UK

Online sports betting in the UK - One of the top markets globally

The entire gambling industry in the United Kingdom stems from centuries ago and has changed considerably. However, in-person and online sports betting, as well as iGaming and casino gambling, are perfectly legal in the country and have been for quite a long time now.

For example, in the Victorian era, punters placed bets on a "gentleman's agreement." These were straight-up wagers without odds, and one could prevent the other party from running off with the stakes. In the 1800s, things got much easier with the introduction of bookmakers, all of which were primarily illegal. For the legal ones, UK punters could only place wagers on the tightly regulated courses and tracks.

Decades later, in 1960, lawmakers passed the Betting and Gaming Act, which legalized sports gambling, allowing off-course betting all over the country. Subsequently, lawmakers amended the act when they passed the Gambling Act of 2005. This same act controls all gambling activities, including online betting, in the United Kingdom.

With the introduction of the internet, the UK betting space saw a drastic change as people no longer needed to visit land-based bookies to place wagers on their favorite sports. This turnaround happened after lawmakers passed The Gambling Act 2005 (2005 c 19) to provide a new set of sports betting laws. The same act created the UK Gambling Commission to regulate all forms of gambling, which means that all sportsbooks and retail casinos in the country must obtain their licenses from the commission.

Currently, punters can place bets online through either betting sites or apps licensed to operate within the country. The sports gambling laws only prohibit bettors from using unlicensed offshore bookies. With that said, the United Kingdom is home to several trusted betting websites and apps worldwide, and the UKGC takes all necessary precautions to ensure that all online sports betting fanatics in the country are safe.

Sports betting legislation in the United Kingdom

Placing bets is a pastime to many Britons, just like it is for the rest of the world, and today, bettors, given that you are above the age of 18, in the United Kingdom can place wagers on basically any sport or sporting event imaginable. However, aside from that, punters are bound by no other restrictions regarding sports gambling, which means that UK punters can wager on all kinds of sports, events, and competitions offered by licensed bookmakers in the country.

In fact, the UK sports gambling industry even came up with the first sports betting exchange in the world, Betfair. Horse race betting is also widely popular in the United Kingdom, and events such as Royal Ascot and Cheltenham Festival are among the most prestigious horse racing competitions in the whole world.

In addition to all that, Daily Fantasy Sports is legal in the country, but it's worth noting that the UK's DFS market is far smaller than North America's.

Recent updates from the UK’s sports betting scene

• April 9, 2024: The UK's Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) warns the merger between Spreadex and Sporting Index could reduce market competition, hinting at a monopoly in sports spread betting. Given a five-day deadline to address these concerns, the companies face a detailed Phase 2 investigation unless they propose adequate measures. This merger combines the UK's only two sports spread betting providers, potentially limiting competition and affecting consumer options and pricing.

• February 7, 2024: A recent YouGov survey finds that both male and female bettors show equal interest in women's sports. Over 60% of female and 46% of male bettors familiar with betting on women's sports want more betting opportunities, particularly in women's soccer. Additionally, about 60% of monthly bettors, regardless of gender, actively follow women's sports.

• January 18, 2024: Ray Parlour, a renowned UK football figure and radio commentator, becomes the latest UK brand ambassador for NetBet.

• January 5, 2024: BetMGM secures sponsorship rights for Premier League Darts 2024, replacing Cazoo in a deal with the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).

• November 24, 2023: ARC and RMG collaborate to introduce combined channels for global racing betting and to distribute UK racing content globally. The five-year partnership will see them jointly provide British and Irish racing content, marketed as a unified service for international tote and pari-mutuel markets.

• October 10, 2023: The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announces changes to its 2024 fixture list to address declining betting on British races. These changes include introducing 170 "Premier Racedays" with increased prize money and enhancing Sunday racing to boost competitiveness.

• September 27, 2023: BetMGM forms a multi-year partnership with English Premier League club Newcastle United to assist in introducing its brand to the UK market.

All legal gambling options in the UK - Complete latitude

With the wide variety of betting and gambling apps available, UK bettors have endless wagering options at their fingertips. In addition, retail gambling establishments allow Britons to wager on poker, casino games, horse races, bingo, and lottery. Of course, slots and live casino games are also available on online casinos that have just obtained UKGC licenses.

The UK gambling market is the biggest in Europe and is estimated to face an annual growth of 5.25% from 2022-2026. So, it is clear that the country is truly a hotspot of the global online gambling scene.

Other gambling-related news & stories from the UK

• April 25, 2024: Allwyn has teamed up with MADIC UK to launch a new EPOS software, allowing retailers to sell lotto products directly at checkouts. This initiative, which will be introduced at the National Convenience Show in Birmingham, aims to boost National Lottery sales and funding for charitable causes.

• January 23, 2024: GAMSTOP, a self-exclusion program aiding online gamblers, reports a record number of registrations in 2023, surpassing 433,357. The year saw 92,086 new sign-ups, marking the highest annual increase and a 9.5% rise from 2022

• January 17, 2024: The UK's proposed Criminal Justice Bill aims to grant the Gambling Commission additional authority to block unlicensed gambling websites. This measure is part of broader efforts to empower law enforcement agencies in combating crime and fraud, although the bill is still pending approval.

• December 1, 2023: According to the Gambling Commission's statistics, the UK's land-based gambling sector has experienced over 20% growth in the past year, nearing pre-pandemic levels. Total gross gambling yield reaches £15.1bn ($19.0bn) from April 2022 to March 2023, marking a 6.8% increase year-on-year.

• November 29, 2023: The petition against the broad implementation of affordability checks proposed in the Gambling Act review white paper has garnered over 100,000 signatures, potentially leading to parliamentary discussion.