Best Betting Sites for New Customers

Once a bet has been settled (the event has finished), winning funds are returned to the players betting account, with the potential to withdraw winnings, if they wish to. Players can withdraw winnings to their relevant payment method, although most bookmakers require a minimum of £5 to be withdrawn, due to processing costs. Verifying a betting account can be a frustrating process, but ultimately is one that protects both the user and the bookmaker. To verify your account, users can usually upload an image of a passport or driving license, while other items such as bank statements or utility bills can also be used, depending on the information required. This whole process is generally known as Know Your Customer (KYC). The verification process actually begins on sign-up, with personal details such as age and address able to be verified via the electoral register, although if these details are unavailable, then a request for further information may be requested straight away. Further verification helps bookmakers identify problem gamblers, who have self-excluded and checks for potential fraudulent behaviour too. Most betting sites’ verification processes are straightforward.

What free bets and bonuses are available to existing customers?

The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. If you click links to other sites on this page, we will earn commission. There are no shortage of betting sites in the UK, but deciding which is the best online bookmaker can be tricky, given the turnover in operators and regular changes to betting offers. The Independent has made it easier to find a betting site by evaluating over 50 licensed and regulated bookmakers, including established brands and new bookies. We’ve now come up with a list of the top 20 bookmakers in the UK for 2026, with each betting site tested personally and our rankings updated regularly.

11. Tote

We closely monitor UK betting sites and update our rankings accordingly. Below, we’ve also provided detailed reviews of each of our picks, with our ratings re-evaluated regularly. Betfred is among the best UK betting sites for free bets, with the generous Betfred welcome offer and a range of ongoing promotions providing free bet bonuses for both new and existing customers. New users can claim £50 in free bets when they deposit and stake £10 and place a wager at evens or above, with tokens credited shortly after the qualifying stake settles. Beyond the welcome offer, Betfred runs regular promos including money back specials, in-play free bets, accumulator offers and free to play games featuring a range of prizes.

Casino Games

Other plus points for Betfred include the app, which is one of the highest-rated betting apps in the UK, and a fast-responding customer service that answered our queries quickly. It was disappointing to see Betfred reduce the payment options available, dropping services like PayPal and Skrill, although they do offer fast withdrawals on the banking platforms that remain. ✓ £50 free bets for new customers is a valuable welcome offer ✓ Raft of ongoing free bet offers for existing users ✗ The website could be more intuitive and easier to navigate Spread betting is a gambling niche that rewards bettors for how accurate their wagers are, rather than a simple win-or-loss scenario. SpreadEx are the UK’s top spread betting site, packaging that with a financial spread betting service and a fixed-odds sportsbook. Spread betting carries a greater risk and reward element compared to a standard bet, with punters able to secure large profits from small stakes, or greater losses, depending on the outcome. Using Ladbrokes as an example, players simply: Betting sites can restrict accounts for many different reasons. These can include a lack of or wrong verification details, suspicious/fraudulant activity, bonus abuse, large betting on niche sports, unusual betting patterns, and more. For the majority of players, the likelihood of having your account restricted is likely because the documents uploaded for verification were not correct or inconclusive. If this is the case, it is easy to contact the bookmakers’ customer service team via web chat to address the problem and remove the restrictions. Bookies Bonuses only lists betting sites that are licensed for betting operations. This license is given by the relevant national gambling authority of the country in question. In the UK, all betting sites have to be licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and adhere to strict policy rules that can be changed by or on behalf of the UK Government. If a betting site is not listed here, then chances are that it is not currently licensed for UK players. Many bookmakers are available outside of the UK and they do allow users to access them, however, it is not advised to do so, as they are not regulated by the UK Gambling Commission and thus any legal protections UK players should have, will not be available.

Sign Up and Start Playing

Once a bet has been settled (the event has finished), winning funds are returned to the players betting account, with the potential to withdraw winnings, if they wish to. Players can withdraw winnings to their relevant payment method, although most bookmakers require a minimum of £5 to be withdrawn, due to processing costs. Verifying a betting account can be a frustrating process, but ultimately is one that protects both the user and the bookmaker. To verify your account, users can usually upload an image of a passport or driving license, while other items such as bank statements or utility bills can also be used, depending on the information required. This whole process is generally known as Know Your Customer (KYC).

Live Betting

The verification process actually begins on sign-up, with personal details such as age and address able to be verified via the electoral register, although if these details are unavailable, then a request for further information may be requested straight away. Further verification helps bookmakers identify problem gamblers, who have self-excluded and checks for potential fraudulent behaviour too. Most betting sites’ verification processes are straightforward. Using Ladbrokes as an example, players simply: Betting sites can restrict accounts for many different reasons. These can include a lack of or wrong verification details, suspicious/fraudulant activity, bonus abuse, large betting on niche sports, unusual betting patterns, and more.

3. Easybet

For the majority of players, the likelihood of having your account restricted is likely because the documents uploaded for verification were not correct or inconclusive. If this is the case, it is easy to contact the bookmakers’ customer service team via web chat to address the problem and remove the restrictions. Bookies Bonuses only lists betting sites that are licensed for betting operations. This license is given by the relevant national gambling authority of the country in question. In the UK, all betting sites have to be licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and adhere to strict policy rules that can be changed by or on behalf of the UK Government. That's why Bookies Bonuses only list betting sites available in the UK, with all sites adhering to the strict rules and regulations set by the UK Gambling Commission. If you are one of the many visitors to Bookies Bonuses that reside outside of the UK, check out our nation-specific pages below detailing all the betting sites available to you in your country of residence, along with helpful information to get the best out of your betting experience, no matter where you are in the world. In a competitive industry, almost all bookmakers, except for No Bonus Casino, offer players an immediate incentive to join their site. This can be in the form of free bets, enhanced odds, or money back on losses, dependent on the site in question.

Great Value Free Bet Offers in 2026

To verify your account, users can usually upload an image of a passport or driving license, while other items such as bank statements or utility bills can also be used, depending on the information required. This whole process is generally known as Know Your Customer (KYC). The verification process actually begins on sign-up, with personal details such as age and address able to be verified via the electoral register, although if these details are unavailable, then a request for further information may be requested straight away. Further verification helps bookmakers identify problem gamblers, who have self-excluded and checks for potential fraudulent behaviour too. Most betting sites’ verification processes are straightforward. These welcome bonuses are based on the player meeting specific wagering criteria, which can include amounts deposited and wagered, plus how many times a bonus has been wagered, which is also known as turnover, with some bookmakers asking users to bet their bonus funds several times over before being able to be withdrawn as regular funds. Betting sites with the best welcome bonuses include: The Online Casino - Bet £10 Get £30 For a full list of all our top welcome bonuses, check out our Betting Offers page for a complete rundown of the latest available sign-up bonuses. For players looking to bet on football, QuinnBet is the best betting site for promotions. QuinnBet has around nine different promotions across football betting markets, along with enhanced pricing and specials too. Alternatively, if a player is more orientated towards horse racing, then Betfair is recommended, thanks to its plethora of racing promotions, great odds available on the exchange, and overall strong service. And finally, if you are looking for free bets, then we recommend Sky Bet, which offers its Sky Bet Club that provides players with a free bet each week if certain criteria are met. This is a great option for bettors of sports in general, with the various ways of qualifying for free bets. Overall, deciding which betting site offers the best promotions, can be based on several factors, including the sport a player is most likely to bet upon, as well as what type of bonus they are looking for. No, accounts are only allowed to claim a new sign-up offer once from the same site, meaning that you cannot sign-up for a betting offer at say Paddy Power and then go and claim a casino offer from them afterwards. Many bookmakers will restrict addresses to one single account, which in turn makes it more difficult to get around this. This is classed as bonus abuse and is against a bookmaker's T&Cs. Players who try to circumvent this by opening another account would not be allowed to, as they already have an account, while anyone potentially giving false details would also be in breach of T&Cs and would therefore be caught almost immediately. There are many reasons for not qualifying for a sign-up offer.

• No wagering free bets from providers like Betfred and Paddy Power
• Acca insurance offers which refund your stake as a free bet if one leg loses
• Price boost promotions on selected events and markets
• Early payout offers on certain football or horse racing markets
• Extra place offers each-way on major golf and horse racing tournaments

This can range from the minimum odds, deposit, or wagering amount not being met, to a player using a deposit method that is excluded from qualifying for the bonus, such as e-wallets.

Casino	Bonus Type	Bonus Amount	Game Contribution
Betfair Casino	Deposit Match	100% up to £100	Slots: 100%
LeoVegas	Free Spins + Match	100% + 20 Spins	Slots: 100%
888 Casino	No Deposit	£88 Free Play	Various: 100%
Mr Green	Deposit Match	100% up to £100	Slots: 100%
Casumo	Deposit Match	200% up to £50	Slots: 100%

Other common reasons for not getting a betting site sign-up offer include not 'opting in', trying to claim a restricted bonus from a bookmakers' sister site, or not using an official link when a sign-up offer is only available for players coming from affiliate sites like Bookies Bonuses (eg. the Rhino Bet bet latest bookmaker offers sign-up offer is only available to players who click on a button from Bookies Bonuses). When signing up for a welcome bonus, it is imperative that a player reads the T&Cs on how to qualify, with small important details easily missed and causing a player to fail to qualify for the bonus. Bookies Bonuses is a website dedicated to finding the best possible value in bookmakers and providing it, in the most accessible format, to players in the UK and other territories. We are an independent entity, which means our writers can give an honest representation of the experience at each bookmaker, both good and bad, along with pointing you the reader, in the right direction based on your particular needs or interests. So, whether you are looking for the latest betting promotions, the best football betting sites, embracing esport betting, or looking to find out which betting sites support Apple Pay, we strive to give you, the reader, an honest, frank, and informative answer. You can read more about us here. Bookie Bonuses takes many factors into account when assessing a bookmaker website, including the type of welcome bonus that is on offer, sports and market features, the user experience, ongoing promotions, and the mobile experience among many others. We try to stick to a review formula that aids comparison, while also allowing free rein to include other interesting or pertinent features. Our pages and reviews are constantly monitored by the team here at Bookies Bonuses to make sure that the information is as up-to-date as possible at all times. The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers.

Multiple betting accounts

SpreadEx educates those interested in spread betting on a platform that performs brilliantly on both desktop and mobile. And for those not interested in spread betting, the fixed-odds sportsbook is excellent. Once a bet has been settled (the event has finished), winning funds are returned to the players betting account, with the potential to withdraw winnings, if they wish to. Players can withdraw winnings to their relevant payment method, although most bookmakers require a minimum of £5 to be withdrawn, due to processing costs. Verifying a betting account can be a frustrating process, but ultimately is one that protects both the user and the bookmaker. If you click links to other sites on this page, we will earn commission. There are no shortage of betting sites in the UK, but deciding which is the best online bookmaker can be tricky, given the turnover in operators and regular changes to betting offers. The Independent has made it easier to find a betting site by evaluating over 50 licensed and regulated bookmakers, including established brands and new bookies. We’ve now come up with a list of the top 20 bookmakers in the UK for 2026, with each betting site tested personally and our rankings updated regularly.

Betfred Insights

If a betting site is not listed here, then chances are that it is not currently licensed for UK players. Many bookmakers are available outside of the UK and they do allow users to access them, however, it is not advised to do so, as they are not regulated by the UK Gambling Commission and thus any legal protections UK players should have, will not be available. That's why Bookies Bonuses only list betting sites available in the UK, with all sites adhering to the strict rules and regulations set by the UK Gambling Commission. If you are one of the many visitors to Bookies Bonuses that reside outside of the UK, check out our nation-specific pages below detailing all the betting sites available to you in your country of residence, along with helpful information to get the best out of your betting experience, no matter where you are in the world. In a competitive industry, almost all bookmakers, except for No Bonus Casino, offer players an immediate incentive to join their site.

BoyleSports: Bet £10 Get £40 in free bets

This can be in the form of free bets, enhanced odds, or money back on losses, dependent on the site in question. These welcome bonuses are based on the player meeting specific wagering criteria, which can include amounts deposited and wagered, plus how many times a bonus has been wagered, which is also known as turnover, with some bookmakers asking users to bet their bonus funds several times over before being able to be withdrawn as regular funds. Betting sites with the best welcome bonuses include: The Online Casino - Bet £10 Get £30 For a full list of all our top welcome bonuses, check out our Betting Offers page for a complete rundown of the latest available sign-up bonuses. For players looking to bet on football, QuinnBet is the best betting site for promotions. QuinnBet has around nine different promotions across football betting markets, along with enhanced pricing and specials too.

Fast Withdrawals

Alternatively, if a player is more orientated towards horse racing, then Betfair is recommended, thanks to its plethora of racing promotions, great odds available on the exchange, and overall strong service. And finally, if you are looking for free bets, then we recommend Sky Bet, which offers its Sky Bet Club that provides players with a free bet each week if certain criteria are met. This is a great option for bettors of sports in general, with the various ways of qualifying for free bets. Overall, deciding which betting site offers the best promotions, can be based on several factors, including the sport a player is most likely to bet upon, as well as what type of bonus they are looking for. No, accounts are only allowed to claim a new sign-up offer once from the same site, meaning that you cannot sign-up for a betting offer at say Paddy Power and then go and claim a casino offer from them afterwards. We closely monitor UK betting sites and update our rankings accordingly. Below, we’ve also provided detailed reviews of each of our picks, with our ratings re-evaluated regularly. Betfred is among the best UK betting sites for free bets, with the generous Betfred welcome offer and a range of ongoing promotions providing free bet bonuses for both new and existing customers. New users can claim £50 in free bets when they deposit and stake £10 and place a wager at evens or above, with tokens credited shortly after the qualifying stake settles. Beyond the welcome offer, Betfred runs regular promos including money back specials, in-play free bets, accumulator offers and free to play games featuring a range of prizes.

Best Odds Guaranteed

Many bookmakers will restrict addresses to one single account, which in turn makes it more difficult to get around this. This is classed as bonus abuse and is against a bookmaker's T&Cs. Players who try to circumvent this by opening another account would not be allowed to, as they already have an account, while anyone potentially giving false details would also be in breach of T&Cs and would therefore be caught almost immediately. There are many reasons for not qualifying for a sign-up offer. This can range from the minimum odds, deposit, or wagering amount not being met, to a player using a deposit method that is excluded from qualifying for the bonus, such as e-wallets.

Money Back Free Bets

Other common reasons for not getting a betting site sign-up offer include not 'opting in', trying to claim a restricted bonus from a bookmakers' sister site, or not using an official link when a sign-up offer is only available for players coming from affiliate sites like Bookies Bonuses (eg. the Rhino Bet bet latest bookmaker offers sign-up offer is only available to players who click on a button from Bookies Bonuses). When signing up for a welcome bonus, it is imperative that a player reads the T&Cs on how to qualify, with small important details easily missed and causing a player to fail to qualify for the bonus. Bookies Bonuses is a website dedicated to finding the best possible value in bookmakers and providing it, in the most accessible format, to players in the UK and other territories. We are an independent entity, which means our writers can give an honest representation of the experience at each bookmaker, both good and bad, along with pointing you the reader, in the right direction based on your particular needs or interests.

3. Pub Sports

So, whether you are looking for the latest betting promotions, the best football betting sites, embracing esport betting, or looking to find out which betting sites support Apple Pay, we strive to give you, the reader, an honest, frank, and informative answer. You can read more about us here. Bookie Bonuses takes many factors into account when assessing a bookmaker website, including the type of welcome bonus that is on offer, sports and market features, the user experience, ongoing promotions, and the mobile experience among many others. We try to stick to a review formula that aids comparison, while also allowing free rein to include other interesting or pertinent features. Our pages and reviews are constantly monitored by the team here at Bookies Bonuses to make sure that the information is as up-to-date as possible at all times. Other plus points for Betfred include the app, which is one of the highest-rated betting apps in the UK, and a fast-responding customer service that answered our queries quickly. It was disappointing to see Betfred reduce the payment options available, dropping services like PayPal and Skrill, although they do offer fast withdrawals on the banking platforms that remain.

• Virgin Bet: Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets for new customers only
• LiveScore Bet: Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets (valid for 7 days)
• SBK: Risk Free First Bet up to £20, refunded as cash if it loses
• Kwiff: Enhanced odds on your first bet, up to a £10 stake matched

✓ £50 free bets for new customers is a valuable welcome offer ✓ Raft of ongoing free bet offers for existing users ✗ The website could be more intuitive and easier to navigate Spread betting is a gambling niche that rewards bettors for how accurate their wagers are, rather than a simple win-or-loss scenario. SpreadEx are the UK’s top spread betting site, packaging that with a financial spread betting service and a fixed-odds sportsbook. Spread betting carries a greater risk and reward element compared to a standard bet, with punters able to secure large profits from small stakes, or greater losses, depending on the outcome. SpreadEx educates those interested in spread betting on a platform that performs brilliantly on both desktop and mobile. And for those not interested in spread betting, the fixed-odds sportsbook is excellent.