Millions of people around the world enjoy sports betting so much that they spend billions of pounds playing annually. Not only is it a lot of fun, but there’s also a possibility to win money. The same could be said about practically all gambling activities, but few are as well-liked as sports betting. This is particularly true online, where the best gambling sites accept daily sports wagers totaling millions of dollars. Why is there so much interest in sports betting? It’s challenging to be certain without polling every sports bettor in the globe. Nevertheless, after taking into account what we know about sports betting, we think that there are really just two fundamental causes.

The first is just the huge popularity of sports in general. Of course, not everyone enjoys sports, but there sure are a lot of people who do. For many of them, placing bets on the sporting events they like to watch is merely a logical next step. The ease of use of sports betting is the second key factor. Even with a small amount of prior knowledge, you can start making bets and still stand a chance of winning money, especially when doing so on sports that you are actually knowledgeable about.

There are many bookmakers in 2024 that offer the best football betting odds, exciting online casino bonuses, and other sports betting where you can get £40 in free bets whether as new customers or existing ones on the betting site.

What does a bookmaker do?

When it comes to sports betting, knowing the functions of bookmakers is not very important, however, knowing their functions still helps when choosing a bookmaker to bet with, so let’s take a look at the roles and duties of bookmakers

The sports betting market has expanded dramatically over time. The current value of the global sports betting market is estimated to be around $3 trillion. That amount is not too difficult to understand  because the legal and regulated market is worth billions of dollars on its own.

Regardless of the figures, it is obvious that the sports betting market is huge There are tens of thousands of betting sites worldwide. Some of these businesses are modest in size and only accept bets from a few individual consumers. However, some of them are big businesses that serve millions of clients globally. Regardless of the size of the business, a bookmaker’s job is essentially the same.

Actually, there aren’t many differences between the functions of today’s bookies and those of the very first ones. The internet has contributed to the biggest transformation. Today, a large number of bookies maintain online betting platforms where their clients can place bets without ever speaking to a human. But the fundamentals remain very identical. Online bookies continue to offer odds on the numerous possible outcomes of sporting events and maintain open betting markets. They continue to accept bets from their new 18 clients and pay the winners. Just a few extra things are required of them at this point.

A bookmaker is a business that takes bets at predetermined odds on novelty markets including politics and TV specials as well as sporting events like football betting. The variety of sporting events varies depending on where the bookmaker is located. The odds are calculated with a profit margin built in for the operator. The goal is to place a variety of bets at various odds in order to ensure a profit regardless of how the event turns out. The price of providing this service is the profit margin.

The best betting sites accept wagers on a variety of outcomes that correspond to the odds. A betting market is fluid because the odds are changed in accordance with the amount of money being wagered on each option. When the risk exceeds the acceptable amount of exposure, bookmakers disperse the risk by laying off bets. They focus on the balance of stakes and payment instead of trying to profit from the bets. In regulated nations like the United Kingdom, bookmaking is permitted.

Millions of sports bettors worldwide now prefer using online bookmakers above all others. This is due to the fact that they are not only the simplest and most practical choice, but also that they are safe to use. It’s easy to place bets online, and you can do it from the comfort of your home.

With so many bookmakers and sports betting sites online today, it is very difficult to “sort the wheat from the chaff”.

When surveying punters, one of the key questions we got repeatedly was who is the best UK bookmaker? Which bookmaker can we trust? Which betting sites around the world offer the best bonuses? Which bookmaker has the best odds and welcome bonus for new players?

There are many top betting site regulated by the UK gambling commission that offers a wide range of sports betting, free bets on selected events, free bets valid for 7 days for new UK-ire customers. You get free bets and £10 bonus from some betting sites that offers online sportsbook. Bonuses are usually valid for only 7 days from your new account being opened.

Here at Bookmaker Advisor, we are always want to find the best value and  opportunities for punters and analyzing various bookmakers. We now have nearly 50 online bookmakers in our review sections and we also have an in depth analysis of each bookmakers bonus offer.

If you look at the UK market then you will always see the top companies to the fore when it comes to self promotion. Companies like Bet365, Ladbrokes, Corals (last 2 now teamed up) William Hill and also the king of bookmaker TV ads…Paddy Power.

These of course are the companies everybody knows and trusts, but what about some of the unheard of companies that also have very solid reputations, companies like: Genting Bet, Mr Green, Racebets, SMARKETS and BetEast.

On Bookmaker Advisor we do all the research so you can find these companies and make a sound decision if they fit with your own betting strategy.

Make sure to check out our individual bookmaker reviews for in depth information about each one. Also check out our individual bonus bet reviews for every UK betting site.

Best betting sites by category

All bookmakers have some type of sign up offer to entice new customers online to join and bet with them. This is great, because if you are smart it can really pay off. New members can get £40 in free bets or other mouthwatering bonuses like 4x £5 free bets, 3x £10 free bets, £30 in free bets, on online casino, horse racing betting when they open a new online betting account. Free bet stakes not included in some betting shops are available in betting apps for new UK customers

New UK customers are eligible for new customers offers across different range of sports like online casino or eSports betting in the UK betting industry.  £30 in free bets are also available on betting apps on new betting site but free bet expire at a time frame and bets must be placed with before their expiry.

If you’re looking for a new online bookmaker with great betting options, exciting bet offers, free bet offer, and with the best odds guaranteed, we’ve got you covered. At Bookmaker Advisor we have taken a lot of time to research these bonuses right down the finest detail. We have looked at the terms and conditions, and let us tell you, not all bonus offers are what they seem. They may look attractive but many have very strict rules as to how long the bonus is available for, what is the minimum odds you must bet at with your bonus, how many times you have to play through your deposit before you can make any withdrawal of funds.

Show Top Bonuses

As the sports industry keeps booming, so also does the sports gambling industry boom. This has prompted the proliferation betting sites, some genuine while others just there to rip off customers that bet on sports. The best online betting sites offers new and existing customers the best odds across a wide range of sports betting options.

The best online bookmakers also offer new players and existing customers on their betting site £30 in free bets. The free bets expire and bet must be placed within 7 days of the new account being registered. Bets are paid as bet are won and free bets are paid with the winnings as well.

The increasing number of fraudulent  betting companies across a range of betting markets has prompted us to be more discerning when recommending the best betting sites in the UK.

Here are some of the criteria we use to select the best.

Reputation

When selecting a bookmaker, the company’s reputation tops our considerations. The best betting sites with solid reputation for excellence rarely victimize old or new customers.

As business organizations, all the bookies dish out promises, pledging to serve customers as expected. But not all of them faithfully keep their word; some even go so far as to block players’ accounts or delay winning payments unfairly.

To keep you on the safe side, we extensively vet the bookmaker, checking out their reviews on credible gambling forums and platforms like Google Play Store or iOS App Store.

How we vet online sports best betting site ?

Of course, we know these ratings aren’t always objective because some of them are purposefully exaggerated to benefit particular bookies that operate in the UK.

Therefore, we still go on to bet with the designated UK betting site ourselves to have a firsthand experience of their service quality.

Web Design and Responsiveness

The website design of your selected bookmaker directly affects your experience with that bookmaker. As a result, we prioritize bookmakers with websites that are easy to understand and navigate. The best betting sites usually have user-friendly interface for seamless navigation.

In addition, the colours should not be distracting, while words and figures should be legible enough without any unwanted interference.

Besides design, we also keenly investigate the website’s responsiveness. This is because you won’t enjoy your experience if it takes time for your selection to load, for example, during live games.

Promotions and Bonuses Offered

Every reputable bookmaker in the UK offers bonuses and promotional offers to keep their existing and new UK+ire customers engaged. This explains why we are relentlessly investigating the best bookmaker bonuses to share with you. 

Most of our recommended bookmakers offer welcome bonuses such as the No deposit bonus or First Deposit bonus to minimize or eliminate your risk of potential losses.

We also love sharing the best betting sites that have the most rewarding loyalty programs with you.

However, while all these bonuses are pleasant, there are always underlying conditions to each of them. So, do well to go through the terms and conditions of every bonus you opt for.

Customer Support

We don’t want you to labor needlessly with a bookmaker who doesn’t value your customer experience.

Therefore, the bookmakers on our website have been extensively scrutinized and found to have top-notch customer service.

The bulk of them offers fast, 24/7 customer service with multiple contact channels. That said, before settling for a bookmaker, we encourage you to further read reviews about their customer support service to determine which of them best responds to issues.

Betting Odds and Margins

We understand the bettor’s profitability is closely dependent on the quality of odds available on the betting site existing and new customers.

Therefore, we go all the way to only share bookmakers with the most competitive odds and betting conditions for old and new customers in 2024.

Over the years, we have established a reputation for providing top-of-the-class odds comparisons in different sports markets.

Similarly, we are always on the lookout for bookmakers offering low margins. This is because the lower the margins, the higher the odds, thereby maximizing your chances for more profits.

Take time to search online for new betting sites offering margin and odds comparisons to enable you to settle for the best.

What types of sports do we cover?

Online sports betting is rapidly expanding, with a broadening range of games to bet on.

We have been working hard with betting experts to stay in tune with the evolution, providing betting opportunities on some of the most popular betting markets.

On our website, you can find online betting information on the following popular sports.

Football

The UK arguably has the best football league in the world, so it’s no surprise that football comes in as the first on the list.

Thanks to the various football clubs at different levels and years of surging fanbases, the bookmakers can boast of a sizable betting population with an interest in football.

Aside from the love for the sports, football betting sites also offers a wide range of markets with competitive odds betting, enough to lure punters to its side. We make sure to provide you the most competitive football odds.

Tennis

Tennis events are major sporting attractions in the UK. Be it the US Open, Australia Open, or others, there is always a massive population of sports loving team fans.

The live betting possibilities of tennis (including table tennis) make it attractive to punters as they can easily make predictions based on live gameplay and make some quick money.

Horse Racing

Though most UK punters have switched to football and tennis, and NFL betting as their favourites, horse racing bettting was once at the top of the list.

Nevertheless, the market is still sizable, as horse racing events like the Epsom Derby, the Grand National, and the Royal Ascot still attract sizable bets.

Horse racing bettors still make a lot of money from it, thanks to the great odds and the different markets available.

How to bet online? Via in-play betting, bettors can wager on featured sports markets as the game is being played. In addition, in play betting allows bettors to profit from price volatility caused by happenings in the gameplay.

Unlike pre-match betting, in-play betting allows bettors to follow the game live and make their wagers based on what they see happening therein.

We provide real-time updates on the most exciting in-play betting opportunities in some of the world’s biggest sports book betting events.

We have a robust technological stack that scrapes the online betting site of the world’s best bookies. Consequently, we offer you the most attractive in-play bets in real-time.

We want you to enjoy the fairest and most profitable betting environment. Our decades in online sports betting have taught us licensed bookies give you the best shot at such credibility.

With licensed bookmakers, you can be sure of transparent terms and conditions.

All bookmakers have T&Cs, but with a licensed operator, these terms and conditions are thoroughly reviewed by gaming regulation authorities.

These authorities ensure that bookmakers stick to their provided conditions, thus protecting bettors from being scammed.

And in situations where gamblers are defrauded, they can always report the defaulting bookmaker to the authorities, which will investigate and release sanctions.

Also, with these licensed bookmakers, you can rest easy that you’ll receive every bit of your winnings, unlike with fake bookies.

Another reason why we tend to stick with verified bookies in our recommendation is customer support.

Whenever you encounter issues while betting, withdrawing, or depositing, you can always turn to the customer care services that legal bookmakers make available to bettors needing help.

Yes, regulation is the hallmark of a bookmaker’s credibility. But not all licenses carry the same weight.

We tend to recommend bookmakers who have licenses from the strictest regulators. These bodies are unforgivably scrupulous when auditing bookmakers.

Below are some of the regulatory authorities whose licenses we respect most. Bookmakers with these licenses get higher ratings from us.

Europe

• UK Gambling Commission
• Spanish Gaming Commission (Spain)
• ARJEL (France)

Australia

• ACT Gambling and Racing Commission
• Vanuatu Customs and Inland Revenue
• Northern Territory Director-General of Licensing

Asia

• PAGCOR and FCLRC (Phillipies)

Americas, North and Central

• Panama Gaming Control Board
• New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
• Nevada Gaming Control Board

Yes, we know you love bonus money. But not every bonus is worth it. We don’t cut corners when investigating the viability of a bookmaker’s betting bonus.

Here are some of the criteria we inspect before recommending a bookmaker’s bonus.

The Rules of the Bonus

You might not have the time to carefully read through all the written-down user agreements before signing up for a casino offer, but we do.

We go through all these rigors before recommending a bonus for you to save you complications down the line. We study the nitty gritty of the bonus rules, including details to ensure there are no scam baits.

Wagering Limits and Requirements

Another key detail we note when vetting betting bonuses is the wagering requirements and limits attached.

We strive to recommend only bonuses with fair and achievable wagering requirements. For us, it is no use jumping in on a $10k bonus when the rollover requirements can’t be realistically fulfillled.

We understand your online betting experience is significantly influenced by the ease at which you pay in and withdraw money.

Therefore, we ensure our recommended bookmakers leverage the most fluid and reliable banking platforms.

Below are some of the most reputed banking methods our bookies offer.

PayPal

Paypal is one of the grand patrons of online payment. The platform is an accepted form of payment on most online betting platforms and is renowned for its swift withdrawal times and outstanding acceptance rates.

Unlike many e-wallets, transactions are free, which is an advantage.

Debit and Credit Cards

The most common payment options for sports bettors are credit and debit cards. The majority of our bookies accept MasterCard and Visa.

Credit and debit cards are renowned for their reliability, speed, and security. It’s difficult to argue with their convenience because they have been around for a very long time.

There are no outside parties involved. Although most casinos do not accept debit or credit cards, the largest sportsbooks do.

Skrill

With Skrill, creating an account is free and just takes a few minutes. Once completed, this is identical to the other items on this list and offers a variety of advantages.

Several factors make Skrill one of the finest payment options for sports betting, including no fees to be concerned about here unless you’re doing currency conversions, and the withdrawal and deposit limits are fairly high. You can also receive your withdrawals in no time.

Today’s bettors are increasingly leaning towards mobile betting. Therefore, before we recommend a bookmaker, we go the distance to ensure they give you a top-of-the-class mobile betting experience.c

Below are some of the reasons why you may want to try out the bookmakers ranked best in our mobile betting category.

Convenience

Your smartphone is your gateway to accessing your preferred online betting sites, saving you the trouble of bringing your laptop or stopping by a brick-and-mortar sportsbook to place a wager.

Our bookies ensure betting on your phone comes with zero hassles and maximal fluidity.

Bonuses, free bets

While bonuses and promotions are available on both desktop and mobile betting platforms, mobile users can access additional offers typically reserved for sports betting app users.

The sportsbooks we recommend have some of the most attractive bonuses, even for mobile users.

Live Betting

Do you prefer betting on events like races and games as they happen?

The leading mobile betting applications offered by the top bookmakers on the market come with a live betting feature with which you can wager on live sports and pre-match activities. 

Easy Deposit and Withdrawal

We keenly inspect the mobile apps and website versions of the bookmakers on our sites to see how easily you can deposit and withdraw with them.

Addictive gambling is on the rise, and on this site, we are committed to healthily reversing it.

Here is why we only recommend bookmakers who advocate responsible gambling. Responsible gambling involves betting in a way that doesn’t expose you to the detrimental effects of sports betting.

The bookmakers we recommend here are at the forefront of introducing responsible gambling tools like time-out sessions, deposit limits, and self-exclusion.

Some of them have dedicated infrastructure for rehabilitating compulsive gamblers. This way, you can be sure our bookies care about your mental health while giving you incredible betting opportunities.

Understanding odds and how they work is vital if you want to start betting. Bookmakers use Odds to inform you of the risk level and estimate your potential payout.

The three most common types of odds you will see from bookmakers on our online betting site are British/Frictional, European/Decimal, and American/Money Line Odds. How do they work?

American or Money Lines odds are those types that a minus (-) and (+) sign behind whole numbers. The minus sign is placed before the favourites to let you know the amount you need to wager to win £100. 

On the other hand, the positive is telling you the amount you’ll win for every £100 you stake.

Bookmakers represent British or fractional odds using a hyphen.

A fractional odds of 5/1 means you’ll win £5 for every £1 you stake. On the other hand, a fractional odds of 5/1 will mean that you’ll see a £1 payout for every £5 that you stake.

These payouts will include your betting total, meaning you’ll win £6 if you stake £1 in the first example and £6 if you wager £5 in the second example.

European/Decimal odds show you your potential winnings directly in a decimal format. A decimal odds of 4.00 on a bet of £100 will give you £400, while 1.3 odds on a £100 bet will give you £130. All you have to do is multiply the amount you wagered by the odds.

An accumulator is when a punter places “multiple bets in one” to enhance the odds and make the winning total more weighty. You select your desired bets, predict their outcome, and wait for the results.

An accumulator is only a win if all the individual bets you placed in it win. Therefore, the accumulator is void if just one of the individual bets comes out as a loss.

As you can see, there is more risk to winning an accumulator than a singular bet, and understandably, there’s more payout.

Accumulators are used across all types of betting but are common in football, horse racing, and table tennis. Most bookmakers won’t allow you to combine multiple sports in an accumulator.

Also, most don’t allow entries from different sports in one account.

Accumulators can be from two to 20 bets, although terms can change depending on the bookmaker.

In the UK online betting market, fixed odds are one of the most popular forms of betting. Fixed odds is a bet that shows you the amount you can potentially win at the time of placing the wager. No level of odds fluctuations can affect the outcome of a fixed bet, for example on NBA betting, snooker betting or even cricket betting in the UK betting scene.

You’re wagering against the odds, as presented by a bookmaker. If you win, the bookmaker will pay your winnings plus the amount you staked. However, you only lose the amount you wagered if you lose.

Top UK bookmakers display fixed bet odds in a fractional format and use the number to represent the chances of your bet happening. 

For instance, if you bet a horse to win at odds of 5/1, there is a 1 in 5 possibility it will happen. As verified UK clients, it is essential to conduct adequate research on that particular game or event before placing a fixed odd to help make better decisions.

When it comes to sports betting, knowing the functions of bookmakers is not very important, however, knowing their functions still helps when choosing a bookmaker to bet with, so let’s take a look at the roles and duties of bookmakers

The sports betting market has expanded dramatically over time. The current value of the global sports betting market is estimated to be around $3 trillion. That amount is not too difficult to understand  because the legal and regulated market is worth billions of dollars on its own.

Regardless of the figures, it is obvious that the sports betting market is huge There are tens of thousands of betting sites worldwide. Some of these businesses are modest in size and only accept bets from a few individual consumers. However, some of them are big businesses that serve millions of clients globally. Regardless of the size of the business, a bookmaker’s job is essentially the same.

Actually, there aren’t many differences between the functions of today’s bookies and those of the very first ones. The internet has contributed to the biggest transformation. Today, a large number of bookies maintain online betting platforms where their clients can place bets without ever speaking to a human. But the fundamentals remain very identical. Online bookies continue to offer odds on the numerous possible outcomes of sporting events and maintain open betting markets. They continue to accept bets from their new 18 clients and pay the winners. Just a few extra things are required of them at this point.

A bookmaker is a business that takes bets at predetermined odds on novelty markets including politics and TV specials as well as sporting events like football betting. The variety of sporting events varies depending on where the bookmaker is located. The odds are calculated with a profit margin built in for the operator. The goal is to place a variety of bets at various odds in order to ensure a profit regardless of how the event turns out. The price of providing this service is the profit margin.

The best betting sites accept wagers on a variety of outcomes that correspond to the odds. A betting market is fluid because the odds are changed in accordance with the amount of money being wagered on each option. When the risk exceeds the acceptable amount of exposure, bookmakers disperse the risk by laying off bets. They focus on the balance of stakes and payment instead of trying to profit from the bets. In regulated nations like the United Kingdom, bookmaking is permitted.

Millions of sports bettors worldwide now prefer using online bookmakers above all others. This is due to the fact that they are not only the simplest and most practical choice, but also that they are safe to use. It’s easy to place bets online, and you can do it from the comfort of your home.

Since the turn of the century, the bookmaking scene has transformed. Traditionally, bookmaking in the UK took place over the phone, at racetracks, or with cash in authorised betting offices. The bookmaking industry has changed as a result of the internet, but customers, or bettors, still have a variety of options to place wagers. There are currently three different sorts of bookmakers, and the majority of business is done online:

Fixed Odds Bookmakers

To establish a betting market, a fixed odds bookmaker gives a range of prices (the odds) in fractions for both old and new customers. For instance, the ‘bookie’ provides odds on the three possible outcomes of a football game, usually after 90 minutes. Away Win, Draw, and Home Win are the three possibilities. The house advantage or profit margin is pre-built into the odds. Because the components add up to more than 100%, this book is referred to as being overrounded. The odds were set by the bookmaker with a 6.96% potential profit margin. The practise of bookmaking involves placing wagers on each possibility that account for chance and yield a profit. 

Spread Bookmakers

The increased popularity of the internet and spread betting occurred at the same time. Trading in currencies and financial instruments in the City of London gave rise to sport spread betting businesses. The bettor or trader wagers on the outcome being higher or lower than the spread, which is set by the bookmaker. Spread bets are expressed as a difference between two numbers, and traders buy at the larger number and sell at the lower one. For instance, the spread for goals scored in a football game might be 3.1-3.3. If a bettor believes there will be more goals than 3.3, they should purchase at 3.3, while if they believe there will be less goals than 3.1, they should sell at 3.1. The differential between the investment and payment is how the spread betting bookmaker makes money. Based on the balance between purchase and sell stakes, markets fluctuate. 

Exchange Bookmakers

At the turn of the century, exchange betting made its debut in the betting world. One of the original operators was Betfair, which today rules the market. Peer-to-peer betting is supported by the infrastructure of betting exchanges. They combine backers who want to wager on the outcome with layers who want to wager on the outcome not occurring. Bets are matched entirely, partially, or not at all at a price that benefits both parties. The probabilities of an exchange are given in decimals. For each outcome of an event, exchange bookmakers publish a back price and a lay price. Always, the back price is less than the lay price. Exchange bookies make money by taking a commission on winning wagers rather than from the outcome of bets. The company plan ensures a profit no matter what happens.