Horses Racing

Horse Racing Betting Sites UK - 2024

By Daniel Bennett & others on Fact checked by Adam Dickinson
Fancy a punt on the races? Try your luck at one of our recommended horse racing betting sites. Our carefully selected list features the best bookies in the business - simply compare sites and bonuses, sign up and place your bets!
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1. 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."
Get Bonus
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
2. Rhino Bet
Bet £25 Get £10

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

George Edwards Headshot
"Rhino Bet has daily offers for UK horse racing, with the opportunity for free spins if you pick a winner on the race"
Get Bonus
21
Yes
Yes
No
New Customer Offer 18+ only. New customers only. Sign Up using the promo code b25g10fb and make a minimum deposit of £25. Place a minimum £25 bet on any selection with minimum odds of evens (2.0) and receive a £10 free bet upon bet settlement the following day. BeGambleAware.org. Full terms apply. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
PayPal Accepted 3. Bzeebet
78%
Bet £10 Get £10

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"
Get Bonus
38
No
No
No
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
4. 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."
Get Bonus
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
5. BetGoodwin
75%
Free Bet Up To £100

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

George Edwards Headshot
"A premium horse racing operator with brilliant free bet offerings if your pick just falls short"
Get Bonus
30
Yes
Yes
No
New Customer Offer Applies to single bets on UK & IRE Racing. Click for T&Cs. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
PayPal Accepted 6. 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
7. Vegas Mobile Sports
Bet £10 Get £20

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

George Edwards Headshot
"As you would expect, Vegas Mobile Sports has an excellent mobile platform and great welcome offers for sports"
Get Bonus
30
No
No
No
New Customer Offer New players only. Min £ 10 qualifying bets, stake not returned. Free bet - one-time stake of £ 20, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £ 200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Excluded Skrill deposits. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Full Terms Apply. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
Editor's Choice 8. 10bet
87%
50% up to £50

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

Liam Hoey Headshot
"The 10Bet experience was extremely smooth, verification was instant and my withdrawal was processed within 48 hours"
Get Bonus
32
Yes
Yes
No
New Customer Offer New bettors; Code PLAY10; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+ 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
9. BetUK
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets

Reviewed & verified by our team

"Enjoy free horse racing and football tips from Bet UK's ambassadors"
Get Bonus
Yes
Yes
No
New Customer Offer T&Cs apply. New cust only. Deposit & Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 Horse Racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 Football. 7 day expiry. Stake not returned. 18+ BeGambleAware.org. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
Highly Trusted 10. 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"
Get Bonus
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
11. Betfair
87%
Get up to £100 in free bets

Reviewed & verified by our team

"Enjoy a multitude of betting options on the world's leading betting exchange"
Get Bonus
32
Yes
Yes
No
New Customer offer Get up to £100 in free bets. Place 5 x £10 or more bets to receive £20 in free bets. Repeat up to 5 times to receive maximum £100 bonus. Min odds 1/2 (1.5). Exchange bets excluded. Payment restrictions apply. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
12. Paddy Power Sport
91%
£20 Cashback

Reviewed & verified by our team

"Bet with PaddyPower for the best money back specials on the market, live streams and custom bets with #WhatOddsPaddy"
Get Bonus
32
Yes
Yes
Yes
New Customer Offer New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any market at odds of min 2.0 (EVS) and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using cards will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
13. Bet365
92%
Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets

Reviewed & verified by our team

"Bet365 are one of the biggest online bookies and offer players a Bet Builder, Acca Boost and Early Payout on multiple markets"
Get Bonus
37
Yes
Yes
Yes
New Customer Offer New customers only. 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. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
14. Betfred
91%
Bet £10 get £40

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

Liam Hoey Headshot
"The design of the Betfred app makes managing multiple selections incredibly simple, while live streams on top football matches are also available."
Get Bonus
27
Yes
Yes
Yes
New Customer Offer New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Free Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required. Full T&Cs apply. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
15. Coral
91%
Bet £5, get £20 in free bets

Reviewed, rated & tested by our team

Liam Hoey Headshot
"Verification was instant with quick & easy deposit. Wide range of markets & good odds. Paid out within 24h."
Get Bonus
53
Yes
Yes
Yes
New Customer Offer Paypal & some deposit & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cash-out, restrictions & T&Cs apply. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
🏆 Best Overall Score:
92%
🎁 Largest Free Bet:
£100
🤝 Highest Deposit Match:
100%
💷 Minimum Deposit:
£5
Recommendations

Our Review of UK Horse Racing Betting Sites

With so many to choose from, it’s easy to get overwhelmed — so here are a few reviews of our recommended UK horse racing betting sites to give you a bit of inspiration.

  • Unibet is a great stop for horse racing, with wide coverage of the top events. The site offers Best Odds Guaranteed on all UK and Irish races, and you’ll also get your money back as a free bet if your backed horse finishes second on selected races. There’s also a weekly free bet club specifically for in-plays — you could see some serious long-term value if you’re into these kinds of bets. 

    pros icon Pros:
    • Over 35 sports to bet on
    • 24/7 support
    • In-play free bet club
    cons icon Cons:
    • Not as many payment options
  • I was immediately impressed by Rhino Bet’s user-friendly design. The horse racing page is nicely organised and made it easy to find what I was looking for, with the next offs listed on the main page alongside all the next upcoming races. Punters can filter alphabetically or by start time, and even build their own racecard too. Rhino Bet offers a Bet £25 Get £10 bonus for new customers — not the best I’ve seen but not bad. There is, however, a real lack of horse racing promotions, save for some odds boosts here and there.

    pros icon Pros:
    • Nice site design
    • Bet and Get welcome offer
    • Great range of horse racing markets
    • Dedicated mobile app
    cons icon Cons:
    • Lack of horse racing promotions
    • Welcome bonus not the largest
  • Bzeebet may look more like an online casino at first glance but it’s got plenty to offer on the sports betting side of things too. The horse racing markets are easy to find thanks to the array of filtering tools, such as the event time slider, my favourites section, and the highlights category. There aren’t many promotions that are specifically for horse racing per se, but the BZ Bombo Boost and Free Bet Thursdays can certainly get you some extra value when betting on the races. With the welcome offer, I was able to claim a £10 free bet when I registered and made a £10 bet of my own.

    pros icon Pros:
    • Quirky design
    • Useful navigational features
    • Free bet welcome offer
    cons icon Cons:
    • No horse racing-specific promotions
  • Parimatch’s eye-catching black and yellow design looked fantastic on all my devices — laptop, tablet, and phone. Opening up the horse betting markets, I like how clearly the day’s price boosts are displayed at the top  —  this is an excellent way to jump into what’s available if you’re seeking some extra value. And with races from the UK and Ireland, to as far afield as Brazil and Japan, there’s plenty to choose from. I like the flexibility of the welcome offer too, with a number of packages tailored to different sports. At the time of writing, the horse betting portion was a money back bet up to £30 on the Cheltenham November meeting.

    pros icon Pros:
    • Money back up to £30 if your first bet loses;
    • User-friendly site works well on all devices;
    • Bet on horse racing from around the globe;
    • Supports Apple Pay.
    cons icon Cons:
    • Limited ongoing sports betting promotions.
  • My first impression of BetGoodwin was that the site’s design and aesthetics were some of the best I’ve seen. The black and yellow theme certainly packs a punch, while everything down to the choice of fonts and icons feels expertly curated. There’s a great range of sports and markets to choose from, backed up by some solid promotions. New customers get 50% back as a free bet up to £25 on first day losses — some punters may prefer a free bet from the off, but it’s always good to have some insurance. BetGoodwin’s range of promotions is certainly suited to horse racing fans — recurring offers include best odds guaranteed and free bets if your horse is beaten by a nose or under half a length in a chase.

    pros icon Pros:
    • Stylish design
    • Insurance welcome offer
    • Wide range of horse racing promotions
    cons icon Cons:
    • Lack of promos on other sports
  • I love the range of welcome offers up for grabs at BetVictor — punters have the choice between deals for horse racing, Royal Ascot, football, and more. The horse racing offer allows you to claim £30 in free bets plus a £10 slots bonus when you sign up and bet £10 with your own cash. The £30 consists of three £10 free bets: one for any horse racing market, one for any lengthen the odds market, and one for any daily racing specials market. As for the layout of the site, I like BetVictor’s classy logo and pops of colour, but the design of the sportsbook feels a little dated overall. Still, the trending bets section is a great place to get inspiration for your next bet, as is BetVictor’s selection of pre-built bet builders.

    pros icon Pros:
    • Choice of free bet welcome offers
    • Trending bets section for inspiration
    cons icon Cons:
    • Site design could be modernised
  • I love the design and aesthetics of 10bet, as it combines quirky designs with functionality and a clear layout. I enjoyed being able to browse today’s races by country, which isn’t always this straightforward at other sites — here we have meetings from the UK, Ireland, Argentina, France, UAE, Uruguay, and many more. Live streaming is also available for most UK and Irish races once you’ve placed a £1 bet, allowing you to keep up in real time. The promotions are regularly updated to reflect upcoming events — at the time of writing, there’s a £5 free bet up for grabs on the Welsh Grand National. Horse racing punters can also make use of boosts on winning accas and the 50% up to £50 welcome bonus.

    pros icon Pros:
    • Attractive design
    • Live streaming
    • Acca boosts and free bets up for grabs
    cons icon Cons:
    • £1 bet required to watch races
    • Could offer more horse racing promos
  • Donning a red, white and blue theme, BetUK is one of my favourite spots to pick up some extra value through ongoing promotions. On the horse betting side, punters can pick up 2 x £3 free bets when they bet at least £15 each week. Similar offers also extend to cricket and football. Throw in a weekly acca club and a Bet £10 Get £30 welcome bonus and there’s plenty to choose from. On top of this, I found the sportsbook itself easy to browse, especially for live and upcoming races thanks to handy filters and tabs.

    pros icon Pros:
    • Generous £30 welcome offer;
    • Weekly horse racing free bets;
    • Range of fast payout methods including PayPal;
    • Mobile app for iOS and Android.
    cons icon Cons:
    • Site appearance may not be for everyone.
  • Grosvenor was established back in 1970 and is known for its land-based casinos. Its online site, however, is another excellent option for horse racing betting. It offers a huge range of markets and live streaming options for this sport, along with plenty of regular offers like best odds guaranteed and money back if your horse finishes second to the starting price favourite.

    pros icon Pros:
    • Great range of horse racing promos
    • Specific mobile app for sport
    • Trusted brand
    • Live streaming for horse racing
    cons icon Cons:
    • Welcome bonus is casino-focused
  • As soon as I loaded up the Betfair horse betting site, I was struck by how meticulously it’s organised. Races are displayed in a neat chronological grid and it’s incredibly easy to check odds for the different runners. While Betfair’s sportsbook platform is one of the best around, this horse betting site has another ace up its sleeve — the betting exchange. Here, you can back or lay outcomes against other punters in a highly fluid manner. I’m a big fan of the welcome offer here too, £20 in free bets with just a £5 minimum bet requirement.

    pros icon Pros:
    • Welcome offer perfect for smaller budgets;
    • Combines traditional sportsbook and betting exchange features;
    • Available via the mobile app;
    • Daily horse racing free bets;
    • Wide range of payment methods with fast withdrawals.
    cons icon Cons:
    • Many ongoing promotions are casino-focused.
  • Paddy Power is one of the best-known horse betting sites in the business. I made a beeline for the promotions tab once I was signed up, and liked what I saw. New customers can get £20 in free bets with just a £5 qualifying bet. But it’s the insurance offers that make this an excellent site to bet on horse racing. Money back if 2nd and acca insurance on five legs or more mean you’ll get a second chance at some winnings if you’re pipped to the post. As for the sportsbook itself, I love the clean design. Handy betting suggestions appear along the top courtesy of Paddy’s tipsters, and Power Prices can help you get more bang for your buck. 

    pros icon Pros:
    • Well-known, trusted brand;
    • Selection of horse racing offers;
    • Daily extra place races, enhanced odds, and more;
    • Great selection of payment methods.
    cons icon Cons:
    • Only debit cards are valid as a welcome offer deposit method.
  • There’s no doubt Bet365 is one of the best betting sites for horse racing. Not only are the desktop site and app incredibly user friendly, with handy options like ‘My Horses’ to store your favourites, but there’s also an excellent range of racing markets and promotions. Unlike most other bookmakers, Bet365 has a dedicated horse racing offers page, with bet boosts, the Price Promise, Best Odds Guaranteed, payouts on disqualified horses, and more. Live streaming is available on all UK, Irish and French horse racing as long as you have a funded account or have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. I’ve also found the mobile app really easy to use, with a great bet builder along with clear sub-categories and helpful suggestions when typing into the search bar.

    pros icon Pros:
    • Lots of horse racing promotions
    • Live streaming on UK, Irish and French racing
    • Free bet welcome offer
    • User-friendly design
    cons icon Cons:
    • Could offer more payment options
  • Another heavy hitter in the world of horse betting, Betfred may not be the most attractive bookie around but it certainly packs a punch. I like how easy the markets are to digest — with handy labels on races with extra places paid or boosted odds, and the ability to tune into live commentary or a video stream with just one click. The Bet £10 Get £30 welcome offer is competitive. I’m also a huge fan of the boosted bets available for multiples like Lucky 15s, where you’ll receive up to 5x the odds if you have just one winner or a winnings boost up to 25% if all your picks come good. Betfred is also partnered with Rewards4Racing so regular punters can land some extra value, and there’s BOG on all UK and Irish races.

    pros icon Pros:
    • Generous welcome bonus;
    • Vast selection of horse betting offers including insurance and bet boosts;
    • #PickYourPunt custom odds feature;
    • One of the biggest horse betting sites;
    • PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller supported.
    cons icon Cons:
    • Site appearance looks slightly dated;
    • e-Wallets disqualified from claiming welcome bonus.
  • One of the biggest UK sportsbook names, Coral has almost a century of history behind it. It shows — the site has extensive market coverage and a well-designed interface that makes it easy to find everything. There are plenty of offers on UK horse racing, with the Racing Super Series paying out a prize pool of £25,000 every Saturday, daily enhanced odds, and extra places paid on each-way bets.

    pros icon Pros:
    • Mobile app
    • Live streaming and in-play betting
    • One of the most trusted household names in the business
    cons icon Cons:
    • Payment options somewhat limited
  • Another bookie stalwart is Ladbrokes, known for both its high street and online presence. It’s a great choice for horse racing fans, as Ladbrokes runs Best Odds Guaranteed on all UK and Irish horse races plus a daily odds boost token to use on any sporting event. We also love the in-play betting and mobile app with this bookmaker, although the welcome bonus isn’t the largest.  

    pros icon Pros:
    • In-play betting with live streaming of events
    • Solid range of ongoing offers
    • Mobile app
    cons icon Cons:
    • Smaller welcome bonus
Ranking Criteria

How We Rate Horse Racing Betting Sites

Our team of experts dives deep into a number of factors when reviewing horse racing betting sites. Here are just a few criteria we consider before making a recommendation:

Horse Racing Betting Provision

The first thing we check out is the range of betting markets available to punters. The best horse racing betting sites offer odds on all UK & Irish racing and plenty from other countries like France and the US. We also want to see a wide selection of bet types like doubles, trebles, accumulators, trixies, yankees and Lucky 15s.

Bonuses and Promotions

A strong offering of bonuses and promotions can turn a decent betting site into a great one. It all starts with a solid welcome bonus, where punters can pick up free bets or matched deposits that are eligible to use on horse racing markets. After that, we want to see best odds guaranteed on all the major races, along with odds boosts and other popular horse racing deals like free bets if your pick finishes second to the favourite or drops out at the start of the race.

Other Sports Options

Most horse racing fans like to have a flutter on other sports too, so we look for strong coverage when it comes to all the major competitions in football, cricket, golf, rugby and American football. The best horse racing betting sites also feature more niche sports like Gaelic football, handball, and esports. 

Mobile Capabilities

Whether you like to bet from your laptop, mobile or tablet, or combination of each, we want to make sure you get a great service from your bookmaker. The best betting sites for horse racing have dedicated apps for iOS and Android, offering the smoothest experience for browsing hundreds of betting markets and putting your betslip together. If there’s no app available, we review the site via a mobile browser to ensure you can still enjoy all the top features from your phone.

User Experience

Whatever device you’re betting on, you want to enjoy lots of great features without any lag or other hitches. We look out for helpful filtering options, such as browsing by jockey, trainer or start time, and review how straightforward it is to view upcoming racecards and put a bet together. The best betting sites for horse racing also offer tips, race history for each horse, and allow punters to save their favourite runners to return to later.

Payment Options

Every customer has their own personal preferences when it comes to making deposits and withdrawals, so it’s ideal to have lots of payment options to choose from. In addition to Visa and Mastercard debit cards, common methods include e-wallets like PayPal, Neteller and Skrill, plus other alternatives like Trustly and Paysafecard. We prefer sites that have low minimum deposits and withdrawals, as it gives customers greater flexibility with their payments. 

Customer Support

We hope you won’t encounter any problems when signing up to one of our recommended betting sites, but it’s imperative that you can get in touch with a friendly and helpful customer support team should any issues arise. Live chat comes as standard with most bookies, usually open into the early hours or even 24/7 at some sites. Other avenues include email, web form and phone support, while we also like to see a well-organised and extensive help centre with a range of FAQs.

Your Checklist

Horse Racing Betting Site Checklist

Across the vast range of sportsbooks, there are some must-haves that we’re always on the lookout for when we conduct our reviews — we love horse racing betting sites that check every box, and so do our players. 

Competitive Odds on Top UK Races

Savvy punters know not all bookmakers are created equal when it comes to the horse racing odds they offer. Our team runs a fine-toothed comb through each sportsbook we review to make sure it’s competitive — betting sites with the best odds on top UK horse racing events deliver the highest value for our readers.

Good Market Coverage

When it comes to market coverage, choice is the name of the game. We love to see a wide array of bet types available to punters on every race, whether it’s singles, doubles, trebles, accumulators, or more.

Best Odds Guaranteed Promotion

Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) is where a bookmaker pays out winning bets at the best odds — that means if you take an early or fixed odds price and the starting price (SP) ends up being greater, you’ll be paid at those odds instead. It’s a promotion popular for horse race betting in the UK as, again, punters get the best value.  

Live Streaming

We love it when horse racing betting sites integrate live streaming into their sportsbooks. It makes it easy to stay on top of the action while placing your bets, and everything you need to enjoy the race is in one place. 

Legality

Horse Racing Betting Legality in the UK

Horse racing has been one of the most popular sports in the UK since the Tudor times, and betting on the sport emerged during the reign of King James I in the early 17th century. Some of the most famous and prestigious racecourses in the UK opened around this time, including Ascot in 1711 and Epsom Downs Racecourse in 1661, while the Epsom Derby got started in 1780.

Betting on horse racing is legal in the UK at racetracks as well as at licensed betting shops and online sportsbooks. Here’s a brief timeline of the history of horse racing betting legislation in the UK:

  • 1853 Betting Act – outlawed the running of a house, office or room for betting purposes;
  • Racecourse Betting Act of 1928 – regulated horserace betting at tracks and legalised the use of totalisators, also ensured the 1853 Betting Act wouldn’t apply to racecourses;
  • Betting and Gaming Act 1960 – legalised the opening of betting shops across the UK, allowing punters to legally bet on horse racing away from the track;
  • Horserace Betting Levy Regulations 2017 – requires the Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) to collect a levy from horse racing bookmakers, for reinvestment into the sport and breeding.
Security Icon

We only recommend sports betting sites that are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, which guarantees account security and access to responsible gambling settings.

Horse Racing Events

Bet on These Top Horse Racing Events

There are horse racing events pretty much all year round, so a betting opportunity is never far away. Let’s take a look at a few of the top events in the UK:

The Grand National

The Grand National is one of the UK’s biggest races, with people across the country tuning in to watch the contestants battle it out for a chunk of the £1 million prize money. This four-mile race features 30 fences, making it one of racing’s most challenging courses.

The Grand National is hosted in the same location every year — Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool. The 175th Grand National took place on Saturday 15 April 2023.

Horse Racing Betting

First place in the 2023 Grand National was taken by Derek Fox on Corach Rambler who is trained by Lucinda Russell. The nine year old took the title with a pre-race status of 8/1 favourite to win, only leading from the last hurdle, pushing Vanillier into second position.

Cheltenham Festival

Another top UK racing event is Cheltenham Festival, a four-day National Hunt racing festival taking place at Prestbury Park. There are loads of individual races to bet on throughout the event, with many Grade I races including:

  • Cheltenham Gold Cup
  • Champion Hurdle
  • Queen Mother Champion Chase
  • Stayers’ Hurdle

Cheltenham Festival is one of the most popular horse racing events to bet on, with hundreds of millions being staked every year. The festival took place in the early spring, with 2023’s event running from Tuesday 14 March to Friday 17 March.

Horse Racing Betting

The 2023 Gold Cup was won by Galopin des Champs and jockey Paul Townend, the favourite to win at odds of 7/5.

Royal Ascot

Five days of top-quality racing take place at Ascot every year, often with the Queen and Royal Family in attendance. Much of this event is steeped in history and tradition, with a strict dress code enforced. Over 30 races take place across the five days, including several Group 1 races like the Coronation Stakes and the Commonwealth Cup. 

Royal Ascot is typically held in mid June. The 2023 event will run from Tuesday 20 June to Saturday 24 June.

Horse Racing Betting

Frankie Dettori took the Coronation Stakes flat racing win in 2022 on the horse Inspiral. Dettori is considered one of the best jockeys in the world, having won every Group 1 race in the UK barring the July Cup.

Epsom Derby

England’s richest and most prestigious race, the Epsom Derby is a Group 1 flat horse race that takes place on the first Saturday of June. The 2022 derby was won by the favourite, Desert Crown, and jockey Richard Kingscote at a starting price of 5/2. The 2023 Epsom Derby takes place on Saturday 3 June, with Ladies Day taking place the day before.

International Horse Racing Events

Of course, horse racing isn’t just popular in the UK. With plenty of major festivals across the world, racing fans are spoilt for choice when it comes to events to bet on. Below are some of the highest-profile international horse racing events.

Kentucky Derby

Famously known as “the fastest two minutes in sports”, the Kentucky Derby has a $2 million purse and attracts 150,000 spectators every year. It’s the most prestigious race in the US, making up the “triple crown” along with the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes.

The Kentucky Derby takes place at Churchill Downs in Louisville on the first Saturday of May. The eponymous 2023 Kentucky Derby Festival was held on 22 April, with the Derby itself running on 6 May. 

Horse Racing Betting

The 2023 Kentucky Derby was won by Mage and jockey Javier Castellano. Castellano has attempted the course 15 previous times with this being his first victory.

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

One of Europe’s most prestigious horse races, this event sees thoroughbreds compete on a 1.5 mile track. Also known simply as the Arc, the €5 million prize pool makes this the world’s second richest turf race after The Everest. Usually run on the first Sunday in October, the Arc takes place at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris.

Five year old mare Alpinista won 2022’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, ridden by Luke Morris. 

Melbourne Cup

Easily the biggest horse race in Australia, the Melbourne Cup is a handicap race run over two miles. Held annually in November at the Flemington Racecourse, this event attracts over 100,000 spectators and has a purse of A$8 million. Verry Elleegant and her jockey James MacDonald took first place in the 2021 race, with 2022’s winner being Gold Trip and jockey Mark Zahra.

Dubai World Cup

While the Dubai World Cup doesn’t quite match the history of some other major races, it’s quickly established itself as an important date on the racing calendar. With a $10 million prize pool, this is among the most lucrative events in horse racing.

Frankie Dettori took the win on Country Grammer in the 2022 Dubai World Cup and Japan’s Yuga Kawada taking the title in 2023 on Ushba Tesoro. 

Betting Tips

Horse Racing Betting Tips

It’s fair to say that deciding who to back when you bet on horse racing isn’t always straightforward. Whereas most sports feature just two teams or competitors per match, some races can feature 40 horses, which can make picking a winner a little tricky.

Of course, you could always follow the odds and side with the bookies’ favourite, but with so many possible scenarios in each race, this is far from a guarantee. Races often throw up surprising results – 2019 saw many upsets, from Country House’s stunning Kentucky Derby victory to 66/1 outside Croco Bay winning the Grade 3 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Cheltenham festival.

On top of that, horse racing betting odds are notoriously volatile and prices can change just moments before the start of a race, so the smart money is placed after you’ve done your research. Recent form, ground type, pedigree and jockey are just a few factors you should consider when deciding which runner to put your money on.

As with any sport, keeping up to date and actually watching horse races will always help develop your understanding. There are also countless number of horse racing betting tips online, which can be helpful, but remember that no tip can guarantee a winning bet. Our top tip is to build up your own knowledge of horse racing and pay close attention to the important statistics to help make the best-informed bets possible.

Markets

Wager on a Range of Horse Racing Betting Markets

If you think that horse racing betting simply consists of backing a winner, think again. Although single bets are still the most popular wagers, there’s plenty of betting opportunities on offer at horse racing betting sites.

These are some of your options:

  • Win – If you’re a horse racing betting beginner, this is an easy place to start. Simply choose the horse you think will be first across the line. If it fends off the competition, your bet wins. 
  • Place only – This is a simple bet on a horse to finish in one of the places, either first, second, third or fourth, depending on how many runners are in the race. Place bets are one of the safest horse racing wagers, but the odds are generally a lot shorter than those offered on other markets.
  • Each way – This is one of the most common horse racing bets and consists of two parts – the ‘win’ and the ‘place’. This means that you’re betting on a horse to either win or finish in a place, such as second or third. An equal stake is placed on each part, and it means that you can still make some returns even if the horse you’ve backed doesn’t come first.
  • Forecast, tricast – Forecast bets involve predicting who will come first and second in a race, and in what order. If you want to go one better, you can try your hand at a tricast bet and predict the top three.
  • Reverse forecast, reverse tricast – Some sites also offer reverse forecast and tricast markets, where you pick the top two or three but don’t have to specify placing order.
  • Betting without the favourite – Want to back a horse but you’re not confident it can beat the runner with the shortest odds? When you bet without the favourite, your selection only needs to finish ahead of the other horses in the betting market — that means it doesn’t matter where the favourite places.

Combination Bets

If you’ve got a bit more of an appetite for risk versus reward, combination bets can offer a thrilling way to increase your potential payout — of course, it’ll be correspondingly more challenging for all your picks to come good! 

With combination bets or ‘multiples’, you’re backing horses across several races. Usually, horse betting sites let you combine your bets into one of these multiples by ticking a box after adding the selections to your betslip. Let’s take a look:

  • Double, treble – These are the simplest multiple bets where you wager on a number of horses to win separate races: two for doubles, three for trebles. You need all your selections to come in to win, though some horse betting sites let you cash out before all the races have finished.
  • Accumulator – A multiple bet with at least four selections is called a horse racing accumulator, or acca for short. As with doubles and trebles, all selections need to be successful for your bet to win. 
  • Trixie – A trixie is a multiple bet and is wagered on three horses across three races. You’re placing four bets in total: three doubles and a treble. Two of your horses need to win in order to bank some returns.
  • Patent – This is essentially a trixie bet but with three added single bets, so altogether you’re placing seven bets. The single bets mean that only one selection needs to win for you to make some returns, though this doesn’t guarantee a profit. The more winning selections, the higher your returns.
  • Yankee – This is where it starts to get a little complicated. A yankee is another multiple bet, but you’re betting on four horses. You’re placing six doubles, four trebles and a fourfold accumulator, so there are 11 wagers in total. Like a trixie, you need two to be right in order to win some money.

These bets only scratch the surface of horse racing markets, with plenty of other multiple bets on offer at horse betting sites. If you really feel like pushing the boat out, you could try lucky 15s, super yankees, lucky 31s or a heinz bet. These bets become increasingly complex, so make sure you do your research before putting your money on the line.

Ante-Post Betting

Ante-post bets are placed before the market opens for a particular race. Punters make these bets on the assumption the odds are currently more favourable than they’ll be when the market opens. However, that means the bet comes with additional risk as the stake is lost if your chosen horse doesn’t run. Ante-post bets can vary significantly between bookmakers so it’s worth shopping around.

Best Bookie For Multiple Markets
Coral
Coral
Our score: 91%
Bet £5, get £20 in free bets
New Customer Offer Paypal & some deposit & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cash-out, restrictions & T&Cs apply. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
Each Way

Each Way Betting

An each-way bet is effectively two bets — one on your chosen horse to win, and one on it to place. It’s great if you’re not too certain your horse is going to be first to cross the line, as you’ll still get a payout as long as it places high enough. If your selection does take the win, even better! You’ll take home a payday from both the win and place portions of your bet. 

So, how many places does each bookie pay out on an each-way bet? The rules are pretty consistent among sportsbooks, although keep in mind these can be changed if you take advantage of an Enhanced Place offer:

No. of Runners (at the off) Race Type Place Terms
2–4 All Races Win Only
5–7 All Races 1/4, first 2
8–11 All Races 1/5, first 3
12–15 Handicap 1/4, first 3
12+ Non Handicap 1/5, first 3
16+ Handicap 1/4, first 4

Each Way Betting Calculator

# Outcome Odds Place Odds Rule 4
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Betting Offers

Betting Offers

Horse racing remains an ever popular betting market among UK punters, and there are plenty of offers geared towards the sport. Whether it’s locking in the best price with Best Odds Guaranteed or placing a free bet in the hopes of a no-risk profit, there’ll be something to suit you. Below are some betting offers you might find at our recommended UK horse racing betting sites. As always, be sure to read the full terms before you claim any bookmaker’s offer.

Best Odds Guaranteed

A best odds guaranteed promotion means punters who place a bet at a fixed or early price can still benefit if the starting price ends up being greater, essentially taking the risk out of betting early. Should your bet win under a best odds guaranteed promotion, you’ll be paid out at just that — the best odds.

Free Bets

Free bets come in all shapes and sizes. They often come as part of a welcome bonus at horse racing betting sites, like a £10 free bet when you bet £5. Free bets are frequently given to existing customers too, often when there’s a big racing event coming up such as Cheltenham Festival. You might also see free bet clubs where you can get a weekly free bet once you stake the required amount. 

Enhanced Odds

If you place a bet with enhanced odds, you’ll net yourself a bigger payout if the bet comes good. Say a horse’s starting price is 2/1 — under enhanced odds, you could get 10/1 odds or even higher on that very same horse. These offers are often given to new customers at a site, and sometimes the extra profit from the enhanced odds is given as a free bet token, with cash paid out at the normal book odds.

Enhanced Place

Enhanced place offers like Bet365’s Each Way Extra allow punters to increase or decrease the number of places in an each-way bet, reducing the price or increasing the odds on your selected horse.

Insurance Promotions

The best horse racing betting sites offer a plethora of insurance promos to punters, removing some of the sting in certain losing situations. The insurance is usually paid as a free bet so can’t be withdrawn, but you’ll get another chance at picking a winner. 

There are numerous options covering a range of circumstances:

  • Money back if 2nd to SP fav – Placed a win bet on a horse and it was beaten by the starting price favourite? If you’re covered by this promotion, you’ll get your stake refunded.
  • Money back if beaten by a head – With this horse race betting offer, you’ll get your stake back if a competitor edges out your pick by just a head’s distance.
  • Non-runner no bet – If your selection doesn’t run, this offer means you’ll get your stake back.
  • Faller’s insurance – In fierce jump races like the Grand National, faller’s insurance is a way to get your stake back if your pick goes down, whether at one of the fences or another reason.
  • Acca insurance – A more general offer bookies apply to horse racing and other sports is acca insurance. Here, your stake is refunded if your accumulator fails by just a single leg.
Live Betting

Bet as the Action Takes Place

All the top horse racing betting sites in the UK facilitate in-play betting, also known as live betting. Of course, with many horse races being quick affairs, there isn’t always time to place a bet after the riders are out the starting gates. But distance races like the Grand National offer many twists and turns and opportunities to place a bet.

Cash Out

Early cash out is where you settle your bet before the race is over, receiving a different payout to what you’d get if you had otherwise let it run its course. It can be used to minimise your losses or lock in a profit before the race is over.

Some UK horse racing betting sites give punters even more flexibility. With partial cash out, you can pocket some of the profit and leave a portion of your stake running. Auto cash out, meanwhile, allows you to set a predetermined limit — if your profit reaches this point during the race, your bet is automatically settled.

Live Odds

In order to let punters place in-play bets or cash out early, a bookmaker needs to provide down-to-the-second live odds. For fast-paced sports like horse racing, the odds can fluctuate dramatically and a well-timed bet can have a significant impact on the payout. If you’re planning to make in-play bets regularly, look for horse racing sites which offer competitive odds on their live markets. 

Mobile Betting Icon

Some top bookies offer live streaming of horse races, which is perfect for live betting or if you just want to watch the action unfold. Just keep in mind that at some sites you may have to place a bet in order to stream races.

Best Bookie For Live Betting
Bet365
Bet365
Our score: 92%
Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets
New Customer Offer New customers only. 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. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
Bonuses

Compare the Top Horse Racing Betting Bonuses

Horse racing is a favourite among bettors the world over, so it’s natural that horse racing betting sites offer welcome bonuses to attract new punters These are usually matched deposits or free bets, which reward you with a bonus fund once you make a qualifying deposit or wager. You can then use your bonus to bet on horse racing without dipping into your real money bankroll. Let’s take a look at some of the best betting offers available at horse racing sites:

A free bet is any offer where punters receive bet tokens that can be used to place wagers without staking their own money. There are many different types of free bets up for grabs:

  • No deposit free bets are given as soon as you sign up;
  • Risk-free bets and bet refunds are a type of offer where you’ll receive your stake back as a free bet if your qualifying bet loses;
  • Deposit free bets require a qualifying deposit in order to receive them. You may also have to enter a promo code during sign-up.;
  • Bet X Get Y free bets are given when you make a qualifying bet of a certain amount. For example, a ‘Bet £10, Get £30’ offer would give you £30 in free bets when you bet £10 on an eligible market.

Free bet credits can’t usually be withdrawn, and the stake isn’t returned if your free bet wins. However, the profit is yours to keep. Sometimes there may be wagering requirements attached, but these are typically quite low — you’ll need to meet them before you can withdraw the free bet winnings. 

Best Free bet Bonus
Bet Victor
Bet Victor
Our score: 89%
Bet £5 Get £30
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

If you’re looking for a flexible horse racing bonus, a matched deposit is a solid option. These deals quite literally match the value of your deposit with bonus credit, giving you more to play with. Say you’ve seen an offer for a 100% match up to £50. Deposit £50 and you’ll receive another £50 in bonus bet credit, which can be used to wager on eligible markets. 

100% matches are the most common, but you could see 50%, 200%, or even higher matches available. Before making your qualifying deposit, check the terms and conditions for the minimum amount and any excluded payment methods. It’s worth checking which bets are eligible too — there may be minimum odds requirements, and live bets or accas could be excluded. 

Best Matched Deposit Bonus
10bet
10bet
Our score: 87%
50% up to £50
New Customer Offer New bettors; Code PLAY10; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+ 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org

If you plan on sticking around at your chosen horse racing betting site, it’s worthwhile choosing one that offers cashback. With this bonus, you’ll receive a percentage of your lost wagers back, helping you to get more value out of your bankroll. Anywhere from 1%–10% is a common amount of cashback to receive. 

You might receive your cashback as real money that can be immediately withdrawn or used to place bets with no restrictions. Alternatively, some racing sites pay cashback in the form of free bet credit which can’t be withdrawn. While this is less valuable than cold hard cash, you’ll still be getting some more mileage out of your budget. 

When you sign up to a site with cashback, check if you need to opt in — while many racing sites automatically enrol customers, others do not. Furthermore, some may only let you claim cashback when your betting balance drops below a certain value, typically around £10.

Best Cashback
Bet365
Bet365
Our score: 92%
Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets
New Customer Offer New customers only. 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. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org

Make sure to check the bonus terms and conditions – terms like wagering requirements, minimum odds restrictions and win limits determine the true value of a bonus or free bet offer. It’s also fairly common for horse racing bets like forecast and tricast bets or system bets like trixies and yankees to be excluded from welcome bonuses.

Promos

Boost your Bankroll with Horse Racing Betting Offers

Due to the popularity of horse racing betting, many bookies also offer racing-specific bonuses that aren’t exclusive to new customers. These may be in the build up to a big event, such as the UK’s Grand National, but many sites also have regular promotions that can be used to bet on smaller races. Common betting bonuses include odds boosts, where you can get better prices on a selection, and money-back promotions, where you get back a portion of your stake if your bet loses.

Mobile

Bet on the Horse Racing on Your Smartphone

With many players preferring to set their stakes on their smartphone, it’s important to find a sportsbook that offers a top mobile betting experience. Luckily, all the horse racing betting sites on our list have mobile optimised websites, which means you can place your wagers via mobile web browsers. However, if you’re looking for the best possible mobile betting experience, we’d recommend choosing a bookie that offers a native mobile app for iPhone and Android.

Mobile betting apps are the perfect way to bet on the go, as they make it faster and easier to navigate to your sportsbook and place your bets. They also come with the added benefit of push notifications to alert you to the hottest new horse racing betting bonuses and promotions. That means you’ll never have to worry about missing out when you bet on horse racing on a mobile app!

Best Mobile Bookie
Bet365
Bet365
Our score: 92%
Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets
New Customer Offer New customers only. 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. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. begambleaware.org
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iPhone betting apps

Explore iPhone betting apps
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Android betting apps

Explore Android betting apps
New Sites

Best New Horse Racing Betting Sites

While you can’t go wrong with a trusted bookmaker with a long history, there are plenty of compelling reasons to opt for a new horse racing betting site. These new online bookies might present you with unique offers, a more modern look and feel, enticing bonuses, or innovative new features to draw you through their doors. Below are a few of our favourite new horse racing betting sites.

Best New Betting Sites

Bzeebet
Bet £10 Get £10
Our score: 78%
BetMGM
Bet £10 Get £60
Copy Bet
Bet £10 Get £40
Vegas Mobile Sports
Bet £10 Get £20
Hyper Sports
Acca Boost on All Football Bets Up to 50%
  • The welcome offer at Bet Target didn’t blow me away, considering larger bonuses are available at competitor sites. New customers here can bag a £10 free bet token when they sign up and bet £15. Although better deals are available elsewhere, it’s still a solid offer to kick things off. Plus, there’s plenty of added value elsewhere — punters can enjoy betting tournaments, boosts on combo bets, and early cash-out. There’s even an innovative Target Tip feature which uses the latest stats to recommend great bets.

    pros icon Pros:
    • Target Tip tool to recommend bets based on statistics
    • Modern site design
    cons icon Cons:
    • No live streaming
    • Small welcome bonus
  • There’s a great selection of sports on offer at Luckster, including more obscure games like hurling and futsal — so if you’re looking for something new to bet on, you won’t be stuck for options. The site is well-designed and easy to browse, although we’d love to see a better range of promotions and support for live streaming. The welcome offer is decent enough — new punters can get a £10 bet token when they bet £10 at minimum odds of 1/1.

    pros icon Pros:
    • Clean site design
    • Huge range of markets including niche sports
    cons icon Cons:
    • No mobile app or live streaming
    • Lack of ongoing promotions
  • RubyBet offers new punters a £10 free bet when they make their first £10 bet of their own. I was disappointed to find that wins from the free bet have to be wagered once before they can be withdrawn — it’s not too severe but is still a raw deal compared to most horse racing betting sites. Still, there are plenty of markets available as well as a great range of payment methods, including everything from Trustly to PayviaPhone. What’s more, the dashboard, live overview, multiview, and calendar make it easier than ever to select and keep track of all my latest bets.

    pros icon Pros:
    • Free bet welcome offer
    • Variety of payment methods
    • Live multiview streaming feature
    cons icon Cons:
    • Wagering requirements on the free bet
Banking

Banking Options at Horse Racing Sportsbooks

The UK’s best sports betting sites offer a range of deposit and withdrawal methods, but the available banking options aren’t the same at every site. For example, while all bookies offer debit card banking, other methods like PayPal and pay by phone bill aren’t quite as widely available.

Wondering how to deposit at horse betting sites? Follow these simple steps:

  1. How to deposit with PayPal
    Head to the cashier and select your preferred deposit method.
  2. Payment Icon
    Enter the amount you wish to deposit and hit confirm.
  3. paypal casino deposit
    Your deposit will be processed instantly.

Don’t forget to read up on the banking terms and conditions as well. Checking the minimum and maximum limits will help you find the sportsbook that’s best suited to your budget. Keep the withdrawal times in mind as well, particularly if you want fast access to your winnings – some of the top horse racing betting sites offer fast payouts to e-wallets like PayPal, Neteller and Skrill.

Visa debit Logo
Debit Card

Found at every horse racing betting site, debit cards are the most ubiquitous payment method — and also the most popular. Nearly everyone has one and there’s a good chance you’ve used one for an online payment before, so using it to make a sportsbook deposit will feel familiar and simple. 
Transactions are secure thanks to the latest encryption methods employed by UKGC-licensed online bookmakers, and deposits are generally instant. Withdrawals are a little slower with this method, taking 3–5 days. If you’re a Visa user, look for Fast Funds support as you could receive your money within an hour when you withdraw via this service.

Paypal casino logo
PayPal

PayPal is one of the most widely used e-wallets in the world and online betting is one of its many functions. It’s a digital wallet, which is essentially a virtual bank account. Once you link a debit card to PayPal, you can simply log in with your username and password to make sportsbook deposits and withdrawals. Your bank details are kept private at all times.
Along with a host of additional functionality, PayPal offers some of the quickest withdrawals, usually taking under 24 hours. There are some drawbacks: you won’t find PayPal at every site, although you may find an alternative e-wallet like Skrill or Neteller. More importantly, most e-wallets are excluded from claiming betting offers, which users should keep in mind. 

Trustly Logo
Trustly

Trustly is a third-party payments intermediary that essentially acts as a middleman between you and the sportsbook. By logging into Trustly through Open Banking, the service lets you make deposits and withdrawals directly to horse racing bookmakers. Transactions are incredibly fast, with withdrawals often being received within a few hours. There aren’t many drawbacks to Trustly — it’s usually eligible for claiming offers and there are no fees involved. You won’t find it at every horse racing betting site, however.

Paysafecard logo
Paysafecard

If security is top of mind, Paysafecard is a fantastic choice. It’s a prepaid card that can be bought at thousands of participating retailers around the country in amounts from £10 to £100. Each Paysafecard voucher has a 16-digit PIN which can be used to transfer the funds to your sportsbook account. No bank details are shared at any time. The limited value of each voucher also makes Paysafecard a useful tool for budget management. 
Deposits are usually instant, but you can’t make withdrawals to Paysafecard. AstroPay is another prepaid card service you might find at the best horse racing betting sites — this service does support withdrawals.

Astropay Logo
AstroPay

AstroPay is a versatile payment method that offers just about everything you need if you’re looking for an alternative to debit cards. The mobile app is split between ‘wallet’ and ‘vouchers’. The virtual prepaid vouchers are a great option for making secure payments online, including deposits to your betting account. There’s also the AstroPay Visa debit card, which can be used in stores as well as online; basically anywhere a Visa card is accepted.
The wallet section works in a similar way to the likes of PayPal — you can hold a balance, make payments, exchange currency, and more. You can also use funds from the wallet to generate vouchers. The main draw of the wallet function for horse racing fans, however, is that you can use it to withdraw funds from your betting account.

Neteller Logo
Neteller

Neteller is another popular e-wallet that’s available at many top horse racing bookies. Like PayPal, Neteller payments are made simply by logging in with your email and password, removing the need to share your card details with the betting site. Withdrawals are typically processed within 48 hours, and there are plenty of other perks that come with creating an account, such as the Neteller Knect programme, VIP scheme, and the option to use a Net+ Prepaid Mastercard. There are a few drawbacks with Neteller, namely fees when withdrawing to your bank and exclusion from claiming betting bonuses.

Skrill Icon
Skrill

Skrill and Neteller are owned by the same company, so there are many similarities between the two services. With Skrill, you’ll also enjoy instant deposits and fast withdrawals that don’t require you to share your card details with the online bookmaker. All the same perks are available too, including Knect, the VIP programme, the prepaid Mastercard, and the ability to buy and sell cryptocurrency. The main difference between Skrill and Neteller is the fees: Neteller offers more deposit and withdrawal options but tends to charge more. If you have a preferred payment method in mind for withdrawing from the wallet to your bank, the best thing to do is check the relevant fees for both services before signing up.

Apple Pay and Google Pay Logos
Google/Apple Pay

If you’re happy to transfer funds directly from your bank to your betting account, Google and Apple Pay are handy alternatives. Available at many of the top UK horse racing betting sites, Google and Apple Pay deposits can be made in a flash using Touch or Face ID. This method typically isn’t available for withdrawals, but you won’t have to worry about bonus eligibility when you make a deposit.

MuchBetter Logo
MuchBetter

Like other e-wallets, MuchBetter can operate as an intermediary between your bank and the betting site, as well as a place to store your funds. MuchBetter claims to have the lowest gaming e-wallet fees in the world and won several awards in 2021 including Best Innovator in Payments. Customers are offered a free MuchBetter Prepaid Debit Mastercard, which can be added to Google Pay for even easier access. Withdrawals with MuchBetter are typically completed within 48 hours, but be aware that this service is often excluded from claiming deposit bonuses.

Betting Strategy

Horse Racing Betting Strategy

Like any form of sports betting, there’s no surefire way to guarantee success when betting on the horses. However, there are plenty of factors worth considering and strategies you can employ to give yourself the best chance of landing a winner, which are explained in our handy guide to betting on horse racing. Check out a summary of our top tips for horse racing betting below.

Check the Horse’s Strengths

An important step before committing to a horse is to have a look at its profile. You can usually access this simply by clicking on a particular racer when browsing the betting markets. Here you’ll find information about the age, sex, breeding history, owner and trainer. Some runners are suited to flat races while others are jumps specialists. Jumps horses can be easier to assess as they race for longer than flat racing horses, meaning there’s a longer history of form to pore over. You can also look at the horse’s racing history to see whether the upcoming race is suited to its strengths.

Assess the Form

That brings us onto form. It’s no easy feat assessing the form of a horse, but it can be helpful in picking a winner. The letters ‘CD’ — referring to course and distance — next to the horse’s  name means that it has previously won that exact race at the same distance, so that’s always a good place to start. ‘BF’, meanwhile, stands for beaten favourite, meaning the horse didn’t win its last race but had been listed as the favourite. Indications of recent form are generally considered to be more relevant than career wins. So if an older runner has had a lot of success but is in a bad run of form, it may be wise to stay away, particularly if it indicates a lack of peak fitness.

Back Second Favourites

This is a pretty simple one but a potentially good way to start off if you’ve never bet on horse racing before. Often, if an overwhelming number of bettors back the favourite in a race, horse racing betting sites will increase the potential payouts on the other runners in order to balance their books. This means you’ll get a better price than you should for the second favourite, while the odds for the favourite will remain low. Even though the favourite wins most of the time, you may find you turn a profit once the second favourite eventually comes up trumps.

Make Use of Horse Racing Promotions

The best horse racing betting sites offer lots of regular promotions to enhance your wagers, so it’s a good idea to make use of what’s on offer. One of the most popular bonuses among horse racing punters is best odds guaranteed. Here, if the starting price on a horse is better than when you placed the bet, you’ll receive the improved odds. Best odds guaranteed may not be available on every market, so it’s worth having a look to see where it’s available before laying down your cash.

Step by Step

Getting Started at a Horse Racing Betting Site

Follow these four simple steps to get your horse racing betting account up and running.

  1. Compare sportsbooks

    Use our carefully selected list to compare 2024’s top horse betting sites and find the perfect site for you. Our expert reviews cover you need to know, including bonuses, betting options and banking methods.
  2. Sign up

    Follow the ‘claim bonus’ link on our list to take you to the bookie registration page. You’ll just need to provide a few details to sign up, and you may be asked to provide identity documents to verify your account after you’ve registered.
  3. Deposit

    Head to the cashier, select your preferred payment method and complete your first deposit. Your deposit will be processed instantly, so you can start betting right away.
  4. Bet

    Time to place your first wager! You’ll find plenty of exciting betting markets at the top horse racing betting sites. Good luck!
Compare & Bet

Bet on Horse Racing

Ready to try your luck at the races? Look no further than our recommended best sports betting sites to find your perfect bookie. Compare the top bonuses using our list, and check out our sportsbook reviews to get the lowdown on banking, odds and withdrawal times. Simply sign up to place your bets!

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Top 10 Best Licensed Racing Betting Sites for UK Customers:

Racing Betting Site Bonus Value Mobile App Available Score Licence
Betfair
£100 Yes 87% UK Gambling Commission
Ladbrokes
£30 Yes 88% UK Gambling Commission
PaddyPower
£30 Yes 91% UK Gambling Commission
Sport Nation
£50 Yes 76% UK Gambling Commission
Unibet
£40 Yes 85% UK Gambling Commission
Coral
£30 Yes 91% UK Gambling Commission
Bethard
£50 Yes 73% UK Gambling Commission
Betway Sports
£30 Yes 90% UK Gambling Commission
Grosvenor Sports
Double Odds Yes 82% UK Gambling Commission

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these horse racing betting sites safe?

Yes. All the horse betting sites we recommend are licensed by UK Gambling Commission, which ensures your account and finances are secure and that players have access to responsible gambling settings.

If my horse falls, do I get my money back?

In most cases your bet would become void if your horse falls, meaning it’s a loss. However, some horse betting sites now offer “faller insurance”, which means you’ll get your stake back if the horse falls, unseats the jockey, or is brought down. However, this is usually only available for selected races, and bets may be priced at lower odds or have lower maximum bet limits than usual.

What is a starting price?

The starting price (SP) is the odds on a horse at the time a race begins. As odds often fluctuate in the build up to a race, many sites give punters the choice between the current odds or SP when placing a bet. If you choose the SP, you could get better or worse odds, depending on how they change. Most bookies also offer ‘best odds guaranteed’ promotions. This means that if a punter places a fixed odds bet and the SP offers better odds, the payout will be calculated using the SP.

Can I cash out on horse racing bets?

Yes. Some of the UK’s best horse racing betting sites offer cash out, which is a great way to secure some profit or cut your losses. However, not all sportsbooks have this feature, so if you want to cash out, make sure you choose a top sports betting site that does.

What is virtual horse racing?

Virtual horse races are computer-simulated races that are available to bet on at some online horse betting sites. The results of virtual horse races are determined by random number generator (RNG) technology, and you can bet on these races 24/7, which is one of the reasons they’ve become popular among punters.

Which horse racing betting payment method is best for fast withdrawals?

e-Wallets like PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller typically offer the fastest withdrawals, and you might receive your funds within just a few hours of requesting them. Visa Fast Funds and Trustly are also fast, with some withdrawals taking under an hour.

Can I make a profit on free bets?

Yes, but you’ll need to check the T&Cs to understand how much. Wagering requirements might stop you from withdrawing your profit until you’ve bet a certain amount of your own money at the site, and there could be caps on how much you can win from the offer. It’s worth keeping in mind that a free bet stake is usually not returned — just the profit. And, of course, in order to make a profit, your bet will have to win!

Can I live stream races at UK horse racing betting sites?

Yes. Many horse racing betting sites allow punters to stream both big races and smaller events directly from the sportsbook interface. This feature is free to use at plenty of UK horse racing betting sites, although some require punters to place a bet on a race before they can stream it, or make a qualifying deposit to access the feature. As well as daily UK and Irish horse racing, some sites even let you stream international races.

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.

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