The Independent guide to the best horse racing betting websites in August 2023 The Independent’s journalism is supported by our readers. If you click links to other sites on this page, we may earn commission. Discover the best horse racing betting sites in the UK and the latest horse racing sign up offers and promotions: To make The Independent’s list of the best horse betting sites, an online bookmaker must stand out from the crowd. But before we look in-depth at any horse racing betting sites, there are a few core things that we check for: The best horse racing bookmakers consistently offer enticing promotions and specials to customers for the big meetings and festivals like Cheltenham, the Grand National, Royal Ascot or the Epsom Derby. The odds offered by the best horse racing bookies must provide value to punters. If a horse betting site is consistently beaten on prices, it won’t make our 2023 horse racing betting sites list. A prerequisite for any horse racing site that undergoes our testing and review is possession of a UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) license . This seal of approval confirms that a racing bookmaker is regulated and can operate legally in the United Kingdom. Expand Collapse VISIT SITE #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. T&C Apply. Play Responsibly. Full Terms Apply. – Full Terms Apply VISIT SITE #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. New Customers only. Bet £10* & Get £30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration Required. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. – Full Terms Apply #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. Min Deposit: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. First bet on a Football or Horse Racing multiple with 3+ selections. Overall odds: 3.00 (2/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. This is offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. 50 Bonus Spins credited on placement of qualifying Acca bet.50x bonus wagering applies as do weighting requirements, bonus Spins only available on selected games and expires 7 days after being awarded. Debit card deposits only (exclusions apply). VISIT SITE #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply. T&Cs apply VISIT SITE #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. New customers. Max £10. 200% Odds Boost Token. Keep it fun – set your deposit limit. T&Cs apply. VISIT SITE #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. new customers only. Min. deposit of £10. Qualifying real money bet of £10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer awarded immediately but could be issued the next working day in exceptional circumstances such as technical fault. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly. VISIT SITE #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £15 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at a min. odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible. Click to see full T&Cs VISIT SITE #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. Once per week Mon – Sun, Free Bet given when £25 settled. Free Bet Valid for 7 Days. T&C’s Apply #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. Spread betting losses can exceed deposit. Plus Best Odds On All Premier League Matches(fixed odds Match Odds, pre-match v top 5 bookies on Oddschecker) #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. http://BeGambleAware.org . New customers only. Min Dep £10. Debit cards only. Opt in for bonus funds. Wagering, sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Sports bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Valid for 7 days. Geographical Restrictions and T&Cs Apply. – Full Terms Apply VISIT SITE 18+, New customers only. Opt in, bet £10 on any sports (odds 2.00+) in 7 days. No cash out. Get 4x£5 sports free bets for set markets (odds 2.00+), which expire in 7 days. Offer is valid from 10:00 UK time on 16/01/2023. Card payments only. T&Cs Apply, #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org VISIT SITE #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. T&Cs apply. New customers, Deposit & Place a Bet within 7 days, and settle a £10 minimum bet at odds of 4/5 (1.8) or greater, to be credited with 3x £10 free bets: 1 x £10 Horse racing, 1 x £10 Free Bet Builder and 1 x £10 Football. Stake not returned. Opt-in required. GambleAware®: Gambling Help & Gambling Addiction VISIT SITE #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £10 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible. T&Cs Apply VISIT SITE #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. New customers only. Available once per household. Max. FreeBet amount: £10 Minimum Deposit and wagering on sport to activate the Free Bet is: £10 Void/cancelled or cashed out bets do not count towards wagering to activate the free bet. Offer valid only to customers making a first deposit of £10 or more. Offer only applies to players who are residents of United Kingdom and Ireland. VISIT SITE #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 17.10.2022. 3x £10 free bets. Free bets expire after 30 days. New customers signing up through mobile or tablet device only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook (excluding Virtual markets). Further terms apply. #ad VISIT SITE #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. New Players only. Max. Free Bet Token amount: £15.Minimum Deposit: £15. Minimum wagering on Sport to activate the Free Bet Token: £15 VISIT SITE New players only. Min £10 qualifying bets, stake not returned. Free bet – one-time stake of £ 20, min odds 1.5, stake not returned. 1X wager the winnings. Wager from real balance first. Wager calculated on bonus bets only. Max conversion: £ 200. Valid for 7 Days from issue. Excluded Skrill deposits. Withdrawal requests voids all active/pending bonuses. Full Terms Apply. #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. New Customers only. Must have a minimum of 3 bets of £10 or more on separate events at odds of evens (2.0) or bigger on first day. First day losses equals all settled stakes less all returns. T&C’s apply. VISIT SITE #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: £10, max £10 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible. VISIT SITE #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. New Customers Only. Max one £10 Free Bet. Qualifying bets at Odds of 1/1(2.00) or greater. Paid as Bonus Token with Min 4/5(180) Odds Req. Skrill, Neteller & Paypal not eligible. BeGambleAware.org. T&Cs Apply VISIT SITE 18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet up to £40 (min. £20) on any football market at odds of 2.00+, in 7 days. Get up to £40 in free bets on selected markets. Bonuses expire in 7 days. Card payments only. Click for T&Cs. begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly VISIT SITE New 18+ UK customers only. Register using the promo code WELCOME40, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets and £10 in Extra Spins (50x20p) credited within 10 hours of bet settlement. Free Bet stakes are not included in any returns. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required. Full T&Cs apply. Our picks for the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in August 2023 To assist you further in making an informed choice of where to bet on horse racing online, we have handpicked a selection of trusted horse racing betting sites in the UK that offer a first-class service: 1. bet365 We consistently found bet365 offering the best price on horses and their ‘Best Odds Guaranteed’ feature ensures that if you place a bet after 8am and the Starting Price (SP) is bigger, you’ll get paid out at those better odds. Additionally, new and eligible customers enjoy daily horse racing boosts and a ‘Price Promise’ means that their odds on all UK and Irish races shown live on ITV are never beaten (from 10am until 15 minutes prior to the race). There is also live streaming of most races, allowing you to watch them live or to bet in-running as races unfold, while we particularly like their ‘Each Way Extra’ functionality, which allows you to choose your own place terms. Established 2001 Deposit And Play £10, Get 50 Extra Spins VISIT SITE #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. Deposit and stake £10 on eligible Casino games to get 50 Extra Spins. Registration Required. Time limits, game restrictions and T&Cs apply. – Full Terms Apply While Unibet might be one of several relatively new horse racing betting sites in the UK, they have already achieved recognition as the ‘Horse Race Betting Operator of the Year’ at industry awards in both 2021 and 2022. They also provide live streaming of UK and Irish races and the ‘Best Odds Guaranteed’ feature, plus various racing promotions, including three ‘Uniboosts’ a day on any horse you choose and a daily horse racing ‘Acca Boost’. Sponsors of the Unibet Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, as well as Kempton All Weather meetings, they have enlisted top trainers Nicky Henderson and Richard Hannon as ambassadors, providing exclusive insight. #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. http://BeGambleAware.org . New customers only. Min Dep £10. Debit cards only. Opt in for bonus funds. Wagering, sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Sports bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Valid for 7 days. Geographical Restrictions and T&Cs Apply. – Full Terms Apply Betway is another horse racing betting brand that sponsors a feature race at the Cheltenham Festival – the Betway Champion Chase – and they have trainer Ross O’Sullivan and former jump jockey Katie Walsh as ambassadors. An official betting partner of The Jockey Club, Betway also offer ‘Best Odds Guaranteed’ on horse racing bets, while their live streaming coverage extends to races in France, Australia and the US. Additionally, there are ‘Betway Boosts’ for enhanced odds, a ‘Free Bet Club’ that rewards you with two weekly £5 free bets if you place £25 in qualifying multiples and a daily ‘Extra Place Special’ on a selected race. Established 2006 Get £10 in Free Bets VISIT SITE #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. *New customers only. This offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. Min Deposit: £10. Free Bet awarded: £10. 1 x £10 must be wagered at odds of 1.75+ to unlock Free Bet. Debit Card deposits only (exclusions apply). Free bet will expire 7 days after the 1st deposit. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Bet The Responsible Way. Full Terms apply BetGoodwin is a new horse racing betting site from an established operator: Goodwin Racing is a longstanding telephone betting service and what sets them apart are their horse racing money back specials. For example, if your horse is beaten by a nose (half a length in a chase), falls at the last when in front, or finishes second to a 50/1+ winner, BetGoodwin will refund your stake as a free bet of up to £100. As with many of the best horse racing betting sites, they feature a line up of racing ambassadors, including trainers Alan King and Chris Gordon, jockeys Hayley Turner and Tom Cannon, plus racing broadcaster Mike Cattermole. BoyleSports is another to make our list of the best horse racing betting sites thanks to their unique promos, such as money back as a free bet of up to £20, if your horse finishes second to the SP favourite at a selected daily meeting. Additionally, they provide daily ‘Extra Place Races’ and an ‘Acca Loyalty’ program where you’ll earn a £5 free accumulator bet for every five £5 accumulator bets you place (with minimum odds of 3/1). Sponsors of the Boylesports Irish Grand National, they have former Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National winning jockey Robbie Power and leading trainer Gordon Elliott as horse racing ambassadors. Established 2007 Bet £10, Get £20 in Free Bets VISIT SITE #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply. T&Cs apply How to Choose Between Horse Race Betting Sites: Key Questions to Ask Navigating the realm of online horse racing betting can feel overwhelming to newcomers. In this segment, we’ll highlight the key factors to bear in mind while selecting from the best horse racing bookmakers: How attractive is the welcome offer? An enticing welcome offer can extend your horse racing betting budget. However, it’s important that this offer is free from overly restrictive terms. Do they offer live streaming? Numerous horse racing betting sites now provide the option of live streaming for all UK and Irish races and sometimes of races from farther afield. Typically, you’ll need to have placed a bet on the race or have a funded account to access live streaming. What payment methods can be used? The array of available payment options directly affects your ability to make fast deposits and withdrawals according to your preferences. The best horse racing betting sites UK should accept a variety of debit cards, e-wallets and mobile wallet services such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Are there regular horse racing promotions? Regular promotions go beyond the initial welcome offer, showcasing a bookmaker’s commitment to rewarding loyal customers. Top horse betting sites feature daily promotions, free cash prize prediction games and loyalty free bets for regular bettors. These aspects are pivotal when evaluating and comparing horse racing bookmakers. Are there special offers for the big races and festivals? Bookies should ramp things up for the big days in the racing calendar. The likes of the Cheltenham Festival, Royal Ascot and the Grand National should be accompanied by an array of special offers such as extra each-way places, free bets and odds boosts. Moreover, ante-post betting markets should be available for major races all year round. What betting limits and responsible gambling tools are available? Betting on horse racing should always be fun and racing sites should enable you to set daily, weekly and monthly betting or deposit limits on your accounts, This enables you to budget and bet responsibly at all times. Are there horse race form guides and tips? When betting on a horse race it’s crucial to be able to see a list of all the runners and riders, with colours, recent form, weights, plus jockey and trainer details. Furthermore, the inclusion of a form guide and insights from expert tipsters can significantly enhance your racing betting experience. #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. Minimum deposit £10. Qualifying bet must be placed at odds of evens (2.0) or greater. Get 50% back on first day losses as a free bet up to £50 plus 10 extra spins on Reel King, credited within 24 hours. Free Bet and Spins expire in 7 days. T&Cs apply. Please bet responsibly. Horse Racing Betting Offers to look out for We’ve highlighted the horse race betting sites with the best offers in the UK. If you’re unsure about the details of each offer, here’s a quick breakdown: Free Horse Racing Bets: Free bets can allow you to back a horse without using your own money. Look out for free horse racing bets as part of welcome bonuses, promos for big races or loyalty rewards. Best Odds Guaranteed: With best odds guaranteed, if you take an early price on a horse and the starting price (SP) turns out to be higher, you will be paid out at the higher odds if your bet wins. Price Boosts: The best horse betting sites have enhanced odds for numerous runners across different races each day. Some sites will also offer their customers a certain number of boosts per day or week to use on whichever horses they like. Money-Back Specials: Money-back specials are promotions where bookmakers refund your stake, often as a free bet, if a specific event occurs during a race. For example, you might get money back if your horse finishes second to the favourite, or if it falls at the final fence. Extra Places: Bookmakers may increase the number of each-way places paid, especially for high-profile races. For a race with a large field like the Grand National, the best horse racing betting sites sometimes pay as much as seven or eight each-way places. Non-Runner, No Bet (NRNB): With NRNB you won’t lose your stake if your chosen horse doesn’t run. This concession often applies to significant events like the Cheltenham Festival, typically available from around January onwards. Acca Insurance: Insurance on horse racing accumulator bets is sometimes available if just one leg of your accumulator lets you down, usually with your stake refunded as a free bet. Established 2012 10% Cashback Always VISIT SITE #ad. 18+. Gamble Responsibly. Begambleaware.org. T&C Apply. Play Responsibly. Full Terms Apply. – Full Terms Apply The Best Horse Racing Betting Sites: In summary You should now have all the tools you need to choose your next horse racing betting site. Remember that all online bookmakers recommended by The Independent have been reviewed by our horse racing betting team and are licensed, regulated and legal to bet with in the UK. A welcome offer is a bonus provided by horse racing betting sites to new customers. This can take various forms such as a matched deposit, free bet or cashback on losses. It provides an opportunity for bettors to start their horse racing betting journey with some bonus funds or insurance on losses. The Independent rankings of the best horse racing betting sites change all the time, based on our review team’s latest findings when testing out online bookmakers. This list is constantly updated and we review all new horse racing betting sites as soon as they are launched. An each-way bet in horse racing is essentially two bets in one: one bet for the horse to win and another for it to place (usually second, third, or fourth). This allows bettors to earn a return even if their horse doesn’t win, but still places. Reputable, licensed horse race betting sites employ advanced encryption technologies to protect your personal and financial information. They also adhere to strict privacy policies, ensuring your data is not shared with third parties. Sites without these safeguards in place don’t qualify for a licence.