Best Horse Race Betting Sites In UK
We’ve identified the top horse racing betting sites for punters to bet on horses online. Here, we’ll go through our favourite horse racing bookmakers, identifying what makes them different to one another and their various pros and cons. Later, we’ll explain the benefits of playing with the top horse racing betting sites UK as opposed to their competitors.
Our Verdict: The Best Horse betting site is bet365. They offer ante-post, a free game, price boosts – including super boosts which sometimes are incredible odds, extra place races, and best odds guaranteed from 8am each day. They also make a price promise on ITV racing, where they won’t be beaten on price for all UK & Irish races on ITV.
Key Horse Races to Bet on This Week
All eyes head to Newmarket this week as the Cesarewitch Meeting takes place with the two Group 1 events of the Fillies’ Mile and Dewhurst Stakes providing a platform for the two-year-olds, while the Cesarewitch Handicap is the feature betting race on Saturday. Over at Chepstow the Jumps clicks up a gear on Friday with the Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle, so it’s another cracking weekend of top notch horse racing.
- Newmarket: Fillies’ Mile (Friday) – Charlie Appleby’s unbeaten Desert Flower is one of the standout names in the field for the Group 1 Fillies’ Mile, which is run at 3:35pm at Newmarket on Friday afternoon. A race that can throw up some 1000 Guineas clues for next season, the one-mile event is set to be a competitive renewal.
- Newmarket: Dewhurst Stakes (Saturday) – Some of the premier two-year-old colts will do battle in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket at 3pm on Saturday and Aidan O’Brien’s The Lion In Winter is set to be a warm order for the race that could provide some form lines for next season’s 2000 Guineas.
- Newmarket: Cesarewitch Handicap (Saturday) – One of the longest races in the Flat racing calendar, the 2m 2f Cesarewitch Handicap is off at 3:40pm on Saturday afternoon and it’s set to be a thrilling betting heat. It will see Flat and National Hunt trainers unleash their star stayers and it’s always a hugely competitive event.
Which Are The Best Horse Racing Betting Websites?
Here at GG, we’ve assessed all of the best horse racing betting sites, to find you, the punter, the top sign-up offers on the market and also the horse racing betting site, or sites, that we feel represent the industry leader. We’ve produced a short list of some of the best horse racing bookies below, providing insight into what makes them stand out from the competition and what we feel they could do to improve their product. Listed below are the most reputable horse racing betting sites, reviewed by our horse racing betting experts here at GG;
1. bet365 Horse Betting – £30 Free bets
Arguably the biggest name currently amongst the horse racing online betting sites, bet365 was founded in 2000 and has become a bookmaking behemoth, with its website and app features considered to be some of the best around.
Key Horse Racing Features
bet365 is known for its competitive horse racing markets, where they are often either outright or joint best price. They also offer customers features such as each-way extra on most horse racing markets, betting not to win, not to be placed, and even betting without the favourite. One of the key advantages of using bet365 on horse racing betting is that from 8am on the day of the race they offer Best Odds Guaranteed. There’s also a Cash Out option on horse racing bets, so they offer a Cash Out on singles whilst the race is taking place, while in multiple bets they also offer a Cash Out option before the next leg runs
Horse Racing Betting Markets
bet365’s competitive odds make them considered one of, if not top, of the betting sites horse racing focused. bet365 provides odds on every meeting in the UK and Ireland as well as an array of International fixtures. They offer forecast and tricast betting on horse racing, as well as the ability to place an each way bet. In some of these each way markets they can offer extra places.
Horse Racing Betting Offers & Specials
bet365 currently has an excellent new customer sign-up offer in place providing £30 in free bets when you place a £10 bet. bet365 is a big promoter of terrestrial horse racing coverage and they can also offer some fabulous racing super boosts for some of the biggest races shown each week on ITV Racing. bet365 also runs a promotion that provides customers with a risk free bet (up to £50) in ITV races if you back a 4/1 or bigger priced winner of the previous race.
User Experience
For a horse racing betting site, bet365’s user experience is second to none, it is incredibly easy to both deposit and withdraw on the site and their customer service is excellent.
What We Like / Can Be Improved
bet365’s offers are some of the best amongst the horse racing bookmakers be it free bets, each-way extra or their ITV Racing promotions. Their vast horse racing sportsbook, offering betting markets on a huge number of global races, also makes them one of the best horse racing bookies around. Due to bet365 having such a lot of options in horse racing markets, this can lead to frequent price changes, something the company could look to amend in the future. On bet365 they also offer live streaming on all UK & Irish horse racing, but one downfall is that you have to have a funded account or have placed a bet in the last 24 hours.
Bet365 Betting Offer: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
2. Ladbrokes Horse Betting – £20 Free Bets
It’s rare that you’ll walk down a high street in the UK without seeing a Ladbrokes. Since the company’s inception back in 1902, it has become something of an institution amongst horse racing bookmakers, and of course, horse racing punters. As betting has evolved, so has Ladbrokes, with their brand now amongst the very best horse racing betting sites UK.
Key Horse Racing Features
Ladbrokes offers extra places on featured races throughout a day’s racing, and their best odds guaranteed function ensures punters get the top price available on their selections. In the horse racing markets, Ladbrokes offer punters the chance to back their selection to win by a certain distance or give them place insurance so that if their selection finishes either second or third they get their stake back. One of the huge positives of Ladbrokes is that they offer boosts that are available on horse racing, so you can sometimes get a bigger price with Ladbrokes than you can with other bookmakers.
Horse Racing Betting Markets
Ladbrokes have markets available on a wide range of horse racing markets throughout not only the UK and Ireland but also in places such as France, South Africa, India, and the US. Ladbrokes offer competitive and fair odds when considering the vast amount of racing they cover on a daily basis.
Horse Racing Betting Offers & Specials
Ladbrokes provides customers with odds boosts so that they can enhance the prices of their selections and they provide punters with free bets, although these tend to be smaller than those offered by the leading horse racing online betting sites.
User Experience
Ladbrokes has a large number of banking options available for both deposits and withdrawals, whilst you can also go directly to a Ladbrokes shop to withdraw money as cash, which is a relatively unique feature amongst the betting sites horse racing orientated.
What We Like / Can Be Improved
The fact that you can deposit and withdraw using a large number of methods makes Ladbrokes stand out from some of the other horse racing betting sites. Their daily extra place offers races and price boosts are also considered solid features. If anything can be improved with the site it is an extension to the promotions currently available.
Ladbrokes Betting Offer: Bet £5 Get £20 in Free Bets
3. Sky Bet Horse Betting – £30 Free Bets
Sky Bet was founded in 2001 and has developed into one of the leading horse racing online betting sites in the UK. With its name now attached to many of the biggest races in the calendar, and famous sporting faces regularly seen promoting the brand, Sky Bet is quickly becoming one of the most popular places to bet on horses online.
Key Horse Racing Features
Sky Bet have a raft of features for both new and existing customers to enjoy. As well as extra place races, the site leads the way in horse racing specials, with their RequestABet feature allowing players to create their own bets by messaging Sky Bet – these bets can be added to Sky Bet’s site for other players to bet on themselves. Sky Bet don’t offer best odds guaranteed on the extra place races, but they do offer in-running betting and free streaming of live UK & Irish horse racing.
Horse Racing Betting Markets
Sky Bet’s betting markets are available on a huge amount of global horse racing markets, with the regular UK and Ireland action supplemented by extensive coverage of meetings in the USA, France, South Africa, Japan and Australia. Sky Bet’s odds are possibly not the very best around, however, and unlike most firms, their Best Odds Guaranteed function is only applicable to races where there isn’t a feature (such as extra places).
Horse Racing Betting Offers & Specials
Without a doubt, a large part of what makes Sky Bet one of the most popular horse racing betting sites is its extensive list of betting offers and specials available for both new and existing customers. Just one of these is the Sky Bet Club, if you opt into the Sky Bet Rewards Club and bet a certain amount through the week, Sky Bet will provide you with a reward of your choice, which can be anything from a Free Bet, to Free Spins at the casino. Sky Bet can also offer daily boosts on a particular horse to win or a trainer or jockey to land a winner at a selected fixture.
User Experience
You can use a variety of payment methods to deposit/withdraw money with Sky Bet, and nearly enough all of the major debit card companies are accepted. What makes Sky Bet slightly different from the other horse racing bookmakers, however, is that it allows customers to use PayPal as a payment method.
What We Like / Can Be Improved
Sky Bet’s various promotions and features make it stand out from the competition, whilst its mobile app is easy to navigate and has a wide range of sports for players to choose from. If anything could be improved, they could extend the Best Odds Guaranteed function so this covers races with extra places, horses with price boosts and international races. At the moment you have to be part of the Sky Bet Club to gain best odds guaranteed, so you have had to spend £30 the previous week on selections at Evens or bigger, so they could scrap those qualification requirements.
Sky Bet Betting Offer: Place any Bet and Get £30 in Free Bets
4. Paddy Power Horse Betting – £30 Free Bets
Irish bookmaker Paddy Power was formed in 1988 beginning with on-course betting and shops, they are now one of the top horse racing online betting sites. Famous for its outlandish marketing campaigns, which have been seen at International football tournaments as well as some of the biggest horse racing festivals, the company is very popular amongst punters who want to bet on horses online.
Key Horse Racing Features
Paddy Power produces various racing features to make them stand out from other horse racing betting sites. Tips from the likes of former leading Jumps jockey Ruby Walsh are available on their Paddy Power News site, a microsite popular amongst social media users. Paddy Power offers best odds guaranteed on all UK & Irish racing from 8am on the day of the race, but they don’t offer BOG on Lucky 15 bets.
Horse Racing Betting Markets
Paddy Power’s horse racing betting markets cover races in the UK, Ireland, France, North America, South Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, South America and the Rest of the World. Paddy Power’s betting markets allow punters to lengthen their odds by backing a horse to win by a certain distance.
Horse Racing Betting Offers & Specials
Paddy Power is a horse racing betting site well known for its betting promotions. Their daily games, such as Beat the Drop, allow players to win a maximum of £1,000 by answering 15 questions correctly.
Paddy Power’s horse racing promotions include daily extra place races but perhaps the most popular is the Paddy Power Rewards Club, where you can earn a Free Bet of up to £10 if you place five qualifying bets online or in shop. Paddy Power Rewards Club members can also earn gifts away from the site, such as discounts on takeaways, match screenings and match day drinks/food. For the big horse racing festivals as well Paddy Power can often provide free bets from £1 to £25.
User Experience
Paddy Power is known amongst horse racing betting sites for its excellent customer service and is reliable when it comes to withdrawing and depositing money. The company accepts a variety of banking methods, and somewhat unusually compared with other horse racing online betting sites, you can deposit into your account in a shop or via bank transfer.
What We Like / Can Be Improved
Paddy Power’s promotions for both new and existing customers, in particular their Rewards Club, is very strong when compared to some of the other best horse racing bookies’ equivalents. Their horse racing markets, and their special Power Prices, are often boosted significantly compared to the usual odds. Paddy Power’s regular betting market odds aren’t really considered any better than average, however, and this is something that they could look to improve upon in the future. The lack of best odd guaranteed on Lucky bets is certainly a negative.
Paddy Power Betting Offer: Bet £5, Get £30 in Free Bets
5. William Hill Horse Betting – £30 Free Bets
William Hill is one of the longest standing horse racing bookmakers, having been founded back in 1934. Seen on UK highstreets for many years, William Hill has transitioned into one of the best horse racing betting sites in the UK and their impressive sportsbook covers a large number of sports from around the world.
Key Horse Racing Features
William Hill has a variety of racing features for punters who are looking to bet on horses online. Their Daily Enhanced Odds provide a large number of offers on that day’s racing, from odds boosts on well-fancied horses to win by a certain distance, to runners backed to finish in a certain position in a race i.e. 1st, 2nd or 3rd.
Horse Racing Betting Markets
William Hill’s betting markets are some of the best amongst the horse racing betting sites UK and the company is well known for producing their odds earlier than most of their competitors. Their betting markets cover racing from every corner of the Earth, with the UK, Ireland, Europe, Africa, Australia & New Zealand, Asia, US & Canada and South America just some of the markets covered.
William Hill operates a key system on their betting markets which shows if races have extra places, enhanced odds, have resulted, or are available to watch online.
Horse Racing Betting Offers & Specials
William Hill offers some excellent promotions and specials that are unique compared to other horse racing betting sites. Daily games such as The Bonus Drop, and Scratch of the Day are available, and punters can tweet William Hill using the hashtag YourOdds to get their own prices on a particular market.
User Experience
William Hill customers can deposit and withdraw using all of the popular banking methods and have some other methods that make them stand out from the other horse racing betting sites UK. Their online casino accepts methods such as Neosurf and even mobile billing, and you can pay into your William Hill account using William Hill Cash Direct vouchers, which can be purchased in shop and then used to fund your online account.
What We Like / Can Be Improved
William Hill has longstanding ties to the horse racing industry and their sportsbook reflects this with a wide range of markets available on horse racing. Their price boosts feature allow you to choose which horses odds you want to boost, and as well as this there are also pre-determined Daily Enhanced Odds available on a variety of races throughout the day. If anything could be improved, their website and app is perhaps not as polished as some of the best horse racing betting sites and could be developed. Also, they do not offer best odds guaranteed on all horse racing, so they can certainly offer that promotion that some other bookmakers do.
William Hill Betting Offer: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
6. Betfair Horse Betting – £50 Free Bets
Betfair Sportsbook offers a fantastic range of horse racing betting markets from tracks worldwide. On their main horse racing page, races are easily found and can be filtered by Great Britain and Ireland or all races from across the globe, giving you quick access to a wide range of betting markets.
Key Horse Racing Features
One of the main features of the Betfair Sportsbook horse racing section is the ability to live stream most races available to bet on, whether racing in Great Britain and Ireland or France, USA and Chile.
Another key feature is the ‘Horse Finder’, which allows customers to select filters when searching for runners. This search feature can find course and distance winners, top jockeys and trainers and last-time-out winners. It is a great tool to aid horse racing punters in selecting their bets.
Horse Racing Betting Markets
Betfair offers all the usual horse racing betting markets you would expect to find at a UK sportsbook. You can place win and each-way singles on every race, and on specific races, they also offer extra markers such as Lengthen Your Odds, Place Only and #OddsOnThat, where different outcomes on horses in the race and priced up. Forecast and tricast bets are also on offer alongside Betting Without the Favourite.
Horse Racing Betting Offers & Specials
Betfair offer a Stat Of The Day Boost, which sees them boost a particular horse to a bigger price and this is often the best price available in the industry.
Another horse racing offer on Betfair is their extra place races. This is an excellent offer to look out for when betting on horses each-way in races with many runners. Having an additional place or two can make a difference in how often you land some profit. So keep an eye on the races where Betfair offers more places than its competitors.
Betfair also offers daily Odds Boosts, which can be on selections such as jockeys to ride a certain number of winners, the amount of winning SP favourites at a specific meeting or how far a horse will win by. These boosts are another excellent way to enhance your winnings on horse racing.
User Experience
The Betfair sportsbook is extremely popular in the UK and is easy to use. The horse racing section has everything you need, and navigation is seamless. It is easy to deposit and withdraw with Betfair using Visa, MasterCard and PayPal methods. They also have a handy help section and live chat function if you have questions.
What We Like / Can Be Improved
It is easy to see why Betfair is so popular with its easy-to-find markets and excellent choice of live streaming on horse racing. They also offer extra markets on many UK and Irish horse racing giving customers more selection on what they can bet on.
They also offer different promotions such as the bet and get offer and boosts, which reward customers who bet with Betfair.
One slight negative of Betfair is that their Best Odds Guaranteed offer does not apply to multiple bets and must be placed after 8 am on the day of the race.
Betfair Betting Offer: Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets
7. BetGoodwin Horse Betting – 50% Back As Free Bet On First Day Losses Up To £25
BetGoodwin launched in 2021 and now offers a solid horse racing proposition in their sportsbook. When navigating to their horse racing page, upcoming races from around the world are visible, and it is not restricted to Great Britain and Ireland.
Key Horse Racing Features
A key feature of the BetGoodwin horse racing section is their Best Odds Guaranteed from 10 a.m. on the day of the race for all UK and Irish racing. This is a great feature when placing horse racing bets with BetGoodwin.
Another feature of horse racing on BetGoodwin is the selection of available international markets. Many online sportsbooks offer international horse racing better, but not many offer as many markets as BetGoodwin. Racing from Spain, Japan and Argentina are just some of the global betting markets you may not find elsewhere.
Horse Racing Betting Markets
It is easy to place popular horse racing bets with BetGoodwin, such as win and each-way singles and accumulators. These can easily be found on the individual racecards and added to the bet slip. They also offer betting without markets on specific races and top two and three finishing markets.
Horse Racing Betting Offers & Specials
As mentioned, BetGoodwin is at the forefront of Best Odds Guaranteed on UK and Irish horse racing. Still, they also have several other horse racing promotions to make their product attractive.
These can be found on their promotions page and include the following:
- Double Result Payout – BetGoodwin Pay First Past The Post
- Up To £100 Free Bet If Beaten By A Nose
- Fell At The Last When In Front Free Bet Up To £100
- Second To A 50/1+ Free Bet Up To £100
These concessions on UK and Irish horse racing and great promotions reward unlucky customers with free bets to match their stakes.
User Experience
BetGoodwin is relatively new to the UK market, but their sportsbook is gaining popularity. The horse racing product is laid out, and everything is accessible easily on both mobile and desktop. In addition, they have a live chat and support email address which respond in a timely manner to any queries you may have about horse racing or BetGoodwin in general.
What We Like / Can Be Improved
It’s great to see BetGoodwin trying new and innovative ways to attract customers to their sportsbook and horse racing. It is rare to see so many specific horse racing promotions live simultaneously, and it is possible to get those free bets when you have been an unlucky loser.
We would like to see live streaming on horse racing become a feature on BetGoodwin, at least for UK and Irish racing. This is relatively standard across many sportsbooks in the UK and provides customers with a way to watch their bets.
It would also be great for BetGoodwin to offer more information on their racecards from the Racing Post, Sporting Life or Timeform to give customers more in-depth knowledge before making their selections.
Bet Goodwin Betting Offer: 50% Back As A Free Bet On First Day Losses Up To £25
8. Tote Horse Betting – £30 Free Bets + £10 Casino Bonus
The Tote not only offer the Tote Pools, but they now offer a Tote Sportsbook that allows horse racing punters to place their bets on a normal sportsbook. So, while they have the facility to place a bet within their Pools they are also offering fixed odds now in their Sportsbook, so punters with the Tote can get two products in one.
Key Horse Racing Features
The key feature of the Tote is the pool betting system, but now with a Sportsbook available for customers then they have options for horse racing bettors to use. With both the Tote Pools and Tote Sportsbook available for customers then they offer a wide range of products with the Tote Placepot, Tote Quadpot and Tote Jackpot proving extremely popular.
As the demand of punters controls the Tote Pools market, this can result in payouts different to that of the industry Starting Price used by many online sportsbooks. The Tote Guarantee means they will always pay at least the Starting Price on Win bets if the Tote dividend is less. This guarantee applies to all bets on UK and Irish racing, meaning punters can be safe knowing they are not missing out on any winnings. The payouts can also be significantly larger than regular sportsbooks. However, when placing a bet on the Sportsbook you are aware what your return will be.
Horse Racing Betting Markets On Tote Pools
The simple bets on the Tote are Win and Place. This is similar to each-way betting at a standard sportsbook; however, on the Tote, the stakes have to be entered separately, and each Win or Place selection has its own odds.
Another main focus of the Tote is Exacta, Trifecta and Swinger bets. These bets involve selecting multiple horses to finish in a race’s top two or three places. The Exacta and Trifecta bets are similar to a Forecast, or Tricast bet on a standard UK sportsbook. The bigger the odds of your selections in these bets, the bigger the payouts will be if successful.
Finally, multi-race bets are also available on the Tote in the form of the following:
- Placepot: Selecting a horse in the first six races at a meeting to place
- Quadpot: Selecting a horse in the final four races of a meeting to place
- Jackpot: Selecting a horse to win the first six races of a meeting
- Scoop6: Weekend pool bet where selecting six horses to win or place will see a return
Horse Racing Betting Offers & Specials
With both the Tote Pools and Tote Sportsbook available for punters then they can opt to choose which ever market they have available. Tote Sportsbook have a fabulous new sign-up offer that can be used on horse racing, while they can also offer big prices in the various pools markets on the Tote.
You can also earn a free bet of up to £10 with the Tote every week with their Stayers Credit promotion. If you place six bets of £10 or more within a week, you will be rewarded with a £10 free bet on Mondays.
User Experience
It can take some time to get used to the Tote betting jargon when it comes to the non-Sportsbook section, but it is a unique way to bet on horse racing in the UK and worldwide. The site has a clean layout, and it is easy to find information on horses due to their collaboration with the Racing Post within the racecard.
They also have a quick-to-respond live chat feature, making it easy to deposit and withdraw funds quickly.
What We Like / Can Be Improved
We think it’s great that the Tote continues expanding and providing an alternative service to the UK horse racing betting markets, but it’s even better now that they offer a Tote Sportsbook brand as well.. It makes it easy to bet on international race meetings and into a pool rather than set odds by bookmakers. This creates a greater choice for punters, which is never a bad thing. The Tote Guarantee also means you never miss out on winnings, and they will match the Starting Price of other online betting sites.
The Tote could provide more promotions and reward higher-staking customers with an increased incentive to continue using this service – more free bets and offers are available elsewhere.
Tote Betting Offer: Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets + £10 Casino Bonus
9. Betfred Horse Betting – £50 Free Bets
Betfred is one of the oldest online sportsbooks and is well-known for its online and high-street presence in the UK. Racing from Great Britain and Ireland is a key focus of the online Betfred sportsbook, where daily meetings and future markets are easily accessed from the homepage.
Key Horse Racing Features
Betfred offers an excellent live-streaming service on horse racing, with races from around the world available at the click of a button. This applies to UK and Irish racing, plus racing from France, America and South America.
A unique feature on Betfred gives horse racing punters the chance to build their own racecard. Betfred customers can add individual races to a racecard before viewing their personalised racecards to find all the information they want in the same place. This makes it much easier for customers to view the races they want to bet on.
Horse Racing Betting Markets
As mentioned, Betfred is one of the more traditional online sportsbooks in the UK. They offer traditional horse racing markets but have added extra markets to satisfy the needs of their customers. For example, they offer insurance betting on specific races, head-to-head markets, and faller insurance betting. This range of markets helps Betfred keep its place as one of the best horse racing betting sites.
Horse Racing Betting Offers & Specials
Super Extra Place Races is a Betfred offer that horse racing customers on Betfred will want to take notice of. This can result in Betfred paying two extra places on specific races daily. Perfect for customers who wish to improve their chances of their bigger priced selections making a profit. They also offer standard Extra Place Races on multiple daily races where one extra place is available.
Free Bet If 2nd is another daily horse racing promotion that Betfred offers. This only applies to specific races daily, and the maximum refund is £10. However, it is still a promotion to consider when using Betfred for your horse racing bets.
Betfred also offer Best Odds Guaranteed on UK & Irish racing, while the treble the odds on one winner in a Lucky 15 bet is also another very popular offer they have.
User Experience
Although Betfred has been around for a sustained period, its website does not feel as sleek as some of its competitors. Everything is easy enough to find, but the layout could be improved to make it easier on the eye. That being said, they offer great customer support and an excellent choice of payment methods.
What We Like / Can Be Improved
The layout of the horse racing section could be improved to find markets easier and quicker. For example, it can take extra time to find international meetings or additional markets for a specific race.
Betfred offers several daily promotions, and the extra place races can be very beneficial for horse racing punters to take advantage of.
Betfred Betting Offer: Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets
10. SBK Horse Betting – £40 Free Bets
SBK is the online sportsbook site of betting exchange Smarkets. They are an app-only sportsbook that prides itself on offering the best odds around. The app is easy to navigate and is an excellent sportsbook for horse racing punters on the move.
Key Horse Racing Features
SBK is committed to providing the best possible odds on sports, including horse racing. As a result, they can often be found to have some of the best odds around compared to other sports betting sites offering the same markets. SBK offers a stripped-back app, but the odds can make up for this.
UK and Irish racing is available to be streamed live on the SBK app, which makes it easier for horse racing bettors to keep track of their bets on the go. However, some international meetings on offer do not have live-streaming options, which could be improved.
Horse Racing Betting Markets
Like Tote betting, SBK offers separate win-and-place betting odds on their sportsbook. This allows customers to set different stakes for Win and Place bets – a change from traditional each-way betting.
Horse Racing Betting Offers & Specials
Offers and Promotions are limited on the SBK sportsbook. They offer bonuses from time to time for existing customers, but regular promotions seen on other UK horse racing betting sites do not feature on SBK.
As mentioned, they focus on having the best odds on the market rather than supplying customers with special offers.
User Experience
SBK can only be used on a smartphone app which may turn some users away from their sportsbook. However, once downloading the app, it is easy to use, and markets are easy to find. It is also a great way to stream UK and Irish horse racing live on your smartphone. It is easy to contact customer support, and the available payment options are in line with other UK sportsbooks.
What We Like / Can Be Improved
The app-only experience of SBK is likely to divide opinion, but it does have its place in an age when many horse racing bettors are on the move. Its sleek design makes it easy to place bets within the app.
SBK is known for the generous odds on all sports, including horse racing, and this is great for anyone placing a bet on horse racing in the UK, especially those at bigger prices as they are likely to be much bigger in odds than some competitors.
It would be great to see some more consistent offers available from SBK to reward its existing customers, and a loyalty programme could also be included in this.
SBK Betting Offer: Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets
New Horse Racing Betting Sites
There are plenty of new horse racing betting sites available for customers to use that all have some fabulous offers and promotions available. We pick out some of the most eye-catching ones here:
1. BetMGM Horse Betting – £40 Free Bets
Formed in 2018, BetMGM is a behemoth from the US Sports arena that has branched out to the UK and offers prices on all UK & Irish horse racing.
Key Horse Racing Features
BetMGM offer prices on all UK & Irish horse racing, while they also offer ante-post betting on all the big horse racing events including the Cheltenham Festival, Grand National and Royal Ascot.
Their Each Way Plus promotion gives punters the chance to gain more places for their each-way betting, so they have better chances of landing a return on their each-way bets on the racing.
Horse Racing Betting Markets
BetMGM offer a whole variety of different markets on each horse race, as not only can you bet a horse to win or to be placed, but you can also bet in the ‘Without The Favourite’ market and also bet a Forecast or Tricast. They also offer Match Betting, where you pick one selection from two picks and whoever finishes first then that selection is the winner. BetMGM also offer ‘Lengthen The Odds’, where your price is enhanced if you choose a winning margin, so if you select your horse to win by one or more lengths then you get bigger odds, but the selection needs to win by your pre-selected margin.
Horse Racing Betting Offers & Specials
BetMGM have a whole host of rewards available and they provide daily odds boosts on horse racing, where you can win a maximum of £1k per boost. You can also get a £5 weekly free sports bet with BetMGM which can be placed on horse racing.
What We Like / Can Be Improved
BetMGM don’t currently offer Best Odds Guaranteed online, which is a notable negative for horse racing punters, but their website is very easy-to-use and being relatively new to the world of UK betting then they will show significant improvements. With a superb sign-up offer available then they are likely to be one of the must-have accounts.
BetMGM Betting Offer: Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets
2. CopyBet Horse Betting – £50 Free Bets
Established in 2016, CopyBet is one of the newest bookmaking firms available to use and they offer a terrific horse racing product and have a superb new sign-up deal of £50 in free bets when you bet £10, which is one of the best on the market.
Key Horse Racing Features
CopyBet offer prices on all UK horse racing and one of their key features is they offer best odds guaranteed and this is on early prices and on board prices as well.
They also offer extra places on selected races, which can prove ideal for a big-runner handicap at Royal Ascot or the Cheltenham Festival
Horse Racing Betting Markets
They may not be the most recognisable horse racing firm on the market, but CopyBet do offer all the vital markets needed when placing a bet. With the ability to offer win and place betting, as well as forecast betting then the CopyBet allow the horse racing bettor to place their daily bets or ante-post bets.
Horse Racing Betting Offers & Specials
With Best Odds Guaranteed available with CopyBet then punters are in the safe knowledge that if their starting price is bigger then they will get paid at those extra odds, while the extra places available on selected races each days provides extra value. They may not offer all the specials and offers that some rivals do, but relatively new to the game they will build on the product.
What We Like / Can Be Improved
The layout of the CopyBet website is very busy with lots of different colours for each sport, but once you have found the racing section then it’s pretty easy to work round. There’s no need for a new window to be opened up in your desktop browser when you click round the site, but on the whole it’s a pretty straightforward site to use.
CopyBet Betting Offer: Bet £10 Get £50 in Free Bets
3. Midnite Horse Betting – £20 Free Bets
Established in 2015, Midnite is operated by Dribble Media Ltd and they are based in the Great Britain. Offering a horse racing product for customers, Midnite’s sign up offers allows new customers to get 4 x £5 free bets on horse racing when they bet £10, while they also get a casino bonus of £10 as well.
Key Horse Racing Features
Midnite off odds on all UK & Irish horse racing and they not only allow you to place a bet on the winner or each way, but you can also bet on different markets when it comes to place betting. So, in a big-runner race you can bet on a Top 2 Finish, Top 3 Finish or Top 4 Finish, so you can get some decent value.
Horse Racing Betting Markets
With no ante-post betting available on horse racing then Midnite focus firmly on the day-to-day product and do offer competitive prices in that market, but they do lack the depth some other bookmaking firms have to offer.
Horse Racing Betting Offers & Specials
Midnite have very limited betting offers and specials available on horse racing, but they do offer competitive prices for the customers, so have to be applauded for that.
What We Like / Can Be Improved
Midnite’s website is relatively easy to use and for a day-to-day racing product it’s easy to navigate around the different meetings. However, with no best odds guaranteed available, as well as limited specials then they have a long way to go to compete with some of their rivals.
Midnite Betting Offer: Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets + £10 Casino Bonus
4. Betano Horse Betting – £40 Free Bets
Founded in 2019, Betano is another new horse racing betting site that offers odds on all UK & Irish horse racing, as well as ante-post betting on the likes of the Cheltenham Festival, Royal Ascot and the Grand National.
Key Horse Racing Features
Betano provide odds on all UK & Irish horse racing and also offer prices from racing around the world including the USA, Brazil, France and many more. It provides competitive prices on all all the action and provides odds for all tomorrow’s racing as well, so it has plenty of positive features.
Horse Racing Betting Markets
With daily racing odds and ante-post betting available on not only UK & Irish racing, but also on international racing then Betano offer a lot of markets. On the day-to-day racing product they offer not only win and each-way betting, but you can bet on the ‘Without The Favourite’ market and also the ‘Lengthen Your Odds’ market, where you can enhance your odds by selecting a horse to win by a specific distance or more.
Horse Racing Betting Offers & Specials
Betano offer some daily horse racing specials and these can be on things like a certain jockey or trainer to have a certain number of winners, or you can bet on how many favourites are going to win at a certain meeting. They have a real variety of horse racing specials available on a daily basis, while during the Cheltenham Festival they will have more available.
What We Like / Can Be Improved
Betano’s lack of Best Odds Guaranteed is a negative when looking at it from a horse racing betting perspective, but with the variety of markets available to the customer then they offer a pretty decent service. The website is easy to navigate and it’s easy to switch around from race to race when putting multiples on.
Betano Betting Offer: Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets
How Do You Sign Up With One of The Above Bookmakers?
Signing up with a UK bookmaker who offers horse racing betting is straightforward and can be completed in minutes. However, it is essential to note that only one account per person can be created for each bookmaker, while some offers will only apply to one individual per household or IP address.
Most UK betting sites will require personal details such as name, address, email and phone number for verification purposes before adding a payment method such as Visa, MasterCard or PayPal. In addition, some customers may need to provide extra details for verification, such as personal ID (Passport or Driving Licence), to complete the verification process.
Once your account has been verified, you can make your first deposit, place bets and withdraw freely on all the betting sites we reviewed above. If players are betting large sums of money, they may have to provide extra information to continue betting without restrictions, such as proof of income and source of funds.
The Benefits of Placing a Bet with Trustworthy Horse Racing Betting Sites?
This section looks closely at the top three benefits of placing a bet with a trustworthy horse racing betting site.
1. Safety & Security
Using a horse racing betting site regulated and commissioned by the UK Gambling Commission means customers can always be sure their money is secure. In addition, if there were ever a dispute about transactions, there would be a regulated process to solve any issues.
2. Customer Support
Most trustworthy sites offer excellent customer service options, which include 24/7 live chat and phone support, where questions can be answered quickly by trained and qualified agents.
3. Regular Promotions
There is a lot of competition for players in the UK; therefore, horse racing betting sites will continuously offer promotions and special offers to get players to bet with them. Using these sites means customers can take advantage of some generous offers all year round.
How We Rank Horse Racing Bookies
We have explained which bookmakers we believe offer the very best horse racing betting services, but it is also essential to explain why we think that and what stands out for us. So here we will show the key elements of a horse racing betting site, what we look for, why some sites are better than others, and ultimately, what makes a site the best, in our opinion.
- Sports & bet types – We want players to have a choice, and this comes in two ways, the sports on offer and the bets you can place. You may only want to bet on horse racing now, maybe not in the future, so always look for a choice to keep doors open for the future.
- User-friendly platform – Betting should be easy, and your chosen betting site should help make things as easy as possible for all players. We look for a user-friendly platform with a simple menu system to follow, taking you to your chosen markets in just a few clicks.
- Welcome bonus – The rise of bonuses in betting has been tremendous for players, and the biggest is available for new players. We want you to capitalise in full on that, so always look out for lucrative horse racing bonuses that you can claim when you sign up with a new site.
- Regular promotions – The welcome bonus is not all we look at. We also look for regular promotions, especially those based around horse racing, which can enhance your betting, such as money back offers, enhanced each-way betting, and free bets.
- Deposit and withdrawal methods – Getting funds in and out of your account is essential, and it is something that you need to feel comfortable doing. We look for a choice here so that you can use something you are comfortable with, and hopefully, you’ve used it before.
- Customer service – The hope is that you never need the customer service team but having robust options in place is a great way to feel safe on a site. We look for easily accessible teams, both in terms of opening hours and contact methods, to put you at ease.
- Legal betting sites – The final element is the most important. You must find a legal betting site to play with, do not take any risks here. Legal sites have the correct UK Gambling Commission licence in place, so you know they are regulated and uphold standards that make them excel as great betting sites.
Read more about our methodology for rating and ranking Bookmakers here
Key decision making factors when choosing a Horse Betting Site
If you are at the point where you are ready to decide which betting site you want to use, there is a final decision process to go through, looking at the most critical factors of the site to determine where you are going to play.
Bookmaker Odds
The odds you take directly affect your profit and loss while betting, so they are vitally important. Therefore, you should always lookout for the very best odds you can find – go with a betting site that has a reputation for delivering highly competitive odds, and on some occasions, being the best on the market.
Bookmaker Racing Promotions
Most bookmakers offer promotions and bonuses to players, but as a horse racing fan, you want to find racing promotions. So look out for these, which should enhance your betting, with offers such as enhanced each-way betting, money back offers, bonuses on multiples and free bets for winners, some of the best to look out for.
Mobile Betting
Want to bet on your mobile, like many punters now want to do? If that’s the case, the mobile betting platform is imperative for you to look at. Is this an app or a mobile site? What is navigation like – can you get into the horse racing markets and place your bets quickly, using the menu system? All very important for mobile players.
Coverage of Meetings
Of course, bookmakers have full coverage of racing in the UK and Ireland, but what about elsewhere? If you want to discover more racing, you need to be on the lookout for betting sites with solid international racing coverage. Most cover the big meetings, but if you want regular international racing, you need to check out each betting site. Here at GG we cover all the UK and Ireland horse racing every day, we provide free racing tips, results, nap of the day and lucky 15 tips.
How to increase your chances of picking a winning horse
We all aim to pick winners, but of course, this is not as easy as just choosing horses and watching them win. You need to study the race and work out which horse is best positioned to win the contest. Here are some factors to consider when making your picks
- Form – Is your horse in good recent form, and have they run well in their most recent races? Horses will go through good and bad runs, so you should try to find horses in form and running well.
- Conditions – The conditions of a race will significantly impact the outcome. Does your horse like the conditions that the race will be run in, and have they proven form on the ground – is this an unknown or a big worry? Make sure you factor in the ground conditions.
- Weight – In handicap races, horses carry varying weights to create a level playing field. Does your horse have a nice weight that is in line with its ability, or are they being asked to carry too much weight?
- Distance – Races are run over several different distances – is this the right one for your horse? Some horses can run over multiple distances, so make sure your horse is not in a race that has an unsuitable distance for their running style.
Bookmaker Odds: Why is it critical to understand how they work
The odds you take on a bet will determine what you win. These odds are usually shown as fractional odds for UK punters, though some people prefer decimal odds, and betting sites allow you to change that.
As an example, a horse may be shown as 2/1 – if you were to place a £10 bet on that horse and it won you would win £30 – £20 profit plus your £10 stake returned.
The key with odds is knowing how they work compared to each other so that you can pick out the best odds from a list. For example, you need to know that 13/8 is larger than 6/4, and by knowing that and placing your bets at the right time, you will maximise the profit you make.
Most Profitable vs Safest Horse Racing Bet
When you place a bet on horse racing, you have two options. You can go for an enormous profit or try and keep things as safe as possible.
By going for the most profitable bet, you are betting at big odds, intending to win big. Therefore, in this instance, your strike rate doesn’t need to be significant because when you win, you are going to make a big profit.
The safest way to bet involves lowering the odds and sometimes picking out two or three runners in the same race. This method requires a far more significant strike rate because however you approach it, you will win less per race you bet on. If you focus on favourites, the odds will be lower and profit less, so more wins are needed. If you pick two selections per race, your stakes are split across two runners, meaning your returns are again lower.
There is no right or wrong method, but however you bet, make sure you understand how it works and what you need to do to succeed.
Horse Betting Sites Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, online horse racing betting is safe and secure if you are betting with a correctly licensed and regulated gambling site.
Yes, it is legal to place bets on horse racing in the UK, and it is one of the most popular betting sports.
The biggest UK horse races include the Grand National, Cheltenham Gold Cup and The Derby. At the same time, festivals such as the Cheltenham Festival, Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood provide some of the biggest weeks in the sport each year.
This is all about opinion, and much of it is based on the horse’s running style. Some horses prefer to lead, others like to be in midfield, and some come from the back. Getting a horse in a comfortable position and a jockey to know when to challenge is the key to success.
An outsider is a horse given a small chance of winning by the bookmakers, resulting in big odds being on offer with betting sites.