bet when a Totewin and a Toteplace bet are struck at the same time. Full T&Cs apply. 18+. BeGambleaware.org
STS – £40 Welcome Offer
T&Cs apply. New customers only. Deposit for the first time and get a bonus of 50% of the stake of the qualifying bets. First deposit min. £10. Qualifying accumulator bet with a minimum stake of £10 and min. 2 selections with minimum odds of 1/2 (1.50) per selection. Max bonus £40, credited once the qualifying bets have settled. Bonus wagering requirements: x6 on minimum odds of 1/2 (1.50) as a single bet, or 1/2 (1.50) per selection as part of an accumulator bet. Bonus valid for 7 days for any sports betting. Deposit method restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org
QuinnBet – A No Deposit Free Bet + 50% Cashback on first-day Sportsbook losses up to £25 +50 Free Spins on Grand Spinn!
T&Cs apply. 18+. Only new UK customers. No Deposit Free Bet available upon entering the coupon code BET in the coupon tab at registration and getting a full verification. To activate your Sportsbook 50% Back as a Free Bet up to £25 and 50 Free Spins, make your first deposit and bet on any Sportsbook markets of your choice at odds of evens (2.00) or greater. Winnings from No Deposit Offers do not count towards qualifying losses. At least 3 bets (on different selections) must be placed to qualify for 50% back, 2 of which must be 50% in value of the largest bet you place. Customers who deposit using Neteller/Skrill do not qualify for this offer. T&Cs apply. 18+. BeGambleAware.org
NetBet – £30 Sport and Casino bonus
T&Cs apply. 18+. Welcome offer. Customers will be gifted £15 in free bets and £15 in free spins for Casino and Vegas. Free bets valid for 3 days. Free spins valid for 30 days. T&Cs apply.
Novibet – Up to £10 Free Bet
T&Cs apply. 18+. UK new customers only. KYC verified. Max £10 free bet. Min £20 bet. Minimum odds 1.70. Free bet stake not returned. Certain markets/ sports/ payment methods restrictions apply. Free bet valid for 30 days. General Promotions Terms and T&Cs apply. 18+.
LVBet – Bet £10 Get £10
T&Cs apply. New players. Min deposit £10. Min bet £10, get £10 with minimum total odds of 3/4. Bet must be settled. Virtual bets and cashed out bets do not qualify. On-time casino bonus. T&Cs apply. 18+.
FansBet – Bet £10 Get £10 + 50 Free Spins
T&Cs apply. New customer offer. Place first £10 bet on sports with 3 legs at odds of 1.3 or greater per leg. Free Bet and Free Spin credited upon qualifying bet settlement. Free Multiple Bet must contain 3 legs at odds of 1.3 or greater per leg. Free Bet and Free Spin stake not returned. No wagering requirements on winnings. £200 max win T&Cs apply. 18+.
Royal Tiger Bet – Bet £10 Get £10
T&Cs apply. New customers only. Min £10 qualifying bets. Stake not returned. The Free bet is a one-time stake of £10 with minimum odds of 1.5. 10X wagering the winnings. Wagering occurs from real balance first. The wagering requirement is calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £20. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Excluded Skrill deposits. Full T&Cs apply. 18+.