Sports betting is a pastime for many sports fans in the UK. According to the Telegraph, 40% of bettors in Britain prefer to wager on football. Horse racing, tennis, golf, cricket, rugby, boxing and North American Sports follow next.

Although there are numerous sports you can bet on, it’s essential to choose a couple of sports to focus on. That’s the only way you can become a successful punter. That being said, you also need to choose a reliable betting site by checking for these features:

#1: A License from the UKGC

With more than 500 betting sites accepting players from the UK, it can be difficult to separate genuine from illegitimate bookmakers. Fortunately, there’s a quick test for determining the legitimacy of a sportsbook.

Check for a license from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Usually, every betting site lists its license provider at the footer section of its website. What’s more, the license is linked to the official UKGC website.

If you come across a bookmaker that looks great but lacks a license from the UKGC, find an alternative. All legally operating bookies need a license from the Gambling Commission. And as mentioned, the license number needs to be valid.

#2: A Full Range of Betting Markets

Every sports gambler is unique. Some people—40% of the UK—join sportsbooks to wager on football. Others love boxing, the MMA, tennis or eSports. Truth be told, no one specializes in a single sport 100% of the time.

Many bettors love bookies with a variety of betting markets. Some days you want to bet on basketball. Sometimes you want to have a go at the ATP Tennis tour. You deserve a sportsbook that features all the major sports in the world.

Importantly, the best betting sites in UK support major leagues and tournaments. For football, you can wager on the Big Five Leagues, the Nations League, the UCL, the World Cup and loads of competitions around the world.

In tennis, you can bet on the US Open, the Davis Cup, the Wimbledon, the Australian Open, French Open, the WTA Finals or the ATP Finals. In other words, choose a sportsbook with a comprehensive catalog of betting products.

#3: Bet Types and Odds

Besides having access to your favorite sports and leagues, it’s also essential for a sportsbook to provide a range of bet types. You see, match winners don’t always attract the best odds. Think of first-placed Manchester City playing against bottom-ranked Norwich City.

You can predict the Citizens to wins. But with odds of 1.11, you stand to win 11 cents for every pound sterling you risk. Consider these bet types:

Correct Score
Totals
Both Teams to Score
Handicaps
Accumulators
Props

Any of the bet types mentioned above would most probably offer better odds for the Manchester City versus Norwich City game. But beware: some of the predictions have short odds because they’re difficult to predict.

That being said, you can maximize your profits by choosing a sportsbook with competitive odds. Compare multiple bookmakers before you place any sports bets. Then bet at the site with the best odds.

#4: Security and Trust Features

Security is paramount in a betting website. You need an account you can secure with a strong password. On the flip side, the site should protect you by encrypting your data through SSL, firewalls and anti-DDoS certificates.

Additional security measures include data protection compliance, clear terms and conditions and a certificate from an independent auditor. Data compliance is mandatory for betting sites in the UK.

However, not all bookies have a certificate of trust from an independent auditor. It helps prove a bookie provides fair odds and pays out to winners consistently.

#5: Deposits and Withdrawals

After you create a betting account, the next step is to make a deposit. What’s your favorite payment company? PayPal, Visa, Skrill, Bitcoin—choose a sportsbook that supports your preferred payment provider.

The explanation is simple. You have a reason for choosing a specific provider. Maybe you love Bitcoin’s security. Perhaps you enjoy PayPal’s chargeback service. Additionally, there are benefits like flexible limits, low fees and quick transactions.

With that in mind, many betting sites have rules about deposits and withdrawals. They have minimum and maximum limits, fees and withdrawal time frames. Learn about these policies to ensure you join a bookie site with friendly banking terms.

Crucially, research around to discover a sportsbook’s reputation when it comes to banking. Does it process withdrawals quickly? Does it have hidden fees? Needless to say, join a top-rated betting site.

#6: A Mobile-Friendly Website

Contrary to popular belief, a betting site’s design plays an important role in determining your experience. Let’s start with speed. You need a fast site that can load webpages and process your bets quickly.

Next, you need a user-friendly interface. This makes it seamless to find different webpages, whether it’s deposits, live betting or customer service. As mentioned, choose a bookie with a mobile-friendly platform.

In this era of iPhones and android smartphones, mobile support is essential. You might use your laptop to bet once in a while. But more often than not, you need your mobile device to have fun at the sportsbook.

#7: Free Bets and Promotions

For some people, bonuses are the most important features in a betting site. It’s easy to see why. Free bets spice up betting: You can wager on your favorite sports without denting your wallet.

If you join a bookie with lots of betting promotions, you can minimize your betting budget greatly. Now, sportsbooks with plenty of bonuses risk losing money to skilled punters. To minimize their losses, they place terms on their bonuses.

In light of that information, it’s not just essential to find a bookie with generous offers. Read their terms and conditions. Look at the maximum bonus you can grab. Find out which sports you can bet on and whether you can withdraw your profits. The bottom line is to find bonuses that could help you win real cash without navigating through harsh terms and conditions.