We currently cover five UK Gambling Commission-licensed sportsbooks in verified depth — bet365, Paddy Power, William Hill, Sky Bet and Ladbrokes. Sky Bet's licence account covers betting only (its separate casino/bingo licence was not checked this session); the other four also hold casino licences. We're researching further brands before adding them here.
Data checked: 2026-09-05Page reviewed: 2026-09-05
Quick comparison
Quick comparison
Operator
Best for
Licence
Watch out
Last checked
Actions
bet365
All-round sportsbook and casino coverage under one account
Active
We could not independently verify current deposit, withdrawal or identity-verification terms from bet365's own help centre during this build (it blocks automated access) — check current terms on bet365.com directly before relying on them
We could not independently verify current deposit, withdrawal or identity-verification terms from paddypower.com during this build - check current terms directly before relying on them
On 28 Mar 2023, this operator's licensee (WHG (International) Limited) was part of a record £19.2m Gambling Commission settlement for anti-money-laundering and social-responsibility failures — identified under the group's pre-2022 ownership, but worth knowing about
We verified only the main sportsbook licence account for this review - Sky Betting & Gaming's separate casino/bingo/poker/Vegas licence (Bonne Terre Limited, account 38718) was not independently checked, so we treat casino availability as UNKNOWN rather than assuming it based on the brand's wider reputation
Combined betting and casino licensing under one account
Active
We could not independently verify current deposit, withdrawal or identity-verification terms from ladbrokes.com during this build - check current terms directly before relying on them
Best for: All-round sportsbook and casino coverage under one account
Why we picked it
bet365 holds an active UKGC sportsbook licence (Hillside (UK Sports) ENC, account 55148), confirmed directly on the Gambling Commission's public register, alongside its casino licence.
Sportsbook licence account
55148
Licence
Active
Strong point Holds two separate active UK Gambling Commission licences — one for casino, one for sportsbook — confirmed directly on the Gambling Commission's public register
Watch out We could not independently verify current deposit, withdrawal or identity-verification terms from bet365's own help centre during this build (it blocks automated access) — check current terms on bet365.com directly before relying on them
Best for: Sportsbook coverage with a clean current record
Why we picked it
Paddy Power's sportsbook licensee, Power Leisure Bookmakers Limited, holds an active UKGC betting licence with 0 regulatory actions listed on the Gambling Commission's public register.
Sportsbook licence account
1034
Licence
Active
Strong point Holds two separate active UKGC licences (sportsbook and casino) with 0 regulatory actions listed against either account, confirmed directly on the Gambling Commission's public register
Watch out We could not independently verify current deposit, withdrawal or identity-verification terms from paddypower.com during this build - check current terms directly before relying on them
William Hill's online licensee, WHG (International) Limited, holds active UKGC remote betting licences, confirmed on the Gambling Commission's public register. Its public register entry also lists a March 2023 regulatory settlement, detailed in the full review.
Licence account
39225
Licence
Active
Strong point One of the UK's longest-running betting brands
Watch out On 28 Mar 2023, this operator's licensee (WHG (International) Limited) was part of a record £19.2m Gambling Commission settlement for anti-money-laundering and social-responsibility failures — identified under the group's pre-2022 ownership, but worth knowing about
Best for: A sportsbook-focused brand from a major group
Why we picked it
Sky Bet's sportsbook licensee, SBG Sports Limited, holds an active UKGC betting licence with 0 regulatory actions listed on the Gambling Commission's public register.
Sportsbook licence account
67370
Licence
Active
Strong point Holds an active UKGC remote betting licence (SBG Sports Limited, account 67370) with 0 regulatory actions listed, confirmed directly on the Gambling Commission's public register
Watch out We verified only the main sportsbook licence account for this review - Sky Betting & Gaming's separate casino/bingo/poker/Vegas licence (Bonne Terre Limited, account 38718) was not independently checked, so we treat casino availability as UNKNOWN rather than assuming it based on the brand's wider reputation
Best for: Combined betting and casino licensing under one account
Why we picked it
Ladbrokes Betting & Gaming Limited holds an active UKGC licence covering both betting and casino activity, with 0 regulatory actions listed on the Gambling Commission's public register.
Licence account
1611
Licence
Active
Strong point Holds a single active UKGC licence account (1611) covering both betting and casino/bingo/gaming-machine-software activities, with 0 regulatory actions listed, confirmed directly on the Gambling Commission's public register
Watch out We could not independently verify current deposit, withdrawal or identity-verification terms from ladbrokes.com during this build - check current terms directly before relying on them
We start from the Gambling Commission's public register for sportsbook licence status, then add what each operator's own site publishes about its betting product. We do not use a numeric rating system, and we don't list feature claims (live betting, cash out, bet builder) we haven't independently verified — see each operator's Watch Out below for exactly what remains unconfirmed.
Frequently asked questions
Are these betting sites licensed in the UK?
Yes — we confirmed bet365, Paddy Power, William Hill, Sky Bet and Ladbrokes's online licensees all hold active sportsbook-covering licences on the UK Gambling Commission's public register as of 5 September 2026. Always re-check the register yourself, since licence status can change.
Why does this page list some operators not on the casino comparison?
bet365, Paddy Power, William Hill and Ladbrokes all operate as combined casino-and-sportsbook brands and appear on both pages. Sky Bet appears here only, because the licence account we verified for it (SBG Sports Limited) covers betting only - its separate casino/bingo licence entity was not checked this session, so we don't list it as a casino option until we've verified that account directly.
Can I compare specific betting features like cash out or bet builder here?
Not yet with confidence — we haven't independently verified feature-level details like live betting, cash out or bet builder availability for any of these operators, so we've left them out rather than guess. Check the operator's own site for current feature availability.