Overview
Finding the best UK online sports betting venues often means trawling through site after site to find the sportsbooks worth checking out. Our job at Playright.co.uk is to point you in the direction of the best sports betting sites, and we think BetUK fits the bill. In the following review, our betting experts signed up to BetUK, placed bets, contacted customer support and took a close look at everything this online bookie has to offer.
Launched in 2018 as a sportsbook brand of online-gambling powerhouse LeoVegas, BetUK is a sports betting brand that caters to UK sports punters looking to place bets on a state-of-the-art mobile and online platform that offers LeoVegas’s superior usability, design and mobile functionality. But BetUK doesn’t only provide a great sportsbook. It also offers a vast selection of casino games to enjoy whilst placing bets on sports.
Keep reading our Playright.co.uk review to discover everything about BetUK, and why this sportsbook stands out in the busy UK online bookie marketplace.
Safety and Trustworthiness
There is nothing more important in the sports betting world than security and player safety. When you sign up to BetUK, you will need to provide personal and financial details for payments, so the site must keep that data secure. Several components provide safety, and our review team put BetUK online to the test to see if it stacks up to our expectations.
Our goal is to provide you with clear information on sports betting websites to make an informed decision about whether to join the site or not. We found that BetUK does a good job at keeping players safe and providing security measures for data.
- Licensing and Regulation: BetUK is fully licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). This is one of the strictest gambling authorities in the world, providing regulatory standards to online casinos in the UK.
- Payments and Security: Payment options on BetUK are plentiful, and the sportsbook works with some of the biggest names in finance. Companies like Paypal and Visa only work with the most reputable sites, while BetUK online also uses SSL encryption to ensure third parties cannot see data without permission.
- Operations: The BetUK Sportsbook is owned and operated by LeoVegas Gaming Plc group, which includes a stable of reputable gambling sites. Leo Vegas itself has won consistent awards since starting operations in 2012 and holds licenses in several important jurisdictions.
- Customer Feedback: Sometimes, it is best to listen to the customers because these are the people with boots on the ground playing at online casinos. We checked many customer review sites and found out that the general consensus is that BetUK is a solid sportsbook.
Deposits & Withdrawals
Over the years, BetUK Sportsbook has streadily increased the number of accepted payment methods. While there are still only five, these banking options are some of the most popular, secure, and convenient methods around. UK online sportsbook users can fund their account and cash out their winnings with Visa Debit, Visa Electron, PayPal, and Bank Transfers. Mobile users can also deposit into their sportsbook wallet via Apple Pay.
Payments are one of the areas where BetUK could improve, especially in a market where sports betting sites are doing as much as possible to give customers plenty of choices. We’d love to see more options here, like Mastercard, Paysafecard, or even more e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller, as gamblers like flexibility and want to have the choice of how they manage their funds.
Payment limitations are a £10 minimum for both deposits and withdrawals. If you are cashing out your winnings, BetUK Sportsbook is very generous with its maximum withdrawal of £100,000.
Promotions
Going deeper into the promotions page on BetUK, once you get past the welcome bonus, you find a substantial selection of offers. Some of these promos are related to a major sporting event, such as an international football tournament. Others are regular deals, such as:
- BetUK has its “ACCA Club” for customers to get bonuses on their accumulator bets each week. Available on the My Promotions page for BetUK online account holders, this bonus gives a £5 profit boost for ACCA bets with minimum odds of 1/5. You can only wager a maximum of £20 on these boosts, but that could be enough for winnings up to £1,000 on each boost.
- Existing bettors can also claim two £3 free bets every week. Simply stake £15 or more on horse racing (singles and above) at odds of 2.0 (evens) or greater.
- BetUK Sportsbook allows its users to pick markets within their favourite matches with two £5 free Bet Builders every week. To qualify, you’ll need to wager £10 or more on any football market with odds of 4/5 or 1.8 (or greater).
Elsewhere, BetUK offers promos focused on its online casino operations, such as a welcome bonus deposit match of up to £100 with 100 free spins.
Mobile
When you fire up BetUK on your mobile device, you can do so in two different ways. Firstly, you can use the BetUK app, which is available on Android and iOS devices. Whether you use a smartphone or tablet, this betting app brings a dedicated sportsbook experience. Designed from the ground up for mobile use, you can swipe through sports and betting markets to find the lines you want.
The intuitive approach of the BetUK app is welcome, which is precisely the sportsbook on the app. It is one of the best sportsbook apps we have used. It also gives you access to the full sportsbook on your mobile device.
Alternatively, you can choose to access BetUK through your mobile browser. The website is fully optimized to work as well on small screens as it does on laptop PCs. However, this is one of the rare times we believe you should choose the app over visiting through a browser. Sometimes it is not worth downloading an app, but the BetUK app is so good we think this is the best option.
It is also worth remembering the welcome bonus on BetUK is only redeemable from a mobile device.
Bet Offers
On paper, the welcome bonus at the BetUK sports betting site may not seem as generous. However, it is easy enough to cash out this bonus that it will appeal to many customers. In other words, you may not get a lot, but it is easy to get that bonus cash.
When you register as a new player at BetUK, you can claim a £5 free bet if you place a £20 accumulator (ACCA) wager. Of course, nothing is really ever free in the UK online gambling world, so this welcome package from BetUK comes with some clear limitations.
First, and most importantly, this is a mobile-only promotion. You must make qualifying bets from a mobile device, and the wager must be a minimum of £20 on a 4-fold or high ACCA. Your accumulator must have at least four selections and cover four different sporting events, with minimum odds of 4/1 on each bet.
Sure, it is not a lot of money for a free bet, and the mobile restriction is frustrating. Still, the fact you can wager your £5 bonus across any sport and odds is a major attraction. It is also worth noting that other major sportsbooks do not always have the lucrative welcome packages you may think they do.
Like BetUK, many sports betting websites are also attached to an online casino. It is common for welcome bonuses on these sites to focus more on casino games than sports betting. It means the £5 free bet on BetUK online is a solid deal. You will find similar on other sites, such as Coral (a giant of the industry), which also welcomes you with a £20 bonus when you spend £5.
Bonuses
When you register as a new player at BetUK, you can claim £30 in free bets when you spend £10 or more. Once your qualifying bet settles, you can boost your sports betting bankroll with the following £10 free bets:
- One £10 horse racing free bet with minimum odds of 4/5 or 1.8 (singles + Upwards)
- One £10 Free Bet Builder with minimum odds of 3/1 or 4.0
- One £10 football free bet with minimum odds of 4/5 or 1.8
On paper, the welcome bonus at the BetUK sports betting site may not seem as generous as other sportsbooks. However, it is easy enough to cash out this bonus that it will appeal to many customers. In other words, you may not get the biggest amount, but it is easy to get that bonus cash. Plus, you can essentially triple your bankroll and receive £30 to play with from a single £10 wager, which should suit most budget bettors.
Of course, nothing is really ever free in the UK online gambling world, so this welcome package from BetUK comes with some clear limitations. First and foremost, you must make a qualifying bet of £10 with minimum odds of 4/5 or 1.8 within seven days of registration. Also, note that BetUK considers Bet Builders to be one bet or set of odds per game.
Betting Markets And Odds Quality
BetUK excels at extensive sports coverage that gives you access to bets across a wide range of leagues, events, and competitions. You can make wagers on over 30 different sports, but more importantly, there is a massive selection of betting markets across those sports. From major competitions, big tournaments, and even minor leagues, BetUK online has a lot to offer.
Oddly, while horse racing is included in this catalogue, you will only find races that are happening in the UK and Ireland. That is slightly disappointing, but BetUK extensively covers the UK and Ireland racing markets.
In total, you will have your pick of over 300 sports betting markets, the ability to create custom bets, prop bets, and ACCAS.
Available Sports:
- Table tennis
- Volleyball
- Ice hockey
- Trotting
- Cricket
- Darts
- Netball
- Politics
- Football
- TV & Novelty bets
- Horse racing
- Gaelic sports
- Handball
- Olympic sports
- Badminton
- Futsal
- Rugby Union
- Basketball
- Golf
- Greyhounds
- Rugby League
- Floorball
- UFC/MMA
- Aussie Rules
- Snooker
- Tennis
- Motor racing
- Cycling
- American Football
- WWE
- Squash
- Esports
- Boxing
- Baseball
- Winter sports
In-Play Betting
Odds
When it comes to odds, BetUK walks a middle ground. You will not find the absolute best prices in the sports betting realm on this site, nor will you be left with the worst odds. You can customize prices based on your preference (decimal, fractional, American format). BetUK Sportsbook has an average odds margin of around 6%. Like we said, fairly standard for the UK market.
You can bet on a budget or be a high roller when betting at BetUK online. Depending on the market, you can wager as little as 10p or go crazy and bet up to £100,000. If you have even more cash to burn, you can contact BetUK, and you may be able to negotiate a higher limit. For customers who want to manage their budget strictly, it is possible to set deposit limits.
Sadly, there is no option to live stream sporting events directly on the site, but there are many in-play betting markets across a variety of sports and events.
Support
Good support is a fundamental part of the sports betting experience. On any website, the best place to start when solving problems is to head to the FAQ section. On BetUK, this is a Help page that sets out frequent questions and answers in an easy-to-use grid section. We like this! You can also access a FAQ list on the Contact and Support page.
In terms of points of contact, BetUK is less impressive. Firstly, finding the contact section is not easy, with no obvious inclusion on the home page. We finally found it (using Google) and were greeted by a live chat option that runs 8 am to 12 am each day and email support. It is a standard level of support, but we would like to see a phone number added.
Review Summary
BetUK is a unique sports betting site and not entirely easy to rate. It has some areas that need improvement, but it also provides an accessible welcome bonus and an excellent sportsbook. If you value a substantial selection of sports betting markets over details such as limited payment options, this could be the place for you.
We think the BetUK app is a fantastic sportsbook app that is worth checking out. So sign up today and claim your £5 bonus!