Many UK poker sites do not focus solely on poker – they are also sportsbook sites, providing their players with the added option of placing a bet on any sports games or matches of their choice. They cover a wide range of different sports and offer competitive first bet bonus promotions.

PokerStars, the world’s largest online poker site has launched their new sports betting operation in the UK, with players now able to place bets on a variety of markets via the PokerStars 7 software. The site is accepting bets on football, tennis, basketball, ice hockey, rugby union, handball and volleyball – and this list is set to get even longer with more sports set to be added. The online poker site has streamlined its new sportsbook option to co-exisit with its other services; PokerStars customers can simply use their existing PokerStars balance to place bets, with no need to create a new or separate account. Along with the popular casino and poker options, players can add sport betting to their repertoire.

William Hill, the long-standing and ever-popular high street bookmaker, has always provided a multitude of betting options for customers. Their poker site stands alongside their sportsbook, as they claim to be the “home of sports betting”. They cater for fans of the UK’s most prevalent sports (football, rugby, tennis, golf, horse/greyhound racing, snooker) as well as more specific sports, like motor racing, darts, bowls and ice-hockey. Irish customers are also covered with the inclusion of GAA in the site’s sportsbook.

Ladbrokes is one of the UK’s most recognisable bookmakers and its sportsbook is assuredly comprehensive, covering a variety of sports from American football to volleyball, and everything in between. The offer a tempting £50 free bet for new customers and

Bet365 has over 18 million customers in two hundred countries, and claims to be “the world’s favourite betting site”. As well as its popular poker site, it also has an excellent sportsbook option for bettors with a huge variety of different sports to choose from. New players are able to deposit £10 to qualify for a 100% matched amount as a bonus to bet with, up to a maximum of £200.

Unibet also offers a sportsbook option for players in addition to their existing poker and casino sites. The site primarily focuses on football (they claim to be the best place to bet on the Premier League), but provides betting opportunities for a host of other sports from chess and cycling to surfing and snooker. The site offers new customers a £20 refund as bonus money if their first bet loses.

Betfair, with 1.7 million active customers, is a consistently popular option for bettors in the UK. Along with its poker and casino sites, its also runs a sportsbook. With a wide range of sports to choose from, Betfair successfully caters to a variety of sports bettors.  With a free £20 bet when new customers sign up, and an offer of three free £10 sportsbook bets, Betfair knows how to attract sport fans to their site.

Also take a look at these casino promotions for UK players