Horse Racing Betting Sites in the UK 2024
Last updated: by Leon Marshal
The best horse racing betting sites, ranked and reviewed. See which bookies offer you the most value and find the latest offers and bonuses.
Written by Leon Marshall Chief Editor at bestbettingsites.co.uk| Position | Betting Site | Rating | Bonus | Info | Website | T&C’s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🥇 Betiton | 5.0/5 | Bet £15 Get £10 in Free Bets | Popular markets and bet types | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply! 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: £10, max £10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. Neteller,Skrill and Paypal not eligible. |
| 2 | 🥈 Grosvenor | 4.9/5 | x2 Odds On First Bet | Double odds on your first bet | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply! Offer applies to Sport bets only. Maximum total stake is £10. Each way bets are a maximum of £5 each way (£10 total stake). Exclusive to new members. 18+ |
| 3 | 🥉 NetBet | 4.8/5 | Bet £5 Get £10 | Good markets and odds | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply! min odds 3/1 (4.00) / min 3 selections / free bet valid 7 days / T&C apply / 18+ / Begambleaware. |
| 4 | ⭐ bet365 | 4.7/5 | Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets | Great odds levels | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply! For new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required. 18+ Begambleaware.org |
| 5 | ⭐ Ladbrokes | 4.6/5 | Bet £5 Get £20 | Wide range of markets | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply! 18+ New UK+IRE customers only. PayPal and certain deposit types excluded. Min £5 bet within 14 days of account registration at min odds 1/2 = 4 x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 4 days on sports, stake not returned, restrictions apply. |
| 6 | ⭐ mr.play | 4.6/5 | Bet £10 Get £10 | Excellent odds levels | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply! 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £15 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. |
| 7 | ⭐ William Hill | 4.6/5 | Bet £10 Get £30 | Good odds levels | Visit Site | Full T&Cs Apply! New online customers only, min £10/€10 stake, win only, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 3 X £10/€10, 30 day expiry, free bet/payment method/player/country restrictions apply. |
Horse Racing Betting Sites Reviewed
When evaluating horse racing betting sites, we look for competitive odds, a variety of betting markets, generous bonuses, and a reliable cash-out option to ensure top-notch punting.
1. Betiton
We found that Betiton offers a wide range of horse racing markets worldwide. With options including in-play betting, live streams and best odds guaranteed, Betiton has to be one of the best online bookies for horse racing.
2. Grosvenor
When accessing Grosvenor, we found that the platform offers competitive odds and is extremely easy to navigate. Its clean and straightforward layout means that even the most obscure racing markets can be located within a few clicks.
3. NetBet
When it comes to attractive odds and innovative betting options NetBet shines. We particularly liked the pop-up tips the website provides in real-time, giving you an informative edge prior when placing your bets. This feature helps you make more informed decisions, allowing you to analyse the latest trends and statistics effortlessly.
4. Bet365
bet365 has been around forever and is one of the leading bookmakers globally. Regarding horse racing, it covers most races in Europe as well as wonderful live streams that are optimised prefectly for smaller screens.
5. Ladbrokes
Another long standing bookmaker in the UK, Ladbrokes has been providing horse racing markets for over half a century. With that much experience, its easy to understand why their horse racing markets have everything you need, such as competitve odds, live streams and great cashout features.
How We Evaluate Horse Racing Betting Sites
In the next couple of sections, we will explain some of the criteria we use to evaluate online horse racing betting sites.
What to look for to find the best horse racing betting sites:
- Free Bets & Bonuses – Finding you the best new customer offers at horse racing betting sites
- Payout – Which bookmakers offer the best odds for horse racing
- Betting Types – Exploring diverse betting options and features
- Responsible Gambling – Make sure they have the correct responsible gambling features
Horse Racing Free Bets & Betting Offers
After football, horse racing is the second most popular betting market in the UK. So, it’s easy to see why some of the best bonuses and promotions in the world of sports betting are found in horse racing. It’s really important to keep an eye out for the different bonuses and promotions to help build your bankroll.
- Free Bet Offers: Many bookmakers provide horse racing free bets for their loyal customers. Always keep your eyes peeled for the bigger meetings as they are generally when they’re dished out.
- Enhanced Odds: Look for promotions offering enhanced odds. These type of offers are a good way to find value, and value helps build profits.
- Accumulator Bonuses: Most of the best bookies offer accumlator bonuses. These bonus are great for those that enjoy placing bets on multiple races.
- Money-Back Specials: These promotions provide cashback should your horse finish second or fall during the race. Many horse racing bookies provide these promotions during big events such as Royal Ascot and Cheltenham.
- Loyalty Rewards: Regulars at certain bookmakers offer loyalty programs. Many offer free bets and cashback should you reach a certain threshold.
- Welcome Bonus: Probably the most popular is the welcome bonus. With many bookies vying for your custom, they will offer great incentives for you to sign up to their platform.
Just keep in mind the terms and conditions prior to accepting any bonus. Ensure the bonus suits your playing style and requirements, so you don’t encounter any nasty surprises when it comes to withdrawing any winnings.
Best Odds Guaranteed
We’ll start off with the famous best odds guaranteed promotion or BOG. This promotion works something like this. Suppose that you’ve taken an early price or a fixed-odds price about your selection for a particular race. If the SP (Starting Price) turns out to be greater, a bookie offering BOG will pay you out at the highest odds. In recent years, this particular promotion has become almost ubiquitous, which means that you’re unlikely to find a bookie that doesn’t offer BOG. If BOG isn’t offered by a bookie, look around and you’re sure to find an operator that does offer it.
Here’s how you can claim the best odds guaranteed offer:
The best odds guaranteed promotion for horse racing betting ensures you get the best deal.
Place a bet at a participating operator and if your winning price is higher, reap the rewards.
You’ll be paid out at the higher price if your horse finishes the race on a higher price.
Extra Place Winner
The extra place tool is geared towards punters who prefer not only to engage in each way betting but also to enhance their horse racing experience. The extra place winner promotion is when a bookmaker decides to pay an extra place. For instance, if they usually pay five places, they may boost the offer to pay out on six.
Non-Runner Insurance
There’s also the non-runner insurance. As the name implies, think of this promotion as an insurance policy. It applies to races that are available well in advance of the actual race day. It works like this: if your horse ends up not running at the event, you’re still allowed to secure your bet. This concession is offered by bookies like the one we covered in our bet365 review.
Horse Racing Odds Levels
Consider odds margins when deciding on the best horse racing betting sites. They indicate how generous a bookmaker is with payouts. Below we’ve added our top 5 bookies with the lowest betting margins:
| Average Payout Level by Race | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bookmaker | Betiton | Grosvenor | NetBet | bet365 | Ladbrokes |
| Grand National | 93.69% | 94.50% | 96.62% | 94.80% | 95.83% |
| Flatground Short Distance | 95.09% | 95.40% | 96.12% | 97.11% | 96.86% |
| Flatground Long Distance | 94.60% | 95.64% | 94.71% | 96.26% | 97.80% |
Bookmakers’ horse racing odds vary across different markets and races. Some may offer better odds on the Grand National than short-distance races. For example, Bet365, excels in short-distance flat races but isn’t the best when it comes to the Grand National.
Popular Horse Racing Betting Types and Markets
Choosing the best horse racing betting site involves understanding various betting types. Here’s a brief overview of the most popular horse racing bets in the UK:
- Each-Way Betting: Combines a win and place bet. Your horse must either win or finish in a designated place.
- Win Bet: A straightforward bet where you predict the winner of the race.
- Place Bet: You win if your horse finishes in one of the top positions, typically first or second.
- Show Bet: Similar to a place bet but usually covers the top three positions.
- Exacta: Predict the first and second place horses in the exact order.
- Trifecta: Predict the first, second, and third place horses in the exact order.
- Superfecta: Predict the first four horses in the exact order.
- Quinella: Predict the first two horses in any order.
- Accumulator (Acca): Combine multiple selections into a single bet. All selections must win for a payout.
- Forecast: Similar to an exacta, but allows for a reverse forecast where the order doesn’t matter.
- Reverse Forecast: Bet on two horses to finish first and second in any order.
- Single Bet: A bet on a single outcome in a single event.
- Double Bet: A bet on two outcomes in two different events.
- Treble Bet: A bet on three outcomes in three different events.
- Trixie: A combination of four bets involving three selections in different events.
- Patent: Seven bets involving three selections in different events, covering all combinations of singles, doubles, and a treble.
- Lucky 15: Fifteen bets involving four selections, covering singles, doubles, trebles, and a four-fold accumulator.
- Lucky 31: Thirty-one bets involving five selections, covering singles, doubles, trebles, four-folds, and a five-fold accumulator.
- Lucky 63: Sixty-three bets involving six selections, covering singles, doubles, trebles, four-folds, five-folds, and a six-fold accumulator.
As you can see from the list above, there are many ways to place horse racing bets in the UK. Whether you want to punt on a horse to finish in the top 3, or you prefer backing 6 horses in a lucky 63, there is something to cover every angle.
| Horse Racing Markets at Each Sportsbook | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookmaker | Grand National | Flatground Short Distance | Flatground Long Distance |
| Betiton | 15 | 7 | 4 |
| Grosvenor | 14 | 6 | 9 |
| NetBet | 13 | 6 | 7 |
| bet365 | 13 | 5 | 11 |
| Ladbrokes | 14 | 8 | 10 |
It’s worth mentioning that events such as the Grand National are generally offered by all the big operators. For races of this prestige, bookies provide their own unique offers, so it can be a little tricky at times to distinguish between them. One way to differentiate bookies is to check and see which operator includes the less prestigious events in their list of markets.
Responsible Gambling Features
Responsible gambling features on horse racing betting sites are crucial for promoting safe betting practices. These include setting deposit limits, self-exclusion options, and reality checks that alert you to the duration of your betting session. Such tools help maintain control and prevent gambling addiction, ensuring a safer betting environment for everyone.
How to Place a Bet on Horse Racing
Placing a bet on horse racing is straightforward. Just follow these steps:
- Create an Account: Choose a reputable horse racing betting site and create an account. Provide necessary personal details and verify your identity if required.
- Deposit Funds: Log into your account and deposit funds using your preferred payment method. Check for any available deposit bonuses to enhance your betting funds.
- Navigate the Betting Site: Familiarize yourself with the layout of the betting site. Most sites have a dedicated section for horse racing accessible from the sportsbook menu.
- Select the Race: Browse through the list of available horse races and select the one you want to bet on. You can filter by location, race type, or date to find races easily.
- Choose Your Market: Once you’ve selected a race, choose the betting market that interests you, such as win, place, show, or exacta.
- Examine the Odds: Look at the odds offered for your chosen market. These will indicate potential winnings if your bet is successful.
- Place Your Bet: Enter the amount of money you wish to wager in the bet slip. Double-check the details of your bet, then confirm and place your bet.
- Track Your Bet: Follow the progress of your bet in your account under sections like ‘My Bets’ or ‘Bet History.’
- Withdraw Winnings: If your bet wins, you can withdraw your winnings from your account. Review the withdrawal options and any associated terms before making a withdrawal.
Conclusion
Finding the best horse racing betting sites involves evaluating various factors such as odds, market availability, and betting types. Understanding different betting types, leveraging bonuses, and utilising features like live streaming and cash-out options can enhance your betting experience. Always prioritize responsible gambling to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment. By following these guidelines, you can make informed decisions and get the most out of your horse racing bets.
Q&A / FAQ
What are the best horse racing betting sites?
The best horse racing betting according to our latest rankings is Betiton. We checked the market for all the top players - the racebooks listed on our site are UKGC licensed, so have a look at our favourite horse racing gambling sites for more suggestions on where to play.
What are the payout levels at horse racing betting sites?
The odds levels at horse racing betting sites can fluctuate greatly - between 93-97%. It's worth checking our horse racing betting payout table to see which ones payout more on average. Keep in mind the racebook's vigorish is built into the odds, so finding higher payout sportsbooks generally means they're charging you less, which positively impacts your bankroll in the long run.
What are the most popular horse races to bet on?
There are loads of races year round both in the UK and worldwide that attract billions of pounds in bets. The Grand National, Kentucky Derby and Aintree all spring to any sports fan's mind.
Are there bonuses available for horse racing betting?
Yes, most operators with horse racing betting offer welcome bonuses or sport specific bonuses of some kind. These can range from deposit bonuses to best odds guaranteed offers. You can see more information about this in our horse racing betting bonuses section.