Top UK gambling sites and apps 2025
The World Gambling List GB is your one stop shop for everything to do with online gambling in the United Kingdom, including an independent review, analysis, tips and news service. We aim to be your ears and eyes, whether you are at Aspers Casino in Westfield, or Royal Ascot racecourse in Berkshire, or even learning about casino games or real money gambling sites. We will help you thrive when entering the online gambling world, which is regulated by the Gambling Commission in the United Kingdom. The top UK gambling sites include some of the major brands in the world, including bet365, William Hill and Paddy Power are synonymous with sports betting, and also offer various real money casino games, lottery betting and various other forms of legal wagering. These British gambling sites are accessible via both computer and mobile, with most having downloadable apps available for Android and iOS smartphones and tablets.
Top UK gambling sites 2025
The best United Kingdom gambling sites feature over 2000 casino games, including 100s of online slots, live casino games and various other real money gambling pursuits. We will only advertise gambling sites that are legal for you to sign up at in the United Kingdom.
- Outstanding reputation!
- Android and iOS apps available
- Great promotions
- Can restrict winning punters
- Live dealer specialists!
- Thousands of real money slots games
- Responsive customer service
- Website can feel a little clunky on mobile
- Huge selection of real money casino games
- Multi-region casino with several different licenses
- High stakes live dealer games available
- Can be tardy responding to customer queries
The World Gambling List UK has a strict policy when it comes to advertising online gambling sites, with the key point being that the UK online casinos we promote must be licensed and cater specifically to those in Blighty.
The best gambling sites have upwards of 1000 real money games, with these slots and table games made up of titles from various iGaming developers. These software developers must also bear the Gambling Commission seal of approval. Casino giants like Apricot Gaming (formerly Microsoft), Playtech and NetEnt all operate in the UK and you will find their games under the same URL at some casinos, which means the depth of games has improved dramatically from when it used to be one software provider per operator.
On top of being able to access UK gambling sites via your computers, casino sites are accessible via smartphones, tablets and pretty much anything with an internet connection and browser. Obviously, the more modern your smartphone or device is, the better experience you will be at UK gambling sites.
The best UK gambling sites probably change from month-to-month depending on what promotions they are offering. With the online gambling market so saturated many of the gambling sites have a similar interface and games selection. The battle for players is to find gambling sites with fair wagering requirements on bonuses and promotions and ones with strong reputations in the industry. For instance some gambling sites are plagued by reports of slow payouts or rude customer service, which while not terminal issues can be frustrating.
With the UK such a developed gambling market, all of the common payment options are available at online casinos, including things like Paypal, Visa, Mastercard and various web wallets. Cryptos, like bitcoin and various alt coins, are not allowed to be used at GB gambling sites.
Top live gambling sites in the UK
Live dealer at online casinos has never been better, with great selection, better quality dealers and some great promotions all hallmarks. Read our guides to find out more about your favourite casino table games that are available in live dealer format.
Live gambling games that you will find online include blackjack, roulette, baccarat and various formats of poker. These games will have many different variations of them online, and it always pays to check the rules before committing real money to them. Live gambling sites often can set their own table variations which can lead to you playing in less than favourable conditions.
Live dealer casinos are just one of the many real money wagering pursuits the Gambling Commission regulates. Many of the top live software companies are licensed in the UK and can be found at 100s of different gambling sites.
The best live casinos in England, Wales, Scotland and North Ireland include big gambling sites like Leo Vegas, William Hill, bet365 and 888Sport, with all these brands active in the United Kingdom. Then there are 100s of smaller gambling sites, that might focus heavily on one aspect of real money wagering, like bingo.
Some of the top live casino companies in the UK include brands like Evolution Games and Playtech, which are regarded as market leaders in iGaming. Other cool software companies that are available in live dealer format in the UK include Pragmatic Play Live and Authentic Gaming. Others, like OnAir Gaming, are not licensed in the UK.
Live gambling on the internet has not completely replicated the thrill of playing real money games at land-based casinos, but it has gone pretty damn close. Plus live online gambling has several big advantages over their more seasons competitor: They can afford to have their return to player rate set higher, because they have lower overheads and the table limits suit all types of players, and won’t just cater to those spending thousands of quid.
Best UK mobile gambling sites & casino apps
Mobile gambling sites in the United Kingdom are probably the most popular way to play at real money casinos. These mobile gambling sites will feature most of the games that are available on desktop, with all new games, including live games, being developed mobile first by most iGaming companies.
You can also claim all the usual casino bonus codes, promotions, sign up offers and pretty much any other forms of gambling promotion you can think of via mobile. Online slots are a definite a highlight of modern casinos and top GBP gambling sites are no exception, with 1000s of real money slots available on handheld devices. Online slots must be approved by the Gambling Commission and any casino games deemed to be appealing to children cannot be advertised.
Banking at mobile gambling sites is much the same as you would find at a desktop casino, with most deposit options available. These include the most popular payment methods like debit cards, web wallets and payment processors. Online gambling sites in the United Kingdom are no longer able to accept credit cards as a form of payment under rules set down by the Gambling Commission, but there are plenty of alternate casino banking methods.
While as a general rule you will find less games at mobile gambling sites, this is improving all the time, with all new games releases catering to smartphones and tablets. Gambling apps, are another huge part of the industry, with iOS and Android users able to download real money casino apps that are powered by many of the top companies in the world. It’s worth noting that Android users will have to download gambling apps directly from the operators, rather the Google Play store, but this is common practice and should not scare you off.
Mobile operating system data for the UK shows a virtually even split between Android and iOS. This near-50/50 split implies that gambling sites targeting UK users must optimise their apps and offers equally well for both Android and iOS audiences. It is also a massive hint that market reach (for things like bonus offers and promotions) and user experience on both platforms are equally important when designing campaigns or rolling out promotions for mobile betting users.
Android gambling apps in the UK
In the UK, almost all major gambling sites offer dedicated Android apps so users can place sports bets, play casino games or participate in live-betting easily on their phones or tablets. Google Play allows real-money gambling apps in the United Kingdom, provided the app developer holds a valid licence and meets strict requirements such as geo-gating, age verification and responsible gambling disclosures. While we recommend registering a new account prior, to download an app, simply open the Google Play Store on your Android device, search for the operator’s name, tap “Install” and once installed you log in (or register) to start using it.
iOS gambling apps in the UK
UK online gambling sites offer native iOS apps via the App Store so users can place bets, play casino games or join live action. According to Apple’s App Store Review Guidelines (specifically Guideline 5.3: Gambling, Betting & Lotteries) any app offering real money gambling must hold a valid licence from the Gambling Commission, use geo-location to restrict access to legal regions, perform age verification, and include responsible-gaming tools. To download, open the App Store on your iPhone, search for the operator’s name, tap “Get” (or “Install”), then sign in or create an account and verify your identity before deposits and play begin.
Online gambling United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has long been a pioneer in regulating and taxing the online gambling industry. This success has largely been driven by the foresight involved in first establishing the United Kingdom Gambling Commission under the Gambling Act 2005, and then continually refining its framework to stay at the forefront of the global gambling market.
Most mainstream forms of online gambling are legal in the United Kingdom, but players must use gambling sites licensed by the Gambling Commission. It is illegal for offshore sports betting or casino sites to accept players from the UK unless they also hold a Gambling Commission licence — the old “whitelisted jurisdiction” system that once allowed advertising from select foreign territories has now been phased out.
One of the rare occurrences where gambling is not governed by the Gambling Commission is financial spread betting, which is governed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Luckily for those wishing to play real money gambling games, the UK is home to many of the world’s leading online casinos, top bookmakers, poker sites, bingo rooms and lottery platforms. These include long-standing names such as William Hill, Betfred and Paddy Power, which built their reputations through retail bookmaking before expanding online. In more recent years, major digital brands like bet365, 888 and Ladbrokes have become global leaders, each with deep roots in the British gambling industry.
A complication in the wider gambling landscape is that Gibraltar and the Isle of Man have their own independent regulators and licensing systems. These licences do not automatically permit access to UK players, though many operators hold both local and UK Gambling Commission licences to cover multiple markets. While most UK-licensed casinos accept players from Gibraltar and the Isle of Man, some sites based in those jurisdictions may restrict sign-ups from the mainland, depending on their licence arrangements.
Online gambling today takes many forms, with players engaging through smartphones, tablets, computers and virtually any internet-connected device. Gambling apps are also widespread across the United Kingdom, with most major operators offering dedicated Android and iOS software for seamless mobile play.
Real money gambling UK
The United Kingdom has arguably the most well-developed online gambling industry in the world, with various forms of real money gambling legal and sanctioned by the Gambling Commission.
Some of the most popular forms of real money gambling include sports betting (which can be done both offline and online), casino gambling, including online casinos and horse racing, which is very popular with punters.
Gambling Guides
The UK Gambling Commission governs all things online gambling in the UK. Use our gambling guides to find your way to the best GBP gambling sites.
Online Poker
Online poker is massive in the UK! While Stephen Chidwick is the all-time money leader from the UK, check out fellow British pro William Kassouf for some serious entertainment.
Casino Games & Rules
Are you a beginner to online gambling? Check out our casino games and rules guides to get started. Most casino games are available at the UK’s top gambling sites
Sports gambling
The Brits love football, rugby, cricket and will bet on two flies on a wall. The regulated sports betting industry allows you to wager on everything from the Ashes to US Sports to international football leagues.
Live gambling sites
Live dealer gambling includes blackjack, roulette and poker. Check out Evolution Games live gameshows for showing different.
Horse Racing
Horse racing, particularly the harness racing, is very popular in Sweden. While the global flat racing scene is followed closely by a dedicated band of local fans.
Online poker in the UK
Online poker is one of the most popular forms of gambling in the world, with tournaments worth well into the millions of dollars hosted on a weekly basis. The top poker gambling sites in the UK include big names like Pokerstars and 888Poker. Read our real money poker gambling guides for more information.
Online poker is one of the most popular forms of gambling, with this boom coming soon after US fairytale story Chris Moneymaker won a qualifying tournament and then won the Main Event at the World Series of Poker. This rags to riches story might have not been replicated since, but it undoubtedly played a huge role in the growth of digital poker sites.
Online poker sites that operate in the United Kingdom include some of the biggest brands in online gambling, such as Pokerstars, 888Poker, GGPoker and BWIN, which are all popular for both cash games and tournament.
Table limits at online poker sites can vary greatly, but the good news is that they generally have tables that suit all player types. This means you might find a table with 1p/2p blinds, which is as low as you will find at real money poker sites. You will also find pot limit and many other variations of tables, that can make the game fun for those who don’t have a lot of money.
At the other end of the poker scale, high rollers will be able to find plenty of action, although you may have to play at one of the bigger sites to find it. For instance at the time of writing there was a 500/1000 cash game running at Pokerstars, but the best table at 888Poker was a 10/20 table.
The best online poker sites will have a schedule of tournaments, which means you can cherry pick the events you wish to play in. These poker tournament schedules will include satellites if the tournament is big enough, which basically means you are playing in the tournament in an attempt to win an entry into a bigger event. For instance WSOP events will have multiple satellites running prior to them, which might cost £50 to enter, but if you win you earn a ticket that gives you, for instance, a £2000 entry into a big event.
Lotto & Lotto betting
Lotto is a big part of the UK’s DNA, with both government backed draws and lotto betting both available to those wishing to play. The top lotto gambling for the UK include brands like LottoLand.
Government-backed lotto draws take place in the United Kingdom every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Twenty per cent of all revenue from lottery tickets is donated to charities with a health slants across the United Kingdom. This is common right across the world and was a big reason regular lottery draws have emerged as a massive form of gambling.
The original lotto draws in the United Kingdom are known as the National Lottery. Players can pick six numbers in the draw and when they match two or more they win a prize. These types of lotto draws happen every Wednesday and Saturday nights.
Over time lottery has developed into much more than just a couple of weekly draws, and now there is a huge variety of lottery games available to those under the Gambling Commission’s reign. These include popular multi-country draws like the EuroMillions, Thunderball, The Healthy Lottery and even the Free Lottery.
Basically lottery gambling is a huge in the United Kingdom and pumps millions of Stirling into the economy each year, while also making many millionaires over the journey. However like much of the world, lottery gambling has taken a hit from the emergence of lottery betting.
Lotto betting in the United Kingdom
Despite movers and shakers in the lottery world trying to get lotto betting banned, not long after its emergence as an alternative to state-based draws, it is now a regulated form of gambling in the United Kingdom.
The top lotto betting sites allow players to bet on the outcomes of lotto draws all over the world. Essentially you could bet on any lotto draw from around the world and win the same prizes if you win. These lotto betting sites insure your bets, meaning they are essentially not liable if you hit the big win.
Lotto betting has eaten considerably into the community funds that have been generated by government draws, with betting companies under no obligations to give back to the public – although many do. Some of the brands to look out for in the United Kingdom if you are looking for a lotto betting sites include LottoLand and The Lotter.
Sports betting
The World Gambling List only endorses sports gambling sites licensed in the Gambling Commission.
Sports gambling is huge in the United Kingdom, with many online bookmakers vying for punter patronage. The best sports gambling sites will feature markets on all the popular sports and racing events, such as the English Premier League and the Ascot races.
The popular sports that punters in the UK bet on include football, horse racing, tennis, cricket, basketball and many more, with the odds up for grabs endless, and you can bet on pretty much whatever professional event or outcome that is happening. Heck, you can even bet on politics, or who will win the next season of your favourite reality TV shows like Big Brother.
The United Kingdom could lay claim to being the most developed online sports betting nation in the world. There are upwards of 100 decent bookmakers operating with Gambling Commission approval.
This online sports gambling has been a natural progression from the hundreds of betting shops dotted around the United Kingdom. Operators like William Hill and Paddy Power earned their stripes as retail outlets, long before the internet was invented.
Football, horse racing, cricket and rugby are dominant at UK sports gambling sites and you will often find promotions around these sports, and many others. Sport gambling promotions include things like sign up bonus offers, cash back offers and even reload bonuses. With the online gambling industry so competitive, bonus offers are common-place as a way to lure new and existing customers.
Horse racing
Years spent scouring the form guide has left the World Gambling List team as experts in thoroughbred racing. The top horse racing gambling sites in the UK are licensed and legal to bet with.
Horse racing gambling in the United Kingdom is one of the bigger wagering pursuits and the second biggest spectator sport. The sport is built for betting and it’s very popular in the UK, particularly in England and Ireland, where many of the world’s top trainer’s reside.
Both flat racing and jumps racing happens in the United Kingdom and the schedule is not lacking. Prior to some racing being cancelled because fo the covid-19 pandemic, just four days were scheduled with no racing on them in the UK.
Important dates on the horse racing calendar include the Cheltenham Festival, Aintree Grand National and the Ascot September Festival.
Gambling Games & Rules
If you’re a beginner to an online casino game you have come to the right place. Our casino games and rules guides will have you winning in no time. UK gambling sites are flush with different versions of casino games with slightly different rules. Be sure to find rules that give you the best chance of winning.
GBP Casino Banking Guides
Finding online gambling sites with a suitable deposit method can be one of the most daunting things when starting out online gambling, but rest assured the World Gambling List has you covered. Our GBP specific gambling deposit guides are the best in the business:
New gambling sites
Great Britain is one of the most developed gambling jurisdictions in the world. There are constantly online casinos launching in 2023, and the WGL team has its fingers on the pulse when the top new gambling sites launch.
Online gambling promotions
Online gambling in the United Kingdom is a massive industry and it’s very competitive with hundreds of different sites chasing your custom. This means casino promotions and sign up bonuses are a massive feature of gambling sites. WGL has its finger on the pulse when it comes to the latest gambling promotions.
GBP payment options at online gambling sites
Gambling sites in the United Kingdom cater to the GBP (Stirling) and have deposit options that match their clientele. For instance, the best gambling sites will accept credit and debit cards, web wallets like Paypal and Neteller and various other payment processors.
Probably the biggest hole in UK gambling is the lack of regulation surrounding crytpos and their use at licensed operators, with these types of payments deemed “high-risk” by the Gambling Commission and stopped via overzealous proof of funds and know your customer demands.
But having said that, UK gambling sites have got many different payment types available, that instantly fund your account, with the most popular being Visa, Paypal, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Generally funding GBP gambling sites is free, but it comes down to your specific operator and the method; although it is far more common to be slugged with a fee for cashing out or withdrawing winnings. Either way, fees are low and capped if you are moving large sums about.
GBP payment options available at UK casinos include:
- Visa
- Mastercard
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
- Paypal
- Debit Cards
- Neteller
- Skrill
- Paysafecard
United Kingdom gambling laws
The United Kingdom has one of the most developed online gambling industries in the world, and most major forms are legal. This means punters can play at gambling sites licensed by the UK Gambling Commission in a safe, regulated environment that enforces strict player protection and responsible gambling standards.
Gambling in the United Kingdom is regulated by the Gambling Commission and remains one of the largest entertainment industries in Great Britain. Hundreds of real money casinos, bookmakers, lotto sites, bingo rooms and other forms of gambling are legal in the UK, provided you play with a site that holds a valid UKGC licence.
The minimum gambling age in the United Kingdom is 18, with players required to prove their identity and age before they can gamble or withdraw from online casinos. In recent years, Know Your Customer (KYC) checks have been strengthened, meaning customers must now verify their age and identity before placing a bet or playing online. The only exceptions to the Gambling Commission’s 18+ rule are certain lotteries and football pools, which remain open to players aged 16 and above.
United Kingdom gambling sites must also follow strict laws on how and where they advertise to customers. For instance, gambling operators cannot run adverts that could appeal to, or be seen as targeting, anyone under the legal gambling age. If online casinos or bookmakers advertise sign-up bonuses, promotions, free bets or other incentives, they are required to display all key wagering terms clearly. For example, if a gambling site offers a 100% deposit bonus up to £200, it must clearly show the turnover requirements and any other important terms associated with the offer.
In 2025, further updates from the Gambling Commission include new “frictionless” financial risk checks, mandatory deposit limit prompts, and enhanced responsible gambling tools — all part of the UK’s ongoing effort to modernise and make online gambling safer for everyone.
Key legislation surrounding online gambling in the UK
- Gambling Act 2005
The foundational legislation governing all gambling in Great Britain — including online, betting, bingo, casinos, gaming machines, and lotteries. - Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014
An amendment to the 2005 Act requiring all remote gambling operators who offer services to UK players to hold a UK Gambling Commission licence. It also regulates advertising from overseas operators. - National Lottery etc. Act 1993 (as amended)
Establishes and governs the UK National Lottery and outlines its regulation and the allocation of proceeds. - Finance Act 2021 (Remote Gaming Duty and Betting Duty sections)
Defines taxation on gambling profits, including remote gaming duty (21%) and general betting duty. - Gaming Machines (Miscellaneous Amendments and Revocations) Regulations 2023
Updates and clarifies machine gaming categories, stake limits, and technical standards for land-based venues.
UK gambling statistics
The UK has one of the most well-developed gambling industries in the world, despite a self-imposed clampdown, which has seen their industry shrink and an increase in locals accessing offshore online gambling sites.
Despite this, the UK’s gambling industry gross gambling yield was reported at £15.6billionn in the year to March 2024, with the online sector making up approximately £6.9billion of this.
The UK’s love of online slots is also evident, with £4.4 billion of the online revenue from online casinos coming from the spinning reels.
| Area / metric | Latest figure | Notes / breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Total GB gambling GGY | £15.6bn | All gambling (incl. lotteries). |
| Remote (online) casino, betting & bingo GGY | £6.9bn | “RCBB” sector; about 44% of all GGY. |
| Online casino – total | £4.4bn | Dominates online; about 63.8% of remote GGY. |
| …of which online slots | £3.6bn | Roughly 52% of all remote GGY. |
| Remote betting – total | £2.4bn | Around 34.8% of remote GGY. |
| …football betting | £1.1bn | ~46% of remote betting GGY. |
| …horse race betting | £0.77bn(≈£771m) | ~32% of remote betting GGY. |
| Remote bingo | £167m | Small slice: ~2.4% of remote GGY. |
| Any gambling (last 4 weeks) | 48% of adults | GSGB Year 1 (2023), Wave 2 survey |
| Any online gambling (last 4 weeks) | 36% of adults | Drops to 14% if you remove lottery-only players. |
| Population baseline | 68.3m people | UK mid-2023 population estimate. |
| Approx. GGY per resident – all gambling | ≈£228 / year | £15.6bn ÷ 68.3m people (very rough “loss per head” across all forms). |
| Approx. GGY per resident – online only | ≈£101 / year | £6.9bn ÷ 68.3m people (implied online “spend per head” averaged over whole population). |
| Very rough implied GGY per online-active adult | ≈£280 / year | Estimated per head spend for the 12 months up until January 2025. |
History of UK gambling
Gambling has been woven into British culture for centuries, evolving from aristocratic pastimes to a billion pound industry. The earliest records of gambling in Britain date back to the Middle Ages, when dice and card games were common among soldiers and nobility. By the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth I authorised the first state lottery in 1569 to fund public projects, marking an early intersection between gambling and government.
Horse racing soon became the “Sport of Kings,” with betting spreading rapidly through the 18th and 19th centuries. The Betting Houses Act of 1853 made street betting illegal, pushing punters indoors — a move that set the stage for the modern bookmaker. High street betting shops were finally legalised in 1961, transforming the industry overnight as thousands of betting shops opened across the UK.
The Gambling Act of 1968 later formalised the regulation of casinos, while the rise of the internet in the late 1990s ushered in a new digital era.
Land-based casinos in the UK have evolved from exclusive gentleman’s clubs into vibrant entertainment hubs accessible to all adults. The first modern casinos appeared after the Betting and Gaming Act of 1960, with venues like the Clermont Club in London setting early standards.
Through the 1970s and 1980s, casinos expanded nationwide, often paired with restaurants and live shows.
The Gambling Act 2005 brought updated regulations and paved the way for larger “super-casinos,” though few were realised. Today, chains such as Grosvenor and Genting dominate, offering modern gaming floors, electronic tables and sports lounges.
In 2005, the UK Gambling Commission was established under a landmark act to oversee online gambling, ensuring fairness and consumer protection. Today, the Commission regulates one of the world’s most advanced gambling markets — a far cry from the backroom wagers of centuries past.
Modern gambling in Britain has been defined by rapid growth, consolidation, and increasing scrutiny. Giants such as Flutter Entertainment (owner of Paddy Power, Betfair and Sky Bet), Entain (Ladbrokes Coral), and William Hill dominate both high streets and online markets, while newer digital operators like Bet365 have become global powerhouses.
The UK’s gambling sector continues to expand, particularly online, with mobile betting and live casino games driving record revenues. However, regulators have tightened the reins on offshore operators, ensuring only UK Gambling Commission-licensed sites can legally serve British players. Stricter affordability checks and advertising rules now aim to balance innovation with player protection.
