Last updated on: December 30th, 2024

Legal Sports Betting in the United Kingdom

Legal sports betting in the United Kingdom has been an option since 1961. The United Kingdom was one of the first countries to embrace sports betting. They have some of the most developed laws among countries with legal sports betting. Also, the United Kingdom is famous for establishing the first sports betting exchange. In a betting exchange, you don’t bet against UK sports betting sites, but other bettors. Not only is gambling legal in the UK, there are many forms available on the market.

Legal sports betting in the UK is more popular than any other country in Europe. The menu of sports you can bet on legally in the United Kingdom is vast. Football, basketball, American football, hockey, eSports, boxing, golf, tennis, and cricket are just some. Also, there are sportsbooks that take UK players outside of the country.

Sports Betting Websites

Rank	Bonus Offer	Play Now
1	50% Up To $1,000Read Review	Visit BetOnline!
2	50% Up To $1,000 Read Review	Visit MyBookie!
3	50% Up To $1,000 Read Review	Visit SportsBetting!

MyBookie Sportsbook

Best Book For Betting NFL Lines

The NFL has continued to gain popularity throughout the UK, especially with London hosting games over the last couple years. For betting on the Dolphins, MyBookie has game lines for every single regular season game, and odds and prop bets for the postseason as well. MyBookie is one of the best legal sports betting sites that take UK players, especially for NFL Sunday betting.

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The Legality of Sports Betting in the United Kingdom

The legality of sports betting in the United Kingdom has a long history of reform.

The Gaming Act 1845 made the United Kingdom one of the first countries to allow betting on horse racing.
With the Racecourse Betting Act of 1928, legislation allowed fixed-odd betting on horse racing. This created the Racecourse Betting Control Board.
The Betting and Gaming Act of 1960 legalized cash betting either by post or in person. It also made it legal to open a UK betting shop.
From the Gambling Act of 2005, the Gambling Commission formed. They regulated all forms of betting UK sports betting but opened gambling advertisements. It was also the first time a bill containing online gambling language saw approval.
To deter fixed sports matches, the 2006 Fraud Act passed. This made sports corruption a criminal offense.
The Gambling Licensing and Advertising Act of 2014 saw further regulation. The Gambling Commission need a registration if sportsbooks wanted to continue operation in the UK. Shortly after the Point-of-Consumption Tax passed. This placed a 15% tax on all foreign-based United Kingdom sportsbook operators.

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in the United Kingdom?

Yes, online sports betting is legal in the United Kingdom and is one of the best ways to get in on the action. With UK online betting, it does not matter where you are, you can find the best betting lines for major leagues. You do not need to travel to a physical sportsbook in order to wager on your favorite team in the EPL. There are currently over 500 online legal sportsbooks that operate in the UK. These include big dame European sportsbooks like Paddy Power, Betway, MyBookie and Intertops. The UK has consistently been a major player in the mobile and online sports betting arena and continues to supply all sports bettors with the best odds on offer.

United Kingdom Sports Betting Markets

As the United Kingdom’s largest individual betting market of nearly 9 million people, sports betting London is a hot topic. Soccer is the most popular at UK sports betting sites, and London is home to five different English Premier League (EPL) teams. After soccer, horse racing is the next most wagered-on sport with the country’s 60 licensed horse racing tracks. Other popular sports in the UK include tennis and cricket.

UK Betting by Sport

Football (soccer) 48.4%
Horse Racing 28%
“Other Sports” 9.7%
Tennis 5%
Virtual Betting 3.2%
Dog Racing 3.1%

Betting NFL London

Possibly the biggest sports betting event in the U.K. is when the NFL comes into town. Coming more popular and more regular, betting on the NFL London games is one of the biggest draws for American football betting fans in any of the U.K. countries. While local betting parlors will feature NFL lines, the best U.K. sportsbooks that take action on NFL football will break down prop bets even more. Be sure to sign up in time for these events, which generally take place in October or November.

Where United Kingdom Sports Betting Revenue Goes

UK sports betting sites generate a lot of revenue. In 2020, the gross gambling yield (GGY) in Great Britain was 5.89 billion British pounds (~$7.75m). Recent studies suggest the online gambling market in the United Kingdom to grow by more than $80m by 2024. Between the 15% tax on foreign sportsbook operators and a fully developed gambling market, the market for legal sports betting in the UK is one of the best in the world. The United Kingdom does send some of the revenue back into the sports that the wagers are being placed on. The revenue also goes back to the workers as the industry employs over 100,000 people and generates £700 Million ($862.53 million) in tax revenue.