Best Independent Bookmakers UK 2025 | Find 30+ Standalone Sites

Independent bookmakers offer a variety of sports bonuses, a wide range of sports coverage, and detailed event markets. Read on to see our selection of the best privately owned bookmakers in the UK.

Top independent betting sites in November

Found: 4 Bookmakers

Rank	Bookmaker	Bonus	Claim
1	BOYLE Sports	Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Payment method restrictions. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply 18+ T&C apply, GambleAware.org	BET HERE Go to BOYLE Sports website
2	Betfred	Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets offer New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via 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 & payment exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply. 18+ T&C apply, GambleAware.org	Copied! BET HERE Go to Betfred website
3	bet365	Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets Registration required. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. 18+ T&C apply, GambleAware.org	BET HERE Go to bet365 website
4	NetBet	Bet £10 & Get a £10 Free Bet & 25 Free Spins 18+ T&C apply, GambleAware.org	BET HERE Go to NetBet website

Table of contents

Best independent bookmakers

We’ve ranked the best independent bookmakers in the UK, based on sports coverage, odds competitiveness, and bonus offers. Here’s a detailed breakdown of our recommended picks.

Betfred - best for betting odds

Betfred, a privately owned UK bookmaker, is renowned for its market-leading odds and fast, real-time updates that reflect ongoing match situations. Overall, the average margin is 6.5%, but for top English Premier League matches and UEFA Champions League games, the margin can range from 2% to 3%.
- Advantages
- Localised sports such as horse racing and greyhound racing
- Regularly updated promotions section
- Odds display customisation options
- Depth of match markets
- Limitations
- Lengthy registration and account verification process
- Cryptocurrencies are not available for betting or deposits
Betfred review Bet here
BOYLE Sports - best for betting markets

BOYLE Sports, an independent Irish bookmaker with a UK presence, excels in match market depth. It covers major English competitions with hundreds of betting options, from traditional Totals, Handicaps, and 1X2 markets to player-focused bets like goalscorers and booking markets. Popular competitions typically feature 150–200 markets per match, providing strong depth and variety, while secondary leagues offer a more compact but still solid lineup of around 50–100 markets.
- Advantages
- Convenient market filtering system
- Modern, uncluttered interface
- Twenty-five localised sports promotions
- Secure payment methods available, including Trustly and Visa/Mastercard
- Limitations
- Around 15% of live matches feature live streaming
- Virtual sports are not supported
BOYLE Sports review Bet here
Midnite - best for promotions

Midnite, a UK-focused independent bookmaker, is known for its generous and transparent promotions, suitable for all player experience levels. Its well-structured reward system particularly stands out, granting active users a weekly £20 free bet. New players can also claim a £30 free bet after registration and a qualifying wager, while separate £10 free bets are available on football and American football.
- Advantages
- Well-developed loyalty system
- Regular bonuses for niche sports
- Free bets awarded with no wagering requirements
- A dedicated section with boosted odds
- Limitations
- Daily accumulators cannot be customised
- Live chat requires scrolling to the bottom of the site to activate
Hollywoodbets - best for live betting

Hollywoodbets offers a comprehensive live betting experience through its dedicated in-play section. Users can follow ongoing events, access Event View for detailed real-time statistics, or check the full schedule of upcoming matches. In football markets, statistics cover cards, corners, fouls, possession, shots on goal, and minute-by-minute updates. This extensive and well-organised set of tools makes Hollywoodbets the best independent bookmaker for live betting enthusiasts.
- Advantages
- Ability to filter matches by country, sport, and tournament
- Add live matches to favourites for easy tracking
- Customisable push notifications for match updates
- Event calendar available for the upcoming week
- Limitations
- No live video, only graphical updates
- No head-to-head statistics available
Hollywoodbets review
CopyBet - best for bet builders

CopyBet offers a high-quality Bet Builder, enabling players to craft unique pre-match bets across multiple sports, including football, tennis, and basketball. Users can combine different market types, such as match results, totals, and player-specific outcomes, to create tailored strategies. To access the feature, go to the pre-match section and select the Bet Builder filter. There is no strict limit on the number of selections, but the system will not allow you to confirm illogical bets.
- Advantages
- Convenient filtering feature with Bet Builder support
- Special indicator showing Bet Builder availability
- Automatic display of odds and potential payout in the bet slip
- Quick Bet setup available for Bet Builder
- Limitations
- Not all sports support the Bet Builder feature
- Bet Builder is not available for live events

Top 5 independent horse racing betting sites

We’ve prepared a table of independent bookmakers that place a strong focus on horse racing and offer a full racing section with detailed coverage.

Ranking	Independent horse racing site	No. of racing markets	Average margin
1.	BOYLE Sports	51 racecourses	31.22%
2.	CopyBet	21 racecourse	12.21%
3.	Hollywoodbets	13 racecourses	24.40%
4.	BetVictor	27 racecourses	34.29%
5.	Betfred	22 racecourses	37.21%

What is an independent bookmaker?

Pic about What is an independent bookmaker?

An independent bookmaker is a betting operator that functions outside major corporate groups and manages its services autonomously. It sets its own odds, operates under individual licensing, and is fully responsible for regulatory compliance. Such bookmakers develop their own market offerings and customer policies, which may vary in scale, technical level, and availability across different regions.

Pros and cons of independent bookmakers

Despite their standalone, non-corporate structure, independent bookmakers come with a mix of subtle advantages and drawbacks, which we have summarised in the table below.

Advantages
Individual approach to customers
More flexible odds and proprietary pricing
Ability to make quick, local decisions
Often lower margins on niche events
Fast and personalised customer support

Limitations
Fewer financial resources to cover large payouts
More limited market selection compared to major brands
Rarely offer large promotions or bonuses

Independent bookmakers vs bookmaker groups

Depending on your betting style and preferred approach, different types of bookmakers may suit you better. Below is a clear comparison between independent UK bookmakers and larger bookmaker groups.

Advantages
Set their own odds for each event
May apply limits to large payouts
Often provide temporary or local promotions
Cover major national leagues, but may provide fewer minor competitions
More personalised customer support and quicker decision-making

Limitations
Use unified, standardised odds across all platforms
Capable of covering very large winnings; suitable for high-stakes bettors
Mostly offer a classic set of long-term promotions
Broad coverage of local and international markets
Structured support processes with slower response times

List of independent bookmakers

We collected information from publicly available sources and compiled a list of UK independent bookmakers. In this table, you can find details about their licensing, margin, and the number of sports they cover.

Independent bookmaker	UKGC license	Average margin	No. of sports	UK monthly visitors	Mobile app
Midnite	42647	5.6%	30	130,000	✅
CopyBet	53774	6.1%	22	120,000	✅
Hollywoodbets	53028	5.2%	33	140,000	✅
Matchbook	39504	6.6%	15	180,000	✅
BOYLE Sports	39469	5.2%	44	230,000	✅
Casumo	61549	7.2%	17	210,000	✅
BetCentral	31706	5.3%	11	290,000	✅
Fitzdares	400	5.6%	38	410,000	✅
BetTom	64959	6.2%	34	380,000	✅
BestOdds	68619	6.3%	23	210,000	✅
36vegas	66806	5.1%	28	320,000	✅
Fairplay	58718	5.9%	18	180,000	✅

New independent bookmakers UK

New independent bookies continue to enter the UK market. Below, we’ve gathered several notable standalone newcomers that were launched recently, and you may want to take a look at their welcome offers.

New independent bookmaker	Welcome bonus	Launched
BetGoodwin	Bet £10 and get £10 as a free acca	2025
BetTom	Up to £25 Free Bet	2025
AK Bets	Up to £100 Free Bet	2025
BresBet	Up to £25 Free Bet	2021
BetAnsells	Up to £50 Free Bet	2020

How to identify an independent bookmaker

To confirm whether a bookmaker operates independently, you can look for several key indicators:

Ownership: Check the operator’s name in the UK Companies House register to see if it is part of a larger gambling group.
Licence: Verify details on the UK Gambling Commission register; independent bookies typically hold a single licence under one entity.
Brand connections: See if the operator runs multiple sister sites; managing several brands may indicate group affiliation.
Trading history: Independent bookmakers usually have fewer trading names and a smaller corporate structure, visible in public filings.
Market footprint: A narrower selection of markets and bespoke odds often shows that the operator sets its own prices rather than following a larger group.

Bonuses at independent sports betting sites

Pic about Bonuses at independent sports betting sites

Independent online bookmakers offer a variety of localised bonuses, which may differ in structure from those of larger bookmaker groups. We have compiled and described the most popular ones.

Welcome bonus

A welcome bonus is offered once and only to new users. In the UK, in accordance with the gambling licence, players must place qualifying bets of at least £10 at odds of 1.5 (1/2). Once the qualifying bet is settled, a £10 free bet will be credited without any additional wagering requirements.

Free bets

A free bet allows players to place a wager without risking their own funds. Free bets can be awarded to both new and existing users. The bonus may be granted for various actions, such as making a deposit or simply placing a bet. The main feature of a free bet is that the stake itself is not returned to the player, while any winnings can be used immediately.

Bet Builder Boost

A Bet Builder Boost adds a fixed percentage to the final winnings. To participate, a player simply creates their own unique bet builder, and the bonus is automatically displayed in the bet slip. Typically, the boost is 25%. Winnings from the boosted bet are credited to the account as real money and are immediately available for use.

Acca Boost

An Acca Boost applies automatically to accumulator bets with 2 or more selections in the slip. The promotion activates when qualifying odds are met, usually 1.4 / 1.5. The more selections in the accumulator, the higher the multiplier, up to 100%. The bonus is credited only if all selections win and is immediately available.

Early payout

Early Payout allows players to control risk by receiving early settlement if their team reaches a set points limit. For example, 20 points in basketball or 2 goals in football. If the team reaches the limit, funds are automatically credited even if the team later loses.

Bet insurance

Bet Insurance protects the stake on a single bet or an accumulator. If a qualifying selection loses, the stake is refunded either as a free bet or credited balance, depending on the bookmaker’s terms. This allows players to place higher-risk bets with reduced potential losses.

Independent telephone bookmakers

Independent telephone bookmakers are still active in the UK, offering bets via phone and maintaining their own retail locations. Below, we've compiled a list of the most popular independent bookies in the UK.

Bookmaker	Phone number	Working hours	Minimum bet	Maximum bet
Joe Jennings	08085 521 421 / 01279 625 900	24/7	£10	N/A
WilsonBet	01932 888 822 / 0800 652 1555	09:00–21:30, 7 days a week	£10	N/A
Ken Howells	01269 597 844	Mon–Sat 08:00–20:00, Sun 09:00 - 17:00	£2	N/A
BetGoodwin	08000 421 321	08:00–22:00	£10	N/A
Star Sports	08000 521 321	Mon–Sat: 09:30–18:30	N/A	N/A
Tony Clayton	01603 801 050 / 01603 801 051	9:30–20:00	£10	N/A

Private bookmakers UK

Looking for a list of all the private bookmakers in the UK? We've got you covered. The following list shows all private bookies available to UK residents.

BetGoodwin
Star Sports
QuinnBet
DragonBet
Macbet
McCartanBet
Backhouse Bet
BetAnsells
BGbet
Chisholm Bookmakers
Fitzwilliam Sports
GreatBet
Jenningsbet
Joe Jennings
Ken Howells
Mark Jarvis
Megabet
Ostlers Racing
Scotbet
SkillBet
Toals
WilsonBet
BresBet

How we rate and review independent bookmakers in the UK

We rate and review independent bookmakers according to the following steps:

Step 1 – Licence and Regulation: We verify each bookmaker's license and regulatory compliance. Only operators holding a valid UK Gambling Commission license are included, ensuring legal operation and full protection of customer funds.

Step 2 – Sports coverage: We examine the range of sports available, from major leagues to niche events, and the depth of betting markets for each sport.

Step 3 – Odds and margins: We compare a bookmaker's odds with industry averages and calculate margins to assess competitiveness and value for punters.

Step 4 – Bonuses and promotions: We review all available welcome offers, ongoing promotions and loyalty schemes, taking into account qualifying bets, minimum odds, and wagering requirements.

Step 5 – Payment options: We analyse deposit and withdrawal methods, processing times and transaction limits to ensure secure and practical banking.

Step 6 – Customer support: We test support channels, including live chat, phone and email, and document response times and procedures.

Step 7 – Platform functionality: We evaluate website and mobile app usability, including navigation, speed, and stability, to ensure reliable access to betting markets and account features.