Best Horse Racing Betting Sites UK 2020

We’ve all been there. You placed a bet on the 3/1 favourite, which has led the race from the start. The jockey is still on the bridle and everything is pointing to a comfortable win. However, upon approaching the final fence, the horse falls! Ordinarily, you bet would be a losing one, so you’d forfeit your entire stake.

With that said, betting sites UK horse racing platforms now offer an ‘insurance’ feature. In a nutshell, by taking slightly less favourable odds, you will get a full refund in the event your selection does not complete the race (for example, it fell at the last fence).

One of the biggest advantages of using online horse racing sites is that you’ll likely be accustomed to a ‘Best Price Guaranteed’ offer on all British and Irish races. This means that you no longer need to worry about whether you should take the current odds, or go with the SP.

Instead, betting sites horse racing platforms will give you the greater of the two. For example, let’s say that you elected to take 6/4 when you placed the bet. Although the horse won, it started the race at 3/1. This would ordinarily be a frustrating outcome, as you could have got 3/1 had you opted for the SP. However, by using a horse racing betting site, you would still get 3/1 even though you took 6/4!

Another interesting feature offered by horse race betting sites is that of the ‘First Past the Post’ clause. This means that you will still be paid out if your horse finished first, but it was later disqualified because of a Stewards Enquiry. If you were to use a traditional betting shop, you would have lost your bet.

However, online betting sites would still pay you out, even though the jockey was penalized because of interference. This means that the horse racing betting site pays out on two fronts – once to those that backed the eventual winner, and once to those that backed the disqualified horse!

You will first need to find a horse racing betting site that meets your personal needs. As of 2020, there are literally hundreds of online horse racing betting UK sites active in the market.

While this includes the best horse racing bookmakers like William Hills, Ladbrokes, Coral, and Bet 365, this also covers heaps of new betting sites.

Ultimately, on top of ensuring that the betting site is regulated by the Gambling Commission, you also need to look at payment methods, withdrawal times, odds, betting features, customer service, and more.

Once you have chosen your preferred horse racing betting site, you will then need to open an account. The process takes less than two minutes and simply requires you to enter some personal information. Make sure the information is entered correctly, as you’ll need to verify it in the next step.

As per UK anti-money laundering laws – as well as the Gambling Commission’s codes of practice, all of the best betting site for horse racing platforms are required to verify the identity of its players. Don’t worry, this is super-easy to do, and merely requires you to upload a couple of documents.

This includes your:

• ID: Passport of Driver’s License
• Proof of Address: Bank Statement, Utility Bill, Tax Statement, etc.

In some cases, you might be asked to upload a copy of the front and back of your debit card – with the middle 10 numbers and CVV covered for security.

So now that you have verified your account – which you will need to do before you can make a withdrawal, you can now deposit some funds. The specific payment methods available to you will depend on the platform you sign up with.

The best betting sites horse racing support a debit/credit card, bank transfer, and e-wallet. Apart from a bank transfer, all deposits are instant.

And that’s it! You’ve successfully opened a horse racing betting account, so you’re now ready to place your first online bet.

You will first need to choose your horse racing betting market. For example, are you looking to access the UK and Irish markets, or races hosted overseas?

If you don’t have a specific event in mind, online horse betting UK sites will list the next races that are about to start.

For example, if its 2 pm, you might see the following:

• 2:10: Market Rasen
• 2:20: Ascot
• 2.25: Newcastle

Once you click on the respective horse race, you will then be shown the full race card. This includes key metrics such as the name and number of the horse, its current odds, and its recent form. Moreover, you can also see the colours and stall number of the horse, which is perfect if you’re looking to watch the race online!

Once you have clicked on the horse that you wish to back, the selection will be added to your virtual betting slip. That’s right, never again will you need to get a paper betting slip and pen, and hand it to the betting shop assistance!

Instead, you simply need to enter the amount you want to stake, and whether you want to opt for the SP or market price. Don’t forget, if you’re using a horse racing betting site that offers Best Odds Guaranteed – and your selection is a winner, you’ll always get the higher of the two!

Not only do sports betting sites allow you to place bets from the comfort of your own home, but you can also watch the race online! Most racing betting sites allow you to watch the race via live streaming (At the Races and Racing UK), as long as you have placed a minimum bet of 50p.

If you’re in a betting shop and have a winning ticket in your hand, you’d need to then exchange it for cash with the shop assistant. This isn’t a requirement when using online bookmakers horse racing sites, as winnings are automatically applied to your betting balance. As such, you can withdraw them straight out!