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Gone are the days when betting apps were considered to be a nice little extra that could be used instead of having to use the mobile version of the online bookie to place a bet.
We are now living in an age where betting companies will live or die based on the quality of their betting app, so it is important that they are fit for purpose and give customers a positive experience.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a recreational bettor or someone who takes their betting activities a little more seriously. Only the best betting apps will do, so read on to discover what we consider to be the best UK betting apps on the market today.
Best Betting Apps in the UK for 2024
| # | Brand | Compatible | Offer | Rating | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Bet635
|
Responsive
Android
Apple
Windows
|
Up to £30 in Bet Credits |
5.0
|
PLAY NOW |
| *Registration required. New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. #AD | |||||
| 2 |
Unibet
|
Responsive
Android
Apple
Windows
|
Money back as a Bonus up to £40 if your first bet loses + £10 Casino |
4.3
|
PLAY |
| *18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first bet loses. Wagering requirements: all sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. Full T&Cs apply. #AD | |||||
* 18+; T&C’s apply. Click on Play for more details. #AD
The Top 5 Betting Apps
It would not be an exaggeration to say that we have put every online betting app through its paces and to be perfectly honest with you, from our experience, not all betting apps UK are as good as they claim to be.
On the other hand, some of them are excellent, so we have compiled our list of the top Top 5 sports betting apps that are available to UK punters.
Betway
The Betway app can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play, depending on your mobile device.
This betting app is extremely easy to navigate, the available bonuses and promotions are displayed at the top of the app, with the different sports displayed directly below.
Scroll down and you will see the Betway Boost for that day (usually on the football or horse racing markets)
We are impressed by the layout of the app in that betting options are displayed in a way which makes it easy to find the specific market you are looking for. Another plus is that the design makes it difficult to tap on a betting option by mistake, which can sometimes be a problem for users with ‘fat fingers’.
All in all, this is an impressive online betting app that makes placing bets on the move as easy as it could possibly be.
Unibet
Unibet has to be included in our list of best sports betting app providers as it has a clean layout, easy to navigate and without the annoying flashing casino offers that you see on so many UK betting apps.
There is a small casino icon at the top left-hand corner of the app, which you can click on if you wish to play casino games but the main part of the app is just as it should be, for sports betting purposes only.
There is also a handy link to the live-streaming events if that is your thing, but every betting market is easy to find, so your attempts to place a quick bet before the odds change on an Argentina Primera B football match is unlikely to end in frustration.
The Unibet betting app has come on leaps and bounds over the past couple of years and it deserves its top 5 position in our opinion.
Bet365
In our opinion, this has to be the best betting app UK, and it is definitely the one we use the most, mainly because of the abundance of betting app offers.
Whilst these offers are also available on the desktop version of the bet365 website, taking advantage of them whilst on the move means that you can also take advantage of any price movements, etc.
The odds boosts are definitely worth keeping an eye on, but whatever bets you decide to place, the app is well laid out, and navigation is no problem at all.
If you enjoy watching a live stream of the event you have a sporting interest in, the quality of the stream is very good. With horse racing as an example, it is just a case of tapping on the ‘Play’ button on the particular race and the video will start.
It is also very easy to contact live chat on the betting app should you encounter any problems or require any advice, and as we have come to expect from bet365, the quality of their support is first class.
Betfred
As you would expect from this iconic UK bookie, the Betfred app is one of the best betting apps UK.
They do advertise a lot of their online casino offers at the top of the app but not in the kind of overbearing way that some bookies seem to do so it does not distract you from the job in hand, i.e., finding potentially profitable betting opportunities.
The selected sports for betting purposes fall into three categories, ‘Featured’, ‘In-Play’ and ‘Next 5’.
The Featured tab is usually centred around the day’s main football matches, the In-Play tab displays the events that are in play, and the Next 5 usually displays the next 5 horse races.
There is a lot on this betting app without it feeling ‘busy’ so all in all, it is a great app from a very highly regarded bookmaker.
10bet
The running theme with the best betting apps is that they all have a clean layout and are easy to navigate, 10bet fits that description perfectly.
The white background makes this app feel a bit like a betting exchange but it is very much a sportsbook with a wide range of betting markets.
As an example, a Monday evening Premier League football match offered an impressive 328 markets, so it would be fair to say that there is no shortage of betting options available on this app.
Available at the Apple Store as well as Google Play, the same login details are used as the desktop version of the website, and it is always worth keeping an eye on the promotions that are advertised at the top of the app as there are often some good deals for existing customers.
Whilst we do prefer the bet365 betting app, 10bet is up there with the best of them and makes it definitely worth having a 10bet account.
How to Place Bets
It is obviously in the best interests of the bookies to make placing bets as easy as possible.
The most popular events on the UK betting apps are usually displayed as soon as you log into your account. Still, if not, the different sports are displayed at the top of the betting app, so it is just a case of tapping the sport you are interested in.
The events within that sport will then be displayed so it is then just a matter of choosing the market and then deciding if the odds on offer meet your requirements.
Tapping on the odds will automatically place the selection in your betting slip, which usually appears at the bottom of the app.
If you wish to remove a selection from the betting slip, simply click on the ‘x’ next to the selection.
To place a multiple bet, add the selections to the betting slip and the different betting options will be displayed for you to choose your preferred type of bet.
As an example, if you placed 3 selections in your betting slip, you would be given the option of placing 3 Single bets, a 3 Leg Accumulator, 3 x Doubles, a Trixie or a Patent.
You will be familiar with how the betting slip works if you have placed bets on the desktop version of a bookie website, if not, it really is very simple.
The Perfect Combination for Punters
Online betting apps and live betting go together perfectly.
For most punters, gone are the days where if they wanted to get involved in live play betting they would have to sit in front of their laptop for hours on end.
Admittedly, serious punters and those who trade on sporting events, this is all part of the job, but for those who are keeping an eye on a football match. For example, whilst they are at work or out and about, placing an in-play bet on one of the best betting apps UK makes their life so much easier.
In-play betting on the best betting apps UK is where ease of navigation becomes so important. You don’t want to be searching for betting markets when in a hurry and not being able to find the market you are looking for. Extremely frustrating, to say the least.
Many of the best betting apps also allow fingerprint login, so logging into the app finding and placing a bet is a seamless experience that goes a very long way towards customer satisfaction.
How to Download a Betting App
Depending on the mobile device being used, it is just a matter of going to the Google Play Store or the Apple Store and searching for the name of the bookie.
Tap on the ‘Get’ button, and the application will automatically download onto your mobile device, you will be notified when the download is complete, but in most cases, we are talking just a few seconds.
Tap on the open button and you will instantly have access to the betting app.
If you already have an account with the bookie, tap on the ‘Login’ button, which can usually be found in the top right-hand corner of the app and use your usual username and password.
If you don’t already have an account, tap on the ‘Register’ button (usually found next to the login button) and go through the registration steps, just as you would do when opening a bookie account on your desktop.
What Makes a Great App
The main factor when choosing which betting app to use should always be that the bookie behind the application should be one that you like and trust.
If you do business with the top bookies in the UK, the chances are you will be happy with the betting app, but if not, it will usually be down to personal choice.
As long as the bookie is trustworthy, which it will be if the bookie is authorised by the UK Gambling Commission and the betting app is well laid out and easy to navigate, the following criteria should also be considered to guarantee an excellent mobile betting experience:
- Usability
- Market coverage
- Bonuses
- Security
By ensuring these factors are met, you can enhance your overall betting experience.
Native Apps – The Easiest Way to Bet on Your Mobile
Native apps have so much going for them, mainly due to the ease of use once downloaded onto your mobile device.
If you are not familiar with the term ‘Native Apps’, they are dedicated bookie betting apps that can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play Store.
This cuts out the task of having to enter the URL of the bookie into your mobile browser which is a bit of a hassle when you need to quickly place a bet.
Another advantage of using one of the UK betting apps is that you can log in using your fingerprint. In terms of ease of use, these sports betting apps definitely take some beating.
Responsive Websites – Another Option for the Modern Bettor
There is definitely a demand for responsive websites in the world of online bookies, but when they are compared to native apps? It becomes obvious that this demand is mainly from ‘old school’ punters who don’t like the idea of downloading an app onto their phone.
That’s fair enough, but for most people, online betting apps win every time.
The mere fact that you have to type in the URL of the bookie and log into your account before you can even place a bet shows why a betting app is the preferred choice for most bettors.
The Wonderful World of Mobile Betting Bonuses
You can’t beat a good bonus or promotion so it is no wonder why online bookies are always coming up with new angles to entice punters to open betting accounts and to continue placing bets with them.
When it comes to mobile betting bonuses on the sports betting apps, unless specifically stated in the terms and conditions of the offers, the bonuses that are advertised on the desktop version of the betting site can be used on the betting apps.
You will sometimes find specific betting app offers, but more often than not, bonuses and promotions can be used across all of a bookies betting platforms as opposed to just one.
It is sometimes the case if a bookie introduces a new betting app that they will offer a bonus that can only be used on the app but these offers are now few and far between.
Talking of bonuses, something that has thankfully become more common over the past couple of years is reloading bonuses for existing customers as opposed to bookies just offering a welcome offer to encourage potential customers to open an account.
These types of bonuses come in many different types, ACCA Bonuses, BetBuilder offers, Bet and Gets. Bet Boosts and casino-related sportsbook offers.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at these betting app offers and discuss how lucrative they can be.
Understanding How Free Bets Work
Before we get started, it is important to know how these bonuses and promotions work.
When taking advantage of any betting app offers, you should be aware of the terms and conditions.
Don’t worry, these terms and conditions are very straightforward, as an example, minimum odds on odds boosts, wager requirements on a bet and get or a casino offer, minimum number of legs in an acca insurance promotion.
Every offer will have terms and conditions so do yourself a favour and have a quick glance before you get started, just so that you are aware.
ACCA Insurance Offers and Promotions
One of the most popular betting apps offers is Acca insurance.
Acca’s, or accumulators as they are more commonly known have always been popular with UK punters as they can result in big payouts from a small stake.
The Acca insurance offers do vary between bookies but usually return the stake if one leg of the Acca loses.
Another popular acca offer is a bonus if the accumulator bet wins; the more legs on the acca, the bigger the bonus.
Bet and Gets
Bet and Gets have always been popular and come in several different forms, ‘bet £10 and get a £10 bonus’ is a good example. A couple of things to bear in mind are that there will be a minimum odds stipulation on the qualifying bet, and the bonus will usually be stake not returned (SNR).
This basically means that if you place the free bet on a selection with odds of 6.0 (5/1) and it wins, you will collect £50 as opposed to the £60 you would have received if you had placed a normal bet of £10.
Bet Boost Bonuses
Bet Boost bonuses are now being offered by several of the betting apps UK and it would be fair to say that punters love them.
It is bet365 who are leading the way with these types of bonuses and they usually have one in place on a specified UK Premier League match every week.
These come in the form of opting into the offer and placing a £10 bet builder with a minimum of three selections to get a £10 bonus, which can be placed on any kind of bet.
As you would expect, the free bet is SNR, but this is an excellent offer and an indication that these kinds of bonuses will carry on into the future.
Casino Related Bookie Offers
You will sometimes come across these offers, but you may also have to download the casino online betting app, depending on the bookie.
These kinds of bonuses run along the lines of placing a £10 bet on a specified football match to receive 20 free spins on a specified casino slot.
These offers are okay if you enjoy a few spins on a casino slot, but always check the terms and conditions to make sure any winnings from the free spins are withdrawable as opposed to having to wager the winnings a number of times before a withdrawal can be made.
Mobile Payments – Deposits and Withdrawals Made Easy
In the UK online betting industry, secure and flexible mobile payment options are essential when it comes to making the online betting app user experience smoother and more enjoyable.
Punters don’t want to be messing around by having to log into their bank or payment processor and then go back and forth with the bookie in order to make a deposit and place a bet.
Bookies know that if they don’t support multiple payment methods and prioritise quick processing times, punters will go elsewhere. It really is as simple as that.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most popular payment options.
Google Pay
Google Pay is a popular choice for mobile payments due to its simplicity and security.
You can link your Google account to your bank card or other payment methods and make deposits or withdrawals directly within the best betting app.
Google Pay requires biometric or PIN verification, making it a secure option. However, some bookmakers may limit its use for withdrawals, and there are typically no fees for using Google Pay for deposits or withdrawals.
Apple Pay
This is our favourite payment method and is widely supported by UK bookmakers.
Deposits are instant, Apple Pay uses Face ID or Touch ID for authentication, ensuring user safety.
This payment method also doesn’t share users’ card details directly with the bookmaker, enhancing privacy.
We usually find that bookies do not allow withdrawals back to Apple Pay, so we also register a bank account with the bookie for withdrawal purposes.
Other Pay Apps
Several other mobile payment apps are gaining traction among UK bookies. Zelle and Cash App are convenient options for certain users, though not all UK bookies support them.
Boku allows you to make deposits charged to your mobile phone bill, but it generally does not support withdrawals.
These options are ideal for punters who, for whatever reason, cannot get access to the more common payment methods, but if you decide to use them, always check the bookie’s T&Cs regarding any fees, deposit limits, and compatibility.
Security, Legislation, Regulation – Important Factors to Take into Consideration
In the UK, online betting is governed by strict laws to ensure safety and fairness.
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) is the regulatory body overseeing licensed betting apps and websites, ensuring they operate legally and protect users.
Only licensed apps are authorised to operate in the UK, offering verified safety measures for protecting your personal data and funds, so if you ever come across any UK betting apps that aren’t regulated by the UKGC, you would be strongly advised not to touch them with a barge pole.
An important part of UKGC regulations is responsible gambling.
Under these guidelines, players are encouraged to treat betting as a form of entertainment, not income.
Tips include setting limits on deposits, tracking activity, and using tools like self-exclusion to manage spending responsibly which all go towards ensuring a balanced and safer betting experience.
The Stats Regarding Mobile Betting
It would be fair to say that online betting apps were considered to be a convenient extra when people signed up to online betting accounts, but how times have changed.
The UK Gambling Commission estimated that around 60% of punters in the UK use their mobile devices to place bets, but we have read reports of that figure now being closer to 70%.
The mobile gambling market in the UK was valued at £2.1 billion in 2022, reflecting a notable rise compared to previous years so that figure will have increased again in 2024.
Innovations to Get Excited About
The great thing about UK betting apps is that due to the latest innovations in technology, the mobile betting experience will get even better.
Technological innovations like 5G, QR codes, and omnichannel integration are transforming the UK online betting experience.
The rollout of 5G allows faster and more reliable connectivity, enhancing live betting and streaming features and supporting smoother interactions on mobile betting apps.
QR codes are also being implemented for quick deposits and registration, streamlining access and security for users.
Meanwhile, omnichannel experiences integrate both in-person and digital interactions, allowing UK punters to access their accounts seamlessly across all platforms, online, mobile, and in-store.
These innovations ensure a smoother, more engaging experience for bettors in the UK’s competitive market. Who would have ever thought the mobile betting experience would have improved as much as it has?
The Only Way Is Up For Mobile Betting
Only a few short years ago, many UK punters wouldn’t even bother with mobile betting as the mobile websites were clunky and unreliable, quality betting apps were few and far between, and it wasn’t unusual to place a mobile bet, not knowing if the bet had been accepted or not!
How times have changed!
A large percentage of punters now use the best betting apps which can be accessed by fingerprint recognition, a deposit made and a bet placed, all within a few seconds.
It is mind-blowing to think about what the future holds for betting apps and online betting in general, so let’s enjoy the ride and hopefully make some money!
FAQ
In our opinion, the best betting app is bet365, as well as being an excellent app, they are usually the best online bookie for bonuses and promotions.
Don't get us wrong, all of the other betting apps we recommend are excellent, but bet365 has the edge.
No, it is just a case of downloading the app on your mobile device and using your existing login details to access your account.
Unless otherwise specified, yes, they can. It used to be the case where there were specific mobile bonuses, but you only see these now if a bookie is releasing a new feature on the app or even a new app that they would like their customers to try out.
Yes, you will need to enter the URL of the bookie into your mobile web browser, and the mobile version of the website will load automatically.
It is far easier to use a best sports betting app, but some people don't want to download an app for one reason or another.
Yes, you can. It is just a matter of tapping on the 'Live betting' or 'In-play' button at the top of the app and you will be able to choose the event you would like to place a bet on.