Horse Racing Betting Sites

Written by Glenn Roberts

Glenn Roberts

Glenn is a sports lover and writes about Soccer and American Football. He also covers reviews of bookmakers, betting apps and deposit or withdrawal methods that players can use at online sportsbooks.

, | Updated: September 27, 2024

No matter if you live in the US, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Sweden, Chile, or another country, there are a handful of regulated and reliable sports betting platforms ready to accept your horse racing wagers. While abundance in itself is an advantage, it can be a real challenge for punters new to the exciting world of betting on horses. That is why the team of SportingPedia compiled a list of 10 trustworthy betting sites which we believe are the perfect place to start.

Horse Racing Betting Sites Ranked by Trustpilot Rating

Comparison of Horse Racing Betting Sites

Top 9 Horse Racing Betting Sites

1. 888sport

   

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   Licenses

   UKGC (#039028-R-319297-012) MGA (#MGA/CRP/543/2018) Government of Gibraltar (#112 and #113)

   Min Deposit

   $/€10

   Min Withdrawal

   $/€10

   Withdrawal Time

   • E-wallets and Rapid Transfer - 2-3 days• Visa and ApplePay - up to 6 days• Wire transfer - 5-8 days

   Deposit Methods

   

   Sponsorships

   National Football League (NFL), Dundalk Football Club, Cardiff City FC

   Contact Details

   Live Chat: Yes email: support@888sport.com Phone: N/A
   

   

   • Multi-licensed online sportsbook
   • Abundance of horse racing betting markets
   • Betfinder feature
   • Wide selection of payment methods
   • Generous bonuses and promotions
   • Dedicated mobile apps

   To start our list of the best online sportsbooks for horse racing precisely with 888sport is by no means a random choice, the bookie just ranks high in most of the key indicators listed in our article above. First and foremost, the company is licensed by the two most prominent regulatory bodies in the industry, the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority, and also holds remote gaming licenses under the legislation of Gibraltar.

   Horse betting enthusiasts who set up accounts with 888sport will remain delighted by the impressive variety of events they can bet on. The sportsbook features hundreds of races every day that are conducted in the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, Japan, and other countries. Sometimes the time between two consecutive horse races is no more than 5 minutes, so you have to be quick so as not to miss a good opportunity to place a potentially profitable bet. The team behind 888sport seems to be quite large and professional, as despite the numerous horse races and the correspondingly huge number of competitors, a summary of the current form and recent achievements for each of them is presented.

   As regards the payment methods you can fund your betting account with, there is hardly anything more you could wish for. Online banking services, credit and debit cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, and others are at the disposal of punters. 888sport supports a number of local payment solutions too, so check your cashier section for precise information.

2. bet365

   

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   Licenses

   UKGC (#055148-R-331498-001) MGA (#MGA/CRP/531/2018) Government of Gibraltar (#076) +10 jurisdictions (including US states)

   Min Deposit

   $/€10

   Min Withdrawal

   $/€10

   Withdrawal Time

   * E-wallets - 1-4 hours* Debit Card - 1-4 hours* Credit Cards - 1-5 days* Wire Transfer - up to 12 hours

   Deposit Methods

   

   Sponsorships

   UEFA Champions League

   Contact Details

   Live Chat: Yes email: support.eng@customerservices365.com Phone: 00 800 1236 5365
   

   

   • Long-term experience in the sports betting field
   • User-friendly layout
   • Instant deposits
   • Live streaming of horse races
   • Horse racing-specific promotional offers and features
   • Very good in-play section

   Given how highly competitive the online sports betting landscape is nowadays, we would not venture to determine which is the most popular brand. However, the fact that its name is known even by people who have never had points of contact with any form of gambling, makes us believe that bet365 is definitely placed in Top 3. The global footprint of the bookmaker is emphasized by the over 20 language versions of its website and mobile apps, a multi-jurisdiction licensing, and a diverse sports library.

   Betting aficionados who join bet365 will have the opportunity to place their wagers on more than 30 sports. In terms of the number of covered events, horse racing is among the most favored disciplines. What is more, unlike other major online sportsbooks, bet365 has taken the time to come up with features intended to enhance the experience of horse racing bettors. A mere example is Each Way Extra. Once activated, it enables punters to add or remove places when placing an Each Way bet on selected events. Thus, you can either reduce the price of your wager or improve the relevant odds.

   We were pleased to find that the bookie provides a superb live streaming functionality for several sports including horse racing. To immerse yourself in the exciting atmosphere of the race track, you just need to have a funded account balance or to have placed a bet within the last 24 hours.

3. Betsafe

   

   Review

   Licenses

   MGA (MGA/CRP/108/2004) Ireland’s Revenue Commissioners (#1011286) Swedish Gambling Authority (#23Si2178)

   Min Deposit

   $/€10

   Min Withdrawal

   $/€10

   Withdrawal Time

   * Bank cards - up to 5 business days* E-wallets - up to 24 hours* Bank Transfer - up to 5 business days

   Deposit Methods

   

   Sponsorships

   N/A

   Contact Details

   Live Chat: Yes Email: support-en@betsafe.com Phone: +44 808 238 0028
   

   

   • Extensive horse racing coverage
   • Fast withdrawals
   • Strict security measures
   • 24/7 customer support
   • Android and iOS betting apps
   • 10+ language versions

   Betsafe is an experienced and respected player on the online gambling scene that has developed a platform comprising a sportsbook, casino, racebook, and virtual sports sections thus attracting the attention of thousands of gamblers around the globe. The bookie’s operations are regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority and the Revenue Commissioners in Ireland which serves to show players have no reason to worry about the safety of their funds and sensitive information.

   The racebook in Betsafe’s platform has been developed in a professional manner with both novices and experienced punters in mind. The help page dedicated to horse racing not only lists all types of races and betting markets available but gives a brief description of each of them so as to minimize the risk of misunderstanding on behalf of the users.

   Flat and jump racing is available as well as trotting on multiple tracks in Europe, Australia, Africa, North and South America. Just one click or tap on the star icon next to a particular horse’s name adds it to your personal favorites list. If that horse is going to participate in a race in the near future, it will be shown in an extra box above all other horses within the schedule.

   The set of payment methods supported by Betsafe comprises conventional bank transfers, credit cards, digital wallets, and prepaid vouchers (Paysafecard). The minimum amount punters are allowed to deposit is $10 or equivalent in another accepted currency.

4. Mr Green

   

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   Licenses

   UKGC (#039264-R-319432-018) Ireland’s Revenue Commissioner (#1011600) MGA (#MGA/CRP/121/2006) Danish Gambling Authority (#18-0457046) Swedish Gambling Authority (#23Si2199)

   Min Deposit

   $/€10

   Min Withdrawal

   $/€10

   Withdrawal Time

   • Credit/Debit cards - up to 3 days• Bank transfers and Trustly - up to 5 business days• E-wallets and Paysafe wallets - up to 2 hours

   Deposit Methods

   

   Sponsorships

   N/A

   Contact Details

   Live Chat: Yes email: customerservice@mrgreen.com Phone: N/A
   

   

   • Multi-jurisdiction licensing
   • Excellent in-play section
   • Lots of sports covered
   • Horse races from the UK&Ireland, US, and Australia
   • Available in several languages
   • User-friendly layout

   MrGreen is an award-winning gambling operator established in 2008 in Sweden. Sports betting became part of the Nordic brand’s portfolio in 2016 and since then MrGreen has been doing everything possible to catch up with its more experienced competitors. The bookie has won quite a few reputable awards over the years with the last being Safer Gambling Operator of the Year at the EGR Nordics Awards 2021.

   Betting on 30+ sports is enabled regardless of your current location since the bookmaker has developed dedicated mobile applications for Android and iOS devices. Iphones and iPads need to be of a 13.0 or later version while the requirement for the Android operating system is to be 6.0 or up. The list of the most popular disciplines on the platform is led by horse racing, followed by football and tennis.

   When it comes to horse racing, it is noticeable that the bookmaker has only focused on three regions – the US, UK & Ireland, and Australia. While these are large markets with lots of events almost every day, if MrGreen aims at occupying a leading position in the field, it must work on expanding its portfolio. As regards the currently available races, punters are provided with information about horses’ age, weight, jockey, trainer, and time period since their previous runs.

5. 22Bet

   

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   Licenses

   Curaçao (#8048/JAZ2017-067) Kahnawake Gaming Commission (#00882)

   Min Deposit

   $/€1

   Min Withdrawal

   $/€10

   Withdrawal Time

   • Cryptocurrencies - 15 minutes• E-wallets - up to 24 hours• Credit & debit cards - up to 7 business days

   Deposit Methods

   

   Sponsorships

   N/A

   Contact Details

   Live Chat: Yes email: support-en@22bet.com Phone: +357 99 816806
   

   

   • Huge selection of payment methods
   • Diverse sports portfolio
   • Available in 60+ languages
   • Generous sports bonuses and promotions
   • Both major and local horse races featured
   • Multiple horse racing bet types

   When writing about 22bet, reviewers wonder where to start as the online bookmaker just offers a lot of everything – sports to bet on, payment solutions, bet types, etc. It seems that localization is a priority for the bookie since it has spent time and efforts to develop a handful of identical websites so that as many punters as possible to be able to use the platform in their native language. Having in mind dealing with financial means is involved, this approach is considered a major advantage. Account registration is one of the fastest we have come across and the choice of currencies is particularly extensive.

   Although 22bet’s website accommodates casino, bingo, esports, and game sections, its flagman undoubtedly is the sportsbook. In addition to the sports section being displayed by default when you load the web address in your preferred browser, most of the promotional offers are also related to it. Apart from the usual welcome, reload, and rebate promotions, you can take advantage of a bonus for a series of losing bets.

   In terms of horse racing, the situation looks pretty good. Hundreds of events are available for betting every day with some of the most popular featuring 100 or more betting markets. Winner, In Top 2, Match-Ups, and Win Without Leaders are just some of the bet types punters are allowed to place. The geographical range of the racetracks is impressive – you can wager on horse races being conducted in the US, Canada, Australia, Argentina, the UK, Macau, Turkey, and others.

6. Betsson

   

   Review

   Licenses

   Malta Gaming Authority (MGA/CRP/108/2004)Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA)Danish Gambling Authority (DGA)

   Min Deposit

   €10

   Min Withdrawal

   €20

   Withdrawal Time

   Bank Transfer: 2 to7 daysCards: 2 to 5 daysE-Wallets: Up to 24hours

   Deposit Methods

   

   Sponsorships

   Atletico NacionalInter MilanOFI CretePremier Padel

   Contact Details

   Live Chat: YesEmail: support-en@betsson.comPhone: +356 2260 3300
   

   

   • Special horse racing promotional offer
   • Lots of horse races featured
   • Live streaming
   • Variety of payment methods
   • High maximum withdrawal limit
   • 11 currencies accepted

   Betsson is a reputable gambling brand that has gathered sportsbook, horse racing, casino, poker, and virtual sports sections in its main betting site and downloadable applications. It is one of the best performing online bookmakers in the Scandinavian market that attracts the attention of thousands of bettors thanks to its low minimum deposit requirement of just $10, lucrative bonuses, and excellent sports coverage including horse races from almost all corners of the globe.

   Registering an account takes no more than a few minutes. Apart from the personal data usually provided, punters can set a daily, weekly, or monthly deposit limit. Currently, the bookie accepts deposits in the EUR, SEK, NOK, DKK, USD, GBP, CSK, and PLN currencies with their availability depending on punters’ country of residence. As regards the supported payment methods, they include bank transfers, credit/debit cards, e-wallets, and prepaid cards. Until recently, Interac payments were also enabled but due to new laws related to online games, Betsson currently provides no services to punters located in Canada. We advise you to contact the bookie’s customer support for further details.

   Horse racing is one of the top disciplines featured by the bookmaker and has its own separate section, which makes it much easier to find an event to bet on. Betting enthusiasts can place their wagers on both major races such as the UK Grand National and less popular events like Varig Orkla in Norway, for example. As a result of the special horse racing promotion launched by Betsson, punters can take advantage of some boosted odds options each Saturday.

7. Everygame

   

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   Licenses

   No official license information

   Min Deposit

   $10

   Min Withdrawal

   $100 - $150

   Withdrawal Time

   * Bitcoin and ecoPayz - 48 hours* Checks (the US only) - 5 business days* Bank wires - up to 15 business days* SEPA - up to 4 business days

   Deposit Methods

   

   Sponsorships

   N/A

   Contact Details

   Live Chat: Yes Email: bet@everygame.eu Phone: Scheduled calls only
   

   

   • One account for all products
   • Cryptocurrencies accepted
   • Fast and cooperative customer support
   • Several sport-related promotions
   • A decent selection of horse racing events
   • Curaçao licensing

   Established almost 30 years ago, Everygame is a well-known online bookmaker that does not need much introduction. For quite some time, the focus of the bookie’s activity was mainly concentrated in North America, but in the last few years, Everygame shows ambitions to enter the European market. With regard to disciplines like soccer, it is doing pretty well while in the horse racing section there is room for improvement. Undoubtedly, the interface on offer is user-friendly and allows for hassle-free betting experience but the selection of events is still relatively scarce.

   Despite its long-term existence, Everygame is in no way outdated compared to its competitors. On-the-go betting which has become a must-have for all successful gambling platforms around the world is enabled via a web-based mobile application. Without the need to download any additional app, punters can place their wagers no matter if they are at home, traveling to work, or on a vacation via their hand-held devices. The web app gives betting enthusiasts access to the same sports markets, payment solutions, and bonuses as the desktop version of the platform.

   Except for the diverse portfolio and tempting bonuses and promotions, a reason for the continued success of Everygame is their super-fast customer support that is ready to assist you with anything needed. We initiated a live chat session with a question about an upcoming horse race and received a reply in less than a minute. The other 24/7 communication channel with the bookie is email.

8. Sports Interaction

   

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   Licenses

   Kahnawake Gaming Commission; The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (#OPIG1242525)

   Min Deposit

   $10

   Min Withdrawal

   $10

   Withdrawal Time

   • Bank cards - 3-5 banking days• E-wallets - within 8 hours• Bank Transfers - 3-5 bankig days• Instant Banking - instant

   Deposit Methods

   

   Sponsorships

   NHL

   Contact Details

   Live Chat: Yes email: Contact Us Form Phone: N/A
   

   

   • Only available for Canadian residents
   • 20+ sports
   • Various sport-related bonuses and promotions
   • Separate racebook section
   • Strict security measures
   • Available in English and French

   With over 20 years in the online gambling industry, Sports Interaction has proven itself as a reliable betting operator that boasts of providing speedy and professional customer support to its registered users. We are sad to say that only punters residing in Canada are authorized to use the platform that is distinguished by comprehensive sports coverage, diverse payment solutions, and a user-friendly layout.

   The localization approach is evident in the selection of disciplines, which in their predominant part are sports popular in Canada and the US – baseball, American football, golf, basketball, and others. Horse racing has a separate section on Sports Interaction’s website. Although not a discipline popular solely in North America, the regional focus is evident from the selection of races. The bookie displays only events that it currently accepts bets in a subsection called Daily Track Odds. The only horse race permanently presented by Sports Interaction is the Breeders Cup Classic held in late October or early November each year.

   Apart from cryptocurrencies, there are no other major lacks in the list with payment solutions supported by Sports Interaction. Being designed with Canadian punters in mind, the sportsbook accepts payments via the locally popular services Interac, iDebit, and Instadebit in addition to the globally used Visa, Mastercard, Paysafecard, ecoPayz, MuchBetter, and others.

9. BetUSR

   

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   Licenses

   Curacao

   Min Deposit

   • Bitcoin - $20• P2P - $100

   Min Withdrawal

   • Bitcoin - $25• Bank Wire- $100

   Withdrawal Time

   • Bank Wire - 5 to 7days• Bitcoin - 48 hours

   Deposit Methods

   

   Sponsorships

   • Tramaine Williams at 2020 WBO 122lb World Championship • Jamel Herring in his 2021 fight vs. Carl Frampton

   Contact Details

   Live Chat: Yes Phone: 1-844-444-BUSR(2877) Email: support@busr.com
   

   

   • Focus on American sports
   • A dedicated racing section
   • Rebate on horse bets
   • Cryptocurrencies accepted
   • Round-the-clock customer support
   • Curacao licensing

   For one reason or another, some punters prefer betting with online sportsbooks that are focused on a particular market without trying to cover as many disciplines as possible. If you are one of these gamblers, you can cast an eye on BUSR, a bookie that markedly aims at the Northern American betting market with its leading disciplines being football, basketball, and ice hockey.

   The brand’s main website also features a separate racebook section with individual categories for the Del Mar, Travers Stakes, and Graded Stakes races as well as a schedule encompassing over 270 racetracks in the US, Canada, UK, Hong Kong, Australia, France, Ireland, Dubai, etc. Betting enthusiasts can spice up the wagering process by taking advantage of various promotions including but not limited to New Member Cash Bonus, Refer-a-Friend promotion, rebates, and others.

   The list of supported payment methods is not the most abundant we have seen but it does include several cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and Ethereum) which are considered the most cost-effective transaction method. What is more, punters are entitled to receive a Sports Free Play Bonus for their first crypto deposit. The only other ways to fund your account are credit and/or debit cards and P2P transfers which, however, are related to significant transaction fees.

Horse Racing Betting Overview

Although there is no officially confirmed time frame, most experts believe that horse racing emerged as a sport in its modern form in the 18th century. Regardless of the exact origin, watching horses outpacing each other to the finish line has long been a favorite pastime for people in many parts of the world. We cannot think of another sport where fans and punters appeared at the same time, i.e. horse racing is related to gambling from nearly the very beginning of its existence. Ratios have changed over the years and today the number of horse racing fans who have never placed a bet is negligible.

Types of Horse Races

With hundreds of horse breeds worldwide, quite logically, different types of horse races have emerged over the years. Having appeared at different times and not always equally popular around the world, each of them has its own history and specifics. In this article, we will look at the four main race types featured on nowadays online sportsbooks.

1. Flat Racing

   These are the horse races most people are familiar with and most of the globally popular racing events are of exactly this type. We will only mention the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes) and you will know what we are talking about. What is characteristic about flat horse racing is that events are conducted on leveled tracks without any obstacles and involve only thoroughbred horses. Track surfaces vary in different parts of the world. For example, dirt is most common in North America while European races are usually held on turf.

   As regards distances, flat track horse races are predominantly between 1.0 and 2.4 km long although some individual events feature a distance of 400m or 4km. Longer races are called routes and besides being a test of the skill of the jockey and the qualities of the horse, they are a real challenge to the stamina of both.

   There are two provisional subcategories of flat horse races – conditions and handicap. With conditions races, in order to guarantee fairness, all competitors are given the same weight to carry with some allowances for female or very young horses. Punters should be very cautious when wagering on handicap races since participants are given different weights and positions towards the inner barrier aligned with their abilities. Thus chances of winning are drawn closer and it is harder to predict the winner.

2. Steeplechase Racing

   Although not as widely popular as flat track races, steeplechases still have lots of avid fans in the US, Canada, the UK, France, and Australia. Depending on the region, the discipline may have a dissimilar name (hump racing, hurdles, etc.) or slight differences in the rules but in general, it requires horses to jump over fences, ditches, water jumps, and others throughout the race. The most famous racing event in this category is the English Grand National held every year at Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool since 1839 followed by the Breeders’ Cup Grand National Steeplechase competition in the US.

   To be competitive in steeplechase racing, a horse must be just as powerful as the flat thoroughbred with the addition of an ability to make precise high jumps. Among the factors to consider when deciding which horse to bet on is its age. Animals of older age and in good health are considered to be most suitable for this discipline. It is not uncommon in the steeplechase to see horses aged ten years and over, which is not the case in sprints for example.

3. Endurance Racing

   The distance varies quite widely, let’s say between 16km and 400km with the latter being held within a few days. This broad range is subdivided into several smaller ones which are named pleasure rides, non-competitive trail rides, competitive trail rides, progressive trail rides, and endurance rides. When preparing to place a bet on an endurance horse race, pay special attention to the participant’s past performance in terms of resistance to heavy physical exertion for an extended period of time.

4. Harness Racing

   The distinctive feature of harness racing is that in addition to a horse and a jockey (in this case a driver), it involves a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, spider, or chariot. It is worth noting that sport rules may significantly differ from country to country. When it comes to the US, the race distance is usually one mile (1,609 m) and events are predominantly conducted on race tracks specifically constructed for harness racing. The discipline requires strong tactical skills on the part of the driver, and very often the outcome of the race becomes clear in the last meters before the finish.

   You can see two different gaits on harness race tracks, trotting and pacing. Trotters move their legs in diagonal pairs while pacers are often equipped with hobbles to ensure that the right front and back legs move simultaneously followed by the left front and back legs. In continental Europe, you can see only horses with a trotting gait while in the other regions races are held for both gaits.

Horse Racing Odds, How Do They Work?

It is not without reason that many major gambling platforms separate horse racing into an individual section. A separate racebook is much easier to locate than browsing through all the sports featured and given the high level of interest punters show, this is considered an advantage. However, there is one more aspect that this fascinating sport is distinguished for, namely how the respective odds work.

Pari-Mutuel Betting

Unlike the other constituents of online sportsbooks such as soccer, tennis, and basketball, pre-race odds are not necessarily fixed. This is due to the fact that the pari-mutuel wagering system is employed for betting on horses. Also called pool betting, it does not involve placing wagers against a bookmaker but against other bettors. In other words, odds do not depend on the bookie’s predictions and judgment but on what amounts have been wagered on the particular betting market.

All money goes into a pool and after deducting some in-house costs, it is proportionally distributed between all betting enthusiasts who have made a winning selection. This means that the more punters bet on one option, the lower the payout would be. Furthermore, odds may dramatically change if a large number of people suddenly decide to place their bets on a certain horse, and thus, the potential payout remains unknown until the very last moment.

Horse Betting Exchanges

The way betting on horse races is conducted via online sportsbooks does not always suit the wagering style of punters. Some of them prefer enjoying their pastime by using the services offered by betting exchanges. They actually allow you to become your own bookmaker. What does this mean? If you have an exchange betting account, you are entitled to set the horse racing odds and compete with other bettors on the platform. Punters either back or lay the horses, i.e. they bet on whether the particular participant will win or lose.

Fixed-odds Betting on Horses

Not much explanation is needed here, betting enthusiasts place their wagers with an online bookmaker at pre-set odds that are not subject to change. If their prediction is correct, they will be paid the stake multiplied by the respective odds, i.e. punters know the potential payout from the moment they place the bet. There is only one exception to this rule, and that is in cases where you have to accept the so-called “starting price”, the official fixed odds price of each participant immediately before the race starts. Shrewd punters avoid the risk of less favorable odds by choosing a bookie that offers the Best Odds Guaranteed option.

Horse Racing FAQ

1. Which horse racing bet pays the most?

   Accumulators and other multi-bets such as Pick 6 come with the largest payouts, potentially with life-changing amounts. However, they are the trickiest to predict and as you know, risk level must never be estimated. We advise you to try such wagers only after gaining substantial experience with easier horse racing bet types and stake amounts you can afford to lose.

2. What does Trifecta mean in horse racing?

   Trifecta is among the most difficult bets placed on horse races. Punters must guess which horses will finish in the first, second, and third positions. The prediction has to match the exact order.

3. Are favorites the best choice when placing a bet?

   Bookmakers and analysts usually have reasonable grounds to announce a certain competitor is the most likely to win. However, there are too many external factors that can affect the race outcome. It is a good idea to conduct your own research without looking at published predictions. If your conclusion matches that of the specialists, go for it.

4. What are the 5 most popular horse races around the globe?

   This is a really tough question. Given the long history of the sport, a number of prestigious competitions have been established over the years. Still, without pretending this is a ranking, here are our top 5 horse races – The Grand National and the Royal Ascot in the UK, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes in the US, and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France.

5. What are the best payment methods for horse racing betting?

   Simply put, the best payment solution for funding your betting account is the one you are most used to working with. Each method has a different advantage, for credit and debit cards it is the universal acceptance, for digital wallets the transaction speed, and for cryptocurrencies the anonymity they provide. Your priorities make a payment service suitable or not.