WhichBookmakerHead to head · United Kingdom · verified August 2026
BetMGM vs Paddy Power
A close call — 0.1 points apart. Which one wins depends on what you bet.
Pillar scores
Side by side
| Criterion | BetMGM | Paddy Power |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.1 | 8.0 |
| Typical margin | Around 5% on major North American and European markets | Around 5.5% on major football — you pay for the promotions |
| Licences | iGaming Ontario (CA), UKGC (UK), multiple US state licences | UKGC (UK), Irish licence |
| Min. deposit | £/C$10 | £/€5 |
| Sports | Strong North American coverage — NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB — plus football | 25+ sports, heaviest on football, horse racing and Gaelic games |
| Features | Same-game parlays, Live betting, Rewards programme, Cash Out | Money-back specials, Bet Builder, Cash Out, Acca insurance |
| Founded | 2018 | 1988 |
| Best for | Ontario, North American sports, Parlays | Irish racing, Promotions, Gaelic games |
What the price difference actually costs
BetMGM builds about 5.0% into its prices; Paddy Power about 5.5%. That gap of 0.5 percentage points is not an abstraction — it is money that leaves your account on every settled bet, win or lose.
Indicative cost of the gap
Stake £5,000 across a season and the difference between them is roughly £25 — in BetMGM's favour.
A simplified illustration on total turnover, not a prediction. It ignores which bets you win, because the margin is charged either way — that is precisely the point.
A welcome offer is paid once. This gap is paid every time you bet, which is why we weight price at 30% of the score and most comparison sites do not weight it at all.
Our verdict
Choose BetMGM if you want ontario · north american sports · parlays. It comes out ahead on odds, trust, payouts in our scoring, and its licensing position in United Kingdom is iGaming Ontario (CA).
Choose Paddy Power if you want irish racing · promotions · gaelic games.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, BetMGM or Paddy Power?
It is close: BetMGM scores 8.1/10 and Paddy Power scores 8.0/10 in our methodology. BetMGM is strongest for ontario, while Paddy Power leads for irish racing.
Is BetMGM safe and licensed?
BetMGM holds these licences: iGaming Ontario (CA), UKGC (UK), multiple US state licences. Our trust score for it is 9.1/10 — the full review explains the reasoning.
Is Paddy Power safe and licensed?
Paddy Power holds these licences: UKGC (UK), Irish licence. Our trust score for it is 9.0/10 — the full review explains the reasoning.