European Bookmakers for UK Players

Ever since the Gambling Commission introduced stricter rules, bettors have been wondering how to punt with more freedom. While there are excellent bookies from around the globe, European betting sites are the best of both worlds. Since they aren’t licensed by the UKGC, they offer several perks such as higher limits, fast withdrawals and higher bonuses.

But most importantly, European bookmakers for UK players are the closest thing to domestic sites you’ll manage to find. They embody the same sports culture as British operators, so there’s no culture shock or a need for an adjustment period. This is a big advantage, especially if you’re a beginner. And if that’s the case, keep on reading.

Our team has prepared a guide to the top European-based betting sites British players opt for. In addition to top rankings, we’ll cover the pros & cons of these sites and add a couple of tips for good measure.

European Bookmakers Top Picks for 2024:

Best European Betting Sites for UK Players

How Do We Rank the Best European Bookmakers?

Since our goal is to give you the best non Gamstop bookmakers around Europe, we’ve developed a reviewing methodology. It involves a lot of service testing and background checking, but we pay the most attention to four key features:

➤ Reputation & Licensing

The easiest way to see if new European sportsbooks are legitimate or not, is to look at their licenses. Many EU nations have strict regulators, so a proper license is a good sign of legitimacy. Our reviews and players’ comments that can be found online will tell you how it feels to navigate on each site.

➤ Sports & Leagues

While almost all EU bookies cover the Premier League and the Championship, the level and depth of coverage vary. You might also want to think about which sports and leagues you want to bet on. For instance, if you’re a big horse racing fan, you should aim for specialised horse racing betting sites not on Gamstop. The variety is there.

➤ Odds & Betting Markets

Even if the sports & league coverage is up to your standards, you might not be getting the best deal. Some bookmakers have a tendency to skim a bit from the top. That’s why we always compare odds across different sites. In addition, our team analyses the offered markets’ depth and whether the bookie offers props and specials regularly. Unique features like bet builder and live streaming are also important criteria.

➤ Payment Methods

European betting companies are generally known for offering a wide variety of payment methods. Whether it’s e-wallets, cards or cryptos, we analyse the entire banking section, with a special focus on withdrawal times. Fees and KYC procedures are also subjects of our reviews, as they play a significant role, too.

What are the Most Trusted European Betting Sites without Gamstop?

To enter the world of European betting sites properly, it’s essential that you aim for the best. Take a look at our top picks and choose your next online bookmaker.

Black Magic Bookmaker

It was close, but Black Magic ended up as our top pick. Launched in 2021, this site takes a versatile approach to sports betting. There are more than 25 available sports, with a focus on football, tennis and basketball. Horse racing, rugby, and eSports are heavily featured. As one of the top credit card gambling sites, Black Magic accepts Amex, Visa and Mastercard, but also cryptos. Withdrawals are processed quickly within 1-3 days. However, our favourite thing about this bookie is its high payout, which can reach up to 93%. Player reviews are overwhelmingly positive, leading us to the conclusion that Black Magic is totally legit.

Anonymbet Bookmaker

On-the-dot, Anonym Bet makes a great first impression by offering a £100 free bet. After spending the welcome bonus, you can enjoy a 500% match on crypto deposits per day. Nevertheless, our favourite promo has to be the 30% daily cashback. In terms of banking, you can deposit and withdraw using various cryptos and stablecoins, like USDT and XRP, as well as the most popular e-wallets, such as Neteller. But when it comes to sports, Anonym Bet turns it up a notch and provides over 1,200 football markets per day, with other sports such as horse racing, tennis and cricket also being highly represented.

Mystake Bookmaker

Licensed in Anjouan, Mystake Sportsbook is a favourite amongst betting sites accepting credit card deposits. One of the main reasons for this is that they post odds earlier than most bookies do. For instance, they’ve posted odds for the 2022 Qatar World Cup group stages a whopping three months before they kick off. For high rollers, this is one of the best non GamCare betting sites due to its high limits on deposits and withdrawals. Mystake is also the leader in terms of payment methods (on this list), with more than a dozen different wallets (Skrill), cryptos (Bitcoin) and credit cards (Visa & Mastercard). Support responds quickly, and overall, the experience is pleasant.

Rolletto Bookmaker

Rolletto sportsbook is a breath of fresh air. They’ve taken a unique approach by focusing on the Big 5 European football leagues. Not only do fixtures from these competitions have dozens of available markets, but there are also bonus boosts for them. Winning a 3-legged Acca yields 5% more winnings, while a 12-legger nets you 100% more. Deposits are easy to complete, with Rolletto offering by far the most crypto options on this list. Withdrawals get resolved quickly, and support is quite pleasant to chat with. But betting tools are what this site is known for. Punters can save fixtures, delete them after posting a slip and even Cash Out.

Slots Shine Bookmaker

One of the best things about Slots Shine Bookmaker is its live-streaming options. You can choose between 50+ events, including Champions League Semis or EPL Boxing Day, at any moment. And if you’re not in the mood to watch a stream while scrolling through 4,000 markets, you can visit the Live Info section and track the action. If you’re into unique bonuses, there are plenty available every day. For instance, the multi-bet promo lets you get 55% cashback on all multis with 20+ legs. While many bookies offer insurance, this is a unique example. When it comes to payments, on Slots Shine, you can fill up your balance using various deposit methods. Withdrawals are swift, too.

What Are the European Bookmakers Advantages?

Why should you register at European betting sites? That’s a good question and one we intend to answer in detail. Aside from the usual features, EU bookies offer the following advantages.

⚡ Best Alternatives to Gamstop sites

Compared to unlicensed bookies or ones registered in tax havens, EU bookies are by far the best and safest option for those wondering how to cancel Gamstop. This is mostly because EU countries have strict -yet reasonable- regulators. Malta, Italy, and Sweden are known as the best, but other licensors are also reliable and trustworthy.

⚡ More European sports & betting options

Culturally, European bookies are almost the same as UKGC-licensed sites. They cover the Premier League and all the major European football leagues extensively, just like their UK counterparts. Besides, football betting not on Gamstop is players’ favourite pastime. In addition, you’ll find lots of exotics and props on sports like basketball, ice hockey and tennis.

⚡ Better bonuses and promotions

Bonuses and promos at UKGC sites are often significantly low, mainly because the Gambling Commission forbids excessive amounts. On the other hand, EU bookmakers aren’t forced to offer small bonuses. That’s why you’ll often find amounts exceeding £100.

⚡ Easy KYC

Unfortunately, even European bookies have KYC procedures. However, they’re much faster and less invasive than those we’re used to seeing at UK sites. You only have to send one or two documents, whereas waiting times are nonexistent. Thus, bettors can retain their privacy and start taking punts right away at no verification betting sites.

⚡ Credit Card deposits available

Ever since the UKGC banned the use of credit cards for gambling, top European sportsbooks have been getting a lot of British traffic. So far, no major EU regulators have banned credit cards, making European betting sites that accept credit cards the best destination for UK punters.

What Are the Reasons to Stay Away From European Betting Companies?

EU bookies, as great as they are, also have their fair share of downsides. Be aware of them before you register, or you might end up having an uncomfortable experience. Here are the biggest stumbling stones.

❌ Not Registered With Gamstop

Make no mistake – despite its restrictiveness, the Gamstop program can offer a great deal of assistance to anyone struggling with gambling addiction. European bookmakers don’t offer anywhere near the level of protection Gamstop sites do. By taking this plunge, many punters leave themselves vulnerable or risk exacerbating their existing problems.

❌ Lack of GBP currency

Of the 27 EU member states, 19 use the Euro as their official currency. By accepting EUR deposits, bookies effectively cover most of their target countries. Because of this, you’ll find European betting sites that don’t accept GBP. If you have to convert money, make sure you find the best rate.

❌ Less British Sports

Even though EU bookies are known to be versatile, traditional British sports such as cricket, horse racing and rugby are their glaring weaknesses. Only big events are covered, and often without exotics. Most of these sites’ target audiences don’t follow or take punts on British sports, so they prioritise basketball instead.

❌ No PayPal & PayByPhone

PayPal is notorious for being picky about who they work with. They also don’t want to risk operating in legally grey areas, so you won’t be able to deposit this way at non Gamstop sites. PayByPhone is also unavailable, which can be a problem if you don’t want to use a card or another e-wallet.

What Are the Latest European Bookmakers for UK Players?

Our list of EU betting sites is constantly changing. At the moment, we recommend you give a try at our new entries, Donbet, Velobet and Jokabet. It is crucial to let you know when adding and reviewing new European bookies, we follow a solid process that covers every aspect of their services:

1. Constant monitoring: Bookies often use big tournaments as a means to attract new punters. We follow them closely for a number of weeks to see if their odds and offers are consistent.
2. Testing: Our team takes punts on various sports and markets, allowing them to get an objective view of what’s going on.
3. Comparison: No bookie exists in a vacuum, so we compare their performance and features to other sites we’ve reviewed in the past.
4. Final rankings: Once we grade bookies and ensure they’re valid, we rank them accordingly.