Bookmakers
Whilst we aim to keep the reviews up to date in a constantly changing environment that is not always possible. This is especially true of bonus and freebet information which MUST be checked on the Gambling sites themselves for exact T&Cs. If any information appears incorrect or contrary to your experience please contact reviews@thegamblingtimes.com so we can update it.
TheGamblingTimes recommends players use sites which have a minimum rating of 6+ Stars.
10 
= The best of the best, 100% safety and unrivaled service and quality.
9/8 = Very good sites with negligable risk to funds, top class service.
7/6 = Good to Average sites with occasional slips in service and slight risks to funds.
5/4 = Average to poor sites, often poor customer service and some risk to players funds.
3/2 = Poor sites with frequently bad customer service and extreme risk to players funds.
1 = Scam sites, do not play there at any costs.
Odds Conversion
To convert between American (+x or +y), Decimal (x.yy), or Fractional (x/y) odds, use the form below. View Common Odds Table
- Decimal:
- Fractional:
- American:
Betfair is the leading online betting exchange, and is the future of online gambling. It allows users to back events and also to "lay" outcomes, in effect making the punter the bookmaker. Betfair puts everyone on a level playing field, individuals can back/lay/trade and make their own "books" on markets, with some people now doing this full time. The CS is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week via telephone and E-mail and are very efficient at all times. Payouts usually take 2-3 days and are always free.
Paddypower is one of the best sportsbooks you will find online. They have excellent customer support with a dedicated help centre, free phone number and 24hr E-mail support. Plus if you need to call them you get to speak to a nice Irish person. They have very frequent cash back promotions which are well worth taking part in as well as Horse Racing Best Odds Guaranteed. They are better than other sites due to the Novelty/Special bets they offer such as the winner of Big Brother, who will be X-mas No1, etc, etc. Withdrawals are unlimited, free of charge and received the same day, if not within minutes to Neteller or Moneybookers.
BlueSq are probably one of the very best "online only" UK focused bookmakers. They offer a service which is second to none, have an excellent choice of markets, run regular promotions with first rate payment times. They also have a non-download Casino and Poker room. Payouts are free and very fast for all amounts and there is a freephone number and prompt E-mail assistance. They also have Live chat support. They have a regular stream of ongoing Freebets and Promotions throughout the year. (Review 30/03/10)
Ladbrokes is one of the largest and one of the best bookmakers in the UK. As well as a Sportsbook they have a Microgaming Casino and Poker site too, all operated from the one account. They often have a new user matched bet token available but it comes and goes frequently so it is a good idea to look in the Racing Post on Saturdays or check in our forum for the best current offer. They have a huge range of markets available on every possible Sport. They take high bets, with the best odds can be found on UK Horseracing. Payments back to Neteller are Instant and all other methods are fast and free with no maximum limits. They have a freephone number which have good operators but the E-mail support can be patchy and not answer the question asked!
Pinnacle Sports do not accept US players anymore but for many years they were the number one US bookie. They always had the tightest lines and would not flinch at taking decent sized bets. They still do the same (MLB: 6 cent Money Lines, 8 cent Run Lines) but it is just UK and EU players who can benefit now. They have first rate 24/7 customer service reachable by email only. You are allowed one free payout a month and once requested they are paid within the hour. (Review 05/04/10)
Moneybookers is not a bookmaker but is an E-wallet accepted by the majority of online gambling sites. It is an invaluable tool for serious bettors wanting to deposit and withdraw sums quickly and easily.
Eurobet and Coral are sister sites but you can have accounts at both as long as you have different usernames and passwords. Both have fast payouts and are a UK household name so you can be sure your money is safe. They have decent odds on Soccer matches most of the time. Payouts are always swift and free. Support is available over the phone or via a very efficient internal messaging system, with answers received within a few hours.
» Currencies
- Dollar ($)
Bookmaker is a well respected US sportsbook where accounts muct be operated in $s and they cater mainly for US sports and clients. Even if you set the account to £s payments are still taken in $s so it is pointless. They do offer reload bonuses both from the site and via E-mail marketing campaigns. Payments to Neteller are swift once ID has been sent, usually paid the next day. They have a "bonus points" reward scheme which can be used to convert into freebets, as well as a Tuesdays and Fridays "20% reload" to accounts which have not withdrawn in the past 30 days. You must request the bonus at the same time as your deposit via livechat.
Betdaq is the number two betting exchange and a useful alternative to Betfair, but it is never quite as good. It occasionally has better odds available but by and large is just a good back up for when Betfair is down for maintenance. The software is not as smooth or intuitive to use as betfair but there are a few nice touches, such as showing all matched and unmatched bets at the bottom of the screen. They have very competent customer services and withdrawals are free and processed very promptly. The standard rates mirror Betfairs 5% on most markets, although they do not have the "Premium charge" so they may be of use to some people.
Bet365 is a UK focused betting and gaming group. They usually have a £200 cash bonus for new users so its best to join when that is available. It is generally not a problem to bet large amounts without being limited. They have particularly good odds available on UK Horse racing with a very lucrative 4-1 offer and Best Odds Garuntee promise. Bet365 offers a wide range of support including e-mail, telephone and live chat. Withdrawals are free and usually received to Moneybookers within 24 hours.
