Horse Race

Top UK Royal Ascot Betting Sites 2024

By Daniel Bennett on Fact checked by Adam Dickinson
It’s one of the biggest events on any sports bettor’s calendar, and we’ve put together a list of the best UK bookmakers for having a punt on Royal Ascot. Compare our top picks and sign up today!
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1. Bzeebet
78%
Bet £20 Get £20

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

George Edwards Headshot
"A sleek design and array of sports, including horse racing, make this brand new UK bookmaker the place to be"
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38
No
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New Customer Offer 18+. New Customers Only. Max one £10 Free Bet. Qualifying bets at Odds of 1/1(2.00) or greater. Paid as Bonus Token with Min 4/5(180) Odds Req. Skrill, Neteller & Paypal not eligible. BeGambleAware.org. T&Cs Apply 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
2. Mr Play
73%
Bet £10 Get £15

Reviewed & verified by our team

"Take advantage of Mr Play's excellent welcome bonus and get to grips with the wide array of sports markets today"
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29
No
No
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New Customer Offer Bet £10, get £15. £10 minimum deposit. Max £10 free bet is only valid for 14 days. Bet must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
3. Luckster Sport
78%
Bet £10 Get £10

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

George Edwards Headshot
"Try this brand new sportsbook which has a particularly strong section on football & e-sports"
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41
No
No
No
New Customer Offer New customers only. Max one free £10 bet. Qualifying bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater. Paid as bonus token with min 4/5 odds required. Skrill, Neteller & PayPal not eligible. T&Cs apply. 18+ 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
4. BetMGM
Bet £10 Get £40

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

George Edwards Headshot
"Get a free bet on horse racing, football, bet builders and accumulators when you bet £10 "
Get Bonus
34
No
No
No
New Customer Offer New cust only. Opt in & place a qualifying bet within 7 days to receive 4x Free Bets: 1 x £10 Horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder, 1 x £10 Acca, 1 x £10 Football. 7 day expiry. T&Cs & exclusions apply. Stake not returned. T&Cs Apply. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
5. Parimatch
92%
Bet £10 Get £40

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

George Edwards Headshot
"You can withdraw your funds from Parimatch within 30 minutes using the Visa FastFunds service available at selected banks."
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32
Yes
Yes
No
New Customer Offer New Customers Only. Opt in and bet £10 on football (odds 2.00+) within 7 days. No cash-out. Get 3x£10 Free Bets for set markets and a £10 Slot Bonus for Big Bass Splash, 30x wagering, to withdraw max £250. Rewards expire in 10 days. Offer valid from 14:00 UK time on 11/01/2024. Card payments only. T&Cs apply, see below. begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
6. Grosvenor
82%
Double the odds

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

Liam Hoey Headshot
"Know Your Customer check easy to complete - simply scanned in my documents and the confirmation was received instantly"
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38
Yes
Yes
Yes
New Customer Offer NEW CUSTOMERS. MAX £10(EXC PAYPAL). 100% ODDS BOOST TOKEN. T&CS APPLY. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
7. 32Red
80%
100% Profit Boost

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

Liam Hoey Headshot
"The Know Your Customer check is easy to complete and free bet welcome bonuses are easy to claim right after you sign up."
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33
Yes
Yes
Yes
New Customer Offer Opt in. Min. Odds Evs, Max. £10 stake, Max. additional profit £100. Skrill and Neteller deposits are not eligible 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
8. Unibet
85%
Money Back As a Bonus Up To £40 + £10 Casino Bonus

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

Liam Hoey Headshot
"The easy to access odds boost option on racing bets makes this a solid option for those wagering on the horse."
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38
Yes
Yes
Yes
New Customer Offer Min deposit £10. Money back as bonus if first sports bet loses. Wagering requirements: sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. Visit Unibet.co.uk for full T&C's. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
9. HeySpin
79%
Bet £15 Get £10

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

George Edwards Headshot
"Enjoy this new sportsbook with its slick platform and huge range of sports betting markets"
Get Bonus
45
No
No
Yes
New Customer Offer New Players only. Max. Free Bet Token amount: £10.Minimum Deposit: £15. Minimum wagering on Sport to activate the Free Bet Token: £15 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
10. Bet Victor
89%
Bet £5 Get £30

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

Liam Hoey Headshot
"Liked the choice of four different welcome offers when you first sign up and my withdrawal was processed quicker than expected."
Get Bonus
30
Yes
Yes
Yes
New Customer Offer 18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £5 at odds 1/1+ within 7 days of registering, no cashout. Get 2x £10 Free Bets, set events at odds 1/1+. Plus a £10 Slot Bonus, selected games, wager 20x to withdraw max £250. 7 day bonus expiry. Debit Card/Apple Pay payments only. T&Cs apply, see below. begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
🏆 Best Overall Score:
92%
🎁 Largest Free Bet:
£40
💷 Minimum Deposit:
£5
What Can I Bet On?

Betting Markets

Attended by the great and the good of high society, and featuring iconic races like the Gold Cup, Royal Ascot is no ordinary sporting event. But you don’t have to invest in a fancy hat to get a taste of the action. The UK’s best bookmakers provide plenty of ways to bet on the races, wherever you happen to be. Here are some markets that might catch your interest.

Winner

It almost goes without saying that the most popular betting market involves picking the winners of the races, from the Queen Anne Stakes to the Gold Cup.

Each-Way

A safer alternative to just betting on the potential winner is to place an each-way bet, where you’ll get a return if your chosen horse either wins OR places in a certain position.

To Place Only

Rather than betting on a horse to win, this market lets you play things much safer by predicting whether a horse will place second, third or fourth (the options will vary depending on the race).

Forecast/Tricast

This is a fascinating market where you’ll have to guess which two horses will come first and second (forecast bet) or which three horses will come first, second and third (tricast bet). They have to be in the right order, so it’s a real test of both luck and knowledge.

Match Betting

This market focuses on just two horses out of all the runners – you’ll bet on which of the pair will do better than the other, regardless of anything else that happens in the race.

Betting Without

What if the favourite was removed from the equation? That’s what happens in this market, where you’ll be considered a winner if your chosen horse ends up coming second to the favourite.

The Queen’s Hat

No, this isn’t some bizarrely named racing bet. Many bookies really will take bets on what colour hat the Queen will wear on a given day at Royal Ascot. It’s a reminder of just how flamboyant this event is.

Each Way Betting Calculator

# Outcome Odds Place Odds Rule 4
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Total Outlay Total Return Total Profit
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Live Betting

Betting on the In-Play Market

Whether you call it in-running betting or just live betting, this is a thrilling way to wager on the races at Royal Ascot. Simply put, it means putting down money after the horses have already begun charging around the course. As you might imagine, it’s a pretty volatile market that requires split-second judgment calls. 

In-running betting can bring certain benefits – say you want to put money on a certain horse, but are concerned about its reputation for missing the break. Well, with the in-running option you can wait and see if it does get off to a satisfying start before you bet (though the odds will then obviously get shorter). Alternatively, if a favourite starts to flag mid-race, its odds may lengthen – meaning that a bet at this point would give you a bigger return if it speeds up and ultimately wins. 

Cash Out

Claim Your Cash Early

Put an each-way bet a horse that looks increasingly certain to neither win or place in the top three? Well, with the cash out option you can salvage the situation. By cashing out, you’ll be drawing whatever winnings are available based on the odds at that moment, even before the outcome is certain. Think of it as a way of cutting your losses. Equally, you could cash out if your runner is ahead, but you suspect it might get overtaken in the seconds to come. 

Accumulators

Accumulators

Like the thought of increasing potential returns on lower-risk bets? Then you’ll want to look into accumulator, or acca, bets. With these, you’ll be stacking together different selections on the same slip. The odds will be multiplied if they all come good, which makes accas a more lucrative way to bet on favourites which have short odds during Royal Ascot week.

The thing you have to bear in mind is that one losing selection will likely render the whole acca void. But, on the plus side, top UK bookies can offer acca insurance, meaning you’ll get your stake returned if one selection lets you down.

Bonuses

Grab a Bankroll Boost

Welcome bonuses are a hugely important consideration for many punters. Among the popular sign-up incentives offered by UK betting sites are:

  • Matched deposit bonuses, where a percentage of your first deposit will be matched by the bookie up to a maximum cap (for example, “100% up to £150”)
  • Free bets, where placing the first bet at qualifying odds will unlock an amount in free bet credits (for example, “£30 in free bets if you bet £10”)

With any kind of welcome bonus, you should always take the time to check the small print, as there may be wagering requirements, minimum odds requirements, and set timeframes which you have to bet the bonus funds by. 

Promotions

Bet With the Hottest New Promos

The world of UK betting sites is so competitive that the top bookies will regularly roll out promotions to keep their customers loyal. Here are some you can take advantage of:

  • Money-back offers, where – if you make a losing bet – you’ll have some or all of your stake given back as free bets
  • Enhanced odds, where the bookie will boost certain odds in your favour for a short time, making it suddenly far more lucrative to bet on favourites to win
Banking

Payment Methods

The process of paying into your account is simple, as the top betting sites in the UK will ensure all the main methods are supported. These include:

  • Visa and Mastercard debit cards
  • PayPal
  • Neteller
  • Skrill
  • Paysafecard
  • Bank transfer
Paypal casino logo

PayPal is the UK's favourite e-wallet. You can pay and play without sharing your personal details with the casino, meaning you're protected by an additional layer of security.

Neteller Logo

Signing up for a Neteller account means you can pick either the e-wallet or prepaid card option when depositing at an online casino.

Paysafecard Logo

Paysafecard's prepaid card and PIN system mean you can make deposits without sharing any personal details with your casino. Plus, with these prepaid cards only available high street paysafecard stockists, it makes budgeting a little easier.

Skrill Icon

Formerly known as Moneybookers, Skrill is renowned for its speed and simplicity.

Mobile

Bet From the Palm of Your Hand

Royal Ascot is an epic meeting spanning several action-packed days. Luckily, you won’t have to stay glued to your computer to place bets on various races. Instead, you can just navigate onto your betting site using your mobile device’s web browser, sign in and bet whenever you like. Or, if your site has one available, you can download its native app onto your phone or table. With this, you can tap and have a flutter with minimum fuss, and you’ll also be given push notifications alerting you to the latest promotions.

Betting Tips

Royal Ascot Betting Tips

There’s a lot going on at Royal Ascot, so planning ahead is key. Look at the various races and form a strategy on how much you’re willing to bet across how many races. Some, like the Gold Cup, hog a lot of the hype, but there are plenty of other races for you to research. Look into the runners – their ages, recent form in other races, and also their track form. Are they Ascot veterans, and if so, do they have an affinity for the course, or does it not suit their style? You’ll also want to be wary of getting swept up in the hype over superstar jockeys and highly-touted horses, and instead, research which runners have up-and-coming trainers and ambitious young jockeys – these could represent longshots worth betting on. Keep a cool head, keep an eye on the stats, and you’ll be in a great position to bet during the frenzy of Royal Ascot.

More Events

Other Major Horse Racing Events

Royal Ascot may be one of the jewels of the sporting calendar, but there are some other big, lavish horse racing events to look forward to every year. These include:

  • The Grand National (Aintree, April)
  • The Cheltenham Festival (Cheltenham Racecourse, March)
  • Glorious Goodwood (Goodwood, July)
  • The Kentucky Derby (Churchill Downs, May)
  • The Melbourne Cup (Flemington, November)
History

The History of Royal Ascot

Ascot is a long-cherished British institution. The racecourse itself was founded by Queen Anne in 1711, who – as the story goes – was out riding one day when she happened to spot the ideal site for “horses to gallop at full stretch”. Over the generations, Royal Ascot has hosted some true legends of the sport, both of the human and equine variety. The great jockey Lester Piggott holds the stunning record of 116 victories at Royal Ascot, while the Irish Thoroughbred Yeats boasts the record for most Ascot Gold Cup wins in succession (four).

Of course, Royal Ascot has also seen its share of dramatic upsets which would have had lucky punters punching the air with glee. Take the shocking victory of Nando Parrado in 2020’s Coventry Stakes. The 150/1 longshot would have provided a stunning windfall for anyone lucky enough to have bet on him, being one of the biggest-priced winners in the history of Royal Ascot. 

 

Get Started

All Set to Bet on Royal Ascot?

With such a large number of races to tempt you, Royal Ascot is a feast for anyone who fancies a flutter. Check out the list of the UK’s best Royal Ascot bookies, selected by our team of industry experts, and sign up now!

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Royal Ascot place?

This famed event unfolds in June each year.

Is it safe to bet on Royal Ascot online?

It is safe, as long as you wager with betting sites licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission. These are the only kinds of bookies we’ll ever recommend, so you can be sure you’ll be dealing with operators that abide by fair play practices and keep customer details secure.

Should I follow Royal Ascot betting tips?

Betting tips are everywhere online, and it can be tempting to believe over-inflated claims of clairvoyance. But always take them with a big pinch of salts – tips are at best a good research tool, and not a magical guarantee of gambling success.

The people behind this page

Compare.bet's online gambling content experts helped write, edit and check this page:

Daniel is Head of Operations at Compare.bet. He has half a decade of experience writing on topics including sports betting, online casino and the NBA. Daniel also covers Premier League football for Compare.bet news and has interviewed Louis Saha, Richard Dunne and Gary Pallister. In his spare time, Daniel enjoys film photography and making Spotify playlists.

The following external expert(s) contributed to ensure this page provides maximum value, accuracy and insight:

Adam Dickinson Headshot
Adam has almost a decade of experience working in the gambling industry, including various content and marketing roles at the likes of PlayOJO, Betway and Entain He is currently the Head of Marketing at Arena Entertainment. Adam puts his vast experience to use as a fact checker for Compare.bet.