UK’s top 10 online bookies of 2018

Alright, before we jump into how to choose the right bookmaker for you, taking into consideration all the aspects that compose a good, trustworthy bookie, we will start by listing the top betting sites according to their welcome bonus. For those of you that are new to this phenomenon, the welcome bonus is a specific bonus, or set of bonuses, that are awarded to players right after they create an account to boost their winning chances.

By consulting the table below, you should have a clear idea of the best bookmaker offers and, at the same time, you could make a first sketch of the best UK betting sites list with free online slots and auslots. But we will be back with more information right after this table.

Just as promised above, we’re back with some very interesting facts and info on what you should be on a lookout for when searching for top online bookmakers. Remember, you don’t have to be a betting expert in order to track down these features or qualities and decide for yourself if a new venue is worth your attention or not. Most of them are quite common sense rules and we are sure that even without our help you would consider them as benchmarks for deciding if you’re going to register an account and make a deposit at a certain bookmaker. Now, we’re not promising a top 10 betting sites in this section, however, we will give you some really good tips on what to have in mind.

Licensing

Every respectable bookmaker has to own a license in order for it to be able to offer its services to players globally or even locally, as it’s the case for the more and more states that decided to vote for internal gambling laws. So, the first thing you should look for when entering a new bookmaker website is where do they have their license from. The most common regulatory bodies are the Malta Gaming Authority, also known as the MGA, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission – UKGC, the Government of Curacao, and the Government of Gibraltar. These are the main, general licenses that an online bookmaker or casino should have in order to be able to operate.

Reputation

This might sound a bit straight-forward and out there to even mention it, however, reputation is what separates the best online bookies from the others. In order to check a bookmaker reputation, you can simply turn to testimonies from other players that are usually organized on dedicated forums. If you find something on the internet that looks a bit fishy, do some more research and only create an account or deposit money once you are 100% sure there are not going to be any issues with the respective site. A good indicator about the reputation of a certain sportsbook or online casino is the rating you can find in the table above.

Security

Another key feature that you should be on the lookout for when thinking about creating an account with a new bookmaker is the security you will be offered once your account is created. During the registration process, you will be giving them access to a lot of personal information and you want that to be safely stored. Security becomes even more important after you make your first deposit because the bookmaker now has your banking details as well. So, in order to rest assured that all that sensitive info is safeguarded against any kind of danger, keep an eye on the safety features of the bookmaker. First of all, there should be an SSL encryption sign on the bottom part of the website. This ensures that all the data in their database is encrypted and even in the unlikely case of someone getting their hands on it, it can’t be read. Apart from the SSL encryption, check their password recovery mechanism and if they offer a two-step login method that you can use through your phone or any other means that is directly linked to you.

Payment and Withdrawal Methods

Since we spoke about making a deposit just earlier, this is also a very important aspect when it comes to choosing a new bookmaker or online casino. A quick look at their banking department should show you all the deposit and withdrawal methods available. It is important that they have a diverse offer of both deposit and cash out methods so that you can choose the one best suited for you and your location. Besides the ease of depositing, you should also watch out for any hidden fees or things like that. Once again, it’s good to know that the top rated online sportsbooks with a good reputation will never get involved in such practices.

Just as important, the speed with which a betting site processes a withdrawal should be a point of interest. You wouldn’t want to wait for your cash out for a week, would you?

Bonuses and Special Promotions

Even if you’re not a player that enjoys playing with bonuses, you should still check out the bonus offer of a new website. The thinking behind this is quite simple, the best online bookies will not hold back from offering good bonuses to their players in order to help them win a bit more. This keeps the players happy and if they’re happy, they will play more and be more loyal. So make sure you get a good welcome bonus first of all, then check out what ongoing promotions they have. Make sure you look for the best bookmaker offers and use our website to help with that. Besides the welcome packages listed in the table above, you will be able to get a list of the best bookie offers if you know where to look.

Customer Support

The best betting sites do very well in all aspects of the gambling process. And that involves having a strong, fast, and reliable support department. In case you have some questions about a promotion or simply want to find out more about your recent game, you need to be able to contact the bookmaker and sort things out. Make sure your new bookmaker has 24/7 support through live-chat or phone and stay clear of the ones that only offer email support. The best ones will also give you the option of being called back or even incorporate some more modern ways of contact such as Skype, WhatsApp or Facebook.

Maximum Winnings Limit

The reason we did not include this aspect in the Deposit and Withdrawal section is that this can be something totally different. Even the best online bookies are, sometimes, forced to put a limit on the maximum winnings that they can pay over a period of time. This is something that the payment processor forces on them and you shouldn’t take it as a bad thing. However, this is totally different than sportsbooks limiting your winnings for various reasons. Make sure to take a look at their Terms and Conditions for any limitations when it comes to winnings in order to stay away from bad places.

Mobile Apps and In-Play Betting

Last but not least, the bookmaker’s openness towards mobile gaming is a criterion of maximum importance. Since most of the online gaming nowadays is taking place on the mobile devices, the best online bookies had to adapt and develop strong mobile apps to give players the same gaming experience as on a PC. So, before making a deposit with your newly selected bookmaker, make sure it has an app or that its website is mobile-friendly.

And since we’re talking about mobile, even though this applies to the PC gaming as well, a function that is an absolute must for a top betting site is in-play bets. Also known as live bets or live-action bets, these give the player the possibility to place an instant bet right on the following point or lap. It adds a great value to the gambling experience and it makes the bookmaker really attractive.

Now, since we spoke so much about what makes a betting site great and what are the features you should look out for when choosing a new place to do your betting, it’s time to come up with some real examples that back-up everything stated above. The list of betting sites that you are going to enjoy further on is composed only of strong, trustworthy bookmakers that, through hard work and professionalism, managed to become market leaders. We will take each example and examine their strengths and the characteristics like the best in-play betting sites or top sports betting sites.

It’s not really a coincidence that all the major bookmakers in the industry are based in the UK and that’s also the reason why this title refers to the UK betting sites. It seems that sports betting has a real tradition here and it has become almost a culture without which the residents of the UK simply wouldn’t be the same. The first bookmakers appeared at the end of the 18th century so we are really talking about tradition, respect, and values here.

William Hill – Trusted Betting Site

When you say William Hill, you somehow refer to an entire era in the UK’s gambling and betting industry. This giant bookmaker is around for more than half a century now and since then, it has built and established a leading position among all other betting sites in the UK and worldwide.

You can find here all the above-mentioned aspects that make a betting site great. It is licensed by both the United Kingdom Gambling Commission and the Malta Gambling Authority, it has an impeccable reputation and earned the trust of millions of players over the years. As far as bonuses are concerned, players can rest assured knowing that they can claim some really nice bonuses and custom-tailored promotions to boost their winning chances and play time.

Their customer support is very efficient, being available 24/7 through phone, live-chat, and email and they also have a lot of depositing and withdrawal methods for players in the UK and the rest of the world as well. And since we mentioned withdrawals, William Hill is clearly one of the top betting sites due to their withdrawal processing times. All withdrawals, no matter the amount, are processed within 24 hours and more than that, the funds are usually transferred back to the player in the same time interval.

888Sport – One of the Top Online Bookmakers

Part of the huge 888 Holding, with 888 Casino, 888 Poker, and 888 Bingo, 888Sport is a sportsbook that has quality and great service written all over it. The most interesting thing about the 888 group is that it allows players to access all branches of their group with only one account.

So, no matter if you want to enjoy a good casino action, bingo, poker or backgammon, you only need one account that you can use to switch from one product to another. The same account will be used for placing the best sporting bets, of course, on 888Sport. So, if you are still wondering if 888Sport is among the best betting sites in the online industry, the answer is a definite yes.

But you don’t have to take our word for it, you can see for yourself that they meet all the standards in the industry. Their reputation precedes them by far, 888 being a brand that you can trust. In terms of bonuses and promotions awarded to players, they are very generous and pamper their players. When it comes to the security of personal and banking data, you can rest assured as they are putting extra efforts to make sure everything is safe and sound.

Deposits are instant and withdrawals are processed in a very timely manner so there’s nothing to worry about in that direction as well. Their customer support team has only good reviews all over the internet and you will be able to get in touch with them 24 hours a day through phone, email or live-chat. It goes without saying that this is one of the best online bookies available.

Bet365 – a Truly Mobile Bookmaker

Even though it’s a bit fresher on the sports betting market, bet365 did a very good job of catching up the lost time and quickly established themselves right there on top with all the other major bookmakers in the industry. So, if you are asking yourself what’s the best betting site available online, bet365 could definitely be the answer.

All of the betting sites reviews indicate bet365 as a very reputable sportsbook where players can enjoy a varied betting offer with betting markets from all over the world for every sport. While the welcome bonus is very attractive, the ongoing promotions that bet365 prepared for their fans are truly remarkable and you can confirm that by simply creating an account and making your first deposit there.

Bet365 is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and the Government of Gibraltar which means they are allowed to offer their services to many territories around the world. There are some restricted territories though so if you’re from the United States of America, France, Portugal, Poland, Belgium or Romania, you won’t be able to enjoy this excellent bookmaker.

Bet365 is a truly player-orientated sportsbook and that is reinforced by the strong and capable support team that is available 24/7 to assist players with any question or technical issue that may arise during the betting process. So if you are looking for a new bookmaker for your betting, bet365 is definitely one of the most popular betting sites available right now.

Betfair – a Rising Star in the Trusted Betting Sites Galaxy

Even though it was launched in 2013 and is relatively new to the betting audience worldwide, Betfair has a strong base of loyal players. The secret for such a rapid development lies in the betting exchange they offer, a very popular feature that allows players to cash out their active bet even before the match is over, and a very well-designed mobile app. So, if you are on the lookout for excellent odds and the added thrill of being able to enjoy a betting exchange, Betfair is definitely the place for you.

Also, if you enjoy placing bets on live football matches, you will be very excited to learn that the Cashback Extra feature of Betfair will allow you to decide when you get the money back before the outcome of the bet is settled.

When talking about bonuses, you will find out for yourself that there’s an amazing array of promotions and deposit bonuses available at Betfair which makes it probably the best site for betting that you will be able to find in that respect. If you’re not that attracted by bonuses and wish to be able to cash out your winnings without having to complete wagering requirements, then you’ll be totally pleased to know that all withdrawals are processed lightning fast and you will be able to enjoy your wins in less than 24 hours after the withdrawal process starts. Also, in case you have any questions to ask or simply need more info about a promotion or bonus, they offer 24/7 support over phone, live-chat or email and the phone number is toll-free for the UK.

Betfred – a Reliable Betting Site

Betfred is a remarkable bookmaker from more than one perspective. First of all, it’s the largest owner-operated bookmaker in the world. Unlike all other giants that are run by a management team like a CEO, CFO, and all other important roles, Betfred still has its original owner from when it was launched. The name comes from its owner, Fred Done, who is a very respected person in the betting industry of the United Kingdom and not only.

In terms of reputation and licensing, Betfred is an example on how things should be done, the brand being respected all over the world and having a very strong position both financially and from a fair-play point of view.

In the online environment, Betfred is licensed by the Government of Gibraltar and it is also registered in the Independent Betting Adjudication Service, a third party that has the power to adjudicate in the case of a dispute. The odds you can find at Betfred are quite strong but a bit lower than what the competition offers, however, what they lack in odds, they recover substantially in promotions and bonuses offered to players. The main markets on which bonuses are focused at Betfred seem to be football and horse racing but there are nice deals for other sports as well. And they also offer special bonuses for those players that place their bets from a mobile device. All in all, it is safe to say that Betfred is one of Britain’s top betting companies.

Betway – Betting Made Easy

Betway is one of those bookmakers that hasn’t always been at the top but struggled to reach that position and eventually succeeded to do so. Launched in 2006, Betway is a sportsbook that offers a full-service online bookmaker with live-betting included and besides the sportsbook, they also have an online casino, poker, and bingo. In terms of fairness and reputation, Betway is now on steady ground after receiving quite a few complaints in the past for trying to cut corners when it comes to withdrawals among other things.

They made some important changes in management and are now on an ascending path, making them the best site for betting worldwide. They are licensed and regulated by both the United Kingdom Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority and that allows them to accept players from all over the world with some exceptions of territories that have their own laws regarding off-shore gambling. Their welcome bonus is quite solid and it’s a thing that separates them from other bookmakers since bonuses are not such a common sight in the bookmaker industry anymore.

That and their VIP program definitely show they are a bookmaker that puts the player first and takes good care of them. That is also backed up by their customer support which is always spot-on, offering their services 24 hours a day through live-chat, phone or email. If you are to read other online sportsbook reviews, you will see that Betway is among the favorites of players all over the globe.

10Bet – Good Odds and Bonuses

10Bet managed to establish themselves as the main betting option worldwide in the past few years. And, even though they do not have the fame and credit that other top bookmakers enjoy, with over 14 years of experience, they are a worthy opponent to any other sportsbook out there.

They are licensed by the Government of Curacao as well as the UK Gambling Commission and besides sports betting, they also offer online casino services through the same player account. Their list of restricted countries is quite short so you won’t have to worry about not being able to play with them unless you’re from the US, Spain, Turkey, Belgium, Portugal, Hungary or Gibraltar.

On the other hand, the list of countries where 10Bet operates includes over 90 territories and that is also backed up by the fact that their website is translated into more than 15 languages. The bonuses players can enjoy for their deposits are considerably larger than on other sites in the industry because that’s their way of attracting players and it seems to be working in a market that is dominated by the big guys that only offer small bonuses for players. No matter if we’re talking about a welcome bonus or a deposit bonus, 10Bet is the place for you if you want to get big amounts.

Bwin – Numerous Betting Markets

Being one of the largest companies in the business, Bwin are operating on both unregulated and regulated markets and always offered online players sports betting, casino, and poker gambling under the same roof.

Bwin is owned and operated by Bwin Interactive Entertainment and in the early years, the official name was betandwin.com. That happened in 1999 when it was established until March 2011 when Bwin and PartyGaming merged and further increased their presence in the industry.

Bwin is licensed by the Government of Gibraltar and they also hold a UK Gambling Commission license so that they are able to offer their betting services to players inside the UK. That being said, it’s only natural that they have to up their game in order to survive on the tough UK market so they made really good promotions and bonuses for their players. Besides that, they also have a remarkable finance department that takes care of payments in a very timely manner.

Coral – a Traditional UK Bookmaker

Coral is in the betting business for more than 90 years and they seem to do everything right. Their reputation speaks for themselves with positive reviews all over the internet and even though they have one complaint every now and then, everything is being handled very professionally by their own people instead of appealing to third-party mediators.

Coral is really a safe option where you will be able to find very competitive odds, a lot of betting markets, and the possibility to play from a mobile and place live bets as well. They’re not at the level William Hill are, for example, however, they are at the top of the betting industry due to the excellent services and huge betting limits. Since we approached the matter of betting limits, you should also know that withdrawals are processed with lightning speed and you will have no hidden fees or anything in that area. It’s all transparent and honest at Coral. So, there’s no need to compare betting sites anymore, just choose Coral and you’ll be excellent!

Winner – Strong Bookmaker and Casino

The odds for placing bets are not the best in the industry, however, Winner really make up for it in customer support and financial services.

The customer care team is very efficient at handling any inquiry players may have while the finance department deals with withdrawal requests with lightning-fast speed.

Even though they’re quite new at this sportsbook game and better known for their casino services, Winner is definitely not a sportsbook to ignore.

Dafabet – a Complete Betting Experience

Dafabet is a market leader in Asia that enjoys a lot of love from the European and UK players as well. It offers sports betting, casino, poker, and even eSports.

They slowly but steadily entered the European market where they found a very good climate for business, quickly becoming sponsors of teams like Sunderland FC, Celtic, Burnley or Blackburn Rovers. For most of the bookmakers outside the UK, sponsoring a football team is an almost guaranteed way to success as Britons are really attached to their football and any help that comes from the outside is considered vital. And Dafabet is not only about helping the football teams in the UK but players as well with an excellent 80 pound welcome bonus. Many of its users had concerns about safety since the safety regulations for Asia are quite different from what happens in Europe, however, they proved everyone there is nothing to be worried about since their websites and servers are very secure.

Ladbrokes – UK Gambling Tradition

When you say Ladbrokes, it, somehow, sounds similar to the history of betting and gaming in the UK.

A huge bookmaker that is around for a long time and is even listed on the London Stock Exchange, Ladbrokes is a giant in the UK and all over the world.

It has outstanding odds and great welcome bonuses and there is simply nothing that can go wrong when betting with them. Definitely one of the best betting sites that you will find online that needs no more words of praise since their reputation speaks for itself.

Unibet – Another Huge Name in the Industry

Established back in 1997, Unibet is one of those bookmakers that didn’t really know what to do with the fame when they got there.

They quickly became a top bookmaker since they had good practices, bonuses, and withdrawal processing times but they didn’t quite know how to maintain that position.

This led to a drop in their ratings and a lot of complaints coming their way. But luckily, a change in vision and a few management tweaks brought this gambling giant back on track. They are licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority and also acquired a UKGC license so that they can join the ever-growing UK betting sites list.

StanJames – Another UK Traditional Bookmaker

StanJames is part of the betting environment since 1973 when they established a series of retail outlets in the United Kingdom. As soon as technology allowed it, an online operation was opened and StanJames were among the first betting sites to allow in-play betting, a thing that became a must for every sportsbook out there. When it comes to odds, you will find out that they are very competitive, especially on football and horse racing but you will be able to place bets with great odds on other sports as well.

There’s a total of 30 betting markets available there so you’ll have plenty to choose from. When it comes to bonuses and promotions, StanJames doesn’t really shine but they are very transparent about that, encouraging players to play with their own funds. If you have any questions, the 24/7 support team is available through phone, live-chat or email so you will be able to contact them whenever you need.

Comparing Online Bookies and Betting Bonus Offers

If a player is put in the position to compare betting sites, the main factors he or she will look at are the bonuses offered, payment and withdrawal methods and speed, customer support, and the licensing body that allows that bookmaker to run. And even though these criteria are enough to determine if a bookmaker is a good idea or not, there are some other things you also need to keep in mind when comparing two online bookies.

More About Bonus Offers

Of course, most of the bookmakers out there have quite attractive welcome bonuses or other types of bonuses to bring in players. But what do they offer, more exactly? Players should be aware about the differences between a welcome bonus that is only awarded when making a deposit and a free bet, something you can use without spending any of your money. Sometimes, free bets are awarded for deposits made as well, as a form of compensating losses and that’s something quite rare in the sportsbooks behavior so count it as a big plus.

Besides the welcome bonuses and free bets, you have some very interesting offers that are related to accumulator bets. Also known as ACCA, these bets are composed from multiple bets and, depending on how many options you include in your ACCA, you receive a bonus. You can easily compare the ACCA offers from different casinos right here on this webpage so that you make sure you get the most out of their offers.

Yet another method that bookmaker might use in order to repay their customers is offering them enhanced odds on some selected sporting events. And even though this sounds very good, you must first of all make sure you know all the terms and conditions on these enhanced odds since most of them require you to wager the amounts you won before you can select a withdrawal. Once again, you will find all info on our website so you can decide exactly what is the best sportsbook and offers you should enjoy.

Main Betting Markets

Although most online betting sites out there are offering 40+ betting markets, some of them extend that to 60. The main betting markets are quite constant and remain the same, depending on the geographic standards. For example, in Europe, the main focus is, of course, football. It generates 80% of the total revenue while sports like basketball, tennis, and hockey are battling for the remaining parts. Football seems to dominate betting in all regions actually, however, in the Nordic territories, you will register an increase in hockey betting or even curling.

What Happens in the UK?

The situation is a bit different in the United Kingdom when it comes to betting markets. Even though it’s true that Brits will bet on almost anything that can be bet on, football and horse racing are the main favorites here. Football is, once again, king, followed by horse racing and greyhound betting while other sports like rugby, tennis or hockey follow in line.

The bottom line about bookmakers and the betting markets and offers they have is that you should always choose a betting site that makes you feel comfortable and earns your trust with a good reputation, good bonuses, and great services. Take your time to do some documentation before signing up with a new bookie or even making your first deposit and use all the information available on this website as your guide to become a very successful bettor.