Best Safe Betting Sites UK 2024

This is our guide to the best safe betting sites in 2024, based on regulation, reputation and responsible gambling measures. All of these trusted betting sites come with licensing from the UK Gambling Commission.

Safe Betting Sites Reviewed & Compared

Staying safe online is an important part of everyday life, whether making a purchase or placing a bet.

Customers need to know that their personal information will not get into the hands of fraudsters and it’s also essential that bookmakers have tools to help with gambling responsibly.

To operate legally, all UK bookmakers must be licensed by a regulatory body called the UK Gambling Commission, which aims to keep crime out of the industry and protect the vulnerable.

Ensuring your gambling experience is conducted in a secure environment is a priority for reputable bookmakers. With that in mind, we’ve highlighted four of the best safe betting sites and some of the measures they have introduced for your protection.

1. Betfred

Betfred utilises the same Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption technology used by leading financial institutions, so your details are safe and sound from threats by identity thieves and fraudsters. 

This safe betting site's 'Safer Gambling' hub has plenty of tools for customers to aid responsible gambling, such as deposit limits, reality checks, time-outs and online account histories to help you monitor your activity. They also provide advice on website-blocking software to prevent underage gambling.

All of this has led to us ranking Betfred among the safest online gambling sites available to bet with in the UK.

2. BetMGM

BetMGM is one of the UK's best new betting sites and this company clearly takes their responsibilities seriously, with over 10 safer gambling control measures available to keep the customer on top of their betting, including self-assessment and wagering limits.

Customer service staff are trained to recognise signs of problem gambling. The website and betting app are also compatible with blocking software such as BetBlocker, which allows people to set time limits and self-exclude from betting. It also includes parental controls.

Security is also paramount with BetMGM, with SSL used to encrypt the transmission of personal information.

3. Bzeebet

Security is a top priority for Bzeebet, which uses the latest 128-bit SSL technology, ensuring that your personal information is encrypted before it leaves your device.

Bzeebet also has a responsible gambling policy page which has plenty of tools, such as time-outs ranging from 24 hours to six weeks, or self-exclusion from between six months to five years.  

Getting in touch with the customer support team to discuss problem gambling could not be easier, where trained support staff can help you impose limits or self-exclude if needs be.

4. talkSPORT BET

The talkSPORT BET site was only launched in 2022, but has an impressive attitude towards both security and safe gambling.

Its safer gambling portal is neatly laid out into three sections: 'Keep Informed', 'Stay in Control' and 'Get in Touch'.

The first advises on preventing underage gambling and keeping track of time spent betting.

'Stay in Control' displays six neatly-arranged safer gambling tools, ranging from a profit and loss overview to self-exclusion, while the 'Get in Touch' section gives customers the options of contacting talkSPORT BET agents by email, live chat or phone.

How We Rank Safe Betting Sites

These are some of the key factors we take into account when ranking the safest online gambling sites in the UK.

When testing bookmakers as part of our review process, we place an emphasis on the following features:

Licensing & Regulation

Before you register with an online bookmaker, it’s important to know that it is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, which regulates the industry in Great Britain. 

Trusted betting sites will display this information at the footer of every page on their website, along with their account number on the Gambling Commission’s public register.

Data Protection

Safe betting sites must keep your personal and financial data safe. Licensed UK bookmakers prioritise security and deploy state-of-the-art encryption technology to keep your details confidential. 

The safest online betting sites usually have a page displaying the measures they take to protect you, such as Transport Layer Security, which is bolstered by firewalls, so we take the time to see which bookmakers use this.

User Feedback 

We take into account what other bettors are saying about bookmakers before deciding whether or not to sign up. 

If a betting site receives a disproportionate amount of negative reviews on forums or app stores, it's a big red flag, and it means that the bookie won't make our trusted betting sites list.

Industry Reputation

If a bookmaker isn't doing the right things, those of us working in the gambling industry will soon find out about it. 

If a betting site is to feature at Gambling.com, it must come from a company with a strong reputation within the industry. 

We also review the latest online betting awards, such as the International Gaming Awards, Global Gaming Awards and EGaming Review Awards, to see which sites are being honoured by their industry peers.

Features of The Best Safe Betting Sites

The safest online gambling sites offer a range of features to ensure bettors are protected throughout their gambling experience, whether that involves data protection, registration, placing a bet or withdrawing money.

When sorting the wheat from the chaff, it’s worth considering the elements below to ensure you choose a trusted betting site.

Secure Sockets Layer & Transport Layer Security

The safest betting sites use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or the updated Transport Layer Security (TLS) version to encrypt personal and financial data migrating from the site. 

There are three elements to TLS: 

• Encryption: Hides data being transferred between parties
• Authentication: Confirms  parties are genuine
• Integrity: Verifies whether forgery or tampering of data has taken place 

Some horse racing betting sites also use firewalls and multiple systems to prevent cyber threats.

Two-Factor Authentication 

One way to bolster your protection is by introducing two-factor authentication (2FA), which involves passcode generators to prevent cybercriminals from stealing your data.

Some safe betting sites have authenticator apps, which are available in the Apple Store and can be used on Android or iPhone, providing users with an extra layer of protection compared with traditional passwords, which are fixed.

Responsible Gambling Tools 

The safest online gambling sites take their responsibilities seriously and have various tools available to help with responsible gambling.

Betting sites offer practical solutions such as deposit, wagering and loss limits. At the same time, the best UK bookmakers have time-out options that can restrict your site use for a set period if you feel a cooling-off period is needed.

Reality checks also alert users to how long they have been logged in. You can also track your activity with most bookmakers to view your profit and loss figures. 

For those who want to quit betting, there is a self-exclusion option where you can close your account.

Transparent Terms & Conditions 

It may be tedious, but checking terms and conditions will pay dividends if you wish to avoid any misunderstandings. 

Online bookmakers will take a dim view of someone supplying false registration details or using family members from the same IP address to benefit from welcome bonuses. 

Don’t forget that it is illegal to gamble if you are under 18. The bookmaker will likely ask for verification after sign-up, so you will eventually need to prove your identity with a passport or driving licence (this is a UK Gambling Commission requirement to prevent underage gambling). 

When placing particular kinds of bets like double-digit multiples at accumulator betting sites, you should also check the maximum payout criteria for that sport, which varies from bookmaker to bookmaker.

Payment Methods at Safe Betting Sites

Since 2020, using a credit card to gamble has been illegal in the UK, but you can use many other options to make payments at trusted betting sites:

PayPal

Withdrawing funds from PayPal betting sites is usually instant, depending on the bookmaker, but it can take up to 24 hours. 

Deposits are generally set at a minimum of £10. However, they can be lower or higher, so it’s worth checking the specific bookie's terms first.

Debit Cards

All of the safest online gambling sites accept debit cards, the most popular payment method in the UK. 

£5 deposit betting sites generally accept debit cards for both deposits and withdrawals. However, some bookmakers only allow withdrawals of £10 or higher.

Paysafecards

This voucher system has two versions - the pre-paid PIN and Mastercard - but online betting sites and betting apps accept both for deposits.

One advantage of the pre-paid version is that you do not need a bank account and thus do not need to provide any sensitive financial details when opening an account. However, you will still need to register your identity.

You cannot withdraw with the pre-paid card, so the Mastercard option is better in this respect, although this comes with annual maintenance and currency conversion fees.

Neteller

Like PayPal, Neteller is a licensed e-wallet popular with UK bettors for deposits and withdrawals. However, it’s worth checking with each bookmaker to see if it is an accepted payment method.

Skrill

A global payment platform accepted by many safe betting sites such as Betfred and BoyleSports. As with other e-wallets, Skrill is only sometimes regarded as an acceptable form of payment to trigger welcome bonuses if you are a new customer. 

Some UK betting sites do not accept it at all because of the rules surrounding credit cards. Again, check the terms and conditions.

Safe Betting Sites Bonuses & Promotions

Trusted betting sites are keen to attract new customers and retain current bettors with special offers and promotions.

A betting site won't attach any nasty terms and conditions to these offers. They should instead be transparent and easy to claim.

Welcome Offers

Most safe betting sites listed on this page offer sign-up deals to bring new customers on board. 

These might take the form of bet £10 get £30 or bet £10 get £40 offers - where you sign up, deposit and place a qualifying bet to get free bets allocated to your account.

Money-Back Specials

Many safe betting sites run promotions that will see your stake returned to you under certain circumstances. For example, with acca insurance you'll get money back as a free bet if one of your selections lets you down in an accumulator.

You could bet on a horse to win and if it loses by less than a length, you might get your money back with some online bookmakers like BetGoodwin.

Free Bets

For many punters, nothing beats a free bet, and plenty of bookmakers offer this kind of promotion as a reward for a decent performance in their free-to-play prediction games. You might also be able to claim free bets as a loyalty reward for placing a certain amount of bets within a specified timeframe.

Free bets might be allocated to existing customers when big sporting events are taking place. For example, the best football betting sites often give out free bets when England, Scotland or Wales are playing a match at a major tournament.

Safe Betting Sites: Our Final View

Safe betting sites are keen to let their customers know that they are in safe hands and generally provide lots of information about the encryption technology they use to protect you from criminal activity, so take the time to read the details.

Choosing a trusted betting site can be a time-consuming process, but you can rest assured that all of the safest online gambling sites on this page are fully regulated and licensed by the UK Gambling Commission.

Now that you have the tools to help you make better decisions, take a look at our recommended safe betting sites and choose the one that fits you best, paying close attention to the welcome bonuses and promotions on offer so you can get some extra bang for your buck at the same time!