The United Kingdom has always been a leader in the sports betting industry, having legalized sports betting long ago, and home to some of the oldest sportsbooks in the world. Land-based and online sports betting is legal in the United Kingdom, and many take advantage of all that UK sports betting has to offer.

The United Kingdom comprises England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, so the gambling laws and regulations include all of those territories.

Since 1960, sports betting was legalized in the UK and land-based sportsbooks began popping up all over Britain. In 2005, some new rules were added to the Gambling Act, and the UK Gambling Commission was chosen to oversee and regulate all forms of gambling in the UK. There are thousands of betting parlors and other sports betting locations where you can place a wager, all owned by popular names in sports betting like Ladbrokes and William Hill.

The Gambling Act of 2005 also transferred authority for land-based casinos to local municipalities, so each country can have more authority in sports betting within their borders. The UK Gambling commission just regulates all land-based and online casinos and sportsbooks to ensure they’re meeting the industry standards and not breaking any laws.

When it comes to betting online, there are countless options for bettors in the UK. Many sportsbooks accept real money sports bettors from the United Kingdom because it has been legal for so long. There are hardly any restrictions on the United Kingdom like you’d find in the United States, where it’s nearly impossible to find an online sportsbook to accept wagers.

UK betting

Sports Betting in the UK

When it comes to betting on sports in the UK, there are few limitations as it is so widely accepted and there are so many places to place your wagers. However, when there are so many options both online and offline, you might be concerned about which one to choose. Ensuring you use a sportsbook with all of the criteria and features you care about is important before hitting the sign-up button on a sportsbook or strolling into a land-based shop.

Many of these criteria apply to online sportsbooks, but you should also be wary of the options you can face at land-based shops as well.

Deposit Options

In other parts of the world like the United States or Canada for example, only have certain deposit options available to them. Many of the European-faced sports betting sites have plenty of deposit options - it just depends on which one you’re looking to use when depositing at a sportsbook. When it comes to UK sports betting, you have several options that are popular to use when filling your sportsbook wallet.

Mastercard and Visa are probably the two most popular options, followed by Bitcoin, bank wire transfers, then e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller. Some sportsbooks (not all!) offer options like Maestro Debit, Visa Debit, Visa Electron, PaySafeCard, Paypal, and even checks!

Payout Options

After you’ve won your wagers and you decide it’s time to cash out all of your winnings, you will need to request a withdrawal from the sportsbook. Again, while there are few options in other parts of the world, European sportsbooks do not slack on withdrawal options - there are nearly as many withdrawal options as deposit options!

Visa, Mastercard, Visa Debit, Maestro, Bitcoin, PayPal, PaySafeCard, Skrill, Neteller, Entropay, Bank transfers, iDebit, and check are the main options used when cashing out. There’s a great variety so you shouldn’t have any issue finding one that suits your particular situation.

Mobile Compatibility

Many residents in the United Kingdom are busy and need the capabilities to bet on the go. Ensuring that your sportsbook has a mobile site that’s compatible with smartphones or has a designated app is highly important if you plan to bet from your phone.

Safety and Security

Since the UK Gambling Commission regulates all gambling activity in the UK, it is easily the safest place to bet on sports in the world. You can sign up and bet with ease and comfort knowing that you are using a legitimate, safe, and secure sports betting site.

Bonuses and Promotions

Competition between sportsbooks is fierce in the UK. When it comes to customers and ensuring that they keep a loyal fan base, many sports betting sites and shops in the UK offer bonuses and promotions to keep their clientele happy. There are always promotions and bonuses for EPL (English Premier League).

You want to look for the sign-up bonuses if you’re new to a sportsbook. Before signing up, find a promotional code you can input before making your first deposit that could double your bankroll - almost every sportsbook has a sign-up bonus.

UK betting sites

Odds and Betting Options

Keep in mind that all sportsbooks have different odds and options available, and the best sportsbooks offer a huge variety of sports betting odds. Ensuring that the sportsbook has the odds you want to bet on is important so you don’t waste time signing up at a sportsbook who doesn’t offer the odds you need.

All sportsbooks offer a huge selection of sports, with football and tennis being the two that are regularly bet on. If you want to bet on something a little less popular, it’s wise to check the sports offering before you sign up for a sportsbook. Though many UK sports betting sites and shops have a huge selection.

Popular Sports to bet on in the UK

As mentioned soccer or football, is the most bet on sport in the United Kingdom. Millions of dollars are bet on European football teams annually, and it grows year after year. The most popular league to bet on in the United Kingdom is the EPL (English Premier League).

Tennis is the second most popular sport to bet on in the UK. With so many talented European tennis players, it is exciting to watch and place wagers on. You can bet on any tennis match on any given day and all of the major tennis tournaments.

As we mentioned, there are countless sports available on UK sports betting sites, but other popular options include betting on horses, hockey, baseball, golf, American football, and basketball.

Top Online Sportsbooks for Betting on Sports in the UK

Now that we’ve addressed some important criteria when choosing a sportsbook in the UK, we can outline the top online sportsbooks available to the United Kingdom. We’ve used and reviewed many sportsbooks in-depth, and ensure a seamless sports betting experience. All you need to do is read a few sportsbook reviews and decide which is best for you, utilizing the criteria we outlined above.