Best Betting Sites - Only Top Bookmakers Listed
Welcome to Betting Mate! You’re about to start a journey through the landscape of the best betting sites currently available. Let us be your guide and we promise you’ll never need another site to bring you the best online bookmakers, their bonuses and promotions.
Here you’ll find the best betting sites for beginners as well as seasoned veterans. Take a gander at our list of top bookmakers and don’t forget to bookmark us and follow us on social media for regular updates.
Our List Of The Best Betting Sites
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Why Should You Trust Betting Mate’s List Of Online Bookies
We could simply say “Hey, we’re your Betting Mate – trust us,” but that’s not going to cut it. So here’s the deal: You’ve probably searched for things like “best online sportsbook,” “best bookie bonuses,” or something similar and that’s how you ended up here.
What sets us apart is that we’re going to be honest with you all the way, every day. We don’t get paid for reviewing sportsbooks, but we get paid for bringing players to the bookies we recommend. That is the truth.
Still, if we were to suggest any dodgy sites our reputation would plummet and we would soon go out of business. So keep reading and you’ll find nothing but verified information and sound advice. Let’s start with a guide to choosing the best online bookie for you.
Guide To Choosing The Best Betting Site
With so many bookies online, how could you possibly determine which one is the best betting site? In true Betting Mate fashion, we rate our recommended betting sites based on a long list of criteria. Most importantly is player safety, followed by bonuses on offer, payment methods and around the clock customer support.
Betting Mate puts every sportsbook we review under the microscope to make sure they not only live up to our standards, but more importantly, live up to your standards. A mate wouldn’t suggest that you risk your money on a bad sportsbook or give you poor advice
Licensing And Security
Player safety is always at the forefront of how we rank trusted online betting sites. Always look in the footer at the bottom of the page for information regarding licensing and security. The best betting sites are regulated and must adhere to specific rules that govern how they are allowed to operate and what they are allowed to offer.
The most common licensing authorities are:
- Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
- United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC)
- Curacao Gaming Licence
- Gibraltar Gambling Act
Each licensing body comes with different rules but when it comes to player security they are very similar.
Variety Of Sports Markets
Variety is truly the spice of life and it’s no different for sports markets. The more the merrier! Don’t settle for online bookies with a handful of odds on a few sports. Online bookies in the “best” stratosphere offer hundreds of sports markets to bet on during each event.
You can rest assured that all of our promoted bookies have plenty of possible bets on all major sports like:
- Football – All the top national leagues and international tournaments
- NFL
- Tennis
- MMA
- Formula-1
- NBA
- MLB
- Golf
- Ice Hockey
If you have something specific you would like to bet on and you can’t find it on offer, don’t hesitate to contact the bookie and ask if they can make it possible. Chances are they might depending on the event and how much you’re willing to bet.
Competitive Odds
The top betting sites are constantly looking for new players and will offer competitive odds on most markets. Unlike casino games where the payouts are fixed on all the games, successful sports bettors have the advantage of comparing odds between bookies to get the best possible returns on their bets.
Since it’s free to register an account, it doesn’t hurt to have accounts with several of our suggested betting sites. This way you can make sure that you always bet with the most competitive odds.
Bonus Terms & Conditions - What To Look For
It’s damn near impossible to stress the importance of always – ALWAYS – reading the bonus terms and conditions before you accept an offer from an online betting site. The best bookies will have straightforward rules that are easy to follow, but if you stray from our recommended sites you could end up in a swamp of legalese.
We cover everything you need to know on our best betting bonuses page and suggest you educate yourself so you know what to look for.
Customer Support 24/7
Even the best betting sites can run into technical problems and if that happens you should be able to contact customer support regardless of what time it is. If you have any issues, start by checking the FAQ section. Most answers will already be there.
If you can’t find information there, reach out to customer support via live chat and get help from a real person. Worst case scenario is that you may have to send an email, but the best betting sites will have staff available around the clock so most of the time you’ll get a reply within a couple of hours.
A few of the better bookies will even have a phone number you can call if you need help.
Payment Methods With Fast Withdrawals
It’s only natural that you want your winnings into your bank account as fast as possible. The best betting sites will offer a long list of payment methods with fast withdrawals whether you’re betting with fiat money or a cryptocurrency.
Before you register your betting account with an online bookie you should make sure that they support a payment method that you use.
Also, make sure to use the same payment method for both deposits and withdrawals to get your money as fast as possible.
Bank cards – The most common ones are Visa and Mastercard. These would be debit and credit cards connected directly to your bank account. Deposits to your player account are instant but withdrawals can take a couple of banking days.
E-wallets – These are very popular among sports bettors because they are usually much faster when it comes to getting you your money. The most popular ones are PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, and Interac.
Prepaid cards – Paysafecards are by far the most frequently used prepaid cards for player deposits. It’s a very safe and secure way of moving money into your player account. The downside of prepaid cards is that they won’t allow for withdrawals. You will have to have another payment method registered on your player account for that.
Cryptocurrencies – Digital money has been all the rage for quite some time already. Cryptos like Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum offer players a fast and anonymous way to transfer money to and from their bookie accounts.
How To Make a Deposit
Depositing money into your player account is always free on our recommended betting sites. The process is super simple and money should go through immediately. If for any reason your deposit hasn’t gone through after 5 minutes, reach out to customer support.
This is how you normally make a deposit:
- Log into your player account
- Click on “My Account”
- Click on Deposit
- Choose your payment method
- Fill out the required information and amount
- Click “Deposit”
Don’t forget to tick the box if you want to claim the welcome bonus with your first deposit. If you don’t you will not be able to claim it later.
How to make a withdrawal
Making a withdrawal is just as easy and follows the same steps as above except you choose withdrawal instead of deposit. And when you pick your payment method, it will be the one you want your money to be paid to.
The best betting sites will process your withdrawals immediately, but depending on your chosen payment method it could take a little while for the money to appear in your wallet.
Responsible Gambling Limits

You’ve probably read articles about the dangers of becoming a gambling addict, and while this is a possibility, there are things you can do to limit those risks by using the available responsible gambling tools.
Online bookies that prioritise player safety will always allow you to set daily, weekly, or monthly limits for how much you can deposit into your player account. It’s highly recommended that you use them.
We urge you to reach out to organisations like GamStop and GamCare if you feel like you’re losing control. Betting on sports should be fun and exciting for the right reasons, never seen as a source of income.
Chasing losses with bigger and riskier bets is usually the first sign that you should take a step back and reach out for help. Don’t ignore the signs.
Featured Sports Betting Bonuses
Every online bookie will have featured sports betting bonuses. These vary in scope depending on the offer. The best betting site bonuses will minimise the risk of losing money, or, even better, won’t require a deposit.
Welcome Bonuses
The welcome bonuses offered by top sportsbooks are quite lavish. Normally, you can only claim a welcome bonus once with your first deposit, but there are bookies like BC.Game which will offer up to 20 free bets on your first four deposits. And that’s on top of matching your deposits up to 150%.
No Deposit Bonuses
Top sportsbooks with no deposit bonuses are highly coveted by sports bettors. Just like it sounds, you don’t have to put any money into your player account, but you could be required to have a bit of money in your account to claim the offer.
Free Bets
Free bet offers online is another sought-after bonus from top bookies. You don’t risk your own money and get to keep all the winnings because the sportsbook fronts the stake. Beware, you may have to wager your winnings x amount of times before you can make a withdrawal.
Risk Free Bets
Over the years, sports bettors have grown very fond of risk free bets because it’s a great way to place bets without the possibility of losing any money. The catch is that you have to put up the stake yourself, but if your bet doesn’t win you get your money back to your player account.
Cashback Offers
Cashback offers are quite common among the top recommended betting sites we promote. Once you’ve staked enough money on sports bets you’ll get a percentage of the total back – usually 10%. In some cases you can even withdraw the money back to your payment method, but more often than not there are strings attached.
Other Sports Betting Promotions
Keep an eye out for special deals during big events like the World Cup or the NFL Super Bowl. Online bookies tend to shower their players with offers when they take place.
Sportsbook VIP Clubs

Sportsbook VIP Clubs are great for getting regular offers that are boosted beyond what’s normally on offer. These enhanced sports betting bonuses are only offered to members of the club. There are a handful of ways you can get your membership:
- You could be enrolled as a member automatically with your first bet.
- Once you’ve wagered enough on sports bets, the bookie will reach out to you.
- Begging – you can always try…
What makes VIP Club membership attractive isn’t just the improved offers, wagering requirements are usually lower.
How To Open Your Online Bookmaker Account
Opening an account with an online bookmaker is easy, fast, and most importantly, free. It normally only takes a couple of minutes to fill out the forms and claim the welcome bonus. Here’s a how it normally goes:
- Fill out your personal information such as name, surname, and date of birth.
- Share your contact details like email, phone, and post address.
- Tick a couple of boxes to accept the terms and conditions and privacy policy.
- Click the “Register” button – Done!
We only recommend top betting sites with free accounts. If you come across an online bookmaker that requires a registration fee or a deposit, even if you can use it after to place bets, run! These are not serious betting sites and should be avoided.
Essential Betting Sites Features
The best betting sites will have what we consider to be a few essential features. This is what separates the good bookies from those in a league of their own.
Live Betting
Sports betting while watching the event live adds a bit of excitement to the occasion. It’s a good thing that every online bookie we recommend offers live betting.
Mobile Betting
Virtually all the best sportsbooks have a mobile adapted version of the site to make it possible to place bets from your phone or tablet. This is pretty much a must-have feature.
Cashout
Arguably the best betting feature available to sports bettors. The possibility to cashout on a bet to protect your winnings or cut your losses before a match ends is pure gold. You will never get all your money back, but at least your bankroll lives to bet another day.
Live Streaming
Not all sportsbooks offer live streaming of big sporting events because it’s a very expensive feature. However, if you come across a bookie with live streaming you will probably be required to have some money in your player account to enjoy this service.
Betting App
This is very much a form of mobile betting but rather than navigating to the bookie’s website, you download the sportsbook as an app on your device. A common perk is that players who use the app will get special offers from time to time that you can’t get anywhere else.
Boosted Odds
The best betting sites will offer boosted odds on specific events that will turn the edge in your favour. Be on the lookout for these just in case you were planning on placing a bet. Taking advantage of enhanced odds is a great way to potentially increase your winnings.
Boosted Payouts
Admittedly, this is an extremely rare feature. It’s pretty much what it sounds like. When a bet is settled as a win there’s a chance that it could be boosted by a specific percentage and you get to keep the winnings.
Bet Builder
This is one of several nifty betting tools available to sports bettors. The Bet Builder will allow you to combine several selections from a single event to create a bet with multiple legs. Like any other combination bet, every leg must come true for the bet to win.
Unregulated bookies online
We wouldn’t be a good Betting Mate if we didn’t warn you about the risks that come with registering on unregulated betting sites. Their terms and conditions usually include the phrase “in case of a dispute, management’s word is final,” which means that you have no chance of winning any argument.
You’re better off staying away from these dodgy bookies and stick with the ones we recommend. Yes, we earn money from promoting sports betting sites, but that doesn’t mean that we’re not interested in your well-being.
FAQ - Best Betting Sites
What are the best betting sites for beginners?
Sportsbooks are generally very user friendly and self-explanatory.
Are online betting sites safe?
Yes. We are your Betting Mate and only recommend online bookies that are licensed and regulated by an authority.
What is responsible gambling?
This is an umbrella term that encompasses the ability to set deposit limits, links to help organisations, and the possibility to self-exclude if you feel that gambling is getting the better of your health and finances.
How do I claim a welcome bonus?
When you make your first deposit there will be a tick box to click. It will only work on your first deposit. Make sure you’re using a qualifying payment method and always read the terms and conditions before you commit.
How do wagering requirements work?
Wagering requirements are always expressed as a multiplier indicating how many times you have to turn over a bonus amount before you are allowed to withdraw your winnings.
Which is the best site to bet on?
While the term “best” would suggest that there’s only one possibility, today there are plenty of online bookies that meet the criteria for that title.
Can you win real money on sports betting?
Yes. The most common currencies are US Dollars and Euros.
Can I bet with cryptocurrencies?
Absolutely. Bitcoin is by far the most popular and you can even claim your welcome bonus in this cryptocurrency on a lot of online betting sites.
Can I bet on my mobile?
Yes. Every online sportsbook is available on mobile and some even have betting apps for iPhones and Androids.
To Summarise What You Need To Know About The Best Betting Sites
Only register free accounts on our recommended online bookies. Most of them are award winning betting sites with a long-standing reputation of meeting their players’ expectations. Avoid sportsbooks without a licence.
Make sure your favourite betting sites have generous bonuses with clear terms and conditions. And read them before you commit your money.
You’re better off using a payment method that allows for both deposits and withdrawals. We would recommend either e-wallets or cryptocurrencies for speedy transactions.
Customer support should be available in your language day and night, and have a short response time.
It’s great when bookies offer lots and lots of markets to bet on, but it doesn’t mean much if you can’t bet on your favourite sports. Keep that in mind when you’re choosing your online betting site.
Be on the lookout for essential features like bet builder, live betting, and the bookie’s betting app. Take advantage of enhanced odds and don’t forget to cashout to protect your winnings and cut your losses.
Use the responsible gaming settings to limit yourself and never hesitate to reach out to family, friends, or help organisations if you feel like you’re losing control over your gambling.
