Top 10 Betting Sites & Online Bookmakers
1. Bet365 – Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets
For our number one pick we’ve chosen Bet365 who are an institution in British betting. Through a combination of great odds, a smooth site and more markets than any of the other sites we’ve tested, they offer a sports betting package that should keep everybody happy – no matter what your bet of choice is.
In terms of promotions we’ve found them to be very generous, and not just for new customers either – existing customers also get well looked after with plenty of offers to keep you happy once you’ve signed up. These offers tend to change regularly so for full details of their welcome bonus and current offers, see this page.
What we like:
- Great Promotions – For both new and existing customers
- Massive Range of Markets – More bet choices than you can shake a stick at
- Fantastic Mobile Site/App – One of the easiest to use and most reliable we’ve tested
2. BetVictor – Bet £5 Get £30
Next up are BetVictor – formally known as ‘Victor Chandler’ or ‘VC’. BetVictor are particularly good for their competitive odds and they have officially had ‘best odds most often’ and ‘best average odds’ over multiple premiership seasons. Combined with some strong payout limits they’re a great option for any serious punter.
Their offers are generous and whilst they do change regularly they seem a little more consistent than other bookmakers, meaning you know what you’re likely to get. Another feature that’s often overlooked by some bookmakers is the usability of the site. BetVictor recently gave their platform an overhaul making it much simpler, faster and easier to use.
What We Like:
- Fantastic Odds – Some of the best odds in the business, especially for football.
- User Friendly Site – The newly redesigned site is fast and to the point, just how we like it.
- Racing Money Back – Cash back if your horse refuses or whips around at the start of the race.
3. Betway – £10 Free Bet
Betway have been around for a few years, but it’s only recently that they’ve started to up their game. They are licensed in the UK (as are all of the sites we recommend), and you may recognise the name from their fairly regular TV adverts.
In terms of odds, Betway offer decent enough prices across the board and a wide range of money back specials which definitely add value to your bets. As well as plenty of football and horse racing offers, they also often have offers for lesser known sports.
Combine this with an easy to use website, intuitive mobile site and comprehensive in play betting coverage and you have yourselves the makings of a strong betting site.
What We Like:
- Plenty of Promotions – Wide range of money back specials, free bets and competitions.
- Betway Boosts – Get enhanced odds on selected bets every day.
4. 888 – Bet £10 Get £30 + £10 Casino Bonus
888 are one of the oldest online betting companies in the business, with their first gambling site going live around two decades ago – before a lot of people even had email. They’re listed on the London Stock Exchange and are definitely a force to be reckoned with.
Their odds are decent, but not the best, but it’s their offers that’s earned them a spot in our top ten. They’re almost unmatched for the sheer volume and spread of promotions which run on a daily basis.
Offers range from weekly free bets on football through to money back specials on darts, and everything in between. Actual offers change regularly so check the site to see what’s currently on offer.
What We Like:
- Tons of Offers – There’s a giant list of money back offers and regular free bets running all the time on a wide range of sports.
- Easy to navigate – We’re big fans of the new version of their site which is clean and easy to navigate. Their search feature in particular is brilliant.
5. Betfair – £100 in Free Bets
Betfair were the first to produce a commercially viable betting exchange, and to this day they still hold the #1 spot in the peer-to-peer betting world. But they’ve grown to be something much more than just an exchange, also offering an excellent fixed odds sportsbook with odds that rival most bookies, especially for football.
Feature wise the site offers all the normal bits and bobs – cash out, live betting and so on. But they also leverage the power of their exchange to introduce new features other bookies can’t match such as Price Rush, where your fixed odds bet is checked against the exchange to make sure you’re getting the best odds.
Betfair don’t offer as many promotions as some of the other bookies in the list, instead focusing on better odds, but when an offer does crop up it’s usually worth claiming.
What We Like:
- Great Odds – Statistically some of the best odds for UK football.
- Price Rush – An interesting feature that ensures you get the best odds between the sportsbook and the exchange.
- Biggest Exchange – Liquidity wise, Betfair are the Daddy’s of the exchange world. So if you want to lay bets, do it here.
Create Free Account on Betfair
6. Coral – Bet £5 + Get £20 in Free Bets
The folks at Coral have recently gone to great efforts to turn their product into something awesome, and it really shows. With a new sleek design and intuitive navigation system, you can get straight to the betting market you’re looking for with minimal effort. And as always they offer highly competitive odds that rival all of the other UK high street bookmakers.
Where Coral really come into their own is with their betting offers, and they consistently offer cash back specials and free bet promotions on all major sporting events – including offers for Football, Horse Racing, Golf, Cricket, Rugby and F1. We’re incredibly impressed with the new Coral, and we’re hoping that they keep up the good work in the years to come.
What We Like:
- Great All Rounder – Easy to navigate, good odds & wide range of markets.
- Plenty Of Bonuses – Regular money back specials & free bets for existing customers.
- Coral Connect – Deposit & cash out through any of Coral’s 1800+ high street shops.
7. Unibet – £40 Money Back + £10 Casino
Unibet are part of the Kindred Group and a quickly becoming a strong contender in the UK. Whilst they started out with a more Scandinavian focus they’ve embraced us Brits in recent years, even acquiring former high street bookie Stan James which was merged into Unibet (just in case you were wondering what happened to SJ!).
We’ve been impressed by what Unibet have been offering over the past couple of years and it’s clear that they really are trying to make a product that’s good for users. The result is a fast, clean site that’s backed up by regular offers and excellent market coverage. They also offer a full suite of products covering sports, casino, bingo and poker.
What We Like:
- Fast Intuitive Site – The Unibet site is refreshingly fast and easy to navigate with events laid out logically complete with handy indexes. We’re always surprised how many sites manage to make it so difficult to find the right bet!
- Healthy Supply of Offers – There’s a good solid base of offers to keep you interested. We also like the way their offers are combined onto one simple page, meaning you don’t need to hop between sections and products to see what might tickle your fancy.
- International Coverage – As an international site they’re great for non-UK coverage, particularly for racing.
8. Ladbrokes – Bet £5 Get £20
Ladbrokes are one of the UK’s most prevalent high street bookies. As well as a simple matched bet when you sign up, Ladbrokes run plenty of one-off specials for the bigger events and the occasional accumulator bonus offer.
One of the features that make Ladbrokes stand out are their banking options. As well as being able to deposit and withdraw with PayPal (which many of the bookmakers in our top 10 offer), Ladbrokes also let you deposit and withdraw using cash via their betting shops. And seeing as you can’t go two minutes without seeing a red Ladbrokes sign, this makes it a very convenient way of getting your hands on your money right away.
What We Like:
- Odds Enhancements – Daily price boosts on popular markets, and regular enhanced accas. For all customers, not just new ones!
- Live Streaming – Nice range of sport available to stream including racing, football, snooker and more. Plus integrated live betting.
9. 10Bet – £50 Deposit Bonus
10bet have been around since 2003 and have been growing steadily ever since. They are one of the larger international bookmakers and as such have fantastic coverage of foreign leagues, tournaments and races. This is on top of all the domestic football, racing and sport that you’d expect from a decent UK bookie.
Their site was revamped not so long ago and we’re big fans of the clean style and straight to the point layout, plus the fact that it’s blazing fast on both desktop and mobile. The live section needs a shout out as well which is equally fast and comprehensive. Definitely one to check out if you’re a fan of in play betting.
What We Like:
- Huge Range of Markets – Over 12,000 events a week and more than 150 football leagues covered.
- Live Betting – 10bet have a cracking live betting section that covers sports from around the globe.
- Plenty of Offers – There’s almost always something going on in the promotions section of the site.
10. Betfred – Bet £10 Get £60 in Bonuses
Betfred consistently offer some of the best promotions of any bookie – and Fred truly does live up to his name as the bonus king. They run a number of ongoing specials – including double/triple odds on winning first goal scorer bets when the player scores again (Double Delight/Hat Trick Heaven) and double odds on winning correct score markets when a goal was scored in added time.
Betfred were also the first site to offer goals galore – a new type of bet reminiscent of the old football pools your grandad used to play. But instead of picking draws, you pick games where both teams will score. This feature alone makes Betfred worth have a look at.
What We Like:
- Wide Range Of Offers – Not just footie, they run promotions on rugby, darts, novelty bets and more. Including plenty of doubles odds offers.
- Innovative Bookie – From inventing markets and offers, to embracing technology (there’s even an Apple watch app) Betfred are always doing something new.
