One of the great things about living in the United Kingdom is that we get to enjoy one of the great sporting events of the year – the horse racing season.
The great beauty of horse racing is that it can be enjoyed by anybody, regardless of experience. The ‘undisputed king of sports’, as they say, is suitable for all – from the seasoned punter to the casual fan.
While the sport itself is pretty easy to get involved in, making wagers can be a bit tricky. That’s what we’re going to look at today – how to bet on horse racing, and specifically how to place a wager on horse racing in the UK.
Horse Racing FAQs
There are a few frequently asked questions regarding horse racing that you need to know the answers to before placing your first wagers. Let’s run down the basics:
Can I buy a racehorse?
Absolutely! You can get a good quality horse for less than £10,000. The reason being is that many horse owners are looking to sell their horse at the end of the racing season. Due to the increased demand they’re getting rid of their ex-racehorses at a great discount. Don’t expect to pay full price for a horse though – you’ll usually find that the more experienced punters are the ones who buy ex-racehorses at discounted prices.
How many horses can I bet on?
You can bet on as many horses as you like; it’s a free bet, as long as you keep within the rules. The key point to make here is that if you’re new to betting, you should only bet on 1 or 2 per day. Going back over a dozen per day is too much for a novice. The reason being is that the more frequently you place your bets, the more the bookies will notice.
Do I need a betting account to place a wager?
You don’t need a betting account to place a wager, as long as you meet the criteria. However, if you do want to create a betting account, you can do so by clicking here. The great thing about this option is that it will allow you to make multiple bets, and if you meet the criteria, it will also provide you with additional features.
How do I place a wager?
If you’re reading this article on a mobile device, you can click here to go directly to the online version of the Betting Tips blog. However, if you’re reading this on a desktop or tablet computer, then you’ll need to scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the links to all the betting methods.
On the desktop or tablet, you’ll need to click on the link to the betting website of your choice – we recommend bet365, as they have excellent customer service and all the features you could want. After entering your credentials (including your card data if you’re making a payment via credit card), you’ll be on the right side of the betting screen. From here, you can navigate to the horses section of the betting website and place your wager. You can also look at various bet types such as outright bets or part-wheel wagers, and choose how many races you want to bet on. You’ll need to keep in mind that if you place a single bet of £10 or more, then you’ll need to register with the bookmaker. Most importantly, make sure to place your wagers quickly – the longer you take, the more likely it is that the bookie will notice.
What are part-wheel wagers?
A part-wheel wager is where you place a wager on a single horse in a group of races. To illustrate this, let’s say you’ve got three races today: the 12th August 2019 edition of the Newcastle Race, the 15th August 2019 edition of the Richmond Race, and the 17th August 2019 edition of the Derby. If you’ve got some spare cash lying around, you could put it on Ben Maher in the Newcastle Race, as he’s shown in a recent run of form to be a good choice. As long as you meet the criteria, you’re free to place a part-wheel wager on whatever horses you like – even if they’re not running in the same race. The key thing to keep in mind is that you can’t bet on more than one horse in any given race.
What is the Totesport Betting Exchange?
If you’re looking to make your wagers quicker and easier, then you should try out Totesport. They’re a sports betting exchange that allows users to place bets on various sporting events, using only cryptocurrencies. What’s great about this option is that you don’t need to have a betting account to use it. Simply visit the website on your mobile device or computer, and choose the event you want to bet on. Next, you’ll see a box with the prices listed for that particular event. If you want to place a bet, simply click on the ‘bet now’ button, and the payment screen will appear. Now, you’ll need to choose either Bitcoin or Ethereum as your preferred cryptocurrency, as well as the amount you want to wager. Once that’s done, you’ll be offered additional payment options, such as credit card or bank transfer. Once again, making a bet is very easy – the process is almost entirely automated, and you’ll soon be placing your first bet before you know it.
One important point to make here is that because you aren’t depositing cash into a bookmaker’s account, there’s no way they can refuse your bet. The great thing about this option is that it provides you with complete control over where your money is going – you’re not going to be risking your own cash, as they don’t have any control over what happens. This, in turn, means you’re protected by the rules of gaming laws. On top of that, as a verified user, you’ll be able to access additional bet types that most people don’t have the permissions to. Overall, a great option for anybody looking to place a wager on horse racing.
Is there any form of advantage to be gained by knowing the outcome of a horse race?
Not really. The beauty of horse racing is that it’s a completely unpredictable event; there’s no way of knowing who will win until the actual race begins. This is one of the major draws – if you’re a fan of the sport, then it’s essentially impossible to make predictions. Even then, it’s still largely based on anecdotal evidence. If you’re looking to gain an advantage though, you should look at other sports, as it is very illegal for bookmakers to accept bets on horse races. This is because the sport is seen as ‘totting’; this is where groups of people bet on the outcome of a single event. The example here might be a football match. Should the score be at or near the end of the game when the final whistle is blown, there’ll be dozens if not hundreds of people trying to make a profit by taking bets on the result. The great thing is that the police are on the lookout for these types of offenders, and often times they’ll get shut down immediately. Even so, it’s still a widely used technique by the bookmakers; they simply don’t want to get involved in the sport themselves.
In the end, it’s all about having fun. Nobody wants to ruin a good thing, and with horse racing, it’s hard to find something bad to say. It’s essentially a non-cash alternative to buying a lottery ticket, and something that anyone can get involved in without having to commit to a large sum of money. This makes it a great option for people who want to put their money where their mouth is, but don’t have a massive sum available at the moment. Just make sure you keep it within the rules, and have fun – this is what matters in the end.
The great thing about this option is that it provides you with complete control over where your money is going. If you want to make a quick transaction without having to register with the bookmaker, then this is the perfect option. As a registered user, you’ll also be able to take advantage of additional features that the average user doesn’t have access to – like email notifications if your bet wins or loses, and the ability to bet on multiple horses in a single race. This, in turn, means you can increase your odds of winning.