Betting Apps UK - Complete Guide to a Reliable Mobile Experience
Given the large number of betting apps available in the UK, it takes a lot of work to find the best one, especially if you are a new bettor. Our dedicated team regularly researches the best applications, mobile offers and new features to rate and review the overall mobile betting experience.
Let's get straight into it with our list of the best betting apps. We've picked out the best betting app for football accumulators as well. In compiling this list, we've looked at the app's stability, features, ease of use and the reputation of the bookmaker.
Up To Ā£10 in Free Bets
Betway has an excellent Live Sports Betting app available on both Android and iOS that delivers instant access to all that the bookmaker has to offer. It makes placing pre-match and live bets easy, with features such as the Bet Builder, sports statistics, live updates, and plenty of bonuses and promotions.
Up to Ā£30* in Free Bets
bet365 are well-established as one of the premier bookmakers, and the bet365 mobile app is of similarly high quality. Live streaming on La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Major League Soccer are a major bonus in a football betting app, and bet365 provides this free (you just need to have a funded account or have placed a bet within the last 24 hours).
Other features include previous match stats so you can check a team's form and the multi-view option that lets you keep track of different events at the same time.
Bet Ā£10 and Get Ā£30* in Free Bets
William Hill's offering is one of the best betting apps for football accumulators thanks to their "Bet Boost" which gives you one Bet Boost every day on trebles and above. There are other football betting boosts too which you can find in the "Promotions" section.
Why Choose Betting Apps over Website?
With more web pages being viewed on a mobile device than a traditional desktop or laptop, it's no surprise that online bookmakers are focusing more on developing their mobile technology than optimising their football betting sites. Mobile apps, in particular, are great for building brand recognition; they create a direct marketing channel to customers and foster customer loyalty.
Here are some of the main benefits of using a betting app:
MobilityThe obvious advantage. No need to walk down to the bookies or even load up your laptop and enter a URL. Just click on the app, find the market and place your bet in seconds. Especially useful for in-play betting or when you're away from home.
Shared wallet As you're using the same account whether you access the bookmaker from mobile or computer, your funds are there, waiting to be used. This applies to any free bet credits too, making it even quicker to get your bet on.
Omnichannel experience Having a website and an app is "multichannel". When they work together and communicate in real time, and everything you do in one of the channels affects the other, then you have an "omnichannel". Let's say you add a few selections to your betslip on the website. Then when you open your mobile app, that betslip also contains your selections. This is the omnichannel experience.
Best Betting Apps Ranked & Reviewed for 2024
| # | Bookie | Advantages | OS | Bonus | Rating | Review | Bet | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unibet App |
|
AndroidiOS | Bet Ā£10 Get Ā£40 in Bonuses | 9/10 | Unibet App | Download | 18+. BeGambleAware.org. New GB customers only. Min Ā£10 debit card deposit. Place a Ā£10+ bet at Evens or greater (2.0) each leg on Sports within 7 days. Opt in for Ā£20 in free bets and Ā£20 Casino Bonus. Valid for 7 days. Geographical restrictions and T&Cās apply. #AD |
| 2 | bet365 App |
|
AndroidiOS | Up to Ā£30* in Free Bets | 8/10 | bet365 App | Download | Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. #AD |
| 3 | 10bet ReviewRev |
|
AndroidiOS | 100% up to Ā£50 | 8/10 | 10bet Review | Download | New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+ |
| 4 | William Hill App |
|
AndroidiOS | Bet Ā£10 and Get Ā£30* in Free Bets | 8/10 | William Hill App | Download | *New customers using Promo Code P30 only, min Ā£10/ā¬10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x Ā£15/ā¬15 (30 days expiry), free bet/payment method/player/country restrictions apply. |
Which Is Better ā Betting Apps or Mobile-Friendly Websites?
The choice is usually a good thing, but are there any definite advantages to using betting apps instead of just accessing the bookie's mobile site? Yes, there are.
Websites are useful for helping you to find a bookmaker or offer as they will appear in a web search. And most probably your first visit to a bookmaker will be via their website. However, once you are acquainted with the sportsbook, it makes sense to switch to the app.
Here are some of the benefits:
Betting apps use all the functionality of your phone/tablet. You can get goal notifications in real-time, without having to have the app open. The display is optimised to fit your screen too, no awkward scrolling to find a price or see the live stream properly.
Finally, some bookmakers may include app-specific bonuses like free bets or acca insurance. Once you know the bookmaker and have decided to bet via your device, using online betting app is the clear choice.
How to Safely Find the Native App
General downloading safety rules apply to betting apps UK ā you want to make sure you're getting the official software and that it comes from the bookmaker. While rare, it's not unheard of for fake apps to be offered on some websites. It's easy to stay safe, however, by following these guidelines.
When you find the betting app UK you want to use, there are only three places you should be downloading it from: Google's Play Store, Apple's App Store, and the bookmaker's site. Although downloading stuff from the dedicated stores and websites is simple enough, there are two main security issues to keep track of:
OS Stores ConcernsBoth Google and Apple check the gambling licenses of betting apps in their stores. However, when you type the bookmaker's brand in any of the stores, you will see a lot of apps, which have nothing to do with the sportsbook. They are just disguised as betting apps. Make sure you are downloading original apps by checking the logo, reviews, number of downloads and, above all, the publisher information.
Website Downloads Concerns If you are downloading the app from a website, make sure it's from the download link provided by the bookmaker. Avoid any third-party websites offering a direct link. If you're downloading an app from a smaller bookmaker, or one you haven't heard of before, do some quick research to make sure they're properly licensed.
Live Streaming and Live Betting for Football Action
The best betting apps really come into their own with in-play betting. This is probably the number one reason to use an app, to begin with. You can easily manage your bets while keeping your attention where it's most needed ā on the match.
Live streaming is one more reason to use an app. The best football betting apps offer a seamless experience allowing you to easily switch between the stream and the sportsbook or view them both at the same time. Keep in mind that the streams have a slight delay from actual real-time events. This delay can be up to 30 seconds, so be aware that the dangerous attack you're witnessing may already be over.
Mobile Bonuses and Promotions
Bookmakers will sometimes offer exclusive bonuses and promotions to users of their apps. When looking for the best betting app it's good to consider the promotions offered by each bookmaker. This strategy helps bookies encourage app downloads and enables them to grow their mobile market while giving you extra opportunities to bank some winnings.
However, even without the mobile-exclusive promotions, the sportsbooks still promote all of their football betting offers through the app, including sign-up deals, acca insurance and price boosts. Look out for notifications and promotional emails in both your personal email and betting account messages.
Football Betting Offers at Betway
-
Free bets and price boosts
Various promotional offers
Top rated by bettors and experts -
Sign-up Offer
Get up to Ā£10.00
in free bets -
Free Bet Club
Bet Ā£25 in trebles or higher
and get Ā£10 Free -
Betway Boost
Daily Price Boosts to increase
your winnings
Mobile Security Matters
What if you lose your phone? Could someone access your betting account, deposit money from your bank, place bets or withdraw money to their card? The best betting apps have a number of security features to keep you safe.
Touch ID Both Apple and Android devices incorporate biometric technology requiring your fingerprint to unlock your phone. Even if the person somehow knows your PIN, many betting apps ask for fingerprint confirmation before logging you in.
Managing Passwords Make sure you're not auto-signed in any betting or financial sites. Where possible, activate fingerprint log-in. If that's not available, don't allow your phone to store the password for that site. To be extra safe, uncheck "Remember my username" too.
Browser Warnings. While rarely seen, there are fake websites designed to "phish" or trick you into giving them your details. Thankfully, modern browsers usually warn you that the site you're about to visit is suspect. If you ever get a browser alert for a suspicious website, you best listen to it and stay clear of dangerous territory.
GDPR GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) applies to all websites being accessed by people from Europe so covers virtually all sports betting sites. Your personal details cannot be used for any purpose other than explicitly stated and, if there is any suspicious activity on your account or an identified data breach, bookmakers need to contact you in no more than 72 hours.
Mobile Payments Solutions
If you're betting from your mobile or tablet, it makes sense to be able to manage your money from your phone too. Make use of the following, and you won't have to type in your debit card number every time you want to make a deposit or withdrawal.
- Apple Pay and Google Pay These are both secure mobile payment options, each supported by its relevant platform. They come with some OS-inbuilt benefits like biometric technology and dedicated device integration.
- PayPal, Skrill, NETELLER Each of these web wallets have their own mobile apps and are widely accepted on the best betting apps. You get speed, security, and convenience. While many sportsbooks have a 0% commission on deposits and withdrawals, check the terms and conditions to make sure you're not needlessly giving money away.
- Boku and Zinger These companies allow you to charge payments to your phone bill instead of drawing from your bank account. Useful if you don't want to share any personal or payment details over the internet.
Useful Information about the Different Mobile Operating Systems
While on the surface, Android and iOS look quite similar, there are some fundamental differences to be aware of.
Some Useful Android Tips
While the best betting apps for Android are easy to install and use, occasionally you may have to do something different to get the app or enjoy all of its features. Here's what to do if you find yourself in this situation.
- Installing apps Sometimes the Google Play store doesn't have the sports betting app available. In this case, you'll have to download and install it directly from the bookmaker's website. This is a simple case of clicking the download link on the bookie's site from your phone. However, you need to make sure you can install apps from places other than Google Play. To do this, go to your device's 'Settingsā menu. Tap on āSecurityā and tick the āUnknown Sourcesā option located there. Now when you download the app (an apk file), you should be given the option to open and install it.
- Google Play Protect Google Play Protect periodically checks the apps on your device for harmful software. You will get a notification if it finds anything you need to check, but you can check the last scanned files and find other information by opening Google Play and pressing the menu next to the search bar. You will see Play Protect as an option.
- Notification badges Notifications offer a lot of extra functionality, including live score updates. If youāre not getting these, you can check theyāve activated by looking in either the settings of the individual app or your deviceās āSettings'. Just tap on āApps' and go to the notification menu to set them up.
Football Betting Apps for iPhone
Football betting apps on the iPhone/iPad are only available from the App Store, so thereās no third-party installation needed. Notifications can be managed via Settings also.
- Appleās App Store Apple have a strict policy when it comes to checking apps for relevance, authenticity, and quality. When you download an app from the store, it will do what it says it does and be from who it says it is. As with Google Play, apps on the App Store are checked for viruses and malware so you can be confident youāre not going to accidentally harm your device.
- Superb hardware As iPhones and iPads are high-end devices, you can expect excellent image and video quality plus fast and responsive performance.
What about Other Gambling Apps?
Many bookmakers offer other gambling opportunities on top of their sports betting offers. If you are into casino games, poker, or bingo, chances are there is a relevant app with the same brand. For example, if you enter āBetfairā into either of the app stores, you will see dedicated apps for their Casino, Slots and Poker.
If you want to play these games, you'll need to download the relevant app. Why arenāt all the games offered in one mobile app? There a number of reasons, one being that many sports bettors really donāt like luck-based games and want nothing to do with them. Why waste your phone memory on stuff you donāt like and will never use? No bookmaker wants to alienate their customers.
Besides, sports betting software looks and works in a very different manner compared to Casino apps. You get a much better performance from a dedicated app.
If youāre interested in gambling games beyond football betting, there are plenty of options for you. If youāre not, then you can just enjoy the dedicated apps offered by bookies.
Frequently Asked Questions
šQ: Are Football Betting Apps Secure?
š¬A: Football betting apps are secure as long as you download them from a trusted source: Appleās App Store, Googleās Play Store, or the bookieās website. In the latter case, make sure you have selected a licensed bookmaker.
š±Q: Which App Has the Best Odds for Football?
š¬A: While no bookmaker can guarantee the best odds for all football matches, there are several sportsbooks that consistently give great odds for specific football leagues and even some specific team matches (sponsored teams). These are: bet365, Betfair, William Hill, 888sport, Paddy Power, Unibet.
šQ: Which Betting Apps Offer Free Bets?
š¬A: A few years ago, bookmakers offered exclusive free bets and promotions for new users of their apps. With football betting apps now widely accepted, mobile-only bets are less common. Still, all of the top bookmakers have regular promotions that can be used on their app as well as via their main site. The following bookmakers offer free bets as welcome bonuses and/or regular promotions: Betfair, 888sport, Paddy Power, bet365, William Hill.
šQ: Which Betting Apps Donāt Check Age?
š¬A: As of 2019, all online betting customers need to verify their age by providing a copy ā physical or digital ā of a valid photo ID. These requirements are mandated by law in the United Kingdom, so all licensed bookmakers require age verification.
šQ: Which Betting Apps Work Abroad?
š¬A: Bookmakers are subject to legislation in different countries. While the betting apps themselves will work abroad, you will be blocked from placing a bet if youāre in a country where online betting is outlawed. Some countries, like Spain, may allow online gambling to residents of the country but not to visitors. And some bookies may have decided not to apply for a licence in certain countries. The easiest way to check if a bookie is licensed for a particular location is to ask their customer support team.
ā Q: What are the key features of the betting apps UK?
š¬A: The best football betting apps provide a ton of features - including stats and live streams ā and make it quick and easy to get your bet on or cash-out your winnings wherever you are. Theyāre at least as secure as accessing football betting sites from a computer and far more convenient for most of us. Make the most of them, and they can only be a boost to your football betting.
