Best Horse Racing Betting Sites Ireland 2024 – Free Bets & Bonuses

How We Rank the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites in Ireland

When choosing which betting site to sign up with, it is vital that you do plenty of research to ensure the site is suitable for your individual preferences. There are many factors to consider and these are the features you should consider to help you rank the best horse racing betting sites in Ireland:

Licensing and Security	All legal betting sites must be licensed by a professional authority to ensure every customer’s details are fully secure. the UK Gambling Commission or the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland will protect customer’s funds and ensure fair gaming is adhered to for a standout betting experience.
Welcome Bonus and Horse Racing Promotions	To entice new customers to sign up, the best betting sites will advertise impressive welcome bonuses such as free bets or matched deposits. You will also want to find regular horse racing promotions such as extra places, boosted odds and more to ensure you keep on enjoying the service provided and won’t want to leave.
Extensive Horse Racing Coverage	To offer a standout service, the best betting sites must offer an extensive coverage of all sports including the horse racing. You will want to be able to discover all of the top events as well as a wide selection of the smaller events worldwide to give customers a brilliant range of bets.
Horse Racing Betting Odds	The best betting sites must provide competitive odds to keep customers coming back and not signing up at a different site that has even better odds. For the horse racing, some sites may also offer the regular promotion of ‘best odds guaranteed’ to ensure you always receive the best odds.
Horse Racing Betting Markets	A wide range of betting markets for the horse racing is vital to offer all customers both the classic and more niche markets for various events. These will boost customer’s excitement when betting and offer more unique bets to enhance your experience.
Live Streams and In Play Bets	Many betting sites now offer live streams meaning that bettors are able to watch the action live and never miss a second. You can keep an eye on the horses you’ve placed bets on and it even puts you in a better standing to place live bets as you can see the performance of the horses.
Deposit and Withdrawal Options	You will want to choose a betting site that is known for its fast deposits and withdrawals. The speed of withdrawals will depend on the payment method you use and it is advised to check the speed of your preferred payment option before you commit. Available options include bank transfer, debit cards, PayPal and e-wallets such as Apple and Google Pay.
Mobile App	The most important feature for betting sites these days is the convenience of a mobile app. It must be user friendly and offer HD graphics to provide customers with an accessible betting service anywhere at any time. You can also receive personalised notifications to your phone to keep you updated.
Stats, News and Tips	Some betting sites now offer helpful statistics pages on the horse racing to help you place educated bets based on the recent race results, individual horse performances and more. You can also keep up to date with the latest news conferences and check out the tips to boost your betting play.
Customer Support	It is vital that betting sites offer a standout customer service to ensure customers can receive a quick and efficient solution to any issues you face. This is available via live chat, email, telephone or social media and you should receive friendly and helpful responses to ensure you can get back to your betting ASAP.

Make sure you check out all of these features on the horse racing betting sites in Ireland before you make a decision. Whether you prefer a strong welcome offer, live streams or fast withdrawals, there is certainly a suitable bookmaker for your needs.

The Best Horse Racing Betting Sites for 2024

To help you begin your research to find the best horse racing betting site for you, we have collated the most important information on a few of the top bookmakers currently in Ireland that are known for their professional and exciting service.

BoyleSports

Pros	Cons
Strong welcome offer	Slow customer support
Horse racing promotions
Stats and news sections

BoyleSports is known as the largest independent bookmaker in Ireland because it provides an exceptional betting service for all customers. The blue and white design offers a clear desktop style and you can check out the list of sports and find horse racing right at the top. Once you click on it you are provided with a wide range of options and betting markets for all upcoming races including highlights, race cards, virtuals, specials and antepost. You can click on each race and consider the odds for each horse and also read the latest ‘Racing Post’ to improve your knowledge and place educated bets. The current welcome offer includes €30 free bets when you place a €10 bet and there are many horse racing promotions available including money back if horse 2^nd to favourite, extra places and best odds guaranteed along with acca boosts and insurance. BoyleSports provides live streams of many horse races and you can place live bets to further enhance the excitement. The mobile app is easy to navigate and customers love betting on the go.

Ladbrokes

Pros	Cons
Horse racing promotions	Welcome offer could be better
Range of betting markets
Live streams

Ladbrokes is the oldest bookmaker still around and it effortlessly adapted to the online betting service to provide customers with an organised desktop site and an extensive coverage of all sports. The horse racing section offers a comprehensive selection of all horse races worldwide and you are able to check out the odds available and browse through the betting markets which include winner, forecast, Tricast and an array of specials as well as accumulators to boost your game play. The welcome offer requires you to place a €5 bet to receive €20 in free bets and there is a selection of horse racing promotions which include best odds guaranteed, early cash out, tote guarantee and extra place races. Ladbrokes offers live streams of many of the races and you can build your own race card to boost the excitement. There is also a mobile app that offers an impressive service with personalised notifications to keep you updated.

Bet365

Pros	Cons
Good welcome offer	No acca insurance
Mobile app
Horse racing promotions

Bet6365 is widely known as one of the most popular bookmakers in the world. Customers love the range of sports and betting markets available and you can check out the horse racing section which offers all upcoming races, offers, antepost and news. The available betting markets include winner, to place, each way, trifecta and accumulators. On bet365 you can find incredible horse racing promotions which include best odds guaranteed, each way extra, bet boosts and my horses which allows you to favourite certain horses and receive updates on their performances and results. The current welcome offer requires customers to place a €10 bet to receive €30 in free bets which is ideal for horse racing. The mobile app offers a standout personalised service and you can watch live streams of all the horse races to ensure you can always keep an eye on your bets and even place in play bets too.

Unibet

Pros	Cons
Live streams	Unusual welcome offer
Horse racing welcome offer
Mobile app

Unibet has gained popularity over recent years due to the brilliant mobile app that offers customers a convenient and accessible way to bet on the go. The homepage provides a wide range of sports and you can click on horse racing to check out the selection of upcoming races along with the betting odds and the betting markets which include winner, each way, forecast and Tricast. There is a tips section which will help you to place educated bets and live streams available for each race. Unibet also offers the best odds guaranteed to ensure customers receive the best deals. The Unibet welcome offer requests that you place a minimum €10 bet and you will receive money back as a bonus up to €40 if your first bet loses. There is also a unique horse racing welcome offer in which customers can receive 2 x €10 free bets when you stake €20 on a horse race. There are also bet builders and daily bet boosts that customers can enjoy.

Features to Look For in a Horse Racing Bookmaker

When searching for the best betting site for you, it is ideal to look out for a range of features to boost your betting experience. These include:

• Live streams

The most popular feature for horse racing is the live streams which allow customers to watch every race and place educated live bets based on the day’s performances of the horses. You can check out the weather conditions and the race track to help you decide which bet to place.

• Horse racing promotions

Regular horse racing promotions are essential to keep customers interested and coming back for more all the time. The popular promotions can include best odds guaranteed and extra places to give you a bigger incentive to place bets with a higher potential to be successful.

• Extra places

Extra places are a hugely popular feature for many bookmakers as they may offer extra places for certain races to offer you a bigger chance of winning. For example if a race has 10+ horses running, the bookmaker may offer 4 or 5 places to provide you with a better chance.

• Horse racing tips and news

The best betting sites will highlight their expert horse racing tips prior to each race based on the recent results and performances to help you place an informed bet. Bookmakers will also offer the latest news and conferences to ensure you always have the most information available before you place a bet.

• Money back offers

A few bookmakers will offer money back offers instead of the more traditional price and bet boosts to give customers the chance to earn back some funds if your bets go wrong. The bookmaker will provide specific conditions which you have to meet such as if your horse comes second or falls and you will receive a percentage of your money back.

• Responsible gambling

Responsible gambling tools are essential for bookmakers to help protect customers when the fun feeling disappears and you feel like you can’t stop. The tools include time outs, self exclusion and betting limits to help you have control over your betting habits and spending.

Horse Racing Betting Markets

Horse racing is a very popular sport to bet on and so it needs to have a strong selection of betting markets to enhance customers’ game play. Here are the betting markets you can find online:

• Winner

A straightforward bet, you simply have to choose a horse who you think will win the whole race. You should check out the stats on the favourites and their recent performances to help you correctly choose the winning horse.

• Each Way

This is a slightly safer bet as it effectively provides you with two options. Half of your bet is placed on the horse to win and the other half is placed on the horse to come second or third. This gives customers a little leeway and still pays out if your horse doesn’t win but comes very close to.

• To Place

For each race, bookmakers will announce how many places are available depending on the number of horses in the race. For example, prior to a race, a betting site may state that there are 4 places available and if your horse comes in the top 4 you will win the bet. This also gives you more leeway and a risky option is to choose a horse with higher odds and hope it places.

• Forecast

A riskier bet, the forecast requires you to not only choose the two horses that will come first and second but you will need to correctly put them in the right order. This is quite a difficult option but it offers higher odds and so is worth the risk if you are confident with your horse knowledge.

• Tricast

Even riskier than a forecast, the Tricast requires you to correctly place the horses in first, second and third order. Again, this will offer even better odds but it is incredibly difficult to get right unless you know your stuff.

• Specials

Unique bets known as specials are also available on many betting sites to further enhance the thrill of betting. These may include the winner’s nationality or top jockey and trainer and offer niche markets that don’t necessarily affect the outcome of the race.

Horse Racing Betting Offers

Horse racing betting offers are regularly advertised on bookmakers to encourage customers to join and keep placing bets over time. These offers include:

Best Odds Guaranteed	Many betting sites offer the best odds guaranteed to entice customers to keep placing bets knowing they are receiving the best possible odds for each horse racing bet. This may be advertised for only select races so keep an eye out on the ‘BOG’ symbol.
Non Runner No Bet	A popular offer for bettors, the non runner no bet protects your stake if you place a bet on a horse that doesn’t end up running whether due to injury or another issue. This isn’t available for antepost bets as that is part of the risk you take when betting so far in advance.
Betting Without the Favourite	This has become a hugely popular bet offer for customers as you are able to choose a horse to bet on other than the favourite and if the horse comes first or second, your bet will win. This offers higher odds and is slightly more unusual compared to the traditional bets and offers.
Antepost	A risky bet to place, antepost offers customers the option to place a bet on the winning horse weeks in advance. This is not covered by insurance and there are many factors that can affect the horse in the run up to the race including injuries or weather conditions which can affect your bet.
VIP Programme	Many betting sites now offer an exclusive VIP programme to encourage customers to become regulars and receive various rewards for levelling up such as prizes, cash, free bets and many more bonuses to enhance your betting experience and make sure you keep coming back.

Strategies for Betting on Horse Racing

Horse racing is popular for betting but it is important that you have good strategies to help you place educated bets in hopes of being successful.

• Research

It is essential that you do plenty of research on the horses running, their recent places and performances to ensure you choose the most logical horse based on its form. Compare the horses, trainers and if it has raced on this track before to gain as much information as possible.

• Check the weather

The weather conditions can affect the racecourse and how the horses perform. It is a good idea to research which horses perform the best under certain weathers such as rain, wind or sun and keep an eye on the forecast to ensure you choose the best horse for the day.

• Research expert opinion

There are many expert sites and papers that offer horse racing tips and it is wise to listen to what the experts have to say. Betting sites also offer a tips page and these will provide you with valuable insights prior to the races.

• Determine a budget

It is important that you choose a budget to ensure you manage your spending and don’t go over. Do not chase any losses and place your bets wisely by making the most of the horse racing offers to extend your funds.

• Choose the right betting market

There are various betting markets available and it is ideal that you choose the right one for your skill and knowledge level. You may feel confident and want to try the riskier forecast or create an accumulator or you can play it safe with a winner bet or each way.

FAQs on Horse Racing Betting Sites

Is horse racing betting legal?

Yes, all betting sites must be licensed and regulated by a gambling authority to ensure customer’s details and funds are secure.

What is the best horse racing bookmaker?

There is no right answer here. There are many top sites which offer exceptional features such as live streams, promotions and betting markets and the right one for you may not be suitable for others.

What are the top Irish horse racing events?

The best Irish horse racing events include the Irish Derby, Galway Races and Punchestown Festival.