When you decide to start staking your hard earned money as a punter, understanding sports betting should be your first step.
When you decide to start staking your hard earned money as a punter, understanding sports betting should be your first step.
For centuries we have been gambling on all sorts from horses to hockey, football to greyhounds and everything in between.
We just love a flutter, but gone are the days of having to go into sketchy betting shops in the dodgy parts of town.
At the turn of the century there was a boom in online sports betting with new sites springing up all over the place offering an ever increasing array of markets and opportunities for a wager.
Following that, the rapid advances in mobile technology made it even easier on sports betting. Especially placing a bet at your convenience with the whole sporting world priced up just a couple of taps away.
However, as the online sports betting world becomes ever more established it can be a confusing arena for an individual to get familiar with.
That is why we thought that we would answer some of the more common questions so you can get up and running as soon as possible.
If you don’t know your Bet Builder from Bob The Builder then this should be a good read for yourself.
Chances are that you will have seen free bet offers all over the place as you watch TV or browse the web, but what are free bets?
Simply put there are hundreds of online sports betting sites out there and they all want your business and as such they will try and entice you with offers like ‘Bet £10 and Get up to £30 in Free Bets’.
There is an often mentioned phrase which is there is ‘no such thing as a free lunch’ and this is true when it comes to free bets.
Make sure you check the terms and conditions as you will often have to place your first bet on something that is at odds of EVS (2.0 or 1/1) or greater.
There may be wagering requirements on the terms and conditions so make sure you check the small print.
If you believe you have qualified for free bets but you haven’t received them get in touch with the bookmaker and they will be on hand to sort it out for you.
With so many different sports betting sites there are a whole host of sports welcome bonuses for you to explore and you can check out some of the best free bet offers below.
Sports betting is all about probabilities and the better chance something has of happening then the shorter the odds will be.
For example, Tottenham might be 2/1 to beat Real Madrid but they would be 1/10 to beat Kettering Town. If you are struggling with the above scenarios then let’s break it down.
£10 on Tottenham to beat Real Madrid would win you £20 so with your original stake included your returns would be £30.
To beat Kidderminster your £10 would win you £1 so a total return.
If the fraction is smaller than 1/1 (EVS) then it is refereed to as odds-on, with bets bigger than 1/1 odds against.
Still confused?
If fractions weren’t for you at school then you might find it easier to set your account decimals. This would mean that instead of 2/1 you would see 3.00.
To work out your returns in decimal format simply multiply your stake by the number shown.
From the years of the Mafia, gambling has often been surrounded by shady characters looking to make some quick money. So how can you be assured that your money will be safe when gambling with these firms?
Luckily for you, the UK has some of the tightest gambling regulations in the world so you can rest easy in the knowledge that no one is going to run off with your hard-earned money.
All the sports betting sites listed on this site have the highest reputations for safety of customer funds, however, if you have any misgivings surrounding a site deposit using an e-wallet like PayPal or Neteller as an extra layer of protection.
The tight gambling compliance rules mean that you can’t just open an account and start playing straight away, more often than not you will need to provide proof of who you actually are.
This is to ensure that you aren’t a problem gambler who is trying to bet through multiple accounts or to ensure that you aren’t doing any kind of money laundering.
Most of the time they will just need to see proof of address and you will be good to go, but if you are a high roller then chances are that the site will ask to see proof of funds to check that you aren’t gambling more than you can afford.
Often verification is done in less than 24 hours. After all, it is in their best interest to get you signed up and playing as soon as possible so you don’t have chance to go and register elsewhere.
If you believe it is taking a while to get verified, get on to the live chat and they will usually be more than happy to assist.
The tight gambling compliance rules mean that you can’t just open an account and start playing straight away, more often than not you will need to provide proof of who you actually are.
This is to ensure that you aren’t a problem gambler who is trying to bet through multiple accounts or to ensure that you aren’t doing any kind of money laundering.
Most of the time they will just need to see proof of address and you will be good to go, but if you are a high roller then chances are that the site will ask to see proof of funds to check that you aren’t gambling more than you can afford.
Often verification is done in less than 24 hours. After all, it is in their best interest to get you signed up and playing as soon as possible so you don’t have chance to go and register elsewhere.
If you believe it is taking a while to get verified, get on to the live chat and they will usually be more than happy to assist.
We touched on it above, but the best chance you have of beating the bookie long term is by having more knowledge than them on a certain event.
If you know Caribbean cricket or Polish volleyball like the back of your hand, then use this to your advantage.
Check across a number of bookmakers as they are more likely to make a mistake on these markets they know little of.
Remember, you don’t have to bet. Be patient, wait for your opportunity and striker when it does.
We touched on it above, but the best chance you have of beating the bookie long term is by having more knowledge than them on a certain event.
If you know Caribbean cricket or Polish volleyball like the back of your hand, then use this to your advantage.
Check across a number of bookmakers as they are more likely to make a mistake on these markets they know little of.
Remember, you don’t have to bet. Be patient, wait for your opportunity and striker when it does.
We touched on it above, but the best chance you have of beating the bookie long term is by having more knowledge than them on a certain event.
If you know Caribbean cricket or Polish volleyball like the back of your hand, then use this to your advantage.
Check across a number of bookmakers as they are more likely to make a mistake on these markets they know little of.
Remember, you don’t have to bet. Be patient, wait for your opportunity and striker when it does.
All casinos are responsive and mobile friendly to give you the best experience while playing.
When you decide to start staking your hard earned money as a punter, understanding sports betting should be your first step.
For centuries we have been gambling on all sorts from horses to hockey, football to greyhounds and everything in between.
We just love a flutter, but gone are the days of having to go into sketchy betting shops in the dodgy parts of town.
At the turn of the century there was a boom in online sports betting with new sites springing up all over the place offering an ever increasing array of markets and opportunities for a wager.
Following that, the rapid advances in mobile technology made it even easier on sports betting. Especially placing a bet at your convenience with the whole sporting world priced up just a couple of taps away.
However, as the online sports betting world becomes ever more established it can be a confusing arena for an individual to get familiar with.
That is why we thought that we would answer some of the more common questions so you can get up and running as soon as possible.
If you don’t know your Bet Builder from Bob The Builder then this should be a good read for yourself
Chances are that you will have seen free bet offers all over the place as you watch TV or browse the web, but what are free bets?
Simply put there are hundreds of online sports betting sites out there and they all want your business and as such they will try and entice you with offers like ‘Bet £10 and Get up to £30 in Free Bets’.
There is an often mentioned phrase which is there is ‘no such thing as a free lunch’ and this is true when it comes to free bets.
Make sure you check the terms and conditions as you will often have to place your first bet on something that is at odds of EVS (2.0 or 1/1) or greater.
There may be wagering requirements on the terms and conditions so make sure you check the small print.
If you believe you have qualified for free bets but you haven’t received them get in touch with the bookmaker and they will be on hand to sort it out for you.
With so many different sports betting sites there are a whole host of sports welcome bonuses for you to explore and you can check out some of the best free bet offers below.
Sports betting is all about probabilities and the better chance something has of happening then the shorter the odds will be.
For example, Tottenham might be 2/1 to beat Real Madrid but they would be 1/10 to beat Kettering Town. If you are struggling with the above scenarios then let’s break it down.
£10 on Tottenham to beat Real Madrid would win you £20 so with your original stake included your returns would be £30.
To beat Kidderminster your £10 would win you £1 so a total return.
If the fraction is smaller than 1/1 (EVS) then it is refereed to as odds-on, with bets bigger than 1/1 odds against.
Still confused?
If fractions weren’t for you at school then you might find it easier to set your account decimals. This would mean that instead of 2/1 you would see 3.00.
To work out your returns in decimal format simply multiply your stake by the number shown.
From the years of the Mafia, gambling has often been surrounded by shady characters looking to make some quick money. So how can you be assured that your money will be safe when gambling with these firms?
Luckily for you, the UK has some of the tightest gambling regulations in the world so you can rest easy in the knowledge that no one is going to run off with your hard-earned money.
All the sports betting sites listed on this site have the highest reputations for safety of customer funds, however, if you have any misgivings surrounding a site deposit using an e-wallet like PayPal or Neteller as an extra layer of protection.
The tight gambling compliance rules mean that you can’t just open an account and start playing straight away, more often than not you will need to provide proof of who you actually are.
This is to ensure that you aren’t a problem gambler who is trying to bet through multiple accounts or to ensure that you aren’t doing any kind of money laundering.
Most of the time they will just need to see proof of address and you will be good to go, but if you are a high roller then chances are that the site will ask to see proof of funds to check that you aren’t gambling more than you can afford.
Often verification is done in less than 24 hours. After all, it is in their best interest to get you signed up and playing as soon as possible so you don’t have chance to go and register elsewhere.
If you believe it is taking a while to get verified, get on to the live chat and they will usually be more than happy to assist.
The tight gambling compliance rules mean that you can’t just open an account and start playing straight away, more often than not you will need to provide proof of who you actually are.
This is to ensure that you aren’t a problem gambler who is trying to bet through multiple accounts or to ensure that you aren’t doing any kind of money laundering.
Most of the time they will just need to see proof of address and you will be good to go, but if you are a high roller then chances are that the site will
ask to see proof of funds to check that you aren’t gambling more than you can afford.
Often verification is done in less than 24 hours. After all, it is in their best interest to get you signed up and playing as soon as possible so you don’t have chance to go and register elsewhere.
If you believe it is taking a while to get verified, get on to the live chat and they will usually be more than happy to assist.
We touched on it above, but the best chance you have of beating the bookie long term is by having more knowledge than them on a certain event.
If you know Caribbean cricket or Polish volleyball like the back of your hand, then use this to your advantage.
Check across a number of bookmakers as they are more likely to make a mistake on these markets they know little of.
Remember, you don’t have to bet. Be patient, wait for your opportunity and striker when it does.
We touched on it above, but the best chance you have of beating the bookie long term is by having more knowledge than them on a certain event.
If you know Caribbean cricket or Polish volleyball like the back of your hand, then use this to your advantage.
Check across a number of bookmakers as they are more likely to make a mistake on these markets they know little of.
Remember, you don’t have to bet. Be patient, wait for your opportunity and striker when it does.
When you decide to start staking your hard earned money as a punter, understanding sports betting should be your first step.
For centuries we have been gambling on all sorts from horses to hockey, football to greyhounds and everything in between.
We just love a flutter, but gone are the days of having to go into sketchy betting shops in the dodgy parts of town.
At the turn of the century there was a boom in online sports betting with new sites springing up all over the place offering an ever increasing array of markets and opportunities for a wager.
Following that, the rapid advances in mobile technology made it even easier on sports betting. Especially placing a bet at your convenience with the whole sporting world priced up just a couple of taps away.
However, as the online sports betting world becomes ever more established it can be a confusing arena for an individual to get familiar with.
That is why we thought that we would answer some of the more common questions so you can get up and running as soon as possible.
If you don’t know your Bet Builder from Bob The Builder then this should be a good read for yourself.
Once you have identified the gambling site you would like to pursue, as well as reading the bonus terms and conditions, you are ready to register.
The registration process with all gambling sites is pretty straight forward, although in some instances you may be required to present some identification to prove you are over 18, this process is also known as KYC (know your customer), a bit more about that later.
By law, all organisations offering a service to individuals required to be over 18 must carry out a KYC verification. This ensures the safeguarding of both the individuals as well as the business. Online gambling sites are no exception.
From a consumer’s point of view KYC is there to ensure you are who you say you are and that you pose little or no risk to the service you are about to receive. While from a business point of view the KYC process ensures the business Is protected from auditing bodies, insurance liability and potential lawsuits. It also gives companies a measurement tool in terms of risk.
You will not always be required to produce KYC documentation when signing up with gambling sites, in most instances it is automatic and happens without you even knowing.
Once you have registered and proceed to the second page, the database would have scanned other databases to match your information, whether it is a bank or the local council.
So long as you have not recently changed address or phone number, you are likely to get through.
Some gambling sites however will want to carry out the KYC checks manually, to which you will be asked to either scan the documents and email them over, or take a photo with your camera phone and upload them to your profile.
Approval and verification are generally immediate, however in some instances if KYC has not been verified, it may need to go through the compliance team, who will then contact you to verify your details. This is rare; however, it can happen and can at times delay your registration verification with your chosen online gambling site
Banking online is now the most trusted, easiest, and quickest ways of transferring funds around. Online banking using any type of method was looked on with great suspicion in the formative years of the internet. But, these days there’s nothing on the internet that’s more secure.
Depending on your circumstances choosing an online casino that meets your depositing or withdrawal requirements is important, whether it be PayPal, Visa, Skrill, Klarna, Boku pay by phone or even Bitcoin.
Each option offers different withdrawal times.
Online players should also note that some sites may only accept certain payment method for deposits and not withdrawals.
Importantly, to note, as of April 2020 the gambling credit card ban kicked in. This means all online casinos no longer be able to accept credit cards as an accepted payment method.
Although gambling sites will have other suitable alternatives. For further information please refer to our Payment Methods page.
Finding the best online casinos and online slot games is not always easy.
Similarly, with thousands of online casinos and slot games available across all the online casinos on the market, there’s bound to be something that meets your requirement. However, perhaps you’re specifically interested in online casinos or slot games operating on a particular software, such as IGT, Netent, Playtech, Microgaming, or you prefer the live casino from Evolution gaming.
Either way, we have listed the best online casinos by software category and these can be found within our software topics.
In other instances it might be a high paying game you’re interested in, perhaps you might simply have a favourite. Either way, once you’ve met the bonus requirements promoted by our carefully selected list of online casinos. You’ll be able to test the Games you really want, using the bonus funds.
Alternatively, most online casinos offer a demo version of your selected online slot game, this means you can play the slot game without any risk to your funds.
Moreover, whether you’re looking for the favourite online slots, such as Gonzo, Starburst, Fluffy Favourites, Book of the Dead, Lightening roulette live, Rainbow riches or Frankie’s Magic Seven, you’re bound to find exactly what you’re looking for via the reviews ‘recommended games’.
In the same way, with a wide array of online casino, games and slots readily available, we are confident to being able to provide you with rich, fun filled ponds of entertainment.
Simply find the suitable online casino or slot games by category preference, register, deposit, find your game and off you go!
Players who are interested in table games but want to know more about them and how to play, prior to jumping in, why not checkout our online casino guides page. The page showcases some of the most famous games on the market, such as, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, slots, live dealer as well as poker.
Whether it be live dealer, online slots, or table games ensure your online casino choice meets your requirements.
It’s one thing to find the best online bonuses and another understanding what the offer means. At Top UK we thoroughly understand your motive of getting more out of your hard-earned money when playing online.
Hence, we know that depositing money into a gambling site which provides you with the best possible bonus and experience is of primary importance.
Therefore, our first suggestion to you would be not to judge online casinos by the size of the bonus offered. Instead ensure you understand the online casinos bonus terms and conditions. This will give you a better understanding of the bonus requirements, such as wagering to be met prior to converting your winnings into cash.
Bearing in mind, some online casinos have no wagering or wager free bonus offers, so whatever you win is converted in cash you can withdraw immediately.
Nevertheless, read the withdrawal terms and conditions as well as the use of language, especially if there’s spins involved. If you are only interested in wager free casinos, then you would be happy to know we have a dedicated page for the topic.
Online players should also be able to identify if the bonus is being promoted as ‘Free’ or ‘Bonus’, the difference being a bonus requires a deposit to be made prior to being claimed while ‘free’ does not.
By law, all online gambling sites are required to clearly display their bonus terms and conditions, this is also known as salient terms or a summarised version of their full terms and conditions. We therefore filter through all this information for you and deliver an honest trusted verdict that clearly states what you get from your chosen site.
All online sites want to retain your loyalty and the best online casinos tend to have a team dedicated to just looking after their most loyal players.
As you can appreciate, all online casinos are setup differently the same applies to the rewards or VIP team.
Smaller online casinos tend to reward their loyal players with free spins, matched bonus offers, and birthday bonuses. What you get from the smaller online casinos varies depending on the ‘Level’, you’re currently on.
Each level is achieved depending on how long you’ve been a member and how much money you’ve deposited.
The larger online gambling sites tend to have more financial muscle behind them, which also means, they can spoil you more as a loyal VIP customer. As a VIP customer, you’d get your very own dedicated account manager. This is the person go to individual if you’ve got any issues or have certain requirements.
However, there’s a lot more you can expect, such as, frees spins, cash rewards, enhanced bonus offers, quick deposits, high withdrawal amounts, birthday gifts, event tickets, and all expenses paid for holidays.
Depending on your chosen online site, some may offer cashback rewards, this is based on you receiving a percentage of your money back should you lose each time you play.
Most online gambling sites are compatible with all devices such as, desktop, mobile and tablet, operating on Windows, iOS or Android.
When you visit your preferred online casino, look out for ‘instant play’. This means the moment you visit the online casino website, your experience as well as game choice is no different to a downloaded app.
Although, some online sites have downloadable apps for ease of play, players also tend to receive more promotions via their app. Again this is dependent if the online gambling site offers a downloadable app.
Most online gambling sites are compatible with all devices such as, desktop, mobile and tablet, operating on Windows, iOS or Android.
When you visit your preferred site, look out for ‘instant play’. This means the moment you visit the online gambling site, your experience as well as game choice is no different to a downloaded app.
Although, some gambling sites have downloadable apps for ease of play, players also tend to receive more promotions via their app. Again this is dependent if the site offers a downloadable app.
Our mission is clear, find the best gambling sites! Sourcing online gambling sites and vetting them is an ongoing process, one we take very seriously.
Top UK is an affiliate site, meaning we act as an advertising tool for online gambling brands, however in order for an online gambling site to be accepted, they have to meet all our stringent requirements including testing.
Conversely, every published site is consistent with fraud checks and ensuring they abide by all rules and regulations set by the Gambling Commission or appropriate in country jurisdiction commission, minimizing any security risks you may have.