Binary options trading is a hot discussion topic anywhere in the world. There is a lot of information out there and it is difficult to make sense of it all. And the truth is that there is really false information out. Few old companies that attempted to work as usual intermediaries in the sphere of financial/binary betting were hit very hard by hundreds of illegal and non-regulated companies, which blew up.

Bitcoin Spread Betting and Bitcoin Futures Trading

In the last decade the spread betting market has developed and changed, almost beyond recognition as the market matures and develops, making finding the best spread betting companies an even more difficult task. In the last decade many new entrants have joined the market, expanding the range of products available, and with some spread betting companies now diversifying into binary betting and fixed odds, the opportunities for trading are growing all the time, with competing services overlapping and blurring the edges of spread betting techniques. Added to this, many of the large forex brokers are now entering the market, with the most recent being FXCM which has now acquired ODL Securities in London to further expand its spread betting platform and client base. At the same time, the spread betting industry as a whole is now firmly regulated, ensuring that the risks and dangers of spread betting are fully explained, and as a result, all spread betting firms now offer variety of free training courses and seminars, along with a plethora of trading tools and market reports to help you in your trades. Without exception, the key word is education, and coupled with increased competition amongst the financial spread betting companies, this is all good news for you as a potential client. So let’s look at all the spread betting companies currently available. All these companies offer the usual range of markets including shares, stocks, commodities, forex, indices and bonds, so unless there is something particularly interesting to note, then I will leave the markets as being self explanatory for the purposes of this review.

IG Index

Igindex – one of the oldest of the spread betting companies, which started life in 1974, having been founded by Stuart Wheeler who saw the opportunity to develop a market spread betting gold. Since then, the company has become IG Group which incorporates IG Index and IG Markets. IG Group is a publicly listed company on the London Stock Exchange with the ticker IGG.L. The company employs around 600 worldwide with offices in London, the Far East, and Australia, with new offices planned for Europe soon. The company offers spread betting 24 hours a day, on their PureDeal trading platform which is browser based and also mobile compatible for IPhone and Palm Pre, and the company has recently introduced an IPhone dealing service for its mobile clients. The company offers a limited risk trading option, where downside risk is limited, but upside profits remain unlimited – an interesting and unique feature. For index betting, the FTSE 100 is quoted even when underlying markets are closed. The minimum bet size is £1 per point with a deposit margin between 10% and 75% with no account minimum. A demo account is available. Finally, IG Index have also recently introduced binary betting to their platform and I have included the link here – the first of many no doubt as the binary betting and options markets begin to expand into the spread betting world. The Reuters news feed is standard within the trading platform.

City Index

Like IG index, City Index has been around for many years having started life in 1983. In the last decade the company has made significant changes both in terms of product range and also company acquisition, adding CFD trading to its portfolio in 2001, and buying Finspreads, IF Markets and finally FX Solutions in 2008. City index is now part of Intercapital Private Group which includes Garban Intercapital, all part of ICAP plc a FSTE 100 company. The trading platform is browser based once again, and mobile compatible. There is a financial spread betting demo account available, with no minimum deposit required. The company provides 24 hour dealing, and the margin deposit is between 10% and 100%, with a minimum bet size of £1.

CMC Markets

CMC markets is part of the CMC group, and has been around since 1989, having been founded by Peter Cruddas, who is still actively involved with the company. Goldman Sachs have recently bought a share in the company which employs over 1000 people worldwide. Their trading platform is available in three different versions, namely browser based, desktop or mobile, but interestingly the company does not offer a demo account, and to open an account there is a minimum deposit of £200 required. The margin deposit is between 1% and 20% and the minimum bet size is £1. The company offers 24 hour trading, and at present has some financial spread betting promotions, including 5 days of ‘risk free trading‘ ! – there are strings attached but worth a look anyway – the link is here.

Capital Spreads

Capital spreads – Of all the spread betting companies listed here, I find Capital Spreads the most interesting. The company has been around since 1996, but really only entered the spread betting market in 2003 and is now part of London Capital Group, which also acquired Prospreads in 2008. The reason that I find them interesting is simply that they have developed a unique and low risk approach to the spread betting market, which I believe is both revolutionary and visionary. In simple terms the company only allows its client to bet with an automatic stop loss on every trade, minimizing losses as a result. In addition 20% of your funds are ring fenced to protect the position further. Now many in the spread betting forums dislike this practice – personally I think it is an excellent trading system for spread betting. However, if you are a professional trader the company also offers Prospreads, with some unique trading opportunities for large size traders. The company offer 24 hour trading, a demo account is available and there is no minimum deposit required with deposit margins of between 3% and 15%.

FXCM

FXCM – a big player in the Forex spot market and now building its financial spread betting uk base with the recent acquisition of ODL Securities in London. The portfolio is rather limited at present, although of course a wide range of currency pairs are available. At present it is not clear which trading platform will be adopted as the two companies integrate their IT function. One big plus for FXCM is that they offer a no dealing desk execution service for their clients, so you are not trading against the broker.

The above five represent the major spread betting companies currently in the UK. They are not necessarily the best, but they are the biggest with long track records and plenty of capital behind them, so they are considered a good bet financially! Below are all the other spread betting companies which currently make up the rest of the market:

• GFT – another company that has come from the world of FX. However, where GFT differs from FXCM is in its portfolio of products which are extremely wide and include equities ( unlike FXCM at present). The spreads quoted by GFT are also very low at a minimum of 0.3 per point/pip. They have recently introduced an interesting new product which is the VIX , which provides trading opportunities in hedging with equities and other indices. The trading platform is available both in desktop and browser versions.
• Prospreads ( now owned by Capital Spreads) – the platform for professional traders with a professional direct dealing platform to match. Large deal size only.
• Finspreads the company started in 1999, and was subsequently acquired by IFX Group in 2002, with IFX then acquired itself by City Index in 2006.
• Intertrader – the company is in fact owned by PartyGaming, a FTSE 250 company and runs its operation under the London Capital Group label. The company offers its spread betting clients a unique service which is a loyalty scheme, which in effect reduces the spreads, providing a rebate of up to 10%.
• Cantor Index – part of the Cantor Fitzgerald group. The company has been around for 50 years with a 10 year track record in the spread betting industry. They have tried various markets over the years, but have recently gone back to their roots in the financial markets.
• MF Global Spreads – another of the US companies – this one is part of MF Global Holdings which is quoted on the New York Stock Exchange. They do welcome small bets but don’t actually say what size so you will need to check with them direct. They also have a spread betting promotion at present which is a free bet on the FTSE 100 which lasts for a day – as always conditions apply but worth a look!
• Delta Index – One of several Irish spread betting companies which are relatively small compared to the others above. Interestingly they also offer contracts for difference as part of their product portfolio. Remember that these companies are not regulated by the FSA.
• Worldspreads Limited – Following a recent management buyout the company is now called MarketSpreads – a very small player which started in Ireland in 200, and employs around 30 people. Like Delta Index the company offers CFD’s along with the spread betting products.
• Pan Index – Another of the Irish companies which offers 24 hour trading as it specialises in the Far East markets.
• ODL – now owned by FXCM
• Spread Co – a new player to the spread betting market
• Etrade spread betting – now owned by TD Waterhouse
• ETX Capital – the company has been around for over 40 years, having originally started life as Monecor. The company offers a wide range of products and services including Contracts for Difference.
• Shortsandlongs – one of the new breed of spread betting companies and one I particularly like as they offer a FREE guaranteed stop loss with all their trades. The company is owned by Spreadex so has the pedigree of this company backing it – well worth a look although the web site is an interesting color!
• Spreadex – a spread betting company with a long pedigree and one which has strong roots in both sports and financial spread betting.
• PaddyPowerTrader – the last of the Irish companies and one that has been around in the sports betting world for many years and is quoted on the London Stock Exchange. The financial spread betting platform is another from the London Capital Group stable.

I hope you find the above list of Bitcoin spread betting companies helpful and if you would like more details on all the above spread betting companies then simply follow the link here for a more exhaustive analysis and information on each company.

Trusted and regulated UK binary options brokers provide traders with the opportunity to speculate on a range of underlying assets, via both web based trading platforms or mobile apps. Brokers operate in a range of different ways, some develop bespoke platforms, others will use white label sites. Likewise, some are referred to as ‘over the counter’ (OTC) brokers, while others operate an exchange.

Our vetted comparison table below allows you to quickly scan the key points for any recommended, reputable broker. Our detailed expert reviews cover in-depth analysis of the platform, deposit and withdrawal options, bonuses, demo accounts and even complaints for a specific firm – and give each a ranking / rating.

Finally, below the broker comparison table list, we explain how to compare online brokers – and why some elements might be more important to you than to someone else. You should therefore, have all the information you need right here, to make the best choice for you when it comes to finding a safe binary broker.

UK Brokers – Comparison and Reviews

Spread Betting Companies

Public Sports Betting Companies

How to Find the Best Binary Broker

Identifying the best regulated binary options broker depends entirely on the needs of the specific investor. A ‘Top 5’ or even ‘Top 10’, might not contain a single brand that suits your style. A trader needs to consider a range of things when selecting a genuine premier broker to join. This will include the asset classes, or market, they want to invest in and the size of their average investment, to name but two.

Here at binaryoptions.co.uk we list all the useful facts that will help an individual to select which trading broker they would like to open an account and sign up with. We have also analysed our most frequently asked questions, and know that the following features are important when traders are deciding on a broker;

1. What is the Minimum Deposit?
2. What is the Minimum trade / Minimum Investment?
3. Does the broker offer a Demo Account?
4. Is the broker offering a signals service?
5. Does the broker provide trading via a mobile app?
6. Is there a Bonus available for new trader accounts? (Terms and conditions are equally important)
7. Which is the best binary trading platform?
8. Who offers the best asset lists and markets?
9. Which broker has the largest range of expiry times?
10. Who are the regulated binary options brokers?
11. What types of options are available? (Touch, Ladder, Range, Pairs etc)
12. Software Integration (brands that use MT4 – MetaTrader 4 for example)
13. Is a halal or Islamic account available?
14. Does the broker offer easy withdrawals, early closure or flexible deposit and payment methods?

There is also information on promos such as competitions or contest with cash prizes, or tech.

Regulated Brokers

Our broker reviews will be specific about which regulator is responsible for each broker. In the UK, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulate a number of brands already – not because they trade binary options – but because they also allow clients to trade Contracts for Difference or forex. Some binary options brokers have chosen to to register with the FCA – but this is not the same as being regulated by them. It is a key point if UK traders in particular want the piece of mind that FCA regulation gives.

Regulation gives traders a better idea if a broker is genuine, and legitimate. In the US, the CFTC regulates the financial sector. Only Nadex and CBOE are officially licensed to offer binary trading. Regulated brands in Europe will not offer services to US traders. CySec is the main European regulator. They have recently clamped down on some of the brands under their jurisdiction – cleaning up a large part of the industry in the process. CySec regulated brokers are permitted to accept UK traders. The MiFID II directives mean a Cypriot licence can be ‘passported’ for UK clients.

In Australia, ASIC (Australian Securities and Investing Commission) regulate financial institutions – including brokers. Their oversight is on par with the FCA. Malta and the Isle of Man also license some binary operators based on a gaming permit. These also offer a strong level of protection.

Binary Trading Demo Accounts

Sign up bonuses and demo accounts are two factors that are designed to entice new account holders. Both are extremely effective at attracting beginners and new customers and it is easy to see why.

Bonuses are generally paid as a deposit match, or sometimes once a set number of trades have been settled, for a set amount. There are generally restrictions, or terms and conditions that need to be met before the funds are available to be withdrawn. It is worth spending some time understanding those terms before signing up. If the terms are not likely to be met (for example a volume of trades within the first few weeks) then the bonus loses any appeal and that broker may no longer be the best choice. There are also some terms which restrict even the the withdrawal of the initial deposit – not just bonus funds. These are thankfully rare – but highlight the need for checking.

Binary options demo accounts are a great way to get introduced to binary options trading without needing to risk any funds. Investors looking longer term can ensure that the broker is the right one for them once they are trading for real money. Practise or virtual accounts offer a wealth of benefits. They also provide a great way for traders to compare brokers directly or back test trading strategies.

Binary Betting Companies Online

Minimum Deposits

For those investors looking to get involved with binary options for the first time, cheap minimum deposit requirements may be of interest. Traders looking to only risk small amounts, will find a broker with a smaller minimum deposit more appropriate. Low deposit requirements start at £5 or £10. Higher minimum deposits reach £100 or £250. Higher deposits often mean certain benefits, such as improved rates, larger bonuses or access to a higher level account such as VIP or Platinum etc.

All brokers will have a minimum trade requirement too (or minimum investment). These can vary significantly. There will be some investors for whom neither of these are a consideration and if so, these factors do not need to form part of their selection criteria. Minimum trade figures range from £1 to £25 – which is a very sizeable difference if a trader plans to trade frequently. Some newer firms offer cryptocurrency funding options – and a min trade of just $0.1 (or equivalent).

Both minimum trade, and minimum deposit figures are shown in the comparison list. We also list whether a firm accept either Paypal or Skrill for deposits or withdrawals.

How Do Binary Brokers Make Money?

How are brokers paid? It is a popular question. Brokers make money in one of two main ways explained below – both of which are based on easy-to-understand profit models.

Here’s a closer look at how binary options platforms differ from stock brokers, and where the money goes.

Customers approaching over-the-counter (OTC) binary options brokers for the first time are likely to have a question on their mind: “Where’s the commission?”.

The simple answer is that there isn’t one. Although OTC companies are commonly referred to as ‘brokers’, this isn’t strictly accurate. They are not arranging a deal or acting as a middleman; they are basically the counterparty to each of their customers’ positions. So they don’t charge a separate fee or commission for the trade. Instead, each customer is essentially betting against the house.

Here is an example – Let’s say that the broker offers contracts on a particular asset. Of course, there will always be the choice between a Put contract and a Call option. On the binary model, the basic theoretical assumption is always that an equal number of traders will take a contract on each position. It follows that the number of traders in the money will be equal to the losers (in theory).

Potential Profit

With this in mind, here’s an illustration of how an over-the-counter broker operates:

For a contract on a particular asset, a return of 80% is offered.

From its customers, the broker receives:

• £100 for contracts on Put options
• £100 for contracts on Call options
• The broker cashes in on the contracts entered into by the losing traders (on expiry), totalling £100. To the winners, it must return their stake and the profits won – i.e. £100, in addition to £80 profits on the trades.
• From all transactions, the broker is left with a profit of £20.

Shopping around: how brokers offer flexibility…

Returns offered vary from platform to platform. The level also tends to vary from asset to asset. A well-established, and stable platform with lots of users is good news from a trader’s point of view. It means that the broker is big enough to withstand a run of heavy losses without running into liquidity issues. It is also more likely to be operating at, or pretty close to the 50:50 binary model – where there is broad parity in terms of the number of customers taking a position on each side of a contract.

This gives a broker greater leeway to offer attractive arrangements to customers. A successful platform has more scope to offer higher returns – and thereby grow its customer base. Some also refund a percentage of losing trades (rebates). These often give customers the ability to opt between reduced payouts on winning trades in return for a higher refund on a losing position. All of this helps to give traders a welcome degree of control in managing risk.

Exchange Brokers

In the UK, a broker trading binaries over an exchange generally offers additional forms of trading too. For example spread betting or CFD (Contracts for difference) trading. These forms of trading are treated differently to OTC binary platforms from a regulatory point of view. For example ETX Capital and IG Index are fully regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

On pricing, comparing an exchange platforms with a pure OTC platform is tough (because you are not comparing like for like). One way is to look at the margin (difference between buy and sell prices). CMC for instance has a margin of around 4% on binary markets – helping to make it highly competitive, price-wise.

Via one of two ways:

1. As a counterparty, ensuring an ‘over round’ via payout percentages.
2. Via a spread or commission on an exchange traded model

Whichever type of platform you choose, transparency is key – and a reputable platform will always provide clear information on payout rates so you can make informed decisions. For at-a-glance info on payout rates and more detailed information on the pros and cons of all the top platforms, see our comparison list and reviews.

Binary Payouts

One key element to finding the best binary trading account, is the payout percentage offered. This is not always a straightforward comparison. Payouts will vary depending on the underlying asset being traded, and the length (expiry time) of the option. In addition, the payouts could move as the market dictates. So where one broker was originally the best price, things may subsequently change.

The best an investor can hope for is to check the payouts for the types of trades they are most likely to make, and get a feel for which firm offers the best terms most often. Again, demo accounts can help in this regard. In general, exchange traded options offer superior value.

Trade Types

Traders need a binary options broker that delivers what they need. So if you want to trade 60 second options, or end of day options – you need a broker that provides them. Not every broker offers the same type of trade. Ladder and Touch options are not always available with all firms. As mentioned, expiry choices also vary. 30 or 60 second turbo options might be popular, but they are not listed everywhere. Likewise pairs or end of week options might be restricted to just a few brands.

Early closure of trades might be another show stopper. Or the ability to use software with free signals. Traders worldwide have hugely different requirements. Where a broker operates in a certain part of the world, they may only offer the popular trades in that region. A broker in London may offer different products and assets to one in Cyprus, India or Malaysia.

Managed Accounts

Some brokers will offer managed accounts. Traders need to tread carefully in this area. There is a conflict of interest for an over the counter broker to operate a trader’s account. It is unlikely that a managed account will be operated in the best interest of the trader. If the trader makes money, the broker losses money. An employee or agent of the broker is therefore more likely to help the broker, than the trader – it is their job!

For this reason we would not recommend using a managed account – but some brokers do offer them, and where this is the case, it will be mentioned in the review.

MetaTrader 4

Software integration might be key for some traders. Where a trader prefers to use their own price analysis software or service, a broker that can integrate with that is vital. The industry standard is MetaTrader 4 (Mt4) – a platform that allows advanced technical analysis, as well as the execution of trades. The majority of brokers use MT4, and allow traders to trade with it.

Many brokers integrate with this service (and others) via a license or plugin. Leading brokers will also add their own features to the platform – in theory, enhancing it. So if a trader is looking for a firm that can execute trades via this platform, it is a huge benefit. Some brokers are also compatible with MT5 (MetaTrader 5) – but this latest version is yet to gain traction. Though those firms that have adopted it, are to some extent, future proof. It is one further thing to consider when checking the comparison list to find the best provider.

Find The Best Deal For You

As the above demonstrates, finding the best trading platform and binary broker is not always easy – but it is worth remembering that an investor is free to move between brokers whenever they choose, so even if an account turns out to be less useful than was first expected, it is no problem to up sticks and find a new trading firm. Likewise, a trader could have multiple accounts, and open trades at the broker with the best terms for that particular trade. A trader should not be tied down.

Largest Sports Betting Companies

Within our website, we provide a wealth of information that can help in choosing the best options broker, here are a selection of articles that will help;

FAQ

Best brokers for beginners?

The best brokers for beginners will be those that offer a demo account. These accounts allow absolute beginners and those new to binary options, to try out the trading platforms risk free.

The majority of brokers will offer this facility, as it gives them a chance to demonstrate their platform.

In most cases, a demo account will not require any deposit, and a trader can open multiple accounts at various brokers. Each can be tried out, and the trader can then decide which they prefer.

Another point for beginners is that they should probably focus less on bonuses. This is because it is easy to fall into over-trading, or simply not make best use of the bonus funds. More experienced traders are better placed to ensure any bonus suits their trading style, and will not impact how they trade.

Better comparison factors for beginners might be:

• Minimum trade amounts
• Ease of use of the platform
• Educational materials available.

Which is the best trading platform?

Answering a question like “Which is the best trading platform?” is hard, simply because trading platforms often come down to the preference of a specific trader. One user might prefer a simple layout, another might want a lot of information available all the time.

That said, platforms do differ in quality, both in terms of ease of use, and features. In very general terms, brands which also offer Contracts for Difference (in addition to binary options) provide more feature-rich trading platforms. Likewise, brands that have created their own platforms, will offer superior services than a ‘white label’ that uses a platform provider such us SpotOption.

So the likes of CMC and ETX Capital, all deliver a very professional trading platform. MetaTrader integration is also more likely at these brokers. This difference in quality is simply a reflection of the maturity of binary options as a product, and binary brands are catching up very quickly – while still offering something different. IQ Option, for example, deliver a hugely entertaining experience, illustrating the change in style that some brokers will deliver.

How to avoid scam brokers?

Our scams page provides a list of ways to identify if a broker is genuine and safe. We also provide a broker blacklist of services to absolutely stay away from. With new platforms able to setup quickly, it is not a complete list of brokers, but the tips on spotting a scam should help most traders.

With so many honest and genuine brokers, there is little point in risking using a cheap broker that has attracted a lot of complaints.

Brokers with low minimum deposit?

The number of binary options brokers offering a low minimum deposit is growing quickly, reflecting an increasing demand for a lower entry level from traders.

Previously, minimum deposits had been quite high, but now Binary.com, Ayrex and IQ Option all offer low minimum deposits of £10 or less. This represents a real confidence from those brokers, that traders will like their trading platform and go on to make more deposits once they are familiar with the brand.

CMC Markets also offer a low minimum deposit, only requiring the deposit to match the trade size the traders wishes to place.

Who offers demo accounts?

In our demo accounts page, we explain the benefits of using a demonstration account, and also show who provides them.

Binary Betting Companies Near Me

The majority of respected brands will offer a demo account, or practice account. In theory, it is a great way for them to ‘show off’ their platform. So those brokers that offer this type of account, obviously have faith in their platform and the technology that supports it.

Binary Betting Companies

Our comparison table shows clearly whether the broker provides a demo account or not. The in-depth review will inform readers about the specific detail of the account (if a deposit is required, or if the account is time restricted for example).

Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency is a booming area for brokers of all types. Bitcoin and Ethereum are currently the most popular, but there are over 15 different currencies already. Whether you consider them a novelty, or the future of finance, brokers now make trading them easy.

With Bitcoin in particular, anyone looking to invest or trade may have thought the process was difficult. Recently however, brokers are giving traders access to these market in a very simple way. The currencies can be traded directly, in a similar way to oil or gold. They can also be traded in a currency pair, with several brokers offering the BTCUSD pair. This can be traded just like any other forex pair.

Some brokers will accept bitcoin or other cryptocurrency as a deposit method. So traders can deposit, trade with, and be paid in Bitcoin, DASH, Litecoin or any other crypto. So whatever your view is on this new craze, it is now very easy to take a position and profit. Read our guide to trading bitcoin.

More Comparisons

• Exchange traded or Over the Counter? Which type of broker will best suit a particular trading style?
• CFD Brokers Brokers that offer CFDs in addition to binary options
• Best Binary options payouts Why is finding the best payout important and how to find the best binary payout for you.
• Binary options bonuses Why terms and conditions are crucial, and highlighting binary options brokers that allow traders to turn down any unsuitable bonuses

Further Reading