The Best Betting Sites April 2025
Here’s our curated list of the best betting sites, based on UK Bookmaker Awards data and insights from industry experts. To start, check out our table of UK betting sites, and be sure to scroll down for detailed rankings and reviews of the top 12 options.
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The Best Betting Sites UK
We will detail the best horse racing bookmakers, including betting sites which require promo codes to claim their sign-up offers: Betfair, Paddy Power, William Hill and bet365 and what makes them shine above others.
The best UK betting sites
1. bet365 - updated offer to 'Bet 10 Get 30'
The world’s leading bookmaker, bet365, is the best operator for competitive odds and boasts a strong welcome offer, presenting a 300% bonus. It is a firm favourite with horse racing fans and you won't find many racegoers who don't have a bet365 account.
- Competitive early prices.
- Its extra places and ITV races price promise are among its most popular existing customer offers.
- A high-value new customer offer, presenting a 300% bonus.
- Known for holding its prices for longer than other bookmakers.
- Simple-to-use mobile app, even for the horse racing rookie.
- Live streaming option so you can watch every race on the go.
UK Bookmaker Awards Rankings
| Welcome bonus | 1st |
| Horse Racing Odds | 1st |
| Betting Experience | 1st |
| Market Selection | 3rd |
| Banking | 8th |
| Customer Service | 17th |
| Overall | 1st |
2. BoyleSports
BoyleSports Welcome Offer
One of Ireland's best horse racing bookmakers, offering an excellent welcome offer to UK customers and plenty of specials during major festivals, it's easy to see why it is one of the favoured horse racing bookies with our audience.
- Customer service is excellent and ranked number 3 at the Uk Bookmaker Awards
- Strength of its odds ranked at number 9 within the top ten
- Live streaming option - watch racing anywhere.
- Brilliant sign up offers for new customers.
- An array of special offers during big festivals, including Cheltenham, Royal Ascot and the Grand National.
- Non-runner no bet on all 28 races at the Cheltenham Festival 2025.
UK Bookmaker Awards Rankings
| Welcome bonus | 19th |
| Horse Racing Odds | 9th |
| Betting Experience | 13th |
| Market Selection | 14th |
| Banking | 10th |
| Customer Service | 3rd |
| Existing Customer Offers | 16th |
| Overall | 5th |
3. Betfair
The world's number one online betting exchange and among the top online bookmakers in horse racing, offering something a little different for Irish customers and a host of additional benefits to those who do sign up.
- Back or lay (bet against) a horse.
- Betting experience and banking options ranked within the top 10 at the UK Bookmaker Awards.
- Great ante-post odds for those who enjoy backing horses at early prices.
- A high-value sign-up offer with a 500% bonus.
- Excellent offers for existing customers.
UK Bookmaker Awards Rankings
| Welcome bonus | 14th |
| Horse Racing Odds | 10th |
| Betting Experience | 5th |
| Market Selection | 13th |
| Banking | 6th |
| Customer Service | 16th |
| Overall | 8th |
4. talkSPORT BET
talkSPORT BET is a relatively new UK bookmaker but it has already made a signifcant markt on the industry. talkSPORT BET is owned by the BV Group so has the same design and odds the BetVictor site.
However, it ranks above BetVictor as it is more engaging thanks to its colour scheme and exsitng customer offers like the innovative 'lucky dip' market.
- Engaging colour scheme.
- Competitive new customer offer.
- 'Lucky dip' markets
5. Paddy Power
One of the best horse racing bookmakers, Paddy Power is well known for its tongue-in-cheek humour and entertaining content. Bettors can be certain their money is secure and enjoy a wealth of betting offers, price boosts and money-back specials on racing's big days.
- Excellent welcome bonus - 600%
- Competitive odds all year round
- Non runner no-bet options and money-back specials are plentiful.
- Price boosts are synonymous with Paddy Power and are mostly available during big racing festivals, most notably Cheltenham.
- Non-runner no bet on all 28 races at the Cheltenham Festival 2025.
UK Bookmaker Awards Rankings
| Welcome bonus | 17th |
| Horse Racing Odds | 11th |
| Betting Experience | 11th |
| Market Selection | 20th |
| Banking | 17th |
| Customer Service | 14th |
| Overall | 21st |
6. William Hill
One of the oldest bookmakers around, William Hill is a leading bookmaker which shines a spotlight on horse racing. There are lots of added bonuses for existing customers when you sign up with William Hill and is therefore considered one of the best horse racing betting sites.
- Great odds, specials and insights into racing.
- Huge market selection ranking number two at the Bookmaker Awards.
- Overall betting experience ranked in the top ten at the Awards.
- William Hill radio is an added bonus. Listen to the channel at home or out and about so you don’t have to miss any of the day’s racing.
- Excellent welcome offer - one of the most claimed on our site.
UK Bookmaker Awards Rankings
| Welcome bonus | 9th |
| Horse Racing Odds | 7th |
| Betting Experience | 4th |
| Market Selection | 2nd |
| Banking | 18th |
| Customer Service | 19th |
| Overall | 5th |
7. Coral
Fancy owning a share in a racehorse? That's just one of the many benefits of joining Coral, one of the best horse racing betting sites and a bookmaker known for it's excellent welcome offer and customer experience.
- Terrific sign up offers
- Existing customer offers are strong for horse racing bettors.
- Banking options ranked at number two at the Bookmaker Awards.
- Great value ante-post, early-prices and each-way value
- A members' club with plenty of added bonuses.
UK Bookmaker Awards Rankings
| Welcome bonus | 5th |
| Horse Racing Odds | 8th |
| Betting Experience | 8th |
| Market Selection | 17th |
| Banking | 2nd |
| Customer Service | 13th |
| Existing Customer Offers | 4th |
| Overall | 4th |
8. BetVictor
A great value offer for new customers, Betvictor remains to this day, one of the best betting sites for horse racing and those who love the sport. The UK offer is particularly strong and you get the additional pleasure of enjoying free casino offerings.
- A strong focus on horse racing and offers competitive odds.
- Terrific existing customer offers including the BetVictor loyalty club.
- Customer service is excellent.
UK Bookmaker Awards Rankings
| Welcome bonus | 11th |
| Horse Racing Odds | 14th |
| Betting Experience | 13th |
| Market Selection | 13th |
| Banking | 11th |
| Customer Service | 7th |
| Existing Customer Offers | 4th |
| Overall | 20th |
9. Betfred
If you haven't already signed up with Betfred and claimed its excellent sign up offer, then you are missing out. Betfred is a historic and long-lived horse betting site which offers great value offer for new and existing customers. Betfred is one of our favoured horse race betting sites.
- Ranked number one for existing customer offers at the UK Bookmaker Awards.
- One of the best welcome offers for value.
- A very intuitive mobile app.
- Excellent customer support service.
UK Bookmaker Awards Rankings
| Existing Customer Offers | 1st |
| Customer Service | 8th |
| Banking | 9th |
| Welcome Bonus | 13th |
| Horse Racing Odds | 13th |
| Betting Experience | 14th |
| Market Selection | 22nd |
| Overall | 20th |
10. Betway
Betway is one of the most popular betting sites with horse racing bettors and there is good reason for it. The site is easy to use and there is a strong focus on horse racing.
- An excellent welcome offer for new customers.
- Access to racing ambassadors including ex-jockey Katie Walsh.
- Live streaming so you can watch horse racing on the go.
UK Bookmaker Awards Rankings
| Welcome bonus | 10th |
| Horse Racing Odds | 12th |
| Betting Experience | 5th |
| Market Selection | 5th |
| Banking | 22nd |
| Customer Service | 21st |
| Existing Customer Offers | 3rd |
| Overall | 11th |
Where to spend your free bets today
Once you have signed up to a betting site and claimed your free bets, you can then enjoy spending the bonuses.
Racing experts produce a 'nap of the day' following extensive form study to serve up their most confident selection of the day. This is a great place to start.
Today's Nap
Fairyhouse 6.10 Shuttle Diplomacy
Shuttle Diplomacy won two bumpers last term including a Limerick Listed race in impressive fashion and ran a cracker on his belated seasonal debut at the Cheltenham Festival. The Tom Cooper-trained gelding had Sortudo four lengths behind when finishing third to Bambino Fever and could progress further with that run under his belt. Kovanis was bought for 330,000 pounds after easily winning a point-to-point last autumn and justified favouritism in a bumper at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting, while course winner I’ll Sort That handled testing conditions well when following up at Naas last time.
Where to spend you free bets this week
Saturday’s ITV action features a compelling mix of ultra-competitive spring jumping from Haydock, alongside a high class flat card from Musselburgh (where the emphasis will very much be on speed at one of the sharpest tracks in the country). Our expert tipster Steven Harris has a tip for each of the seven races.
1.50 Musselburgh 1m handicap, CASTLE STUART 4/1 (VALUE ANGLE)
Karl Burke has a record number of horses in the yard as the turf season gets into full swing, and his unexposed handicapper looks on an attractive mark ahead of this seasonal reappearance under Sam James. Good ground at this speed track should suit ideally, and the yard have hit form with a vengeance after seven winners in the last fortnight.
2.05 Haydock 2m handicap hurdle, OSLO 14/1
Fergal O’Brien’s handicapper is well treated on the pick of his placed efforts in the last year, and a strong pace in this competitive field should set things up ideally for a late charge under Jonathan Burke. He comes here tuned up
by a couple of spins on the all-weather, and these decent ground conditions would be his optimum.
2.25 Musselburgh 7f handicap, WALEEFY 3/1 (NAP)
William Haggas has a terrific strike rate on his rare ventures up to Scotland, and his progressive handicapper seems sure to be primed to make a winning reappearance under Jim Crowley. The yard enjoyed a profitable week at Newmarket, and this handicap mark of 88 looks exploitable with improvement in the tank after just six career starts.
2.40 Haydock 3m handicap hurdle, BOLD RECRUIT 12/1
Billy Aprahamian has enjoyed a fruitful winter with his relatively small team, and his consistent stayer seems sure to give his running again with conditions to suit. The booking of Kevin Brogan down to his absolute minimum weight increases confidence, and he will be looking to pounce late up the long Haydock straight.
3.00 Musselburgh 5f handicap, JM JUNGLE 9/1
John and Sean Quinn are an extremely shrewd team in the north particularly when the cash is down, and their useful sprinter is likely to be tuned up for his seasonal reappearance under the excellent Jason Hart. He has won 4 from 30 on the turf in a long career in valuable sprint handicaps, and this fastest of five furlong tracks should suit him if seeing daylight late.
3.15 Haydock 2m4f veterans handicap chase, THE FLIER BEGLEY 12/1
This smooth travelling veteran is more consistent than many of these old characters, and the presence of a few confirmed frontrunners should mean things are set up nicely up for 3lb claimer Jack Hogan to swoop after the last.
3.35 Musselburgh 1m6f handicap, AIMERIC 10/1
Karl Burke has his team in blistering form in recent weeks, and his stayer is expected to outclass some northern rivals with ground conditions expected to suit. He has to give weight away all round to some younger rivals for this valuable prize, but is a confirmed stayer and Clifford Lee seems sure to be positive to put his proven stamina to good use.
What are the UK bookmaker awards?
The UK Bookmaker Awards are held annually by Better Collective and take into account a wide range of factors, including detailed data sets and user reviews. This ensures we provide an accurate assessment of each betting site rather than taking the opinion of a single reviewer.
The bookmakers are ranked in a number of categories including:
- Horse racing markets
- Best odds
- Market selection
- Customer service
- Banking
- Betting experience
- Welcome bonus
- Existing customer offers
- Football markets
The betting sites are ranked out of 23 for each category listed above, allowing you to assess each operator for the categories most important to you.
This gives an exceptional overall review of an operator and takes into account the factors most important to horse racing punters.
How is the extensive data collected?
At irishracing.com, between us we have over fifty years of experience within the horse racing and betting industry. This deep knowledge of our subject means we can apply our expertise to finding the best betting sites.
Furthermore we identify the top operators based on data findings incuding:
- Twelve months of data collection which draws on 4 million data points
- Live testing regularly with updates released at the beginning of the year
- Horse racing markets are regularly assessed throughout the year, including ante-post, pre-race, in-play and the number of markets on offer
- The generosity of the markets on offer from each operator
- The number of sports markets on offer to bettors with an interest in betting on a wide range of sports
You will also find the best betting offers and free bets which present excellent value for UK customers.
Take a look at our new betting sites for smaller bookmakers.
Take notice of the following factors when signing up to betting sites
Choosing a betting site in the UK depends a lot on personal preference and it is worth considering which operator is best suited for you. It is worth keeping the following in mind:
- Which horse racing betting site offers the highest-value welcome offer?
- Are the existing customer offers decent once you have signed up?
- Check if the horse racing betting site offers live streaming.
- Look for betting sites that offer best odds guaranteed on horse racing to ensure you get the best odds on your selections.
- Make sure the betting site is registered to operate within the UK and Ireland. Horse racing betting sites must comply with strict rules to meet licensing criteria, ensuring they are well-run and your money is safe.
- Check the operator is dedicated to responsible gambling.
The best betting sites by category
The UK Bookmaker Awards are a good pointer to which bookmakers provide the best offers, odds, payment methods and existing customer offers. Inform your decision and take a look at which bookies came out on top.
Welcome Offers
Almost all online bookmakers offer incentives to new players. New customer offers vary between horse racing betting sites and different events such as Cheltenham and Royal Ascot. when new customer offers are well worth taking advantage of.
Some major horse betting sites turn off their welcome offers for the Aintree Grand National when people will open new accounts without an incentive to bet again.
Standard welcome offers provide new customers with free bets based on their first deposit or first bet, but they always come with extensive terms and conditions.
| bet365 | 1st |
| Sky Bet | 2nd |
| Unibet | 3rd |
| William Hill | 4th |
| Betway | 5th |
| Betfair | 6th |
| Ladbrokes | 7th |
| Coral | 8th |
| 888 | 9th |
| Sporting Bet | 10th |
| Paddy Power | 11th |
Horse Racing Odds
Betting sites offer different odds on horses, but bet365 is known for having excellent odds. To get the best odds available, it's recommended to have multiple betting accounts though so you can compare and find the best price.
No single betting site consistently offers the best odds on individual horses or races.
| bet365 | 1st |
| Ladbrokes | 2nd |
| 888 | 3rd |
| Unibet | 4th |
| Sky Bet | 5th |
| 32red | 6th |
| William Hill | 7th |
| Coral | 8th |
| BoyleSports | 9th |
| Betfair | 10th |
| Paddy Power | 11th |
Betting Experience
Betting experience is a key consideration when choosing a betting site. Ease of use, mobile app and live streaming were all taken into account when scoring betting sites.
| bet365 | 1st |
| Sky Bet | 2nd |
| Unibet | 3rd |
| William Hill | 4th |
| Betway | 5th |
| Betfair | 6th |
| Ladbrokes | 7th |
| Coral | 8th |
| 888 | 9th |
| Sportingbet | 10th |
| Paddy Power | 11th |
Banking
It is important to consider first of all which payment methods you are comfortable using and then you can decide which operator meets your needs. The number of payment methods as well as deposit and withdrawal times are analysed in this category.
| Sportingbet | 1st |
| Coral | 2nd |
| Ladbrokes | 3rd |
| Unibet | 4th |
| LiveScore Bet | 5th |
| Betfair | 6th |
| Sky Bet | 7th |
| bet365 | 8th |
| Betfred | 9th |
| BoyleSports | 10th |
| BetVictor | 11th |
Market Selection
Most UK and Irish horse racing betting sites cover most UK and Irish events such as Cheltenham, Punchestown or Grand National.
International events such as the Breeders’ Cup in America and the Melbourne Cup in Australia are also covered but if you have an interest in horse racing from other countries make sure to check if your betting site covers those races.
| Zetbet | 1st |
| William Hill | 2nd |
| bet365 | 3rd |
| LiveScore Bet | 4th |
| Virgin Bet | 5th |
| Sportingbet | 6th |
| Sky Bet | 7th |
| Betway | 8th |
| 32Red | 9th |
| Unibet | 10th |
Overall best bookmaker
Having taken all of the above categories and results into account, the best overall bookmaker has been determined and it is no surprise to see bet365 take the top spot. In second is Sky Bet followed by Unibet who rated particularly well for existing customer offers.
William Hill and Betway made it into the top five through range of markets, betting experience and welcome offers.
| bet365 | 1st |
| Sky Bet | 2nd |
| Unibet | 3rd |
| William Hill | 4th |
| Betway | 5th |
| Betfair | 6th |
| Ladbrokes | 7th |
| Coral | 8th |
| 888 | 9th |
| Sporting Bet | 10th |
| Paddy Power | 11th |
The Best New Betting Sites UK
If you have an extensive list of betting sites to your name, you can also consider these lesser-known bookmakers who offer competitive welcome offers and an excellent customer experience once you are signed up.
BzeeBet
We recently welcomed Bzeebet to irishracing.com and we are delighted to present their offer of Bet £10 and Get £10. If you have not already signed up, then this is one of the new betting sites in the UK which is definitely worth a try. Get your free bet to spend on this jump season's wealth of action.
Bzeebet pros:
- Wide range of sports specials and promotions.
- Customer service is excellent and easy to contact.
- A secure, well-regulated bookmaker.
Bzeebet cons:
- Odds not as competitive as rival bookmakers.
- New customer offer could be higher value.
Matchbook
Matchbook is fast becoming one of the most popular exchanges and is well known for its sporting offers as well as its new betting promotion for horse racing, which is well worth a second look. The welcome offer presents you with the opportunity to get £30 in free bets.
Matchbook pros:
- Back or lay your selections.
- 'Matchbook Zero' - 0% commission on horse racing
- Competitive odds.
- Horse racing content, including tipping content, is plentiful.
- Excellent mobile app.
Matchbook cons:
- Not a huge variety of markets for the more seasoned horse racing bettor.
- No best odds guaranteed.
Mr Play
You can find the horse racing section with ease at Mr Play, it is simple to navigate and offers an intuitive experience. The welcome offer of ‘Bet 10 Get 15’ may not be as competitive as other new betting sites but who wants to turn down a £15 when horse racing offers up competitive action most days of the week. Get yours below:
Mr Play pros:
- Live chat offering for customer support - open 16 hours per day
- Excellent range of sports, including horse racing.
- Big emphasis on responsible gambling.
Mr Play cons:
- No live streaming.
- Needs more special offers for horse racing.
- No app for iOS.
Netbet
Netbet is one of the most secure new betting sites for horse racing punters which has an extensive array of markets with over 40 to choose from. Horse racing is one of its main focuses and odds are competitive.
Netbet pros:
- Excellent existing customer offers.
- Offers a huge variety of sports to bet on.
- Wide range of payment methods.
Netbet cons:
- No live streaming.
- No 24-hour customer service.
10bet
Expand your betting portfolio with this new customer offer courtesy of 10bet. Deposit £15+ when you create your account and you will receive a 50% bonus up to £50. This means if you deposit £50 you will get a £25 free bet.
10bet serves up a fantastic horse racing experience with competitive odds, multiple markets, existing customer specials which include enhanced odds, fast withdrawal times and a shiny new app.
10bet pros:
- Competitive horse racing odds.
- Excellent offering of specials.
- App is easy to navigate.
10bet cons:
- No live streaming
AK Bets
Place your first bet with AK Bets as a Lucky 15 (with 4 selections) and win a free bet worth up to 25% of your winnings, up to £100. See their terms and conditions for details.
Want more information on a Lucky 15 and how it works? Watch our explainer video below.
AK Bets pros:
- Strong emphasis on horse racing covering global race meetings.
- 24/7 customer service - if you are betting on international meetings you can reach the team at any time.
- Live streaming so you can watch horse racing wherever you are with no latency issues.
AK Bets cons:
- The welcome offer could be more intuitive and there are only four payment methods.
BetMGM
BetMGM is one of the latest operators to join our ranks and you can find its horse racing welcome offer below of 'Bet 10 Get 40' which represents an impressive 400% bonus.
Once you are a member you can take advantage of BetMGM's weekly profit boosts on horse racing.
BetMGM pros:
- A competitive welcome offer presenting a 400% bonus.
- Instant withdrawals.
- Secure and trusted platform - part of the world renowned MGM brand.
- Comprehensive and easy-to-use website.
BetMGM cons:
- Limited payment methods.
- Horse racing offering could be more varied.
- Customer service can be difficult to reach.
PariMatch
A new betting site to join us recently is PariMatch and its welcome offer allows you to bet just £10 to get a £5 free bets for seven days
PariMatch pros:
- Daily racing specials once you sign up, including daily bet boosts.
- Tipping content for keen racing punters.
- Live streaming so you can watch racing on the go.
PariMatch cons:
- Promotions are limited.
- Removed best odds guaranteed.
- No mobile app.
- No best odds guaranteed for horse racing.
Watch racing on the go - how to live stream horse racing
The majority of horse racing bookmakers will offer live streaming of the races. Some horse racing betting sites require that you have placed a bet on the race before you can watch it while with others you just need a funded account or to login to your account. Have a look which operators offer horse racing live streaming.
The irishracing.com team comprises a number of individuals with many years of experience in the horse racing and betting industry, including editor Vincent Finegan and racing pundit Emma Nagle. The annual Bookmaker Awards results are used to highlight the best offers on the market. You can bet in the knowledge that the recommended sites are secure and trustworthy.
Further Reading
FAQs About Horse Racing UK Betting Sites
What are the best betting sites?
Every betting site is different and suit some people more than others, hopefully this guide will help you to choose. A good place to start is with the major bookmakers. bet365 offers fantastic odds, Paddy Power is known for money-back specials, Betfair is the world's most famous online exchange, while the Tote offers something different with its pool betting and its iconic placepot.
Are horse racing betting sites trustworthy?
Generally horse racing betting sites are trustworthy but like any industry there are black market operators. There are some simple steps you can take to ensure that you can trust a betting site. Check if the betting site is promoted on irishracing.com as we only promote licensed companies. You can also check betting forums to see what other keen bettors have been saying about the betting site.
Which horse racing betting sites are the most trusted in the UK?
All licensed bookmakers are regulated so we can recommend any of the bookmakers registered on irishracing.com.
How do I choose a horse racing betting site?
When choosing a betting site, consider factors such as the best:
- welcome offers
- existing customer offers
- most competitive odds, user experience
- live streaming
For detailed insights on leading betting sites see above.
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