The fact of the matter is that there would be no horse racing without bookmakers. Sure, a lot of people would still go to watch horse racing anyway for the day out but without betting and prize money the sport would simply die out. It is what it is because of the existence of betting firms.
Fortunately for you, we have found the best online horse betting sites in the UK. You will already be aware of big names like William Hill, Ladbrokes, and 32Red. However, you may not be aware of other big names like NetBet and BetBright for example. In our opinion, these guys are equally as good as the longer established reputable sites.
Exclusive Free Bet
New UK & Ireland customers only. £10. First deposit matched up to £30. 1x wagering at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Credit Card, Debit Card & PayPal deposits only. Full Terms apply.
Full T&Cs applyExclusive Free Bet
New online customers only, min £10 stake, win only, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 3x £10, 30 day expiry, free bet/payment method/player/country restrictions apply. Full Terms apply.
Full T&Cs applyExclusive Free Bet
18+ New UK+IRE customers. PayPal and certain deposit types and bet types excluded. Min £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4 x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days on sports, stake not returned, restrictions apply. T&Cs apply.
Full T&Cs applyExclusive Free Bet
Risk Free 20: New customers only, limited to one per person. If you've previously had a Paddy Power account, you will not qualify for the offer. Place your FIRST bet on any Sportsbook market and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using Cards or PayPal will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. paddy's Rewards Club: get a £10 free bet when you place 5x bets of £10+. T&Cs apply.
Full T&Cs applyExclusive Free Bet
New customers only – Minimum deposit of £10 using deposit code 30F - A qualifying bet is a ‘real money’ stake of at least £10 placed on any sports market - Minimum odds of 1/2 (1.5) - Free bets credited upon qualifying bet settlement and expire after 7 days - Free bet stakes not included in returns - Deposit balance is available for withdrawal at any time. General deposit method & withdrawal restrictions apply & full T&C’s apply
Full T&Cs applyDon't just take our word for it that all of the betting sites on the list are first class. Read why they are first class and what our views are. For example, we also highlight the bad betting sites too. These could be sites that for whatever reason don't deserve your business. Maybe they don't have the latest SSL encryption technology installed. Maybe they don't allow rapid access to your winnings or they don't provide great odds.
Any top horse racing site lives and dies by the reviews and experiences of other bettors before you. Use that experience wisely, listen to what we and others say about betting sites like Sky Bet and Grosvenor before depositing real money with them. If you haven't heard of a horse betting site before and you are a little unsure then do some research first! The best way to do that is to read the reviews from sites like ours and also of player reviews as well. If any site has an unduly large number of negative reviews then don't touch it with a barge pole.
We don't just have betting sites for pure horse betting, we also have betting exchanges too on our list of recommended sites. Betfair, for example, allow you to play the role of the bookmaker. Whenever a betting site takes your bets, what they are effectively doing is laying your bet. You are backing the horse and they are laying the horse. If you thought that betting firms have an edge then why not go onto a betting exchange like Betfair and play the role of the bookie?
On an exchange, you can lay horses as well as back them. Remember that to beat the bookies you then have to do two things.
Understand the betting firms and how they work
Understand the mindset of losing punters
Don't be afraid to try new betting sites like Genting or Betfred. As long as these sites have been checked by professional watchdogs and industry experts like us then you will do just fine. They offer any new customer a wealth of great benefits which include.
Excellent Welcome Bonuses
Great VIP Programs
Professional Expertise
24/7 Help Desk
First Class Odds
Live in Play Markets
Top Class Ethical Business Practices
The fact remains that many punters will automatically take the Even chances, and so the betting firms get value with these odds. Never think of this as bad practice, because doing battle with the betting firms is a battle of wits. This is why horse betting is ultimately profitable. If bettors pile so much money onto a favourite and that price plummets to Even Money from, say, 15/8, the market will be forced to compensate somewhere.
This means that the second or third favourites will drift in price as the betting firms look to balance their books. So the 3/1 second favourite may drift and be 7/2 or even touching 4/1 if no show of support comes in for the horse. This is why professional gamblers swear by good prices and not by winners, as winners tend to take care of themselves eventually. If you can think differently to the masses then you have an excellent chance of making horse racing pay.
