Horse Racing Betting Bonus Guide

Horse racing is one of the oldest sports for gambling and has existed in the UK for over 900 years. There are not many sports that create an adrenaline boost in the same way as horse racing and thousands flock to the many UK courses each week to be part of the action. Online bookmakers are desperate to get your custom so will offer free bets, generous welcome offers and promotions to entice you to play.

*** Score a tidy bonus of £50 at Ladbrokes – Claim the bonus! ***

Horse racing betting online in the modern age is fun, fast and of course furious! The sport of kings has embraced new wave technology and the ability to stream race meetings to your mobile means you never have to miss a second of the action again. With in-play betting, you can even bet after the race has started. In this guide we take a look at these offers and help you find the best betting bonus for you.

Online Sports Betting Welcome Bonus – Matched Deposit

The new customer welcome bonus is probably the most generous offer you are likely to receive whilst betting online. They are another reason why many people prefer to bet online rather than visit a traditional bookmaker. You wouldn’t expect to walk into a high street branch of Ladbrokes and receive £50 to play with!

Sign up for a new account with the same bookmaker online and that is exactly what you can expect, seems a no brainer right?

There are of course terms and conditions attached to the welcome offer and having an awareness of these restrictions can prevent dissatisfaction at a later date.

Matched Deposit – What Can I Get?

The amount you can receive varies quite wildly between the different online betting sites. Many will offer a 100% first deposit match up to a certain amount, this can range from £10 to a massive £200. As this offer is a onetime deal, for most people it makes sense to take as much as you can to maximise your bankroll. There are however a few things you need to be aware of!

Matched Deposit – What do I Need to Know?

Wagering requirement – You will see this term mentioned several times on these pages and we make no apologies for that, these two words can have a big impact on your online experience.

A wagering requirement or play-through requirement as some online bookies call it, is the amount that you need to bet in order to release your bonus winnings. Until you reach this target, you are unable to withdraw any of the winnings you may have made whilst betting. Let’s take a look at an example;

Sports betting site 1 are offering a matched welcome bonus of up to £100. The terms and conditions state a wagering requirement of x4 of the amount of the welcome bonus.

There are 2 key pieces of information in this deal. The first part is that the offer states “up to”. It’s quite easy to see the headline figure, make a deposit and then wonder why you haven’t received the amount you were expecting. If the matched deposit rate is set at 100%, you would need to deposit £100 to get that amount. Just to make things a bit more complicated, not all bookies offer a 100% matched deposit! Some will state 50% matched, so to get the full amount of £100 you would need to deposit £200.

The second key piece of information is the x4 wagering requirement, this means you need to have settled bets to the value of £400 before your money becomes eligible for withdrawal. Even if you placed one bet of £10 and backed a horse at 39/1 to win £400, you would still need to place more bets totalling £390 before you are able to request these winnings.

I’m afraid it can get even more complicated, some bookmakers insist that the wagering requirement is for the bonus amount AND the deposit amount. So this in effect is not a x4 wagering requirement but a x8 one.

Another important consideration is how long you have to complete the wagering requirement. Some companies allow 7 days, others a very relaxed 90 days. If you are planning on taking a large welcome bonus (let’s say £100 at x4 wagering requirement on bonus and deposit) are you going to be able to bet £800 in seven days? For many this won’t be an issue but as part of the terms and conditions some bookmakers will confiscate any remaining bonus cash and any winnings from the bonus if the wagering requirement is not completed within the validity period. You can see a graphical representation of this on our homepage here.

Another question you need to ask is “do all my bets count towards the wagering requirement?”. Now I’m sure you’ll agree with me that there is no such thing as a dead cert in life, ok, except death and taxes! But many of the online bookies will insist that the selections you make are at least certain odds. For example, they may state that your selections are of odds at least 1.75.

If you are likely to mix your betting with other activities such as the casino offerings, many casino games only give you a fraction of the bet as counting towards the wagering requirement or not even count at all.

This section really demonstrates how important it is to read the terms and conditions of an offer. Many of the complaints against online bookmakers are due to not understanding wagering requirements and although we do our best to advise you on this site, terms and conditions can change at any time so please take the time to check before you accept any offer.

Online Sports Betting Welcome Bonus – Free Bets

If you are new to betting on horses online, the last section might make you run for the hills due to the complexity of a matched deposit! Thankfully, there is another welcome bonus on offer from online bookmakers and this is in the form of a free bet or bets.

Free Bets – What Can I Get?

The first thing you will notice is that the free bet offers will be a lot smaller than the matched deposit bonuses. This can however be a substantial return on quite a small amount of money with online sites willing to double or even treble your initial deposit.

Free Bets – What do I Need to Know?

Free bets don’t normally have lots of terms and conditions attached to them but that isn’t to say that they don’t exist! I can call on personal experience to highlight this.

I once saw an online sports betting site offering a £20 free bet with a £20 deposit requirement. I made the deposit and then split my £20 into four smaller bets of £5 on a race at Ascot. When my bets were settled I was surprised to see I had received £5 in free bets rather than the £20 I was expecting.

Several (heated) live chats later I was informed that the free bet amount was based on the total of my first bet, not as I had assumed, on the amount of my deposit. I must admit, this left a nasty taste in my mouth and I can attribute experiences like this as being a big motivator in becoming involved in creating this site.

Online Sports Betting Bonuses – Other Promotions

With the market becoming crowded with both old and new sports betting sites, standing out from the competition can be the difference between being a flop or being a hit. This is why some online bookies have moved away from traditional offerings and are a bit different.

One such example of this is 888sport. Instead of offering a matched deposit, 888sport appeal to the punter instinct and offer new customers the chance to treble the odds on their first bet.

Other Promotions – What do I Need to Know?

Unlike a matched deposit offer, this offer doesn’t come with a ton of T&C’s but it poses a few more gambling related questions. Such as, do I play it safe or do I go for it? Lose and that’s the welcome bonus gone, win and you’ve turned a 20-1 shot into an amazing 60-1 victory. I’m afraid we can’t help you with that decision, it’s personal preference at the end of the day.

This offer doesn’t allow for stakes bigger than £10 (and the minimum bet is £5) and it’s worth mentioning that the maximum amount you can win is set at £5000. It is also worth mentioning that the difference between the normal odds and the enhanced odds are paid out as free bets rather than cash. But with no wagering requirements, if you are confident in your betting ability then you get to bet another day with 888’s money!

*** Get 888’s incredible free bet promotion ***

Our View: Which One of the Welcome Bonuses is Better for Horseracing?

So with the danger of getting splinters on my backside, I am going to sit on the fence a bit with this one! It really depends on how you intend to bet.

The newbie – If you are new to online betting and want to test the water a bit before you commit then the low obligation, free bet route is probably the best course of action. You get to test drive online gambling but don’t have the commitment of meeting a wagering requirement. Other promotions such as the 888sport one are also good options.

For the more experienced player – If you are planning for the long run then usually the bigger you can make your initial bankroll then the better. This gives you more betting opportunities and the wagering requirement won’t be as much of an issue as it would be for the novice player. Remember to keep an eye on the length of time you have to complete your wagering requirement but many of us would naturally place enough bets to cover this in the timescales.

Major Horse Racing Events to Bet on in 2024

So now you have at least some idea about what bonus deal you wish to take, it’s time to take a look at some of the major horse racing meetings that take place in the UK season. Below is a table of the more famous events that will take place in 2024. Don’t forget though, sports betting sites don’t limit you to UK and Irish racing. You can bet on horseracing in Germany, France, USA, Dubai, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Australia and South Africa to name just a few at the top online betting sites.

Name of Race Days Date* Course
Cheltenham Festival 4 12th – 15th March Cheltenham
Gold Cup Festival 2 12th March – 15nd March Newbury
Grand National 3 11th – 13th April Aintree
Scottish Grand National 2 19st – 20nd April Ayr
Guineas Festival 3 3th May – 5th May Newmarket
Boodles July Festival 3 13th May – 15th July Newmarket
Dante Festival 3 15th May – 17th May York
Lockinge Stake 2 17th May – 18th May Newbury
Temple Stakes Day 1 25th May Haydock Park
Derby Festival 2 31st – 1st June Epsom Downs
Royal Ascot 5 18th June – 22th June Ascot
Northumberland Plate Festival 3 27th June – 29th June Newcastle
Coral Eclipse 2 5th July – 6th July Sandown Park
King George Weekend 2 26th July – 27th July Ascot
Ebor Festival 4 21rd August – 23th August York
Sprint Cup Festival 3 5th September – 7th September Haydock Park
St Ledger Festival 4 12th September – 15th September Donaster
Ayr Gold Cup Festival 3 19st September – 21rd September Ayr
Cambridgeshire Meeting 3 26th September – 28th September Newmarket
Future Champions Day 1 12th October Newmarket
British Champions Day 1 19st October Ascot
Autumn Afternoon Meeting 2 27st October – 28st October Doncaster
Christmas Festival 2 26th December – 27th December Kempton Park
Welsh Grand National 1 27th December Chepstow

* Information taken from the British Horseracing Authority website and dates could be subject to change

Best Betting Promotions for Horse Racing

You might think that once you have exhausted your welcome bonus that the offers stop, but nothing would be further from the truth. Rival companies are competing and the online sports betting sites have to remain competitive to ensure you stay with them, rather than signing up for a different company.

This means the top online betting sites refresh their promotions regularly and for horse racing fans this is great news as the offers will very often match the horse racing calendar. It may be as simple as offering an extra place in the Grand National for each way bets or something more regular such as offering free bets for ITV televised races.

Types of Betting Available

Name of Bet Number of Bets Description
Single 1 The easiest type of bet. 1 selection in 1 race, your horse must win to get a return.
Place 1 For a place bet to be successful, the horse has to finish within a position (usually 2nd – 4th) – not available at all bookmakers.
Each-way 2 This is two bets in one, part of the bet is on a win, the other part of the bet is on the place aspect. The stake is doubled for an each-way bet.
Double 1 A bet on 2 horses, both must win to see a return.
Treble 1 A bet on 3 horses, all must win to see a return.
Accumulator 1 Four or more horses, often referred to as how many selections are made, i.e fourfold, fivefold, sixfold, sevenfold etc.
Trixie 4 Contains 3 doubles and a treble. 2 must be successful to see a return.
Yankee 11 Contains 6 doubles, 4 trebles and a fourfold accumulator. A minimum two selections must be successful to gain a return.
Super Yankee 26 Contains 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 fourfolds and a fivefold accumulator. A minimum two selections must be successful to gain a return.
Patent 7 Contains 3 singles, 3 doubles and a treble. One successful selection will guarantee a return.
Lucky 15* 15 Contains 4 singles, 6 doubles, 4 trebles and a fourfold accumulator. One successful selection will guarantee a return.
Lucky 31* 31 Contains 5 singles, 10 doubles, 10 trebles, 5 fourfolds and a fivefold accumulator. One successful selection will guarantee a return.
Lucky 63* 63 Contains 6 singles, 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 fourfolds, 6 fivefolds and a sixfold accumulator. One successful selection will guarantee a return.
Heinz 57 Contains 15 doubles, 20 trebles, 15 fourfolds, 6 fivefolds and a sixfold accumulator. A minimum two selections must be successful to gain a return.
Super Heinz 120 Contains 21 doubles, 35 trebles, 35 fourfolds, 21 fivefolds, 7 sixfolds and a sevenfold accumulator. A minimum two selections must be successful to gain a return.
Goliath 247 Contains 28 doubles, 56 trebles, 70 fourfolds, 56 fivefolds, 28 sixfolds, 8 sevenfolds and an eightfold accumulator. A minimum of two selections must be successful to gain a return.

* Called lucky as bookmakers often enhance winnings as a bonus

How to Place an Accumulator / Multiple Bets

Placing accumulators could be your pathway to riches, the risk is higher but so are the rewards! There is no greater feeling than having an acca come good. As your winnings go onto the next race, the money you can win on even a moderate fivefold can be very substantial. The great news is that placing an accumulator is just as easy as picking singles.

Multiple bets are a great way of enhancing your chances of winning as they cover a multitude of possibilities and are more forgiving than accumulators. With an accumulator, if one result lets you down then the bet is lost. With a multiple bet, you can have a few bad results and still show a profit.

If we have a closer look at the Heinz bet to demonstrate this. The Heinz bet contains 15 doubles, so if any 2 of your 6 selections come in you are due a return. The Heinz bet also contains 20 trebles, 15 fourfolds, 6 fivefolds and a sixfold. The more winners you have then the higher the return.

Multiple Bets – What do I Need to Know?

Placing multiple bets can really boost your chances of winning but the downside to this is that the bets can become very expensive. The table below shows you the potential costs of some of the most popular bets.

Bet Type Cost of Bet at 1p Cost of Bet at 10p Cost of Bet at 50p
Heinz 57p £5.70 £28.50
Lucky 31 31p £3.10 £15.50
Lucky 63 63p £6.30 £31.50
Super Heinz £1.20 £12 £60
Goliath £2.47 £24.70 £123.50

Finding an online bookmaker that offers minimum bets of a reasonable amount is a must for any cash conscious punter as the costs can soon add up. However, the rewards are great.

Horseracing Betting Online – Payment Options

All the top online betting sites offer a wide range of ways of funding your account and the most popular cards such as Visa and MasterCard are accepted at all of them. A few years ago, the payment methods available were very limited but thankfully this is no longer the case. More and more of us are turning to alternative payment methods such as e-wallets, if you are interested in alternative methods of payment then don’t forget that you can read our great guides on PayPal, paysafecard and Skrill.

Horseracing Betting – Top Tips for Punters

  1. Don’t follow the crowd – On average, the favourite in a race wins in 33% of races (does vary from country to country). You can look at that stat in two ways. 67% of the time a horse with longer odds will win the race, making a slight outsider a great punt for a win or each-way bet. Or you can be selective and bet only when the favourite has history and form.
  2. Don’t be loyal – Like with our bank accounts, many of us find an online betting site that we like and we stick with it. This is fine but you may be missing out on the best betting bonuses, some great welcome deals and/or free bets by not checking out the competition. Just remember to ensure you are able to fulfil the wagering requirements and be wary of the expiry dates of any free bets.
  3. Price check – If you have followed tip 2 and have several online betting site accounts, spend a bit of time seeing which site offers the best odds. It’s quite a time consuming task but occasionally you will see such a variance in the odds offered that you will be surprised at how much you can gain from this. Getting a 25/1 at one site and a 33/1 at another is £800 difference on a £100 bet!
  4. Check promotions regularly – Us horseracing fans are quite lucky in the fact that there are often many promotions available to either boost the odds or reward bets that we probably would have made anyway. During festival events such as the Grand National and Royal Ascot you will find online bookies tripping over themselves to outdo the competition, take advantage of this.
  5. Do your research – There is a reason why when you walk into a traditional bookmaker that you see plenty of people staring intently into the day’s copy of Racing Post. Being a successful bettor on the horses is rarely luck, to get any edge is vital and you should be considering the horse’s past performance, the horse’s trainer, the horse’s bloodline, the fastest the horse has ever run compared to the competition, the track going, the weather report, the condition of the horse on the day and a hundred other variables. Be patient, difficult we know!

Conclusion – Best Betting Bonuses for Horse Racing

Never has there been a better time to go online and bet on horseracing! Competition is fierce which forces the bookies to be innovative and create engaging and value for money promotions. Technology has advanced to such a stage that it is possible to view races on a mobile device in near HD quality and with in-play betting you will never be short of a betting opportunity.

Even in the small hours, you can try virtual horse racing which is surprisingly fun and allows you to place a bet based on gut feelings, rather than form. The purists will love the wealth of statistical data that is available at your fingertips at any of our recommended sites.