888 has been around for quite some time now, first founded in 1997, and the bookmaker offers everything from sports to casino and even bingo. It is owned and operated by Evoke plc, formerly known as 888 Holdings Limited, and said company also acquired UK giant William Hill in 2022. In other words, we are talking about a pretty big company here.
The above also means that 888 has a couple of sister sites, not just William Hill but also Mr Green. However, the latter decided to exit the UK market in October 2024 and it was never a good alternative anyway, lacking the diversity of 888 and William Hill. Before delving into the pros of the latter, though, what makes 888 such a good bookie?
Longevity matters in the betting world, we have said it before, and 888 has stood the test of time for well over 20 years. As alluded to earlier, diversity is also key as customers want many options these days, and while 888 hosts the different sections (sports, casino, bingo and poker) on different domains, these are still offered by the brand.
The sportsbook is comprehensive, as is the casino section, and the mobile apps are highly rated on the app stores. On the betting side of things, we really like the welcome offer as punters can claim £30 in free bets, plus a casino bonus as part of the same package. There is also a good amount of payment methods, which is nice to see.
Below, we take a closer look at William Hill, which is the only proper sister site of 888 in the UK. The bookies are relatively different, so it could definitely be worth having an account on both.
Most punters will know of William Hill, simply because it's such a prominent and quality bookmaker in the UK. Just like 888, you can find everything from sports betting to casino games and bingo, which is great news for those who like to gamble on a bit of everything. Most importantly, the quality of these sections is consistently high.
Overall, we must be honest and say that we prefer the look and functionality of William Hill. Although the latter does not have the most modern layout, it looks so much better and more familiar compared to 888, which is never a bad thing. We are also big fans of the bookie's mobile app, which we consider to be one of the best.
Then, of course, there are also generous welcome offers to claim and promotions are not exactly lacking either. In short, there is a reason why most experts always put William Hill on the podium when assessing the best betting sites in the UK.
In the UK, there are quite a few good alternatives to 888 if you do not want to sign up for/use William Hill, and we have picked out two of our favourites on this front below.
Betfred has a rich history in the UK and most punters, from sports to casino, probably already have an account here. Nevertheless, we feel it is worth mentioning as an 888 alternative given the range of different products on offer. For example, not counting bingo-only sites, we feel it is the best bookmaker for bingo out there.
There are some very good welcome offers to claim, some of which require promo codes, and the betting app is one of our favourites. Then again, the diversity and sheer number of markets are what we like the most, especially since this is along the same lines as 888. It is definitely worth joining Betfred.
Our second and final pick is Lottoland, which just like Betfred is a bookmaker that offers a lot to its customers. While most will know the lotto section of the site, which is the flagship, there is now also a decent sportsbook as well as casino section. The same goes for bingo, with around 12 rooms available.
We encountered no issues when testing the Lottoland app, as depositing was smooth and certainly enjoyable given the low £1 deposit minimum. The withdrawal times could be slightly better but they are certainly not bad either, taking around a day or so. In short, Lottoland is a good overall option and one that most punters likely have not tried yet.
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Isak is an experienced content writer with a background in sports journalism. Having focused mainly on football in the past, he certainly knows a thing or two about the betting industry and what makes a good bookie. At BettingLounge, he makes sure that the content is up-to-date and presented in the best way possible.