Online Betting in the UK
BettingGuide has a team of experts from around the world creating comprehensive guides for online betting. You will find step-by-step guides about everything related to gambling legally in the UK using safe and trusted online betting sites.
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Online Betting in the UK
Fancy a flutter on a sports game, match, or tournament from the comfort of your own home (or wherever else you happen to be)?
You’re in luck - online sports betting in the UK is perfectly legal (unlike some other nations). In fact, the UK has the safest and widest range of regulated online sports betting providers in the world.
In this guide, we’ll look at what online sports betting is, how it is regulated in the UK, and how to go about finding a good online sports betting site, set up an account, and start placing bets.
In the United Kingdom, online sports betting is legal, as long as online bookmakers follow the regulations set out by the government and the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
The UKGC makes sure that online gambling, including sports betting, is safe and secure for UK punters and is free of criminal involvement. In fact, it’s generally considered that the UK is one of the safest places in the world to gamble, whether in real life or online.
In 2014 the Gambling Licensing and Advertising Act came into force. As a result, the UKGC ensures that online sports betting companies stick to the rules regarding customer fund protection, fairness, and security, by applying a strict licensing system.
Online sports betting companies need to prove that they comply with all the regulations and guidance before they are issued with a license to offer their services to UK customers.
Due to the rigorous regulations and licensing, it is just as safe to bet on sports online in the UK as it is to use a high street betting shop or bookmaker.
Why Should You Trust Our Betting Advice?
BettingGuide consists of betting experts from all over the world, operating across several different markets, such as Ireland, Japan, and Canada. We pride ourselves on providing readers with quality content, both up-to-date and accurate, to guide them towards the best betting experience possible.
Having been in the industry for a long time, we know the ins and outs of the betting industry, shedding light on everything that might not be obvious to the average punter. Since the UK betting scene is regulated, it can paradoxically be even tougher to identify when a site acts in poor faith, as most look proper at face value.
In short, your security is our top priority and that is always factored in when we review bookmakers, betting apps, welcome offers and more. If you would like to read more about how we go about reviewing betting products, we have an additional page dedicated to exactly that.
How to Open an Online Betting Account in the UK
Follow our simple step-by-step guide for creating a betting account from the UK:
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Choose a Betting Site
First things first, you need to choose a betting site and there are plenty of good options in the UK.
The easiest way to find these is by browsing our page dedicated to the best UK bookmakers. Tap on the 'Bet Now!' button for the bookie that appeals to you the most, and this will bring you to the registration.
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Complete the Registration Form
Every betting site has a registration form that you must fill out, providing details such as your full name, date of birth, telephone number and more. As you can see in the image below, we picked Lottoland, and the registration is very straightforward.
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Verify Your Account and Identity
The betting site will use the details provided during the registration to confirm your identity automatically.
However, in some cases, additional documentation will be needed and it's important to provide this as soon as possible.
Failing to verify your identity could result in suspension, or issues withdrawing winnings.
You will usually need to upload one copy of the front and back of either your:
- National ID or Passport.
- National Driving License.
- Proof of Address (a utility bill or bank statement).
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Make Your First Deposit
Once the account and identity have been verified, you can make your first deposit and start betting. The minimum deposit amount is usually set at £10, but some betting sites accept deposits as low as £1. Popular payment methods include debit card, PayPal and Apple Pay, but keep in mind that you must use the same method for withdrawal.
It's possible to withdraw to another method, but you will first have to withdraw at least the deposit amount to the same method. This is due to money laundering regulations, and betting sites strictly follow these, as breaches result in heavy fines.
Responsible Gambling in the UK
As per the regulations, betting sites have a certain responsibility against their customers when it comes to safe and responsible gambling. Several practices have been put into place in recent years to avoid gambling addiction, with new customers now urged to set deposit limits, spending limits and more on almost all betting sites.
These tools, which also include reality checks and time-outs, can go a long way in ensuring that gambling remains a fun and safe activity. However, that won't always be the case and that is why punters also have the option to 'self-exclude' from a betting site.
If you would like to read more about responsible betting in the UK, we have put together a guide on how to stay in control of your betting and thus preserve it as a fun activity.
Should You Claim a Welcome Offer?
Yes, is the short answer. However, you should always double-check the terms and conditions before claiming a welcome offer. This is because some betting sites may be inclined to omit some details from the flashy promotional banner, referring to the T&Cs with the hopes that few punters will actually read it.
To combat any mishaps, we have put together a page of our favourite welcome offers where the details of the sign-up deals are made clear. Having said that, most of them are very good and should be claimed by new punters since it's essentially 'free' money if you intend to place a bet with the bookie anyway.
Welcome Offers by Category in the UK
Frequently Asked Questions
Is online betting legal in the UK?
Are online betting sites safe?
Steven is responsible for all content on BettingGuide UK. He is an experienced iGaming content writer working in the industry since 2018. If you have any questions regarding online gambling in the UK, don't hesitate to contact him.
