WhichBookmakerHead to head · United Kingdom · verified August 2026
Paddy Power vs William Hill
William Hill takes it by 0.3 points overall, but Paddy Power still wins specific cases.
Pillar scores
Side by side
| Criterion | Paddy Power | William Hill |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.0 | 8.3 |
| Typical margin | Around 5.5% on major football — you pay for the promotions | Around 5% on major football; stronger on horse racing than football |
| Licences | UKGC (UK), Irish licence | UKGC (UK), multiple European licences |
| Min. deposit | £/€5 | £10 |
| Sports | 25+ sports, heaviest on football, horse racing and Gaelic games | 25+ sports with particularly deep UK and Irish horse racing |
| Features | Money-back specials, Bet Builder, Cash Out, Acca insurance | Cash Out, Bet Builder, Live streaming for funded accounts, Shop integration |
| Founded | 1988 | 1934 |
| Best for | Irish racing, Promotions, Gaelic games | Horse racing, UK punters, Brand security |
What the price difference actually costs
Paddy Power builds about 5.5% into its prices; William Hill about 5.0%. 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 William Hill'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 Paddy Power if you want irish racing · promotions · gaelic games. It comes out ahead on platform in our scoring, and its licensing position in United Kingdom is UKGC (UK).
Choose William Hill if you want horse racing · uk punters · brand security. It comes out ahead on odds, trust, markets, payouts in our scoring, and its licensing position in United Kingdom is UKGC (UK).
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Paddy Power or William Hill?
William Hill scores higher overall (8.3 vs 8.0). Paddy Power can still be the better choice for irish racing.
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.
Is William Hill safe and licensed?
William Hill holds these licences: UKGC (UK), multiple European licences. Our trust score for it is 9.3/10 — the full review explains the reasoning.