List of Independent Bookmakers in the UK (2026)
UKGC Licensed & Safe 
- Editorial4.00
- Users2.50 (4 reviews)
- Trustpilot3.40 (308 reviews)
- App Store3.60 (10 reviews)
Score3.50
- Withdrawal Time: 2 Minutes (Our Test)
- Low Betting Margins: 5.29%
- Brand New UK Betting Site (May 2025)
- Editorial4.00
- Users4.00 (1 reviews)
- Trustpilot2.00 (144 reviews)
- App Store2.60 (7 reviews)
- Score3.32
- Withdrawal Time: 36 Minutes (Our Test)
- £1 Minimum Deposit
- 20+ Sports Available
- Editorial3.00
- Trustpilot3.20 (19 reviews)
- App Store5.00 (4 reviews)
- Score3.55
- Withdrawal Time: Instant (Our Test)
- EveryMatrix-Powered Sportsbook
- Low Betting Margins: 5.96%
- Editorial3.00
- Users3.33 (3 reviews)
- Trustpilot3.90 (3 reviews)
- App Store3.20 (29 reviews)
- Google Play3.00 (38 reviews)
- Score3.24
- Withdrawal Time: Instant (Our Test)
- Independent Bookmaker
- Free Betting Tips and Insights
- Editorial4.00
- Users3.00 (1 reviews)
- Trustpilot3.40 (2.6k reviews)
- App Store4.70 (6.7k reviews)
- Google Play4.30 (2.8k reviews)
- Score3.90
- Withdrawal Time: Instant (Our Test)
- Low Betting Margins: 4.86%
- Great for Esports Betting
- Editorial5.00
- Users2.33 (3 reviews)
- Trustpilot4.00 (2.3k reviews)
- App Store3.40 (27 reviews)
- Score3.95
- Withdrawal Time: 11 Minutes (Our Test)
- Low Betting Margins: 4.79%
- Upgraded to New Sportsbook (October 2025)
- Editorial4.00
- Users5.00 (1 reviews)
- Trustpilot4.40 (2k reviews)
- App Store4.70 (1.1k reviews)
- Google Play4.70 (387 reviews)
- Score4.47
- Withdrawal Time: 20 Minutes (Our Test)
- Spread & Fixed Odds Betting
- Fantastic Betting App
- Editorial4.00
- Users1.00 (1 reviews)
- Trustpilot3.30 (330 reviews)
- App Store3.60 (83 reviews)
- Score3.18
- Fast Withdrawals: 22 Minutes (Our Test)
- Great For Horse Racing
- UK & Irish Racing Streaming
- Editorial4.00
- Users3.09 (11 reviews)
- Trustpilot3.20 (13.5k reviews)
- App Store4.60 (60k reviews)
- Google Play4.30 (12.9k reviews)
- Score3.87
- Withdrawal Time: 49 Minutes (Our Test)
- Generous Welcome Offer
- Fantastic Betting App
- Editorial4.00
- Users2.57 (7 reviews)
- Trustpilot3.60 (4.3k reviews)
- App Store3.70 (874 reviews)
- Google Play3.10 (2.8k reviews)
- Score3.50
- Withdrawal Time: 34 Minutes (Our Test)
- Many Promotions Offered
- Accepts Many Payment Methods
- Editorial3.00
- Trustpilot1.70 (137 reviews)
- App Store1.40 (12 reviews)
- Google Play1.50 (17 reviews)
- Score2.12
- New Betting Site (Launched 18/08/2025!)
- Withdrawal Time: 7 Hours (Our Test)
- Fantastic Promotions on Offer
- Editorial4.00
- Users4.00 (8 reviews)
- Trustpilot4.30 (1.8k reviews)
- App Store2.80 (100 reviews)
- Google Play3.20 (295 reviews)
- Score3.72
- Withdrawal Time: 4 Minutes (Our Test)
- Bet Builder Markets
- Great Range of Promotions
- Editorial3.00
- Trustpilot1.70 (420 reviews)
- App Store1.00 (2 reviews)
- Google Play2.40 (102 reviews)
- Score2.22
- Withdrawal Time: 2 Hours (Our Test)
- Altenar-Powered Sportsbook
- Flexible Display Options
What Is An Independent Bookmaker?
An independent bookmaker is a betting company that:
- Owns and operates its sportsbook platform.
- Sets its own odds and trading policies.
- It is not part of a large betting group (like Entain, 888Holdings, Flutter).
- Does not use a white-label provider for its core services.
These bookmakers may be privately owned by individuals or families, and often offer a more customer-focused or bespoke betting experience compared to major chains.
Private vs. Independent
- A private bookmaker is not publicly listed, but may still use third-party platforms or be part of a network.
- An independent bookmaker controls both the platform and operations, offering a truly standalone betting service.
Examples of Independent Bookmakers:
- Bet365 – One of the world’s biggest privately owned bookmakers, running its proprietary platform.
- Star Sports – A UK-based independent bookmaker catering to VIPs and niche betting.
- Fitzdares – High-end, bespoke service, independently operated.
- BoyleSports – Irish-owned and runs its platform.
Not Independent:
- Coral, Ladbrokes, bwin – Part of Entain.
- Paddy Power, Betfair, SkyBet – Part of Flutter Entertainment.
- Betway – Uses its own platform but is part of Super Group, a public company.
- BetUK, Mr Play, BetStorm – White-labels on shared platforms like Aspire Global or SBTech.
Do They Still Only Take Phone Bets?
Not anymore! While many started in physical betting shops or by phone, most independent bookmakers today offer:
- Fully featured online betting sites.
- Mobile apps.
- Some still offer phone betting or personal account services for high rollers.
Pros and Cons of Using Independent Bookmakers
As with large betting sites, there are various key pros and cons to using private bookmakers.
Pros of Using Independent Bookmakers
Better odds: Private bookmakers often have higher prices than big UK chains offer
Higher stakes: Some private bookmakers accept bigger bets than online betting sites
Bespoke service: Clients receive individual attention after joining private bookmakers
More expertise: A higher level of knowledge is typically found in their trading team
Cons of Using Independent Bookmakers
Trust: It may be hard for UK sports fans to know whether they can trust private bookies
Usability: The online sites run by UK independent bookmakers tend to be quite basic
Customer service: Help may not be available 24/7 due to a far smaller support team
How We Review Independent Bookmakers
When we review the UK's top private bookmakers, here are the areas we are assessing:
-
Reputation
Is the independent bookmaker trustworthy and are they licensed? No private bookmakers are ever going to be recommended if they are not licensed. Checking out what customers of the private bookmaker think is part of this stage.
-
Betting Markets Available
As with online betting sites, it is important that private bookmakers are willing to accept a range of bets. Do they cover lots of different sports, or is there a niche focus on a single sport such as horse racing? Is the choice of sports markets to bet on limited?
-
Betting Odds
As we noted above, one of the top benefits of using private bookmakers in the UK tends to be that they can be more generous with their prices. Comparing odds between UK online betting brands and leading independent bookmakers is not always straightforward. However, some private bookmakers like QuinnBet do have their odds listed on comparison websites such as Oddschecker alongside their top industry rivals.
-
Betting Bonuses
While massive UK online betting sites such as Bet365 and Betfair are able to provide new users with a generous welcome bonus, this might not be the case for a private bookmaker. However, exclusive betting bonuses and promotions may still be offered, perhaps as a way to reward regular customers for their loyalty to the firm.
-
Payment Options
For those independent bookmakers taking bets online, we take a look at which payment methods can be used to make a deposit.
Whether or not there are fees or charges associated with deposits and withdrawals is included here. The speed of withdrawals is crucial as private bookmakers are often able to pay faster.
-
Customer Service
While private bookmakers are known for providing a bespoke betting experience, their customer service department is likely to be small. How long does it take for customer support agents to respond to queries? Is there a range of different ways to get in touch with the customer support team, or more limited options?
-
Mobile Betting
Not all private bookmakers are set up for mobile betting. This can make it challenging for them to attract UK sports fans who have grown used to being able to place a bet while out and about. However, some private bookmakers have been able to embrace mobile betting, and they might even have betting apps available to download.
-
Responsible Gambling
All top online betting brands have a detailed responsible gambling policy in place these days. Private bookmakers, therefore, need to follow suit by showing that they take responsible gambling seriously. If they operate online, then tools such as deposit limits need to be in place to allow their customers to control spending.
Different Types of Private Bookmakers
There are a few different types of private bookmakers that UK sports fans should know about:
Independent betting shops: The most traditional way to place a bet on the big race of the day or a football match is still to walk into a betting shop and pay in cash. While a lot of independent betting shops were hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and had to close their doors, some remain.
Online independent bookmakers: The rise of the internet means that online betting is now massively popular in the UK and around the world. Private bookmakers have sought to keep up with changes in the modern world by launching their own online betting sites. This has enabled them to try to compete on a level playing field with top online bookmaker brands like Ladbrokes.
Independent telephone bookmakers: For a lot of UK sports fans, telephone betting is still the way to go. A lot of the top UK private bookmakers provide a telephone betting service. This involves ringing up and speaking to a trader, who will be able to offer a price for a requested bet.
Racecourse-only independent bookmakers: Horse racing and betting have been linked for a long time. As a result, some private bookmakers can only be found at racecourses in the UK. This means that they have resisted the temptation to open up a new online betting site. The only way to place a bet with a racecourse-only independent bookmaker is to have a day at the races.
New private bookmakers: Although there is a huge amount of competition in the world of private bookmakers in the UK already, new independent bookmakers continue to be launched. While it can be difficult for them to make an impact due to how crowded the field is, some UK sports fans are always willing to give them a go by placing bets with new independent bookies.
Independent Bookmakers FAQs
What is an independent bookmaker?
Are private bookmakers safe?
Which are the best independent bookmakers in the UK?
Do you need a licence to be a private bookmaker?
Is Betfred Independent?
Steven is an experienced iGaming content writer who has been working in the industry since 2018. He is passionate about sports betting and enjoys writing about all aspects of the industry, including bookmaker reviews, betting tips and strategies, and news and analysis.