Best Sports Betting Apps for Secure, Easy & Profitable Betting
Sports betting apps are mobile applications that allow users to place bets on various sporting events using their smartphones or tablets. These apps have revolutionized the way people bet on sports, making it more convenient and accessible than ever before, and offer safe and encrypted betting mediums so customers can trust their experience fully. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide to sports betting apps, including their benefits, types, features, legal issues, security, and popular apps.
New customers only. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration Required.
Significant terms: #AD New cust only. Opt-in required. 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 3 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 football. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply. 18+ GambleAware.org.
18+ New customers only. Bet £10+ on pre-match accas with 4+ legs, min odds 3/1 (4.0) within 14 days of sign-up. Get 4x £5 Horse Racing Free Bets and 50 Free Spins, valid for 7 days on selected bets and games only. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
New customers only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. Min Deposit: £10. Free Bet awarded: £10. 1 x £10 must be wagered at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card deposits only (exclusions apply). Free bet will expire 7 days after the 1st deposit. 18+. BeGambleAware.org.
18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Further terms apply. #ad
18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply.
Place a min £10 bet on Sportsbook on odds of min EVS (2.0), get £30 in Free Bet Builders, Accumulators or multiples to use on any sport. Rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via cards or Apple Pay will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly.
#AD 18+ New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply. Gambleaware.org
Full T&Cs apply. New UK customers only. The qualifying bet should be either a Single or Acca (2+ selections) bet, start at £20, have 1.9 or greater odds and must be settled within 7 days of opt-in. The Free bet include: 1 x £20 Free bet any Live or Pre-Match event. Max payout – £500. 7-day expiry. To unlock the offer, complete the first deposit via the banking app secured by Truelayer. Profit boost: One boost per day; claim required. 1 day to claim (by 23:59 UTC+3). Max stake £30. Single bets only. No Free Bets. Profit Boost valid for 24 hrs. Max payout £1,000. Credited within 24 hrs. 18+. BeGambleAware.com
18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. £40 in FREE Bets (FB) as £30 in sports bets & a £10 casino bonus (CB). Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7-day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept £10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable £100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. T&Cs Apply
18+ New Customers Only. Opt in with code ASCOT50 & bet £10 on horse racing at odds of 2/1+ within 3 days of registration. Get 2x£15 and 2x£10 in Free Bets for set racing markets, which expire in 15 days. Scroll down for T&Cs. GambleAware.org | Please gamble responsibly
18+. New customers only. Place a minimum £40 bet on any selection with minimum odds of Evens (2.00) and receive a £20 free bet upon bet settlement and 100 Free Spins on Big Bass Splash. Free bet and free spins expire after 7 days. BeGambleAware.org. T&Cs apply. #ad
The betting industry has grown massively within the last 20 years. Advancements in technology have allowed betting apps to be developed that provide the power of betting on mobile devices. This ease of access has seen a boom in trade across sports betting, with every bookmaker working hard to produce an app that will outdo their competitors. As a result, punters have never had more choices regarding betting apps.
Popular UK Betting Apps
There is a vast range of popular betting apps in the UK – below are 10 of the biggest and newest at present and what they can offer to punters:
bet365
The biggest bookmaker out there, their offering on the app is enormous. However, their strength lies in their live streaming. Offering more than other bookmakers makes them the perfect place to bet in play and watch your bets in action.
BetUK
One of the fastest growing bookmakers, they continue improving their features. Many live-streaming games can be viewed, as well as the likes of an acca club and bet boosts that offer regular users bonuses.
Midnite
Initially focused on gaming and esports, their general sports offering on the app is growing with a site built for younger eyes. Live streaming is a massive part of the offering here, which helps the company live up to its ‘next level betting’ tagline.
Tote
The Tote offers something different from any of its competitors in the form of pool betting. Some of their bets are also available on other bookmaker apps, but they are the original for bets like the Placepot and Scoop 6. Their app makes wagering on these unique bets easy.
Betway
A very clean and easy-to-use mobile app, they are one of the market leaders in betting on esports in the UK. Live streaming is another big positive of their app and Free Bet Club.
William Hill
One of the most long-standing betting apps, William Hill’s platform allows for easy deposits and withdrawals from your credit, as well as instant access to daily free spins promotions and more.
Ladbrokes
Daily price boosts make Ladbrokes a go-to for many punters. Customers can boost their prices further even if they are already the highest price. An easy-to-use app, if you select the Premier League team you support, you will get a free 50p bet to use on their five-a-side game for every match your chosen team plays in the top flight.
Betfair
With a dark mode which makes it an easier app to use on the eye, Betfair’s platform contains loads of easy-to-access offers and free-to-play games. As well as this, you can get daily rewards, while there are hundreds of instant betting markets for you to choose from. Best odds guaranteed is missing, however.
Betfred
Betfred’s app is the best place to find free to play games exclusive to their platform. You can try to Beat Fred, by answering six different questions related to sporting events that weekend, while the app is home to all of their betting markets and their welcome bonus. The app is easy to navigate and presents your favourite markets first.
Sky Bet
One of the biggest bookmakers out there in terms of popularity, and it’s easy to see why. They are primarily popular due to their straightforward interface and weekly bet club, where punters can get a £5 free bet each week if they stake £30. Unlike most bookmakers, the free bets have no expiry date.
Understanding Betting Apps – Features & Functionalities
At its core, a betting app is the same as a bookmaker’s website, scaled down for easy viewing on a mobile. They allow bookmaker customers to deposit into their accounts, place bets across a wide range of sports and then withdraw their money again, all safely.
The offerings from each bookmaker are slightly different, favouring their layout and colour scheme, but the key points are the same, offering customers a quick and easy way to place a bet no matter where they are in the UK. Indeed apps often offer a far quicker betting experience, with flexible and easy-to-understand navigation, as well as live betting available from their homepage so that users can get straight in on the action.
You are usually able to contact in-app live support from any page you access to. This is critical for new users of any app and is fundamental to a player’s betting experience, as problems are sorted much quicker.
How to Choose the Right Betting App
Selecting a betting app comes down to a prospective user’s personal preferences. However, a lot of the key factors are listed below, with the best mobile betting apps offering a combination of success across these.
App Functionality 📱
The way that an app looks and works can be the initial critical point which users look for when selecting an app to bet on. For example, Paddy Power has one of the best-looking interfaces, for new punters having things laid out clearly and not cluttered is hugely important.
Variety of Sports Betting Markets ⚽🏀🏈
As is the case with both desktop sites and UK betting apps, the range or depth of betting markets available will likely sway some users. Even if the majority only bet on sports such as football and horse racing, the ability to bet in detail on factors such as yellow cards and corners, or bonuses such as extra each-way places on racing, give a bookmaker’s app a much better chance of being downloaded.
Bonuses & Promotions 🎁
The most alluring early aspect of gambling is betting app bonuses and promotions you can use as a new customer. However, good betting apps ensure there are plenty of promos for existing customers to claim on a regular basis too.
Payment Methods 💳
It is not acceptable for the top betting apps to accept only debit cards in 2025. e-Wallets such as PayPal, or quick mobile banking options such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, should also be available to use on a sports betting app in the UK.
User Experience & Design in Betting Apps
The useability of an app does totally alter the experience a user has betting on mobile. Navigation on the best betting apps should be swift and straightforward, with few obstacles to finding your favourite markets as quickly as possible. There should be few issues with the speed with which different pages and markets load, while a customisable user experience is also preferred; for example, you could be able to choose which sports or betting markets appear on your homepage on the best gambling apps, while instant live betting should also be a given.
User Ratings and Reviews of Betting Apps
Knowing an app is trustworthy according to its users is often far more important than single betting app reviews found online. We have collated the user ratings according to the App Store, as well as our own ratings below, along with that platforms you can download these apps on.
| Betting App | User Rating (App Store) | GG Rating | Platform |
| Bet365 | 4.7/5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Android, iOS |
| BetUK | 4.6/5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Android, iOS |
| Ladbrokes | 4.6/5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Android, iOS |
| Midnite | 4.6/5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Android, iOS |
| Skybet | 4.6/5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Android, iOS |
| Betway | 4.8/5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Android, iOS |
App Compatibility: iOS vs Android Betting Apps
There is little difference between iOS and Android betting apps in terms of key functionalities. The fundamentals are very similar, as the intention is for apps on both platforms to be condensed, quicker versions of the desktop sites. However, one thing you can do to examine potential differences in terms of useability is check the different user review scores on the App Store compared to Google Play, as if an app has a significantly different rating for one operating system compared to the other, it may not work as well on your chosen device.
Registration & Set Up on Betting Apps
Bookmakers have made signing up to their apps as easy as possible. However, for those who are yet to download an app, let us guide you quickly through the process.
- Find the app you want in the App Store or on Google Play
- Click ‘Get’ or ‘Install’.
- Open the app and click to register an account.
- Always make sure you use your exact details, as this could cause your account to be restricted or shut down if you don’t.
- Pick your deposit method and make your first deposit.
- With some bookmakers, this will automatically take you through the KYC (Know Your Customer) process.
- For those that don’t, you might have to send in extra documents to prove who you are. Generally, two are required – a picture id, such as your passport or driving licence and proof of address, so a bank statement or utility bill.
- Once these are done, you are ready to find the right bet.
Understanding Odds & Betting Options in Apps
There are two different types of odds on offer in all betting apps. There are traditional fractional ones like 2/1 or the more modern decimal like 3.0. The latter is best for newer punters to try and understand rather than working out fractions.
The breadth of different sports and markets is remarkable, especially with the bigger bookmakers. But, of course, the likes of the Premier League and the Cheltenham Festival will still dominate. Still, for those who have an interest in handball and have a fancy in the Hungarian league, some bookmakers will have you covered.
You can back in any combination from singles and doubles up to bets like a goliath on almost every betting app. The flexibility bookmakers offer on how you wish to bet is impressive, with something for everyone.
How to Place a Bet on a Betting App
Bookmakers are working hard to make sure that navigating their apps and placing bets with them is easy. However, if you are unsure, follow our simple step-by-step guide below.
- Study your sport and find the selection you want to place a bet on
- Go to your chosen app and find the correct sport from their menu
- The sport will be broken down into competitions (most sports) or meetings (horse racing)
- Click on the match or race required to bring up betting options
- Find the selection you have picked out and click on the price
- Fill in your stake and then click place bet
Payment Methods on Betting Apps
Bookmakers have done well moving with the times when it comes to ways a bettor can deposit and withdraw on betting apps. Debit cards are still the most common, but Revolut, Monzo and Starling have all gained popularity recently. In addition, Paypal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafecard, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Webmoney, Ecopayz, Neosurf, E-Check, PayNearMe, VIP Preferred, Euteller, Yandex and Qiwi are also available across some apps.
Promotions & Bonuses in Betting Apps
The most common are price boosts. Most bookmakers will pick selections across various sports daily and add more to a price. With the likes of William Hill, Ladbrokes and Unibet, the punter is in control, able to pick which prices they want to be boosted each day on a bet.
Bet clubs like the one that Sky Bet offers are increasingly popular. Customers qualify for a free bet weekly if they stake £30 at prices bigger than Evens (2.0). This is an excellent way for a bookmaker to generate custom and for existing customers to feel like they are getting something back.
No qualifying is needed on games like the ‘Bonus Drop’ with Hills or the ‘Instant Spins’ feature at Ladbrokes. A lot of bookmakers have these daily games where customers have the chance to win something just for being on the app.
Security, Licensing & Compliance in Betting Apps
Your account, financial details, and any other private information you need to give to a bookmaker’s betting app in order to complete initial KYC checks will be thoroughly and comprehensively encrypted so that your data is safe. You can also protect your app security by using steps such as facial recognition to sign in, or two-factor authentication with your mobile device too.
All UK betting apps use data encryption, firewalls and authentication to ensure that all your money and data are as safe as possible. Each bookmaker will have a privacy policy outlining how they handle your details and data.
Troubleshooting Common Issues on Betting Apps
As with all modern technology, there can be issues with betting apps. Thankfully they are not all that common, but we have some of the most often-asked FAQs and solutions for you below.
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| 📱 The betting app has crashed | Turn it off and on again! Exit the app, reload, and check if it works. If not, try troubleshooting or search online to see if others have the same issues. |
| 💸 My free bet has not been credited | Contact customer service! Most bookmakers offer live chat, which makes it easy to resolve the issue quickly. |
| 💰 I can’t withdraw my winnings | Ensure you’ve completed KYC checks. Some bookmakers do this at sign-up, while others do it when withdrawing. Also, check if you’re using the same withdrawal method as your deposit. |
Legal Aspects of Betting Apps in the UK
Every betting operator in the UK must adhere to the regulations set forward by the UKGC (United Kingdom Gambling Commission). This body ensures that every bookmaker is fully licensed and operates within strict rules that make betting markets fair and even, all casino games have RTP rates that are above 90%, and that anyone under the age of 18 is banned from betting. Any operators with legal betting apps in the UK must comply to these regulations rigidly.
Responsible Gambling & Betting Apps
Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of a betting app is that we have access to betting on our phones 24/7. For those with an addictive personality, it is not good to have those so close. We always encourage that you gamble responsibly. You can set deposit limits, take a time out, and self-exclude from betting apps, so take advantage of these if you need them. If you have a gambling problem, please speak to Gamcare.
FAQs
Every single licensed betting app available on the App Store or Google Play will have to be secure in order to have gained their license from the UK Gambling Commission in the first place. In terms of your own account, you can set up factors such as two-factor authentication or facial/fingerprint recognition so that only you can gain access to it.
Yes you can. Not all sports events will be available to stream on betting platforms, but most betting apps do offer streaming of some sort in the UK, with horse racing and greyhound racing the most common and popular live streaming events on live betting apps.
Some betting apps will have more betting markets available to gamble on than others. However, all of the best betting apps in the UK will offer betting on the biggest sports in the country, such as football, horse racing, tennis and more.
You can set up notifications, and if you can personalise your experience, your app will intuitively give you notifications which are more related to the sports you choose to bet on.
Yes, the majority of betting apps will waive any fees for withdrawals, so that you can always claim your full winnings when you choose to withdraw from your account. Fast withdrawal betting apps will also ensure you receive your funds in extra quick time.