Best Wales Betting Sites

Population: 3.140.000
Active players: 798.000
Currency: Pound sterling (GBP)
Regulated gambling products: Sports betting, horse racing, casino games, lottery, bingo
Operator types: Licensed online bookies and betting shops, land-based & online casinos
Designated authority: United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC)
Status: Regulated

Wales is a country that has a vibrant history and is part of the United Kingdom. It is the homeland of football legends Ryan Giggs and Gareth Bale. In terms of gambling, the first legal casino in Great Britain was established in 1961 in Port Talbot. Since 1999 Wales has had its own devolved government. Nevertheless, all gambling activities in the country are regulated by the UKGC under the 2005 Gambling Act. Due to the liberal approach that the Gambling Act brought towards online betting in the local market, Welsh punters are free to bet on any bookie they prefer. Rugby, football and horse racing are the three most popular sports and players opt for legal betting sites in Wales, like Betfair and Bet365, in order to wager on their favorite competitions.

Betting in Wales - 5 things to know

• Sports betting became legal in Wales in the ‘60s
• The legal age of betting online is 18
• UKGC regulates Land-based & online bookies
• There are 300 betting shops and four casinos in the country
• Around 50% of the population are active gamblers

Best betting sites in Wales

The following shortlist consists of the best Welsh betting sites. We selected them due to their high odds, wide variety of betting markets and appealing promotions.

Online Wales betting: The gambling law framework

Gambling became legal in Wales in the 1960s. More specifically, the Betting and Gaming Act of 1960 legalized land-based bookmakers and casinos. One year later, the first legal casino in Britain, the Casino Club Port Talbot in Wales, opened its doors. In the following years, several betting shops and casinos were established and the market began to thrive.

Nowadays, all forms of online gambling are legal in Wales under the Gambling Act of 2005 and the market is overseen by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, which assumed power on September 1, 2007. That means that both land-based & online Welsh betting companies come under the jurisdiction of the UKGC. Currently, there are 300 betting shops and four land-based casinos. Furthermore, there is a plethora of online bookies that operate legally and all of them hold a license issued by the Gambling Commission. Bet365, William Hill and Ladbrokes Wales are among the top betting sites in the country.

Most popular sports on Welsh betting sites

Rugby is the most popular sport in Wales and is seen as a symbol of Welsh identity. So, it comes as no surprise that rugby union betting is by far the most widespread betting activity in the country. The top competition is the Six Nations Championship and punters love to back the national team on the bookies that offer the most competitive odds, namely William Hill. Football is considered the second most popular sport. The Cymru Premier, along with the EPL, are the leagues that players prefer to place their bets on. Betfair Wales is the top football bookmaker in terms of odds with a solid 99% payout. Horse racing is also very popular among Welsh bettors. The top domestic event is the Welsh Grand National and 888sport Wales is the best horse racing betting site when it comes to odds and promotions.

Wales bet: How to deposit at online bookies

The most common deposit methods among Welsh punters are debit cards, bank transfer, PayPal, Paysafecard and e-wallets, such as Skrill and Neteller. Players are free to choose the payment method that suits them the most with no restrictions whatsoever. Top bookies in Wales, like Betfred and Unibet, allow bettors to deposit funds to their accounts by using the payments mentioned above.

The future of sports betting in Wales

From the moment the 2005 Gambling Act came into effect, the Welsh sports betting market has been significantly liberalized. Bettors are free to place their bets on any bookmaker they prefer, provided that it holds a valid license issued by the UKGC. Consequently, since the top sportsbooks in Wales, like Betvictor, are fully regulated and completely reliable, there is no clear sign that things will take a turn for the worse in the future.

The complete list of betting companies in Wales