Horse racing is one of the most popular sports among punters in the UK. Due to this, nearly every great sportsbook offers horse race betting markets. But how do you choose the right bookmaker?
First, the availability of horse racing on tons of betting websites is a good thing. It means you can easily find a reliable sportsbook. That said, below is a hand-picked list of the best-rated horse race betting websites in the UK.
#1: Bet365
Some betting websites need no introduction. Bet365 is one of them. It attracts media attention almost every month, whether it’s due to its adverts, sports sponsorship deals or popularity among punters.
Like many sportsbooks in the UK, Bet365 supports both pre-match and in-play betting. That means you can wager on horse race events before they start or while they happen. The latter is more exciting but requires your undivided attention.
When it comes to bonuses, Bet365 welcomes you with a sweet bonus worth up to £100. This isn’t the only bonus at Bet365, though. The bookmaker has lots of betting bonuses, especially to people who also bet on football, boxing and other sports besides horse racing.
That said, the main reason Bet365 stands out is because of its reputation. It has a reputation for providing competitive odds. It has a user-friendly website that runs smoothly across all major devices and quick payouts.
#2: Coral
Are you a real horse race punter if you’ve never heard of Coral? Owned by Entain, the same company that runs Ladbrokes, Coral is the official sponsor of several famous horse racing events in the UK.
It sponsors the Royal Ascot, sometimes called the Coral Hurdle. It also promotes the Cheltenham Festival, often called the Coral Cup. Speaking of which, find a great source of info and learn more about horse race betting before you place your first wager.
Coral doesn’t provide betting tips. But occasionally, it posts helpful facts and stats about horses you can use in your decision making. It also awards out bonuses—you receive a £20 free bet after you bet on £5 on any horse racing event.
#3: 888 Sports
For many experienced punters, 888 Sports is the go-to website for general sports betting. It has been providing online betting for as long as the online sports betting industry has existed—the site launched in 1997.
It offers all major sports, including horse race betting. Like Bet365, 888 Sports prioritize upcoming games regardless of the sport. That means if there’s a golf tournament in the afternoon, you’ll see the game’s odds first.
To be on horse racing, the easiest route is to click on the sport. Then you’ll find a list of upcoming competitions, the horses you can wager on and their odds. 888 Sports offers fairly competitive odds.
What’s more, it has such a wide range of bonuses that you’ll feel overwhelmed on which rewards to claim. For example, you receive £30 if you bet £10. Then there are odd boosters and free bets that target specific sports like football and basketball.
#4: William Hill
William Hill is another pioneer of the gambling industry that has maintained its brand reputation for decades. It’s famous for providing a comprehensive list of betting markets across different sports. That includes horse race betting.
All you need is to make your first deposit using PayPal, Visa, MasterCard, Paysafe or Skrill. If you want a free bet, place a £10 bet and the bookmaker will award you £30. The bookie has an exclusive reward for horse race punters.
If you back a horse and it wins by two lengths, you earn a 15% bonus boost. This is an automatic reward—you don’t need to opt in. Additionally, you can earn profit boosters or ask for cash to cancel a bet.
#5: Betway
Betway is another bookie that doesn’t limit itself to the UK market. It is famous all over the world because it supports bettors from nearly every continent. In the UK, Betway is a top-rated sportsbook with an almost perfect rating at some review websites.
So, what makes Betway such a phenomenal bookmaker? For starters, it has a neat, user-friendly website. Pages load quickly. Finding games is straightforward ad placing bets, even on peak times, is smooth.
To get a reward from Betway, all you need is to bet £10 and the company will give you £30. Of course, there are more bonuses at Betway. But free bets aren’t the only reason you should checkout this bookmaker.
Betway has one of the highest payout rates in the industry at 87.30%. This means it has great odds regardless of which sport you pick. To provide some comparison, 888 Sports has an 81.22% return to play while Bet365 ranks at 80.6%.
#6: Mansion Bet
Mansion Bet is constantly signing sponsorship deals with major football clubs. Although this doesn’t automatically make it a great bookie, it shows the company is legitimate, popular and successful enough to support sports clubs.
Mansion Bet mainly provides football betting markets. But guess what? Horse racing is the second most famous sport at the bookie site. The company offers betting markets for all major events, from the Royal Ascot to the Dubai World Cup.
If you also dabble with gold, basketball and American football, you don’t need to find a different sportsbook. Mansion Bet provides a wide range of sports to bet on. Regarding rewards, Mansion has a welcome bonus worth up to £50.
#7: BetVictor
While William Hill (120 races) and Coral (90 races) provide access to more racing sports than BetVictor (40 races), the latter offers the best odds at 91%. And aren’t quality odds one of the most important factors in a bookie?
Good odds help you maximize your profits. Due to this, it’s always important to wager at a bookmaker with great odds. That said, you want a free bet—BetVictor multiplies your £5 bet by six to give you a £30 free bet. It also welcomes you to claim additional bonuses in football, basketball and baseball.