• Licensing – The first thing we look for when reviewing a UK betting site is whether it is licensed by the UKGC – the UK Gambling Commission. Without a UKGC licence, we cannot guarantee player protection and security at the betting site in question, and so if an operator fails this initial test, we simply won’t mention them.
• Welcome offers – Welcome offers are, for many, the most significant factor in choosing a new casino, and we take this into consideration within our reviews. To do so, we scrutinise the bonus terms and conditions to make sure players are getting the best out of their bonuses, and alert them to any restrictions they might come with. 
• Promotions – On top of welcome offers, it’s important that a betting site frequently rewards its returning players. Welcome bonuses are a good way of attracting new customers, but without recurrent rewards like Free Bets, boosted odds and acca insurances, there is little reason to keep betting at a particular site. 
• Mobile experience – We prefer it when a betting site offers a dedicated mobile app, but it is possible to have a smooth and enjoyable gambling experience on a mobile-optimised site. The most important thing is that a mobile site or app is able to provide sleek interfaces, fast loading times, efficient navigation, in-play betting, and all the other aspects of the best betting sites that desktop players are able to enjoy.
• Competitive odds – It’s vital that players feel assured that they are getting the best odds available, which is why competitive odds are crucial to our selection criteria. It is for this reason that we recommend betting sites like Betfair, who offer a betting exchange platform that can provide improved odds. We also look out for best odds guaranteed (BOG) on the horses, which you will find at our top-rated betting sites. 
• Payout speed – Fast payout speed is a must at the best betting sites. We understand that there are few things more frustrating in the world of online betting than having to wait a week for your cash to appear in your account after a win. You will find a number of fast withdrawal methods at each of our recommended betting sites, including e-wallets like PayPal, Neteller and Skrill. 
• Reputation – Our top-ranked betting sites have established reputations in the betting industry. A good reputation should mean trust, quality and expert customer service, which are some of the things we value most in any betting site. That said, even if we are recommending an esteemed operator that has been in the business for many years, we will still provide an honest and thorough assessment of all its qualities and deficiencies.
• Customer support – Round-the-clock customer support should be obligatory at the best betting sites. Almost all of the bookies we endorse will provide a live chat service that instantly puts customers in touch with an advisor if and when any problems should arise during any stage of the betting process. If live chat is not available, there will be a number of other avenues available for those in need of help and support, be it via phone, email or social media.

In-play betting

In-play betting is, as the name suggests, when you bet on a match or race as it's happening, and is a must at all the best betting sites. It is perhaps the most fun you can have at a bookies, as it raises the stakes of any fixture you’re watching, whether you’re a fan or not. In-play betting, which is also referred to as live betting, is the best option for sports experts, as it is all about intuition, responding to the action as it happens. If you’re a sports betting fan and haven’t tried in-play betting yet, we highly recommend you give it a go.

Cash out

Cash out and in-play betting go hand in hand. If you’ve placed a bet on a fixture or race but you’re unsure of whether it will come through, most of the best betting sites will offer you the chance to ‘cash out’ before the final whistle. For example, if you have Arsenal to beat Tottenham, and Arsenal are 2-1 up with 10 minutes to go but you don’t think they’re going to hold on, you can cash out your bet and receive a portion of your potential winnings, depending on how probable the bookies consider a Spurs equaliser. Again, it makes for very entertaining viewing, and is a feature you should expect to find at the best betting sites. 

Live streaming

Many of the best betting sites – like Bet365, 888sports, William Hill and Paddy Power – offer a live streaming service that facilitates in-play betting. To access this service you must be signed up to the relevant betting site, and in some cases must also have either a funded account, or have made a bet in the 24 hours leading up to the event in question. The sport most commonly covered by UK betting sites is horse racing, but you can also watch top-flight European football, Grand Slam tennis, and many other tournaments and sports.

Bet Builder

Bet builder is a feature that allows punters to build their own accumulators within a single match, race or event, and from a variety of markets. As such, bet builders allow you to craft your own unique bets. They are usually associated with football, due to their being so many established betting markets within the sport, but can increasingly be used with others as well. 

Each Way

An each-way bet is made up of two parts of equal stake and is extremely popular in sports where there are numerous competitors, most pertinently horse racing and golf. The first part of your bet requires your selection to win and the second bet is on your selection to place; the number of places on offer is dependent on the bookmaker. So, while your selection may not always come out on top, opting for an each-way bet means you do still have the opportunity to receive a pay-out if your choice places in the event (place terms can vary but are usually in the region of 1/4 or 1/5 odds).

Debit Cards

Debit cards are the most popular method of payment on online betting sites. For good reason too, they are available to use with all bookmakers and offer a very straight forward, quick and safe way of opening an account and placing a bet.

PayPal

E-wallet giant PayPal is a simple to use, fast, and very popular method of payment on betting sites, which is now a widely available option with all major players in the field. Unlike with debit cards where your transactions show up on bank statements, PayPal offers individuals complete anonymity.

Trustly

While not as popular as PayPal in the UK, Swedish company Trustly is an online wallet that can be used as an effective and reputable method to deposit/withdraw funds with many online betting sites.

Google Pay

Google Pay is an increasingly popular online payment method. As it says on the tin, this is Google’s brainchild and everything is synced to your Google account and available to access through your computer, phone, tablet, or watch.

Apple Pay

iOS users can use Apple Pay, which offers customers a convenient, easy, safe and secure way of depositing. However, for all its benefits it’s important to note that you can’t currently withdraw money for Apple Pay.

AstroPay

AstroPay is a pre-paid card which customers can use to deposit funds to online betting sites. Similar to PayPal and Trustly, it gives individuals an extra layer of security as you won’t see transactions on your bank account. However, only certain bookmakers use it in the UK.

• Set a budget – The best way to ensure that your gambling habits remain healthy is to impose your own spending limits. This can be done independently, but the best and easiest way to do it is through the gambling site that you’re using, if the feature is available. However you limit your budget, it’s vital that you’re honest with yourself, and that you never bet what you can’t afford to lose. 
• Don’t chase losses – Self-discipline is the best quality you can have as a punter. If things aren’t going your way, the best thing for it is to shut your laptop or close your app. Chasing your losses is an extremely dangerous practice that can land you in a lot of trouble, so if you feel yourself falling into that trap, visit Begambleaware.org before things get worse.
• Make use of responsible gambling tools – Responsible gambling tools like GAMSTOP – a self-exclusion service available across all UKGC-licensed betting sites that restricts your access to gambling sites for a set period of time – are an extremely useful way of maintaining healthy gambling habits. Other tools out there include: deposit limits; losses limits; gaming time checks and budget calculators. 
• Ask for help – If you feel you or someone close to you are showing signs of problem gambling or addiction, visit Begambleaware.org or Gamcare.org.uk to get in touch with those who can provide help, advice and support.