Online Betting: Everything You Need To Know
Online betting works just like traditional betting; you place wagers on specific sports games or events to predict an outcome. If your prediction is right, winnings will be paid but if your prediction is wrong, you wager is lost.
Betting shops allow you to wager on a variety of different sports such as darts, American football, greyhound racing, rugby, golf, football, horse racing, volleyball, tennis, eSports, snooker, and more. The selection of sports available to bet on will differ depending on the individual betting website, and most websites will also run bets on media and political events, but this again will depend on the individual betting website.
Online Betting And Real-Life: What Are The Differences?
Promotions
One of the biggest difference between betting websites and traditional brick-and-mortar betting shops is that betting sites will usually run a wider selection of promotions and bonuses. For example, most betting sites will offer free bets or cashback bonuses on first deposit losses to new customers. They also tend to run plenty of long-term promotions for regular customers too including boosted odds, cashback bonuses, and additional free bets.
While betting shops may run some promotions, it’s unlikely that they’ll run as money as betting websites do, meaning you’ll be provided with plenty more chances to win here. Before claiming anything, however, you’ll need to check the terms and conditions to understand the wagering requirements and other limitations too.
Casino Games
In addition to providing more promotions, online betting sites also tend to run a small selection of casino games, again depending on the website. We’ve seen some betting sites which run a small collection of video slots while others provide customers with a larger selection of content which includes slots, table games, live casino, scratchcards, and more.
This means that online betting sites provide additional forms of entertainment to keep you busy when waiting for bets to clear. Traditional betting shops just don’t offer this type of content, which makes betting sites all the better to play at.
There are plenty of other differences between betting sites and shops, including the availability of more payment options at online websites, as well as the ability to play wherever you want as long as you have an internet connection. All of this comes together to provide players with an unrivalled betting experience which, in our opinion, is much better than visiting your local bookies.
Online Betting With Smartphones: How Does It Work?
Generally speaking, when it comes to online betting, and most forms of online gambling, there are two main ways to play, either in your smartphone’s internet browser or through a dedicated mobile app. While both allow you to place bets on your smartphones or tablets, there are differences in how the two methods work.
For example, playing in-browser requires you to load up the online betting website in your device’s internet browser and then log in. From there, you’ll be able to place bets through the mobile-friendly website and will be able to enjoy a wide selection of casino games too, most of which are now developed with mobile-friendliness in mind.
To play through mobile apps, you’ll need to download the app directly to your smartphone and then sign in to your account. Through the app, you’ll be able to quickly place bets which makes playing in apps much easier. Take a look for other reasons why it’s better to play in-app.
Reasons Why You Should Use Betting Apps
While playing in-browser may be tempting, it’s likely to be better to play through dedicated mobile apps. There are multiple reasons for this including that apps were developed by the casino sites for mobile users, offering easier navigation. In addition, playing through a mobile app will be much easier for you, since you won’t be required to repeatedly load up the website in your smartphone’s browser; just launch the app and everything is ready for you.
Casino Mobile Apps
While mobile apps may be superior when it comes to online betting, playing in-browser is our recommended method when it comes to playing online casino games. The reason for this is that casino mobile apps tend to come with a selection of pre-installed games which must be uninstalled and replaced by the user whereas casinos accessed in-browser will offer its entire selection of games and takes up no storage on your device. More details on casino apps can be found here.
Which Betting Sites Have The Best Mobile Apps?
Since online betting is so popular, we’ve found that most major betting websites now offer mobile apps. While this is great in theory, it actually makes finding the best online betting apps much more difficult since there are so many to pick from.
To help you out, we’ve decided to put together of a list of our recommended best online betting apps after having extensively reviewed most major betting websites, their offerings, and the functionality of their betting apps. So take a look below and find an app that works for you.
10Bet
10Bet is an online betting website which is currently giving all new users a £50 welcome bonus which can only be used to place bets with. The mobile app offers a huge selection of sports to bet on and it offers a selection of video slots and live casino games too, all of which can be accessed directly within the mobile app. If you want to learn more about the website, we suggest you read through our 10Bet review.
Bet365
Bet365 is another betting website and arguably one of the biggest around. Anyone who registers can claim £100 in bet credits which can be used on any sports game or event. The app allows you to place various bets, access live streams directly, and it allows users to follow live games as they happen. Want to know more? Check our Bet365 review here.
BetVictor
BetVictor is a big name in the online betting industry, and the website offers all players a dedicated mobile app. The site is giving all new customers £30 in free bets which can be used on plenty of sports and other events. The BetVictor app offers in-play betting, the ability to watch live streams of games, and live results through the app’s Smart Cards feature. You can read more about the betting site in our BetVictor review.
Betway
Betway is one of the biggest names in gambling, and for good reason. The brand’s sports betting website offers all new customers a free £10 bet and the app, which can be downloaded to all smartphones and tablets, offers players a unique bet builder mechanic along with more than 2,000 in-play weekly events, various tournaments, and plenty of responsible gambling tools to keep you safe. Find out why so many people enjoy betting here in our Betway review.
MansionBet
MansionBet is another betting giant in the UK. The desktop website is currently offering all new customers four £5 free bets while the mobile app offers an exclusive £50 bonus. The app also offers a wide range of sports games, boosted odds, and the ability to combine bets into special Accas. You can discover more about MansionBet in our review here.
Virgin Bet
Virgin Bet is an online betting website based on the Virgin brand. All new customers can enjoy two £10 free bets and the mobile app offers daily promotions, the ability to watch select sports live in-app, as well as a selection of video slots and live casino games to keep you busy for a long time. Find out more in our Virgin Bet review.
William Hill
Our final recommendation for best online betting apps is William Hill, which is one of the most well-known betting firms around. New customers can claim £30 in free bets and mobile users can enjoy boosted odds, daily bet boosts, the ability to build your own unique bet, frequently enhanced prices, and a great selection of video slots. You can discover more about William Hill in our review here.
What Makes A Betting App Good?
There are numerous factors which should be considered when debating what makes a betting app good. While most of this is up to personal opinion, there are several important factors that you will need to review before joining a betting site or app.
Licensing
Before registering at an online betting site, you’ll need to check whether or not the online betting website or app holds a valid license for the UK or your relevant region. If it does, that means the site and app are safe and fair to use but if it doesn’t, you should avoid registering with it and find a website or app that does hold a license.
Gambling Opportunities
While most online betting sites and apps will allow you to wager on various sports games, tournaments, and more, it’s important to take a look at whether the online betting app or website also offers other content to play like video slots, table games, and live casino. Website and apps that do will provide you with more longevity, which is great.
Payment Options
It’s also important to take a look at the various payment options that are accepted with an online betting website or app. Before you register, read through the site’s FAQ, contact support or check the site’s footer to discover which payment methods are accepted. You’ll then be able to work out which of your preferred methods can be used and you’ll be able to work out how long the betting site takes to process payments too.
Promotions
Finally, it’s important to check what promotions are available to you both as a brand new customer and as a regular long-time user. We’ve already stated that an advantage of playing at online betting sites is that you’ll be provided with access to more promotions, but this will depend on each website, which is why it’s important to check. Sites that offer more promotions, particularly those aimed at long-term users, are arguably better than those that do not.
There are other factors that are worth considering too including checking whether fees are imposed on payments, checking what customer support services are available, and the odds available.
So, in short, a good online betting app and website is one that is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, offers a range of sports betting opportunities and other content, accepts a variety of payment options, and offers new and returning users plenty of promotions. Consider all of that before registering with any website and if you don’t want to have to do the work, it’s worth taking a look at our in-depth betting site reviews here which analyses everything we’ve discussed.
Questions & Answers (FAQ)
How do I find the best betting apps for UK players?
You can simply take a look at our detailed guide right here and read through our reviews to find the best betting apps for UK players. All of our reviews touch on licensing, betting options, casino game selection, payment options, and so much more so you know exactly what to expect.
What betting app offers can I enjoy?
The betting app offers available to players in the UK are generally the same as those on ordinary betting sites. This includes free bets, bet credits, cashback promotions, as well as boosted odds. Not all promotions will be available at all betting sites, so check before registering!
Are betting apps safe to use?
Yep! Betting apps and websites are completely safe to play with as long as they hold valid licenses from the UK Gambling Commission. You can check whether a betting site holds a license by reading our reviews or scrolling to the footer of the website which should display the Gambling Commission logo.
Can I play casino games at online betting sites?
This generally depends on each individual betting website but we’ve found that most online betting sites do provide players with a selection of casino games, usually video slots. Whether these games are available within the mobile app, however, also varies between websites.
Why should I use mobile betting apps?
Mobile betting apps were designed specifically for players who are on mobile, meaning that navigation should be easier along with the ability to place bets. You can take a look at other reasons we believe playing in apps is better with our guide here.