The best horse racing betting sites 2024
Updated:
Horse racing is one of the most popular sports to bet on, with a huge following in the UK, and around the world. As you read on, you'll find that we're going to share the details of the best horse race betting sites. We'll be guiding you to the sites that offer the best horse racing betting offers around, as well as access to a range of markets, and the best horse racing odds.
Best horse racing bookies for first-time users in 2024
Found: 10 Bookmakers
Rank | Bookmaker | Bonus | Claim |
---|---|---|---|
1 |
1xBet |
100% Welcome bonus up to 130,000 KRW 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to 1xBet website |
2 |
22Bet |
Welcome Bonus up to 160,000 KRW 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to 22Bet website |
3 |
Melbet |
100% Welcome bonus up to 119,000 KRW 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to Melbet website |
4 |
Megapari |
100% Welcome bonus up to 135,000 KRW 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to Megapari website |
5 |
20Bet |
100% Welcome bonus up to €100 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to 20Bet website |
6 |
Ivibet |
100% Welcome bonus up to $150 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to Ivibet website |
7 |
BetWinner |
100% Welcome bonus up to 140,623 KRW 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to BetWinner website |
8 |
Pribet |
Welcome bonus up to €1000 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to Pribet website |
9 |
BC.GAME |
Welcome bonus up to $20,000 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to BC.GAME website |
10 |
Mystake |
100% Welcome bonus up to $500 18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org |
BET HERE Go to Mystake website |
Our top 10 horse racing betting sites
Updated:
Table of contents
Here you'll find all the information on the best sites for horse betting in 2024
- Horse Racing Betting Sites
- Our top 10 horse racing betting sites
- Our favourite horse racing betting sites
- Comparing our recommended betting sites for horse racing
- How we rate and review online horse racing betting sites
- How to choose a betting site for horse racing
- How to place a bet on a horse race step-by-step
- Horse racing betting tips and strategies
- Most popular horse racing betting markets explained
- Major horse racing events to bet on
- Upcoming horse racing events to bet on
- Our verdict on the best horse racing bookmakers
- Remember to gamble responsibly
- Meet our horse racing betting expert - Eugene Ravdin
- Additional horse racing betting resources
- Best online bookmakers for horse racing FAQs
What makes us different to other sites is that we only bring to you the horse betting sites that we use ourselves. If you're at the stage where you want to jump in and place your first bet on a horse, you'll find our list of recommendations below. However, if you're looking for more information on these bookies, what goes into making reputable horse racing betting sites, and how to place a bet, then you'll need to read on.
1. bet365
2. Parimatch
3. William Hill
4. 888Sport
5. Betfred
6. 20Bet
7. 22Bet
8. Unibet
9. 10Bet
10. Spreadex
Our favourite horse racing betting sites reviewed
Now that you know the names of the best horse race sites, we now going to explore these in much more detail. We'll be looking at what makes them great destinations to visit and why they're a must for horse racing bettors. Let's take a look:
1. bet365
When it comes to betting on horses, bet365 is our number one choice. With licenses from Gibraltar and the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), this site has been around since the year 2000, and has an outstanding reputation. What makes this horse racing website stand out is the fact that everything combines to allow for a first-class experience.
As we explored bet365, we saw that it covered all of the races from the UK and beyond. There's the opportunity to bet on UK classics such as Cheltenham and the Grand National, as well as going events across north and south America and Ireland. When looking at markets, this site offers win, each way, place, forecasts, tricasts and supercasts. You can also explore tote betting on Australian races. There's a truly amazing live section here with one of the best live streams we've seen. To top it off, there are also margins of 7.12%.
Looking for a free bet as a new customer? Bet365 has you covered. In the UK, you can claim ï¿¡30 of free bets. Canadian punters have the chance to either grab $50 of free bets or take advantage of a $1,000 safety net on their first bet. When it comes horse racing offers, there's good news. Bet365 offers best odds guaranteed on UK races. Then there's the each way extra and the payout if your horse is disqualified. A nice feature is the 'My Horse' section. This records details of horses you bet on and you get informed when they're due to race again.
When it comes to payment options, punters can choose from the likes of Google Pay, Apple Pay, PayPal, and Visa. Both deposits and withdrawals have limits of ï¿¡5 to ï¿¡100,000, with withdrawals taking 1-4 hours.
Let's take a look at what our expert, Eugene Ravdin, has to say about the bet365 site:
- Advantages
- Great horse racing live experience
- Best odds guarantee
- 7.12% margins
- Limitations
- Slow app
- Website slightly dated
2. Parimatch
Another one of the best horse racing sites, Parimatch has been on the scene since 1994 and is well respected in the world of online betting. It comes with licenses from Curacao, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the UKGC.
We found great coverage of UK and Irish racing here, as well as attention being paid to international races. There are daily races to get involved with and there are markets such as each-way bets, betting without the favourite, and win. There's also acca betting and forecasts and tricasts. We enjoyed the live stream at Parimatch and also found that, with margins of 7.3%, the odds were competitive. There were also early odds to explore on racing events for 2025.
New UK customers can claim ï¿¡20 of free bets once they wager ï¿¡10. The same offer applies to those in Canada who open a new account too. New and existing customers can take advantage of bet boosts and NAP of the day. The latter of these is where Parimatch recommends a horse to wager on.
Over in the cashier section, you can use options such as MasterCard, Visa, Skrill, and Neteller. You can deposit as little as ï¿¡1 with no upper limit shown. Withdrawals take up to 24 hours with a ï¿¡10 minimum and no upper cap displayed.
Let's take a look at what our expert, Eugene Ravdin, has to say about the Parimatch site:
- Advantages
- ï¿¡20 free bet
- Live stream
- iOS and Android app
- Limitations
- In-play section not clear
- Limited payment methods
3. William Hill
When looking to find the best horse racing site, we couldn't ignore what William Hill has to offer. This bookie started life back in 1934 as a bricks and mortar operator. Now an online favourite, it's licensed by the MGA and UKGC.
As we explored the horse racing markets here, we found that we could bet on horse to win, place, each way, and more. The coverage of the UK and Ireland was great, as was the attention given to races around the world. The live stream here comes from what's known as 'Betting TV'. It goes beyond just showing the action as it also includes commentary and analysis. We found margins came in at 7.23% here.
New customers need to place a ï¿¡10 qualifying bet and then they can claim 3 x ï¿¡10 free bets. In Canada, punters can claim a matched deposit up to $300. Beyond the welcome offer, William Hill has plenty for existing customers. There are enhanced odds, daily boosts, and weekly epic boosts. If you're looking for racing post ranked horses, you can check out the NAP recommendation each day too.
Payment methods include PayPal, Trustly, Visa, and Skrill. You can deposit anywhere from ï¿¡5 to ï¿¡99,000 while withdrawal limits are ï¿¡5 to ï¿¡80,000. When you start a withdrawal funds will reach you within 24 hours.
Here's a look at what our expert, Eugene Ravdin, has to say about the William Hill site:
- Advantages
- 3 x ï¿¡10 horse racing free bets
- Betting TV for horse races
- Solid reputation
- Limitations
- Website looks dated
- Can be difficult to navigate at first
4. 888Sport
One of the biggest and best horse racing sites is 888Sport. This brand has been offering the chance to bet on horse racing online for more than two decades. It comes with licenses from Gibraltar and the UKGC.
Whether you want to bet on races at Windsor, Palemor, Vichy, or Ellis Park, this bookmaker has you covered. Exploring the racing markets, there were accas, win, and each way. There was also a bet finder that helps you to find popular bets of the day. As you'd expect from one of the best online betting sites, the action can all be live streamed. The betting odds come in a little higher here with margins of 8.21%.
The welcome offer here is ï¿¡30 in free bets when you wager ï¿¡10 (or in Canada it's $50 when betting $20). The horse bet promotions go further than this though. You can claim ï¿¡5 of free bets every week as long as you wager at least ï¿¡20 on horse racing multiples. Then there's the chance to claim an extra ï¿¡5 each time you wager ï¿¡10, as well as a ï¿¡10 free bet when you wager ï¿¡20.
Before you bet, you need to make a deposit, and you can do this via the likes of bank transfer, Apple Pay, Neteller, and Visa. You can deposit anywhere from ï¿¡10 to ï¿¡10,000 while withdrawals have no upper limit and start at ï¿¡20. Generally, withdrawals will be with you within 24 hours.
Wondering what our expert, Eugene Ravdin, is saying about the 888Sport site: Let's look now:
- Advantages
- Great range of markets
- Ongoing free bets
- 24/7 customer support
- Limitations
- Margins above 8%
- App can lag
5. Betfred
Even if you're new to betting, there's a good chance that you'll have heard of Betfred. This started as a UK horse racing betting shop back in 1967 and transitioned perfectly to operating online. Licenses from Gibraltar and the UKGC show just how much this site can be trusted.
This site covers races in the UK, America, and from across Europe. Markets covered included betting without, horse to win, place, and each way. We found that the in-play section was easy to use and placing a live bet was simple. The live stream was a plus point here too. As we checked out the odds, we found these to be competitive across the board, with margins of 7.92%.
When you sign up to Betfred and wager ï¿¡10 you can benefit from 3 x ï¿¡10 free sports bets and 2 x ï¿¡10 free bets to be used on accas. Other offers include a free bet if your horse finishes 2nd, 10% winning tricast bonus, free bet if 2nd or 3rd, and extra place races. These are great ways to keep you gambling profitable.
While checking the cashier section, we saw that the options were MasterCard, Visa, Neteller, and Skrill. Both have limits that start at ï¿¡5 with no upper cap displayed. Withdrawals reach you between 1 and 3 days.
Let's take a look at what our expert, Eugene Ravdin, is saying about the Betfred site:
- Advantages
- Live stream
- Ongoing racing bonuses
- Phone support available
- Limitations
- Free bets can take 5 hours to credit
- Restricted countries
6. 20Bet
This bookie can't join our list of UK horse racing betting sites as it doesn't operate in the country. It does, however, have plenty to offer punters in Canada. Launched in 2020, it has licences from Curacao and Kahnawake.
When looking at the events covered at 20Bet, it was good to see that there was an international approach. As well as Irish horse racing and UK races, there were also options to bet on races in Australia, Asia, the US, and across Europe. We were a little disappointed with the range of markets here, only find horse to win and place bets. However, what we did like was the cash out option which was a great way to manage wins and losses.
The welcome bonus here is a 100% matched deposit up to $150. There's much more going on here after this too. Other promotions include wager $20 or more over 5 days and have the chance to win $1,500 in free bets. Then there's the weekly forecast where if you've bet $150 or more in the last 5 days, you could win up to $35,000 in free bets. We really liked the 100% boost on combo bets.
The cashier section covers plenty of options with the likes of Neteller, Skrill, Apple Pay, and Visa being covered. Deposit limits are $10 up to $100,000. There are no upper limits for withdrawals which start at $20. When making a withdrawal, funds reach you between 1 and 3 days.
Here's what our expert is saying about the 20Bet site:
- Advantages
- Cash out option
- Ongoing promotions
- 24/7 customer support
- Limitations
- UK excluded
- Limited racing markets
7. 22Bet
Launched in 2018, 22Bet is another top destination for Canadians seeking racing promotions and a great all round experience. With a Curacao license, 22Bet is a site with an outstanding reputation.
This is another operator that covers all you need in terms of UK and Irish horse racing, as well as races from further afield. There were numerous events ongoing in India and Canada when we logged in. We saw that there was the chance to bet on winner, each way bets, and place. There was lots going on in the in-play section, but we'd have liked to see a live stream added to this. Checking out the odds, we saw that the margins here were 7.4%.
When you first sign up, 22Bet offers a 100% matched deposit up to a maximum of $300. There's also the acca of the day to take a look at. This offers a 10% boost to your winnings. What we really liked was the Friday reload and the weekly rebate. The rebate was only 0.3% but this can soon add up.
In the cashier section, you'll find that you can use Neteller, Skrill, and a range of cryptos. There are no upper limits for deposits or withdrawals, with minimums being $1 and $5 respectively. The good news with crypto is that withdrawals are pretty much instant.
Let's see what our expert, Eugene Ravdin, thinks of the 22Bet site:
- Advantages
- $300 welcome bonus
- Weekly rebate
- Instant withdrawals
- Limitations
- UK excluded
- No live stream
8. Unibet
Another bookmaker with a long history and solid reputation, Unibet was launched back in 1997. There are licenses here from Gibraltar and the UKGC so you can be sure that this operator is safe and secure.
We liked what we found as we started to explore the selection of events. While there is coverage across the board, we see this as a top site for any horse race in the UK as well as those in the US. Markets were wide ranging here with any betting option you can think of. Odds were a good point here too, with margins of 7.98%.
When joining Unibet, there's the standard welcome bonus that offers UK customers up to ï¿¡40 back if your first bet loses. In Canada, there's a 100% match up to $50. However, there's also a horse racing specific bonus that gives you 2 x ï¿¡10 free bets if you wager ï¿¡20 on horses. After the welcome bonus, there are also odd boosts, best odds guarantee, and refunds if your horse comes in 2nd or 3rd.
With payment methods, you can use options like MasterCard, Neteller, and Skrill. Deposits start at ï¿¡5 and have a ï¿¡10,000 max limit. Withdrawals start at ï¿¡15 with no cap. You can expect withdrawals to reach you between 1 and 3 days.
Here's a look at what our expert, Eugene Ravdin, is saying about the Unibet site:
- Advantages
- Live stream
- 24/7 customer support
- Racing specific bonus
- Limitations
- App difficult to navigate
- Statistics limited
9. 10Bet
When looking at betting sites in the UK and Canada, 10Bet is another that delivers when it comes to horse racing. Founded in 2002, it has licenses from the MGA and the UKGC.
As we delved into the horse racing section, we found events covered in the UK, Ireland, Brazil, and the US. There was certainly plenty going on and races to explore. When looking at a way to bet on a horse, we found the markets were slightly limited. The races we looked at offered horse to win, each way and forecast markets. The odds weren't quite as good as we've seen so far, with margins of 8.75%.
New UK punters can claim a 100% match up to ï¿¡50 while those in Canada can benefit from a 100% match up to $100. There's also the chance to claim 5 free bets when you wager ï¿¡40 or more on horses as well as 100% acca boosts. Something that will please mobile users is that the horse racing betting app has an exclusive offer too. By wagering ï¿¡50 you're rewarded with ï¿¡10 of free bets.
In terms of the cashier section, we saw options including PayPal, MasterCard, Skrill, and Trustly. Deposits start at ï¿¡10 and have a maximum of ï¿¡50,000. Withdrawals start at just ï¿¡1 and have a ï¿¡50,000 limit. Withdrawals are with you within 24 hours.
Let's see what our expert, Eugene Ravdin, is saying about the 10Bet site:
- Advantages
- Low minimum withdrawal
- App exclusive bonus
- Free bets available
- Limitations
- No live stream
- 8.75% margins
10. Spreadex
Spreadex hit the scene in 1999 and is licensed by the UKGC. As it offers fixed odds betting and spreads, it is also regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Before we cover what's on offer here, it's worth looking at what spread betting is.
With spread betting, you have the opportunity to go beyond the regular markets such as win, place, and each way. Instead, you wager on a value or spread. You may see that Spreadex assigns point value to horse that is based on it's expected performance. You can then buy or sell the horses' index depending on whether you think it will over or under perform. There's also the chance to bet on the margin between the first two horses, as well as jockey performance.
As a new customer of Spreadex, there are two options when it comes to the welcome bonus. If you want to bet on fixed odds, you can bet ï¿¡25 and get ï¿¡50 in free bets. If you sign up for spread betting, you can claim 2 x ï¿¡5 free bets and up to ï¿¡300 in cash back. Ongoing offers include first past the post (this pays out for the 1st and 2nd horse if the 1st is later demoted) as well as bet insurance.
The cashier section is a little sparse with only bank transfer, Visa, and MasterCard to choose from. Both deposits and withdrawals start at ï¿¡10 with no upper limit. Withdrawals take from 1 to 7 days.
Here's what our expert, Eugene Ravdin, is saying about the Spreadex site:
- Advantages
- Fixed odds and spread bets available
- Ongoing offers
- ï¿¡50 of free bets
- Limitations
- Limited countries (UK, Ireland and Denmark)
- Limited payment options
Comparing our recommended betting sites for horse racing
After looking at our top sites in detail, you can see that they all have their highlights as well as areas where they don't perform quite so well. As you read on, we'll break down the areas where each of these excels:
Which bookmaker offers the best odds for horse racing?
Whether it's new horse racing betting sites or well established ones, we always check out the odds. We're confident that all of the sites that we recommend come with odds that are competitive but, with margins of 7.12%, its bet365 that comes out on top.
Which horse racing betting site offers the fastest payouts?
If it's withdrawal speed that matters to you most, you might want to check out 22Bet. This site offers crypto as a payment method and this can see funds reaching you in an instant.
Which bookmaker features the most horse racing betting markets?
It has to be said that this is a close run thing. Having looked in-depth at the available markets, it's bet365, Parimatch, and William Hill that come up trumps. That being said, Spreadex brings a different element to horse bets and this is well worth exploring too.
Which bookmaker covers the most horse racing betting events?
There really is nothing to call between our recommended race sites. These all have wide coverage of the top events as well as those that may be considered a little more minor.
What are the best horse racing bookmakers for best odds guaranteed?
If you're looking for a best odds guarantee offer, William Hill and bet365 are worth signing up with. These both allow you to get in with early odds but you can still benefit if the odds improve before the race starts.
How we rate and review online horse racing betting sites
We take a great deal of time assessing horse racing sites. There are a range of factors to consider and just some of these include:
Welcome bonuses and ongoing offers
We want you to get the most from your betting experience so we seek sites that offer great value. This means coming with attractive welcome bonuses, but we also like to see that there are still benefits after you've signed up. The best sites have offers that are specific to horse racing.
Competitive odds
As well as being enjoyable, we want your experience to be profitable. That's why we spend time exploring the odds on offer so that you can maximise your winnings.
Markets
The more markets there are the more opportunities there are to win. That's why we take the time to explore the markets that are offered. As well as boosting your chances to win, a range of markets can keep betting fresh and exciting.
Customer service
The sites that we recommend need to show that they care for their customers. This means that they are easy to reach out to and that they are polite and knowledgeable with their replies. We like to see options that offer 24/7 support.
Payment options
We know that our readers like to have plenty of choices when it comes to payment methods. As well as looking at the number that are available, we'll also consider how safe they are and how fast transactions are.
How to place a bet on a horse race step-by-step
Perhaps you're new to betting but are now ready to place your first horse race wager. If that's the case, here are the simple steps that you'll need to follow:
- Head to your chosen horse betting site
- Register and create an account, filling in all required details
- Verify your account via a link that will be emailed to you
- Login, click on 'sports' and then head to racing
- Explore the markets
- Click on the event you want to bet on, and it will be added to your bet slip
- Enter your stake and then click to confirm
- Wait for your bet to end
Horse racing betting tips and strategies
To get the most out of your horse race betting, take a look at these tips and strategies:
-
Do your research
While it's tempting to just jump in, you need to step back before you wager. Take the time to analyse the form of jockeys and horses. Make sure you know the course conditions before you bet, and understand how this may impact your chosen selection.
-
Bet responsibly
Set yourself a budget and make sure that you stick to it. The big takeaway here is that betting on the horses is all about fun. Keep it that way.
-
Consider each-way bets
Picking an outright winner is not always easy. Anything can happen that leads to an upset in the result. By betting each-way, you have more chance of your bet being successful.
-
Shop around for the best odds
Compare odds across bookmakers. The best odds bookmaker will vary from race to race. To make your betting profitable, don't just wager at the first site that you come to.
-
Learn different bet types
Don't just stick to winner or each-way bets. Take the time to understand the likes of accas, tricasts, and exacta. These can lead to much bigger payouts.
Most popular horse racing betting markets explained
If you're looking for more guidance on the bet types you can place at horse racing betting sites UK, and beyond, we've got you covered. Here's a look at the most popular:
Win
This is the most straightforward bet that there is in horse racing. As its name suggests, you are simply betting on the horse that you think will win the race.
Place
Another way to bet on horse racing is a place bet. This bet involves betting on a horse to finish in a designated place. This will generally cover the top 2,3 or 4.
Each-way
This combines a win bet with a place bet. So, if a horse either wins or places, you still get a payout.
Accas
You bet on a numerous selections across different races. There will usually need to be at least 3 legs to an accumulator. The more selections that come in, the bigger the win. These can be hard to be successful with but the rewards are worth the effort.
Major horse racing events to bet on
While there are so many horse racing events to wager on, here's a look at some of the biggest and the best:
Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham is held every year in March. This is a four-day event that features some of the best National Hunt racing. It draws millions of pounds worth of bets each time that it's held and features the iconic Gold Cup. You'll find that bookies are keen to offer free horse racing bets and other bonuses across the four days.
Grand National
This is a world-famous steeplechase that it is held at Aintree every year. This attracts a great deal of attention from punters as it's a course that is full of challenges and has a large field of runners. A win bet is not the best option here. It's usually better to go for a place or an each-way one.
Royal Ascot
This is a flat meet that takes place at Ascot, near to Windsor Castle. While the quality of racing is first-class, this is an event that's famous for it's style and elegance, with people enjoying the opportunity to dress to impress.
Upcoming horse racing events to bet on
If you're looking for what's coming up right now so that you can get in on the action, look no further. Our table below has all of the details that you'll need:
Event | Date |
St Leger Festival | 12th - 15th September |
Longines Irish Champions Weekend | 14th - 15th September |
Listowel Harvest Festival | 22nd - 28th September |
Ayr Gold Cup Meeting | 19th - 21st September |
Cambridgeshire Meeting Newmarket | 26th - 28th September |
Our verdict on the best horse racing bookmakers
We've enjoyed our time exploring horse racing betting sites and we're confident that you'll enjoy them too. We've been impressed with the odds and the range of markets at the likes of bet365 and found the spread betting experience at Spreadex to be great fun. Across the board, these operators have shown that they know what punters want to see in terms of bonuses and promotions, and it's been great to see so much on offer.
With a full calendar of events the year round, we hope that you make the most of what there is.
Remember to gamble responsibly
Betting on horses is all about fun. Be sure that you gamble responsibly by setting a budget and sticking to it. If you find that it's hard to stop, you're thinking about gambling all the time, or you're chasing losses, these could be signs that your betting has got out of hand. If this does happen, these organisations can offer support:
- https://www.responsiblegambling.org/
- https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-and-players/safer-gambling
Additional horse racing betting resources
If you want to stay up to date with all that's happening in the world of horse racing, these resources may help: