New Betting Sites in the UK 2023

If you are looking to start playing at new betting sites, then it is important to find the right betting site for your own personal gambling style and preferences. Whether you are committed to a certain type of sports betting or are a newcomer to online betting as a whole, a good site can make all the difference.

While it is very easy to settle for the popular names in modern online betting markets, a new betting site is not always a bad option, either. There are many betting sites, UK-based and otherwise, that offer unique free bet bonuses or specific sports betting experiences that can make a huge difference to even the most seasoned punter.

If you are looking for new sports betting sites to spend your time at, then you need to consider the specifics of each site you come across. Sometimes a brand new betting site might surprise you or offer a feature that makes it the perfect choice for you.

Spreadex
4.9

Rating

£50 in Bonuses
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Promotion is available to 18+ aged individuals who are registered customers of Spreadex. Place a £25 fixed odds bet at minimum odds of 1/2. Get 5 x £5 free fixed odds bets + 4 x £5 free Spread bets + 50 Bonus Spins on Starburst. Ts&Cs apply.
Bet365 Review
4.8

Rating

Bet €/£10 & Get €/£ 50 in Free Bets
Each bet must contain odds of 1/5 or greater. If you have a live bet on and if you partly cash out, then only the remaining stake will count toward the bonus bet. Your bonus bet cannot be used on the following, Casino, Games, Poker, Vegas or bingo. Bonus bet Credits also cannot be used on the likes of, Tote Pool bets or any other.
kwiff sportbook review
4.8

Rating

Bet £/€10 Get £/€20 Surprise Bet
The Promotion is only valid to new customers. To qualify for the Promotion, participants must deposit and place a £/€10 bet as their first bet on any market (excluding each way) in the sportsbook with odds greater than or equal to 1.50.
joycasino
4.7

Rating

100% Match Bonus Up To €2000
Deposit more than the minimum amount, we recommend the second option. Finally, depositing the minimum amount of €20 will get you an additional €50, so beginners are advised to go for this choice. T&C apply.
10bet Sportsbook Logo
4.5

Rating

50% Match Bonus on your First Deposit
New bettors get 50% of deposit up to £50; Once per household; Min deposit £15 (no Skrill/Neteller); Wager a total of 8 times deposit + bonus, with max qualifying bet stake equal to your initial bonus amount; Bonus expires after 60 days; Min odds of 4/5 on singles, or 2/5 per leg for acca; Some bet types excluded; See full terms;
Jetbull
4.8

Rating

100% Match Bonus up to €/£100
To qualify for this bonus your deposit must be equal to, or greater than, €10, or your account currency equivalent of €10. Only bets with odds 1.7 or higher are permitted while betting to meet the wagering requirement. When placing bets with the bonus funds, only up to a maximum of €50 (or your account currency equivalent of €50) will count towards the wagering requirement per bet. The following betting types are excluded from bets placed with bonus funds: Horse Racing, Greyhounds & Outrights.
4.9

Rating

Bet €/£10+ and Get €/£30 in Free Bets.
Min deposit £/€/$10 • A qualifying bet is a real money stake of at least £/€/$10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days • To withdraw bonus/related wins, wager the bonus amount 40 times within 14 days • Casino Bonus expires after 60 days • Withdrawal restrictions, payment methods, country & full T&Cs apply. 18+ Begambleaware.
Smarkets
4.7

Rating

Get 0% Commission for 60 Days AND a £/€10 Cash Refund
New customers only. 0% commission rate on all bets settled within 60 days from registration. First £/€10 in losses refunded in cash. Min. deposit £/€20. Payment restrictions and T&Cs apply.
Betfred
4.7

Rating

Bet €/£10 get €/£30 in Free Bets
Place your first bet of £10 at odds of evens or greater on any sports market.
4.6

Rating

€200 Welcome Bonus
Players need to wager the deposited amount before receiving the bonus. Each bonus needs to be requested in the player’s account menu within 7 days after making the qualifying deposit. The bonus and deposit amounts must be wagered at least 10 times before making a withdrawal.
Betway
4.8

Rating

Bet €/£10 get €/£30 in Free Bets
You can use these Free Bets to wager on any sports, but they are not transferable to any of the other Betway products (ie Casino, Bingo, Vegas or Poker), which is fair enough, because the casino section has its own bonus. You need to choose which welcome offer you would like to accept, and then opt-in to receive it.
ibet review
4.7

Rating

Sports Bonus of 100% Up To €200
The bonus offer is available for new customers of iBet. Minimum deposit limit of €20. The player must be: over 18 years of age or above the legal age for gambling in the country you are playing from. T&C’s Apply
cyber.bet
4.6

Rating

50% Match Bonus Up To €1,000
The bonus terms are in addition to the general terms and conditions of Cyber.bet. A player receives only a profit of the wager from a free bet. For example, you place a €10 free bet for the odds of 1.75. In case of winning, you get only a profit of €7.5 (€17.5 minus a free bet amount). If you lose the wager, you lose a free bet.
Bons Casino
4.8

Rating

Get up to 200% Bonus + 200 Free Spins
+18, Play Responsibly. The welcome bonus will only be available for new players at Bons Casino. T&C’s Apply

Advantages of new online betting sites

Most new betting sites are built using relatively new technology, especially those that are part of an existing network. While a lot of older betting sites get upgrades and changes over the years, they tend to stay mostly the same, usually only seeing graphical and technical improvements.

There can be some advantages to moving to a new site, especially if you have spent a lot of your “betting life” on the same sports betting sites.

A New Start

Most people will be attached to the betting sites that they spend a lot of time (and money) at, but a fresh start can sometimes be refreshing.

Choosing a new online sports betting site can open you up to new betting markets and game types, brand new welcome bonus offers, and even a completely different range of sporting events to bet on.

For example, if your previous sports betting site was mostly focused on horse racing, you might have missed out on other in-play betting markets. Horse racing is a great event to bet on, but branching out from exclusively horse-racing betting sites can give you more options to enjoy.

Interesting Features

In some cases, moving to a new betting site – especially one that was created very recently – can give you access to more modern or up-to-date options.

This might include games by newer niche developers, creative bonus systems that are not copied from an existing network, or even the ability to pay using digital currencies (at least on some sites).

While existing sites are still going to get improvements and changes, you will not usually see long-standing betting sites overhauling their VIP system or completely changing their welcome bonus system. Choosing a new betting site can let you experience something completely different.

Variety

There is also the fact that new betting sites are almost always going to offer more features, whether those are sports betting markets or optional online casino games. If you are not satisfied with your current choice of betting sites, you can consider looking for new betting sites that offer something new.

This can be especially important for people who enjoy sports betting for fun. It is understandable to get tired of horse racing or football betting if you are always betting on the same set of competitive odds in the same way.

How New Sites Compare to Established Betting Sites

There’s certainly nothing wrong with signing up with established operators. There are those brands out there that have proven you can trust them. But missing out on the latest betting sites can also mean missing out on some seriously great features and potentially profitable opportunities.

Betting Exchange New Account Offer Our View & Reviews Commission Liquidity Founded Visit Site
SportingIndex
SportingIndex
£/€75 To Spread Bet With Claim Offer Really good innovative features. SportingIndex Reviews 0%
5/5
Good liquidity on all markets
1992 Visit Sporting Index
Smarkets
Smarkets
£10 no risk bet for new accounts Claim Offer Some really good innovative features. Smarkets Reviews 2%
5/5
Can be a little thin on secondary markets
2008 Visit Smarkets

BetDaq BetDaq

Up to £1,000 commission cash back Claim Offer Superb all round exchange - recommended. BetDaq Reviews 2%
4.5/5
Excellent liquidity on all markets
2000 Visit BetDaq

Matchbook Matchbook

Up to £500 commission cashback Claim Offer Great for US sports. Matchbook Reviews 1.5%
4/5
Very good for US & Asian sports through
2008 Visit Matchbook
Betfair Betfair £10 bet Claim Offer Probably the best bookie in the world. Betfair Reviews 5%
4.5/5
Best all round liquidity
1999 Visit Betfair

Consider the Odds

You probably know that the bigger betting site brands are remained in business because of the fact that they net big profits through high commission rates. Even a quick look through our list of the top recommended betting sites makes this easy enough to see. Yet, there are plenty of brand-new betting sites out there that offer higher odds as they seek to increase their punter base.

Bonuses and Promotions

This one is pretty obvious. Think of a new sportsbook, for example, as a new betting shop. The usual approach is to offer decent promotions and bonuses to get you to sign up. In the case of online betting sites, this is usually in the form of match deposit bonuses and free bets. It’s not uncommon to see a new betting site offering a 100% or even 200% match deposit welcome bonus or even a no deposit bonus just for signing up. Of course, keep an eye out for free bets and other sign up incentives!

Betting on the Go

New operators no doubt make full use of the latest technology to impress new punters, especially those who like to bet on the go through their mobile devices. This is exactly why you’ll often find some of the most stable and lightning-fast mobile apps at the most up-to-date betting sites.

It’s, for this reason, you’ll usually find fast and stable mobile apps at new betting sites. What’s more, you’ll often come across fresh sports and innovative markets, especially in the form of esports and virtual sports, that are extremely popular with younger bettors.

Why Switch to New Betting Sites?

A lot of betting fans will instinctively turn to the largest betting sites on the market, often focusing on a few popular sites. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, it does mean that they miss out on some key bonuses that new online betting sites can provide.

Even if you could get the games and events that you want at a long-standing betting site, you should never be afraid to explore a newer or lesser-known site. From unique welcome bonus offers to highly specific quirks of the sites’ designs, there is never a wrong choice when it comes to choosing new sports betting websites.

While it would be impossible to list every single site and all of the benefits that they offer, it is still important to understand why a new betting site is not a bad choice. Regardless of betting markets, there is nothing wrong with embracing more options and comparing more sites since you might come across a hidden gem of a sports betting site.

Payment Methods

Payment methods are especially important for betting sites UK-wide. Given the nature of online betting sites and how payment systems work, some sites may eventually restrict access to a particular payment option or restructure their payment system and not include certain processing options.

There is also the fact that a lot of sports betting sites and networks only accept certain payment methods at all. For example, while cards and services like PayPal are quite common, a lesser-used payment method will not be accepted on every UK betting site.

This means that switching to new betting sites can be the best option if you really need to pay with a certain method or if you do not want to switch away from your favourite payment option. Payment methods can be very important, and some are much safer than others, so sticking with your preferred option usually helps protect your data properly.

Better Support

Many major betting sites struggle with proper support – whether that is availability or the actual quality of the support itself. If you are having trouble with the support team at your currently-chosen sports betting site, then a new betting platform can be worth exploring.

There are a lot of situations where you may have to rely on online betting site support teams, and good customer support is important. Looking for new UK betting sites that can offer short notice and reliable support can make a huge difference, especially if you plan to play there in the long term.

While it might seem strange to change sites over something as simple as the support team, it can actually be quite smart. Moving to a new betting site with improved support can future-proof your online betting site experience and ensure that you do not suddenly run into account issues that you are not able to fix.

Different Odds

If you have spent a lot of time on previous betting sites, then it is easy to forget that the odds are generally specific to each site. While this might not apply to two sites that are on the same network, it can still be a good reason to explore new sites and see what kind of odds you are able to get.

Odds are a core part of betting as a whole, so a UK betting site with good odds is always worth considering. Many newer and smaller sites will offer better odds as a way of gathering more interested customers and taking advantage of these odds can kick-start your time on a new betting platform.

Of course, remember that most odds change over time and are set on a case-by-case basis. A sports betting site may not offer generous odds forever, and many online sports betting sites will gradually settle into more “normal” odds over time. Even with this in mind, checking the odds is a great reason to explore more sites, just in case.

Interesting Bonuses

Popular sites have welcome bonus features and other bonus bets, but many of them do not need to put as much time into drawing in new customers. This often means that their bonuses are quite standardized or fall into a simple structure that will not really change.

While it can be a risky option if you are relying purely on bonuses, a new betting site is far more likely to have generous bonus features after it first goes public. Even once they become more established, many new betting sites in the UK will offer good bonuses to draw in more users.

Other Features

Good features can make a huge difference to any site. For example, a “bet builder” system might be a tool that only a portion of the user base explores, but it also opens up more opportunities for customers to make interesting betting options. We look for noteworthy features in all of our reviews and make sure to mention them.

While features will not necessarily make one site better than another, they are still important to notice and something that new players should be aware of. There are a lot of different ways to approach sports betting, and some site features can be a major part of betting there comfortably.

Since a lot of features are completely different from others, it can be hard to compare two sites that boast different feature sets and lists of special tools. If you are ever stuck on which one would be better, you can always investigate each site yourself to get a better understanding of what those features actually do.

Top 5 New Betting Sites: Our top picks

There are literally thousands of betting-focused sites out there to review, and even the number of dedicated UK betting sites is too high to truly break down in a single article. However, some betting sites stand out well above the rest for one reason or another.

Many of our favourite online sports betting exchange sites are favourites because of the very specific things they offer or the elements that make them stand out from the rest. While it is very difficult to name just a handful of them, certain betting sites are always going to push to the forefront.

If you are looking for new betting platforms in the UK and do not know where to turn, then here are five of our favourite UK betting sites worth exploring – as well as the reasons that we recommend them.

How We Rate & Review New Betting Sites

As professionals within the online betting site industry, we understand that no two betting sites are the same. However, being able to compare one betting site with another is extremely important for new sports betting, gambling and other gaming sites online.

Different online bookmakers offer different experiences and have their own unique bonuses and features that change how the site operates. However, properly ranking betting sites takes a lot of effort, and we take a range of factors into account when trying to judge each site.

While we always try our best to pick out the best new betting site for each batch we check (whether that is new betting sites in a specific month or top betting sites offering a certain experience), we always try to remain unbiased.

At BetOpin, we also want to be thorough. We judge betting sites on factual details and our own research into them rather than making snap judgements. A good sports betting site could have a bad main page, but that does not make the betting site itself a worse experience for users.

Elements We Look For In Good Sports Betting Sites

There are a lot of factors that can tell us whether or not UK betting sites are worth ranking high in our lists, and these factors can depend heavily on the site itself. Many of them are smaller details that add up to a large part of the whole site, and we try to compare sites fairly whenever possible.

While we can obviously make judgements on a betting site based on its general quality, we always try to look for certain key factors when working out the rankings. These can be broken down into four distinct categories: the site, the betting, the bonuses, and the Terms and Conditions.

Keep in mind that these are only a part of what we look for when reviewing sites. Each platform has a completely different set of features: some will focus on in-play betting, others will offer a bet builder system, and some pride themselves on fast bet settlement and withdrawals.

Our reviews cover as much as they can about the sites we explore, but we cannot make that final decision for you. Use our reviews as a guideline to help you find a site that fits your needs best, and do not be afraid to compare different details if you are not sure which site provides the right features for you.

The Site

A huge part of our review process involves looking at the site itself to get an understanding of how well it functions, what it offers, and whether or not it is actually a site that users would enjoy. While many sites are relatively similar in terms of design, the small differences can have a huge impact on how well a site is received.

For example, it only takes one flaw with a site’s design to make it almost unusable on a mobile device. Poor coding could make it load incredibly slowly, and overwhelming visual effects might make it hard for players to actually use the site as intended.

This category of details is mostly focused on the site actually being usable and functional as a betting platform. If you are interested in choosing a new sports betting site, then you ideally want to choose one that feels like a good platform. These elements include:

Usability and Simplicity

Usability is a general ranking of how easy the site is to use. Sports betting is not a breakneck activity, but users do not want to be stuck in looping pages or unable to use their online bookmakers correctly. Being able to place bets comfortably and quickly is important for many users.

This is especially true when it comes to page clutter. Online sports betting sites cannot afford to confuse users with excessive information or too many different options, especially not since many sports betting users enjoy time-sensitive betting experiences like horse racing.

We usually rate online bookmakers higher if they present a site that can be used comfortably. If a site is trying to appeal to brand new players, then we will also consider how this usability applies in the context of being a new online betting site that might be taking in first-time sports betting players.

Simplicity is related but just as important. A UK betting site needs to keep information clear and allow for easy navigation, especially if it wants to be a betting site that new players can enjoy very easily. If we have trouble finding specific pages or do not know where certain features are explained, then we will mention this.

A simple site is usually one that makes it much easier to bet comfortably and does not hide important information behind excessive menus. It is very easy for betting sites to become overwhelming with too many things, and the best sites eliminate the mess to keep the platform streamlined.

Mobile Functionality and Apps

Mobile devices are a huge portion of the betting and gambling market, so any online casino sites have to find a way to function well on mobile devices. However, many brand-new UK sites struggle to accommodate a wide range of devices, which can often make sites unusable on specific platforms.

There are two main ways of solving this problem: mobile-specific sites and responsive site design. Mobile-specific sites are alternative versions of the main site that only normally load for UK customers on mobile devices, while a responsive design allows the site to scale its elements to suit the screen size of the user.

Neither of these is necessarily better or worse than the other, but it is usually important for a site to offer at least one of them. If a site does not function properly on mobile, then it can become incredibly hard to place bets properly, and you may even end up running into major technical issues or placing bets that you did not intend to.

Our reviews will mention if a site does not have good mobile compatibility or if it does not seem to have been designed to work on phones at all.

The other option here is apps. Many sites in the UK turn to a dedicated app instead of a mobile site, allowing new UK betting players to bet from their phones without using their browsers. Apps are usually just as good as the site itself, but not always, and some users have a strong preference for one or the other.

If a site has betting apps available, we will mention it. However, if those betting apps are not very good or are not available on certain device types, we will also bring this up in our reviews since not all UK customers will be able to run the betting apps correctly (or at all).

Payment Methods

Payment options are a lot more important than many people first realise. While most sites will always have the basic payment methods open and available for users, that is not always the case, and there may be times when you specifically want to use one payment method over another for a given reason.

This can matter quite a lot since you may not be able to use certain payment platforms at all on particular sites. This is quite common with new UK betting sites that are not set up to offer many deposit options or ones that have not expanded out from the basic card and PayPal payments.

It can be important to know the range of payment methods a site offers before you join. While a casual user may be fine with betting through their card or PayPal, some people prefer extra security or like to tie their betting to a particular payment platform – an option that may not be available.

This can also count as a security issue. Some payment options are notably less safe than others, and some sites are just unsafe enough that you may not want to use your card or bank account to pay. This means that users ideally want a range of payment methods, allowing them to choose the payment tool that they think fits best.

The Betting

As you might expect, being able to play betting games and events properly is a massive part of making any betting site work. Our reviews need to mention things related to the betting experience itself, especially if this includes any potential flaws or problems that might directly interfere with the user’s experience at the online bookies.

For example, if horse racing betting is not offered at a site, we want to make that clear. We would also want to break down things like the way that free bets are handled, the kind of competitive odds that the site offers, and anything else that might directly influence your time betting on the site.

Whether you are an experienced betting fan trying to make as much money as possible or a sports fan who just wants to bet on their favourite game, the experience of betting needs to be a good one. Elements relating to this include:

Easy Betting

In general, the best sites are the ones that make betting easy without putting extra pressure on the user. This is something that we will mention in reviews if a site stands out from the rest. For example, bet builder systems and other ways of simplifying sporting events betting can help players bet responsibly

This is especially true of the terminology used on the site. For new players who do not know what “qualifying bet is the first racing pool bet added to the betslip” means on a betting site, this can really get in the way of their ability to bet online comfortably.

Many new online bookmakers offer support, or FAQ pages to help new players understand the basics of their betting, including things like the maths behind a wager calculated by the site or the terms involved in using their free bet bonuses.

Betting Variety

The more events and sports a player can bet on, the more variety a site holds. While this is common sense for any kind of betting, many of the best new betting sites are notable because they have managed to offer a range of games. In contrast, a lot of newer sites usually only provide the basics, like football and horse racing betting.

Even for dedicated horse racing betting sites, seeing options like football betting can make a big difference. While many people have a favourite sport to focus their betting time and money on, being able to vary things up as you please can help you avoid burning out or getting bored of the same sport week after week.

This can even include things like live games for in-play betting. While in-play betting is already an option in many cases, in-play betting with a live feed of the event can make for a much nicer experience and make the in-play betting a lot more intense as a result.

Betting Options

While most betting sites allow online betting for sporting events, there are a lot of ways to do this. From in-play betting and live betting to system bets and a full “Bet Builder” system, there are countless ways that one person may be able to place a bet on their chosen sport.

This is not even mentioning things like the “free bet club” feature on some sites that reward specific betting styles. Another good example is “best odds guaranteed” systems that allow players to get the best odds guaranteed even if they bet on sporting events early and the competitive odds change.

The Bonuses

A bonus feature can be a core part of how a site functions, but it also acts as a way of drawing in new customers. Even the most brand-new UK betting sites put a lot of focus on free bet features and other casino bonuses since they tend to attract the most attention and get a lot of press in online betting site listings.

For many people, the final decision between several of the best new betting sites will usually come down to the bonus features. If you have to choose between two similar sites and one of them offers a £10 free bet bonus, the majority of users are going to pursue the £10 free bet.

We do our best to break down the bonus features on each site, as well as any relevant terms and conditions that might have an impact on your experience while using them. This includes things like qualifying bets, bonus restrictions, and a range of other factors such as:

Bonus Features

Bonuses are a massive part of online bookmakers and something that we take into consideration when reviewing any site. Even something as simple as a £10 free-bet welcome bonus can be important since that £10 free-bet bonus might provide just enough free bets for a new player to try the site.

While a simple free bet bonus might not sound like much, free bets are a major draw for new users. A free bets bonus could be the tipping point for a new customer who is trying to choose between multiple online bookmakers, so we always mention free bet bonuses and other bonus features on these sites.

Almost all betting sites have bonus features, but the specific features themselves can be wildly different. Some betting sites UK may offer bonus features that give a massive boost to horse racing bets in return for a qualifying real money bet, while others may offer a week of generous cashback for new online bookmakers’ customers.

We can’t break down every bonus feature on every single site, but we still try to list as many as possible in our reviews. Bonuses are a major part of the betting experience and a huge draw for a lot of users, and being able to clearly compare them can be important for finding a site that fits your specific needs best.

We also try to go over any major parts of the bonus terms and conditions that might be relevant. This means things like specific min odds requirements, free bet restrictions, or other information that might limit the ways that you can use the bonus. Knowing these details can be very important if you want to choose the right betting site based on a good bonus.

Welcome Bonuses

Welcome bonuses are even more important. While free bets as part of a VIP system are good, the welcome bonus is the first bonus users are exposed to. The difference between a £10 free bet bonus and a £20 free bet bonus can be huge, even if those free bet stakes are not that far apart.

A free bets welcome bonus (even a simple £10 free bet offer) can be a major selling point for all UK sports betting sites. Not only do free bets let users try out the sites, but the bonus bets can help brand-new players get used to sports betting without having to make a real money bet.

All of this means that free bets and other bonus bets offers can be important when looking for a new UK betting site. We always mention free bets and other bonuses whenever possible, telling users how to earn the free bets and the terms behind each free bet bonus.

We generally cover welcome bonuses more than standard bonus features, but this depends on the site. Bonus features are often more generous and “larger-scale” than regular bonus features but may also come with more limitations or restrictions that change how you can use them once you are on the site.

Since many people that read these site reviews are new players looking for brand-new betting sites to enjoy, we cover welcome bonuses in as much detail as possible without making things too confusing. Understanding the welcome bonus ahead of time can help new players make better use of their free spins, live betting boosts and other bonus advantages.

VIP Systems

Some sites augment (or replace) existing bonus systems with a VIP system, also known as a loyalty system. These are custom structures that allow users to earn rewards and special bonuses for being committed players, often requiring them to bet regularly to retain their rankings.

While this is more common on slot games sites, it can appear on betting sites just as easily. These systems are often more complicated than just getting a bonus normally and usually have more restrictions on how players can earn specific bonuses and rewards properly.

Many VIP systems have their full terms and conditions hidden until you join the system itself, which can make them hard to report on. However, we try to cover the specifics of these systems if we can, making players aware of how the loyalty system works and what to expect if they join the site.

Remember that these systems are usually meant to keep players playing, so they are not usually available as a bonus option right from the start. This means that they are more important for players who want to find a site that they can enjoy in the long term since a good loyalty system can become quite valuable if you spend a lot of time on a single platform.

Other Promotions

Not all bonus features are conventional free bets bonuses: many sites also offer a range of other promotions, some of which are significantly different. This can include things like full giveaways for valuable products or special bonuses given to players that happen to achieve certain milestones first.

These can either be a huge draw to the site or a nice bonus for existing players, depending on the scale of the bonus. However, if they are worth mentioning, then we will bring them up in our reviews – a small £10 free bet bonus for a handful of players is not much, but a huge giveaway or network-wide jackpot can be much more noticeable.

Since these are often either network-specific or site-bespoke promotions that are not all that common, there is not really a baseline to compare them all to. However, they are still a big part of how the sites draw new people in, so we try to mention any that might benefit brand-new players.

Timed Bonuses

Some bonuses are time-limited, either appearing for a set amount of time or acting as a regular bonus that only appears at set points in the year. These are often hard to talk about since they are not available for a large portion of the year (and may even be a one-off bonus that never comes back).

In general, we will only cover these bonuses if we know that they are going to be around for a decent amount of time. Week-long bonuses usually are not going to exist for long enough for many new players to use them, and a promotion that is about to go away forever might be impossible to claim as a new player.

Repeating seasonal or holiday bonuses are very different since these are often tied to specific real-life events. This means that they only exist for a specific period of time and are themed appropriately but are not actually relevant in our reviews for most of the year.

We will usually mention if a site has a habit of using a rotating bonus system, where different promotional offers are added and removed on an irregular basis. There are certain betting sites out there that have no real permanent promotions and only offer a constantly-changing list of different seasonal bonuses.

Terms and Conditions

The Terms and Conditions of a site – especially for bonuses like free bets – can be a huge part of the experience. New sports betting players do not always know to read the terms and conditions before joining up with online bookmakers, and even veteran players sometimes overlook them.

Terms and conditions define a lot about things like bonuses. For example, some online bookies may offer free spins and free bets valid only in specific ways or ones that require certain qualifying bets to activate. Not knowing these qualifying bets details can lead to new players completely missing out on free spins and free bets by accident.

General T&Cs are also a core part of the platform. For example, the site may have restrictions on the sporting events that UK players can access and bet on or even limitations on things like free bets and free spins as a whole.

We try to mention any major details relating to the terms and conditions, although we can obviously only present so much information. This includes details like:

Bonus Restrictions and Terms

A free bet bonus can be a great way to explore a new site, but very few betting sites give you free bets with no restrictions. For example, you may have to make a qualifying bet on a game to earn your own free bet bonus or play betting games in a specific way to actually use the free bet bonus instead of your real money.

We always cover these restrictions in our reviews when talking about bonuses, whether those are free bet features or horse racing cashback offers. If you play betting games with a bonus feature, then you need to understand the limits of that bonus feature, such as how long you have a free bet valid for.

Expiry Times

In most cases, free bets expire. If you have free bets valid for a set amount of time, then you would need to use those bets within that period or lose them forever. While this is common sense to a lot of players, expiry limits are a piece of information that not all sites will display in an obvious place.

We try to include these details in our reviews as often as possible, making sure that users understand how long they have to use their bonus features. This can sound like simple information to mention in a review, but a lot of sites obscure their terms and conditions in the small print.

Licensing and Regulation

A betting site needs to be properly licensed and registered to operate in the UK, even if they themselves are based in the UK. If we find a site that does not have a valid license to operate in the UK, then we most likely will not even review it since the site would be operating illegally and potentially become a major risk to betting players.

While it is not always necessary to mention it, we will still occasionally bring up licensing whenever necessary. This is because some sites are only licensed to operate in the UK, while others have additional licenses to operate abroad (or are based abroad but able to operate in the UK).

How We Choose Each Best Betting Site

While the volume of information above might seem overwhelming, this is only a part of what we consider when ranking sites. From free bet systems and in-play betting options to bet builder tools and telephone betting service features, we consider everything that may directly impact a new player’s experience.

A new player’s choice of the best betting site will depend heavily on their own needs. Some UK customers will really care about the free bet token amount that a free bet bonus gives them, while other UK customers want a good bet builder and could not care less about getting the best betting bonus token options.

While we cannot cover every single detail about every single site – especially since many sites still change over time – we can provide a comparison point for potential customers. For example, if a bonus requires min odds greater than the minimum odds of another bonus on a similar site, some UK customers will want to compare them to the minimum odds requirement on another site.

There are a lot of elements to consider with any betting site, from the free bet features to the security of your betting account to the ability to try in-play betting on horse racing. While every user is going to have their own particular goals and preferences in mind, we do our best to provide unbiased reporting on some of the best betting platforms for the UK market.

Frequently Asked Question

Which betting site has the best free bet offer?

Bonuses involving free bets can be compared in a lot of ways: the number of free bets, the free bet expiry time, the sports that you can use the free bets on, the min odds requirements, the value of the free bet offers, and a lot of other smaller factors.

For example, a £10 free bet on in-play betting horse racing sounds great for people who love live betting on horse racing. However, if you are not a fan of in-play betting or prefer football betting, these bonuses are less useful.

In general, the best free bet bonus offers are those with lower restrictions (i.e. not having to use them in a certain way, such as system bets or via a telephone betting service) and a high free bet value.

How do free bet min odds and qualifying bets work?

A free bet bonus may have min odds and qualifying bet requirements. This means that you need to make a qualifying bet (above a specified value) at a certain minimum odds level (min odds, meaning min odds greater than a set odds amount) to earn or activate the bonus.

For example, a football betting free bet bonus may be restricted to in-play betting and offer you a bonus token with a min odds requirement of 1/2, with the bonus wager calculated based on your qualifying bet size.

How do I create a betting account on a new site?

Setting up a betting account is different on each platform (for example, Livescore Bet will have a sign-in and login system exclusively for Livescore Bet), but the process is mostly the same. You will usually be given instructions upon starting registration.

Remember to have payment methods pre-prepared before you sign up since this allows for the best betting experience. Being able to jump in and start enjoying horse racing or football betting without needing to stop and set up a payment system afterwards makes the experience smoother and lets you capture bonuses based on bet settlement a lot faster.

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