The Astonishing Evolution of the Best Mobile Betting Apps in Football & More

Best UK betting sites >> Online Betting Apps

It is sometimes very easy to take things for granted, in all walks of life, but if you were to go back only a few short years, it would be fair to say that some aspects of online gambling are unrecognisable to what they once were.

The best online betting apps are a case in point as it is now possible to place bets from your mobile device, and the quality of these betting apps and mobile browser websites are first-class and improving all of the time.

You can basically place a bet from anywhere with an internet connection, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that many punters now use their mobile device as their preferred method to place a bet as opposed to their laptop or desktop computer.

There is an ongoing battle between the best betting apps to improve their offerings, so that has to be regarded as excellent news for punters across the UK and the world.

List of UK’s Best Betting Apps for March 2024
Bookmaker Compatibility Key Features Bonus More
Bet365
4.1 Jelly Bean+ iOS 8.1+ In-play betting Live Score Updates £30 in Free Bets* Visit Site Review
New Customers only. Registration required. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. #AD
Unibet
4.1 Jelly Bean+ iOS 9+ e-Sports markets Get notifications for the hottest events Money back up to £40 if your first bet loses + £10 Casino Visit Site Review
18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first bet loses. Wagering requirements: all sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. Full T&C's apply.. #AD
Betfair
4.4 KitKat+ iOS 10+ Pre-scheduled virtual events Extensive market range Bet £5 Get £20 Visit Site Review
New customer offer. Place a min £5 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £20 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly. #AD
10bet
4.1 Jelly Bean+ iOS 8.1+ In-play betting Full compatibility 50% up to £50 bonus Visit Site Review
New Customers only; Min. deposit £15; Bonus amount 50% of deposit up to £50; Wager deposit and bonus 8x within 60 days; 4/5 Min. single odds or 2/5 min. acca selection odds; Max. stake contribution equal to the initial bonus; Certain bet types and payment methods excluded; See full terms; Terms apply; 18+ #AD
William Hill
2.3 Gingerbread+ iOS 4.2+ Exclusive mobile offers Full compatibility Bet £10 and get £30 Visit Site Review
#Ad • 18+ • Play Safe • From 00:01 on 18.10.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Full T&Cs apply • www.begambleaware.org

*T&C apply, 18+!

Getting Started with Mobile Betting

When it comes to using a mobile device to place bets, there are two options open to you. Some sportsbooks have what are known as native apps, and these are mobile applications which are downloaded onto your mobile device, and you then have to log in to place your bets.

The other option which some sportsbooks have in place are mobile versions of the sportsbook which can be accessed from your mobile internet browser. Most of the larger sportsbooks offer the best online betting apps, and most punters would surely agree that this would be the preferred method due to the ease of use.

So, How Do You Download the App?

If you are using one of the larger bookies such as bet365 or William Hill, which app you download onto your mobile device will depend on what type of device you have – Android or Apple. If you have an iPhone, you will need to visit the App Store, and if you have an Android device – the Play Store.

Before we go any further, it is worth mentioning that some bookies have different apps for different aspects of their operation, such as an app for their casino or poker room, so make sure that you download the app which suits your requirements.

Provided you already have an account with the sportsbook, once the download is complete, you will need to enter your login details, and you will be ready to go. If, however, you aren’t signed up with the bookie, you will find the registration process on mobile extremely easy. You will need to click on the ‘Register’ button and follow the steps to fill in your details.
The vast majority of the best mobile betting apps operate of the same wallet, so if you make a deposit into the desktop version of the website, you will be able to use that balance for your mobile betting requirements.

Some people get confused when they have made a deposit into their account, but the balance does not show in their sportsbook account.
The reason for this is because, with bookies such as bet365, it is easy to inadvertently deposit funds into the casino section of their website as opposed to the sportsbook. If this happens, all you have to do is to go to the bank section and transfer the funds over to the sportsbook. Bookies like Paddy Power operate off the same wallet, so you won’t come across this problem if you use their betting app.

Android vs Apple betting apps, an infographic

So, What Is the Best Betting App?

Whilst almost every bookie has either an app or a specialised mobile website, some of them are better than others so with that in mind, let’s take a quick look at the top seven best betting apps.

1. bet365 – If we had to give a one-word answer to “What is the best betting app?”, we’d probably go straight for bet365. Their app has exactly the same layout as the desktop version of the website so you will have no problem finding the bets you would like to place and managing your account.

There is not a specific bet365 mobile bonus as such, but the main sign up bonus of £100 can be accessed by using the app as well as the desktop version of the bookie.

£30 in Free Bets*

Claim Bonus Bet365 review

*New Customers only. Registration required. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. #AD

2. Unibet – This is another one of those apps which is available in a variety of different formats, but the sportsbook version is widely regarded as being one of the best online betting apps.

At the time of writing, they are offering a risk-free £10 bet to account holders who are using the mobile app for the first time.

Money back up to £40 if your first bet loses + £10 Casino

Claim Bonus Unibet review

*18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first bet loses. Wagering requirements: all sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. Full T&C's apply.. #AD

3. Betfair – The Betfair app has to be regarded as the most advanced on the market, but you should be aware that there are separate apps for the Betfair sportsbook and the Betfair exchange.

The Betfair exchange app, in particular, is in a league of its own but, as is the case with most apps, there is no specific mobile bonus. Still, any other bonuses can be accessed by using the app.

Bet £5 Get £20

Claim Bonus Betfair review

*New customer offer. Place a min £5 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £20 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly. #AD

4. 888sport – This bookie could perhaps be forgiven if they had gone down the route of adding various casino games to their sports betting app due to the casino connection, but the 888sport app has resisted that temptation.

There is no specific mobile bonus, but the main sportsbook bonuses can be used on the app.

Bet £10 Get £30 + £10 Casino Bonus

888sport review

*Min deposit £/€/$10 • A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £/€/$10 • Min odds 1/2 (1.50) • Free Bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days • Free Bet stakes not included in returns • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days • To withdraw bonus/related wins, wager the bonus amount 40 times within 14 days • Casino Bonus expires after 60 days • Withdrawal restrictions, payment methods, country & Full T&C’s apply. #AD 18+ BeGambleAware

5. 10bet – This sportsbook has been making waves recently regarding the bonuses that they offer to their customers.

They actually have a 50% matched bonus up to £50 for customers who sign up to an account with their mobile device so as you can probably imagine, the 10bet mobile app is extremely popular.

50% up to £50 bonus

Claim Bonus 10bet review

*New Customers only; Min. deposit £15; Bonus amount 50% of deposit up to £50; Wager deposit and bonus 8x within 60 days; 4/5 Min. single odds or 2/5 min. acca selection odds; Max. stake contribution equal to the initial bonus; Certain bet types and payment methods excluded; See full terms; Terms apply; 18+ #AD

6. Paddy Power – Along with bet365, Paddy Power are regarded as the main players when it comes to the best online betting apps, but this is another organisation which has different apps for their casino, bingo etc.

Their sports betting app is first-class, and it looks the same as the desktop version of their site. They don’t have a dedicated mobile bonus, but any of the sportsbook bonuses can be used on the mobile app.

£10 First Bet

Paddy Power review

*18+ T&Cs apply to each offer. Click “Claim Bonus” for more information. #AD

The Bonuses at the Top Betting Apps

Whilst some sportsbooks have dedicated bonuses to entice their customers to use their betting app, it is usually the case that you will be able to claim the regular sportsbook bonuses when you’re using the mobile platform.

What usually happens, though, is that if a particular sportsbook brings out a new app or makes drastic changes to the one that they already have, a bonus will be offered to tempt punters to use it.

With that in mind, if you are interested in using one of the top betting apps in order to claim a welcome bonus, it would be a good idea not to concentrate on the mobile offers but instead, look at the best betting offers in general because you will usually be allowed to use the mobile app to claim it.


Betfred
Get Your£30 FreeClaim Bonus Cash out Time1-2 days

*New UK & NI customers only. promo code ‘SPORTS60’. Deposit & place first sports bet of £10+ in one bet transaction, at odds of Evens (2.0) +. settled within 60 days. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets credited within 48 hours of bet settlement, 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS validation may be required. Max 60 Free Spins on Justice League Comics. 7-day expiry.Full T&Cs apply. #AD

The likes of bet365 should be your first port of call because their sign up and ongoing offers really do take an awful lot of beating. Something else to bear in mind is to be aware of the many other types of bonuses which are out there which can be used on a mobile app.

Acca insurance being a prime example because of the sheer number of football matches which this insurance can be used on, the chances are that you will place some of these acca bets on your mobile so be aware of these offers as they are usually more lucrative than welcome bonuses over the long term.

Going back to bet365, their ‘Two Up’ promotion is another offer which can be used on a mobile app. The way it works is that if you place a bet on a football match on the home or away win markers, if your selection goes two goals up you will be paid out as a winner, another ideal type of bet to be placed on a mobile app.

The Design and Functionality of the Best Online Betting App

Use Your Mobile Device to Bet on the Go

Most punters will agree that when it comes to the design and functionality of the best mobile betting app, simplicity is the key. When mobile apps first became popular only a few short years ago, you could often tell when someone was trying to place a bet on their mobile device by the look of sheer frustration on their face.

It used to take a long time even to find the bet that you wanted to place, never mind trying to place the bet, but now, the process is about as simple as you could possibly imagine. You usually find that the layout of a betting app is exactly the same as the desktop version of the sportsbook that you are using.

Some of them have the menu running down the right-hand side of the mobile screen whilst others require you to touch a button in the top corner of the app, and the menu will appear. It is always a good idea when you first download one of the best betting apps UK / UK betting apps to give yourself a few minutes to get familiar with the layout but placing a bet really couldn’t be any easier.

What you will probably notice with any of the best betting apps UK / UK betting apps is that there is an optimum of space in order to contain all of the betting features. As long as one of these top betting apps do not use any of this optimum space to advertise casino and bingo games, you will find it to be very easy on the eye.

It has to be said though that you could be using any of the top betting apps, but if the mobile device that you are using is not up to scratch, the experience will be poor. So, make sure that your mobile device meets all of the recommended requirements which will be on display in the app store which you are using.

Latest mobile facts for UK, an infographic

The Exciting Special Features of the Best Football Betting App

The great thing for online punters is that there is enormous competition amongst sportsbooks to constantly improve their apps in terms of the overall performance as well as the features that are available.

It is now possible to bypass the login and use Touch ID to log in to your betting account (providing your mobile device allows this). Live streaming is also available on some of the best football betting apps with an ideal example of this being the bet365 app.

Who’d have thought that you could watch a high-quality stream of a live football match whilst placing in-play bets, all from your mobile device, when you think about it, it really is quite extraordinary. Something else which is worth mentioning which has been pioneered by some of the best football betting apps is the bet builder options (which can also be used on the desktop version of a sportsbook).

The William Hill ‘Bet Builder’ is an ideal example, and the way it works is that you choose different options on one or more sporting events and you will instantly be presented with the odds on these options occurring, a bit like an accumulator.

It is all very clever and something that you can access from the very best football betting apps such as William Hill.

The Difference Between Responsive Sites and Native Apps

Bet with Mobile App or Mobile Site - It's up to You

The main difference between responsive sites and native apps is that responsive site requires you to type the URL of the sportsbook into your mobile browser to access the mobile version of the website.

With an app, once it has been downloaded, all you need to do is tap the icon on your mobile screen, and the sportsbook will load if you have touch id enabled you won’t even have to enter your user name and password.

Whilst it should be noted that the mobile responsive versions of these sportsbooks can be excellent, the top betting apps offer a far easier way to use your sports betting accounts.

It could be argued that it is a first world problem, but mobile betting accounts are often used when the user is out and about, and more often than not, they don’t want to be messing around with the URL of a sportsbook, especially if their eyesight is not so good or if they have ‘fat fingers’.

Some of the newer sportsbooks don’t offer an app (usually because they are so expensive to develop) and concentrate on the quality of the mobile version of their website, but this could be regarded as a big mistake as most punters prefer to use an app rather than any alternatives.

Downloading the Best Betting Applications

When it comes to downloading the best betting applications, you have two choices.

If you have an iPhone, you will need to download from the App Store on your phone or if you have an Android device, from the Google play store.

You will also be able to download any of the best betting applications from the link in the sportsbook which you would like to download (the link will take you to the stores mentioned above)

Download betting apps from the Google Play Store or from the iOS App Store.

One thing which you need to be careful about when downloading one of the best betting applications directly is to make sure that the app is genuine.

You may find that some apps will have a similar sounding name to the one you require, and when you download it is, it will be something like a tipster app which you are not interested in.
Just make sure the name of the app is exactly the same as the sportsbook, and you won’t experience any problems.

The Legislation and Regulation of Good Betting Apps

If you are downloading one of the good betting apps, the chances are that you will have already opened a sportsbook account with them so you will be aware that the meet the legislation and regulations that are required.

If not, check that they are authorised by the UK Gambling Commission before you go ahead and download.

If you are using an Android device, Google sports betting apps are geo-targeted, so if you are trying to download the app from another country, you will need to change the security settings on your mobile device to enable you to continue with the download.

The Important Aspect of Security

If you are using the mobile version of a sportsbook and there is something not quite right, your mobile browser will warn you if there is a problem by telling you that the site is not secure.

You will sometimes receive a warning when there is not a problem, but it is better to be safe rather than sorry. Once an app is downloaded, use Touch ID if your mobile device allows it but if not, always keep your password safe.

If you are using a mobile device in public, you never know who could be looking over your shoulder when you are logging into your sportsbook account so bear that in mind and always be aware.

The Payment Options

Deposits and Withdrawals from your phone

We have already spoken about how most sportsbooks operate off the same wallet when it comes to making deposits and withdrawals to and from your account.

With that in mind, you can make deposits into your account using debit cards, bank transfers and by web wallets such as PayPal, Neteller, and Skrill.

If your betting app is downloaded onto an Apple phone, you can make a deposit using Apple pay, and there is also the option of using one of the mobile payment methods such as Boku and Zinger where the deposit is charged to your phone bill.

The common consensus within the online betting industry is that cryptocurrencies will also feature in a major way over the coming months and years so you will be able to make deposits and withdrawals with Bitcoin, for example.

Some of the best sportsbooks already offer this facility, but due to the constantly changing landscape, more and more will be getting involved.

When it comes to making withdrawals when using a sports betting app, the same time scales are in place in terms of when you will receive your funds which is usually up to five working days for card and bank withdrawals and a few hours for web wallet withdrawals.

Placing a Bet on the Best Betting App for Beginners

Placing a bet on one of the best betting apps is a piece of cake. All you have to do is tap on the app icon or if it is a mobile version of the sportsbook, enter the URL in the browser.

It is then just a matter of logging into your account, finding the market and the bet which you would like to place, enter the stake, submit the bet and the bet will have been made.

The great thing is that the app will look exactly the same as the desktop version of the website so you will have no trouble in navigating around the app.

If you are placing a multiple bet, the selections will automatically be placed in the bet slip, just the same as with the desktop version of the sportsbook.

As most sportsbooks operate off the same wallet when it comes to the financial transactions, the methods to deposit and withdraw into your account will be the same as you are used to so you will be able to ensure that you have adequate funds in place in order to place your bets.

Some markets will have the cash out facility where you will be able to cash out a bet in play in order to lock in a profit or minimise any losses.

The option to do this will be on display in the bet slip for an event where the cash out is available.

Live betting is also available on the best betting applications, and as you have probably gathered, the live streaming which can accompany live betting is also of a very high standard but dependant on the capabilities of your mobile device.

A Wide Variety of Sports to Bet On

Just as with betting on the desktop version of a sportsbook, there is a wide range of sports available for you to bet on.

Football would have to be the most popular due to the very nature of this type of betting, but other popular sports include horse racing, cricket, tennis and greyhound racing.

The answer to a common question which is often asked about the best betting app for beginners is that you only need one app to bet on all of the sports which are available to bet on as opposed to a different app for each.

Using the Best Mobile Apps to Stay up to Date

In the day and age in which we live, a football player can injure himself in training and the news will be all over social media within the hour.

If you take your betting seriously it would be a good idea to have Twitter, Reddit and Facebook accounts set up on your mobile device so that you will be able to react instantly to any news and place a bet before the bookies even realise what is going on.

Here Are Some of the Most Frequently Asked Questions

Useful Information About Sports betting Apps

Why do the odds change when I’m placing a bet?

The odds change either when something happens in the market which you are trying to place a bet or if the weight of money on a selection means that the bookie has to either shorten or lengthen the odds.
This is the reason why there is a buffer of around ten seconds between the time that you place the bet and when it is accepted.

Why can I now stream some events in the UK?

Due to the advancement in mobile technology, certain events can now be streamed live on your mobile device.

How do I download the app for iPhone/Android?

The iPhone/Android apps can be downloaded from the iTunes and Google Play store, respectively.

Why can I not install some apps?

The main reason for this is because your mobile device specifications do not meet the requirements of the app.

Are the odds the same on the mobile apps and the desktop version of the sportsbook?

Yes, the odds are exactly the same across all platforms.
If you are using a mobile app for a betting exchange such as Betfair, you will be able to see that the liquidity is also exactly the same as the desktop version.

The Best Mobile Betting Apps Conclusion

There is no doubt about it, the top rated mobile betting apps are here to stay, and they will continue to get better and better.

If you had a time machine and could go back only a few years to tell punters what is now available on the best mobile betting apps, they would have thought that you had lost your mind and it is quite scary to think of the advancements which will be made over the next few years.

The best mobile betting apps are safe and secure to use whilst at the same time offering a wide range of features which means that punters have as much power on their mobile phones as they would if they were sitting at home in front of their desktop computer.

It is easy to find any selection which you would like to place a bet on and, providing you have funds in your account, the bets will be processed within an instant.

If you have not tried mobile betting yet, the best thing to do is to open an account with the likes of Bet365, download their app and get cracking.

There is no doubt that you will enjoy the experience and you will have another string to your bow when it comes to making money off the old enemy!

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