Best Horse Racing Betting Sites UK
With a huge range of horse racing betting sites available in the UK, it's our job to sort the best from the rest. On this page, you'll find our top picks for the best horse racing bookmakers, along with helpful information regarding bonuses, bet types, payment methods, and lots more.
Our Top Horse Racing Betting Site Recommendations - November 2024
- Payout Speed
- Payment Options
- Bet Builder
- Free Bet Club
- Streaming
Best Bookmakers for Horse Racing Betting Reviewed
bet365
bet365 is another strong player in the world of horse racing betting sites. I love the design of the sportsbook, as it’s easy to dial in on whichever market I’m looking for using the categories or search bar. I’m also a big fan of the ‘My Horses’ feature. Simply click on the star next to a horse’s name on any coupon, result, or horse search screen to add it to your collection to track each race and event they feature in. Live streaming is available for all UK, Irish, and French racing provided you have a funded account or have placed a bet in the last 24 hours.
It’s the plethora of promos that really make bet365 stand out. Boosted odds, Best Odds Guaranteed, and Non-Runner No Bet are a few perks racing punters can take advantage of. The welcome bonus at bet365 is generous too. New customers receive £30 in free bets when they deposit and stake £10 at minimum odds of 1/5 on qualifying markets.
Pros and Cons of Using bet365
Positives
- Excellent horse racing betting offers for new and existing customers.
- Keep track of your favourites with 'My Horses'
- £30 free bet welcome offer
- Live streaming of UK, Irish and French races
- £5 minimum deposit
- Partial and auto-cash out
Negatives
- £25 minimum deposit with PayPal
BoyleSports
BoyleSports is a fantastic spot to bet on horse racing thanks to its impressive range of promotions. Best odds guaranteed, extra place payouts, and Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB) means there’s some excellent value to be found here. But the special offers on selected races are where BoyleSports really shines, such as a free bet token if your selection finishes second to the favourite.
As for the welcome bonus, it’s one of the most favourable around. With a £5 qualifying bet, you’ll unlock £25 in free bet credits. Once you dive in, it’s easy to find what you’re looking for. I like to switch between the main race cards section and the highlights page to check out the next big races.
Pros and Cons of Using BoyleSports
Positives
- Great value horse racing promos available daily
- Top welcome offer with low qualifying bet
- Mobile app
- Live streaming
- Each way betting calculator
Negatives
- No cash out on racing markets
William Hill
Despite its less polished appearance, veteran bookmaker William Hill remains one of the best horse racing betting sites. This bookie’s top price guarantee means you’ll get the most competitive odds, while selected markets receive enhanced prices to boost your wins.
All UK and Irish races with more than five runners benefit from extra place payouts too. And if you’re looking for suggestions on where to bet, the built-in Naps table is a fantastic addition. I also found the jockey and trainer search useful, especially considering information on trainers isn’t always easy to find.
Pros and Cons of Using William Hill
Positives
- Built-in Naps table
- Search by jockey or trainer
- Extra place payouts on UK and Irish races
- Bigger odds on every UK race
- Live streaming
Negatives
- Site design could be modernised
Betfred
Betfred’s deftly designed sportsbook makes it easy to find your chosen race at a glance, with selected races highlighted to indicate extra place payouts or promotions like ‘Free Bet if 2nd’. If, like me, you like to place multiples, Betfred pays a bonus of up to 25% if all your Lucky 15, 31, or 63 picks are correct, and up to 5x odds if you land just one winner.
New punters at this horse racing betting site can claim £30 of free bets when they deposit and stake £10 at odds of evens or greater. Keep in mind you’ll get just seven days to use these bonus bets before they expire. Once I claimed the offer and got stuck in, I was impressed by the wide range of horse racing betting markets, including ante-post wagers on Cheltenham and the Grand National. All things considered, Betfred is one of the best horse racing bookies around.
Pros and Cons of Using Betfred
Positives
- Wide range of horse racing betting offers
- Free bet welcome offer
- Mobile app
- Build your own racecard
Negatives
- Site design not the most attractive
QuinnBet
At QuinnBet, I like to cut straight to the chase by clicking the ‘Today’s Horse Racing’ option in the main menu. This brings you all the latest horse racing betting odds, organised by country and event. Another innovative feature of QuinnBet is the dual welcome bonuses on offer for new customers. The first option is a 50% free bet refund deal up to £25 when you place a bet at evens or greater. Alternatively, you can create a three-fold at combined odds of 6/4 or greater and bag a £10 free bet plus 10 free spins for the Smoking Hot Fruit Stacks slot game.
I was hugely impressed by the variety of promotions for betting on horse racing at QuinnBet. Highlights include acca bonuses, Best Odds Guaranteed, and free bets if your pick fails to finish, is second to the SP favourite, or is beaten by a head or less.
Pros and Cons of Using QuinnBet
Positives
- Choice of welcome offer
- Easy to find the latest horse racing odds
- Huge range of horse racing betting promos
Negatives
- Limited range of payment options
LeoVegas
LeoVegas is well known as an online casino, but it also doubles up as a stellar horse racing betting site. The sportsbook utilises a slightly unconventional layout — it all feels rather streamlined, so it’s ideal for punters who feel that the usual sites are overly busy and hard to browse. Once you click into the horse racing sections, you can browse by next off, meeting, and ante-post. I also like the option to save sports to my favourites for easy access.
One major drawback of LeoVegas is the dearth of horse racing promotions, but the welcome deal makes a nice change from the usual offers — you can get a 100% profit boost up to £100 on your first bet.
Pros and Cons of Using LeoVegas
Positives
- Streamlined layout
- Excellent welcome offer
Negatives
- Fewer markets than the big names
- Lack of horse racing promotions
Parimatch
Those of you looking for top horse racing odds won’t be disappointed at Parimatch — there’s an excellent range of markets with competitive prices across the board. The welcome deal offers up £20 in free bets when you bet £10 for the first time. Alternatively, if you’re also keen on football betting, you can instead place three £10 wagers to get £30 in free football bets. Fancy something completely different? There are welcome offers tailored to combat sports and esports too, which is a Parimatch exclusive.
Parimatch’s black, white and yellow design is slick and user friendly. Personally I prefer a bit of a brighter appearance, but I know many punters will enjoy browsing a sportsbook in what essentially feels like dark mode. Once registered, I enjoyed checking out the Daily Racing Specials, which not only offer competitive odds but also serve as inspiration for my next bet. Parimatch is weaker on recurring horse racing betting offers than other sites, but with Run For Your Money you can get a real cash refund if your horse loses all chance at the start of the race.
Pros and Cons of Using Parimatch
Positives
- Variety of welcome offers
- Slick site design
- Daily Racing Specials
- Cash refunds if your horse drops out
Negatives
- Fewer promos for existing customers than other sites
- Only card payments are valid to claim the welcome bonus
BetUK
It might not be for everyone, but I like the streamlined feel of this horse betting site. It's easy to find popular horse racing bets by toggling between next off, meetings, specials, and ante-post. What's more, BetUK has great coverage of all the big horse races, with live streaming available to all registered customers.
I'd like to see a wider array of promotions specifically for horse racing, but there's no denying BetUK is a great place to pick up free bets and profit boosts. £30 in free bets is up for grabs when you sign up and bet £10. Then, you can go ahead and join the Acca-Fenwa Club to get a £5 free bet and profit boosts every week for betting on horse racing.
Pros and Cons of Using BetUK
Positives
- Streamlined sportsbook
- Free bet welcome offer
- Excellent live streaming coverage
- Free bets and profit boosts every week
Negatives
- Could offer more horse racing betting offers
Horse Racing Betting Sites Compared
Bookmaker | Welcome Offer | Payment Methods available | Odds Boosts | Extra Places | Live Streaming |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BetUK | Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets | Debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
BoyleSports | Bet £10 Get £20 + £10 Casino Bonus | Debit cards, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Apple Pay, bank transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Bet365 | Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets | Debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Trustly, Pay by Bank App, Paysafecard, Click To Pay, wire transfer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Virgin Bet | Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets | Debit cards, PayPal, Trustly | Yes | Yes | Yes |
LiveScore Bet | Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets | Debit cards, PayPal, Trustly | Yes | Yes | Yes |
William Hill | Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets | Debit cards, Paysafecard, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Payz, Apple Pay, TrueLayer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Unibet | Money Back Bet up to £40 + £10 Casino Bonus | Debit cards, Apple Pay, Trustly, Skrill, Neteller, Webmoney, Instant Banking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Betfred | Bet £10 Get £40 in Bonuses | Debit cards, Neteller, Skrill, PayPal | Yes | Yes | Yes |
How We Rate Horse Racing Betting Sites
When we conduct our reviews of horse racing betting sites, we keep several key criteria in mind. Only once we’re satisfied a bookmaker ticks the following boxes do we recommend it to our readers.
UKGC-Licensed
We only endorse betting sites that are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). While there are no guarantees a bookmaker won’t break its licensing terms, sites that don’t follow the rules face severe penalties or could be shut down entirely. Licensed bookies provide a range of responsible gambling tools, use the latest SSL encryption, and monitor spending to check for signs of addiction.
Welcome Offers
One of the best things about signing up to a new betting site is the opportunity to claim rewards. Free bets are commonly up for grabs as part of a welcome offer, subject to you placing a qualifying bet of your own. Other sign-up offers include risk-free bets, where you’ll get your stake back if your first bet isn’t a winner. We look carefully at the terms and conditions of each deal to judge the true value for punters.
Variety of Betting Markets
It’s vital to have a broad range of betting markets available for horse racing and beyond. The best sites not only offer a comprehensive selection of sports, but also cover all the major and lesser-known events. Of course, we also want to see all the standard horse racing betting odds available, for win betting, place betting, each-way betting, forecast, tricast, trixie, and yankee.
Mobile Friendly
Many punters prefer to place bets on their mobiles, whether they’re at home or on the go. Mobile functionality is therefore another key element of our tests. The best sites offer dedicated apps for iOS and Android, but failing that we look out for a reliable and easy to navigate mobile site.
Site Navigation
Whether you’re betting on your laptop or mobile, it’s important to be able to find the markets you’re looking for. If you don’t have anything specific in mind, browsing all the available horse racing odds should be an enjoyable part of the process. Clear categorisation of sports and events is key here, along with fast loading times and clear designs.
Payment Methods
The best horse racing betting sites offer a wide range of payment methods to facilitate user preferences. Along with Visa and Mastercard debit cards, we look for e-wallets such as PayPal and Skrill alongside other alternatives like Trustly and Paysafecard. Sites that have low minimum deposits and withdrawals also get the green light from us, to give punters extra flexibility for placing their bets.
Customer Support
Ideally, you shouldn’t experience any issues when you go to place bets on upcoming races. However, it’s important that you can easily get in touch with customer support if you need to. 24/7 live chat is the best option here, bolstered by additional email and phone support, along with an exhaustive help centre.
Welcome Bonuses at Horse Racing Betting Sites
If you’re new to horse racing betting, or looking to try out a different betting site, you’ll find that many of the top providers offer welcome bonuses to new customers. These bonuses come in different forms, but have one thing in common, and that’s their ability to provide a valuable boost to your starting bankroll. Below, you can find out more about three common welcome bonuses handed out by horse racing betting sites to first time customers.
Free Bets
As the name suggests, these bonuses allow you to place a bet for free, up to a set amount. To unlock free bets, you’ll often need to place a qualifying wager. Minimum odds and expiry times also apply, so be sure to check the T&Cs.
Our Top Picks
- Bet365 - Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
- BetMGM - Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets
- BetVictor - Bet £10 Get £40 in Free Bets
Bet Refunds
Also known as money-back offers or risk-free bets, bet refunds work by giving you your money back if your first bet loses. Few bookies will return your stake as cash — ordinarily, you’ll get a free bet token, which you can use to have another crack at picking a winner.
Our Top Picks
- Quinnbet - Refund 50% of Losses as a Free Bet
- BetGoodwin - 50% back as a Free Bet up to £25
- Betway - £30 Matched Free Bet if Your First Acca Loses
Matched Deposits
With this offer, the horse racing betting site will match your first deposit up to a certain amount. With 10bet’s current welcome offer of 50% up to £50, if you deposit £50, you’ll receive a £25 bonus. Deposit match offers usually come with wagering requirements that you have to fulfil before you can withdraw any winnings.
Our Top Picks
- LivescoreBet - Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets
- Virgin Bet - Bet £10 Get £20 in Free Bets
- William Hill - Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
Other Horse Racing Betting Promotions
Bookies don’t just offer bonuses to new customers — the best horse racing betting sites also dish out bonuses to reward your loyalty. Like welcome bonuses, these bonuses show up in various forms, and are a great way to add extra value to your bets and make your betting experience even more enjoyable. Below, you can find a quick roundup of some of the best promotions for returning horse racing punters.
Best Odds Guaranteed
It’s no fun feeling like you missed out on a better deal. With best odds guaranteed, there are no such worries. If the starting price for your horse is better than the odds you placed your bet at, you’ll get the higher odds. Simple as that. Best odds guaranteed offers typically apply to UK & Irish horse racing only, and to bets placed after a certain time — usually from 8am to 10am — on the day of the race. You won’t get this perk with ante post betting.
Our Top Pick
-
Bet365
Non-Runner No Bet
There’s nothing more frustrating than betting on a horse, only for it to be withdrawn from the race. With non-runner no bet (NRNB), you’ll get your stake back if your horse doesn’t run. As with bet refunds for new customers, you’ll occasionally get your money back as cash, but more often as a free bet credit. Nonetheless, this is a great little perk that takes some of the risk out of betting on horses online.
Our Top Pick
-
SkyBet
Boosted Odds
Many horse racing betting sites offer boosted odds on certain horses or races, which means you’ll get a bigger payout if your horse wins. Bet boosts can be offered on major racing events like the Grand National, as well as on regular races at courses such as Goodwood and Doncaster. Some of the best horse racing betting sites, including William Hill, offer daily odds boosts that you can apply to any horse racing or greyhound selection.
Our Top Pick
-
William Hill
Acca Insurance
Accumulator bets can be a lot of fun, but they can also be risky. With acca insurance, if one leg of your bet loses, you’ll get your stake back as a free bet. Like many reload offers at horse racing betting sites, terms and conditions will apply, including minimum combined odds and a minimum number of picks for your acca. Regardless, acca insurance is a good way to soften the blow if one of your picks doesn’t come through.
Our Top Pick
-
BoyleSports
Loyalty Rewards
Horse racing betting websites want customers to stick around. That’s why online bookmakers offer loyalty rewards, like free bets, bonus cash, or exclusive betting offers. It’s a little thank you for being a loyal customer, and it can make betting on horses even more fun!
Our Top Pick
-
Unibet
How To Bet On Horse Racing
All the information you need to bet on Horse Racing events
Horse Racing Betting Markets
If you’re new to horse racing, the different types of bets can be confusing. Below, we’ve demystified some of the markets you’ll find.
Win Betting
One of the simplest horse racing bets you can make, this is a wager on a given horse to be first across the line. You’ll only get a payout if your selection takes first place — any other position and your bet will lose.
Want to pick winners across multiple events? You can also combine bets on runners in different races into ‘doubles’ or ‘trebles’ — two or three winners, respectively.
Place Betting
Fancy giving your runner a little more leeway? When you bet on a horse to place, you’re wagering that it’ll finish in a top position. The payout is typically a fraction — around 1/4 or 1/5 — of your selection’s ‘win’ odds.
How many places are paid depends on the bookie and number of runners. For example, races under eight runners usually pay first and second, while races with eight or more runners usually pay top three. In that case, you’ll get a return if your horse finishes first, second, or third.
It’s common to see extra place promotions around the larger events, with premier races like the Grand National sometimes paying up to eight places.
Each-Way Betting
If you’re after the larger payout from a first-place pick but aren’t fully convinced your selection can beat the rest of the field, an each-way bet might be for you. Here, equal stakes on ‘win’ and ‘place’ are combined into one. You’ll get the largest payout if your horse finishes first, with both bets coming good. But say it comes second — while you’ll forfeit the ‘win’ portion, you’ll still receive a payout for the ‘place’ portion of your bet.
Forecast
Reckon your predictive powers are good enough to pick the top two finishers? A forecast bet lets you do just that. Your selections will need to finish in the order you’ve specified for the bet to come good.
Another option is the reverse forecast. Here, the finishing order doesn’t matter as long as both your horses take first and second place.
If you’re feeling more adventurous, a combination forecast lets you pick between three and six horses. Multiple bets are then placed, covering every permutation of top two finishers from your selections.
Tricast
A tricast is just like a forecast, but with three finishers. Again, your horses will need to cross the line in the order you’ve specified to win the bet.
While a reverse tricast isn’t a standard betting option at most bookmakers, you can cover all possible finishing orders with a combination tricast consisting of six bets.
Trixie
Once you enter the world of multiples betting, things get a bit more complicated. The Trixie is a good place to get started and is popular with many punters.
It consists of four bets in total, covering three selections (we’ll call them A, B, and C) to win in different races:
- Three doubles – A & B, A & C, B & C
- One treble – A & B & C
You’ll need two of your selections to win in order to see a return, with the potential payout boosted significantly if all three are first across the line. Another multiple you might consider is the Patent, which throws in a single for each horse.
Yankee
The Yankee combines four selections (A, B, C, and D) into 11 different bets:
- Six doubles – A & B, A & C, A & D, B & C, B & D, C & D
- Four trebles – A & B & C, A & B & D, A & C & D, B & C & D
- One four-fold acca – A & B & C & D
For punters to make a return, at least two selections need to win their races. The Lucky 15 is similar to the Yankee but includes a single on each horse.
Payment Methods at Horse Racing Betting Sites
There’s plenty of choice for punters when it comes to trustworthy payment methods at horse racing betting sites. Here’s a preview of the most commonly used options:
- Debit Cards – Visa and Mastercard debit cards can be used at all our horse racing betting sites, providing a familiar option for UK punters. You’ll always be able to use a debit card to claim a deposit bonus too. Withdrawals are on the slower side, however, taking up to five working days to process.
- PayPal – PayPal is the most popular e-wallet in the UK and offers several benefits for placing bets, as users have access to fast withdrawals and don’t need to share card details to make a payment.
- Skrill – Skrill is another popular digital wallet available to use at many of the top horse racing betting sites. It offers similar benefits to PayPal, as all you need to do to make a payment is enter your login details.
- Neteller – Owned by the same company as Skrill, Neteller functions in much the same way. There are plenty of perks to benefit from, such as the Knect loyalty programme, Neteller True and Neteller VIP.
- Trustly – Trustly acts as an intermediary between your bank and the online bookmaker to facilitate fast and secure payments. No account is required and you don’t have to enter your card details, instead confirming the transaction directly through your bank.
- Paysafecard – Paysafecard is a prepaid voucher available from sales outlets in denominations from £10 to £175. All you need to transfer the funds to your betting account is the 16-digit code printed on the voucher.
- Pay by Mobile – Pay by mobile services such as Boku allow you to deposit funds using nothing more than your phone number. You’ll confirm the transaction by entering a code that’s sent via text, with the payment then taken alongside your monthly phone bill.
Responsible Gambling
Betting on your favourite horse is a thrilling way to boost your enjoyment of the race. However, it’s crucial that you place bets responsibly. Here are some top safe betting tips to help keep betting fun.
- Set a budget for betting, and stick to it
- Only bet money you can afford to lose
- Take regular breaks from gambling
- Don’t chase betting losses
- Avoid betting while drinking or taking drugs
- Keep track of your betting activities
- Stay up to date with the signs of problem gambling
- Use the safe gambling tools available at online bookmakers
If you or a loved one is struggling to keep gambling fun, organisations such as GamCare and GambleAware can offer help, treatment, and support. You can also contact the 24-7 National Gambling Helpline on Freephone 0808 8020 133.
Horse Betting Sites FAQs
How do I place a bet on horse racing?
First, you’ll need a sportsbook account. If you don’t have one, browse our recommended bookmakers on this page and click through to sign up. Once you’ve made a deposit, you can browse the horse racing markets and make your selections. Add your chosen wager to your betslip, enter the amount you want to stake, and place your bet.
Don’t forget your money is at risk — always gamble responsibly and only bet what you can afford to lose.
Which online betting sites offer the best free bets for horse racing?
It’s hard to give an objective answer — it depends on your needs and preferences. BetVictor, bet365, and BetUK all offer around £30 of free bets in return for a £10 qualifying bet. But there are plenty more to choose from. Just browse our recommended offers on this page to find your perfect match.
Can I bet on international meetings at the best horse racing betting sites?
Absolutely. Many bookies branch out beyond the UK & Ireland to offer betting markets on exciting international horse racing events. From the Kentucky Derby to the Melbourne Cup, there’s loads to enjoy. You might even be able to watch international races through your betting site’s live stream feature.
Is horse race betting online secure?
Yes, as long as you sign up to one of our approved UK horse racing betting sites. We only recommend horse racing bookies that are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, ensuring sites are held to strict standards regarding the use of encryption technology and safe payment methods.
What is an outsider in horse racing?
An outsider is a horse that is considered unlikely to win a race. They'll be given longer odds that have greater payout potential than the favourites.
Which horse racing bookies have the best odds in the UK?
All the horse racing betting sites featured on this page offer competitive odds with attractive potential payouts. For the best horse racing odds, I'd recommend making use of boosted odds promotions, found at the likes of William Hill and Bet365. And don't forget, you can compare the latest odds on upcoming races over on our horse racing betting odds page.
What should you avoid when choosing a horse racing bookmaker?
I like to bet at sites that are well designed, offer a great range of horse racing promotions and markets, and provide information on all the top runners and jockeys. Therefore, it's wise to avoid picking a site based solely on one feature, such as the welcome offer, and instead check out our reviews for a comprehensive run-down of the pros and cons of each bookmaker.
Which are the biggest horse races in the UK to bet on?
The most popular horse racing meetings in the UK include the Grand National, Cheltenham Gold Cup, Royal Ascot, and the Epsom Derby. You can bet on all these races and more at all the top horse racing betting sites — scroll up to check out a list of our top-rated sites.