Horse Racing Betting Sites for the UK

Last updated: by Leon Marshal

Consider this your go-to place for horse racing betting, the most popular betting market in the UK after football. It’s difficult to pinpoint the moment when horse racing betting began: but it has developed into a fantastic market. We checked out the best horse racing betting sites and ranked them all, so have a read through our guide for some tips, tricks and strategies.

All you need is a perceptive horse racing enthusiast, a good internet connection, and you’re set for glory. Whether you’re into flat races or jumps, whether your gut feeling leads you to Royal Ascot, the Guineas Festival or Cheltenham, you have come to the right place. Here you’ll find only the best horse racing betting sites in the UK, and we’ll help you to choose the right one for you. There’s a whole host of different offers, odds and bonuses available to customers. The markets offered aren’t all identical either. And even within the same market, not all meetings are covered by all the bookies. And then, of course, there are the ever-evolving trends in the industry. Below, we’ll touch on all these different aspects so you don’t have to wonder whether you’re missing out on something or not.


The Best Horse Racing Betting Sites and How to Choose Them

There are innumerable aspects to consider when trying to decide whether a betting on horses website meets—or perhaps even surpasses—your expectations. But some of these aspects are far more important to the decision-making process than others. These are what we call Key Performance Indicators or KPIs. These factors determine whether a certain bookie does well in our rankings or, in some cases, fails to meet the bare minimum to even enter the list.

The Top 5 Horse Racing Betting Sites
BookmakerWelcome BonusHighlightsRatingVisit BookmakerT&C
Get ÂŁ10Markets: 30 Bet Types: 11 Odds Levels: 88.57%5.0 out of 5Full T&Cs Apply! 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: ÂŁ10, max ÂŁ10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible. Neteller,Skrill and Paypal not eligible.
x2 OddsMarkets: 31 Bet Types: 12 Odds Levels: 89.03%4.9 out of 5Full T&Cs Apply! Offer applies to Sport bets only. Maximum total stake is ÂŁ10. Each way bets are a maximum of ÂŁ5 each way (ÂŁ10 total stake). Exclusive to new members. 18+
Get ÂŁ10Markets: 33 Bet Types: 11 Odds Levels: 87.12%4.8 out of 5Full T&Cs Apply! min odds 3/1 (4.00) / min 3 selections / free bet valid 7 days / T&C apply / 18+ / Begambleaware.
Get ÂŁ30Markets: 31 Bet Types: 17 Odds Levels: 92.12%4.7 out of 5Full T&Cs Apply! For new customers at bet365. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required. 18+ Begambleaware.org
Get ÂŁ20Markets: 41 Bet Types: 18 Odds Levels: 93.38%4.6 out of 5Full T&Cs Apply! 18+ New UK+IRE customers only. PayPal and certain deposit types excluded. Min ÂŁ5 bet within 14 days of account registration at min odds 1/2 = 4 x ÂŁ5 free bets. Free bets valid for 4 days on sports, stake not returned, restrictions apply.
Get ÂŁ10Markets: 36 Bet Types: 13 Odds Levels: 94.11%4.6 out of 5Full T&Cs Apply! 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: ÂŁ10, max ÂŁ15 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets not eligible.
Get ÂŁ30Markets: 33 Bet Types: 11 Odds Levels: 93.84%4.6 out of 5
The top horse racing betting sites

Top 5 Horse Racing Betting Sites

  • đŸ„‡ Betiton âœȘ Top Overall Horse Racing Bookie
  • đŸ„ˆ Grosvenor âœȘ Most Famous Horse Racing Bookmaker
  • đŸ„‰ NetBet âœȘ Great Live Horse Racing Betting Platform
  • ⭐ bet365 âœȘ Best Horse Racing Livestreams
  • ⭐ Ladbrokes âœȘ Top Notch Racebook for High Rollers

In the following sections, we’ll briefly discuss some of these KPIs, explain why they are important, and how they may be used to find the best horse racing betting sites. These indicators include the odds offered by the bookmakers, the markets they’ve made available to users, their different betting types and that each user can utilise the very important cash-out option, which has become an indispensable part of betting on horses.


Horse Racing News & Previews

Every week our team of experts analyse and preview two of the weekend’s races and provide betting tips for our loyal punters. If you are into horse racing betting, then this is the place to check for all of the best tips. See our latest articles below.

We also provide our readers with breaking news from across the sport. We recommend that you check back regularly so you can benefit from our expert opinion and horse racing betting tips.


Horse Racing Odds Levels

When trying to decide what are the best horse racing betting sites, you may find yourself trying to make sense of countless figures and statistics. This can be a frustrating process that might not even yield the results you’re looking for. But here’s something you should always keep in mind before choosing an online horse racing betting site: odds margins, especially when considering the in-play arena, as we explain in our page dedicated to live betting. So, what is meant by horse racing odds margins? Think of it as a marker of a bookmaker’s capacity when it comes to paying out customers. In other words, how stingy (or generous, depending on how you look at it) are they when it comes to paying out customers? For obvious reasons, we want this figure to be as low as possible. But be careful when trying to make sense of the horse racing odds levels.

Average Payout Level by Race
BookmakerBetitonGrosvenorNetBetbet365Ladbrokes
Grand National87.69%90.50%90.62%91.80%91.83%
Flatground Short Distance87.09%86.40%87.12%90.11%91.86%
Flatground Long Distance89.60%90.64%89.71%87.26%89.80%

But judging a bookmaker’s available horse racing odds doesn’t end there: there are different markets and races out there, and when it comes to odds levels, operators do not have the same performance. It may very well be the case that a certain bookie offers better odds on the Grand National than they do on the short distance races. With others, the exact opposite may be the case. Take Paddy Power, for instance, a name we’ve learned to trust throughout our years of experience with horse racing. They may well impress when it comes to short-distance flat races, but this doesn’t automatically mean that they’re our undisputed favourite when only considering the Grand National.


Markets on Offer

But generosity is not the only criteria when choosing between horse racing betting sites. Bookies are also judged based on the betting markets (or betting types) they offer punters. Owing to several reasons, all the best horse racing betting sites do not have as many betting types as, say, football. This is partly due to the sport’s very nature. In order to make the best decisions, it is very important to first develop a good understanding of the various betting types available. They include each-way betting, which is one of the most popular types of online horse racing betting. This bet consists of two coexisting parts: a win and a place bet. As the name suggests, for the win part to produce a return, your selection must win in the race. For the second (place) part of the bet to produce an earning, your selection must either: (a) win the race or (b) finish in one of the predesignated places for the racing event, e.g., first or second place. But if each-way betting feels a little too intimidating at first, then not to worry.

Horse Racing Markets at Each Sportsbook
BookmakerGrand NationalFlatground Short DistanceFlatground Long Distance
Betiton1574
Grosvenor1469
NetBet1367
bet36513511
Ladbrokes14810

There is also straight betting, which is the simplest type of horse race betting and enjoys great popularity amongst those at the beginning of the horse racing betting journey. Understandably, this class of horse betting requires less experience and skill, so it’s a perfect place to start if you want to test the waters first before getting down and dirty with far more tempting markets. If you are feeling unsure about all of this, then check our guide to horse racing betting, for a detailed rundown of all the bets you can place.

It’s worth mentioning that events such as the Grand National are generally offered by all the big operators. For races of this prestige, bookies provide their own unique offers, so it can be a little tricky at times to distinguish between them. One way to differentiate bookies is to check and see which operator includes the less prestigious events in their list of markets. The following table shows some of the biggest operators and the horse racing markets they offer.


Bet Types Available

A single bet is at times just not enough. That’s why bookies have come up with a range of different betting types that better address the preferences of individual punters. One of the most popular options made available by bookmakers is the accumulator or acca, which allows you to have multiple selections. Usually, there are limits to the number of selections. Your classic operators like Paddy Powers offer a whole range of betting options when it comes to betting types. They also offer the acca option. But remember that there are limits. Paddy Power, for instance, don’t let you choose more than twenty selections in multiple bets. The next section will briefly explain how the very popular cash-out option is utilised in horse racing.


Convenience of Cash Out at Horse Racing Betting Sites

Cash-out capabilities that you may find at online cricket bookmakers or the best football betting sites aren’t necessarily always available in horse racing, it can sometimes depend on the race, type and operator. Not unlike the cash-out option in football betting, the main idea behind the horse racing cash-out option is straightforward. Imagine it’s the middle of a race and the horse you’ve placed a bet on is in a fantastic position, but you’re not sure if this state of affairs will last. With the cash-out option, you can eliminate this uncertainty by securing your earnings before the race even comes to an end. When you’ve found the cash-out option that was meant for you, remember to also ensure that the process is a smooth one. Of course, you can always cash out multiple bets that are winning if they have selections still to run, which is often a strong approach.


Horse Racing Bonuses and Promotions

As hinted earlier, after football, horse racing is the second most popular betting market in Great Britain. So, it’s easy to see why some of the best bonuses and promotions in the world of sports betting are found in horse racing. So, it’s really important to keep an eye out for the different bonuses and promotions that can be taken advantage of. Below, we’ll briefly touch on some of the classic promotions and bonuses provided by the best horse racing betting sites, including best odds guaranteed (or BOG), extra place winner, and handy non-runner insurance. As always, a key question to ask is whether the promotion in question meets your needs or not. Don’t forget to take a look at our specific bonus page, in order to know about every topic connected to betting sites and promotions.

Best Odds Guaranteed

Best odds guaranteed promotion for horse racing We’ll start off with the famous best odds guaranteed promotion or BOG. This promotion works something like this. Suppose that you’ve taken an early price or a fixed-odds price about your selection for a particular race. If the SP (Starting Price) turns out to be greater, a bookie offering BOG will pay you out at the highest odds. In recent years, this particular promotion has become almost ubiquitous, which means that you’re unlikely to find a bookie that doesn’t offer BOG. If BOG isn’t offered by a bookie, look around and you’re sure to find an operator that does offer it.

Here’s how you can claim the best odds guaranteed offer:

Best odds guaranteed promotion for horse racingThe best odds guaranteed promotion for horse racing betting ensures you get the best deal.

An eligible bet slip for the best odds payoutPlace a bet at a participating operator and if your winning price is higher, reap the rewards.

The extra bonus funds credited to your betting walletYou’ll be paid out at the higher price if your horse finishes the race on a higher price.

Extra Place Winner

Extra place winner promotion for horse racing betting The extra place tool is geared towards punters who prefer not only to engage in each way betting but also to enhance their horse racing experience. The extra place winner promotion is when a bookmaker decides to pay an extra place. For instance, if they usually pay five places, they may boost the offer to pay out on six.

Non-Runner Insurance

The non-runner insurance promotion for horse racing betting showing a horse rider in action There’s also the non-runner insurance. As the name implies, think of this promotion as an insurance policy. It applies to races that are available well in advance of the actual race day. It works like this: if your horse ends up not running at the event, you’re still allowed to secure your bet. This concession is offered by bookies like the one we covered in our bet365 review.


Emerging Features in Horse Racing

Horse racing betting has not been immune to the latest trends and developments in the betting industry. Every day, the best horse racing betting sites are trying to find innovative ways to take their job to the next level. For punters, this just means even more fun and excitement when betting on horses. Here, we’ll discuss some of the latest trends in sports betting and horse racing betting in particular. We’ll start off with virtual horse racing betting and then provide a brief discussion of the lesser-known bookies out there.

Virtual Horse Racing Betting

A virtual horse raceUnlike real-life horse racing, which cannot go on endlessly and must inevitably come to an end at some point, virtual horse racing betting allows for users to carry on betting on computer-generated horse racing at any time of the day, just as long as there are punters who are willing and ready to punt. Virtual horse racing is more popular than you think. A quarter of all online horse racing betting at the top bookies is on virtual horse races. Like real-life horse racing betting, there are different tracks to choose from. However, because of licensing restrictions, virtual races can’t assume the names of real races like Ascot, even though they’ve come a long way in producing the same atmosphere of the major events. Most of the major bookmakers offer virtual horse racing. William Hill, for instance, holds a race every three minutes. You can read our William Hill review for the details.

New Horse Racing Betting Sites

Like any betting sport, the horse racing betting sites industry is not stagnant. Though there are always your classic names that everyone’s heard of (e.g., Paddy Power) there are always new names entering the fray, which you should always watch out for. Take 10bet, for instance. An objective glance at their features and offers is enough to lure one in. They offer a welcome bonus of up to £50 and a staggering number of events. Furthermore, its high payout rate commands our respect. Check out our 10bet review for more.

And for those of us who prefer to punt while on the go, our 10bet mobile app review covers just how great it is. Plus it’s compatible with your major operating systems and has an intuitive and rather smooth, interactive and intuitive design. But there’s more to 10bet’s foray into the world of horse betting. If you want to discover more on this topic then check our best new betting sites page.


Horse Racing Betting by Race Type

Veteran horse betting experts may find this part of the review a little tedious, but it is always helpful to ensure that punters, both beginners and the more seasoned ones, are on the same page regarding terminology. The same principle applies to horse betting. Not all punters enjoy the game in the same exact fashion and may prefer to bet on different race types for a variety of reasons. Some prefer the Grand National, while others tend to opt for flat races which themselves split into two categories. And who can forget about harness racing? Below, we’ll quickly go through some of these race types so that you have a better idea of what is best for you.

Steeplechase

Steeplechases are distance races with obstacles, like ditches and fences. More than just a horse race, The Grand National is easily one of the most iconic symbols of British culture and is perhaps the world’s most famous Steeplechase. Held annually at Aintree racecourse, this race is the most valuable jump race in Europe and draws an audience of global proportions as well as the world’s armies of horse betting devotees. Even people who may otherwise not consider themselves diehard punters are far more likely to bet on The Grand National, which had its first running in 1839.

Flat Races

Flat races, that is to say, horse racing with no obstacles, are both far more global and profitable. When choosing the best bookie for you, make sure you know who has the highest number of ante-post markets. bet365, BetTarget and 10bet are usually high on the list. And when searching for bonuses, don’t just look for best odds guaranteed. Some bookies offer BOG on all daily racing, both on the UK and foreign markets. Some offer BOG on the day of the race, while others give you an odds boost on top of the BOG. But be careful, because bookies have been known to remove this offer after a while. This is not to be mistaken with the odds boost offered by bookmakers.


Q&A / FAQ

While we try to make our guides as comprehensive as possible, our readers occasionally have more specific questions which we answer below. If you feel we’ve forgotten something or just want to ask us a question, feel free to reach out at any time.

🏆 What are the best horse racing betting sites?

The best horse racing betting sites are ones licensed by the Gambling Commission. Regardless of other factors like odds and markets, a UKGC licence is the number one indicator an operator can be trusted. All the racebooks listed on our site are UKGC licensed, so have a look at our top horse racing gambling sites for some suggestions on where to play.

💰 What are the payout levels at horse racing betting sites?

The odds levels at horse racing betting sites can fluctuate greatly. It's worth checking our horse racing betting payout table to see which ones payout more on average. Keep in mind the racebook's vigorish is built into the odds, so finding higher payout sportsbooks generally means they're charging you less, which positively impacts your bankroll in the long run.

🏇 What are the most popular horse races to bet on?

There are loads of races year round both in the UK and worldwide that attract billions of pounds in bets. The Grand National, Kentucky Derby and Aintree all spring to any sports fan's mind. You can see our list of the popular horse races to bet on for a full overview of the horse racing betting landscape.

🎁 Are there bonuses available for horse racing betting?

Yes, most operators with horse racing betting offer welcome bonuses or sport specific bonuses of some kind. These can range from deposit bonuses to best odds guaranteed offers. You can see more information about this in our horse racing betting bonuses section.