The UK´s Best Betting Sites for Real Money in 2024

Watching a sporting event with real money on the line is the best way to intensify the whole experience, giving more reason to cry, curse or cheer! Betting is for those people who want an extra layer of excitement when they watch sports, taking the passions and thrills to a whole new level. The industry has come a long way from its humble and more manual beginnings, as now bettors can make bets online from their smartphone on the same event at which they are attending. Not only has the industry advanced a great deal, but it has also broadened and complicated. There is now a diverse range of betting sites, bonuses and other important aspects that bettors need to choose between and navigate through before they can place their first bet, which is where we come in. Our site is full of guides and reviews so that you can make the best decisions when it comes to making bets. 

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On this page you will find our bookmaker recommendations, which are based upon the welcome bonus on offer, the markets and bets and the usability of the site, among other things. Also, we have tips for you on how to choose an operator, a selection of the best bonuses and some important info on live betting.

888 Sport – The Best Player in Check

888 Sport are a heavy weight in the world of betting, with over 30 sports on offer and a swathe of markets to choose from. Also, this bookie was one of the first to give customers the ability to bet online, which means that their site is both slick and full of features. Take, for example, the live betting screen, which offers highlighted matches, a live calendar and a really aesthetic market selection. On your chosen event on the site you can browse upon the options in Instant Betting, an impressive feature that allows bettors to find a quick impulsive bet. 888 Sport also has a mobile app for both Android and iOS alongside a great array of promotions including the x3 Treble the Odds welcome bonus. For this offer all you have to do is register and bet a minimum of £5, before your odds are tripled and with it any winnings you make! You can learn more about this operator here.

What You Must Consider When Choosing a Betting Site

It can be said with confidence that this industry is fairly saturated, with customers finding themselves with ever more choice of operators and often less to distinguish them by; we know your pain. Each operator has its own advantages and disadvantages, with some offering more sports, some better bonuses and others a better mobile app. However, before we get into the really juicy bits about bonuses and markets, we must first tackle some serious questions.

  • CRITERIA:
  • SPORTS COVERAGE
  • SOLID BET OFFER
  • FAIR PAYOUT LEVEL
  • FAIR BONUS
  • TOP MOBILE APP
  • LIVE BETTING
How do you recognise a reputable betting provider?

Before you start putting your heard earned money into a goliath two hundred selection system bet, you should make sure that the provider you have chosen is reputable and fully licenced. You will find that all the major bookies do fit into this category, but it’s always good to get into the habit of checking. The best way to check a betting site is to look for its licence; in the UK you should definitely look out for verification from the Gambling Commission.

It is also important as a customer that your information is safe and that your payments are secure, so always be forward in contacting customer services or take some time to crawl through the bookie’s terms and conditions. Some of the best payment methods are of course the biggest including PayPal, Visa, Skrill and Neteller, and make sure to look out for eCOGRA and their affiliation. Finally, make it a must that your chosen operator is partnered with organisations such as GambleAware and the Responsible Gambling Trust, not just in case you have any problems, but also for supporting safe gambling within the industry.

When choosing an operator, check out the selection of sports and markets, the welcome offer and the mobile app, but, most importantly, don’t forget to check its reputability!

Top 3 Bonus Offers in Comparison

Almost all betting sites have bonus offers for you to take advantage of including game specials, daily enhanced specials and the all-important welcome offer. Welcome offers usually come in the form of a deposit match or a bonus amount that can be placed on a bet. With deposits often being matched up to 100% and the bonus amounts even higher, a decent amount of fun can be had. Obviously, you should not see welcome offers as a way to earn a quick buck, but they can be really useful if you use them wisely. For example, if you haven’t yet decided on your favored bookie before the big game, then scouting around and using the welcome offers to explore their sites is a great idea.

Also, if you are a keen mobile bettor, then you should keep your eye out for mobile bonuses. Nowadays you can use your mobile to make bets wherever you are, and often bookies offer exclusive bonuses only for their mobile versions.

In this table below, you will find the top three bonus welcome offers we could find. You can also find each bookie’s range of markets, mobile compatibility and some more info on their offers. Follow the link below to go to straight to the site and try them out!

Bоokmaker Rating Compatibility Markets Validity Period Bonus Amount Trusted Link Terms and Conditions
4very good . . 40+ 90 Days £30 Play Here Full T&Cs below. 18+. New customers only • Minimum deposit £10 • using deposit code 30F • Min odds 1/2 • Free bets expires after 7 days • Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time. withdrawal restrictions & full T&C’s apply
4very good . . 50+ 7 Days £20 Play Here Full T&Cs below. 18+. UK+IRE customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excluded. Min £5 first bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds ½ = 4 x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days on sports, stakes not returned, restrictions apply. T&C apply.

The rarest type of bonus offers are the no deposit bonuses, which are really just free bets that only require your registration to be activated. However, with these bonuses make sure you keep your eye out for the T&Cs, as you might end up spending more money than you intended before you get anything back. If you want some more information on no deposit betting offers, then head over to our no deposits page.

Go on to any of the sports betting sites that we have listed and you will find a huge range of bets that you can place. Every bet is different, with many being more suited to certain criteria, so it’s a good idea to get your head around them before you start.

The single bet, where you predict an outcome at a specific stake, is one of the most popular and simplest forms of betting. Multiple bets are when you place bets on two or more results, and the odds are then multiplied together. These types of bets will not pay out unless all your bets are correct. System bets are similar to multiple bets in that you bet on a number of predicted outcomes. The main difference is that even if not all your bets are correct, you can still win. Always popular are the bets on special events such as the Olympics, the World Cup or other major sporting competitions. These events get particular attention from bookmakers, often offering exclusive bets for them.

What is Live Betting and How Does it Work?

Live betting has to be one of the most exciting advancements in recent years, giving bettors the freedom to bet on sporting events as they happen. The best online bookmakers now have a specific section of their site that is dedicated to live betting. Here, you can find all the current sporting events that are taking place, alongside all the relevant information. If you click on an event, you will be taken to a separate page with live updates and graphics and an overview of the changing betting markets. All bookmakers have something different to offer when it comes to live betting, so take a look at our top 3 below.

The Thrill of Real Money Gambling

After spending your time checking out the top betting sites, practicing with their welcome offers and comparing all their advantages and disadvantages, you might feel like you’re ready to bet with real money. First and foremost, betting with real money should never be seen as a way of earning money, and you should always have betting limits.

Many bookmakers have methods of keeping track of your betting, and there are lots of safe gambling sites where you can find information on this too. Don’t get me wrong though, real money sports betting gives an exciting and thrilling edge to watching and following sports. You can appreciate the beautiful game while at the same time feeling absolutely entrenched and impassioned about every throw in, pass, serve and goal. So, once you have considered all the important points, it is time to log on, choose your sport, your stake and have some fun!