Best Racing Bookmakers for 2024:
Our pick of the best horse racing betting sites in Ireland, these bookmakers offer great coverage of the various events throughout the year and very competitive odds:
#1 | QuinnBet | 5/5 | €50 Free Bet | SEE OFFER > | |
Bet €10 on any sport of your choice at min odds evens (2.00) or greater and get €50 in Free Bets (to use on any Sports of your choice), plus €20 QuinnCasino bonus, plus 10 Free online casino spins. The €50 Free Bets, €20 Casino Bonus and 10 Free Spins will be credited the day after your qualifying bet settles. T&Cs apply | 18+ New IRE Customers Only | GamblingCare.ie | Gamble Responsibly | |||||
#2 | BoyleSports | 4.9/5 | €50 in Free Bets | SEE OFFER > | |
IRE/NI new customers only. €/£40 in FREE Bets (FB) as €/£30 in sports bets & a €/£10 casino bonus (CB). Min Deposit €/£10. Min stake €/£10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7-day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept €/£10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable €/£100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+. T&Cs apply. T&Cs apply | |||||
#3 | Kwiff | 4.8/5 | €30 Free Bet | SEE OFFER > | |
New customers & 18+ 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 | |||||
#4 | Ladbrokes | 4.7/5 | €20 Free Bet | SEE OFFER > | |
Significant terms: 18+. UK+IRE customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excluded. Min £/€5 first bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4 x £/€5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days on sports, stakes not returned, restrictions apply. T&Cs apply. | |||||
#5 | bet365 | 4.6/5 | €30 in Free Bets | SEE OFFER > | |
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. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply. Registration Required. | |||||
#6 | Coral | 4.4/5 | €20 Free Bet | SEE OFFER > | |
18+, IRE & UK only, Inital €5 Free Bet must be placed within 14 days of account opening to get 4x €5 free bets, available for selected markets only, see their website for full T&Cs. | |||||
#7 | BetVictor | 4.3/5 | 100% upto €60 Bonus | SEE OFFER > | |
18+ New customers only. Opt in, place your first bet of €10 or more on any sports market. Get up to a €60 match in Free Bets. Offer available until 23:59 IST on 31.12.2024. Free bets expire after 7 days. Debit Card/Apple Pay payments only. T&Cs apply, see below. gamblingcare.ie | Please gamble responsibly | |||||
#8 | Mr play | 4.2/5 | €15 Free Bet | SEE OFFER > | |
New Customers only. Deposit and bet on any sportsbook Markets with min odds of 2.0. Get 50% Back of your first days' losses as a Free bet up to €50+€20 Casino Bonus. | |||||
#9 | Unibet | 4.1/5 | Bet €10 Get €40 + €10 | SEE OFFER > | |
18+. T&C Apply |
Horse racing is a highly popular sport that thousands of fans love to place bets on throughout the year. There are plenty of opportunities to place bets with a calendar full of prestigious and famous horse racing events including the Grand National, Cheltenham Festival, Epsom Derby and many more internationally each with a selection of races available for bettors to test their knowledge and skill.
The best horse racing betting sites in Ireland will provide customers with a standout service that includes an array of features such as in play bets, extensive event coverage, a mobile app and a wide range of betting markets to ensure there is certainly something for everyone. Here is an important guide on how to find the best horse racing betting sites in Ireland tailored to your individual preferences for an impressive service.
How We Rank the Best Horse Racing Betting Sites
With so many betting sites in Ireland now available, it can be overwhelming when trying to decide which one is the most suitable for you. There are lots of different features on offer, special promotions and more that are designed to ensure you receive an incredible betting experience. Here is how we rank the best horse racing betting sites:
Licensing and Security | All betting sites must be fully licensed and regulated by a professional body such as the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland or the UK Gambling Commission. This ensures that all customers’ personal details and funds are safe and secure and that the betting sites adhere to the fair gaming rules to ensure everyone enjoys their betting experience. |
Welcome Offers and Horse Racing Promotions | The best betting sites in Ireland will provide new customers with enticing welcome offers to encourage you to sign up. These offers most commonly include free bets, matched deposits and various bonuses. Betting sites should also offer regular horse racing promotions such as best odds guaranteed, bet boosts and extra each way places to keep you coming back over time. |
Horse Racing Event Coverage | There are lots of horse racing events throughout the calendar year and the best Irish betting sites will advertise coverage of not only the most popular events but the smaller international races too. This keeps customers interested with an array of exciting races available that boost your excitement and gives you lots of options. |
Horse Racing Betting Markets | The horse races may be fast but there is no shortage of betting markets on offer on the best betting sites in Ireland to ensure there is something for everyone. From the classic outright winner, forecast and Tricast bets to the unique head to head, specials and accumulators, horse racing is never boring when you place bets that suit your budget and skill! |
Horse Racing Betting Odds | The best Irish betting sites will provide competitive odds to keep you interested in their site. Many bookmakers will advertise the ‘best odds guaranteed’ for horse racing along with bet boosts to improve your odds on a selection of bets for bigger rewards. |
Mobile App | A mobile app is a vital part of the betting experience and you can discover that many betting sites now offer a mobile app to improve accessibility and allow people to place bets anywhere at any time. You will also be able to customise your homepage and receive personalised notifications to keep you updated on your favourite horses and events. |
Special Features | An array of special features should also be available to boost your betting experience. This will include live bets to enhance excitement, live streams to watch all of the action, stats pages to increase your knowledge and bet builders for a standout experience that keeps you coming back for more. |
User Experience | The best betting sites in Ireland will be easy to navigate and provide HD graphics to ensure customers enjoy the experience. The homepage must be organised with clear signposts for categories and promotions with a user friendly interface that isn’t too complicated. |
Payment Methods | A wide selection of payment methods should be available to give customers the choice to use their preferred option. This makes customers feel more secure in depositing and withdrawing money using their favourite payment method. These will include bank transfer, debit cards, PayPal, Google and Apple Pay and e-wallets such as Neteller and Skrill. |
Customer Support | It is essential that betting sites have an efficient customer support to help customers with any issues they may face. The support is often available via live chat, email or telephone and customers should receive a quick yet effective result that allows them to get back to betting without too much disruption. |
These are the best features on betting sites in Ireland that you should consider before you commit to one. Whether you love a strong welcome offer or need regular horse racing promotions, there is surely the perfect bookmaker for your individual needs.
The Best Horse Racing Betting Sites for 2024
There are now so many betting sites available, it can be difficult to choose the right one. Here we have collected the most important information on a few of the best horse racing betting sites to help you begin your research to find the right one for you.
Quinnbet
Pros | Cons |
Impressive welcome offer | No acca insurance |
Selection of horse racing promotions | |
Liver streams and in play bets |
Quinnbet is one of the best online casino and sports book that is based in Ireland. It offers a wide selection of sports including horse racing with both national and international events to ensure all customers enjoy the service. You can find an array of horse racing betting markets including outright winner, forecast and Tricast as well as special bets including head to head, best trainer and lots more. There are live streams available along with in play bets to enhance your excitement and you can also find a selection of horse racing promotions including money back as a free bet if your horse finishes 2nd to favourite, extra place races, best odds guaranteed and bonuses on forecasts, Tricasts and accumulators. The outstanding welcome offer includes €50 in free bets when you place a €10 bet and you will also receive a daily free bet and boosts. There is a user friendly mobile app and customers are impressed with the service provided.
BoyleSports
Pros | Cons |
Good welcome offer | Customer support is slow |
Horse racing promotions | |
Mobile app |
The largest independent bookmaker in Ireland, BoyleSports is hugely popular due to its fantastic customer service and wide selection of sports, competitive odds and betting markets. The horse racing section is their most popular and you are able to find every upcoming horse racing event and check out the various betting markets on offer including winner, each way, winning distance and Tricast along with accas, specials and antepost. Horse racing promotions include best odds guaranteed, money back if horse 2nd to favourite, extra places and acca insurance and the welcome offer provides customers with €30 free bets when you place a €10 bet. There are lots of live streams options available which compliment the live bets section as well as the Racing Post which highlights the stats and provides expert opinions on the horses. The mobile app is also user friendly that can be used on the go.
Kwiff
Pros | Cons |
Kwiffed odds | Surprise bets |
Impressive mobile app | |
Live streams | Lack of live bets |
Kwiff is a fairly new bookmaker established in 2015 that has grown to provide customers with a popular betting service. The desktop site is a little disorganised but the mobile app offers a standout experience that keeps customers coming back for more. The horse racing section is easy to navigate and you are able to browse through the upcoming races and check out the selection of betting markets available such as winner, each way, forecast and Tricast. Kwiff offers an exclusive ‘kwiffed odds’ which supercharges random bets for potential bigger rewards and there are other horse racing promotions including First Past the Post, 2nd Place Refund and surprise bets if your horse finishes 2nd to the starting price favourite. The welcome offer provides customers with a €30 surprise bet when you place a €10 bet and there is a Kwiff Sports Club also available that provides extra rewards.
Ladbrokes
Pros | Cons |
Strong reputation | Low welcome offer |
Horse racing promotions | |
Live streams and in play bets |
The oldest bookmaker still available, Ladbrokes seamlessly adapted to the online betting service and now provides an exceptional experience for all customers. The horse racing section provides details of all upcoming races in the UK and internationally and you are able to watch live streams of the races and build your own racecard. Ladbrokes provides various horse racing promotions including best odds guaranteed, extra places, cash out and lucky dip to further enhance your betting play. The betting markets available include winner, each way, forecast and Tricast as well as winning distance and accumulators to ensure there is something for everyone. The current welcome offer provides customers with €20 in free bets when you place a €5 bet and there is in play betting on offer alongside the stats pages to help you place educated bets. The mobile app is user friendly with clear graphics and personalised notifications to keep you updated with your favourite horses.
These are just a few of the best horse racing betting sites in Ireland and it is heavily advised that you do your own research to help you find the perfect bookmaker that suits your unique preferences for a standout betting service.
Betting Markets Available in Horse Racing
There are plenty of horse racing betting markets available that enhance the excitement of placing bets online and these markets often include:
- Outright Winner
The simplest bet, you only have to choose which horse you think will win the whole race. If you do your research and find out the recent results and performances of the horses, you can place an educated bet for a potential win.
- Each Way
A very popular horse racing market, this effectively gives you two chances of winning. Half of your stake will be placed on your chosen horse to win the race and the other half will be placed on if the horse doesn’t win, if it will place.
- To Place
For each race, the bookmakers will announce how many places are available and all you have to do is correctly choose a horse which you think will place. This can be top 2, 3 or 4 depending on how many horses are in the race.
- Forecast
This is slightly more difficult as not only do you have to choose the top 2 horses in the race, you also have to correctly decide which order they come in. This is a risky bet but provides bigger rewards and is a popular choice for regular horse racing bettors.
- Tricast
Similar to forecast, but you have to correctly choose the top 3 horses and the correct order they come in. This provides even bigger rewards if you are successful but is even more difficult.
- Head to Head
Bookmakers will choose 2 horses to compete and bettors have to choose which horse they think will come ahead of the other. This has no bearing on the actual winner of the race and simply focuses on the 2 chosen horses.
- Winning Distance
This is a common bet in which bettors have to guess how far the winning distance of the horse will be. The bookmakers will offer an amount and you will have to decide whether you think it will be over / under.
- Specials
Some bookmakers will offer special bets for the big events which may include top jockey or top trainer, the winner’s nationality and many more unique bets which don’t always focus on the overall outcome of the race.
Typical Horse Racing Betting Offers
Horse racing promotions are hugely popular offers for many betting sites in Ireland to increase customer’s enjoyment while playing. Here are the most common betting offers you will find:
- Best odds guaranteed
Many betting sites will offer the best odds guaranteed for horse racing to ensure you can’t find better deals anywhere else. If the odds rise or fall after you place your bet, you will receive the best odds available.
- Enhanced odds
Also known as price boosts, this offers you better odds for selected horses in selected races to give customers the chance to receive bigger rewards if successful.
- Extra places
Some bookmakers will offer extra places in select races which means you can still win if your chosen horse places 5th, 6th or higher depending on how many extra places each betting site offers.
- Antepost
This offers customers the opportunity to place bets on the winner of races way in advance and it provides much higher odds. It can be a risk as there are lots of factors to consider and you aren’t protected with antepost bets if your horse doesn’t run.
- Money back special
Bookmakers will offer an array of money back specials that act as insurance if certain events occur. For example, if your horse comes 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th, a betting site may offer your money back in the form of a free bet.
- Non runner no bet
Another popular betting offer includes the non runner no bet in which if you place a bet on a horse that doesn’t end up running, your bet will be voided and your stake returned. This protects your bets if unforeseen circumstances affect the horse.
- VIP programme
Many bookmakers now offer a VIP programme which is designed to keep bettors interesting in coming back for more. Loyal customers will be rewarded with level ups, bonuses and bigger prizes along with bet boosts and much more.
Strategies for Betting on Horse Racing
Horse racing is a very popular sport to place bets on, whether you are a newcomer to the sport or a seasoned expert. Here are some top tips to help you place strategic horse racing bets during any event.
- Research
It is vital that you do plenty of research on the horses, their recent results and performances to help you place educated bets. Some betting sites will offer stats pages to help and you should also take a look at the form of the jockeys and the trainers which may also give you an edge for your bets. It is also a good idea to check out what the experts have to say prior to the big races.
- Consider race day conditions
The weather conditions on race days can have a big impact on the horses and their performances. It is always wise to check the weather and which horses can perform best in the rain, wind or dry conditions by checking out their performances in similar conditions.
- Choose the ideal betting market
There is such a wide selection of betting markets now available, that it is very important that you choose the right bet depending on your skill and knowledge level. If you are new at horse racing, you may want to play it safe and pick the winner or a head to head battle, but if you are more confident you may want to go for a Tricast or an accumulator.
- Establish a budget
It is always wise to establish a budget before you start to place bets to ensure you don’t spend too much or lose too much. This is especially helpful during the bigger events that last longer as you can decide how much to spend for each day. Do not chase your losses as this could also cause problems and make sure you take advantage of the responsible gambling tools if you feel your control slipping.
Biggest Irish Horse Racing Events of the Year
Irish Grand National | One of the most popular Irish racing events, the Irish Grand National is similar to the English version and is held at the Fairyhouse Racecourse every Easter Monday. It is a National Hunt Steeplechase with a distance of 3 miles and 5 furlongs with 24 fences to be jumped. |
Irish Derby | The Irish Derby takes place every year on the last weekend of June and is held at the Curragh Racecourse. This race is open to 3 year old fillies and colts and is a true highlight of the Irish racing season. |
Punchestown Festival | Punchestown is another Irish National Hunt race that takes place annually in May at the Punchestown Racecourse in County Kildare. The most popular races include the Punchestown Gold Cup, the Champion Chase and the Champion Hurdle. |
Galway Races | Held at Galway Racecourse late July to early august, the Galway Races is a weeklong prestigious event with an ever popular Ladies Day on the Thursday. |
Dublin Racing Festival | Held at Leopardstown Racecourse in February every year, the Dublin Racing Festival is one of the most prestigious events in the racing calendar. Some of the most popular races include the Irish Gold Cup, the Arkle Novice Chase, and the Dublin Chase. |
FAQs on Horse Racing Betting in Ireland
What is the best betting site in Ireland for horse racing?
There are so many betting sites available that it is now a personal preference on the best site. Whether you prefer a strong welcome offer, standout special features or an accessible mobile app, there is sure to be a suitable betting site for you.
Are live streams available on betting sites?
Yes, many betting sites now offer live streams of all horse races, both national and international, along with in play bets to ensure you have the best betting experience.
What betting markets can you find on horse racing?
There are lots of betting markets available for horse racing including winner, forecast, Tricast and each way as well as specials, head to head and accumulators.