bet365
Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets
Open Account Offer – New Customers only. Bet £10 and get £30 in Free Bets when you join bet365. 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 settle. 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. Registration Required. #Ad. 18+ Only, gambleaware.org.
BetMGM
Bet £10 Get £40 In Free Bets
New cust. Deposit £10+ in 7 days & bet on sports. Min odds apply. Reward = 4 x £10 Free Bets (2 x £10 Bet Builders & 2 x £10 Sports bet). Valid 7 days. Free bets not valid on e-sports & non UK/IE horse racing. 18+. T&Cs apply.
William Hill
Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets
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). Further terms apply. #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org.
Betfred
Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets
New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply.
BetUK
Bet £10 Get £30 In Bonuses
New cust only. Opt-in required. Deposit & place a bet within 7 days and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater to be credited with 3 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 football. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply. Acca Club: Available to new & existing customers. 3 or more selections. Min Odds: 3/10 (1.3) per leg. Max stake: £500. Max Winnings: £200,000 per boost. Profit Boost amounts vary. Horse Racing, Greyhounds & Trotting excluded. Exclusions apply. Full T&C’s apply. 18+ GambleAware.org.
LiveScoreBet
Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets
New members only. £10+ bet on sports (ex. Virtuals) 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days; £20 use on sportsbook, £10 on Bet Builder. Stake not returned. T&C’s Apply + deposit exclusions apply #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org.
10Bet
100% up to £50 on first deposit
New bettors. Select bonus at signup or use code SPORT. Wager deposit & bonus 8x. Max qualifying bet = bonus. Valid 60 days. Odds, bet & payment limits apply. T&Cs Apply; 18+ | Please gamble responsibly #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org
Virgin Bet
Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets
New members only. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook (ex. virtuals), placed & settled at 1.5 min odds in 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days, use on sportsbook only (ex. virtuals), stakes not returned. T&Cs Apply and deposit exclusions apply. Please gamble responsibly #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org.
18+•#Ad•Please gamble responsibly
Best Alternatives to Betfair (2026)
While Betfair is a giant in the UK betting market, known for its Exchange and innovative features like Acca Edge, it isn’t the only option. Whether you are looking for a simpler interface, different payment options, or specific football promotions, several credible alternatives exist for UK players.
Below is a curated list of top-rated alternatives available in January 2026.
Best Betting Sites & Welcome Offers
Pick the bookie that fits how you bet: odds, bet builder, promos, or all-round value.
Top Pick
Strong promos + solid betting experience
BetMGM
Best for: promos & regular offers
£40
from £10 bet
- ✔Competitive promos & reward style offers
- ✔Good football coverage + specials
- ✔Clean, user-friendly app
- ✖Can be more bonus-driven than odds-driven
New customers only — deposit £10+, min odds apply, rewards paid as 4×£10 free bets. 18+.
T&Cs Apply.
Bonus-heavy for football punters
Betfred
Best for: football markets + big welcome value
£50
from £10 bet
- ✔Strong football focus + plenty of markets
- ✔Bonus structure suits acca-style bettors
- ✔Trusted UK brand
- ✖Offer rules can be more detailed
New customers only. Register, deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions &
T&Cs Apply.
Huge markets + strong sportsbook
William Hill
Best for: market coverage + traditional sportsbook
£30
from £10 bet
- ✔Massive market coverage across sports
- ✔Solid odds on many mainstream markets
- ✔Long-standing UK bookie reputation
- ✖Interface feels more “classic bookie”
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). Further
terms apply. #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org
Great for in-play + streaming fans
LiveScore Bet
Best for: in-play experience + live features
£30
from £10 bet
- ✔Live streaming available (where offered)
- ✔Good mix of sports & promos
- ✔Multiple payment methods
- ✖Not always best for niche markets
New members only. £10+ bet on sports (ex. Virtuals) 1.5 min odds, settled within 14 days. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days; £20 use on sportsbook, £10 on Bet Builder. Stake not returned.
T&C’s Apply + deposit exclusions apply #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org
Good football focus + welcome structure
BetUK
Best for: football promos + acca-type perks
£30
from £10 bet
- ✔Generous welcome structure across sports
- ✔Strong football markets
- ✔Often good for boosts / acca perks
- ✖Terms can be longer (read rules)
New cust only. Opt-in required. Deposit & place a bet within 7 days and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater to be credited with 3 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 football. Free Bets cannot be used on e-sports and non-UK/IE horse racing. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. 18+.
T&Cs apply.
Acca Club: Available to new & existing customers. 3 or more selections. Min Odds: 3/10 (1.3) per leg. Max stake: £500. Max Winnings: £200,000 per boost. Profit Boost amounts vary. Horse Racing, Greyhounds & Trotting excluded. Exclusions apply. Full
T&C’s apply. 18+ GambleAware.org.
Clean app + balanced sportsbook
Virgin Bet
Best for: easy mobile betting + balanced promos
£30
from £10 bet
- ✔User-friendly mobile app
- ✔Competitive odds on many markets
- ✔Good mix of sportsbook promos
- ✖Not always best for deep niche leagues
New members only. £10 min deposit & bet on sportsbook (ex. virtuals), placed & settled at 1.5 min odds in 14 days of sign-up. Win part of E/W bets. Free Bets: accept in 7 days, valid 7 days, use on sportsbook only (ex. virtuals), stakes not returned.
T&Cs Apply and deposit exclusions apply. Please gamble responsibly #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org
Good for accas & simple bonus flow
10bet
Best for: accumulators + straightforward signup
Bonus
welcome offer
- ✔Easy signup bonus flow
- ✔Wide market selection
- ✔Often suits acca-style betting
- ✖Wagering rules matter (read terms)
New bettors. Select bonus at signup or use code SPORT. Wager deposit & bonus 8x. Max qualifying bet = bonus. Valid 60 days. Odds, bet & payment limits apply.
T&Cs Apply; 18+ | Please gamble responsibly #Ad. 18+Only, gambleaware.org
Selected: BetMGM
Bet £10 Get £40
Why Look for an Alternative to Betfair?
Betfair has evolved from being just a betting exchange into a betting giant with a comprehensive Sportsbook. They offer unique features such as the Acca Edge—where you can get a refund in cash if one leg lets you down on trebles and above—and extensive live streaming options via “Betfair Live Video”.
However, no bookmaker is perfect for everyone. While Betfair’s features are industry-leading, some players may find the dual-wallet system (Sportsbook vs. Exchange) confusing, or simply prefer a site with faster withdrawal times or different odds margins.
Betfair Highlights
- Offers both Sportsbook and Exchange.
- Acca Edge: Cash refunds on trebles+ if one leg fails.
- Excellent loyalty scheme (Rewards Club).
- Mobile app is responsive and user-friendly.
Potential Drawbacks
- Payout times can be slower than some rivals.
- The Exchange concept can be difficult to grasp for beginners.
- Some users may prefer a simpler, sportsbook-only interface.
Understanding Margins (Hypothetical Example)
When comparing Betfair to alternatives, it is important to understand “margins” or the “overround”. This is how bookmakers make money. If the probability of all outcomes adds up to 100%, anything above that is the margin.
Worked Example (Hypothetical)
Let’s look at a match between Stoke and Swansea to understand how pricing works.
The Odds:
- Home (Stoke): 21/20 (Decimal: 2.05) -> Implied Probability: 48.8%
- Draw: 23/10 (Decimal: 3.30) -> Implied Probability: 30.3%
- Away (Swansea): 14/5 (Decimal: 3.80) -> Implied Probability: 26.3%
The Calculation:
48.8% + 30.3% + 26.3% = 105.4%
Conclusion: The “Overround” here is 5.4%. A margin under 110% is generally considered respectable. When choosing an alternative, you want to look for bookmakers that keep this percentage as low as possible.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Switching bookmakers can be exciting due to new welcome offers, but keep these safer gambling principles in mind:
- Chasing Losses: Never use a new account to try and recover funds lost elsewhere.
- Ignoring Terms: Welcome offers, like the “Bet £10 Get £30” promos listed above, often have strict expiry dates (e.g., 7 days) and minimum odds (e.g., 1/2 or 1.5). Always check the T&Cs.
- Over-Complicating Bets: Betfair’s “Acca Edge” allows for insurance on trebles. When moving to a new site, ensure you check if their insurance requires 5+ legs, which increases the risk significantly.
Glossary for Beginners
Exchange: A platform where you bet against other players rather than the bookmaker. You can “Back” (bet for) or “Lay” (bet against) an outcome.
Acca Edge: A Betfair-specific feature where you accept slightly lower odds in exchange for money back (cash) if one leg of your accumulator fails.
Cash Out: A feature allowing you to settle your bet before the event has finished to lock in a profit or limit a loss.
Wagering Requirements: The number of times you must play through a bonus amount before you can withdraw it as cash.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I contact Betfair customer service if I have an issue?
You can contact their team via email ([email protected]), telephone (0844 871 7000), or their 24-hour live chat service. Their head office is located at Hammersmith Embankment Waterfront in London.
Does Betfair offer Apple Pay?
Yes, Betfair accepts Apple Pay for both deposits and withdrawals. Deposits are instant (min £5), and withdrawals typically take 2-3 working days.
What is the “Refer and Earn” scheme?
Betfair allows you to refer friends using a unique code. If the referred person creates an account and stakes £5 in their first 60 days, you are rewarded with £5 cash (up to five times).
