Online bookmakers in the UK

Betting online is a popular pastime of thousands of Britons who find being given the chance to bet on the go or from the comfort of their home appealing. The purpose of this great guide is to introduce new and much-promising, as well as some of the most reputed, longest-standing online bookmakers in the UK.

List of online bookmakers in the UK

Following is a list of online bookmakers UK worth considering when you want to expand or start your online betting or gambling adventure. In this list, you will find the best online bookmakers we believe can boost your experience and reward you with great offers, and not only. Yet, kindly note that this is only our personal opinion and that you are free to explore your options as you please.

*Star ratings are based on our personal opinion of the bookmakers we work with. We also take customer feedback into account in our rankings

Introduction to online bookmakers in the UK

A series of interdependent events that got into motion in 2005, when the Parliament of the United Kingdom approved the Gambling Act, has led the gambling industry in the UK to remarkable growth. The fact that sports betting in the country break records year after year also has to do with the consistent development of online betting systems and games.

And, considering that the first Football Association was formed in England in 1863, it is no wonder that online British punters show such a distinct preference towards betting on the king of sports. Of course, horse racing is not far behind in the stats, as are virtual sports, tennis, and cricket.

For additional help on different betting features, please check our detailed glossary of betting terms. It will guide you through all the terms that you may need to bet the way you want to.

What is impressive, though, is how bookmakers have evolved from brick-and-mortar betting shops from 1960, when The Betting and Gaming Act allowed betting shops to open on the high street. In the first six months following the legalisation of betting shops, around 10,000 opened.

Today, there is a long list of bookmakers UK that have become an established facet of the UK landscape. In 1986, further gambling legalisation opened the way to betting shops to make significant improvements. They were allowed to have brighter interiors, and things like machine-dispersed hot drinks, TV pictures from the racecourses, and seats for comfort.

By that time, the four dominant figures in the betting market were Ladbrokes, William Hill, and Coral. These operators continue to sit on top of the list of bookmakers UK with a great reputation and a player base that counts millions. By the turn of the century, land-based operators developed a cyber sibling after beginning to realise the huge potential of online betting. That’s when the first betting exchanges opened up (Betfair and Betdaq).

The fact that punters don’t need to go to stuffy bookmakers’ shops to place their bets or wait for a spot at their favourite table to open at a land-based casino, along with the interesting offers and promotions of online bookmakers and casinos and the exponential increase in advertising of these companies, has contributed to a dramatic increase in online sports betting and gambling over the past decade or so.

About our list of online bookmakers UK

Although we have provided you with some of the best online bookmakers in the country to help kick-start your online betting experience, you can create your own list of bookmakers UK that offer quality and quantity at top levels.

To start gathering information about online bookmakers UK, you could turn to our unbiased and transparent betting reviews. There, you will find essential information about the operator of your interest. These can be their welcome offers, promotions and bonuses, bonus requirements, how to withdraw your winnings, the details of the mobile experience, betting markets provided, odds, and many more. That way, you can shape your own opinion regarding the credibility of the listed best online bookmakers UK and whether they meet your requirements.

Best Online Bookmakers*

Our recommended bookmakers in the UK

The British online betting and gambling market is full of bookmakers crossing swords with one another as a means to win a place in bettors’ hearts. Not all of them have proven their worth yet, though. Yet, many have stood the test of time and are still leading the game, having gained respect and trust from UK punters.

Below are the bookmakers in UK that we believe have established themselves as industry leaders, one way or another. Nevertheless, there are plenty more operators that bring equally interesting products and services in the online betting and gambling market. Listing them all here would need several pages, though.

Online bookmakers: bet365 experience

Among the best online bookmakers that operate in the UK is bet365, which was one of the first operators that enabled their customers to make a free wager and the first of all online bookmakers UK to take wagers on sports from all over the world, rather than those happening in the British geographical time zone. Plus, it was one of the first places where punters could place a bet on 2nd or 3rd tier soccer leagues, allowing locals to bet on their favourite team. Such marketing campaigns have helped establish bet365 as a go-to place for online bettors.

The company, though, still works towards expanding their reach and building loyalty among a fan base, by sponsoring sports teams around Europe, including soccer clubs, adding new products to the online platform, such as online bet365 poker, collaborating with leading games developers, such as Microgaming, and giving their customers the chance to play both sports and poker using a single balance. Today, they have multiple product lines (i.e., bingo site, casino, and live casino) while their mobile site was among the first to offer live streaming and betting.

Online bookmakers: Unibet betting experience

Originally launched in 1999, Unibet is now estimated to have over 15 million users worldwide. The operator is one of the best online bookmakers that offer a wealth of products, including casino, bingo, live casino, sports betting, poker, and lottery betting and is also very well known for its supreme mobile experience and user-friendly interface.

The company is fully licensed by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner and the UK Gambling Commission after meeting a vast amount of particularly stringent criteria to ensure it is a safe and responsible online bookmaker in the UK and abroad.

From what it appears, the company has managed to combine quality and quantity on a large scale. For the time being, Unibet offers more than 500 slot titles, a full-service sportsbook, around a dozen live casino games, and nearly 50 virtual table games, along with regular bingo tournaments, among others. Unibet has also partnered with plenty of software providers, including NetEnt, Microgaming, Quickspin, and Playtech, as a means to provide players with as many famous titles a possible, including the likes of starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, and King King Fury.

They also offer 24/7 customer support via live chat and over the phone while offering a multitude of secure funding options (i.e., PayPal, Bank Transfer, Neteller, Skrill, Paysafecard and credit/debit cards). On top of all that, the operator allows one of the lowest minimum deposit amounts compared to what is available out there, which is one of the reasons why it is found on the list of bookmakers UK with the biggest appeal.

Betfair betting experience

Betfair was founded in 2000 and has earned its place on the list of bookmakers UK with the most respected name due to various reasons. To begin with, the company has a unique focus on its betting exchange platform that allows players to wager against one another; a feature that seems to be well received by UK punters. Secondly, Betfair sportsbook offers a wide range of betting options from more than 30 sports markets (plus other markets) and a great depth of coverage for each sport.

The operator has received their sportsbook license from the UK Gambling Commission while its betting exchange is licensed in Gibraltar. Today, the bookie claims to enjoy more than four million users, with its betting exchange now being considered the largest online exchange in the online betting industry.

In 2016, Betfair and Paddy Power joined forces, forming Paddy Power Betfair. They, too, are ready to answer users’ questions via a 24/7 customer support service while their in-play betting, cash out, and live streaming are three of the functions punters like the most about the bookie, rightfully establishing them as one of the best online bookmakers in the country.

*Note: This is just an indicative list of the three best online bookmakers we feel stand out from the pack. This is the opinion of www.bet-bonuscode.co.uk writers only. However, the list of bookmakers UK with top ratings is quite long. As operators keep improving their services and continually come forward with new ideas and incentives to please punters, chances are more online bookmakers UK worth your attention will make themselves noticeable.