BetBlazers Recommends
Betfair
5 x £20 Free Bets
Betfair is one of the biggest and most well established betting sites in the world today. They offer their customers competitive odds, a wide range of betting markets, and a number of secure payment and deposit options. On top of all that the Betfair Betting Exchange is the market leader for punters who want to pit their wits against other punters.
How do we compare and review the best betting sites?
Our team is made up of experienced and passionate punters who’ve been through the mix when it comes to betting sites. We’ve signed up to more betting sites than you care to know. We’ve claimed the bonuses, played the markets, won, lost, and come out the other side to tell the tale.
Why do we do it?
We don’t want you to have to learn the hard way. To help make sure you have the smoothest and most enjoyable experience is what motivated us to seek out some of the best betting sites out there today.
What did we come up with?
A comprehensive list of key criteria that will lead you to some the best betting sites in the business. If your betting site doesn’t tick these boxes then can it really be considered to be one of the best betting sites? Probably not.
A betting site you can trust
Before you even get started you want to make sure you’re going with a betting site you can trust. It won’t end well if you don’t pick a reputable betting site to play with.
But how can you tell which betting sites you can trust? With so many options to choose from it can seem impossible to know which betting sites are above board.
betway
£30 Free Bet
Since arriving on the scene in 2006, betway has built its brand on a solid and trustworthy foundation. It’s no wonder that Betway is now considered by many to be one of the best betting sites on the market. Not only do they have one of the strongest sportsbooks and online casinos, it’s easy, safe and reliable. You can always count on betway to handle your deposits and withdrawals in a trustworthy and safe manner.
Here are a couple of ways you can be to sure you’re betting with a betting site you can trust:
- At BetBlazers we only list legitimate betting sites you know you can trust. We don’t endorse any betting site that doesn’t adhere to the highest standards and practices.
- Do they have a licence to operate in the UK? At BetBlazers we only list betting sites that have a UK Gambling Commission approved licence.
Why is it important for a betting site to have a UK gambling licence? The UK Gambling Commission strictly enforces UK laws relating to gambling and betting.
The UK Gambling Commission ensures that the punter is protected against any potentially nefarious practices. That’s what makes UK licensed betting sites amongst the most trustworthy and reputable betting sites operating anywhere in the world today.
- Founded: 2007
- Headquarters: Birmingham
- Purpose: Regulating the UK betting industry
- Active licences: c. 1000
- Website: http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/home.aspx
Of course as a UK punter it is legal to play with a betting site based outside of the UK or without a UK licence. Just remember that betting sites with licences elsewhere may not be held as accountable.
You might even end up having to pay tax on any winnings won with betting sites overseas, whereas if they’re registered in the UK you don’t!
- UK (& Gibraltar)
- Malta (EU)
- Curaçao
- Antigua
Finding the right welcome bonus and sign up offer
One major benefit of signing up to a betting site is to take advantage of the welcome bonuses and sign up offers a betting site will offer new customers.
Competition is fierce and betting sites need to stand out from the pack
Due to the fact that competition is so fierce, betting sites need to ensure they stand out from the pack. One of the ways in which they do this is to offer a welcome bonus or sign up offer.
Bethard
Up to £50 in bonuses
Bethard is one of the freshest and most dynamic sports betting sites on the market. In just a few short years they’ve managed to rub shoulders with and challenge the big boys of the betting world. One of the ways they’ve managed that is to offer a competitive and attractive welcome bonus for their new customers. Because they’re so new they understand more than most how important such a solid bonus offer really is and that’s exactly what you’ll find with Bethard.
The best betting sites will offer new customers a welcome bonus or sign up offer either immediately when you register a new account, or at the point you make your first deposit.
Get the best for your betting with the right welcome bonus
The most common betting bonuses are free bets, a deposit bonus, and enhanced odds offers.
Free bets
A free bet is a fixed sum offered by a betting site for customers to play with.
Read all about the best free bets and what to look out for to find the best free bets in our free bets betting guide.
Deposit bonus
Also known as a matched bonus, the betting site will add a sum of money on top of your deposit as a deposit bonus.
To read more about the best deposit bonuses on the market as well as the terms and conditions attached to them consult our deposit bonus betting guide.
Enhanced odds
Usually issued in connection with a particular match or sports event the standard odds will be enhanced or boosted so they’re higher than before.
To read more about enhanced odds offers and to find the best enhanced odds offers available read our enhanced odds betting guide.
Payment Methods: Easy deposits and withdrawals
What to avoid headaches in the future? Make sure you choose a betting site that allows for quick and easy deposits and withdrawals.
Before you sign up to a betting site always check that the site accepts your chosen deposit and withdrawal method.
Ease, speed and range are key
If you want to make payments on a betting site via your debit card or credit card it won’t do if you sign up to a betting site that doesn’t accept these particular payment methods.
Ladbrokes
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets
A betting site can offer you many features but if you can’t make a deposit (or more importantly a withdrawal) swiftly, smoothly and safely it can’t really be considered to be one of the best betting sites. With Ladbrokes you get exactly that. Ladbrokes have a long and well-established tradition as reputable and flexible betting company. One of the things that makes Ladbrokes such a good betting site are the payment methods on offer from credit and debit cards to a variety of e-wallets and even bank transfer. Ladbrokes match each payment method for both depositing and withdrawing so you know there’s no messing about.
There are a variety of online options available to punters who want to deposit and withdraw via PayPal or other e-wallets such as Neteller, Trustly, or Skrill.
There are two ways you can check what payment methods a betting site accepts. Simply go to your chosen betting site and scroll to the bottom where the betting site will list the methods of payment and withdrawal.
Alternatively visit our bookmakers review page where you’ll find every betting site payment and withdrawal method conveniently listed in the sidebar of every betting site review.
- Debit cards
- Credit cards
- Bank transfer
- PayPal
- Neteller
- Trustly
- Skrill
Betting sites with the best odds
Odds are one of the most important factors to consider if it’s sports betting you’re after.
The value of odds are extremely important. The very best betting sites seek to offer as high odds as possible but some betting sites offer better value than others.
When it comes to odds it’s all about range and value
The value of odds are extremely important. The very best betting sites seek to offer as high odds as possible, but some betting sites offer better value than others.
bet365
100% up to £100 in bet credits
As one of the biggest betting sites in the world it’s no wonder that bet365 tops the list when it comes to betting sites with the best odds. Why? Simple really. bet365 doesn’t only offer some of the highest value odds on the market, they give you that value across the widest range of odds bar none. Whether you’re looking for a betting market on a big match or odds across sports, bet365 is the most likely to have it, and have it some of the highest priced odds of any online betting site. No wonder we think bet365 is one of the best betting sites for odds.
Variety and range of markets are also key. Ask yourself the question. Does this betting site offer me the odds on sports and leagues I want?
As a general rule of thumb, the bigger the betting site, the better the spread and the better range of odds you’re going to get.
Think about what you want. What sports, leagues and even what type of betting markets you want to play on within a standard match to help you decide what’s the best betting site for you.
- Does the betting site offer you odds on the sports you want to bet on? ✅
- Does the betting site offer you the best value i.e. the highest odds for those markets? ✅
- Does the betting site offer you enough range if you want to diversify your betting? ✅
If you've ticked all these boxes then you've probably found the best betting site for odds. But often it's a playoff between these key factors.
Sports betting, online casino and poker combined
Variety is key. We’re not just talking about range of odds within sports betting here.
Many of the best betting sites out there successfully combine sports betting, online casino and online poker all under the same roof.
888sport
100% up to £100
A great feature of many of the bigger betting sites nowadays is the ability to jump between sports betting to online casino games or even poker while still remaining within the same comfortable and familiar platform. Having those options available is key if you enjoy spreading your betting across a number of different activities. 888 excel in everything they have on offer from a solid sportsbook to poker, as well as a fully stocked casino all under the same roof. If you’re someone who wants options then 888 is where you’ll find it.
It’s about ease, accessibility and the ability to bet on on what you want, when you want in the matter of a few clicks.
It’s true that some betting specialise in one area, but many of the bigger betting sites now have several arms to their betting site.
More than just a betting site
Betting sites are no longer just an online version of your local high street bookie.
The amount of features some of the best betting sites now offer can be mind boggling. It can be tough to keep up but here are some of the things you should be looking for.
Ask yourself - what more can a betting site do for you?
Live streaming, live betting, live statistics are just a few of the ways in which some of the best betting sites can give something back to you.
Betfair
5 x £20 Free Bets
One of the reasons we rate Betfair so highly is the amount of features it offers its customers. Betfair has long been one of the most dynamic and trend setting betting sites in the world. They were the first to bring you the betting exchange, the Acca Edge and to this day they offer some of the best live betting and live streaming services available - coupled with the odds to match it. Alongside one of the best welcome bonuses available it’s no wonder why us and so many others love to bet with Betfair.
Betting exchanges, existing customer offers and combining a number of other features all within reach make a betting site truly attractive.
Here are some of the features you can come to expect from the best betting sites around:
- Live streaming
- Live betting
- Live statistics
- Betting exchange
- Offers for existing customers
Being part of a betting site that can offer you more than just odds is the key to choosing the best betting site for you.
Does your betting site have one of the best betting apps?
When it comes to playing with the best betting sites you need to be thinking about usability.
- Is the betting site easy to use?
- How easy is it to navigate around?
- Can you jump between odds and betting markets with ease?
- Will it update quickly for live betting and live streaming?
Don't underestimate the power of a good betting app
These days we’re never far away from our phones and many betting sites have now designed their own custom betting apps better suited to your smartphone or tablet.
Unibet
£40 Money Back
Unibet have one of the best betting apps on the market for a number of reasons. Not only do they offer a seamless betting app for both Apple and Android users but you can expect all of the features and odds markets you’ve come to expect from the website. Unibet are a forward thinking betting company and there’s nowhere more reflective of that than in their betting app. Seamless, stylish and user friendly are just three of the reasons why Unibet’s betting app is one of the best on the market.
Don’t underestimate the power of a great betting app. It can really make all the difference. Some betting sites in recent years have optimised their interfaces so that they go together perfectly with your smartphone or tablet which is great.
What’s even better? A custom made betting app. A seamless betting app designed to fit your tablet or smartphone.
For a comprehensive overview of the best betting apps on the market visit our best betting app guide.
Choosing the best betting site for you
Now you know what to look for in a betting site and the variety of features and choices on offer it’s time to pick the best betting site for you.
Step 1: Check our list of betting sites
Check through our list of bookmaker reviews. We only list betting sites that fulfil the most important criteria to truly be ranked among the best betting sites. Missed that our section on what we think you should look for from the best betting sites.
Take note! We only list the most trustworthy betting sites. We have UK punters in the front of our minds and if it doesn’t have a UK gambling licence we don’t list it.
Step 2: Decide what you want from a betting site
You need to consider what is most important for you. As yourself: what are you looking for in a betting site?
Are you interested in sports betting, live streaming, live betting or do you want to have a bit of everything?
Let’s say you’re most interested in betting on football. If your highest priority is betting on football then you should pick a betting site that is geared towards football odds and football betting. You can see the best betting sites for football in our guide here.
Ask yourself the question "What do I want from a betting site?"
Maybe you want to combine sports betting with other types of betting such as casino games or online poker? Then it’s probably better to sign up to one of the bigger, more comprehensive betting sites like bet365.
Maybe you want to sign up to a betting site for live betting and live streaming. If that’s the case you should be your priority. Make sure to consult our guide to the best betting sites for live betting.
Stop and ask yourself the question: “What do I want from a betting site?” Knowing what you want is important and if you follow our simple steps you should come out with a winner.
Step 3: Does the betting site have your chosen payment method(s)?
Before signing up it’s good to check what payment methods a betting site offers. It’s no use signing up to a betting site that has all the features and betting markets you’re looking for.
If you can’t make deposits and withdrawals with your choose payment it’s better to pick another betting site. It will make everything smoother and easier in the long run!
Step 4: Choosing the right welcome bonus and sign up offer
The very best betting sites will offer new customers a welcome bonus or sign up offer when they register a new account. Competition is now so high amongst betting sites that it’s important for you to take advantage of such lucrative sign up offers.
With so many betting sites and sign up offers to choose from it can be tough to know exactly what’s out there. That’s why we’ve made a comprehensive list of the best welcome bonus and sign up offers on the market. You’ll also find an explanation
Once you’ve found what you want from a betting site don’t miss out on collecting a great sign up offer to kick it off in the right way.
