Online Betting Sites Guide
In this page, you will find the best online betting sites listed and reviewed by the experts of BestBettingSites.online. Online betting is great but sometimes it can be a bit confusing. There are lots of bookmaker that best fits our requirements. Often you decide to sign up for an online betting site because you see a welcome offer or a free bet that is particularly appealing. When you do open an account tough you might discover that that type of bet you want to place is not being offered or that the market is not covered.
We are here to help you find the absolute best online betting sites
To avoid disappointment here we have provided in-depth betting sites reviews. By reading you can make your own mind. This will help you pick the UK betting sites that are best for the type of betting you will do. Once you have decided which betting site to pick simply click on the button next to the bookmaker or go to our review page for further details. If you are looking for sign up welcome bonus promotions check our free bet section.
888 Sport – Great Offers & Promo
If you are looking to try something different from the usual main betting sites than 888 Sport could be a good solution. They have a very intriguing free bet offer when you sign up. As a customer you will also benefit from regular promotions. At 888 Sport you will find all the usual betting market but also some unique markets with very interesting odds. Their live betting section is worth a mention. They also they do have lots of live streaming event where you can bet while watching.
888 has a great gaming tradition. There are huge opportunities to also try the other products and get some great offers, for example, to use in their casino. You can do so with the same account. So if you are tired with the same old high street bookies and want to try something fresher and good than try 888 Sports. If you are a player on the go then 888 Sport will be ideal. This is because they do have great mobile betting which is far more advanced than a lot of others UK brands that seem to be stuck in the past.
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Ladbrokes – Top Trusted Bookie
Ladbrokes is a very traditional bookmaker that started operating in the 19th Century. Everyone who has set foot on UK soil will recognise the brand. In fact they have more than 2,300 betting shops. Ladbrokes is a very trustable brand. They are a publicly listed company and also they are the world’s largest retail bookmaker. Ladbrokes have merged with Coral and are well shaped to face increasing competition from younger online operators.
They have a very good online betting site. Here you can bet on the go with their comprehensive mobile betting app. If you like to bet in play than Ladbrokes have a huge array of markets at your disposal. Live streaming is also available from time to time. Some might call them old school but Ladbrokes have been able to keep up with the times. They are offering to their players an all-around sports betting product. Being one of the main betting companies out there means that Ladbrokes are able to offer top offers and odds around a certain event. If you are serious about betting having an account with Ladbrokes is a must.
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Coral – National Favourite, Just Great
Coral is another UK betting giant with a history that goes back to 1926. They have more than 1800 betting shops around the UK. In recent years they have made significant investments in order to become a top online betting operator. Coral merged with Ladbrokes and it has now bigger power to be able to offer great products and regular offers to new and existing players.
If you like live betting Coral won’t disappoint you. They have lots of live markets and also a great mobile betting experience. Regardless of where you are, you will get a great service. We have seen lots of betting brands but we firmly believe Coral to be one of the best for regular promotions, insurance, and enhanced offers. If you bet on main events than you will be pleased to know that Coral is known to be offering industry-leading odds. On Coral, you also have cashed out and partial cash out functionalities. Live betting experience is truly at the best it can be.
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BetVictor – The Gentleman Bookmaker
BetVictor is well known in the gambling industry as the gentleman of the online bookmakers. They have a very good betting site and it has been one of the first bookies to go digital. BetVictor, formerly known as Victor Chandler is now based in Gibraltar. They are famous for providing great odds and honest value. Especially in football and racing, BetVictor do usually provide the best odds in the online betting site industry.
Even if BetVictor do not usually provide tons of offers they do have from time to time some great online betting promotions. You will also find a top in play service where you will be able to partially or fully cash out. BetVictor have a very loyal base of customers. They make their life very easy by providing a vast range of currencies and also several payment options. If you become a regular at BetVictor you are likely to receive also bespoke offers.
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Betway – Professional & Innovative
Betway is a very professional and innovative bookmaker that is based in Malta. It is regulated by the local authority and the UK Gambling Commission. Their online betting site design is sleek and the platform is very intuitive to use. If you like in-play betting than Betway is the way to go. They have an excellent section and also they do live stream some of the best events.
Betway has a very good range of sports markets. Odds are very competitive especially around top events. If you are usually betting on the go you will be pleased to know that they have a nice mobile app. Navigation is intuitive and placing a bet is quick and efficient. In addition to a very generous welcome offer, Betway does also reward loyalty with a points scheme and a free bet club. The site is available in 15 languages. If you have any problems you can reach a very efficient customer support which will be able to answer any questions fast.
If you have accounts with more established betting companies you should still open an account with Betway. The reason is that this is a very good online betting site for less common markets and more minor sports (ie. eSports). If you looking to widener your betting range and get great value than Betway would be a perfect fit. Existing customer offers available to players are massive. There are so many opportunities to get the extra value that Betway is in the same class as some of the biggest bookmakers in the UK. If you like to have free bets and money back insurance on a regular basis then make sure you have an account with Betway.
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William Hill – Top Trusted Brand
If you live in the UK it is impossible that you don’t know a brand like William Hill. This is a big boy on the high street. In the last few years, it has become also a great online betting site. William Hill was first launched in 1934 and over the years has evolved in many different ways. At William Hill, you will find a wide range of sportsbook markets and other betting products. Theirs In Play service is one of the best in the industry. They also do stream a huge amount of games in their online betting site. Their live cash out functionality is massively popular.
If you are looking for mobile betting you should try the William Hill mobile app that is very intuitive and easy to use. As you would expect from a trusted brand like William Hill they have great payment options for their online betting site. They offer the opportunity to bet in many different ways: online, by phone, text and even in the store. William Hill is a huge brand which means they are looking after the customers very well. Their customer support is one of the best around and will resolve efficiently any queries you might have.
William Hill has huge resources. Thanks to that, they can offer competitive odds in a very wide range of markets and also great offers for both new and existing customers. Compared with other bookmakers William Hill doesn’t normally have the best basic odds. However, they have regular promotions and enhanced lines that makes them a must-have bookie in your portfolio.
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ComeOn – Great Players Promos
ComeOn is a rather new bookmaker. They have a very strong focus on rewarding existing customers. They have placed the customer at the centre. They take pride in being fully transparent and clear in whatever they do. Players that bet with ComeOn are rewarded with points. They can then exchange those for free bets, bonuses or even cash. Joining the free bet club is really easy and the rewards are great. ComeOn also has a very good sportsbook product. They can offer a huge number of markets, a nice interface and very good live betting.
ComeOn is really up and coming in the UK. They are acquiring lots of players very fast. Everyone loves a very good product, transparency and being rewarded for loyalty. Companies that put customers at the very heart they get recognised over time and surely this is something that ComeOn are doing. Try them out and you will touch with your own hands. ComeOn is not just about constant offers and boosts but they do have a sound product on their basis with great added values on top.
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SportNation – The New Gentleman
Sport Nation, formerly known as Bet On Brazil, is a new entrant in the betting industry. They do deserve a place in our listing because they are committed to doing things differently. If you want to have a breath of fresh air and you are tired of always the same bookies than why not trying out Sport Nation. They have a very good product and are 100% focused on the UK market. In addition to having a top product, you will be surprised by the number of great loyalty promotions that they give to their customers.
They have a loyalty club in place and some great accumulator promotions that give real value to regular clients. They are well positioned to be the new ‘Gentleman bookie’ as they do accept high stake. If you like to bet a bit more than a fiver or a tenner this will be a great choice for you. The reward you will get from SportNation will be probably higher than the average bookmaker.
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Betfred – The Bonus King
If you live in the UK surely you will know Betfred as they are the UK’s 4th biggest bookmaker and the biggest UK and Irish horse racing sponsor. If you love horse racing you will be able to see ALL UK and Irish horse racing in live streaming with Betfred. They have a solid brand and is one of the last independent bookmakers in the UK. Betfred have a great range of markets from all sports and they do have particular attention for UK punters. They are known as ‘the bonus king’ and the reason as you might guess is that they are never short of offers both for new and existing customers.
The company was formed by Fred Done who also founded Lucky 15 bet. Betfred is the right choice if you like to book something beyond win and each-way bets. This is because the odds on accumulators and slightly less popular markets tend to be of great value. If you need to get in touch with Betfred customer support you will see that they are very well organised and that they value the customer feedback. Betfred is an excellent UK brand and a solid bookmaker that should be in your betting accounts portfolio.
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NetBet – Sleek & Offers
NetBet has improved massively in the last few years and can surely teach the biggest bookmakers in the UK a thing or two. The betting site is very well designed and intuitive to navigate. They do have some fantastic live betting and also great promotions that they can offer to their new and existing customers. When joining NetBet the opportunities don’t stop after the welcome bonus but are daily: from great loyalty deals, price boosts to money back offers you will surely find the added value the fits your betting style. So NetBet is a bookmaker that is perfect for any bankroll and also one of the best for added value.
But the main point about Netbet is the looks and feels of the site and how easy it is to use. We can see that they have invested heavily to ensure the design and function will be at the top. If you are sick of old looking betting sites then go over to NetBet and you will be relieved.
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Unibet – Top European Player
Unibet is one of the biggest bookmakers in Europe and it is quite strange that they haven’t been as big in the UK in the past years. Things, however, have started to change as they are starting to make it also here with some high profile sports sponsorship. Unibet have a really good product and UK customers will be able to find things that are different from the usual UK-focused bookie. Unibet is a giant capable of offering more than 150,000 events of which they do stream 40,000.
They are at the top as far as mobile gaming is concerned with their award-winning mobile app and also fantastic offers opened to new and existing customers. As far as odds are concerned they do have some of the best odds around on football but also on some sports that are not very popular in the UK like Hockey. So as Unibet have a continental outlook it will be a good idea to have an account with them as you will be able to find many sports markets that are not available in a UK focused bookmaker. Unibet: a very good product, decent odds and offers and fair terms.
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Betfair – Not Only Great Exchange
Betfair is one of the best choices for professional gamblers. The reason is that they are the world largest betting exchange that tends to attract professional punters. In the last few years though they have also expanded their offering and they now also have a fixed odds sportsbook. The rather new Betfair sportsbook have a great number of markets and bet choices and can capitalise on the merge with a giant like Paddy Power. They have a very good live betting section with lots of markets and they do stream lots of events every day.
Another advantage of having a Betfair account is that you can switch seamlessly between sportsbook and exchange account. Betfair exchange has an average of 20% better than those on fixed books with the only handicap that on certain events liquidity might not be great. The sportsbook, however, offers very competitive odds on a range of top sports so in terms of value you won’t be disappointed with this bookmaker. Betfair was also the first bookmaker to in play services and cash out and they have improved the service over the last few months offering also partial cash out and a lot of different innovative features. In a nutshell, Betfair is a very good betting site capable of offering great promotions and valuable odds. Since they have merged with Paddy Power they are now able to offer even better promotions to existing customers increasing the number of added values.
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PaddyPower – The Funny One
Paddy Power is a famous Irish bookie that is known for bringing some humour to the Uk betting industry. If you like to deal with a bookmaker that doesn’t take itself too seriously than Paddy Power will be the best choice. Make no mistakes PP is a huge brand that has recently become even bigger when merging with Betfair.
Thanks to this partnership they are not able to offer to players an ever-increasing number of markets with top live betting functionalities and great streaming facilities. If you are used to betting on the go than take a look at Paddy Power mobile betting apps as they are some of the best in the industry. PP also has a solid social media presence so if you like to stay updated with the latest offers and also having a laugh then go green!
This Irish online betting site is taking great care of their existing customers and reward loyalty with some great offers. Every significant event is normally accompanied by some sort of insurance, free bets or extra places offer. They also have some crazy promotions from time to time that in addition to all the other pros we have listed make having an account with Paddy Power very worthwhile.
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Betting Sites Comparison Table
888 Sport Betting Shops: – | Min Deposit: £10 | Live Streaming: Horse Racing, Football + Other Sports | Support: Chat, Email, Phone 24/7
18+ years only | T&C’s Applies | Please Gamble Responsibly visit BeGambleAware
Ladbrokes Betting Shops: 2,300+ | Min Deposit: £1 | Live Streaming: Horse Racing, Football + Other Sports | Support: Chat, Email, Phone 24/7
18+ years only | T&C’s Applies | Please Gamble Responsibly visit BeGambleAware
Coral Betting Shops: 1,800+ | Min Deposit: £5 | Live Streaming: Horse Racing, Football + Other Sports | Support: Chat, Email, Phone 7am-12pm
18+ years only | T&C’s Applies | Please Gamble Responsibly visit BeGambleAware
BetVictor Betting Shops: 3 | Min Deposit: £5 | Live Streaming: Horse Racing | Support: Chat, Email, Phone 24/7
18+ years only | T&C’s Applies | Please Gamble Responsibly visit BeGambleAware
Betway Betting Shops: – | Min Deposit: £5 | Live Streaming: Horse Racing, Tennis, Football & Others | Support: Chat, Email, Phone 24/7
18+ years only | T&C’s Applies | Please Gamble Responsibly visit BeGambleAware
William Hill Betting Shops: 2,300 | Min Deposit: £5 | Live Streaming: Horse Racing, Tennis, Football & Others | Support: Chat, Email, Phone 24/7
18+ years only | T&C’s Applies | Please Gamble Responsibly visit BeGambleAware
ComeOn Betting Shops: – | Min Deposit: £5 | Live Streaming: No Streaming | Support: Chat, Email 9am to 10pm
18+ years only | T&C’s Applies | Please Gamble Responsibly visit BeGambleAware
SportNation Betting Shops: – | Min Deposit: £5 | Live Streaming: No Streaming | Support: Chat, Email 12pm to 10pm
18+ years only | T&C’s Applies | Please Gamble Responsibly visit BeGambleAware
Betfred Betting Shops: 1,370+ | Min Deposit: £5 | Live Streaming: Horse Racing, Football & Others | Support: Chat, Email, Phone 24/7
18+ years only | T&C’s Applies | Please Gamble Responsibly visit BeGambleAware
Unibet Betting Shops: – | Min Deposit: £5 | Live Streaming: Horse Racing, Football & Others | Support: Chat, Email, Phone 24/7
18+ years only | T&C’s Applies | Please Gamble Responsibly visit BeGambleAware
Betfair Betting Shops: – | Min Deposit: £5 | Live Streaming: Horse Racing, Football & Others | Support: Chat, Email, Phone 24/7
18+ years only | T&C’s Applies | Please Gamble Responsibly visit BeGambleAware
Paddy Power Betting Shops: 600+ | Min Deposit: £5 | Live Streaming: Horse Racing, Football & Others | Support: Chat, Email, Phone 24/7
18+ years only | T&C’s Applies | Please Gamble Responsibly visit BeGambleAware
Betsafe Betting Shops: – | Min Deposit: £10 | Live Streaming: Worldwide Racing, Global Sport | Support: Chat, Email, Phone 24/7
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How to Choose the Best Betting Site?
There isn’t a single factor that can be used to determine if a betting site is one of the ‘best’ betting site. There are however a number of things you should look at which will help identify top bookmakers from average or poor ones.
Important criteria to watch out for when selecting an online bookmaker
Introductory Offer
Some sign-up offers will require a promo code, and if this is the case you will find in our dedicated betting site review. Similarly to what we said above it is crucial that you pick a welcome offer that you fully understand and that match your betting style. Some welcome bonus offer will be more suited to those who are betting large amounts while others will be more for casual punters. Betting should be a fun activity so always remember to be responsible. Select the offer that is more in line with your betting activity. Don’t forget to always read the terms and conditions before taking advantage of the offer.
Existing Customer Offers
Welcome bonuses are great but once they are gone, they are gone. When selecting a betting site, it is crucial that you check how they reward loyal customers. Longer term this will give you the ability to get great value if the bookmaker is particularly generous in rewarding existing customers for their activity.
Betting Markets
The top betting sites do have a wide range of betting markets available. All betting sites will have the most popular ones, but the better ones will also cover the most obscure sports. Also, you should check what the markets depth is. Ideally, you want to be able to bet on every aspect of an event.
Live Streaming
Some of the best betting sites have made significant investments to enrich the betting experience of their users. The likes of Betfair, Paddy Power, Coral and others are live streaming thousands of sporting events every single year. Although you won’t find Premier League games, you will be able to see top-flight foreign games and also a wide range of other sports like tennis.
Odds
When you win, you want to win as much as you possibly can. It is difficult to know what is the bookmaker that has the best odds as those can change rapidly and also it will depend on which sport you are considering. Having said that some betting sites are consistently providing higher than average odds on some sports. A good strategy is to have several accounts and place bets with whoever has the best odds for the particular event you have picked.
Design
Again it comes down to the personal preference. Every betting site has a different interface, and the best way is for you to test and find out which one is for you. It is crucial that the site will not be slow and that markets are easy to find and navigate to. You will see some betting sites are a lot more modern and sleek compared with some others.
Mobile Gaming
You should expect to be able to bet from wherever you are, when you want. Nowadays the best betting sites are offering either apps or mobile-friendly websites that allows you to bet on any market in few seconds and also manage all the aspects of your betting account.
Why Should I Trust BestBettingSites.Online Reviews?
All the reviews hosted by BestBettingSites.Online is based on the experience that our team of punters has made over the years. We strive to be as objectives as possible and we do write all the online betting sites reviews ourselves without accepting any influence from third parties. Many sites out there are willing to provide favorable reviews of online betting websites if they do pay good money. Our reviews instead are completely honest and based on experience and we will NEVER accept payments in exchange for providing a ‘more favorable’ review.
We spend hours reviewing and testing online betting sites
We test and try out all the offers and features ourselves as we do believe that if we are not impressed so won’t be our readers and it doesn’t make sense to list them in our site. If you feel that some of our content is misrepresented than feel free to get in touch with us as we do take any feedback on board.
How Do Our Reviews Compare Against Others?
As you will probably know there are lots of UK betting review websites around so why taking advice from us? First of all most review sites are done unprofessionally by a single person sitting in a bedroom: this means that their only aim is to make some quick profit and might well not be independent. BestBettingSites.Online is part of BSpin Limited which is a UK registered company with offices in central London. BSpin Limited have several websites reviewing different sectors like betting, casino, financial and others. The company operates since 2013 putting ethics at the top of the agenda. We are proudly independent and we do fully comply with all regulations in the UK.
Our betting expertise at your service
Here at CasinoBiggestBonus.com we understand that placing a bet is a very personal thing. This regardless of the stake it is your money, your time and your enjoyment. We strive to ensure you get the best possible experience when gambling. Our teams are working hard to reach this mission.
This is why in addition to provide betting offers we do also continuously review betting sites to make sure that everything we publish is updated and that the content presented is as useful as it can be for punters. We score betting sites for several criteria like the number of markets covered, type of bets offered (like Tote), deposit and withdrawals options, live betting section, live streaming, additional betting functionalities like cash out, etc. This so that the punters will have a comprehensive view of the pros and cons of the betting sites and will make the best decision.
Why we do not give overall ratings to online betting sites
To make an example there is a little advantage in signing up to a site that has a great welcome bonus on tennis if there are no marked offered for this. Differently, from other review sites, we do not give overall ratings out of ten or A/A*. This is because we believe that even the best bookmaker in the world might not be the right choice for everyone. We do therefore review every aspect of a bookie. We believe it will make it easier for the punter to find the best betting sites that are tailored to their needs.
Why Do I Need A Betting Site Review?
Surely the UK is a very heavily regulated market where the Gambling Commission is very careful in giving out licensees. Having said that there are always opportunities for unscrupulous agents. They pretend to be reputable and try to steal your cash. The internet is a very big place and the reality is that is very difficult to police it. Still today there are many unlicensed betting sites that are trying to foul UK customers.
Never bet with an online betting site that does not have a license
Not always those unregulated betting sites will have the focus to steal your cash. Be ensured that if something does go wrong or you have a dispute then you will have very little chance of coming out with a success. From our experience we have noticed that those unregulated sites tend to use a rather smart strategy. They pay vast amount of cash to get favourable reviews in betting guides knowing that some editors are just interested in pocketing some money. They don’t really care about punters who might be on the wrong end of the stick due to the misinformation.
You can be sure that all the betting sites that are reviewed on BestBettingSites.Online has a valid UK license. We will NEVER list a non-UK licensed site or willfully provide misleading information about the companies we do review.
How To Analyse Bookmaker Welcome Offers
There are lots of things to consider when analyzing a betting site welcome bonus or an introductory free bet. Headlines are useful but could be misleading and it is worth going into more details.
Is it first deposit or first bet?
The first thing to look at is what are you going to do in order to get the promotion. Will this be based on the first deposit or on the first bet? What are the minimums and maximum? It makes sense to plan in advance what level of bonus you are keen to get. After that, you can make the first deposit or the first bet. Most offers only apply to the first deposit or bet so if you make a number of deposits it is unlikely that the promotion will apply to all of them.
It is a lot more likely that it will only apply to the first one so in that case you might want to make a larger deposit or a larger first bet to ensure you get out the maximum possible bonus. Also, make sure that your first deposit or the first bet won’t be below the minimum limit as in that case you will not get the bonus. In the same way, if you bet or deposit more than the maximum than you bonus will still be capped to that maximum limit.
Always check minimum qualifying odds
It is also important to check if there are minimum odds requirements for the first bet. In this case, you will need to make sure to bet on odds lines that are equal or higher of the minimum in order to activate the offer. It depends on bookmakers but some welcome bonus offers also have maximum odds prices so it is worth you check those too.
Are there other bonus restrictions?
It is also important to check if there are restrictions on the welcome bonus. By this, we mean that you need to ensure to find out if the bonus can be used on any sports market if can be used on singles, multiples, etc. Another thing to consider is that there could be restrictions on payment methods: much welcome bonus are not given if your deposit, for example, has been made with e-wallets like Skrill, Neteller or Paypal. In our bonus review section, we have made sure to highlight situations like those ones to avoid disappointments down the line, however it is a good practice to check the actual terms and conditions of the operator website just in case they have made some very recent changes.
Free bets do expire! Check what is the expiry date
Welcome bonus offers do not last indefinitely. The expiry date is very important to keep in mind to avoid losing your free tokens. The vast majority of free bets are valid for at least 7 days and normally bonus cash is for 30 days. Again it is key to read terms and conditions carefully as those rules can change depending on the bookmaker. If you don’t use your token or bonus during the time given it will expire. In some cases, you will also need to rollover any bonus cash or you will be risking to lose it all.
Don’t forget to check the rollover requirements of bonus offers
The last but not least thing to consider is the rollover requirements. Let’s say you get a £50 bonus and this has a 5-time rollover requirement. This means that you would need to bet the £50 bonus and then £200 of bonus funds winnings before you can withdraw the bonus cash or any other winnings. The rollover requirements do not affect your first cash deposit and any subsequent winnings but only the bonus funds. If you want to get more details on the differences between the type of bonuses (like free bets, match deposit bonuses, etc.) visit our freebets sections.
What does it mean that an online betting site has a UK Gambling License?
Every betting site that is willing to operate in the UK needs a UK Gambling Commission License. This is a law requirement and it does apply to every operator. The ones that are outside the UK they need to comply if they have British customers.
The Gambling Commission was established in the Gambling Act of 2005 and is an independent body that is funded by the department for culture, media, and sport. They do regulate and manage all betting licenses in the United Kingdom. If operators do not comply with the law the Gambling Commission has the power to revoke licenses.
What is the objective of the UK Gambling Commission?
The main aim of the UK Gambling Commission is to avoid crime which can be done by and against operators. In addition to this, they generally promote an open and honest industry. This is why in recent months they have forced online betting sites to provide clearer and not misleading terms for the offers. The commission also has the responsibility to protect vulnerable people and promote responsible gambling. If you want to get more information on gambling law in the UK take a look at our dedicated section.
What are the Advertising Standards For UK Online Betting Sites?
As we have seen the UK Gambling Commission does regulate betting sites and those are also required to adhere to Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) guidelines. There are clear rules that are set by the agency. Those rules ensure that online betting sites promotions will not be misleading. Also, advertising cannot be directed to vulnerable people.
What online betting sites cannot do
Since 2007 gambling operators can advertise on every media platforms. They need, however, to follow precise rules made by the Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP). Based on those rules gambling operators cannot:
- Promote behaviors that can cause harm to the financial, social or emotional way
- Directly appeal to vulnerable groups or under 18’s. They should also not exploit any lack of knowledge, inexperience or susceptibilities of young people.
- Promote gambling as a way of employment or mean of financial security. They cannot portray betting as a solution to money issues.
- Create any link between gambling and sex. Gambling cannot be portrayed as attractive, seductive or a way to improve your sexual success.
How can you make an Online Betting Site Complain?
The process of making a complaint against a betting site in the UK is very clear and structured. The first thing you need to do is contact the online betting site in writing outlining the issue. A requirement of the license is that UK bookmakers need to have in-house procedures to ensure all complaints will be taken seriously. If you will be unable to resolve the complaint directly with the online betting site you need to escalate. You shouldn’t contact the gambling commission directly as it is not their responsibility to resolve individual issues. You would need to require assistance from The Independent Betting Adjudication Service (IBAS). If you want to know more details about making a complaint against a bookmaker check our dedicated article.
Always contact the bookmaker first
From our experience, if you are trying to claim a welcome bonus but you have missed out due to having misread some of the terms (like the minimum bet, expiry time, minimum odds, etc.) then the best way is to contact the bookie directly. Not always but in most cases, they will reissue your welcome bonus or free bets. This when they realise it was just an honest mistake.
If you think about, welcome bonus are made to allow punters to try out their products. For this reason, it won’t be in the best interest of a betting site to send away new customers just on the basis of small details. Having said that you need to ensure you follow the terms of the welcome promotions carefully. The reason is that ultimately it will be the bookmaker that is formally on the right side in this situation and you need to hope in their goodwill.
What is Responsible Gambling?
All the betting sites operating in the UK need to promote responsible gambling. This means that they need to offer different features to allow self-exclusion, parental controls and also give access to independent gambling advice services like begambleaware.org.
Best betting sites go to the extra mile
Normally the best online betting sites tend to go beyond what is required by the law. For example, they have signed up to a voluntary scheme that includes things like not doing any advertising on TV before 9 pm. Some also devolve some funds to do adverts that promote responsible gambling. Most betting sites will provide features that will help punters to manage their betting activity to prevent problem gambling. For example punters will be given the opportunity to set up limits, partial exclusion, loss limits and lots more. Recently regulations have become even more strict for operators who have had to comply in order to retain the UK license. If you want to get more info on responsible gambling check our dedicated section.
