There are plenty of sites like bet365 UK out there, but how do they stand up to the reputation of a brand that’s been in the gambling business for more than a quarter of a century?
Well, that’s exactly what you’ll find out about in this guide. Along with an overview of the iconic bet365, and what it offers its loyal punters and players, you’ll also find out about three top UK alternatives. Want to know how Betfred matches up, or whether BetMGM and Star Sports cut it as online brands? Then keep reading.
Bet365 was created by Denise Coates back in 2000, and although it has moved on plenty from its humble Stoke on Trent Portakabin origins, it’s still owned and operated by the Coates family.
Beginning to think that bet365 is past its sell by date? Well you couldn’t be any more wrong. This is a brand that has moved with the times in every respect. Today, bet365 UK is one of the most popular sports betting sites in the country, and its casino isn’t half bad either.
Let’s begin with the Bet £10, Get £30 in free bets deal. 40 sports to bet on. No crazy conditions attached. No restrictions. No unreasonable timeline. No wagering requirements. Straight John Bull every step of the way.
Moving swiftly on, bet365’s clear focus on football and horse racing is backed up with a footie Bet Builder that even the least savvy punter can use. Then there’s the Each Way Extra feature for horse racing, where you get to choose the number of places for your each way bet.
Couple all that with the fact that there are more than 500 games to play in bet365’s casino. New casino members get a massive 500 free spins when they play £10, not to mention the ongoing promotions that just happen to pop up on a daily basis. Whatever your preferences, you’re onto a winner here.
Before getting into this too deep, you don’t need to consider it as disloyal to look at bet365 alternatives. Many UK bettors and casino enthusiasts have multiple accounts, and there’s nothing stopping you from doing the same.
While these are not exactly bet365 UK sister sites, it’s much more a matter of ‘take as you find’ rather than actively seeking somewhere different to place your bets, or play a few hands of blackjack. As such, keep an open mind as you consider the following alternatives.
After a long and successful stint in the US, BetMGM crossed the Atlantic and launched BetMGM UK in 2023. It’d be fair to say that it wasn’t exactly a hit with the punters from the get go, but following some de-Americanising, it has gained a fair bit of traction since.
There’s a pretty epic selection of casino games, for starters, getting on for 2,500 at the last count. You’ve got the main casino where all the standard games like the slots lurk, and Newbies here only need to play £10 to get 200 free spins on Big Bass Splash.
Then there’s the live casino which lives in a separate section of the site. Unsurprisingly the main attraction here is live dealer tables and hosted game shows where the action is beamed in directly from BetMGM’s very own Vegas resorts.
Considering the BetMGM brand is synonymous with casinos, the sports betting section is pretty decent to be fair. You’ll find 30+ sports and the Bet £10, Get £40 deal for new punters is one of the best in the business.
If you thought bet365 had a long history, wait ‘til you hear about Betfred. The ‘fred’ part of the brand’s name pays homage to Fred Done, who founded Done Betting way back in 1967 after he won a bet on the outcome of the 1966 World Cup.
Some might say that Betfred is a bit stuck in the past, while others big up its more traditional approach. Whichever camp you happen to be in, it’s very clear that British sports like footie and horse racing are the stars of the Betfred show. And nobody can say that a tasty £50 free bet bonus when you bet just £10 isn’t generous.
Betfred really should shine more light on its casino, it really is something of a hidden gem. There are more than 2,000 different games, including a well-loaded live section, tucked away in there, and nobody can say that isn’t pretty awesome. If you fancy giving it a shot, you can grab up to 200 free spins, with a choice of three slot games, once you’ve played £10.
The modern version of Betfred offers a nicely balanced site, which combines sports betting and casino games in one place. For all of the punters out there, a tasty £50 bonus when you deposit and bet just £10 should make you prick your ears up. Meanwhile, casino fans can collect their choice of three different free spins deals.
Star Sports introduces itself as “The UK’s leading luxury bookmaker” and learning that Star Sports was originally named ‘Star Racing’ should give you another clue about this brand. But rest assured, although Star Sports maintains a high class retail presence in the world of horse racing, the brand’s online offering has wider appeal.
Beyond horse racing there’s a plum selection of 20 or so other sports. Star Boosts and Specials appear with startling regularity for most of them, including good old US of A favourites like NBA basketball. Interested? Then finding out you can pick up a Bet £40, Get £20 free bet bonus might just tip the balance.
If you’re more of a gaming guy or gal, then how does 100 free spins when you play £25 on any game sound? Not only that, you get to keep all of your winnings. Star Sports has an awesome live casino powered by Evolution, plus fun games like slingo, and a whole host of slots, more than 1,000 in fact.
You’ve had the full lowdown on bet365 and you’ve learned how its top-tier rivals match up. You’ve been privy to the promotions these sites offer new punters or players, and also seen what else (albeit briefly) they have in store for you.
The best thing of all is that you don’t need to choose just one of these awesome dual-purpose brands. There’s nothing stopping you from signing up with all three if that takes your fancy. Suffice to say that each of them comes highly recommended, and you can find out more by checking out the banners you’ll see dotted around this page.
It would be fair to say that bet365 is unique, but that doesn’t mean to say that other UK gambling sites don’t match up, albeit in a different way. Betfred, Star Sports, and BetMGM UK are all worthy contenders, and each has its own take on sports betting and casino gaming.
No, bet365 is very much a standalone brand. It has been owned and operated by the Stoke-on Trent-based Coates family since 1999, and remains a privately owned entity. The modern version of bet365 offers sports betting with a strong focus on football and horse racing, plus an online casino with over 500 assorted games.
It will mostly depend on whether you prefer betting on sports or playing casino games. Star Sports hits the middle ground with comparable bonuses for both components. Betfred has an excellent Bet £10, get £50 deal for sports bettors, while BetMGM UK offers 200 free spins on Big Bass Splash when you play £10.
