ARE new betting sites in the UK better than established apps? Can new bookmakers compete with industry veterans when it comes to odds and bonus offers? We’ve got the answer to those questions and more.
Even though newbies don’t have the experience or reputation of established brands, that doesn’t mean you should ignore them. In fact, if you’re willing to try something new, there are plenty of interesting options out there. So, if you’re willing to take a punt on new sites, here’s everything you need to know.
Our top picks among new betting sites
- BetUK
- Betgoodwin
- Sky Bet
- BetVictor
- Britain Bet
- Luckster
- Rhino.bet
- HeySpin
- BoyleSports
- VBET
How we picked the best among the newest betting sites
We test every new and licensed UK betting site. Our team of experts focus on specific areas to ensure every recommendation we make has something to offer discerning sports bettors. As you read through this guide, we’ll elaborate on the features we think are important. However, before we get into the specifics of what certain sites offer and how you can find your perfect bookmaker, here’s a quick overview of things we analyse:
- Welcome bonuses and ongoing promos
- Competitive odds
- Range of betting markets
- Betting apps and user experience
- Live streams
- Payment options
- Licensing and security
Reviews of new sites: A closer look at new bookies
What makes new sites stand out in a competitive market? The five bookmakers listed below all have something unique that gives them an edge against some of the UK betting scene’s more established players.
1. BetUK
BetUK sign up
Bet £10 get £30 in Free Bets
New customers, Deposit & Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 free bets: 1 x £10 Horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 Football. Stake not returned. Full T&Cs apply. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.
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BetUK launched in 2018 and has links to the ever-popular LeoVegas. The interface isn’t particularly flashy, but it’s easy to use and functional. BetUK does the basics well but, in our view, it excels when it comes to specials. The oddsmakers and promo team do a good job of working in unison to create a weekly selection of unique betting markets. Specials can cover singles or multiway bets and they typically have competitive odds.
2. Betgoodwin
Betgoodwin sign up
50% back as a free bet up to £25
Offer valid for new Betgoodwin customers 18+. 50% of first day losses refunded as free bet. Max free bet per customer £25. Min. 3 bets of £10 or more on separate events at odds of evens (2.0) or bigger on first day. Free bets non withdrawable. Free bets to be credited within 24 hours. Full T&Cs apply.
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Goodwin Racing, one of the UK’s longest running telephone betting services, got into the online game with Betgoodwin. The company’s new betting site launched in 2022 and quickly established itself as a top destination for horse racing. It covers other sports, of course. However, if you want the best racing odds, live streams and innovation promotions, such as a free bet if you pick is beaten by a 50/1 outsider, Betgoodwin is worth a try.
3. Sky Bet
Sky Bet sign up offer
£30 in free bets when you place any bet
New customers only. First single & e/w bet only. 5p minimum stake. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 3 x £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets exclude virtuals. Free bets are non-withdrawable. Free bets expire after 30 days. Eligibility restrictions and further t&cs apply. 18+. Begambleaware.Org
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Sky Bet is an innovator among the newer online sportsbooks because it combines betting and sports media in one neat package. In fact, to be accurate, the Sky Bet network also contains poker, bingo and casino games. All of these verticals are built around Sky Sports, which means you get a unique blend of video and written content alongside betting odds, bonuses and live streaming.
4. BetVictor
BetVictor sign up
Bet £10 get £40
18+| Opt-in, bet £10+ at odds 2.00+ within 7 days. No cash-out. Get 3x £10 Free Bets on selected events. Plus a £10 Slot Bonus, selected games, and wager 20x to withdraw a max £250. 7-day expiry. Card payments only. T&Cs apply.
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BetVictor isn’t the newest bookmaker on our list but it’s one of the best at implementing new features. In fact, of all the established brands that launched during the early noughties, BetVictor has put out more innovations than most. The BetVictor blog is one example of an innovation that helped make it competitive on the sports betting strategy front. Similarly, the mini games feature makes it possible for sports bettors to play casino games, such as slots, while they place bets.
How to sign up at new betting sites
Here’s how to join the newest UK betting site in eight simple steps:
- Read our new UK betting site reviews to find your perfect platform.
- Tap the link within the review to start the registration process.
- Click “join now” and complete the registration form.
- Include a Sun UK promo code for your chosen bookmaker, if required.
- Verify your identity and complete the registration process.
- Log into your new account and go to the cashier page.
- Choose a secure payment method such as Visa, MasterCard, PayPal or Skrill.
- Make a deposit and start betting.
Luckster sign up
Bet £10, get £10
New customers only. Once per household. FreeBet amount: £10 Minimum deposit and wagering on sport to activate the Free Bet is: £10. Offer only for residents of UK and Ireland. Must be used within 14 days of being credited to your account. Deposits with Neteller, Paysafe, PayPal, Skrill or Skrill 1-Tap are not eligible for any free bet offer. Free bet awarded after first deposit and upon placing £10 with min odds of 1/1 higher. Must be settled within 14 days of bet placement to qualify. Free bet can only be used on a bet with total odds of (4/5)or higher. The maximum value of the free bet is £10.
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What are the advantages of new bookmakers?
There are plenty of reasons to try the newest online sports betting sites. Indeed, we’ve already given you a taste of what some of the leading bookmakers have to offer. However, in the interest of providing an overview of the industry at large, here’s why we recommend new sites:
Modern features
It stands to reason that a modern sportsbook would include modern features. What’s a modern feature? It’s hard to give specifics because the pace of innovation in the gambling industry is rapid, so what’s new today might not be in a few months. However, for the sake of this guide, modern features in today’s betting world are live streams, in-play cashouts, animated game overviews, onsite stats databases and embedded media.
Competitive odds and offers
New betting sites in the UK are fighting an uphill battle from the start. Industry veterans such as William Hill have been offering odds for 50+ years. One way to cut through the competition and make an impact is to offer market-leading odds. Complement these odds with bigger than average bonus offers, and you’ve got a new sportsbook that stands out in a crowded marketplace.
Mobile-first software
More people are betting on sports via their mobile than ever before. Every top-rated bookmaker in the UK has mobile software capable of running on iPhone, iPad and Android devices. In fact, we’d go so far as to say that bookmakers without native mobile apps aren’t worth using.
The added benefit of using new bookmakers is that they’ve been designed for the mobile era. Veteran operators have had to redesign existing platforms that were built when desktop betting ruled. Therefore, if you want the slickest mobile sports betting experience, we suggest trying a new bookmaker.
Extra betting options
The virtual walls that once kept gambling verticals apart have been removed in recent years. Back when online sports betting, casino gaming and poker were first gaining traction, the trend was to keep them separate. Today, customers want the option to move from one vertical to another with little more than a click (or tap).
The newest betting sites embrace this philosophy from the start. This means you can play casino games, including slot machines, blackjack and roulette, while betting on football. In fact, many of the latest betting sites also offer bingo, lottery draws and poker games.
Safety and security as standard
Security standards are higher than they’ve ever been. We’re not saying online betting sites that launched in the early noughties were unsafe, they weren’t. However, with features such as Face ID logins now common among the latest new betting sites, we can say that security has been taken to a new level.
Rhino.bet sign up
Bet £25 and get £10
18+ only. New customers only. Place a minimum £25 bet on any selection with minimum odds of evens (2) and receive a £10 free bet upon bet settlement. Use promo code b25g10fb. Free bets are awarded as free bet credits. Full Terms & Conditions apply.
Promo code: b25g10fb
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Are there any disadvantages if you join a new sports betting site?
We can’t pretend that new betting sites are perfect and always better than established apps. There are plenty of reasons why the latest bookmakers beat their elders, but there are some areas they can fall short. For example, some operators are so eager to put out a new product that they rush their beta tests. This can lead to features developing unexpected glitches.
Another possible disadvantage of using new bookmakers is that they’re unknown quantities. Ladbrokes has been around since 1886. Its brand name is in the public domain, and it has a reputation for excellence. A bookmaker such as BetUK has only been around since 2018, so it’s had less time to prove its worth. That doesn’t mean it’s not a high-quality bookmaker, it is. However, it doesn’t have the same brand status as Ladbrokes.
What bonuses can you expect at new betting sites?
You can expect to find a wide variety of bonuses at the top new betting sites. In fact, as we’ve already explained, promotions are one of the main reasons bettors seek out new sites. The desire to impress and stand out from the crowd often pushes new bookmakers to create bonus offers that surpass industry norms. Some of the main deals to look out for are:
- Welcome bonuses: these proverbial golden hellos give you a combination of bonus credits, free bets and cashback. Each bookmaker has its own preferences, but the point here is that you’ll receive a reward for creating new accounts and making bets.
- Cashback bonuses: losing bets aren’t always losers. Cashback promotions give you money back if your pick falls just short. For example, a bookmaker might give you money back (in bonus credits) if your chosen horse finishes fourth in a race paying the top three.
- Odds boosts and profit boosts: new UK online bookmakers like to offer better payouts than their more established competitors. They do this by boosting the odds or adding multipliers to any prize money you win.
- Acca insurance: some sports betting promotions allow you to insure an accumulator. If you didn’t know, accumulators combine multiple picks and roll them up into one single bet. Every pick has to be correct for you to win. However, with acca insurance, you can afford to have one wrong pick and still get a return on your investment.
- Loyalty rewards: although loyalty rewards are more common in online casino gaming and poker, you can still find them in sports betting. The premise is simple: you earn points each time you place a bet. So, if you play casino games, you’d earn points for wagering money on slot machines, blackjack, roulette et al. For sports betting, you can earn points for outrights, accumulators and other types of bets. These points can be used to unlock VIP rewards and extra bonuses.
BoyleSports sign up
Bet £10 get £20 in free bets
New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply.
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Do I need a promo code for bonuses at the newest betting sites?
Yes, there will be times when you need promo codes to unlock bonus offers. These codes typically need to be entered when you create a new account (for welcome bonuses) or before you make a deposit. We’ve got exclusive bonus codes for new and established UK bookmakers, so read our reviews to find out when they’re required.
Which new betting sites have early payout offers?
You can find early payout offers at plenty of new betting sites, including BetUK. These promotions allow you to receive a payout under certain conditions. For example, bet365 pays out football bets if your chosen team goes ahead by a certain number of goals. This offer doesn’t apply to every match. However, when it is available, you’ll win once your team goes ahead by a certain margin, even if they end up losing the match.
bet365 Bonus Code: SUN365
Get £30 in Free Bets with bet365 Bonus Code “SUN365”
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. The bonus code SUN365 can be used during registration, but does not change the offer amount in any way. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply.
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Can you use a mobile betting app with the newest bookmakers in the UK?
Yes, new bookmakers have mobile apps for iOS or Android devices. In fact, if a new betting operator doesn’t have a mobile app, it should be cause for concern. We’ll stop short of saying it’s always a problem but, in general, any operator wanting to become an industry leader needs a mobile app.
Is there in-play betting at new betting sites?
Yes! In-play betting, aka live sports betting, is a central offering for all new betting sites. In-play betting is the act of making picks while an event is in progress. The odds are constantly changing to reflect the state of play, which makes it one of the most dynamic ways to bet on sport.
Are bet builders included among new online bookies?
Yes, bet builders are available at all of the best new online sportsbooks. For example, if you join BetUK, you’ll be able to use the bet builder feature. This feature lists a variety of picks across different sports and lets you add them to your bet slip with a single click. Basically, bet builders allow you to create your own multiway wagers in less than a minute.
Is football betting the most popular at these new sites?
Yes, football betting is by far the most popular betting market at new sites. In fact, football dominates all UK betting sites. This means you’ll find thousands of odds and bonus offers for the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga and all other leagues.
As dominant as football is, it’s not the only sport in town. New bookmakers also love horse racing, and many have best odds guaranteed. This means they’ll match the best market odds at all times. Alongside the big two, our recommended sportsbooks offer odds on everything from tennis and boxing to rugby, darts, golf, cricket and eSports.
VBET sign up offer
Bet £10, get £20 in free bets
Only available to new, verified customers residing iin the UK. Join VBET and place a first ever bet of at least £10 (min. odds 2.0; single bet only). Get 2x£10 in free multiple bets (min. 3 legs per £10 bet; min. odds per leg – 2.0). Payment method restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply.
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Our top five tips on how to get the best out of new betting sites
We’ve given you the lowdown on new betting sites, what they offer and why they’re often a smart choice for bettors wanting slick online experiences. Before you rush off and try our top picks, here are some tips for betting maximum enjoyment each time you go online:
1. It all starts with you
We can give you the facts and figures, but the decision as to which betting site is best comes down to your personal preferences. Some people want comprehensive coverage of niche sports, such as darts and curling. Others want generous promotions or specific payment methods, such as Neteller and Skrill. Therefore, you need to sit down and think about what you want before you consider what’s available within the market.
2. Do your research
Once you’ve decided what things you want from a sportsbook, the next step is researching what’s available. We’ve given you a brief overview of the top new UK betting sites, but we’ve also got comprehensive reviews. Read them because they’ll give you clear insights into what each bookmaker has in terms of bonuses, features, customer support and betting options.
3. Find fun features
One area that’s worth focusing on when you’re reading reviews is features. Most bookies have odds for the biggest sporting events and it’s not hard to find bonuses. Therefore, if operators want to distinguish themselves from everyone else, they need unique features. These features include things such as live streaming, in-play cashouts, early cashouts and onsite betting tips.
4. Find your niche
Nothing is guaranteed in sports betting, but you stand a better chance of making winning picks if you do some research. For example, if you know Manchester City are on a 10-game winning streak, you can use this information to your advantage. Most people struggle to focus on things they don’t like, so our tip is to zone in on sports you enjoy.
5. Relax and enjoy yourself
Sports betting should be fun, regardless of whether you’re using new sites or established apps. Don’t spend more than you can afford to lose and stop betting when you’re not having fun. It’s that simple. Treat betting as a form of entertainment and you’ll always enjoy your time online.
About the author
Daniel Smyth
Daniel Smyth has seen the online poker, casino, and betting industry from every angle. He previously played poker semi-professionally before working at WPT Magazine as a writer and editor. From there, he transitioned to online gaming where he’s been producing expert content for over 10 years.
Follow Daniel on Twitter @DanSmythThePoet
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
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