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: 14 Bookmakers

Rank Bookmaker Bonus Claim
1

1xBet

100% Welcome bonus up to €100

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

 BET HERE Go to 1xBet website
2

22Bet

100% Welcome Bonus up to €122

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

 BET HERE Go to 22Bet website
3

Melbet

Welcome bonus up to €100

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

 BET HERE Go to Melbet website
4

Megapari

100% Welcome bonus up to 130$ with code 'MIGHTYPARI'

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

bet365

Welcome bonus up to €100 in Bet Credits

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

 BET HERE Go to bet365 website
7

Ivibet

100% Welcome bonus up to €150

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

 BET HERE Go to Ivibet website
8

BetWinner

100% Welcome bonus up to €100

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

 BET HERE Go to BetWinner website
9

Powbet

100% Welcome bonus up to €100

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

 BET HERE Go to Powbet website
10

Paripesa

100% Welcome bonus up to €100

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

 BET HERE Go to Paripesa website
11

Sportaza

100% Welcome bonus up to €50

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

 BET HERE Go to Sportaza website
12

Freshbet

100% Welcome Bonus up to €500

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

 BET HERE Go to Freshbet website
13

1Bet

100% Welcome bonus up to €100

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

 BET HERE Go to 1Bet website
14

Mostbet

150% Welcome bonus up to 5,000 MAD with promocode MIGHTYTIPS150

18+ T&C apply, BeGambleAware.org

 BET HERE Go to Mostbet 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

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

bet365 top 10

This is our top choice horse racing site thanks to the comprehensive coverage of events and markets, as well as the horse specific offers in place.

As we explored Bet365, we saw that UK classics, such as the Grand National, as well as races from further afield. There were plenty of markets to get involved with, such as win, each-way, place, forecasts, tricasts, and supercasts. Across the board, margins averaged 7.12%.

The bet boost is attractive here (we saw Rye Smile boosted from 2.5 to 2.63 to win at Lound park. There are bet boosts on every UK and Irish race, and there’s also a 100% acca boost to benefit from.

  • Limitations
  • Slow app
  • Website slightly dated
  1. bet365 review Bet here

2. Parimatch

Parimatch top 10

As we visited the Parimatch sportsbook, it was great to see so many events being covered. These included UK and Irish races as well as international ones.

Markets here covered the likes of each-way bets, betting without the favourite, and win. We also saw that there were forecasts and tricasts to bet on. There were average margins of 7.3%, and we liked that there were early odds on offer for races in 2025.

We were fans of the NAP of the day. This is where Parimatch recommends a horse to bet on. The bet boost was another plus point here. When we looked, we saw odds boosted from 6.25 to 7.00 on Local Lad and Midnight Dream to both win their races at Thirsk.

  • Limitations
  • In-play section not clear
  • Limited payment methods
  1. Parimatch review

3. William Hill

William Hill top 10

The William Hill sportsbook covers races from around the world. What really stood out here was the live stream. It comes from the sites ‘Betting TV’ and comes with commentary and analysis.

As you’d expect from such a well-established operator, William Hill had all of the markets that you’d expect. No matter what race we clicked on, we found that there were multiple options to explore.

This bookie has some great ongoing promotions for existing customers. These include enhanced odds, daily boosts, and a weekly epic boost. As we checked these out, we saw that odds had been increased from 2.00 to 2.45 on Daisy Roots to finish in the top 2 at Windsor.

  • Limitations
  • Website looks dated
  • Can be difficult to navigate at first
  1. William Hill review

4. 888Sport

888Sport top 10

Over at the 888Sport betting site, we found plenty of horse racing events to enjoy. There were races at the likes of Windsor, Palemor, Vichy, Ellis Park, and so many more.

With margins coming in at 8.1%, we saw that 888Sport allowed you to bet on a range of markets, including accas and each-way.

The promotions are attractive with this sportsbook. If you place a ￡100 bet on horse racing, you get a ￡10 free bet to use on any sport. Get a ￡5 free bet when you place ￡10 on any market at Doncaster. You can also grab a ￡10 free bet when betting ￡10 on any market at Galway.

  • Limitations
  • Margins above 8%
  • App can lag
  1. 888sport review

5. Betfred

Betfred top 10

Betfred also shines as one of the best horse racing betting sites. There are plenty of races to wager on across the US, the UK, and Europe. The live stream was good here and really added to experience.

All major markets are covered here. This means you can wager on betting without, horse to win, place, and each-way, to name just a few. The average margins were attractive too, coming in at 7.92%.

There are plenty of promotions for horse racing fans, but some of these change daily. Today, we saw 4 places instead of 3 being paid at Kempton and the chance to claim a ￡10 free bet if your horse finished 2nd or 3rd at Presque Isle Downs. Alongside these, there were also best odds guaranteed and the chance to boost odds by 5x.

  • Limitations
  • Free bets can take 5 hours to credit
  • Restricted countries
  1. Betfred review

6. 20Bet

20bet top10

This horse racing site can’t be accessed in the UK but offers a great opportunity for punters in Canada. The range of events stood out here with races coming from the UK, Ireland, Asia, Australia, and across Europe.

What we feel lets 20Bet down is the fact that the betting markets are restricted. We could only see the opportunity to bet on horse to win and places.

There are no ongoing horse racing promotions right now. However, 20Bet regularly updates what’s on offer so it’s always worth checking back.

  • Limitations
  • UK excluded
  • Limited racing markets
  1. 20Bet review Bet here

7. 22Bet

22Bet top10

Another top destination for Canadian horse racing fans. Here, we noted that there was action coming from the UK, Ireland, India, and Canada.

We saw markets such as horse to win, each-way, and place. It was a positive to see the margins at 7.4% but we were left a little disappointed with the lack of a live stream at this site.

There are weekly reloads and a 3% weekly rebate to claim. Alongside these, 22Bet also offers an acca of the day, that comes with a 10% boost, as well as another booster when you bet on an acca with at least 4 selections.

  • Limitations
  • UK excluded
  • No live stream
  1. 22Bet review Bet here

8. Unibet

Unibet top10

The Unibet horse racing betting site is another that we enjoyed. We saw that there were events from around the world but that the site really excelled when it came to Irish and UK racing.

When it comes to markets, it has to be said that you can find pretty much any that you can think of. This makes for an exciting horse betting experience. The margins are decent too, at 7.98% on average.

We looked for any horse specific promotions and were impressed with what we found. You can claim 2 x ￡10 free bets if you wager at least ￡20 on horses. Then there are odds boosts, best odds guarantee, and refunds if your horse comes in 2nd or 3rd.

  • Limitations
  • App difficult to navigate
  • Statistics limited
  1. Unibet review

9. 10Bet

10Bet top10

The 10Bet online sportsbook delivers across the board, and we liked what we saw as we explored the horse racing section. There were plenty of events taking place in Brazil, the US, UK, and Ireland.

While the events were plentiful, we can’t say the same about the markets. The races that we looked at only gave us options to wager on horse to win and each-way. The margins were also a little high here at 8.75%.

Horse racing promotions were attractive here. There’s the opportunity to claim 5 free bets when you wager ￡40 or more on horses as well as 100% acca boosts. We also noted that you can claim 10% cashback each week up to a maximum of ￡500.

  • Limitations
  • No live stream
  • 8.75% margins
  1. 10bet review

10. Spreadex

Spreadex top 10

At Spreadex, you can place traditional bets, but you can also enter the world of spread betting. This allows for even more opportunities. Rather than just betting on the regular markets, you can wager on a value or spread.

You may see Spreadex assigns a point value to a horse that is based on how it’s expected to perform. You can then buy or sell the horses’ index depending on whether you think it will be under or over perform.

The horse racing promotions looked good while we were here. There were the likes of first past the post and lucky double odds. We were big fans of the promotion that refunds your bet if your horse comes second to one with odds of 34.00 or greater.

  • Limitations
  • Limited countries (UK, Ireland and Denmark)
  • Limited payment options
  1. Spreadex review

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 choose a betting site for horse racing

Our aim is to give you the best horse betting experience possible. That's why we thought we'd share our tips so that you can find great sites to bet on yourself:

  1. Depth of horse racing betting markets

    We recommend looking at the markets that are on offer before signing up at a site. There should be the basics such as win, place, and each way, but you also want to look for accas, and bet without favourite. The more markets there are, the more opportunities exist.

  2. Free bets for horse racing

    To get the best value from a site, we suggest checking out the free bets that are on offer. Don't just jump in and take any free bet from a sportsbook. Instead, take the time to read the terms and conditions so you're sure it can be used on horses.

  3. Odds boosts and specials

    These are features that we strongly recommend you look for. Taking advantage of boosts can see your profits skyrocket.

  4. Live betting

    In-play bets are a must. If a site doesn't offer live bets on horse racing, we'd suggest that you walk away. Yes, placing bets ahead of an event can be enjoyable, but live bets bring fast changing odds and an extra level of excitement.

  5. Live streaming

    Live betting is great, but what's better is when you can see the action taking place. Look for sites that offer live streams for horse races and we promise you that you'll find the experience is truly immersive.

  6. Cash out opportunities

    When cash out options exist, you have greater control over your wager. If things aren't going your way, you can pull your money and minimise your losses. If things are looking good, but a change is on the cards, you can cash out and protect your profit.

  7. Mobile betting

    Betting on the go is a must so we recommend checking that any site you wager at comes with one of the best horse racing betting apps around. These bring convenience and by letting you bet no matter where you are, and push notifications can keep you up to date with all that's going on.

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:

  1. Head to your chosen horse betting site
  2. Register and create an account, filling in all required details
  3. Verify your account via a link that will be emailed to you
  4. Login, click on 'sports' and then head to racing
  5. Explore the markets
  6. Click on the event you want to bet on, and it will be added to your bet slip
  7. Enter your stake and then click to confirm
  8. 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:

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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:

Events to bet on in August and September
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
Author Eugene Ravdin Eugene Ravdin

Meet our horse racing betting expert - Eugene Ravdin

I've been gambling online pretty much since it all started. It has to be said that throughout this time, I've always been a fan of betting on horse races. There are so many possible outcomes and I enjoy trying out different markets.

When it comes to me wagering on horses, I look for ones that cover all of the main events. That being said, I like to see smaller ones too so that I can bet throughout the year. I need to see a wide selection of markets, and I won't wager on any site that doesn't come with attractive bonuses and promotions.

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:

1. https://www.espn.com/horse-racing/

2. https://www.bbc.com/sport/horse-racing

Best online bookmakers for horse racing FAQs

? What is the best horse betting site?

Bet365 is the best horse betting site as of September 2024. It comes with a range of events and markets to explore, as well as having some of the best ongoing promotions.

? Which bookies offer the best odds for horse racing?

You'll find the best horse racing odds over at bet365. Here, the margins come in at just 7.12%. This means that this is a great site for making your wins as profitable as possible.

? What are the worst betting sites for horse racing?

The worst sites are those that come without a license. These are risky and have nothing in place to keep you protected. No matter what offers or markets they display, these are sites that you need to walk away from.

? What is the most profitable way to bet on horse racing?

To make horse racing as profitable as possible, you need to take advantage of all of the free bets that are on offer. You also need to educate yourself so that you can confidently bet on as many markets as possible.

? Is horse betting risky?

No form of gambling comes with a 100% guarantee. However, you can minimise risks by gambling responsibly and sticking to your budget.

Review Author

Kate Richardson

Kate Richardson

Strategic Betting Analyst: Expert in Developing and Implementing Data-Driven, Profitable Sports Betting Strategies.

Reviewed by Editor in Chief

Eugene Ravdin

Eugene Ravdin

Hey! I've been working for the official UEFA website for 18 years as a translator, reporter, editor, and language version editor in chief.