Ranking the Best Online Horse Betting Sites for this Year

Many people enjoy horse racing betting, so we decided to show you the best online horse betting sites. Online gambling has progressed a lot in the last years, and now it is easy to bet on anything you like from the comfort of your home. That means you do not need to have a racetrack near where you live if you want to place a wager on a race.

Horse racing bookmakers cover a wide range of tracks, bet types, promotions and, in some cases, live streams. Our guide compares the best betting sites for horse racing using factors such as safety, reputation and fairness.

Top Horse Racing Sites

What makes these horse racing websites so good?

Our biggest concern when we are gambling is the quality control. There was a huge difference between sites, and it was clear that some of them were not safe at all.

Still, finding the best among the horse racing sites is the goal of every punter. That is why we have decided to review the top bookies and rank them according to their race variety, betting options, odds, and whether they paid out the winners or not. These are the key factors you need to consider before deciding if a horse racing website is good or not.

The sites we listed above got a high rating in all of those categories. They are the best online horse betting sites, that also have an excellent reputation amongst the gambling community, so it is safe to trust them with your money. Here are their main advantages:

Website Safety

Each online betting site needs to be trustworthy. Many people have doubts when they make their first deposit. The only way a betting site can assure you of that is by paying out the winnings. Otherwise, the site becomes untrustworthy, and nobody will want to use it.

Fair Odds

Comparing odds among websites is simple, so we do it regularly after we have checked that a site is safe. Many reliable sites offer horse racing bets, but they do not all have the same odds. Naturally, you would want to choose a site which offers the biggest odds so that you can maximize your profit in the long term.

Variety of Betting Options

For horse racing, it is important to have a huge choice of betting options because the reason you are gambling online is that you do not have to be at the racetrack to make a bet. The best gambling websites offer coverage of the biggest events in the horse racing world.

Promotions and Bonuses

Even though bonuses are not the most important category here, it is still good to be able to win more money just by picking a different betting site which has a bigger bonus. If all the other criteria are fulfilled, this becomes the deciding factor. Continue reading our guide to find out which are the best online horse betting sites.

Deposits and Withdrawals

After you have decided which betting site you are going to use, it is time to make your first deposit. Each website has different deposit methods, but if you are from the United States, then the most likely choice is to use your debit card.

However, some US customers face difficulties when trying to deposit with their debit card. That is because some banks do not allow transactions to gambling websites. If that happens, you need to find a cash transfer station like MoneyGram and send the money from there.

People who do not live in the US have many options when it comes to depositing money at a bookmaker. They can use e-Wallet, or electronic funds transfer. Usually, there are no additional transaction costs when depositing.

Making a deposit is the easiest part of gambling. The websites often provide in-depth tutorials on depositing money and the best online horse betting sites are no eception.

Withdrawing money should also be an intuitive process, but that is not the case for all websites. That can be the difference between a good and a bad bookmaker.

Punters from the United States can choose between receiving a paper check, a cash transfer, or an electronic funds transfer. The last method is probably the easiest, but the other two are not hard either.

People from outside the US can use the same methods plus e-Wallets. Usually, you get one free withdrawal per month. If you withdraw more often than that, there is a small transaction fee.

Good horse racing websites have quality customer support teams which will assist you when you have a question about deposits and withdrawals.

More About Horse Racing

This is one of the oldest sports in the world, seeing as horse races were held in 700BC. Sure, the sport is not the same as it was back then, but the main concept remained. It is still a popular activity, and many people enjoy watching it.

Of course, the main reason why it is so popular is due to gambling. Betting at the racetrack has become a tradition. Nowadays, you do not even have to be there, because many online bookmakers offer bets on different horse racing events.

The sport is funded mostly by betting due to the many sponsors who come from the gambling industry. It is difficult to imagine horse racing being attractive without the funding from the best horse betting sites.

It is fun to watch this sport, especially if money is at stake. Placing a bet on an event, regardless how small, will make it way more fun for you to follow. However, most people are cautious when it comes to horse racing betting because they think it’s complicated.

Of course, just like any other sport, there is some complicated stuff, but the basic are relatively simple to grasp. You only pick the horse you think is going to win and make a bet. It is not easy to pick the correct winner, but that does not mean you should not try. Here are some useful articles which will help you learn more about horse racing:

The Most Famous Types of Horse Racing

This article focuses on the different types of Horse racing which is an ancient sport, and is still popular today due to the fact that people like to bet on it. It is rumoured that horse racing was an event in the Greek Olympics in the 7th century BC. However, the sport has certainly progressed since then – there are different events and styles. Here are some of the most popular types of Horse races:

• Thoroughbred Horse Racing
• Flat Racing
• Jump Racing
• Point to Point Racing
• Harness Racing
• Other Race Types
• Race Classes and Conditions

Thoroughbred Types of Horse Racing

This is the most famous type of horse racing. Different authorities regulate the sport, including the British Horseracing Authority. The name comes from the Thoroughbred breed developed in England. This background can help readers compare sports betting sites that cover horse racing.

Classic Thoroughbred Races

Only rich people had Thoroughbred horses, but now they are trained and breed in many places worldwide. If you want to buy such a horse, you can do so at a public auction or a private deal. The animals are given to professional trainers who take care of them in exchange for money. A traditional strategy is to combine money with other people and buy Thoroughbred horses. If your horse wins a big race, you can earn a lot of money, but buying a horse is a hobby mainly for rich people.

Even though you can find Thoroughbred races almost anywhere, the countries where it is most popular are the UK, the US, and Australia. The races are quick, so the horses need to be fast and to have enough stamina. There are two types of Thoroughbred racing – flat and jump racing. Keep reading to find out more about the types of horse races.

Flat Racing

This is the most modern variation of Thoroughbred racing, and it is popular in the countries mentioned above, plus France, Dubai, Japan, and others. You probably guessed from the name that the races are held on a flat track covered by dirt, turf, or a synthetic surface. Some of the biggest races like the Kentucky Derby, the Epsom Derby, the Melbourne Cup, and the Dubai World Cup are held here.

Jump Racing

Here, the horses need to jump over different hurdles, fences, or ditches, so this racing type is riskier. It is popular in countries like the UK, Ireland, and France. Another name for jump racing is National Hunt Racing, and there are two categories – hurdles and steeplechases.

In the US, it is also known as steeplechasing, and the obstacles are hurdles and timber. Jump races are almost extinct in Australia due to how dangerous they are.

Point to Point Racing

This  is one of the types of horse racing that is similar to National Hunt racing, and it is more of an amateur version for horses who have participated in the National Hunt but are too old now.

Harness Racing

In Harness racing, the horses pull a cart which has two wheels. It is not as popular as Thoroughbred racing, but this racing type also has its loyal fans. In Europe, you will find a lot of trot races, while the faster ones are held in the US or Australia.

Other Race Types

There are some less popular race types like Arabian horse racing where the animals need to have a lot of stamina. The Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities regulates this race variation. Endurance racing usually is held over 100miles, although you can find shorter distances. Quarter Horse racing is held over short distances, and the horses need to be very quick.

Race Classes

Thoroughbred races can be separated into different classes. In the US, Grade I covers the most important races, while in Australia they are called Group 1. There are other categories, for example, horses that have never finished first.

From This Page you will Understand How to Bet on Horses

If you are wondering how to bet on horses, you have come to the right place. Horse racing is a sport which is still popular thanks to the betting industry. Many people enjoy placing wagers on races, and you can win a good amount if you have knowledge about the sport. However, many people simply assume that horse racing is too complicated and don’t want to have anything to do with it.

It is true that you have a lot of betting options, so you need to know more things about horse racing than about other sports. But once you grasp the basics, betting on horse racing becomes intuitive. The most difficult part is differentiating between the sport and the betting in different countries.

The sport has a basic conception, but there are slight variations between horse racing in the UK and horse racing in the United States. Some of those differences include race types, names of different bets, and the odds. You need to know the meaning of various odds and what kind of wagers are there in horse racing. Also, it is crucial to do research on the horses themselves and how you can make bets. If you are wondering how to bet on horses, continue reading our guide.

Horse Racing Odds Explained

The easiest way you can place a wager in horse racing is by betting on a specific horse to win the race. If it does, you receive a payout. But that does not mean that there aren’t any other betting options. You can bet on a horse finishing in the top positions, or on more than one horse winning different races. These wagers are different and depend on your location, so the names of the bets are also changed. You can check out our article on “Types of Horse Racing Bets” to learn more about this subject.

The odds are used for calculating how much money you will win if your wager wins. When you are betting on fixed odds, you need to know everything there is to them. That is not the case with parimutuel betting. We will explain the differences between the two below, but first, let’s see the three different odds types.

Decimal Odds

The Decimal odds are very popular in Australia and Europe if you know how to bet on horses . These odds show exactly how much money you will win. If the odds are 2.0, that means you will receive 2$ (the stake is included) when the bet is 1$. With “odds on” bets, you still make a profit, but it is smaller than the amount you wagered. For example, if your bet is 1$ and the odds are 1.60, you get 1.60$ in return, which leaves you with a profit of 60 cents.

Fractional Odds

Fractional odds can be found most often in the UK and Ireland. With them, you see how much money you will receive in addition to your initial bet. So, if the odds are 3/1, it means that you get 3$ for each dollar wagered plus the original bet. If you placed one dollar on these odds, then you will receive 4$ total. Other examples of fractional odds are 6/4, 7/3, 12/10. If you see odds of 1/1, this means that will make a profit of 1$ for each dollar you bet. An example for “odds on” bet would be 2/5.

Moneyline Odds

Americans mostly use this form of betting odds, and it can show a positive or a negative number. If the value is positive, you can calculate how much money you can win if you wagered 100$. Let’s say that the odds are +200 – this means that you can potentially win 200$ plus the stake if you bet 100$. That can be compared to 2/1 in fractional odds or 3.0 in decimal odds. If the number is negative, then it shows you how much you need to wager to win 100$. So, let’s say that the odds are -200 – you would need to bet 200$ if you want to make a profit of $100 in addition to your initial bet. We hope that this section helped you with the understanding horse racing odds.

Betting on Fixed Odds in Horse Racing

Fixed odds mean that you are making a wager at agreed odds, regardless whether they are fractional, decimal, or moneyline. A good example would be betting at an online bookie. You simply need to pick the horse you think is going to finish first and choose the amount that you would like to bet. If you win, the bookmaker pays you your winnings, and if you do not, the bookie keeps the money.

Of course, you can also place a bet on a race which will be held in a couple of weeks or months – this is also known as futures or ante-post betting. The process is pretty much the same; however, there is always the risk that your horse will not participate in the race due to an injury, so your bet loses. The positive of futures betting is that the odds are usually bigger.

It is important to know that there are some horse races where your wager needs to be at the “Starting Price” (the odds at the beginning of the contest). If you are wondering how to bet on horses, continue reading our guide.

How to Bet on Horses at Parimutuel Gambling

With parimutuel betting, or simply Tote betting, you do not bet against a bookmaker, but rather against other punters who also made a bet on this event. The best are collected into a “pool,” and then the winners divide the money among themselves. With this betting form, you do not get traditional odds, but your winnings are calculated according to the punters who made a wager and won. Of course, a small part of the prize pool is used for taxes and to pay the horse-racing authority.

Some race tracks offer only parimutuel bets, even though bookies usually have fixed odds. Many betting companies offer Tote betting for specific parts of the world, and most of them usually provide rough odds of the event so that the people can estimate how much they can win.

Where Can I Place Horse Racing Wagers

Well, the answer to this question depends on your location. Some countries have bookmakers with retail shops where you can go and place a wager. Others provide their customers with phone betting options. If you decide to go to a horse race, you can directly bet there. However, the main principle of betting on this sport remains unchanged, regardless of the betting form that you choose. Convenience is of the utmost importance here.

Our advice for the ones, who want to learn how to bet on horses, is to try to wagering online, because it is easy and you can get cool perks which aren’t available in conventional betting forms. Horse racing websites usually provide you with the option to bet on many events which take place in different locations worldwide. They also have cool promotions and bonus offers for new and existing customers. It is crucial that you choose a reputable betting website if you want to try out online gambling. The best way of doing so is checking out our bookmaker reviews.

Understand Horse Racing Odds to Decide on What to Bet

After you have learned more about horse racing and the different ways you can place a wager, you need to decide which horse you are going to pick. Most people usually choose the horse with the best name because they are betting for fun, but if you want to win money, that may not be the best alternative.

It is important to do some research before betting on a horse. That is why we have dedicated a page on Horse Racing betting strategy.

Everything You Need to Know About Horse Betting Strategy

Welcome to our horse betting strategy article! Even though it is fairly difficult to win consistently by betting on horse racing, it always helps when you have developed a strategy that will give you better chances. Those who are profiting from the sport are putting a lot of time and effort into researching their picks. Continue reading our detailed guide to learn more about the horse betting strategy.

Researching Form Guides

Form guides usually include a lot of data about the horses which are going to participate in the race. There are many important stats which you can use to see the horses that are going to be competing for the first place. The one thing you should pay the biggest attention to is recent results because successful horses are usually in good form and they have consistency. Still, that is not enough for you to make an educated decision, so you need to take a look at some other stuff.

One of them is the race distance – if a horse is on a good run and has won the last couple of races, but they were shorter than the upcoming one, you should always be careful when betting on such a horse. Some horses are good at specific race distances, so that is another component that may prove to be useful. Another thing to pay attention to is the surface and condition of the race track. Some horses have preferred surfaces, and that is why it is important to know all the factors before placing a wager.

Each race has a different category which represents its overall quality. Some horses that won their last races may have done it by participating in the lower class events, and if they are racing in a major event now, it will be a lot tougher. That does not mean that they do not have a chance of winning, but there are probably other horses which won major events before, so they are the favourites in this race. Another thing which you can do is see who won the event last time it was held because horses also have their preferred courses.

The jockey and the trainer also play a huge role in horse racing, which means their form should also come under consideration. The same criteria apply to them – race distance and courses. Keep in mind that researching all of these things is not necessary if you are simply gambling for fun because it may get a little dull. However, if you want to make a profit from horse racing, then having a strategy is crucial. Continue reading our detailed guide to learn more about the horse betting strategy.

Details Before the Race Begins

Sometimes you will not have this opportunity, but if you are watching the race on TV or at the race track, then it is a good idea to look at the horse before the start. The body language of the horse can show you if it is in good condition. Some signs to look for are if its body is clean and fit, and if the horse holds its head up high. On the opposite hand, when to horse looks nervous and distracted, it is better to avoid betting on it.

Value Betting in Horse Betting Strategies

Value is vital in horse racing, although many punters do not pay huge attention to it. If you want to make a profit by betting on horses, then you need to look for the best value. A good strategy is to place wagers on odds that are bigger than the possibility of winning. Of course, you will not always win with value bets, but if you can find the ones which are likely to happen, then it is very likely that you will have success in the long term.

The horses which are favourites for a race have the lowest odds and that is why some people avoid betting on them. However, that is not an ideal strategy. Even though you should not always place bets on the favourite, sometimes that is the correct choice. We prefer to win by betting on a horse with low odds than losing by picking a horse with big odds. The only way you can decide which bets are good is to follow your guts, but the odds have value, and you think there is a good chance that the horse will win, we suggest going for it. Continue reading our detailed guide to learn more about the horse betting strategy.

Horse Racing Betting Tips on Placing Wagers

This is not about picking the right horse, but rather choosing the best place to place a wager. If you have a local bookmaker, you can go there to make a bet. There is also an option for betting through the phone. For those of you that like to go to the race track, there is a wide variety of choices. But we think that the best way to bet on horse racing is to do it online.

First of all, it is the most convenient option out of them all. There are many websites that accept bets on horse racing. In order to bet online, you simply need a computer and Internet access. With online gambling, you do not even need to leave your house to place a bet. Comparing odds at different websites is necessary if you want to find the best value. Some bookmakers even have statistics of previous races so that you can do a research and bet at the same place.

You can even go to a betting website by using your smartphone or tablet. That makes betting on the go incredibly comfortable. Most websites also have different promotional offers and bonuses, so unlike betting outlets at the race track, you can get bonus funds or wagers. You can compare different bonuses by checking out our bookmaker reviews page.

Managing Money for a Horse Betting Strategy

We recommend being wise with your money when gambling on horse racing. You do not have to place a wager on each race because that is a rookie mistake. You cannot follow all types of horse racing, so it is better to specialise in an area and to bet only when you are confident. If you cannot decide on which horse to bet on, then it is better to pass and wait for another race.

General advice for all gamblers is never to chase losses. In the case of a bad streak, we recommend taking a break from gambling and lowering the stake until your luck comes back. One of the main principles of gambling is to bet with money that you can afford to lose. We hope that our guide on horse betting strategy answered all your questions and gave you plenty of horse racing betting tips.

Choosing One of the Types of Horse Racing Bets

If you want to learn about the types of horse racing bets, you are in the right place! Similar to other sports, horse racing also has a vast diversity of betting options. Some of them are pretty simple to understand, for example, the win bet. But others are more complex. Some people simply bet on which horse will win, and they do not bother with the more difficult betting options. Of course, the odds of the more complicated bets are much bigger, and you could win a lot more.

Each betting type has a different name which depends on your location. We decided to tell you more about the most popular horse racing bets. Some of them were available only with parimutuel wagering, but nowadays, you can find them at many online bookmakers. The three most significant horse racing bets are straight, exotic, and multiple bets. Keep reading to find out more about the types of bets horse racing.

Straight Types of Horse Racing Bets

These wagers are ones of the most popular wagers in horse racing, so if you are a beginner, we recommend trying them out in the beginning. All bookmakers will have straight bets which you can place on the outcome of the event.

Win Bet

You probably guessed from the name what the win bet means – you simply place a wager on the horse that is going to win, and if it does, you collect your winnings. This betting type is also known as “betting on the nose.”

Place Bet

This bet differentiates depending on your location. If you are from the US, then you can bet on a horse which comes either first or second, and if it does, you receive your winnings. However, in other countries around the world, this wager means that your horse will finish “in the places.” The positions depend on the total number of horses in the race.

Let’s say that we have six horses in the race – this means that the places are the first two positions. If the number of horses was 11, the winning positions are the first three. Sixteen horses would mean that the first four positions are winning ones with this bet. The payout depends on the position that your horse finishes. The odds here are lower than with the win bet, but you have a bigger chance of winning.

Show Bet

The show bet is famous in the United States, and you get a payout if your horse finishes in the top three.

Across the Board

This is another famous horse racing bet in America. It combines the three previous ones that we mentioned, so if the horse you chose wins the event, then you receive three payouts. In case it finishes second, then you receive the money from the place and show bets. If it finishes third, then you win only from the show bet.

It is a good option for those of you who want big odds in case the horse wins, but also want to receive money if it finishes in the second or third place. A 5$ wager means that you have to pay 15$ because you are essentially making three bets.

Each Way Bet

The each way bet is popular in many countries and is a combo of the win and place bets. Half of your stake goes into the win bet, and the other half goes into the place bet. If the horse wins, you receive a payout from both bets. For second and third place finishes, you will receive money only from the place bet.

Exotic Bets

These types of horse racing bets are more advanced than the regular ones because it is harder to win them. Of course, if you do, then the odds are excellent.

Exacta Bet

With this bet, you can predict the first two horses in the race, and they must be in the right order. Other names for this bet are perfecta, dual forecast, and exactor.

Trifecta Bet

Here you have to guess the first three horses in the race. Other names include tricast bet and triactor bet.

Reverse Exacta

It is the same as the regular exacta, except you do not need to predict the correct order. This betting type is also known as reverse perfecta, reverse forecast, reverse exactor, and quinella.

Reverse Trifecta

You probably guess that the reverse trifecta is the same as the reverse exacta, but the only difference is that you need to bet on the first three horses. Here, their order does not matter. If all of you horses finish in the top three, then you receive your winnings. This bet is also known as a combination tricast or a reverse triactor.

Multiple Types of Horse Racing Bets

Exotic bets are also known as multiple bets because you need to make more than one selection in a race. But usually, multiple bets means that you make a bet with multiple selections in different events. Here are some examples:

Double Bet

The double bet means that you need to predict the winner horse in two races, and if they both with, you get a payout with the odds of each horse multiplied together. Of course, the offer is tempting, but it is difficult to win double bets.

Treble Bet

This is the same as the double bet, but you need to choose the winner horse in three events, and they all need to win for you to receive a payout.

Accumulator/Parlay

Similar to the previous two, the accumulator is a bet which involves four our more winning horses in different races. Each horse needs to win its respective race if you want to collect anything.

We hope that our article about the types of horse racing bets answered all of your questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

In our FAQ section, we answer some of the most popular questions that we receive.

Horse racing is one of the few sports where a profit in the long term is a possibility, even though the bookies still have an advantage over the punter. Still, many people manage to win a lot from horse racing, so it is possible.

However, it is certainly not easy to do so. You need to spend some time learning the basics of horse racing and then studying different strategies. If you are serious about it, you have a good chance of winning.

Horse Racing in Different Countries

Even though horse racing is similar to betting everywhere around the world, there are still some differences that are worth knowing, especially if you are going to bet on horse races which are located in a different place from your current location.