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All countries around the world have their own laws and legislation regarding gambling of all kinds, including that carried out online. The UK is no exception and there is actually quite comprehensive legislation in place related to online betting and its legality.
This page is dedicated to unpicking that legislation and giving you all of the details you could possible want about the legality of online betting in the UK.
Key Points
Is Sports Betting Legal
- Since 1960, all gambling has been legal in the UK.
- Legal age for sports betting and most other forms of gambling is 18.
- Scratch cards, lotteries & football pools legal for 16+.
- Gambling Act 2005 & Gambling (Licensing & Advertising) Act 2014 govern most online activities.
- Gambling in the UK is regulated by the UK Gambling Commission.
Top 3 UK Legal Betting Sites
UK Gambling Legislation: Timeline
1963 – Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act
For many years in the UK, any betting away from racecourses was illegal but this all changed with the passage of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963. This act made gambling in locations away from courses legal and paved the way for the situation as it is today, whereby gambling is generally legal across the board.
It was that act and other 1960s legislation which for decades determined and regulated the gambling industry in the UK.
2005 – Gambling Act
The Gambling Act 2005 was eventually passed to modernise the nation’s gambling laws.
That act introduced a raft of new legislation which was all stated as having the following three main aims:
Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime…
Ensuring that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way, and…
Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.
2005 – Gambling Commission
To those ends, the act created the UK Gambling Commission as the body for regulating all gambling within the UK.
New types of gaming licences and rules dictating how these could be gained were developed online betting was brought under the same controls as land based gambling. Remote gambling licences were also introduced for offshore companies.
2014 – Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act
For a number of years, however, the act was ambiguous regarding online betting provided by companies based outside of the UK but serving British customers. These ambiguities were eventually removed by the passage of the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014.
That act made licensing and other regulation of gambling consistent across the board for all online gambling providers regardless of where they were based.
More importantly it made overseas based providers liable for paying the same 15% tax that UK based companies were already subject to.
It did this by making it a ‘point of consumption’ rather than a ‘point of supply’ tax. For a more in-depth explanation of the rules regarding the taxation of gambling in the UK, click here.
Money Laundering: Why You Need To Verify Identity
The UK Gambling Commission as regulators of the entire gambling industry in the UK are the supervisory body when it comes to anti money laundering measures. The present regulations regarding money laundering, however, are far from comprehensive.
Currently under the Money Laundering Regulations 2007, it is only organisations holding casino operating licences which are obligated to address money laundering risks.
Organisations subject to the Money Laundering Regulations 2007 are obligated to undertake what are described as ‘customer due diligence measures’. These are measures which identify any customer and verify ‘the customer’s identity on the basis of documents, data or information obtained from a reliable and independent source’.
It is due to this, therefore, that casino operators can – and other gambling providers – request documentation from an individual to prove their identity before they will serve them.
Best UK Betting Sites in 2020
Here at BettingOnline we want to guide you towards the very best online betting sites. When choosing your online bookie, it is important to make sure you are picking the right one for you. To help you, we have reviewed the top bookmakers out there, the rising stars and the new betting sites: this way you can have a good overview and pick the one that suits your needs best and make sure that it is completely safe and above board. We will also help you find the best betting sites for sports betting bonuses, the best betting sites for live streaming and the best betting sites for live betting.
From the very oldest and most established sportsbooks, such as William Hill and Ladbrokes, to the rising ones like 10bet and MansionBet, and the newer offerings such as Mr. Play and 22bet: we check them all out for you!
The very best betting sites in 2020 offer something for everyone - lots of markets, great odds, generous promotions and a top experience. Here at BettingOnline, within this bookmaker comparison, we look at all areas and rate the bookies as such, so you can choose the best bookie for you.
How We Find the Best UK Betting Sites
The most important thing for a bettor is picking the best place where to place some bets. Every bookmaker has its pros and cons. If you look at each bookmaker, they all have strengths and weaknesses. Here at BettingOnline, we have taken it upon ourselves to help you finding it out. In our updated 2020 bookmaker reviews, we have compared all the different aspects of the betting sites to make sure you get the best, most up-to-date and verified information so that you can take your best decision.
Anyone who has looked for new online betting sites will see how many there are available; some are great, some are good - and some are just downright shocking. Making a bet always has an element of risk; however, that risk shouldn't be whether you have chosen a decent bookmaker or not. To help you out avoiding this risk, we have looked through the very best betting sites; we have checked out every aspect of the bookmakers - from their markets, their prices, banking options, mobile product, withdrawals and more. And remember, this is done to make sure you get the best experience for your needs.
Os Sports
Betting Sites with the Best Odds
Many people choose to be with an online bookie because they can get better odds. If you like to bet in-play, then you must know that the odds will be changing constantly, depending on whatever is happening in the game at that moment. This is especially true of football betting – which is incredibly popular in the UK. For this reasons the in-play odds, especially on football events, will definitely be more competitive.
Many of the top-recommended betting sites offer all of the above, but also offer competitive odds and prices in other sports. As a punter, if you like to focus your betting on a single sport (or a very few ones) then you must choose a bookie that offers the best odds in the sports you bet on. You will find that most bookmakers have their specialty. Some choose to offer the best odds in horse racing; others might choose to offer the best odds in football. If, instead, you are a bettor that likes to bet on several sports, then you must sign up to more bookies: if you have a couple of accounts from different top bookmakers, then you take advantage of the best odds on each site.
Mobile Betting Sites
Because of the advancements in technology, betting on the move has never been more popular. You can now place a bet from anywhere in the world – as long as you have access to the internet. So, no matter where you are, you can always make a bet on your favourite sporting event. Because of this, the best betting sites have their offerings optimized for mobile betting, with some offering a mobile app: this way you can make a bet while hanging out with your friends, instead of having to be stuck at home in front of your laptop. This also makes live betting even easier. If you are enjoying a game out at the pub, the ability to bet in-play is so much easier now. Most online bookies make it easy to access from the home page and you can get the bet down in seconds. Many betting sites also offer the chance to watch the matches through live streaming as well, so you can watch the game/event from your mobile. This gives you a huge advantage as you can follow what’s happening and make your bets as you watch.
Is Sports Betting Legal In Mi
Betting Markets and Payment Methods
If you are a football bettor, then it will be very important that you can get the best odds and prices for football games - specifically on the football markets you bet on. However, it's also important that there are a wide number of markets available for more variety. After all, it isn't just a case of checking out who has the most markets, but also who does the best in each market. You want to be able to bet on markets other than the winner. You should be able to bet on handicaps; BTTS; Over/Under; the number of cards; the number of corners; injuries and more. The better betting sites will even have ways where you can choose your own bets and create your own markets.
Bonuses, Free Bets and Promotions
With so many big betting sites on the block, one way to get punters is by offering good promotions. Obviously, the one that gets the bettors through the door is the welcome bonus. As such, it needs to be eye-catching and appealing. However, to bettors that are new to the scene, it's sometimes easy to be sucked into the size of a bonus without looking at the actual terms and conditions attached. There are several different types of welcome bonuses you will find.
The most common of the sports betting bonuses is the free bet. Some betting sites offer up to £30 in free bets when you deposit a minimum of £10, like 888sport and Betfred. Other bookies offer matched free bets, which could be up to £50, see Unibet. Here, you simply make your deposit and place your first bet, and the bookmaker will match the stake of your first bet with a free bet of the same value. Other welcome bonuses include deposit bonuses - where you make your first deposit and the bookie matches it, like MansionBet and 22bet . This can be up to £100 on some betting sites. Bookies also offer risk-free bets, money back bets and more. There are all sorts on offer depending on what you want. However, what people often fail to look at is the terms and conditions that are attached. The bonus needs to be attainable. There can't be extraordinarily high wagering requirements attached or limitations which make it unusable.
You should also look at other bonuses and promotions available on the site. The very best bookmakers offer a variety of lifetime promotions that you can take advantage of throughout your time at the bookies. There could be best odds guaranteed, acca insurances, special odds and more.
Here you can find our updated recommendations for currently active promotions available to existing users as well,
Bookmakers with the Best Customer Support
Another area to look at is the customer service. There might well be a time when something doesn't happen quite as you want it to. You might be experiencing troubles with your payouts, your promotions/bonuses, or even trouble with your account. As such, you need to be able to contact the customer service agents. The best customer service agents are readily available by a means of methods - preferably live chat and / or telephone. Also, 24-hour service is also good - the more helpful and readily available they are, the better. It's also good if the help is available in different languages. No matter what bookie you choose, you might run into troubles. However, good customer service makes up for shortcomings in other areas.
The Importance of Payment Methods
The biggest area of concern that applies to everyone is the payment methods. No matter what you bet on - and no matter how you bet - you want to be able to deposit, and more importantly withdraw your money quickly and efficiently - preferably with no fees attached and while doing that protecting your identity and funds. For this reason we recommend you to use Paypal which is known as one of the most quick, secure and reliable payment method for all type of online transactions.
Is Sports Betting Legal In Uk Now
Unfortunately, some betting sites are quite slow when it comes to integrating new payment methods onto their sites. One reason for this is because of possible bonus abuse and the chance of being vulnerable to fraudulent activities. Many of the main options you will find on most good bookmakers are:
Credit and Debit Cards – This is the most well-used and well-known form of payment. Every betting site accepts credit and debit cards, such as Visa and Mastercard. Others that are available on many include American Express and Maestro. Generally, deposits are immediate, and withdrawals tend to take between 3-5 days, but can be quicker.
E-Wallets: This is becoming increasingly popular with online bookies, simply because of the speed of transactions. Betting with e-wallets won’t affect your credit score and offer same-day withdrawals. Most bookies accept Skrill, Neteller and PayPal. Generally, when withdrawing, the funds can be in your account in as quick as 3 hours. However, some bookmakers will not let you claim a bonus if depositing with e-wallet, so check to be sure you aren’t missing out.
Prepaid Cards – Betting with debit and credit cards can affect your credit score. However, you can buy prepaid debit and credit cards with cash on there ready to use. You can even buy cards that you can top up when you need to – such as Paysafecard. This also helps you to avoid overspending and racking up debts!
Best UK Betting Sites for UX and security
The best bookmaker offers a great overall user experience. It needs to be easy to navigate, attractive, offer good service and if possible - a great live in-play betting service always helps. We like to see bookmakers that are technologically advanced and make your overall betting experience easy and fun.
Aside from what you can get out of it - including the promos, bonuses, odds and markets, the best betting sites go that little bit further. When you put your faith - and money in a bookmaker, you need to make sure it's worth it and that your money and identity is safe. The security of the site is very important. It's not something many customers look at, which is why we do. Not knowing how safe and secure a site is a huge mistake. You need to make sure that it is completely secure. You can do that by making sure that it is fully compliant, regulated and legal in the country that you are betting from. If it isn't licensed in that country, then you might find yourself in trouble if something goes wrong.