One of Britain's oldest bookmakers since 1886, now part of Entain plc, fined by the UKGC in 2019
Visit Ladbrokes →Ladbrokes welcome bonus in Belgium
Here is the current Ladbrokes welcome offer for players in Belgium, where Ladbrokes is licensed to operate. Bonus terms change and are set by Ladbrokes for each market — always confirm the live offer on its own site. See every licensed betting site in Belgium →
Pros
- Genuine UK Gambling Commission licence, over 130 years of operating history
- Part of Entain plc, one of the largest listed gambling groups globally
- Deep retail heritage: 2,690 UK betting shops
- Mature product across sportsbook, casino, poker and bingo
- Strong historical brand recognition
Cons
- Fined £5.9m by UKGC in 2019 for AML/social-responsibility failures
- Documented compliance issues from 2014-2017 worth weighing
- Bonus terms vary by market
- Primarily UK-focused
Our verdict
Ladbrokes is one of Britain's oldest and most recognisable bookmakers, with roots dating back to 1886 and the Ladbrokes name in use since 1902. Its 2016 merger with Coral and 2018 acquisition by Entain plc — one of the largest listed gambling groups globally — gives it significant corporate scale, with 2,690 UK betting shops backing the online product. It holds a genuine UK Gambling Commission licence (No. 54743). That said, Ladbrokes was fined £5.9 million by the UKGC in July 2019 for anti-money-laundering and social-responsibility failures during 2014-2017 — a real, documented compliance issue worth factoring in. Combined with its deep historical roots and mature sportsbook/casino product, Ladbrokes remains one of the more established, if imperfect, choices in the UK market.
How we rated it
Sportsbook & odds (25%)8.1
One of the most historically established sportsbooks in Britain, with a deep retail heritage (2,690 UK betting shops) reinforcing a mature online product.
Mobile & UX (10%)7.7
Mature product spanning sportsbook, casino (since 2000), poker and bingo, backed by 2,690 UK retail shops.
Customer support (10%)7.7
Nearly a century and a half of operating history, backed by Entain plc's large-scale corporate infrastructure.
Payments & payouts (20%)7.6
Reliable regulated-market payment processing, backed by Entain plc's substantial corporate infrastructure.
Bonuses & value (15%)7.3
Regulated-market welcome offers under UKGC compliance requirements.
Trust & licensing (20%)6.8
Genuine UK Gambling Commission licence (No. 54743) and part of Entain plc, one of the largest listed gambling groups — but fined £5.9m by the UKGC in July 2019 for anti-money-laundering and social-responsibility failures during 2014-2017, a real documented compliance issue.
Quick facts
| Founded | 1886 (as Schwind & Pennington), Ladbrokes since 1902 |
| Owner | Entain plc (since March 2018) |
| Licensing | UK Gambling Commission (No. 54743, via LC International Limited); separate UK retail licence (account 1611) |
| Regulatory history | Fined £5.9m by UKGC in July 2019 for AML/social-responsibility failures (2014-2017) |
| Sports | Deep historical sportsbook, reinforced by extensive retail heritage |
| Casino | Online casino since 2000, plus poker and bingo |
| Retail | 2,690 UK betting shops |
| Group | Part of Entain plc, one of the largest listed gambling groups |
Where Ladbrokes is licensed
Ladbrokes appears on the official register in 6 countries. Highlighted countries have a full local review — pick yours for its welcome bonus and licence details.
Europe (5)
Oceania (1)
About Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes is one of the UK's oldest bookmakers, tracing its roots to 1886 (as Schwind & Pennington) and adopting the Ladbrokes name in 1902. It merged with Coral in 2016 to form Ladbrokes Coral Group, which was acquired by Entain plc (formerly GVC Holdings) in March 2018. Ladbrokes holds a genuine UK Gambling Commission licence (No. 54743) for its online operations, backed by a substantial retail network of 2,690 UK betting shops. In July 2019, Ladbrokes was fined £5.9 million by the UKGC for anti-money-laundering and social-responsibility failures during 2014-2017. Its product spans sportsbook, online casino (since 2000), poker and bingo.
Ladbrokes FAQ
Is Ladbrokes safe and legit?
Ladbrokes holds a genuine UK Gambling Commission licence and is part of Entain plc, one of the largest listed gambling groups. It was fined £5.9 million by the UKGC in July 2019 for anti-money-laundering and social-responsibility failures during 2014-2017 — a documented issue worth weighing.
Who owns Ladbrokes?
Ladbrokes has been owned by Entain plc since March 2018, following a 2016 merger with Coral that formed Ladbrokes Coral Group.
How old is Ladbrokes?
Ladbrokes traces its roots to 1886 (as Schwind & Pennington), taking the Ladbrokes name in 1902 — making it one of the oldest bookmakers still operating.
Does Ladbrokes have physical betting shops?
Yes, Ladbrokes operates 2,690 betting shops across the UK, alongside its online sportsbook and casino.
What is the Ladbrokes welcome bonus?
Ladbrokes offers a new-customer welcome bonus that varies by market. Always check the current offer on Ladbrokes' own local site.