Best UK gambling sites 2024 – the ultimate guide 🎖️
Play at the best gambling sites in the UK handpicked by our team of experts with 20 years of experience in the fields of online casinos, poker, and sports betting. Get the insider knowledge that will give you the edge that you won't find anywhere else and start gambling online today.
Our recommended UK gambling sites
Avoid these gambling websites
Not all online casinos in the UK have your best interests at heart. Here are three such sites to avoid:
A closer look at the best gambling sites in the UK
22.5 million people in the UK gamble. That means 54% of the adult population of the population is on the lookout for the best UK gambling sites. At Casino.org, we’ve spent 20 years reviewing and recommending UK sites to our visitors. Here are 5 of the best.
#1 Pub Casino - Top pick for UK players overall
Pros:
✅ Over 2000 games to play and countless sports betting options
✅ Exclusive games that are only available to play here
✅ Provides fast withdrawals processed in 24 hours
Cons:
❌ 40x wagering is slightly above the UK average
Pub Casino provides the quintessential online gambling experience for UK players. We were impressed by their market-leading selection of over 2000 games to play, including exclusive games we could only play here. Enjoy all your gambling in one place here with sports betting, Slingo and live games all available to play.
Read our full Pub Casino review here.
Ben Wade, UK - Trustpilot review - 1st March 2024 - "Signed up and deposited £150. Played for like 10 minutes. I hit a bonus quite quickly and was up £300 decided that was a decent hit and decided to withdraw. Money was in my account after 45 minutes. No problems. No fuss. " 5/5 ⭐
Expert opinion: "A great option for no-nonsense gambling. Straightforward bonuses, good navigation, and a huge selection of betting options."
#2 All British Casino - Top pick for UK casino games
Pros:
✅ Receive 10% cashback with no restrictions
✅ Second fastest withdrawals on the UK market
✅ Enjoy games from 25 game providers and withdraw via 7 withdrawal options
Cons:
❌ Skrill and Neteller deposits are not eligible for bonuses
With a name like All British Casino, you are guaranteed a casino designed with the UK player in mind. Their biggest USP is their cashback. We have already begun benefiting from their 10% cashback on our money gambled on casinos and sports. They offer the second fastest withdrawals on the UK market. We received our money within 24 hours.
Read our full All British Casino review here.
Russell Smith - TrustPilot Review - 9 Jun 2024 - "Recently joined very impressed great selection of games and fast payment of winnings would recommend" 5/5 ⭐
Expert opinion: "For casino games, this is the top choice. Benefit from 10% cashback as you play the countless games available here."
#3 Magic Red - Top pick for UK sports betting
Pros:
✅ Fastest withdrawals on the UK market
✅ Exclusive no-wager bonus spins available with Casino.org
✅ Welcome bonuses available for slots, live casino and sports betting
Cons:
❌ UX and navigation could be simpler
Our Magic Red experience started in the best way as we walked away with £200. This was thanks to their impressive welcome offer of 100 free bonus spins with no wagering and no cashout. Magic Red offer the fastest withdrawals we have seen in the UK. Our withdrawal reached us in a matter of hours. They offer a large sportsbook and live casino playing options with unique welcome bonuses available for these too.
Read our full Magic Red review here.
Nabeel321 - TrustPilot Review - 29 April 2024 "So far they are really good actually, played there a couple of times and had no issue with them. For the first time withdrawal took 3 days after that don’t have issues I do recommend this but play safe" 5/5 ⭐
Expert opinion: "If variety is what you are looking for, Magic Red is the place to play. Great for casino and sports betting, it is a one-stop shop for gambling. Plus, it has the fastest withdrawals available."
#4 Grand Ivy - Top pick for UK payment options
Pros
✅ Widest selection of payment methods on the UK market
✅ Over 2000 games including slots, table games and live casino
✅ Frequent prize giveaways worth thousands
Cons:
❌ Sports betting unavailable
Grand Ivy leads the UK casino pack in their wide selection of casino payment options with over 10 available. This gave us loads of variety when we were depositing and withdrawing. They were quick too. `We also found Grand Ivy's casino games to be awe-inspiring with over 2000 to choose from. A lack of sports betting lets them down slightly. Although we thought the frequent prize money giveaways were a nice touch.
Read our full Grand Ivy review here
JS - TrustPilot Review - 15 May 2024 "Two wins since I joined last week. Both were paid out within the time frame of 48 hours so no issues with receiving payments. I would have given 5 stars if payouts were quicker. " 4/5 ⭐
Expert opinion: "Payment problems are a thing of the past with Grand Ivy. What's more, their bonus is one of the biggest you will find at licensed UK gambling sites."
#5 Betway - Top pick for reliability and trust
Pros:
✅ Choose a bonus that suits your gameplay
✅ Endorsements from some of the biggest names in UK sports
✅ Same day withdrawals available on e-wallets
Cons:
❌ Sign-in required to see the full selection of what's available
Betway is synonymous with the UK gambling scene. With sponsorship partnerships with both West Ham United and Cheltenham Festival, they have some of the best endorsements possible. We found they live up to expectations with a selection of different bonuses that suit different playing styles and a wide range of betting options. A new partnership with ex-England goalkeeper, David Seaman, is apt as they are a safe pair of hands for UK players.
Read our full Betway review here
Nathanael Horsfall - TrustPilot Review - 2 May 2024 "I rate Betway highly for service and payout. 5 stars from me, keep up the good work!" 5/5 ⭐
Expert opinion: "Betway is a brand that can't be beaten on reputation with endorsement from some of the biggest sporting names in the UK. Bet on casino and sports with peace of mind."
Feature of our top-rate gambling sites
🥇 UK’s top online gambling site | Pub Casino |
💸 Best for fast payouts | Grand Ivy |
💰 Top paying gambling site | Pub Casino |
🎁 Best for bonuses | Grand Ivy |
🎰 Popular gambling games | Slots, table games, live casino, Slingo, bingo, scratch cards |
📱 Gambling apps | iOS, Android |
⚖️ Licensed by | UK Gambling Commission |
💳 Top gambling payment options | Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafecard, Apple Pay, bank transfer |
Choose your gambling site
Which of the following activities interest you the most?
Our expert's tips for UK players
Here are 5 tips from our experts that can improve your online gambling experience:
- 1
Ensure there is UKGC licensing
The United Kingdom Gambling Commission is the only licensing body in the UK. They are the only UK organisation that will ensure security, bonuses, and player safety are guaranteed online. Accept no substitutes. Most gambling sites disclose their licensing and other endorsements at the bottom of their homepage. Scroll past the games and look for the UKGC logo.
- 2
Claim bonuses and free bets
A unique aspect of online gambling is casino bonuses. Free spins, cash bonuses, and free bets can all be claimed to help boost your playtime. Don't forget to read the terms and conditions before you claim. The most common is wagering. Aim for below 35x for the best chance of turning bonuses into real money.
- 3
Make the most of betting options
Online gambling sites are not limited by space and so there are thousands of games and betting options to choose from. Make the most of them. If a gambling site isn't providing what you need, feel obliged to move on. You should find over 1000 slots, 100-200 table and live games, and thousands of betting markets for sports.
- 4
Consider payment and withdrawal options
One of the most common complaints from players is withdrawals. Make sure to verify your account at the earliest opportunity to prevent delays. Certain deposit methods can also affect the ability to claim bonuses so be wary. Aim for around 5-10 options at sites to ensure you have options.
- 5
Play responsibly
Responsible gambling is paramount to an enjoyable experience playing online. Never chase losses, set time and deposit limits, and ensure you are fully aware of what constitutes problem gaming. Remember: when the fun stops, stop. Sites like BeGambleAware and Gamblers Annonymous are great organisations if you think you or someone else might have a problem.
What is online gambling – popular types
There are numerous ways to place bets on gambling websites in the United Kingdom. The following are all legal within the UK market:
UK Online casinos
Online casinos offer far more playing options than what is available in their real-world counterparts. Dream Vegas, for example, is one of the best online casinos we have found for games.
We were treated to more than 2000 online slots, over 100 table games, and over 90 live casino games to play. They also offered 30 jackpot games.
You can trust these casino games as they are powered by random number generators which are audited by third-party organisations like eCogrea and iTechLabs to confirm their integrity.
The other advantage online casino sites have over their real-world counterpart is bonuses. They come in several forms including free spins, cash bonuses, and cashback. These are extra rewards for signing up to a casino and depositing.
These bonuses can vary a great deal. The most common amounts are usually 100% bonuses up to £100-£200 with around 50-100 spins on popular slots. Dream Vegas offers triple these figures on their welcome bonus with spins available on several top Netent Slots.
Online sports betting
UK sports betting websites, aka sportsbooks, provide access to thousands of sports betting markets. A good UK sportsbook should offer the most popular sports for betting UK players.
As of May 2022, the most common are football and horse racing, which make up 45% and 37% of all bets. These should be the priority for any good UK sportsbook. These should be followed by Golf (9%), Boxing (8%), Tennis (8%), Darts (6%), Cricket (6%), and Rugby Union (6%). Of course, there should be many market as possible to cater for all players.
Nearly all sportsbooks will offer casino games, but not all casinos will offer sports betting, so if you want both you need to choose a site that offers both. Magic Red is one example we can recommend.
Sportsbook, like casinos, offers rewards for joining. Usually these are free bets or deposit bonuses to get the bets rolling. The average for this would be between £10-£30 in free bets. A big positive for Magic Red is they combine both their gambling options in one welcome deal.
We managed to claim a £10 free bet which we used on England's opening win against Serbia in Euro 2024 and 100 free spins available on Book of the Dead.
We won the bet which set us up for a few more bets in the other group games!
Poker sites
Some gambling websites specialise specifically in poker. Most offer cash games for playing popular options like Texas Hold'em or Omaha. You can also play versions you won't find at most real-world casinos like Banzai poker at Unibet.
The real allure of these sites is the online tournament. For these, our personal favourite is 888Poker which offers multi-table tournaments (MTTs), knockout (KO) tournaments and bounty games. We claimed a £50 free play to join 888Poker and this gave us access to 6 days of tournament tickets so we could try a few of them out. We loved the MTTs.
If you only want to play poker games, then some sites offer a downloadable client to play games. Pokerstars offers one of the best examples of this in the UK. It is filled with benefits for players. We downloaded it and found it was quick and simple to use. It also gave us a more personalised poker experience.
On the other hand, if you want to keep variety, PartyPoker provides the best of all worlds. Alongside poker, they offer casino, live casino, sports and arcade games with just one membership. Plus, you can get a 100% bonus up to £400 for casino, and £40 for poker games.
Many sites in the UK have "poker games" but these will be casino variations where you play against a dealer rather than against other players.
Bingo sites
The UK's love for Bingo dates back to the 1960s. For 50 years smokey halls were filled with echoes of "two fat ladies, 88!" "line!" and, of course, "Bingo!".
Fans of daytime TV shows on ITV will have discovered that this love has moved online.
You can now play 90-ball or the 75-ball variant from the comfort of your own home while maintaining the social element using an in-game chat. Play from as little as 1p in rooms with unique themes, designs, and styles as you unlock promotions and win prizes.
All other forms of UK online gambling
Aside from sports betting, "specials" or "novelty" betting is very popular in the UK. At Pub Casino, you can bet on the UK and US presidential elections. while at Betway it is possible to bet on TV shows like Love Island, I'm a Celebrity, and Sports Personality of the Year. These markets change as the year goes on.
Many casinos like Grand Ivy offer options to play the slots and bingo crossover, Slingo. You can also hunt for instant wins with Scratchcards at the click of a button (no need to scratch). Instant Tap mini-games, which are essentially arcade games, are also available if you want to take a break from a more conventional gambling experience.
UK gambling site bonuses
Gambling site bonuses give you the option for more betting for less investment. Let's take a look at the 3 most common.
Deposit bonuses
Deposit bonuses will reward you for making a deposit to a casino. This reward will be a percentage match of what you deposited. For example, a 100% bonus up to £100 will match your deposit 1:1 with bonus cash. Grand Ivy's 150% up to 300 is one of the best examples of this deal for UK players.
Free spins
Free spins are a slot fans bread and butter. These give you a number of free spins, aka bonus spins, for making a deposit. Betway Casino offers a wager-free spins deal. They offer 125 wager-free spins for completing a £10 stake. We opted in for this and managed to win and walk away with just shy of £100.
Free bets
Free bets are what sport betting fans are always on the lookout for. We claimed Mr Mega's Bet £15, Get £10 and used the free bets on the first day of Wimbledon 2024 and managed to win £50. A perfect start to the tournament. Many UK sportsbooks offer free bets with no deposit required for big events so keep an eye out for these.
How we rate online gambling sites
We follow a strict 25-step process that ensures our gambling site recommendations are fair, balanced, and objective. Let's take a look at some of our key checks.
Online gambling product
What do you want to play? Our team knows variety is the spice of life. Our top partners like Pub Casino, All British and Magic Red, offer thousands of games and sports betting options. They also boast live casinos and arcade games.
All of our casinos offer a range of products, but some more than others. Winomania only offers casinos and live casino games, for example. While Beway offers sports, casinos, live casinos, esports and a Vegas section.
Bonuses & promotions
For the UK market, the average casino offer is somewhere along the lines of a 100% deposit match of up to £100 + around 50-100 free spins, with wagering requirements of 30x or less. Our expert team have discovered casinos like Dream Vegas that offer 3x as much as this with 100% up to £300 + 150 free spins.
Bonuses depend on your gambling preferences. For example, If you want to play sports, then the MyriadPlay Bet £15 Get £10 is a good place to start. We claimed this and used it on a correct score bet on the opening Euro 2024 game between Germany vs Scotland game. We placed an in-play bet for £10 and were able to walk away with over £500!
For Poker, we claimed 888 Casino £50 Free Play and PartyPoker £40 Free Play + 100% up to £400. The latter had the added benefit of being able to use the bonus cash on casinos. An example of how you can finetune your bonuses to suit you.
Payment range and policy
UK casinos offer between 5-10 secure casino payment options. At all of our gambling sites, deposits will be instant and free.
Withdrawal times can vary and can be as long as 3-5 days. All British and Magic Red are by far the fastest with withdrawal times of between 0-24 hours. Dream Vegas takes 36 hours, but they offer one of the widest range of payment options so you have more flexibility.,
Credit card payments and crypto transactions are not permitted in the UK. Sites that offer these methods in the UK market raise a serious red flag because they will not be licensed by the UKGC.
Safety & licensing
The UK Gambling Commission licenses casinos legally allowed to operate in the UK.
Many also have a license issued by another leading regulatory commission, such as the Malta Gaming Authority. We ensure always ensure the license number is legit.
Regulation is critical, as it offers support should you experience any issues that cannot be resolved at the gambling website.
Our recommended sites offer SSL encryption, verified by Visa and two-factor authentication. The safer the site, the better it is for gamblers.
Customer Care
Good customer care at gambling sites is not always a given. Customer reviews are ridden with complaints about support.
Our first-hand experience with Grand Ivy was one such example. Their team were very unknolwegable. We approached them concerning their mobile app, which they said they did not have. After showing them a Google Play link where they could download the app, they then thanked us for letting them know there was an app.
Not all casinos are like this. Pub Casino's team helped us with a series of questions about payment options and withdrawals. They also offer a phone number which is a nice touch that is fading from the UK market.
Top UK online gambling payment method
Ready to deposit? Let's take a quick look at the top UK gambling site payment options!
Apple Pay
Apple Pay is one of the newest additions to UK casinos and it has made it easier than ever to deposit and withdraw. With just a click of a button you can deposit to top gambling sites like All British, Pub Casino and Magic Red in seconds. In our experience, withdrawals are faster than debit cards and you generally get your money within 48 hours.
Are gambling sites for you? Pros and cons
Gambling sites offer numerous online betting opportunities, allowing you to play games and bet on sports no matter where you are. But they’re not for everyone. Here are the pros and cons to be aware of before signing up:
Pros
- There are hundreds of licensed gambling websites in the UK to choose from
- Place sports bets or play casino games at any time of the day or night, no matter where you are
- Licensed gambling sites process seamless, secure payments via debit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallet deposits
- Gambling websites offer excellent welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions to help you boost your bankroll
- At licensed websites, you’ll find responsible gambling tools, tips, and resources to help you stay in control
Cons
- Given the availability and accessibility of gambling websites, it’s easy to get carried away with gambling if you don’t set limits and bet responsibly
- With so many gambling sites available in the UK, it can be challenging to decide where to sign up
- Gambling websites don’t offer the social aspect that gambling at offline venues provide
Online gambling FAQs
Which is the best UK gambling site?
We rate Pub Casino as the best gambling site in the UK. However, if you want to enjoy online casino gameplay and sports betting, Betway is the best option.
What is gambling?
Gambling is placing a real money wager on a specific outcome. In sports, you check the odds and bet on one team or person to win over another. In casino games, you place a wager to play a game, and if you win, you will receive a payout based on the game’s specific odds and pay table.
You should not regard gambling as a viable way to “make” money. Sure, you can win money when playing casino games and betting on sports, but you need luck on your side. You should consider gambling an enjoyable way to pass the time, not a guaranteed way to make a profit.
What gambling sites accept credit cards UK?
No legal, legitimate online casinos in the UK accept credit cards. The UK Gambling Commission announced a credit card gambling ban, effective April 2020. Cryptocurrencies are also banned at UK casinos. if a casino offers either, then they are likely unlicensed and therefore you could be in jeopardy.
What gambling sites accept phone bill?
Online gambling sites have lots of payment methods, with many sites accepting phone bill payments. This invites you to charge your deposits to your monthly phone bill. Check our list above for the best pay-by-mobile casinos in the UK market.
How to stop gambling?
Gambling can be addictive because it stimulates your brain’s reward system, much like alcohol and drugs. You need to enact safe and responsible gambling practices to avoid problem gambling.
You need willpower to stop gambling. You can also ask for support from your friends and family. We also recommend visiting online gambling resources and reaching out to responsible gambling charities for support if you want to stop gambling.
How to block gambling sites?
GAMSTOP is the UK’s gambling self-exclusion scheme and the best way to block gambling sites and exclude yourself from marketing.
How much is a gambling license UK?
A gambling license in the UK costs £370. But you will also incur legal fees and numerous other costs associated with starting a gambling business.
Written by William Macmaster
William is a casino expert who has spent his career connecting players from across the world with unforgettable experiences at safe and reliable online casinos. You can rely on him to provide you with the knowledge you need to get more out of your online gambling experience.
Fact checked by Ian Zerafa
Ian Zerafa grew up in Malta, Europe's online gaming hub and home of top casino regulators and auditors such as eCOGRA and the Malta Gaming Authority. After completing his Master's degree in Glasgow, he returned to Malta and started writing about casinos. He's worked on hundreds of casinos across the US, New Zealand, Canada, and Ireland, and is a go-to authority for Casino.org's team.
References
- Annual Report and Accounts 2021 to 2022 - Consumers and Gambling - UK Gambling Commission
- Best companies in Casino - Trustpilot
- Betway sponsorship - West Ham United
- Euro 2024 - UEFA
- Free online self-exclusion - GAMSTOP
- General elections - UK Parliament
- Most common sports to bet on amongst regular gamblers in the United Kingdom as of May 2022 - Statista
- Order of Play 2024 - Wimbledon
- Sponsors and Partners - The Jockey Club
- Sports Personality of the Year - BBC
