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14-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Best football betting sites ranked
The best football betting sites for July 2025 are listed below – find out our reasoning by reading our in-depth article. ✓ All offers sourced by Telegraph Media Group Those looking to place wagers on the beautiful game have an expanding selection of football betting sites to choose from, but not all were created equal. While some betting sites are renowned for their horse racing offering or golf markets, there are plenty with football at their core. Looking to expand your portfolio of online bookmakers? Check out the UK's best free bets and betting sites The range of markets and features offered is more substantial than ever before and football punters can delve into more obscure markets, such as player fouls or goalkeeper saves, while promotions like Super Sub or Acca Insure can keep wagers alive for longer. It can be hard to know where you should go to place your bets, though, so we have used our betting expertise to rank and rate the best football betting sites in the UK. What you can bet on this month on football betting sites While Premier League football does not kick off again until mid-August, there is a handful of tournaments and competitions over the summer months, so here is a look at what you can bet on this month at our recommended football betting sites. Club World Cup This concludes on Sunday July 13 with the final between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Women's Euro 2025 Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses are defending their Women's Euro title in Switzerland, with the tournament running until July 27. Montserrat Tome's Spain are favourites to lift the trophy after beating England in the final of the 2023 Women's World Cup. Champions League qualifiers The long road to the Champions League final in Budapest next May begins with tournament qualifying this month. Among the clubs involved are Rangers, who will take on Greek side Panathinaikos in the second qualifying round on July 22.. Major League Soccer Punters got a glimpse of MLS at the Club World Cup with Seattle Sounders, LAFC and Inter Miami all involved. Punters looking for some American domestic action can check out the top football league in the United States each weekend throughout July. League of Ireland There is still a long way to go in the 2025 season, which concludes in November, but there are plenty of matches for bettors to enjoy in the coming weeks. Top 10 best football betting sites ranked There are pros and cons to every bookmaker and the same is true when you are trying to find the best football betting site. Using our expertise, we have assembled our definitive list of the top 10 football betting sites in order, outlining the advantages and disadvantages of each when it comes to betting on the beautiful game. 1. bet365 All things considered, there is no better football betting site than bet365, which allows you to bet on a range of markets and is home to some of the most competitive promotions and football price boosts. Football betting site Trustpilot rating: 1.3 Our rating: 5/5 Author's view 'Bet365 should be the No 1 choice for football bettors. 'It makes betting on the big matches simple with its straightforward bet builder tool and there are so many markets to choose from, giving punters multiple ways to approach their football betting. 'And bet365 also helps you get more bang for your buck thanks to its frequent promotions, such as money back on bet builder wagers or competitive super boosts.' 2. Sky Bet Sky Bet is also one of the best football betting sites with extensive markets, a unique accumulator feature and the iconic free-to-play Super Six game. Football betting site Trustpilot rating: 3.5 Our rating: 4/5 Author's view 'Sky Bet is a popular pick for football punters thanks to its easy-to-use app and extensive markets offered. 'The Acca Freeze feature adds another dimension to football accumulator betting, allowing punters to be tactical about which match they choose to lock in and when, while the RequestABet offering on fixtures is brilliant. 'It does, however, lose a mark because player bets do not roll over to substitutes replacing them – a feature that is being adopted by some of its biggest competitors.' 3. Betfred One of the most renowned bookmakers in the UK, Betfred gets the bronze on this list of the best football betting sites with its one-of-a-kind approach to first goalscorer bets, as well as its insightful tips and stats offering. Football betting site Trustpilot rating: 3.1 Our rating: 4/5 Author's view 'Fans of betting on a game's first goalscorer have to consider Betfred for their football punting with the firm's Double Delight and Hat-trick Heaven promotion doubling returns if the selected player scores twice, and tripling them if they score a hat-trick. 'That promotion alone puts Betfred among the best football betting sites, but it is also great for insightful stats and tips to inform your football betting. 'The app could be better and, like Sky Bet, the lack of a 'super sub'-style promotion stops it from scoring higher.' 4. Paddy Power Known for its witty advertising campaigns, Paddy Power is another great football betting site to have as part of your portfolio, having led the way with the popular Super Sub promotion, and it is home to competitive football betting odds. Football betting site Trustpilot rating: 3.5 Our rating: 4/5 Author's view 'Paddy Power changed the football betting game when it introduced the Super Sub promotion, meaning bets on players roll over to the substitutes replacing them, giving customers more of a chance with selections in the goalscorer, foul or card markets among others. 'It could, however, expand the Super Sub promotion to cover more tournaments, which is something competitors such as bet365 and William Hill have done. 'The app and site are easy to navigate and the multi-match bet builder function lets football punters get creative with their bets.' 5. Betfair The sister site to Paddy Power, Betfair is known for its groundbreaking exchange, but its sportsbook also has plenty to offer football punters, including its 90 Minutes Guarantee. Football betting site Trustpilot rating: 3.2 Our rating: 4/5 Author's view 'There is not a lot between Paddy Power and its sister site Betfair, but the former has the edge thanks to its superior offering of free bets and money-back tokens. 'That said, Betfair is still an excellent football betting site with its newest feature Build Ups allowing punters to pit players against each other and bet on which will have more shots or commit more fouls. 'The 90 Minutes Guarantee means bets are paid out if a team is winning at the 90th-minute mark, while Safe Sub completes a competitive range of features for the site.' 6. William Hill Football betting site Trustpilot rating: 1.3 Our rating: 4/5 Author's view 'When it comes to football betting, William Hill is undoubtedly a site you will want to check out. 'It has its own version of super sub, known as Impact Sub, and regularly offers Epic Boosts on football markets as well as profit boosts on accumulators. 'Those looking to dive into more obscure football markets, however, might find them harder to come by at William Hill, especially when looking to place bet builders.' 7. BetMGM While BetMGM is one of the newer bookmakers around in the UK, do not be fooled. Its offering is competitive and it is already among the best football betting sites in the country. Football betting site Trustpilot rating: 3.4 Our rating: 3.75/5 Author's view 'BetMGM has rapidly established itself as one of the UK's most popular bookmakers and it is another great option for football bettors. 'The Golden Acca promotion can result in as much as 200 per cent extra in boosted winnings, while it is home to some seriously generous profit boosts on football bet builders. 'That said, free bet promotions are infrequent and the absence of a super sub promotion knocks it down this list slightly.' Coral is one of the most well-known betting brands in the UK and among the top 10 when it comes to betting on football, with a terrific range of markets and a popular free-to-play game. Football betting site Trustpilot rating: 1.2 Our rating: 3.75/5 Author's view 'Although lacking some of the features of football betting sites higher up on this list, Coral is still a great bookmaker for football punters. 'Its odds booster offerings and 2 Up feature give it a solid base as a football betting site and it offers the majority of markets found across other top bookmaker sites. 'It could offer more frequent football promotions, such as free bets, and there is no super-sub style feature, but it is still a great bookmaker to have as part of your portfolio with the added bonus of the free-to-play Football Super Series game.' There is not a lot between Coral and its sister website Ladbrokes, which is known for its Acca Insure feature, and that in itself makes it one of the best football betting sites in the UK. Football betting site Trustpilot rating: 1.2 Our rating: 3.75/5 Author's view 'While it is not the only bookmaker to offer such a feature, Ladbrokes is a great destination for punters looking to place football accumulator bets, thanks to its Acca Insure offer, which means bettors get their money back if a single leg lets them down on a qualifying acca. 'Punters can take advantage of that Ladbrokes promotion daily, while it is also home to bet builder boosts and the popular Early Payout 2 Up promotion. 'The absence of a player-sub promotion and the fact its football promotions are not the most generous means it ranks lower on this list than some of its competitors.' 10. Betway Completing the list of the best football betting sites in the UK is Betway, which has an excellent range of football markets, as well as Betway Boosts and an easy-to-use website/app. Football betting site Trustpilot rating: 1.3 Our rating: 3.5/5 Author's view 'Although its odds are not as competitive and it lacks the promotional features of some other leading contenders on this list, Betway deserves its place among the best football betting sites. 'It covers pretty much every market a football punter could ask for and the #betyourway markets allow punters to place pre-made combination bets. 'The Free Bet Club is generous, although it is not solely for football bettors, but the site's lack of promotions beyond that and the fact its prices are not as good as others means it takes the last spot on this list.' Top-rated football betting sites by Trustpilot reviews When trying to rank and assess the best football betting sites, Trustpilot can be a useful port of call, giving an insight into how each bookmaker is received by its customers. Bookmaker Trustpilot rating Total Trustpilot reviews 1. Sky Bet 3.5 3,600 2. Paddy Power 3.5 5,342 3. BetMGM 3.4 1,714 4. Betfair 3.2 3,401 5. Betfred 3.1 8,931 Reviews taken July 2, 2025 Best new football betting sites for July 2025 Here is a look at the best of the newer football betting sites you should consider adding to your portfolio. 1. BetMGM – Launched August 2023 BetMGM is one of the newer bookmakers in the UK, but its offering is competitive and it is already among the best available football betting sites. Football betting site Trustpilot rating: 3.4 Our rating: 3.75/5 Author's view 'BetMGM has rapidly established itself as one of the UK's most popular bookmakers and it is another great option for football bettors. 'The Golden Acca promotion can result in as much as 200 per cent extra in boosted winnings, while it is home to some seriously generous profit boosts on football bet builders. 'That said, free bet promotions are infrequent and the absence of a super sub promotion knocks it down this list slightly.' 2. LiveScore Bet – Launched January 2021 Although more than four years old, LiveScore Bet is still one of the newer bookmakers around and it is already standing out as a decent option for football bettors, with promotions such as Early Payout and Half-Time Heroes particularly enticing. Football betting site Trustpilot rating: 1.9 Our rating: 3.25/5 Author's view 'LiveScore Bet is a well-rounded betting site, but it deserves praise for its football offering in particular. 'Half-Time Heroes, which pays out match result accumulators of five or more if all teams are leading at half-time, is a great feature to have, while Early Payout and the Mix & Match bet builder functions are also useful. 'Its prices and football markets are not the best but there is a lot to like about this football betting site, even though it is one of the newer ones.' 3. talkSPORT BET – Launched November 2022 Coming from a well-known sports media brand, talkSPORT Bet has quickly established itself as a popular bookmaker in the UK and it also ranks among the best of the newer football betting sites, thanks to its great market variety and boosts. Football betting site Trustpilot rating: 3.8 Our rating: 3/5 Author's view 'TalkSPORT Bet is still finding its feet in the UK betting scene, but is already among the best options for football bettors. 'It does not make the overall top 10 due to its lack of football promotions and features, but it has a decent range of markets, including specials on transfers and clubs. 'But as newer betting sites go, it deserves its place among the top three football choices.' Advantages and disadvantages of choosing a UKGC-licensed football betting site All the football betting sites we have recommended are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), which is responsible for upholding the integrity of bookmakers. The table below outlines the benefits to punters of using sites that have to comply with UKGC regulations. The big leagues and competitions covered by football betting sites Football betting is not limited to just punts on the biggest and best teams. Indeed, there are so many domestic and international competitions that bettors should consider, so here is a look at the most notable. Premier League – The top division for club football in England and the most prestigious domestic club football competition in the world. Runs from August to May. Championship – English football's second tier. Teams battle for promotion from this division to the Premier League each season. Runs from July/August to May. EFL – Incorporates the Championship as well as League One and League Two (the third and fourth tiers of English football). Runs from July/August to May. Non-league – Refers to teams outside the EFL from the fifth tier of English football and below. Runs from July/August to May. FA Cup – A domestic knockout football competition that started in 1871 and features all eligible clubs down to the ninth level of English football. Takes place every season. EFL Cup – A domestic knockout football competition in England that involves teams solely from the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two. Takes place every season. Champions League – The most prestigious club football competition in the world, featuring the best teams from Europe's top leagues competing in a league format, followed by a straight knockout stage. Runs alongside domestic football leagues in Europe. Europa League – A level below the Champions League, this is another continental club competition, involving the next-best teams from Europe's top leagues. Runs alongside domestic football leagues in Europe. Conference League – Established in 2021, this is the third tier of continental club competition, in which leading teams from smaller nations play top-division sides from Europe's best leagues. La Liga – The top tier of club football in Spain, running from August to May. Serie A – The top tier of club football in Italy, running from August to May. Bundesliga – The top tier of club football in Germany, running from August to May. Ligue 1 – The top tier of club football in France, running from August to May. Other European leagues and cups – Among the other top leagues to consider across Europe are the Dutch Eredivisie, the Portuguese Primeira Liga, the Scottish Premiership and the Belgian Pro League. Global leagues and tournaments – Across the globe there are plenty of top football leagues and competitions, including Major League Soccer in the United States, the Brazilian Serie A, the Australian A-League and the Saudi Pro League. World Cup – The most famous football competition globally, featuring international teams competing in a group stage and then knockout tournament every four years for the chance to be crowned world champions. European Championship – An international football tournament for European nations, also starting with a group stage before progressing to a knockout format. Nations League – A newer international football competition with iterations around the world. The Uefa Nations League, established in 2018, features countries from across Europe competing in a small-league format, with promotions and relegations, with the best eight teams featuring in the Nations League finals. The best football betting sites rated by features Although we have already looked at the best overall football betting sites, some bookmakers are stronger in some areas than others, so here is a look at the best football betting sides for each of the most notable features. In-play betting has grown in popularity in the past decade, especially for football punters looking to bet dynamically on markets such as the next goalscorer or number of corners in a game, and a good in-play betting site should have a range of markets and a good user interface. Sky Bet is the best football betting site when it comes to in-play betting, offering one of the best ranges of in-play markets, which is nearly as extensive as those offered before a match starts. The cash-out feature, although not limited to football, means punters can settle their bets before a match or event has finished, perhaps to cut their losses or secure some profit. While some bookmakers are not the best at allowing punters to cash out, William Hill are generally one of the best, offering more generous cash-out amounts and not freezing bets as often as other sites. Best football betting sites for live streaming It is not always easy to keep across all live sport, but the live streaming feature of betting apps means punters can follow the action and their bets at the same time. It perhaps comes as no surprise that bet365 is again considered the best in this regard, offering live streams of more obscure football matches, as well as audio commentaries of those it does not show. Best football betting sites for statistics Statistics can provide crucial insight for football punters, so having them available to you before placing a bet or when looking to make a selection in-play is another important feature of football betting sites. There are several sites that excel in this area but Paddy Power is perhaps the best given its straightforward presentation of match and player statistics during a game, while pre-match punters can peruse data such as average player shots or fouls per game. Best football betting sites for tips The idea of bookmakers having their own football tipping sections can feel a bit counterintuitive, but informative and successful tipping content can take a football betting site to the next level. Betfred deserves a special mention for its market verdicts on site, but it is Betfair that comes out on top in this category thanks to its detailed daily tipping articles covering individual match tips or bet builders, while it is even home to a football betting podcast. Bet builders are a great way for punters to wager on football, allowing them to combine multiple selections, from player fouls to the number of corners, into one wager – a bit like an accumulator but covering one match. This is one of the most popular ways to bet on football, so bookmakers are trying to make themselves the go-to destinations for these kinds of bets. But it is once again bet365 that comes out top with its Sub On Play On feature extending to more football competitions than most, while it offers plenty of markets and regularly has money-back offers on bet builders. Best mobile apps for football betting sites Many punters like to bet on the go, so having a good betting app is a major plus for bookmakers. Here is a look at the best three mobile apps for football betting sites. 1. Midnite Sleek design and aesthetically pleasing Organised and structured rewards section Clear and useful pre-match football stats 2. bet365 App is laid out well and easy to navigate Bet builder sections are excellent Promotions are eye-catching and straightforward to locate 3. Paddy Power Eyecatching and engaging colour scheme Football promotions such as Power Prices are well presented Mix 'N Match Bet Builder page is very user-friendly Popular markets at football betting sites Football betting is so much more than just betting on who wins and loses, so here is a look at the most popular markets you can bet on at football betting sites. Match result – Simply a bet on the outcome of the match, whether that be Team A to win, Team B to win or a draw. Correct score – Betting on the exact scoreline in a match, rather than just the result. For example, Manchester City to win 3-0 rather than just Manchester City to win. Half-time/full time – A bet combining selections on the result at half-time and at the end of the match. For example, you could back a draw at the break, but Team A to win the match. Double chance – Betting on two potential outcomes in one bet. For example, you could back a team to win or draw. Draw no bet – Backing a team to win a match, but if the match finishes as a draw then your stake is returned. Handicap – Teams are given either a deficit (a minus number) or an advantage (a plus number) before a game and if your backed team's score is greater than the opponents' after the handicap is applied, your wager wins. Win to nil – Backing a team to win without conceding a goal. Over/under goals – Backing there to be more or less than a certain number of goals, typically displayed as decimals, such as 2.5 or 3.5. Both teams to score – Backing both teams to score in a match. Corners – Punters can bet on the number of corners in a match or on which team will take the most corners. Cards – Punters can bet on specific players to be shown a card or bet on the number of cards/booking points (usually 10pt per yellow, 25pt per red) in a match. Anytime goalscorer – Betting on a player to score a goal at any time in the match. First/last goalscorer – Betting on a player to score the first goal in the match. The best welcome offer for football betting sites When opening a new football betting account, it is always important to try to find a good welcome offer that gives you more bang for your buck and does not have too many restrictions when it comes to placing qualifying bets or using any potential free bets. As for which football betting site has the best welcome offer, it has to be William Hill, which offers £60 in free bets when new customers deposit and bet £10. While £20 of the bonus awarded must be used on selected casino games with high wagering requirements (x30), football punters can use £40 (in 4x £10 denominations) as they wish, whether that be on a singles bet, outright selection, bet builder or anything else. The best football betting sites for regular promotions Offers for new customers are great, but football betting sites need to ensure they also have competitive promotions for their existing customers, so here is a look at some of our favourites. Best football betting sites for early payouts One of the most common features offered by football betting sites is early payouts, otherwise known as 2 Ups, which mean bets on a team to win are paid out if they take a two-goal lead. Among the best football betting sites to offer this feature are bet365, William Hill, Sky Bet, Ladbrokes and Coral. Top football betting sites for money-back deals Money-back deals are a great promotion offered to existing customers. They can be as simple as giving customers their money back either as cash or free bets if their wager loses, while some bookmakers return stakes in the event of a specific outcome, such as a 0-0 draw. Bet365 has some of the best existing customer promotions and it is known for its money-back offers on football bet builders, returning stakes as free bets up to £10 on losing bet builder selections for the big matches. Best football betting sites for goalscorer promotions Betting on players to score in a match or score the first goal is a popular approach from football punters, so finding promotions to squeeze extra value out of these wagers is important. While the Super Sub feature offered by Paddy Power and other bookmakers can make these bets more enticing, rolling your goalscorer bet over to the substitute if your player is taken off, it is Betfred that has the best goalscorer promotions. Betfred's Double Delight and Hat-Trick Heaven promotions mean that when you bet on a player to score first, your odds are doubled if they score two goals or tripled if they go on to score a hat-trick. That's a great football betting promo. Top football betting sites for odds boosts Odds boosts are used across a range of sports by bookmakers to encourage customers to bet with them and they simply involve boosting the odds of a specific outcome to more than they should be. These can offer excellent value, but be warned – betting sites are selective about what they boost, so be sure to do your research to ensure it is still a decent-value selection. All football betting sites typically offer odds boosts, but bet365 comes out on top thanks to its frequent Super Boosts, which are often applied to football and can offer significant value. Best football betting sites for free bets It is important that football punters also look to use football betting sites that provide a regular flow of free bets as a reward for their loyalty, but some are more generous than others. While Betway has one of the better weekly bet clubs, the best football betting site for free bets overall is probably Sky Bet, which often offers punters free bets to use on matches without needing to place any qualifying wager, although the free-bet amounts are generally on the small side. Top football betting sites for acca deals Accumulators are a popular approach for football bettors, who will often look to squeeze value out of their bets on teams to win by combining them with other short-priced favourites. There are many accumulator promotions from acca clubs to acca insurance and acca boosts, but the standout site has to be Sky Bet. Sky Bet's Acca Freeze promotion has changed the game, allowing punters to settle one selection of an acca featuring five legs or more as a winner if they go in front. Best overall football betting sites for regular promotions Shrewd punters will shop around for the best prices when betting on football, but regular promotions for existing customers can keep you coming back – and there are some bookmakers that have lots of relevant football promos under one roof. Unsurprisingly, it is bet365 who are the best all-round selection, given it is always offering generous Super Boosts and money-back offers on bet builders. Comparing the best football betting sites It is not always immediately clear which bookmakers offer which features, so here is a look at how the best football betting sites compare. How to register with football betting sites To get started with your football betting, you need to get signed up to your chosen site. Here is a general step-by-step guide for registering: You will need to provide your selected football betting site with personal data such as your name, address and contact details, eg, your email address. These details need to be accurate and match identity documentation. Some bookmakers request identity verification and this can involve uploading proof of identity such as a passport, as well as proof of address, such as a utility bill. When signing up to a bookmaker, whether you are making use of a welcome offer or not, you will need to make your first deposit. Ensure you are aware of the minimum deposit amount and which deposit methods are accepted. Once you have then customised your safer gambling restrictions, you will be able to place your qualifying bet. How we review the best football betting sites Here is a look at how we ensure our evaluations of the best football betting sites are independent and impartial. Sourced by Telegraph Media Group All the information and offers details that are shown on this page are sourced by Telegraph Media Group members of staff. Hands-on experience The staff putting together this information and evaluating the best football betting sites have years of experience in the sports betting industry and know where and when to look for the best features and promotions. Regular updates To ensure the information in this article stays fresh and relevant, there is a dedicated team checking betting offers and details about promotions daily. Factors we consider when ranking the top football betting sites There is a lot to consider when ranking and rating the best football betting sites and we have done everything possible to ensure readers can be confident in our reviews. Below is a look at some of the factors we have taken into consideration when comparing the best bookmakers for football betting. Welcome bonus When looking to sign up to a new football betting site, finding one with a generous and straightforward welcome offer is a major plus, so the football betting sites with the better sign-up offers have naturally ranked higher on this list. Regular promotions for football When the football season gets going, it can be relentless and there are plenty of opportunities for punters to get involved. However, the experience is much better when the football betting site you are using offers regular promotions, such as price boosts, money-back offers or even free bets. So the existing football promotions offered by betting sites have been factored in when ranking them. Relevant features for football betting There are plenty of bookmakers with decent welcome bonuses and on-site features, but this article is specifically focused on finding the best football betting sites. So while some may excel when it comes to horse racing offers or extra places on golf tournaments, there are other football betting sites that cater for football betting in particular, perhaps due to their superior offering of match stats or promotions, such as Paddy Power's Super Sub. Site design Promotions and welcome offers are important when selecting your preferred football betting site, but it can be seriously off-putting if the site's design is no good. A good betting site is easy to navigate ,with information regarding promotions clearly displayed. Too much information on one page does not make for a good look. Payment options Having a range of payment methods for deposits and withdrawals can also make a football betting site enticing. While some punters will be happy enough using their debit card, others might want to deposit using an e-wallet such as PayPal. Customer service Perhaps you have a technical problem on the site or app, or maybe you have a query relating to a new football betting promotion. Either way, it is important that when using a football betting site, you know you are going to receive good customer service when you try to get in touch. For that reason, many offer live chats, so it is easy and straightforward to get help when you need it. Safety and security Safety and security are the most important factors of all when considering using a football betting site. For that reason, this site only features betting brands licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Best football betting sites FAQs Which of your recommended football betting sites is the best? While all the aforementioned football betting sites have their pros and cons, it is bet365 that is the best option overall because of its existing customer promotions such as Super Boosts and money-back offers, as well as football features like Sub On Play On and accumulator winning boosts. Which is the best of the new football betting sites? Football punters have an increasing number of football betting sites to pick from and out of the newest operators, BetMGM – established in August 2023 – comes out on top thanks to its generous odds, varied markets and competitive price boosts. Can you trust football betting sites in the UK? Yes. In this article we have only included betting sites that are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, which regulates the British industry. How many football betting sites can I sign up with? In short, as many as you want, provided that you do so safely and within your means. There is no restriction on the number of football betting site accounts you can have. Which football betting sites have the best offers for new customers? William Hill is home to the most generous offer for new customers looking for football betting sites. When you sign up to William Hill, you can secure £60 in free bets from a £10 qualifying wager, although it is worth noting that £20 of the bonus must be used on casino games at William Hill Vegas. The other £40, however, can be used on sports betting, including a range of football markets.
South Wales Argus
02-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
MPs back foreign investors owning minority stakes in UK newspapers
The Commons voted overwhelmingly in favour of a change to the law by Labour which would allow foreign firms to buy minority stakes. It is the latest turn in a tumultuous two-year takeover process for the 170-year-old newspaper business. The offices of the Telegraph Media Group in central London (PA) It comes after the previous Conservative government put a block in place amid fears the Telegraph could be bought by a majority-owned UAE company, RedBird IMI. The investment vehicle is a joint venture with US financiers. The regulation was approved by 338 votes to 79, majority 259. Labour was boosted in the voting lobbies by four Reform UK MPs, including its leader Nigel Farage (Clacton), and seven Independent MPs. Meanwhile former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a vocal critic of China, was among those to vote against it. The Liberal Democrats, who forced the vote over fears foreign ownership would compromise editorial independence, also opposed it. The result will give the green light to RedBird IMI, with the cap in place now being supported by MPs. RedBird Capital, the US junior partner in RedBird IMI, agreed a deal in May to buy a majority stake in the newspaper for £500 million. Abu-Dhabi's IMI will look to buy a minority stake as part of the consortium. RedBird has investments in AC Milan, film production giant Skydance and Liverpool FC owner Fenway Sports Group. It is also understood that the Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) – which owns the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, the i, and the Metro – is also looking to buy a stake. This is in addition to Sir Len Blavatnik, who owns the Theatre Royal Haymarket in the West End, who is considering a minority stake, according to Sky News reports. The rules were introduced after RedBird IMI looked to buy the Telegraph Media Group (TMG) from the Barclay Brothers. Then-Conservative culture secretary Lucy Frazer told a Society of Editors Conference in April 2024: 'I had concerns about the potential impacts of this deal on free expression and accurate presentation of news and that's why I issued a public interest intervention.' Culture minister Stephanie Peacock told MPs last month that appropriate safeguards had been introduced. She said: 'Government need to balance the importance of creating certainty and sustainability for our newspaper industry with the need to protect against the risk of foreign state influence by setting a clear threshold for exceptions within the regime at 15%. We believe that we have done that effectively.' Speaking after the vote, the Liberal Democrats' spokesman on media Max Wilkinson said: 'Freedom of the press is an historic and inviolable cornerstone of our democracy. That the Government is pushing to sell off stakes in our British papers to foreign governments is astonishing. 'It's outrageous that Labour and the Conservative MPs failed to stand up, do their patriotic duty and block this legislation. The leader of the opposition sponsored the Bill that restricted foreign states owning British newspapers last year – yet even she failed to vote against the measure. 'Liberal Democrats have already successfully forced the Government to backtrack on their senseless plan to let multiple states club together to buy whatever sized stake in a British outlet they fancied. Now my colleagues in the Lords and I will deliver a showdown to overturn this Bill entirely – rallying Conservative and crossbench peers to defeat the Government on this misguided policy.' The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has been approached for comment.
Glasgow Times
02-07-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
MPs back foreign investors owning minority stakes in UK newspapers
The Commons voted overwhelmingly in favour of a change to the law by Labour which would allow foreign firms to buy minority stakes. It is the latest turn in a tumultuous two-year takeover process for the 170-year-old newspaper business. The offices of the Telegraph Media Group in central London (PA) It comes after the previous Conservative government put a block in place amid fears the Telegraph could be bought by a majority-owned UAE company, RedBird IMI. The investment vehicle is a joint venture with US financiers. The regulation was approved by 338 votes to 79, majority 259. Labour was boosted in the voting lobbies by four Reform UK MPs, including its leader Nigel Farage (Clacton), and seven Independent MPs. Meanwhile former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a vocal critic of China, was among those to vote against it. The Liberal Democrats, who forced the vote over fears foreign ownership would compromise editorial independence, also opposed it. The result will give the green light to RedBird IMI, with the cap in place now being supported by MPs. RedBird Capital, the US junior partner in RedBird IMI, agreed a deal in May to buy a majority stake in the newspaper for £500 million. Abu-Dhabi's IMI will look to buy a minority stake as part of the consortium. RedBird has investments in AC Milan, film production giant Skydance and Liverpool FC owner Fenway Sports Group. It is also understood that the Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) – which owns the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, the i, and the Metro – is also looking to buy a stake. This is in addition to Sir Len Blavatnik, who owns the Theatre Royal Haymarket in the West End, who is considering a minority stake, according to Sky News reports. The rules were introduced after RedBird IMI looked to buy the Telegraph Media Group (TMG) from the Barclay Brothers. Then-Conservative culture secretary Lucy Frazer told a Society of Editors Conference in April 2024: 'I had concerns about the potential impacts of this deal on free expression and accurate presentation of news and that's why I issued a public interest intervention.' Culture minister Stephanie Peacock told MPs last month that appropriate safeguards had been introduced. She said: 'Government need to balance the importance of creating certainty and sustainability for our newspaper industry with the need to protect against the risk of foreign state influence by setting a clear threshold for exceptions within the regime at 15%. We believe that we have done that effectively.' Speaking after the vote, the Liberal Democrats' spokesman on media Max Wilkinson said: 'Freedom of the press is an historic and inviolable cornerstone of our democracy. That the Government is pushing to sell off stakes in our British papers to foreign governments is astonishing. 'It's outrageous that Labour and the Conservative MPs failed to stand up, do their patriotic duty and block this legislation. The leader of the opposition sponsored the Bill that restricted foreign states owning British newspapers last year – yet even she failed to vote against the measure. 'Liberal Democrats have already successfully forced the Government to backtrack on their senseless plan to let multiple states club together to buy whatever sized stake in a British outlet they fancied. Now my colleagues in the Lords and I will deliver a showdown to overturn this Bill entirely – rallying Conservative and crossbench peers to defeat the Government on this misguided policy.' The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has been approached for comment.
The Herald Scotland
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
MPs back foreign investors owning minority stakes in UK newspapers
It is the latest turn in a tumultuous two-year takeover process for the 170-year-old newspaper business. It comes after the previous Conservative government put a block in place amid fears the Telegraph could be bought by a majority-owned UAE company, RedBird IMI. The investment vehicle is a joint venture with US financiers. The regulation was approved by 338 votes to 79, majority 259. Labour was boosted in the voting lobbies by four Reform UK MPs, including its leader Nigel Farage (Clacton), and seven Independent MPs. Meanwhile former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a vocal critic of China, was among those to vote against it. The Liberal Democrats, who forced the vote over fears foreign ownership would compromise editorial independence, also opposed it. The offices of the Telegraph Media Group in central London (PA) The result will give the green light to RedBird IMI, with the cap in place now being supported by MPs. RedBird Capital, the US junior partner in RedBird IMI, agreed a deal in May to buy a majority stake in the newspaper for £500 million. Abu-Dhabi's IMI will look to buy a minority stake as part of the consortium. RedBird has investments in AC Milan, film production giant Skydance and Liverpool FC owner Fenway Sports Group. It is also understood that the Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) – which owns the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, the i, and the Metro – is also looking to buy a stake. This is in addition to Sir Len Blavatnik, who owns the Theatre Royal Haymarket in the West End, who is considering a minority stake, according to Sky News reports. The rules were introduced after RedBird IMI looked to buy the Telegraph Media Group (TMG) from the Barclay Brothers. Then-Conservative culture secretary Lucy Frazer told a Society of Editors Conference in April 2024: 'I had concerns about the potential impacts of this deal on free expression and accurate presentation of news and that's why I issued a public interest intervention.' Culture minister Stephanie Peacock told MPs last month that appropriate safeguards had been introduced. She said: 'Government need to balance the importance of creating certainty and sustainability for our newspaper industry with the need to protect against the risk of foreign state influence by setting a clear threshold for exceptions within the regime at 15%. We believe that we have done that effectively.' The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has been approached for comment.
Western Telegraph
02-07-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
MPs back foreign investors owning minority stakes in UK newspapers
The Commons voted overwhelmingly in favour of a change to the law by Labour which would allow foreign firms to buy minority stakes. It is the latest turn in a tumultuous two-year takeover process for the 170-year-old newspaper business. It comes after the previous Conservative government put a block in place amid fears the Telegraph could be bought by a majority-owned UAE company, Redbird IMI. The investment vehicle is a joint venture with US financiers. The regulation was approved by 338 votes to 79, majority 259. Labour was boosted in the voting lobbies by four Reform UK MPs, including its leader Nigel Farage (Clacton), and seven Independent MPs. Meanwhile former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a vocal critic of China, was among those to vote against it. The Liberal Democrats, who forced the vote over fears foreign ownership would compromise editorial independence, also opposed it. The offices of the Telegraph Media Group in central London (PA) The result will give the green light to Redbird IMI, with the cap in place now being supported by MPs. RedBird Capital, the US junior partner in RedBird IMI, agreed a deal in May to buy a majority stake in the newspaper for £500 million. Abu-Dhabi's IMI will look to buy a minority stake as part of the consortium. RedBird has investments in AC Milan, film production giant Skydance and Liverpool FC owner Fenway Sports Group. It is also understood that the Daily Mail and General Trust (DMGT) – which owns the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, the i, and the Metro – is also looking to buy a stake. This is in addition to Sir Len Blavatnik, who owns the Theatre Royal Haymarket in the West End, who is considering a minority stake, according to Sky News reports. The rules were introduced after Redbird IMI looked to buy the Telegraph Media Group (TMG) from the Barclay Brothers. Then-Conservative culture secretary Lucy Frazer told a Society of Editors Conference in April 2024: 'I had concerns about the potential impacts of this deal on free expression and accurate presentation of news and that's why I issued a public interest intervention.' Culture minister Stephanie Peacock told MPs last month that appropriate safeguards had been introduced. She said: 'Government need to balance the importance of creating certainty and sustainability for our newspaper industry with the need to protect against the risk of foreign state influence by setting a clear threshold for exceptions within the regime at 15%. We believe that we have done that effectively.' The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has been approached for comment.
