Sport is part of our culture in the United Kingdom, and that’s not something that’s going to change anytime soon. From professional football to international rugby, cricket, boxing, and badminton, we love sport in all different shapes and sizes. The most popular are played at every level, from Sunday league football to Grand Slam tennis. Switch on your TV, and you are sure to find a live sports fixture. Open a newspaper, and there will be the talk of a major sporting event or the goings-on in the life of a famous sportsperson. Sport – there really is no getting away from it, and even if there were, we wouldn’t want to.
You don’t have to brave the weather and visit your local stadium or get down to your nearest grass football pitch to get involved in UK sport. There is another way. An option that allows you to enjoy the drama of following your favorite competitions, teams, and players. You can do this from the comfort of your own home or when on the move, thanks to your Android or iOS mobile. One of the most popular ways to get involved in sport at a higher level than simply watching the match on TV is to place a bet on the outcome at a leading sportsbook.
Millions of wagers are placed at the top UK betting sites every year in the UK. Even more, cash changes hands in the gambling industry as bettors have their say on the result of a fixture that caught their eye. These wagers can be placed in person at any licensed betting office on the high street or – far more popular today – electronically by using a betting website or mobile app. You can bet at the touch of a button. Why not combine your passion for sport and knowledge of the competition to target a profit? For any sports gambler in the UK, making a profit while watching their favorite team in action is a perfect scenario.
In this article, we explain everything you need to know about betting in the United Kingdom. We touch on the industry’s rich history, the current laws, overall stats, and simple steps to create an online betting account, land a welcome bonus free bet, and gamble on the sports of your choice. Put plainly. This page is your one-stop for all the sportsbook betting information you’ll ever need. It is our aim that by the end of this article, our readers will be better-informed, have an understanding of why bookies offer bonuses, how you can use these promotions to your advantage, and more.
History
The Gambling Act of 1960 moved to legalize and regulate sports betting in the United Kingdom. It meant that for the first time, bets could be placed legally at horse racing and greyhound racing tracks or within licensed betting offices. The industry has still a long way off what we know and love today, but it was a landmark in the history of sports betting, moving gambling from pubs and underground bookies to fairer, legal premises. The UK is now viewed as the home of sports betting with the island having a growing number of bookies, certainly more based than the US.
Rules
Today, more bets are placed on mobile betting apps than on websites and high street betting offices combined. You are free to create an account with an online bookmaker, but there are some rules you should be aware of. All bookmakers targeting customers, offering odds, and accepting bets in the UK must be licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. You will find details of the license on the homepage of the betting app. You must also be above 18 years old to legally gamble and will be asked to verify your details when opening an online betting account.
Stats
- £5.89b is the gross gambling yield in the UK
- Over 30% of people in the United Kingdom gamble weekly
- More than 85,000 are employed in the gambling industry
- There are 6735 betting shops in the country
- £2.90 is the average British spend on betting
Create an account
To place bets at a high street betting office, all you have to do is walk into the bookie of your choice, prove your age, if asked to by the cashier, and start gambling. It’s as easy as that. Many people prefer the convenience of online gambling, betting at home on their desktop computer or on the move using a mobile app. This is available to all old enough to bet, but you must first register an account with an online sportsbook.
You can do this in a matter of minutes by visiting the homepage of your chosen bookie and clicking the sign-up tab. Fill in the registration form, providing all the necessary information, including your name, date of birth, and postcode. Create a username and password to complete your account registration. You can then access your account through the website or mobile app at any time.
Welcome bonuses
The most successful sportsbooks offer new customers a welcome bonus when they sign up and place a bet. This is a marketing tool used by the bookie to help them stand out from the crowd and encourage you to join and bet with them over the competition.
These deals come in many different shapes and sizes, including free bets, risk-free bets, enhanced odds, profit boost, cashback, and extra places each way. Study what’s available and choose the promotion that best suits you as a bettor. Be sure to read the terms and conditions attached to the welcome bonus. Doing so will give you a strong understanding of how the offer works and what is expected of you as a registered customer of the business.
Place a bet
Placing a bet is quick and easy, taking just a few seconds to complete when using your smartphone or mobile app. Log in to your account with your username and password, then make a deposit using your debit card or chosen e-wallet.
Click the sport you wish to bet on, then the fixture. Browse the markets available, then click the odds attached to the selection you wish to back. It will then appear in your bet slip, allowing you to add the stake, check everything is in order than confirm the bet.
