Best Cheltenham Betting Sites

By Gavin Davison on
In search of the best places to bet on Cheltenham Festival? You’ve come to the right place! We’ve found the top sites to bet on the Festival. Simply compare, pick a favourite and sign up to start betting.
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1. 22bet
100% up to $250

Reviewed & verified by our team

"22bet offers punters hundreds of match markets on soccer matches and other global sports events; and competitive odds across the board."
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New Customer Offer Only one 100% first deposit bonus per customer. The minimum deposit required to get the bonus is 10 NZD. The maximum sports betting bonus is 250 NZD. All types of bonuses are disabled for cryptocurrency accounts. The bonus must be wagered within 7 days. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
2. 888 Sport
100% up to $100

Reviewed & verified by our team

"Snap up a host of offers to enhance your punting pleasure and bet on rugby, cricket, and dozens of other sports on your mobile or PC with 888sport. "
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New Customer Offer $10 min deposit - The bonus will be applied once the full deposit amount has been wagered at least once with cumulative odds of 1.5 or greater. Wagering must be cleared within 90 days. This offer may not be combined with any other offer. Deposit methods, Withdrawal restrictions 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
3. Bet Regal
Bet $10, Get $10 Freebet

Reviewed & verified by our team

"Promising new betting operator looking to make its mark in New Zealand - brings a wide range of sports and betting options, plus top prices of major events."
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New Customer Offer Max $10 free bet. Qualifying bets must be placed at odds of, or greater than, 2.00. Paid as bonus token with min 1.80 odds required. Skrill, Neteller, Paypal deposits not eligible 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
4. Leo Vegas
Get up to $50 Bonus

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"Jump from the first-class casino over to LeoVegas Sports for a mobile-first betting experience. Grab your Leo Boosts and enhance your payouts on your winning punts. "
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New Customer Offer To be eligible for the 100% Matched Free Bet, new customers must first place a qualifying bet within seven (7) days of making their first deposit. A qualifying bet is a bet of $10 or more at odds of 1.8 (4/5) or higher. The first qualifying bet to settle will be 100% matched with a Free Bet up to a value of $50. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
5. Spin Sports
Get up to $200 Free Bet

Reviewed & verified by our team

"International sportsbook design for the modern bettor. Offers a range of features, tools and promotions to add more value to your betting."
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New Customer Offer 1st Deposit - Free Bet up to NZ$200 • New customers only • Min deposit NZ$10 • 5x wagering at odds of 1.3+ to unlock free bet 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
6. Unibet
$25 Risk Free Bet

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"One of the best bookies for local and international horse racing, Unibet is a favoutire site for many punters. "
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New Customer Offer To withdraw your refunded stake, you need to simply wager your bonus money 3 times. So, for e.g. if your first bet of €10 loses, we will credit you €10 instantly as bonus money. You need to place three subsequent bets of €10 to make your original stake and all associated winnings withdrawable. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
8. Betway Sports
Get up to $60 bonus

Reviewed & verified by our team

"Betway is among the top online betting companies out there. It offers 1000s of markets and some mouth-watering promotions, including its popular free bet club."
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New Customer Offer Min Deposit: 20 NZD. First deposit matched up to 60 NZD. 1 x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Credit Card and Debit Card deposits only. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.

Cheltenham Festival sees punters old and new pitting their knowledge of national horse racing against the bookies, and now this is possible online! Whether you’re an experienced Cheltenham bettor, or a complete horse racing newbie, there are plenty of betting options to choose from. Let us run through some of the must-know information on Cheltenham Festival betting before you pick where to place your wager from our list of top-rated betting sites. All our featured bookmakers are regulated by governing bodies, such as the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), so you can rest assured that you’re in safe hands, whichever provider you choose.

Cheltenham in a nutshell

The Cheltenham Festival is the UK’s pinnacle jump racing event of the year. The event takes place in March, though betting opens much earlier! Cheltenham comprises of four days of top-class horse racing, with 27 fantastic races, including the Gold Cup, the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and the World Hurdle, to name a few. It’s now recognised as one of the UK’s top sporting events, attracting over 260,000 attendees each year, and is considered in the same realm as events including Wimbledon, the British Grand Prix and even the FA Cup Final.

Who to back?

There’s no simple answer to this and, with such evenly matched horses in each Cheltenham race, the question of which horses to back at the Festival often divides opinion. While it would be easy to ride with the bookies’ favourite, there are a number of factors that might influence your choice. Form, pedigree and jockey can affect a horse’s success, but weather conditions leading up to the event can alter the ground firmness, which can also impact a horse’s performance. It’s always useful to do a little research before you place your bet, as this can help you understand your chances of landing a win.

Cheltenham betting options

With so many races across the weekend, there are plenty of different betting options. Here are some of the most popular:

Win

Betting on a horse to win a race means you’ll only receive a payout if the horse comes first.

Place

With a place bet, you’re betting that a horse will come in the top three. Your payout will depend on the final position. The number of horses in a race will affect which places receive payouts.

Forecasts

This a bet on the first two places in a race, which can offer much better odds than a first place bet. A bet on the first three places can offer better odds still, and is known as a tricast. You’ll need to predict the correct finishing order to receive the payout for these bets.

Each Way

An each way bet sees punters place two bets, effectively: one win and one place. Each bet is even, and if the horse wins, both stakes will be paid. If the horse only places, the place stake is paid out, but the win stake is lost.

Accumulator

Accumulator bets are bets on multiple different races. These can help you rack up the big bucks, but do rely on multiple selections winning for the next bet to be paid out. Accumulators come in doubles ( two selections), trebles (three selections), four-fold (four selections) and so on.

Ante Post

Ante Post bets are bets placed at least one day in advance of the event. While the odds for these bets tend to be better, they are riskier as they don’t take on-the-day factors, such as weather or injury, into consideration.

Live Betting

Some online bookmakers allow punter to place bet while the race is in full swing, which can be truly exhilarating.This is especially exciting if your chosen sportsbook offers live streaming on Cheltenham races, as you can make your wager based on any sudden changes that might not be reflected fast enough in written commentary.

Horse racing bonuses

Online bookies roll out a range of bonuses and promotions in the run up to Cheltenham Festival, which can help punters get the most bang for their buck. You’ll have access to your standard welcome rewards, such as deposit match bonuses, free bets and bet insurance, as well as other promotions, including guaranteed odds, price boosts and #nameyourodds, to name a few.

Compare and bet

Now that we’ve covered the key elements of betting on Cheltenham festival, you’re probably ready to try it yourself. Simply use our list of top online sportsbooks to compare, find your favourite and start betting today!

Your Questions Answered

Can I place a bet after the race has started?

Yes! Many online bookmakers support in-play betting— also known as live betting— which allows you to place bets while the race is in action. Choosing a Cheltenham Festival betting site that offers live streaming gives you the chance to take advantage of sudden changes.

How does a straight forecast differ from a reverse forecast bet?

A straight forecast bets means that your two selections must finish in the exact order that you picked. When it comes to reverse forecast bets, however, it doesn’t matter which out of your chosen horses finishes first or second.

What happens if I back a non-runner?

What happens if I back a non-runner? There are many reasons for which a horse may not partake in the race, and each bookmaker has its own rules when it comes to non-runners. While many will refund your stake, this isn’t guaranteed. For this reason it’s important that you read the terms and conditions before placing your bet.

What are the top tips for betting on Cheltenham Festival?

Whilst there are plenty of self-proclaimed horse racing pundits offering betting tips, but we’d recommend taking their advice with a pinch of salt, as you can’t guarantee they have good intentions. Compare.bet advises bettors to do plenty of their own research before wagering any money, comparing various sources to make an educated betting decision.

Can I bet on Cheltenham Festival on my mobile?

For sure! Most online betting sites have either a mobile-friendly web page or a mobile app, which means you’ll be able to bet on your favourite horse racing event, or any other event for that matter- including rugby, golf and F1- no matter where you are- all you’ll need is an internet connection. You’ll even have access to the same fast payment methods, betting options and bonuses, so you needn’t miss out on a thing!

The people behind this page

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

Gavin is a writer for Compare.bet, contributing to our expert online reviews. Gavin has over two years of experience writing about topics including online casino and sports betting.