Best Betting Sites UK: Top Online Bookmakers Ranked and Reviewed

Our betting tipster, racing journalist and five-time winner of the National Press Challenge Sam Turner reviews the best betting sites in the UK. Betting on sport is a hobby for millions in the UK, but since there are so many betting sites to choose from, it’s not always clear which bookmaker is the right fit for your own preferences. That’s why I’ve been spending the past few months researching the best betting sites for The Independent, who strive to deliver impartial and reliable insights for readers.

Placing a small deposit into a newly opened betting account usually enables punters to access free bets to use on sports of your choice, which helps to get a feel for the bookmaker you’ve just invested in. Our review of the top betting sites in the UK draws on research, experience and first-hand testing to assess each platform’s odds selection, security measures, bonus offerings and more. By leveraging trusted third-party data and our reporting standards, I endeavour to provide readers with an accurate and up-to-date guide to choosing the right bookmaker.

Whether you’re backing Willie Mullins to enjoy another fantastic Cheltenham Festival or investing in Liverpool to complete a stellar Premier League and Champions League double, there should be something below to grab your attention. Having spent 17 years as the Daily Mail’s lead betting tipster, I have learned a thing or two about bookmakers over the years. As well as being a tipster, I am also a seasoned horse racing journalist and broadcaster with over three decades of experience, including stints at the BBC and Adiyat Racing Plus, the UAE’s leading weekly racing magazine.

Applying my journalistic expertise and betting background, I’ve undertaken a detailed evaluation of the best betting sites in the UK, taking into account which areas each top bookmaker excels in and what type of bettors they might be suited to. Now that you know why my recommendations can be trusted, it’s time to reveal my favourite UK bookmakers in order of preference. Rest assured that all of my recommended bookies are fully regulated and licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and I’ve even provided a link to their license number on the UKGC website in the table below.

Bookmaker. Best For. UKGC Account No. Welcome Offer. Bet365. Football. Bet £10 get £50 in free bets. William Hill. Horse Racing. Bet £10 get £30 in free bets. BoyleSports. Bet £10 get £30 free bets + £10 casino credit. Parimatch. Boxing. Up to £60 in free bets. Cricket. Bet £10 get £40 in bonus funds. BetMGM. In-Play Betting. Betway. Free Bet Club. Bet £10 get £10 free bet. Betfred. Accumulators. BetVictor. Live Streaming. Bet £20 get £40 in bonuses.

NetBet. Bet Builders. Bet £10 get £20 free bet builders. The last 20 years have seen Bet365 become the industry leader among football betting sites, while their all-round appeal has led to their popularity with all types of punters. Bet365’s European football offerings have only improved since the partnership was announced last August, with an abundance of price boosts, early payouts and free-to-play games surrounding the continent’s premier club competition.

The only slight disappointment with Bet365’s football product is that live streaming of Champions League matches is not available, but hopefully that is in the pipeline. Meanwhile, readers of The Independent can use the Bet365 bonus code INDY2024 to claim a new customer offer which sees players receive £50 in free bets when they deposit and stake £10. New and existing customers can also take advantage of the Bet365 Super Boost, where odds are bolstered on a particular selection in one of the most popular betting events that day.

Bet365 Pros. ✓ High quality live streaming service. ✓ One of the strongest welcome offers going. Bet365 Cons. ✗ No Champions League streaming despite Uefa partnership. ✗ Less free bet promotions than a lot of their rivals. Overall, the positives absolutely outweigh the very slight drawbacks on Bet365, and it’s not only football that they specialise in. In my eyes, they’re up there with the best for horse racing and tennis too.

One of the main reasons it’s the best option for racing bettors is because of their best odds guarantee promo for bets placed after 8am online. It’s a handy concession for early-morning backers and 8am is the earliest BOG commencement time I’ve found. Like Bet365, Hills offer new customers a sizeable bonus for signing up, with players gifted £30 in bonuses once they register and bet £10 via a mobile device after using the William Hill promo code R30. The bonus is paid out as three £10 free bets and can be used on any sport.

Not only do they offer healthy bonuses for new customers, but Hills offer regular price boosts with their Epic Boost feature, and they are also a bookmaker that gives away free bets to existing customers for big events like the Cheltenham Festival. On the negative side, William Hill’s live streaming package is not quite up to scratch compared to some other horse racing betting sites, like Bet365’s for example, who give users access to a large archive of horse races to study.