With the World Cup just around the corner, you might want to have extra fun while watching the games with your friends and family. And the best betting sites in the UK are a great place to start!
With so many new online bookmakers launching seemingly every day, though, it may be difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff.
We’re here to help – our industry experts rated the top UK betting sites, and Bet-at-Home came out on top.
Ready to learn more and check out the runners-up? Read on!
Contents
- Best Online Betting Sites in the UK 2022
- Things to Look For When Choosing a UK Sports Betting Site
- Guide to Using Betting Sites in the UK
- Comparison of the Top 5 Betting Sites for UK Players 2022
- How to Sign Up at an Online UK Betting Site
- Ready to Bet on the Big Game at the Top Online Bookmakers in the UK?
Best Online Betting Sites in the UK 2022
- Bet-at-Home: Best overall online UK betting site
- 888 Sport: Best user experience
- Fansbet: Best for live betting
- Grosvenor Sport: Best range of sports
- MrPlay: Highest number of promotions
- Pokerstars: Best for betting & poker
- Bettarget: Best for mobile
- Leo Vegas: Best bonuses
- BetUK: Best for football
1. Bet-at-Home – Best Overall UK Betting Site
Bonus offers are available for new customers residing in Great Britain on the website who have never transferred money to their betting account. 18+ Full T&Cs apply.
Pros:
- 39 different sports and esports
- Many virtual simulated sports are available
- Live bets for all current games
- Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission
- Quick live chat support
- Full casino with slots, roulette, etc.
Cons:
- Aesthetics are subpar
If you want to get started at the best overall sports betting site, you should check out Bet-at-Home. This casino offers a vast library of different sports, offers even simulated sports betting, and has an active license with the UK Gambling Commission.
Total Number of Sports: 4.9/5
With 39 different sports to choose from, Bet-at-Home offers some of unique options, including ski jumping, water polo, and snooker. There are also some lesser popular esport picks like Overwatch, Starcraft II, and Call of Duty.
Another thing that we like about this online betting site is that they also host a virtual sports betting section. You can bet on simulated games like football, American football, and basketball and watch the game even when it’s not the proper season!
Betting Options: 4.9/5
Betting options like the money line, spread, and over/under are offered for most games on this casino. In addition, they have point bets, period bets, top bets, half-time bets, and other special bets.
Some of the leading special bets might include which quarter (or half) the most points are scored. Player bets give the bettor the option to gamble on particular statistics for a specific player in a game.
Interface & Layout: 4.6/5
The only thing that we hope is improved on this betting site is the interface and layout. The site can be a little hard to navigate if you are a new user, especially when it comes to picking different bets.
However, considering the quality of options and variety of bets this site has, this shouldn’t be much to worry about. Of course, the main goal with online sports betting sites is the ability to get your bets placed and then cashed out.
License & Reputation: 5/5
This casino has a license through the UK Gambling Commission, which should give plenty of confidence to UK customers who might otherwise be on edge between this site and another new betting site..
Click here to get started at Bet-at-Home
2. 888 Sport – Best User Experience of any UK Betting Site
New UK players, 18+. Minimum deposit £10. Place a qualifying bet of at least £10 on a bet with odds of 12 or more. Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days. Casino bonus needs to be wagered 40x within 14 days. Full T&Cs apply.
Pros:
- £40 bonus after betting £10
- 31 different spots to bet on
- Virtual sports & a racebook
- Beautiful site design & layout
- UK gambling license
- Online since 1997
Cons:
- 40x casino welcome bonus wagering requirement
- Casino & poker are on different domains
If you simply want a betting site that has good overall options and a nice design, then 888 Sport might be the best betting site to check out. This casino offers a full lineup of sports, racing, and even six different esports.
Total Number of Sports: 4.9/5
This casino offers roughly 31 different sports, including football, American football, baseball, boxing, and more. In addition, there are six different esports on this site, including Dota 2, League of Legends, and Starcraft II.
This casino stands among the top in terms of the total number of sports. There is also an excellent virtual sports section for betting on sports like football, baseball, and basketball whenever you don’t have an actual game to bet on.
Betting Options: 4.6/5
For most games, you can bet on the money line, over/under, and spread. We like how they have a dedicated “888 Specials” page where special bets are available.
For example, at the time of writing, there was a special bet where players could predict whether or not there would be more than 2.5 goals scored in three different football games.
However, the live bet wagers can be improved drastically on this site. Compared to other sites, which give many different props, there is a limited selection of bets that you can make.
In addition to betting on how many goals will be made from a particular point, we hope that they increase their live betting selection.
Interface & Layout: 4.9/5
The site design has a lot of love and care put into the design, and it shows!
Once you log onto the website, you can easily find what you are looking for. This site is great for onboarding new users compared to other sites where you need to dig around a little bit before finding the right betting option page, sport, etc.
However, the only thing we don’t like about the interface is that the casino and poker websites have their own domain. This creates a little bit of needless waiting time when changing sites.
This won’t matter much if you are just here for football betting or other sports, though.
License & Reputation: 4.9/5
This casino has two different licenses displayed at the bottom of its website. These are based out of the UK and out of Gibraltar. This should give players a heightened sense of confidence who see an active gaming license as a vital part of their reputation.
Click here to view the best bonuses and promos available at 888 Sport
3. Fansbet – Best UK Betting Site for Live Betting
18+. New, ID Verified players only. Note that complete T&Cs apply.
Pros:
- Bet £10 and get £10 free bet
- No wagering requirements for the bonus
- Nice lineup of different sports and esports
- Many active promotions
- Also has a full casino
Cons:
- Interface requires a short learning curve
- No spread betting on main betting slips
Fansbet is another great betting site to check out if you want the best live betting experience possible. With many different props for each game, football betting is particularly much more engaging on this site than on other UK betting sites.
However, doing spread betting is a little more complicated, and you will have to navigate over to the in-play betting to get qualifying bets like this placed. That’s why this betting site landed at number three on our list.
Total Number of Sports: 4.8/5
There are 29 main sports you can bet on, which is a little less extensive than some of the other best football betting sites. However, if your main focus is to bet on major sports like football, basketball, baseball, and so on, this won’t be much of an issue.
There is also a full racebook placed on the same page as the sports betting page, which is more accessible than having multiple pages like other online betting sites. This site also offers popular esports like Counter-Strike, Overwatch, and Dota 2.
Betting Options: 4.7/5
You can only place quick cash bets for money line and over/under one the main betting slip. However, you will usually have to select the individual game or head over to the in-play page to make this bet. Of course, spread betting is also available.
We like the live betting markets of this site more than any other online betting site. There are many different props to choose from, including bets by quarters, halves, and individual player statistics.
Another fun bet is predicting whether the score will be an odd or even number by a particular time.
Interface & Layout: 4.6/5
The interface here is above average but could use some tweaking in certain areas.
We would like to see spread betting available in the main online betting slip, for starters. Sometimes, you don’t also notice the wide range of betting options a live game has until you click a game, then click “all markets.”
For these reasons, a new user who just made their betting account might have a hard time finding their favorite real money bet. However, with a little bit of practice, anyone will be able to get up and running quickly.
License & Reputation: 4.8/5
This casino has one active license through the UK Gambling Commission. This license has also been active since 2016. Therefore, if any UK customers run into problems with the website, they will have a means of seeking out mediation.
Another thing that stands out with this casino is that most of the reviews we found online were perfect scores. This is a true testament to the casino doing its absolute best to ensure that each of its customers is happy.
Preview of the latest Fansbet bonuses
4. Grosvenor Sport – Best Sports Variety of Any UK Online Betting Site
Customers must be a registered account holder at the website in order to take part in the Grosvenor Casinos “Million Pound Picks” promotion. For the ‘Welcome Bonus’ offer, customers need to make their first deposit of minimum £20 to receive a £20 casino games bonus and eligibility to claim a further bonus. Full T&Cs apply.
Pros:
- Full casino with most casino classic games
- £2,000 weekly for the most correct picks
- Pick 10 first scorers and get £1 million
- Active UK gambling license
Cons:
- Customer support can be slow
- Low number of payment methods
If you want to gamble at of the best online betting sites that offer almost anything from poker to slots and live dealers, along with sports betting, then Grosvenor Sport is perhaps the best UK betting site for you to check out.
This casino’s sportsbook has more options than standard online bookmakers.
Total Number of Sports: 4.9/5
There are 38 different sports offered here, making it have a higher number of betting markets than typical new betting sites. Some rare options include Gaelic sports, beach volleyball, and handball.
We also find some betting markets that aren’t quite your typical athletic sports in the sports section, including chess, politics, and TV & novelty. Along with esports like Dota 2, CS:GO, and Starcraft 2, this is one of the most comprehensive lineups on a sports betting site!
Betting Options: 4.8/5
On each main betting slip, you are given the ability to bet on the money line or over/under. If you prefer to choose another option, you can simply select the “more bets” button on the far right hand of the main slip.
For individual games, UK betting sites typically only follow popular bets like money line and over/under.
When you select “more bets,” you can often be greeted with 100 or more props for a particular game. For this reason, we find that this casino offers more betting options than most online bookmakers.
Interface & Layout: 4.6/5
Although the interface makes it easy to filter through sports and different live bets, one area where you might run into issues is when you want to pick a particular game within that sport.
This can happen especially if you are using the betting site for football, which has a large lineup of qualifying bets at any given time.
However, we like that all of the markets are placed on one page. Many other online bookmakers might instead opt to separate pages for things like the racebook and esports. It is also straightforward to pick a particular live game and place bets on this betting site.
License & Reputation: 4.8/5
We like how this casino has an active UK Gambling Commission license. This way, players will always have another route to seek help if they encounter problems with the casino.
Click here to get started at Grosvenor Sport
5. MrPlay – Highest Number of Promotions out of all UK Betting Sites
This offer is for new customers only and is available once per household. Max. Bet token amount £10. Minimum Deposit and wagering on sport to activate the Bet token is £10. Note that full T&Cs apply.
Pros:
- ‘Bet £10 and get £10’ bonus offer
- No wagering requirements
- Many betting options
- One of the best mobile casino apps for betting
Cons:
- Interface is a bit cluttered
- Hard to find specific bets/games
If you want the highest number of promotions available, this might be one of the best UK betting sites to check out.
The welcome casino bonus can be a bet of £10 to get £10 deal or a 100% matching deposit up to £100. The first offer has no wagering requirement, and the second has a low 9x wagering requirement.
There are also various other promotions to check out, including the Playboost, and a Battle of the Punters promotion, where you can compete with other sports bettors for cash prizes.
This casino also offers a higher number of payment methods than most other casinos.
Total Number of Sports: 4.9/5
There are 29 different sports to choose from on this site, including popular options like football, basketball, and baseball. Compared to new betting sites that only offer major options, this casino does a good job also providing rarer picks like table tennis, volleyball, and handball.
We also liked how they had an excellent political betting lineup, including the ability to bet on the next UK prime minister, the next Brazilian president, and which UK party will hold the most seats in parliament after the next election.
As a whole, there are lots of sports and niche markets to choose from here.
Betting Options: 4.9/5
Each of the main betting slips gives you popular betting options like over/under and money line. When you click the “more” button on the far right, you are presented with various competitive odds and bonus bets.
We also like the in-play live bets that you can make for games like football since it adds in the ability to make fun bets like who will score the next goal.
There is also a virtual sports section where you can place bets on things like virtual horse racing and football.
Interface & Layout: 4.3/5
The site itself looks excellent. However, it is a little cluttered when you start to go through different sports, leagues, and so on. It is straightforward to get lost once you begin selecting drop-down boxes for different sports.
In addition, many of the buttons on the bet slips are put too closely next to each other, and it can be hard to then line them up in the column to see which bet you are making. When bets must be placed quickly, small details like this can be a big deal!
License & Reputation: 4.8/5
This site has various licenses, including a Malta license, a UK license, and an Irish license. For this reason, there are multiple different avenues of support that players can go through if they run into problems.
For United Kingdom players, of course, the UKGC license is the most important factor to cement MrPlay’s reputation.
Click here to get your MrPlay welcome bonus
Runners-Up
Things to Look For When Choosing a UK Sports Betting Site
Total Number of Sports to Bet On:
One of the first things that you should look for before signing up for an online casino for real money is how many different sports there are available for you to bet on.
Although certain people might only be interested in horse racing and football, for example, others may have different tastes. For this reason, we kept the total number of sports in mind when ranking.
Number of Betting Options:
When you are ready to bet on a particular game, it’s important to remember that there are often many types of bets that you can make. It isn’t just money line, over/under, and spread betting that you can place on the best betting sites.
In addition, it’s ideal to sign up at a site that has plenty of other casino games like slots, poker, and table games.
Site Interface & Layout:
When the clock is winding down, and you want to make a bet quickly, the site’s interface can make or break the experience. Nobody complains about having poor site aesthetics, either! For this reason, we also looked at the overall casino interface and layout.
Oh, and while UK betting sites sadly don’t accept any cryptos, if you want to use cryptocurrencies to bet online, check out this guide on crypto gambling.
Gaming License(s) & Overall Reputation:
The last thing you want to do is deposit your hard-earned money onto a betting site without a sense of confidence that your money is in the right hands. This is why we also checked to see if the site had an active license and what its overall online reputation looked like.
Guide to Using Betting Sites in the UK
Which Online UK Bookies is Best?
There are many online bookies in the UK, and it can be tough to decide which one is right for you. Typically, you should look for things like the total number of sports and betting options they offer, along with the reputation and usability of the site itself. The best ones are commonly said to be Bet-at-Home, 888 Sport, and Fansbet.
What is the Safest Online Betting Site in the UK?
There are many safe online betting sites in the UK, but Bet-at-Home is considered one of the safest. This is because Bet-at-Home is a licensed and regulated online gaming company that adheres to strict security and fair play policies. You always have a means of reporting problems to a third party.
What is the Number 1 Betting Site in the UK?
There is no definitive answer to this question as different people may have different opinions. However, Bet-at-Home is generally considered one of the top betting sites due to its extensive range of markets, competitive odds, and helpful customer support.
How Do I Choose the Best Betting Site in the UK For Me?
You should consider the total number of sports that the betting site covers and ensure that it offers the betting options you need. Finally, look at things like the gaming license, if it has a good reputation, the payment methods, and if the site is easy to use.
Many people see Bet-At-Home to be the best betting site in the UK.
What is the Best Football Betting Site in the UK?
According to our research, BetUK is the best UK football betting site because it covers all the major (and minor) leagues, offers in-play football betting, and even esports football (FIFA).
Comparison of the Top 5 Betting Sites for UK Players 2022
As a brief recap, here are the top 5 betting sites for United Kingdom and why we picked them:
- Bet-at-Home: This is the best overall option if you value things like a large selection, active license, and many different betting options.
- 888 Sport: This online bookie stands out for having a beautiful layout and interface that makes your bets easier than ever to place. They also have an active license and plenty of options. You can get a £40 combined sports and casino bonus after betting your first £10 qualifying real money bet.
- Fansbet: This is the best overall choice if you like making live bets. This is also a nice overall full casino. You can bet £10 and get a £10 casino bonus with no wagering requirements.
- Grosvenor Sport: This is one of the most reputable UK betting brands and it offers a great range of sports to bet on.
- MrPlay: This casino has the most active promotions for both new and existing players. Our favorite was bet £10 to get a £10 casino bonus.
Related Reading: Top online casinos
How to Sign Up at an Online UK Betting Site
If you have never used betting sites for sports betting before, you might need some help signing up. Using Bet-at-Home as an example, here is how to get started.
1. Head to the Site
The first thing you need to do is head over to the Bet-at-Home home page.
2. Click “Register Now”
At the top right, click the button that says “register now.”
3. Create an Account
Go through the steps required to make your account, and give all information requested.
3. Deposit & Play
Once you have your account ready, go ahead and deposit and play!
Ready to Bet on the Big Game at the Top Online Bookmakers in the UK?
We’ve crossed the finish line, and it’s time to recap our top 3 rated sites.
If you want to play at the best overall site for betting, we recommend you start by checking out Bet-at-Home. If you want the best overall interface, go to 888 Sport. Fansbet is another good option if you like to make live bets.
In any case, whichever site listed here you end up choosing, you can’t make a mistake. Just make sure to bet responsibly and only with money you can afford to lose.
IMPORTANT: Gambling can be addictive. If you have a gambling problem or somebody you know does, then we strongly advise calling the National Gambling Helpline at 0808-8020-133 to talk with a certified advisor. All gambling sites are 18+ only.
Some of the sites listed on our site may not be available in your region. Check your local laws to ensure online gambling is available and legal where you live. Our reviews are independent and reader-supported and we may receive commissions for recommendations made in our website’s guides.
Please, visit these organizations for free gambling addiction resources: