Best PayPal betting sites in the UK: Top 10 sites for March 2023

IF you’re a punter looking for the best online betting experience, there are two things you should do. First, seek out the betting site with the best reputation. Ideally, it offers slots, jackpots, bingo, lottery, lotto, blackjack, roulette, and competitive sports odds in one place.

The second thing is to make sure your preferred site offers secure and convenient payment options – like PayPal. If you’re on the hunt for the best PayPal betting sites, then this review will get you where you need to go. We’ll also cover all the major questions bettors have when getting started with deposit methods for the first time.

Betting sites that accept PayPal: top 3 shortlist

bet365
BetUK
Spreadex

How we rated the PayPal sportsbooks: our standards

What makes a great PayPal betting site or sportsbook? Our team analyses a number of factors, but they all form part of three broad categories. Here’s how we break it down:

Providers – Content matters when choosing between gambling sites. You need instant access to the best games and the best odds, and you definitely don’t want to run out of options. PayPal is available at a number of betting sites, but not all of these are created equal.
Promotions – One of PayPal’s main benefits is how easy it is to make withdrawals. But to experience this feature you’ll need to land a few wins. A bonus or promotion will help you to get the most out of every deposit, and increase your chances of walking away with a win.
Payment processing speed – Efficient online transitions are a two-way street. Your payment method can only do so much, the betting site must also pull its weight. Less reputable sites will hang on to your payout as long as possible, often employing frustrating delay tactics. We filter these betting sites out to make sure you get your hands on your cash as quickly as possible.

Top 10 PayPal betting sites for UK players in 2023

1. bet365

bet365 has been an online bookmaker since 2001, and it's been integrated with PayPal for nearly as long. The bookie allows you to deposit and withdraw to bet on sports, slots, poker, blackjack, and more. Once you verify your bet365 accounts with PayPal, your Wallet will be up and running, and depositing is instant.

Pros

Low minimum deposits and bets
Very competitive bookmaker margins
Top-notch customer support

Cons

Promotions decrease after the welcome offer
The site can be a little cluttered at times

2. BetUK

This online sportsbook has been operating since 2018 with great success. Some punters might prefer working with a long-established brand, but BetUK has proved itself to be small and powerful. Payment methods are limited, but PayPal is included as the main eWallet option. You’ll also be able to choose from several promotions with every deposit.

Pros

Great iOS and android app
Great range of sports with a focus on football
No promo code necessary

Cons

Newer bookie with a shorter track record
Live streaming isn’t always available

3. Spreadex

When Spreadex launched in 1999, its goal was to disrupt the sports betting market by offering punters a fresh way to stake their bets. It doesn’t offer lottery games or other casino games but focuses purely on sports. With features like boosted odds, insurance on bets, and even free bets, there’s a lot to love. It’s also fully integrated with PayPal, meaning you can get started almost instantly once you register your account.

Pros

Tons of original features and promotions
Strong focus on spread betting and in-play betting
Optimized android and iOS app

Cons

More confusing than traditional bookies
Sports betting only

4. Betway

Betway has been signing up players since 2006, offering a fantastic sports and casino combo. They’re big on eWallets as payment methods, offering the option of not just PayPal but also InstaDebit,iDebit, and more. It’s a well-established and well-rounded site that allows players to fill their time with all types of gambling entertainment.

Pros

Great for live streaming

Full range of sportsbook markets
eSports, Poker, Slots, Blackjack, and Roulette are available

Cons

The app doesn’t offer the full range of features
Not the most attractive website

5. 888sport

888sport is one of the world's gambling market leaders. Established way back in 1997, it's a staple of the sports betting industry. While 888 offers everything under the sun, including casino, poker, lottery, jackpot games, and more, 888sport is purely focused on sporting markets. The site is fully integrated with PayPal, making it easy to sign up and play.

Pros

Very generous welcome offer
Attractive and high-functioning site and app
Great range of sports markets

Cons

Limited offers for loyal customers
App updates can slow things down

6. Parimatch

Despite being up and running since 1997, many people still haven’t heard of Parimatch. They tend to fly under the radar, focusing on offering a quality experience rather than flashy ad campaigns and sporting events. Parimatch has definitely reached maturity now, able to compete with the big fish by way of generous promos and attractive odds.

Pros

Some exciting and original features
Premium casino selection alongside sports
Live betting and live streaming available

Cons

Lack of support via social channels like Telegram
The registration process is a little longer than average

7. Unibet

Unibet is one of the top bookmakers, being a top brand that goes hard on advertising and sports sponsorship deals. It’s been integrated with eWallets, including PayPal, ever since these methods opened up to betting sites. Many view Unibet as a great entry-level site, with a simple betting interface and generous casino bonus amounts for sports, slots, jackpots, blackjack, and roulette, to keep small budgets moving.

Pros

Easy to navigate site and app
Consistent stream of bonuses and promos
Super quick withdrawals via eWallets

Cons

No phone number for customer support
Mobile casino has limited game options

8. Tote

Tote is a homegrown British wagering company that’s named after the tote-style of betting. Tote allows punters to place pool wagers, where the winnings are shared proportionately. Tote specialises in horse racing and football betting, also offering fantasy sports, virtual games, and a casino section. What’s more, PayPal is a top payment method here too.

Pros

You can join a syndicate for more social betting
Great combination of games if you want to step outside sports
Site is clean and easy to navigate

Cons

Fewer betting markets
Smaller welcome offer than competitors

9. Ladbrokes

Ladbrokes has a very long history, established in 1886. It was a common site on the country highstreet. Today, Ladbrokes has taken its operations online, offering players the full digital experience from registration to payout. PayPal is fully integrated, allowing anonymous credit or debit card use and quick withdrawals.

Pros

Fair wagering requirements on bonuses and promos
Reputable and trustworthy brand
Frequent exciting offers like Free Bets and Free Spins

Cons

Account verification can take a while
Welcome bonus amount not the most generous

10. kwiff

As a betting site with an odd name and a smaller profile, kwiff isn’t on many top ten lists. We think it should be because, despite only being launched in 2015, it works hard to keep up with the big fish. Instead of going after high visibility, kwiff decided to target high functionality. Download the betting app and link your PayPal account for a streamlined experience.

Pros

Designed as a highly functional betting app
Odds are frequently ‘supercharged’ for bigger wins
Cashback and bet credits are on offer

Cons

Not a great option for those who prefer desktop sites
Doesn’t offer live streaming

These made our top ten, but there are several other great sites and apps, like BetVictor, Betfair, Betfred, Coral, and William Hill.

What is PayPal and how does it work?

PayPal, originally created by the notorious Elon Musk, is a very well-established eWallet. If you’re not sure what that means, all you have to do is picture an actual wallet that exists only in digital format. Instead of a betting site dipping directly into your bank balance, they can only go as far as your wallet. Of course, this virtual wallet needs to be funded, and you do this with your regular credit or debit cards. That way, your gambling account can only ever access however much you placed into your eWallet, and not the full extent of your bank balance.

Getting set up on PayPal is easy. Just register an account, but be sure to choose the PayPal site that’s designed for the UK. Once you input your personal details, you can plug in your bank card and choose how much money you want to transfer. Once this goes through, and it’s usually instant, simply visit your betting site cashier. There you can click ‘deposit’ and choose ‘PayPal’ from the list. Once you confirm your deposit amount, you’ll be redirected to a PayPal login page to confirm your deposit. For payouts, the process is very similar.

What are the benefits of using PayPal?

Deciding to use PayPal will come down to whether or not its services are useful to you. Safety and convenience are usually at the top of the benefits list. Here are the best things about the PayPal eWallet:

You never have to reveal your full financial information like your credit card or debit card details to the betting site. You use a password to log in.
PayPal utilises top of the range encryption security on every single transaction, so the chances of funds getting hacked are very slim indeed.
PayPal’s Purchase Protection means you always have someone on your team in case of a fraudulent transaction.
Paypal transactions are super quick and very transparent, allowing you to keep track of your deposits and withdrawals.

What are the disadvantages of using PayPal?

Nothing is perfect, and few things are worse than a 100% positive review. The truth is that while PayPal is a fantastic option, there are some things you should keep in mind before creating your account.

Once you hit a certain number of transactions, PayPal is likely to freeze your account until proof of ID and KYC is completed.
Conversion fees across countries cost money, so do try to avoid them if possible. Always deposit and withdraw in the native currencies of your PayPal account.
You need to have a valid credit or debit card in your name to open and fund your PayPal account.

Are there any fees for using PayPal?

PayPal is completely free for deposits and withdrawals. Of course, this isn’t to say that they’re a charitable business. PayPal has shareholders who need to get paid. They collect profits from the vendor side, in this case, the online sportsbooks and online casinos. Each time the punter selects PayPal for a deposit or withdrawal, the betting site is charged a fee. This fee is usually a percentage of the value of the transaction and can be anything ranging from 1.90% to 3.49%. It’s hard to nail down the exact amount as the commission is agreed on a case by case basis between PayPal and the vendor.

What is the minimum you have to deposit when using PayPal?

While PayPal itself doesn’t apply any minimum deposit requirement for topping up your account, casinos and sportsbooks do. Thanks to increasing competition in the betting space, minimum requirements have become very reasonable. Most sites will require a min deposit of £10. Of course, this is entirely discretionary and there are many betting sites that set different deposit limits depending on the payment method. For example, if a site got a pretty raw commission deal from PayPal, they might be inclined to increase the qualifying deposit to £20 or even £25 as a way of recouping losses. Be sure to check this out before going ahead.

What is the minimum withdrawal with PayPal?

There aren't many withdrawal restrictions in place when it comes to your PayPal money balance. You can almost clean out your PayPal account down to the last penny, with a min withdrawal of £1. Keep in mind that we’re drawing a distinction here between withdrawing from PayPal and withdrawing from your betting account. Most betting sites set minimum withdrawals at about £10. That means if your betting account balance sits at £5 you’ll probably need to let it sit there. On the other hand, if your PayPal balance is at £5, you’ll be able to withdraw 100% of it.

Is it safe to bet online with PayPal?

PayPal is an extremely safe e-Wallet, backed by sophisticated software and encryption. It’s also been around for a very long time, meaning the company is wise to hackers. But the truth is that nothing is ever completely secure, and there are always new scammers out there looking to make a quick buck. The lure of millions of e-wallets filled with digital cash and the occasional bet settlement is difficult to resist. But don’t let this put you off. All you need to do is stay alert and vigilant when it comes to scams, particularly phishing emails. PayPal customer service will never ask you to divulge your financial information via email or phone, so hit delete quickly whenever someone asks – no matter how convincing they may seem!

What are the alternatives to PayPal?

If you’re not sold on PayPal, that’s absolutely fine. Most online casinos and online sportsbooks give players the ability to choose from three or more different payment options. If you’d rather stick with eWallets, then Skrill, Neteller, InstaDebit, and iDebit are all great options. Recently, Apple Pay and Google Pay have been increasing in popularity, with more and more betting sites onboarding them as payment methods. If you’re not convinced that digital wallets are for you, then you can always stick to card payments and bank account transfers. Visa and MasterCard credit cards are usually top of the list at any site, though sometimes Maestro and American Express make the cut too.

Responsible gambling

A responsible gambler is someone who:

Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chase their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org

Help with gambling addiction

If you have a problem with gambling, or you know someone who does, help is out there.

GamCare is the leading provider of information, treatment, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling harms across Great Britain.

Anyone who is struggling with gambling can contact them HERE, whether it’s their own or someone else’s gambling.

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Read here how The Sun's reporter Jack Keane received help with his struggles with gambling addiction.

Best PayPal betting sites in the UK: Top 10 sites for March 2023 | The Sun

Betting sites that accept PayPal: top 3 shortlist

How we rated the PayPal sportsbooks: our standards