Bookies Review
Below is our walk-through guide on what we would consider the top UK bookies. Our experts have considered and reviewed on the following :-
- The company as a whole and their operating history
- Desirability of their betting app, the most commonly used method to place bets
- How easy it is to place a bet, both online and using their app
- Making multiple bet selections
- Overall user friendliness and ease of use
We simplify the below information in our 'Promotional Bets Ranking' which scores each with points out of 5.
BetVictor
The markets are plentiful with BetVictor, the Gibraltar based online bookmaker. Originally opening in 1931 before many name changes, BetVictor really impressed our team with the focus and hold it had on the online segment of the market.
Particularly impressive was their marketing and you will no doubt have seen numerous TV adverts from BetVictor. It seems they have spared no expense on a creative advertising team to engage with their customers and it really does show.
They offer one of the widest range of sports to choose from and have a vast range of markets and betting options for each sport. BetVictor have clearly put a lot of effort in to making it as simple as possible to place a bet, and this shows. It is clear which selections you are choosing and the bet slip presents your selections well.
They offer the ability to place multiple selections on the same games and even have a bet builder option. This enables you to input your selections for a match and combine these into one easy to read bet, rather than having multiple bets on your slip.
This digitally savvy bookmaker, as you would expect, is among the best we have trialled and the visibility of bets is fantastic.
Promotional Bets Ranking - 5/5
Bet365
Undoubtedly one of the most popular online bookie in the UK, Bet365 easily come out near the top of the pack.
Based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Bet365 have been trading online since 2001 and since then have quickly risen to become one of the worlds largest online gambling companies. We feel this is, in part, due to the vast number of offers they give their players. Bet365 were one of the first gambling companies to offer an early payout on football slips - In single bets if the team chosen to win go 2 goals ahead in the match, Bet365 will pay out your bet in full at that time. If the opposing team then come back to draw or win, you still keep your winnings.
Their downfall is a recent spat of connection and server issues with the app. This means that users sometimes lose the ability to watch the live sports through the app and loading new bets does glitch and crash the app. Can be temperamental.
Promotional Bets Ranking - 3/5
Paddy Power
One of the most popular Irish bookmakers, Paddy Power look to impress. They have a well-established brand and are continuously producing clever marketing and advertising for their brand.
Founded in 1988 in Dublin, Ireland the company continues to have a high street presence over the water. They have a strong customer service department, and rightly so with a large market share in telephone betting. Their betting app does the job but did not stand out of the crowd for us. They do cover all sports and entertainment markets and making selections is straight forward.
Promotional Bets Ranking - 3/5
Coral
Coral was founded in 1926 and is another big player amongst the high street betting shops. Originally starting out with pitches at greyhound meetings, the company has now diversified into a number of different business sectors.
They have an impressive online platform and their website is second to none. They cover all of the desired sports and have a quality range of markets within each sport. Their betting app is very impressive and ease of use has clearly been taken in to account when creating this.
We found it very straightforward to locate, add, amend and remove betting selections and making multiple bets on the same games was not a concern.
Promotional Bets Ranking - 4/5
William Hill
A bookmaker with clout. William Hill are based in London and are a bookie with one of the largest high street presences in the UK. Established in 1934, they operate worldwide and are very impressive with their range of sporting ownerships.
They do have a website that is easy to navigate and their customer services team are very friendly. They cover a vast range of sports and in-particular have very good market options available on horse racing.
Promotional Bets Ranking - 3/5
Betfair
Betfair are a slightly different organisation as they are not just a traditional bookmaker but operate the worlds largest online betting exchange. This allows its users to bet against each other. It seems however that their focus is aimed at their exchange as their sportsbook proved lacking in most aspects.
Unimpressed with their website and disappointed by their app. Our team found these difficult to navigate, difficult to make individual selections on and difficult to amend any bet slips. Coupled with a fail in service from their customer service department – Betfair ranks with our lowest score.
Promotional Bets Ranking - 1/5
Ladbrokes
One of the most recognisable bookmakers and one of the high street giants is Ladbrokes, based out of London. Founded in 1886 they have been a big part of the British gambling scene for generations and are steeped in the history of sports.
Although they have what seems to be a shop on every street corner, their online presence does not reflect this. Their website is tough to negotiate and the viewing of multiple games seems impossible.
Their mobile app works in the same way and locating the correct games can seem tiresome. Finding and amending your bet slip details, never mind making multiple selections, was the task that took our team over the brink. Their customer services team were very helpful and communicative but this did little to win them back in to our good graces,
Promotional Bets Ranking - 2/5