UK Betting Apps

The UK sports betting industry is incredibly huge and continues to grow. The pastime has become even more popular since it transitioned to mobile platforms. Millions of pounds now exchange hands every day across a vast number of betting markets. In addition, UK betting apps have changed the sports betting scene by allowing players to get a piece of the action wherever they are.

Instead of only enjoying sports betting on your desktop, you can now place wagers while on the move. But to enjoy mobile sports betting, you’ll obviously need to pick a good UK betting app first. There are plenty of apps floating around, so the selection process can be tedious. While we’ve already listed the cream of the crop, this guide will help you zone in on the perfect app for your unique gambling preferences. We’ll also share some of our age-old selection techniques, so you’ll always be able to spot a promising betting application.

TOP UK Betting Apps

Rank

Bookmaker

Bonus

Highlights

Rating

1

5.0

50% up to £50

  • UKGC license
  • Exciting bonuses and promotions
  • User-friendly website

Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake.T&C Apply

2

4.8

£10 Welcome Free Bet

  • Liberal deposit and withdrawal limits
  • Great selection of sports - over 30
  • Easy-to-redeem and fair promotions

New UK customers only.Min.Deposit £5.MaximumFree Bet £30. First bet on a Football multiple with 3+ selections.T&C Apply

3

4.7

Free Bet of up to £20

  • 10+ live streams every day
  • Has beautiful native apps
  • Bwin is a PayPal bookmaker

18+ New UK players only. Min deposit req.£10. Certain deposit methods excluded. Place 1 sport bet(3+ selections)T&C Apply

4

4.7

£40 in welcome rewards

  • Two welcome bonuses of your choice
  • iOS and Android apps
  • StarsRewards loyalty program

New casino players only. Min. deposit £10 with code ‘CASINO100’. Debit card only. Selected Slots only, 7 day expiry. T&C Apply

5

4.7

Bet £10 and Get Two £15 Free Bets

  • Wide choice of live betting markets
  • 5+ horse racing promos available at all times
  • Reliable and skilled customer support staff

New customers using Promo code H30 only, Min £10/€10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15/€15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply.T&C Apply

Top UK Betting Apps for iOS and Android

When looking for a UK betting app, you naturally need to pick one compatible with your mobile device. Different UK betting apps are optimised for various mobile operating systems, with some even accommodating Windows  players. But it’s no secret how Android and iOS are the dominant duo of the bunch. Most operators know this and make their betting apps available on the mentioned mobile operating platforms. Your task is to pick a UK betting app that runs seamlessly on your device.

The best UK betting sites design their apps on the latest Android and IOS operating systems for increased efficiency. As a result, you don’t have to conduct numerous updates or unnecessarily use your device storage space. Plus, you get the very same gambling experience as you’d get using the main website. At the same time, bettors aren’t bombarded with unnecessary functions, so you get streamlined functionality on your device.

Top UK Betting Apps

Features to Look For in UK Betting Apps

Choosing the best UK betting app is no walk in the park. It's definitely not as simple as going with the first one you see. And neither is adopting a trial-and-error approach advisable. Different UK betting apps offer different service levels where safety, security, and overall quality are concerned. It'll take you hours to scout through the numerous betting apps before you can finally single out one. To save you the headache, we've come up with a few features to consider when selecting the UK betting app. Ticking each UK betting app against the following boxes will make your decision-making process easier.

Quick Installation

Let’s face it; a long and complex installation process is definitely not what you should be looking for here. The best UK betting apps will take minutes, if not seconds, to download and install on your mobile device. Mind you, that should be regardless of whether you’re installing from Play Store or Apple Store. The download prompts must be intuitive, even if you don’t consider yourself tech-savvy. If you have to Google the installation process before proceeding, you might want to steer clear of such betting apps.

Before you even start downloading anything, you must check the size of the app. Ideally, it should be small. The last thing you need is a large app that’ll take up a good chunk of your mobile device space and clog your storage. In the end, this may affect your overall wagering experience with endless freezing and glitches. Even if the large app functions smoothly, there’s a chance it may negatively impact other operations on your mobile device. Bottom line? Always opt for slim-range betting apps. You’ll thank us later.

User-Friendly Interface

When looking for a UK betting app, we can’t stress the importance of a user-friendly interface. Different bettors use betting apps differently. Some use them for horse-racing betting, while others explore basketball betting markets. Then you’ll find others who’re big on the app’s live streaming feature. Whatever your preference, you should be able to perform the essential functions with ease.

Look for a betting app that allows you to quickly find what you’re looking for. Right off the bat, you must be able to identify the sign-up button and register your account within minutes. Once you’re successful, you should be able to select a sport, pick an event, read odds, deposit funds, and place a bet with zero hassles. When the time comes to withdraw, you should be able to request payouts quickly. In addition, contacting the customer support team using the app must be easy.

In a nutshell, the app should allow you to navigate and switch between pages with just a simple tap on the screen. And that’s regardless of whether the app attracts a large group of players or not. A slow and unresponsive app can cost you, especially if you’re placing in-play bets where odds fluctuate continuously.

Variety of Betting Markets

A UK betting app that’s easy to install and navigate is what every punter should look for. At the end of the day, the app should meet your wagering needs by providing betting markets you’re interested in. It’s advisable to settle for a betting app covering a broad range of betting markets. Top UK betting apps make it a point to cover several betting markets on each event to outperform their rivals. Those are the apps you want to join. Such betting apps ensure you get the most out of your wagering experience, explore more markets, and evolve in the process.

Naturally, we expect to see a betting app covering markets like Spreads, Moneylines, and Totals, at the very least. But above-average betting apps proceed to cover other markets like Player Props, Parlays, and Futures. Such markets are more competitive and entertaining. Plus, they grant you more payouts if your predictions go well. Of course, you can’t discuss competitive markets without mentioning attractive betting odds to back them up. Look for the betting app offering the latest odds in major and smaller betting markets.

Cash Out on a Betting App

Thanks to technological improvements, sports betting on mobile apps has evolved for the better. Of the several notable innovative betting features, the Cash Out system remains one of the most revolutionary. The feature allows you to cash out your stake while a game is underway. Players who aren’t confident their wagers will reap positive outcomes usually run with this option. The Cash Out feature allows players to make money from a potentially losing bet. Granted, you may not always get your entire stake back, but you won’t lose all of it either. Though the feature is popular on betting sites, top UK betting apps now afford mobile punters this opportunity.

The mere presence of this feature on the app you join will benefit you immensely. However, you must probe a little deeper to check which bets the app links the feature to. Most operators don’t allow this feature on all bets, save for a select few. Make sure you can make early payout requests on the bets you’re interested in. Also, some betting apps allow you to cash out part of your initial stake while keeping the rest in the game. Others allow you to place a bet in a shop and cash out on the bet.

Bet Builder

Bet Builder is another innovative feature popular with top UK football betting apps. Some leading UK betting apps offer the tool on more sports and betting markets. A Bet Builder gives players more freedom and flexibility over the wagers they place. So, how does it work? The feature lets you create what you consider a perfect bet by customising your betting slip. For instance, you can add wagers from the exact match to several other events. Note that the system only works in pre-game markets.

Different mobile betting sites calculate different odds for the feature. Look for the betting app offering the best odds on the Bet Builder system. Such a betting app will ensure you’re working with the best possible outcome and significantly boost your payouts if you win. When looking for a UK betting app that offers the Bet Builder feature, make sure you pick one where the system is easy to use. That’s because some Bet Builder systems are a nightmare to work with, which frankly defeats the entire purpose.

Exclusive Promotions for Mobile Users

Bettors have long appreciated how wagering platforms structure attractive bonuses to get them to sign up. Pretty much every operator dangles a welcome bonus of some sort to entice prospective customers to cross the fence. Most even continually provide ongoing promotions to keep the very same players engaged. Top UK betting apps run with this strategy. Some even offer an exclusive welcome bonus and promotions to bettors who access the platform using the mobile app. Other betting apps allow bettors to access exclusive promotions and enhanced odds only if they verify their accounts using their mobile phone numbers instead of email.

Depending on the betting app, you’ll find different promotions on the table strictly reserved for mobile app bettors. These can include free bets, risk-free bets, or match deposit bonuses. Regardless of the bonus type, essentially, it benefits you in one way or the other way. For example:

  • Free bets give you additional opportunities to wager on the app.
  • Risk-free bets compensate for your losing wager on the app.
  • Match deposit and reload bonuses amplify your bankroll, giving you more wagering opportunities.

Convenient Banking Methods

The UK betting app you pick must allow you to deposit and withdraw funds with utmost ease using your mobile phone. You should be able to select a payment method and consequently top up your funds with a few simple taps on your phone and minimal hassle. And the same goes for withdrawals. The best UK betting sites typically make available all the payment methods on the desktop version of the mobile app. However, you’ll find that other banking methods are more convenient for mobile bettors. For instance:

  • Card options: Visa and Mastercard remain the simplest banking methods when transacting with your mobile phone. By simply inserting your card number, you’re able to transfer funds into your player account in the blink of an eye.
  • Digital/ e-wallet banking methods: These payment methods are equally easy to work with when using your mobile device. Plus, both deposits and withdrawals are processed quickly enough.

When checking for UK betting apps, also look for those offering secure payment methods that run on encrypted connections to prevent theft or hacking. In addition, pick the app offering banking methods with low deposits, high withdrawals, and low fees.

24/7 Customer Support

When wagering on a sports betting app, at some point, you’ll find yourself in need of assistance. Whether it’s registration, account, wagering, or payment-related, it’s comforting to know there’s someone to help. That’s especially true if you’re guaranteed assistance regardless of when you need it. To ensure this, you must look for operators offering round-the-clock customer support on their betting apps instead of limited time frames. In addition, you must check the communication platforms available on that app you can use to reach the support team. These include:

  • Live chat platforms: Most UK betting sites that offer 24/7 customer support have a live chat platform that ensures your issues are addressed in real-time, where possible. Before you join the app, feel free to send a chat to check how quickly a customer support official responds to you.
  • Email: Some betting apps allow players to reach them via email. Again, opt for UK betting apps that don’t take donkey years to respond to your issue.
  • Phone: Other betting apps have phone lines that bettors can use. You can also check if the operator has toll-free lines for added convenience. Plus, it’ll save you a couple of pennies!
  • Contact form: Some betting sites put a contact form on the website in place of email. Either way, check for responsiveness.

Responsible Gambling Tools

When gambling, it’s not uncommon for things to spiral out of control. There’s a thin line between controlled wagering and gambling addiction. Responsible UK betting apps aren’t oblivious to this fact and will do all they can to encourage conscientious gambling. Even if you feel your gambling habits are under control, it’s still advisable to look for apps that promote responsible gambling. Such operators provide you with tools to help you manage your gambling, keep it in check, and stop you from spending more than you can afford. Most of these tools allow you to set your own gambling rules in line with your gambling behaviour, gambling style, and bankroll.

Depending on the app, the tools can come in the form of a Self-Exclusion feature that allows you to take a gambling break if you feel things are getting out of hand. Some operators will enable you to set the amounts you wish to spend on the app from the onset. Also, it’s wise to look for UK betting apps affiliated with gambling addiction programmes. Such operators readily display the available programmes on the app and how you can reach them. Most importantly, look for UKGC licensed betting apps as they usually avail most of these features per gambling regulations.

Best Football Betting Apps

Best Football Betting Apps

Football is one of the most popular sports bettors in the UK like to wager on. It makes sense that there are several football betting apps in the country. But, of course, though they offer football betting, they are not all the same. A good football betting app will offer:
Comprehensive betting markets: Standard football betting apps will cover basic Moneyline, Spreads, or Over/Under betting markets. Top betting apps go on to offer players a wide range of Prop bets for a more rewarding wagering experience.

  • Wide range of matches: Top betting sites give players access to numerous football betting leagues, tournaments, and cups. The idea is to provide bettors with more options to explore competitive markets. It’s not uncommon for some betting apps to cover over 30 football leagues!
  • Rewarding promotions: Over and above a comprehensive list of sports, good football betting apps offer daily bonuses and ongoing promotions.
  • Innovative features: A good football betting app offers features that enable players to get the most value while wagering. Bettors can place in-play bets while a game is underway and live steam events to watch bets play out in real-time. Other out-of-the-box betting apps even offer Pulse bets where you can view your potential winnings increase in real-time!

Best Horse Racing Betting Apps

Horse racing betting is equally popular in the UK. Before you sign up with a horse racing app, make sure it ticks the fundamental boxes where security, safety, and ease of navigation are concerned. Ensure that you confine your selection pool to licensed horse racing betting apps if you expect fair gambling practices. With the basics out of the way, take a closer look at what kind of horse racing betting experience the app offers. A good horse racing betting app provides the following horse racing betting options:

  • Fixed-odds bets: This is where you can wager on a horse and predict a straight win or each-way win.
  • Place more than wager: They also allow you to wager on more than one horse in the same race.
  • Pool bets: You should be able to access pool bets to boost your payouts.

Naturally, these bet options are only worthwhile if the app covers a wide range of horse racing tracks locally and across the globe. In horse-racing betting, live streaming is an integral feature. You might want to look for the app that allows you to watch how the horse you’re backing fares on the track. Also, trusted bookmaker offers different promotions on racing events in the form of money-back specials, free bets, or price boosts to enhance your wagering experience.

Best Horse Racing Betting Apps

Best Live Betting Apps

Best Live Betting Apps

By now, you should have a pretty good idea of how live betting injects that extra thrill and excitement into sports wagering. No doubt, when looking for a UK betting app, you might want to confine your search to live betting apps. However, you must take it a step further to investigate each live betting app because some operators provide significantly better services than others. It’s vital to look for a simple, highly responsive live betting app. You should be able to place in-play bets with minimum hassle.

Not all operators have the resources to offer in-play bets on all sporting events, especially on mobile apps. However, the best live betting apps allow players to place in-play bets on mainstream events, such as the Premier League. Other live betting sites offer exclusive promotions to bettors using live betting services. Such apps allow you to get the most value from your wagering experience. Plus, they are on the ball when providing you with updated odds.

Best Cash Out Betting Apps

As we mentioned before in our guide, bettors who wind up with a Cash Out betting app have struck gold. But again, you need to select the best app from the pack. For starters, some apps avail one or all of the following Cash Out features:

  • Partial Cash Out: You can only cash out a portion of a wager at any point in time to minimise loss.
  • Full Cash Out Feature: You’ll agree that better apps allow you to cash out your entire stake when you so desire.
  • Automated Cash Out Feature: The best betting apps offer an automated Cash Out feature to make the process much quicker and easier.

Look for the app that avails the Cash Out feature on more betting markets and events. Also, check which events you won’t be allowed to use the feature on, especially if they are matches of interest. Above all, a good Cash Out betting app makes the function easy to use for any gamer regardless of whether you’re new or seasoned.

Best Cashout Betting Apps

Best Free Bet Betting Apps

Free bet betting apps award players additional wagers to use on the platform. The free bets can be a part of the welcome bonus, which is well and good if you need convincing signing with a particular app. But if you intend to wager on the app for the foreseeable future, ask yourself the following questions:

  • Does the operator offer regular free bets promotions to existing users? That way, you’re guaranteed a rewarding and entertaining sports betting experience on the app.
  • What types of free bets are on offer? Check if the operator offers match deposit bets, no deposit bets, or risk-free bets. Look for the app handing out the exact bonus that works for you.
  • What are the wagering conditions attached to the app? Check if the wagering conditions linked to the free bets are low or high. Where possible, opt for the former.
  • What type of markets link to the bets? An excellent free bet betting app connects the stakes to a wide range of sports. Check if the extra wagers are attached to sports and betting markets you’re interested in.
  • How soon do the free bets expire? As you know, free bets tend to expire after some time. Look for betting apps that attach reasonable time limits to the free bets before they are off the table.

Dedicated Betting Apps vs Browser: Which Is Better?

Native betting apps vs mobile browsers? That’s a long-standing debate in the mobile sports betting world. With a dedicated app, you must first download the app from Play Store or Apple Store, depending on your device. Some sportsbooks include app download links on the main website.

On the other hand, no downloads are involved with mobile browser betting. Bettors can access the betting platform directly from their mobile browser. Each route comes with its advantages and disadvantages. Which one you go with boils down to personal preference:

  • Advantages of betting app over browsers

Betting apps come with numerous advantages, with the first being security. They are considered more secure than mobile-optimised websites. Also, betting apps are synonymous with large betting sites covering more markets. Small operators covering obscure niches will seldom avail a native betting app. Betting apps also host some features locally on your device, making for quicker navigation.

  • Disadvantages of betting apps over browsers

One of the most significant drawbacks is native apps take up part of your mobile space. That’s something you don’t have to worry about if you access the site directly from your browser. Then, of course, there’s the issue of betting apps requiring updates every now and again. Players might opt for browsers just to avoid that hassle.

Closing Thoughts

Sports betting is very prominent in the UK, and the numerous betting apps at your disposal attest to this fact. They allow you to wager while on the go for added convenience. Given the innumerable UK betting apps available, your overall wagering experience is primarily determined by the one you sign up with. You need to be intentional about the sportsbook app you sign with to void short-changing your betting experience. Your selection process should cover crucial aspects that contribute to the app quality. These factors include the app’s licensing, security, betting markets, bonuses, promotions, and odds. You must also compare the features available on the app, such as the Cash Out, Bet Builder, and Live betting, and establish which one offers it best.

This is an excellent time to decide whether you prefer downloading a betting app or playing directly from your mobile browser. Ultimately, you want to experience a seamless wagering experience regardless.

UK Betting Apps FAQ

A betting app is a software designed to allow bettors to wager on different markets using their mobile devices. You can download and install the app on your mobile devices. Mobile-optimised web apps run on the sportsbook’s web server and provide gambling markets via your mobile web browser.

To download and install a betting app, you must visit Play Store or Apple store, depending on whether you have an Android or iPhone device. Type out the operator’s name you’re interested in and click Download. Sometimes you can find a download link on the bookie’s main website. Once installation is complete, sign up by filling out the registration form.

Yes, they are. Most operators make their betting apps free for players to download. Imposing a fee is the quickest way to alienate a sizeable number of players who’ll end up opting for free betting apps.

Yes, they are. But only if you download a licensed app governed by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) and adheres to fair gambling practices. Also, a safe betting site uses SSL encryption to keep player interactions on the app secure.

A betting app is easy to use and often allows you to customise your betting experience compared to the mobile version of the betting site. Native apps host some features on your device, so you typically get quicker response times and a better overall betting experience.

Yes, you can. Several forward-thinking betting apps allow players to place wagers while the games are in session. You simply have to pick the app that makes the process as easy as possible.

Yes, many UK betting sites offer exclusive bonuses reserved for mobile app users. Such operators may use the bonus to promote their mobile apps or simply give mobile app bettors a more rewarding gambling experience.

NG

Author

Nick Griffin

Last Updated:

The creator of this project is not just another writer but he is, first and foremost, a passionate online gaming player. His attention to detail means he spends hours studying and trying out innovative new techniques in order to write content that is engaging and truly informative for the users of this blog. When he's not writing, you can find him in Macau and Las Vegas, with sunglasses and the ever-present cigar.

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