Best Sports Betting Sites 2023

How to Choose the Right Sports Betting Site for You

Sports betting can get complicated. But at its core, you sign up to a bookmaker, fund your account, place a bet, and wait to see if you win.

While success involves much more than guessing the winner, you can add value to your bets by choosing the correct wager and sportsbook.

We'll cover everything from the definition of sportsbook betting to how you can easily find the best UK betting sites.

What Is Sportsbook Betting?

A sportsbook, otherwise known as a bookmaker or bookie, is a company that allows you to bet on sports like football, American football, basketball, racing, mixed martial arts, boxing, tennis, baseball, golf, and even things like politics or entertainment.

Typically, they accept bets on both sides of the sporting event.

How?

Due to the difference between the amount you wager and the amount you win.

For instance, you might have to bet £110 to win £100 or £105 to win £100.

With that in mind, defining sportsbook betting is easy — it's the practice of wagering at a bookie or online betting site.

How Does Sports Betting Work?

Placing sports bets online is easy. As long as you're over the age of 18 and are betting at licensed bookmakers, you're good to go.

Sports betting works like this:

1. You create an account at one of the best UK sportsbooks. Use our criteria below to find your favourite. Sign-up should take a few minutes, but you must provide your ID to verify your age.
2. Deposit money using your preferred payment method. These days, it should fund your account instantly.
3. Find the bet you want to place and add it to your slip. Ensure you've researched to give you the best chance of winning.
4. Finally, watch the action on the bookie's live-streaming service or do something else while you wait for the result!

How to Find the Best UK Sports Betting Sites

You know the basics. So, it's time to find the best UK-based sportsbook.

To do that, you need to:

#1 Consider Licensing and Legislation

Firstly, any betting site you utilize must be regulated and licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. It set the bar for sports betting regulation, meaning you can be sure you're gambling in a safe, secure environment.

Bookmakers with UKGC approval must consistently demonstrate their commitment to responsible gambling. Plus, they need to have secure payment methods.

Avoid any bookie without these credentials.

#2 Look at the Welcome Offers and Promotions

The UK's leading sportsbooks have wonderfully general welcome offers to new players.

We recommend looking for introductory promotions that are accessible and achievable. In other words, they shouldn't come with large rollover requirements, loopholes, or complex terms and conditions.

Common types of welcome offers to search for are:

• Risk-free bets — With this offer, you can place a bet knowing you'll get your money back if it doesn't hit. Depending on the bookie, your refund will come as bonus cash.
• Free bet — It's the most common type of newcomer bonus. While we love it, you must meet specific requirements before the free bet triggers. Usually, you'll have to place a qualifying bet to ensure its release.
• Enhanced odds — Otherwise known as a price boost, it's the perfect way to rack up the value on your first bet. You can back a team at a massively inflated price, earning the winnings in cash or bonus funds.
• Matched deposit — Usually, you'll get a 100% matched deposit. So, if you deposit £10, they'll match it, effectively doubling your account funds.
• No deposit bonus — What's rare is excellent, and the no-deposit bonus is no exception. You earn this offer by registering, even without depositing. If you win the bonus, you may need to meet wagering requirements before being allowed to withdraw the funds.
• Deposit bonus — A matched deposit by the bookie may offer a 50% or 200% deposit bonus up to a certain amount. Sometimes, existing customers can benefit from these promotions too.
• Bet X get X — Many of the best betting sites in the UK give you a specific free stake once you've bet the required amount. For instance, you could get a “Bet £5 Get £5” where you must stake £5 on specific odds. Once settled, you'll receive the £5 free bet.

#3 Check Whether There's a Mobile App

Granted, not every best bookie in the UK has a dedicated mobile app. However, they all have a responsive, small-screen-friendly website, making betting on the go stress-free.

The sports betting app should be easy to navigate and clutter-free. There's nothing worse than wading through pages of rubbish to find what you're looking for.

If there is a native app, it should work seamlessly on iOS and Android devices while including all the features available on the desktop version.

In our experience, you should be able to place a bet within a few clicks. If the site wants you to jump through hoops, it isn't among the best UK bookies.

#4 Learn their Industry Reputation

No great betting site has a terrible reputation; that should go without saying.

Search third-party review websites to find an accurate depiction of the bookie's public perception. If punters only have good things to say about it, you're on to a winner.

#5 Consider the Market Variety

Variety makes the world go around. So, an extensive market selection is one of the most critical criteria for finding the best UK sports betting sites.

Most bookies provide seemingly limitless markets in the big-time football leagues. Typically, you can choose from the full-time results, total goals, and both teams to score alongside the normal moneyline and over/under bets. Some even offer Asian lines, cards, and corners.

But if football isn't your thing, plenty of UK-based betting sites specialize in other sports, notably horse racing, and tennis.

Alternatively, you can find general sportsbooks offering various American and niche sports.

• Ice hockey
• American football
• Baseball
• Basketball
• Esports
• Politics
• Entertainment
• Golf

#6 Find Out Whether They Have Attentive Customer Service

The average punter forgets to consider the strength of a bookie's customer service team. But it's crucial — you don't want to be left in the lurch when something goes wrong, especially if you're trying to withdraw your winnings.

Statistically speaking, you'll need to contact a sportsbook's customer service team at some point. Thus, it would be best if you were confident they could provide prompt help.

Look for UK betting sites with live chat functions that don't sit you in a queue for hours. You may have an urgent query that must be answered before a bet goes live, making responsiveness vital.

#7 Look at the sports betting Odds and Pricing

Every bookmaker offers different odds and lines during sporting events. The trick is to find the UK sportsbooks offering the best value for money.

We suggest looking for betting sites that set aggressive standards with their odds. And if they don't limit their customers' stakes, they come out on our list!

#8 Consider the Payment Methods Available

Arguably one of the most critical factors of a good betting site, payment methods of all types should work instantly, allowing you to fund your account lag-free.

Withdrawals should also be fast. You don't want to wait for your winnings.

Use betting sites that offer the payment method you prefer. Typically, the best UK sportsbooks have three categories of banking options:

• Card — Visa and MasterCard let you transfer funds to the betting account.
• E-wallet — Think Skrill, Neteller, and PayPal.
• Other — This includes bank transfers and pre-paid cards like Paysafecard. Bookies are also starting to offer Apple Pay.

#9 Evaluate the Minimum and Maximum Stakes

The top betting sites tend to have ultra-low minimum stakes, often allowing you to place bets with as little as 10 pence!

As for the maximum stake, they vary from bookmaker to bookmaker and from market to market. For instance, UK sportsbooks are willing to take larger bets for a football betting market than a less popular one.

Your stake size might be restricted if you're lucky to place numerous winning bets with the same bookie. The leading sites only limit you after careful consideration, so recreational betters will unlikely need to worry.

#10 Check the Live Streaming and In-Play Betting Capabilities

Bookies' live-streaming events have been around for a few years, but it's still just as exciting. So, the best UK bookmakers provide streaming and in-play betting services.

You can watch sports through your betting account, making bets seamlessly with the functions in the sidebar. The only stipulation? You need a funded balance to access HD-quality streams.

The Bottom Line

There is much more to learn, but this is enough to get you started. Although, we suggest educating yourself further to give you the best chance of wagering successfully!

We have answered the most popular questions about sports betting below. I hope you find it useful, and if you have any questions not listed, feel free to email me at andy@bet1015.com.

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