A detailed guide to safe online gambling sites

Safety and security are of utmost importance when using gambling sites. Protecting customers’ personal and financial data is an integral part of an online bookmaker’s reputation, as is offering responsible betting tools and holding relevant licenses.

The best safe gambling sites offer a combination of the latest encryption software, a range of trusted payment methods, accessible customer support and responsible gambling sites to keep their customers and their data safe.

Below we’ve listed all the information you need about safe gambling, including the best safe online gambling sites and information about licensing and data security.

How we choose the best safe gambling sites

We take a series of strict criteria into account when determining which safe sports betting sites to recommend.

License – The most important factor is licensing and regulations. A gambling site must be fully licensed by the UKGC to ensure it complies with UK regulations regarding fair gaming, data security and use of private information.

Payment methods – The best gambling sites also offer a range of accessible, secure payment methods.

Security software – Following on from this, secure gambling sites will have the latest encryption software, such as SSL encryption, ideally with additional features such as two-factor authentication.

Responsible gambling – All the most trusted safe gambling sites will also display an easily accessible range of responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits or loss limits. Sites will also have an extensive customer support network, including live chat and email.

Best Safe Gambling Sites: Ranked and Reviewed

The best safe betting sites must meet our high standards before we recommend them – the operators below deliver an excellent overall product.

BetMGM

While BetMGM is still considered one of the new betting sites in Britain, it has a formidable reputation from the US. The gambling product on this side of the Atlantic meets the same high standards, so customers can be assured they are using a safe and reliable operator.

BetMGM offers the latest encryption software and accepts a variety of payment methods including PayPal, Apple Pay and Google Pay.

The site also offers excellent customer support, offers 24/7 live chat and offers a range of responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits, loss limits and self-exclusion.

WedVictor

BetVictor is an industry titan that has long had a reputation as one of the most trusted names in gambling in Britain.

The company has SSL encryption on its gambling site, as well as two-way authentication. Customers have a number of options for deposits and withdrawals, including Apple Pay and PayPal, but keep in mind that you can’t use some payment methods to unlock welcome offers.

BetVictor also has many customer support options, including a live chat. It also takes responsible gambling seriously, with a range of tools available through the Safer Gambling Portal.

Bet365

Bet365 is perhaps the best betting site on the market. It offers a complete package for users and is one of the most trusted operators in Britain. Bet365 offers high-quality security systems, including SSL encryption and two-factor authentication.

Deposits and withdrawals are secure and cover a wide range of payment methods, with bet365 being one of the first Apple Pay betting sites before it became widely accepted.

Bet365 also offers 24-hour customer support, with an informative live chat with fast response times. Deposit limits, loss limits, reality checks and self-exclusion are available with responsible gambling tools.

Betfred

Betfred is one of the biggest advocates of safe online gambling and is one of the best-known gambling sites in the UK.

As with most of the top secure betting sites, Betfred offers encryption and two-step verification, as well as several payment methods including debit cards, PayPal, Skrill and direct bank payments to various banks.

Through the secure gambling hub, users can access a wealth of resources for responsible gambling practices. Customers can also contact Betfred 24/7 via live chat, email and post if they have any concerns.

Betway

Betway offers reliability and reliable operation for all customers.

Betway has multiple licenses around the world (although in the UK it is regulated by the UKGC) and offers SSL encryption to protect all information. It also offers a variety of payment methods for deposits and withdrawals, including being one of the few Trustly gambling sites.

Betway is committed to responsible gambling, with links to a number of charities and supporting organizations at the bottom of each page. There are tools such as deposit limits, loss limits, timeouts and self-exclusion available for users who need further assistance.

Customers can contact Betway if they have any problems via the 24/7 live chat, email and social media.

Licensing and regulations

Are gambling sites safe? Simply put, yes – if they are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Our recommended sites are all licensed with the UKGC, so you can trust them to be safe for betting online.

Licensing ensures fair play and protection for the customer, upholding their rights and maintaining a safe gambling environment.

Trusted sites display licensing information at the bottom of each page on their site, along with the company’s account number in the Gambling Commission’s public register.

Data security: protecting your information

Gambling sites are required to keep personal, financial and other data relating to their customers secure.

Licensed bookmakers in Great Britain offer the latest forms of encryption and also require two-factor authentication from their users. These keep data safe by converting it into code, making it more difficult to obtain, leak or decrypt.

Two-factor authentication works via several methods. One method is to generate random single-use passwords after your own credentials have been verified, making it difficult for someone else to access your account. Others include facial and touch ID.

Secure payment methods

For obvious reasons, offering a range of trusted, secure payment methods is crucial for safe gambling sites. These are the best payment methods available on safe online sports betting sites:

Debit card – Both Visa and Mastercard debit transactions are safe through secure gambling sites. Deposits are usually instantaneous, while withdrawals can take up to 24 hours.

Bank transfer – This method is older, but still widely accepted. Wire transfers are secure, although processing times are longer.

PayPal – PayPal is perhaps the safest payment method online. Customers do not need to enter the financial details when using PayPal gambling sites. Please note that PayPal deposits do not always qualify for welcome bonuses.

Skrill/Neteller – These e-wallets offer the same level of security as PayPal, although they are not as widely accepted. These methods may not be eligible for deposits to unlock welcome bonuses.

Customer support

The best safe online sports betting sites enhance their safe betting environment by offering a wide range of customer support options.

Bet365, BetVictor and William Hill have excellent support services, such as 24/7 availability via their live chat and fast response times to emails.

Mobile app

Understandably, the security of mobile gambling apps linked to these sites is an important topic. However, customers don’t have to worry about anything: the best gambling apps also offer safe gambling platforms.

Betting apps offer the usual high level of encryption, touch/face ID, a range of payment methods and several more secure betting tools to ensure your mobile betting experience is as safe as possible.

Responsible gambling

Gambling is never a surefire way to make money, so take steps to stay in control of your budget and time.

The best safe gambling sites offer plenty of responsible gambling sites such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and timeouts. These can often be accessed through dedicated, more secure betting pages on each site.

If you would like to seek help with gambling-related problems, there are several charities and healthcare providers offering support and information:

We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This income helps fund The Independent’s journalism.

Frequently asked questions about safe gambling sites

What are safe gambling sites?

Safe gambling sites are operators that are licensed by the UKGC and have the latest security software such as SSL encryption, two-way authentication, secure payment methods and responsible gambling sites.

What are the best safe online gambling sites?

There are several safe betting sites that stand out online for their quality, but the best options on the market are: BetMGM, BetVictor and Bet365.

What payment methods are available on UK safe betting sites?

Customers can use debit cards, bank transfers, PayPal, Skrill and Neteller, among others, on secure gambling sites.