The Most Legit Guide to Betting on Horse Racing
Horse racing, as it is called, is more accessible now than at any other time in its many centuries of existence. For bettors who take the time to find the best horse racing betting sites, races being run on the planet are accessible to bettors without the need to visit a track or even an OTB (off-track betting) location.
Just pull your smartphone out of your pocket, press a few buttons and you'll have all the action from Churchill Downs to Meydan.
All you need to access the world's best racing is an Internet connection and a computer or other mobile device. But before you get too far ahead of yourself, you'll want to make sure you know the best horse racing betting sites out there. If you're not using sites that are trustworthy and honest, your dreams of betting on horse racing can quickly turn into a disaster.
Selecting Legit Horse Racing Betting Sites
One example idea is a specific situation in which we identify the characteristics of a horse racing betting site that make it a legitimate operation. We feel that these key characteristics, which we are about to list, are worth discussing because they are exactly the points that our team of experts evaluates when deciding whether to recommend a horse racing book. They use these characteristics to categorize a bookmaker as either 1. **Trustworthy and Reliable** - This is absolutely essential for any betting site. If it doesn't have a good reputation, you shouldn't trust it with your money. 2. **Offers and Promotions** - What the site offers its users can often tell you a lot about the operation. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. 3. **Secure Environment** - The site must have a secure platform in which to operate. This means that your information as a user is secure and encrypted. 4. **Accurate Odds and Information** - This is essential for the integrity of the game itself. If the odds are rigged, then the bet is rigged. 5. **User Reviews** - What are actual users saying about the site? If you can find no users and no reviews, then that is a surefire red flag.
Safety/Legitimacy
The most important factor to consider when looking for a betting site is that it is safe and trustworthy. Numerous scam sites are out there trying to trick you into giving them your money or personal, sensitive information. It is tiring to sift through so many of them to find the few that you can use without fear.
Our specialists spend many hours reviewing internet betting sites and reviews so that we can be really sure that we are not directing our readers to an unsafe betting site. If you're curious about the details of what we look for and how we determine if a bookmaker is unsafe, here's an article that explains more about what we do.
Website Design
We also consider the overall design of a website to be a vital component. Quality horse racing sites should be easy to navigate and easy to find the events and races you are looking for. Their interfaces should be aesthetically pleasing and well organized, without broken links or confusion.
Betting on sports means that in most cases you need to place your bets before the events start and be sure that you're making the right choices at the right time. A confusing site can cause you to make poor selections or, even worse, not make any selections at all. It's important that you use a site that is easy to navigate and understand.
That's why we put so much emphasis on the design and layout of a website. We want to direct our readers to professional-looking, well-organized pages that are easy to navigate and stress-free to use.
Range of Races and Wagers
The horse racing betting sites that we consider to be the best have a wide range of not only bets, but also events that you can bet on. And for good reason; there are horse racing events happening all over the world every day. Our goal is to give you access to as many of them as possible.
We look for betting sites where you can place not only a win bet, but also a variety of other bets on horse racing. The top sites allow you to bet not only on the horses that will finish first, second and third (win, place and show bets), but also on the order in which those horses will finish (the exacta) and the order in which three horses will finish (the trifecta). These events count as much more than just two or three betting opportunities.
Helpful Customer Service
Having been in the online gambling business for so long, we know the value of first class customer service. Not only does it go a long way in providing an excellent customer experience, but it also plays a huge role in separating the legitimate betting sites from the outright scams. In fact, customer service is so important that we encourage you to test a company's helplines before signing up.
A horse racing betting website should ideally have a customer service section that is clearly marked with contact information and frequently asked questions. There are at least three methods of contact that you will want to have access to. I hope you have more than one email address; if you don't, I guarantee I'll use up most of my cell phone minutes calling you. Also, if you have to send me invisible messages, I'll just assume you're up to something shady.
Evaluate a gambling site's registration and deposit process by checking the email, phone, and chat services to see how well they are monitored before you become a customer. If these services don't work well before you become a customer, it's highly unlikely they'll be more responsive after you sign up.
Fast Payouts
Payout speeds are a major complaint for many Internet gamblers. There are some operations out there that do unethical things like setting withdrawal limits that are virtually impossible to meet, or simply holding your winnings and not paying you at all. They do this in the hopes that you'll either forget that you requested a withdrawal in the first place, or that you'll get back in the game and just gamble away the money they owe you.
This is one of the most important criteria in separating legitimate, safe betting sites from the fraudulent ones. The best horse racing sites process withdrawal requests quickly and make sure that the bettor gets his money as soon as possible. Of course, different payment methods require different timeframes, but in most cases a site that really cares about its customers will get the money out fairly quickly.
Variety of Banking Options
When it comes to payment methods, we like to see sites that offer a wide range of banking options. Depending on the geographic location of our readers, certain types of banking alternatives may not be available to them.
In such cases, it may be necessary to buy some bitcoin or deposit money into an e-wallet. However, it's safe to say that it's preferable for the leading online horse racing sites to accept all of these payment methods. That way, users can find the method of funding their accounts that works best for them.
However, there are sites that specialize in a particular type of banking and tend to process those transactions more quickly. If you find an online money transfer method that suits your needs, you can use that method to expedite your gaming transactions through a site that specializes in the type of banking you prefer.
Mobile Compatibility
It's been said before, but it bears repeating: mobile betting is the way to go. Today's world is all about convenience, and there really is nothing more convenient than placing a bet via the mobile version of a horse racing betting site. For this reason, we strongly recommend that you look for betting sites that are easily accessible via smartphones and tablets.
Mobile compatibility can mean either working within a smartphone's Internet browser or using a dedicated application. In most cases, the application is the most stable and user-friendly option, as it is designed specifically for use on the particular phone it was downloaded to. However, there are some sites that are compatible enough with web browsers to warrant a mention in this category. In evaluating the top sites for mobile compatibility, these are the main compatibility characteristics I considered.
Bonus and Rewards Programs
You may have noticed by now that each of these horse racing betting sites is eager to give you some free money! This is one of the huge advantages that online casinos and sportsbooks have over their physical competitors. Virtually all horse racing betting sites offer some sort of sign up bonus either when you open an account or when you make your first deposit.
In addition, players who consistently play at the same site are offered loyalty rewards programs. Depending on how much money you wager and how often you do it, these loyalty rewards can range from a few free games to free vacations. Of course, it all depends on what level of player you are and how motivated the bookmaker is to keep you coming back.
Introduction to Betting on Horse Racing
Maybe you've been watching the big horse racing events like the Kentucky Derby or the Preakness on TV, and now you feel the urge to place some bets at our recommended horse racing betting sites. What should you do next? Our site provides you with a guide that explains the basic aspects of horse racing. With its own unique way of doing things, horse racing can seem daunting to some novices due to the language and the seemingly vast array of bets that can be made.
We will explain everything from betting "trifectas" to betting "across the board". Our guides will also cover which races are worth it, how to find a winning runner, and why this great betting tradition is worth your time.
After completing our tutorials, you should feel comfortable signing up at any online sports book or walking up to the betting window at a racetrack and confidently stating the exact amount you want to bet on a particular race.
Here are a few basic terms to get you started:
- Win
- This is a bet on which horse you believe will finish first
- Place
- This is a bet on a single horse to finish either first or second
- Show
- This is another bet that is won by picking the correct horse, which is an easy enough task since only one horse in the race can win
If you really want to get to know the world of horse racing betting, there are a lot of extra words and ideas to learn. You don't have to know them to participate and have a good time, but the more you know, the more you'll win. You can expand your horse racing education even further with the following article:
Horse Racing Apps
In case you haven't noticed, which is almost impossible, the last 10 years or so have seen a transformation. From sitting tethered to a computer (or, more often, a laptop) and suddenly being graced by the presence of the Internet, we now need only swipe or two on our phones. And from where, you might ask, has the Internet accessed us? More than ever, the Internet has been accessible to us through mobile devices.
So it shouldn't come as a shock that betting on horse racing has evolved in a similar fashion. Where you used to have to sit in the stands at a local track or at a seedy off-track betting parlor to bet on horse racing, you can now simply go to a website or download an app. The apps do that thing where they take the convenience of online gambling and take it to an even higher level.
You’ll find our article on finding the best horse racing betting apps in this article:
Essential Sports Betting Articles
No matter what type of sports betting you want to do, there are some general rules and concepts you need to know. At its core, sports betting is like any other form of gambling. It carries certain risks and responsibilities, and it's best enjoyed when you're aware of both.
We want to make sure that you have a clear understanding of the likely pitfalls of the game, as well as the plans to ensure that you can avoid any problematic behavior before it starts.
We have also created some basic guides to cover some of the basics of betting, such as odds and handicapping. Our horse racing guides will certainly cover the many different types of betting available at the tracks, but they may not delve into the details of how the odds are calculated and what those numbers actually mean. For that, we are best served by going back to the experts who wrote our odds and handicapping guides.
For a solid foundation of gambling knowledge to help you start your sports betting career, check out these comprehensive guides that break it all down for you.
Horse Racing Betting Strategy
If you are ready to dive into the details of horse racing betting strategies, we have everything you need. If you're ready to dive into the details of horse racing betting strategy, we have what you need. It is the presence of an investment strategy - a well-articulated and consistently executed plan - that separates the winning investment results from the losing ones. Of course, there's no foolproof method that will produce winning bets every time. But with the right methodology, we can increase our odds of cashing in winning tickets.
There are so many variables involved in betting strategy when it comes to playing the horses that we may never stop delivering guides, each covering a different concept worthy of our focus. We'll cover concepts like how to analyze a horse's pedigree and use it to make your picks.
We will actually cover betting syndicates and employ a team of handicappers to generate maximum profits with a mix of statistical analysis and timely execution of wagers.
Our specialists will be constantly working to grow the collection of horse racing betting strategies and systems that make up our library. They will dissect all the mathematics and reasoning behind these approaches to horse racing betting and leave the fun parts to you. You just read them and place your bets! The following links all lead to guides to horse racing betting strategies.
About the Sport of Horse Racing
Aside from its close association with betting, there is much to learn about the actual sport of horse racing. Not every race and track is the same, and you would do well to understand the differences in the many types of terminology, tracks, and races. Some races require horses that can maintain speed over a long distance, while others require an all-out sprint. Different horses are better suited to different distances. And not every horse you see on the track, or even two horses you see in the same race on the same day, are created equal.
Then there are races that have varying age limits, track surfaces, and stakes.
In the U.S., the most important horse racing competition takes place over three days in June. Most people have heard of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. There are teams of owners, trainers, and jockeys involved in these events, and it takes a lot of time and effort to learn about them. If you invest a little time in learning about the industry as a whole, it can be quite fascinating.
If this sounds like something you'd like to delve into, it will certainly help your betting. Here are a few pieces on the many aspects of the thoroughbred game.
The Biggest and Greatest
As previously mentioned, horse racing has an incredibly long and storied past. From that past comes a plethora of awe-inspiring performances, horses that are truly unique, and championship bloodlines that have been passed down from generation to generation. We have guides dedicated to the very best of horse racing, celebrating some of the most historically great horses and races.
We also analyze the most important events around the world. Events such as the Dubai World Cup and the Pegasus International offer huge financial rewards to the winner. These spectacles bring together the sport's most illustrious participants and create extraordinary clashes between equestrian athletes. Not to be outdone, our comprehensive look at the richest events in the equestrian world comes with a detailed look at the top equine athletes who make these events worthwhile. For more on all of these topics, check out the following guides.
More Recommended Horse Racing Sites
For our readers who are interested in finding the best horse racing sites sorted by specific criteria, we have a number of options for you. The most straightforward way we have arranged these sites is by country, since you need to be able to access the betting odds from wherever you call home. But we have gone a step further and sorted them by a few other criteria as well, which you will see below.
Horse Racing Sites by Location
It is a nice feature for readers around the world to have our horse racing betting sites broken down by country. People everywhere can have an interest in this global pastime. But the way online gambling is viewed and regulated varies greatly from place to place. Some jurisdictions are very relaxed about it and allow all kinds of gambling as long as the companies are well taxed. Others take a very dim view of it and have strict laws against it.
There are other offshore operations that cater to places where gambling is not legal. No matter which category you fall into, we have uncovered the top sites for betting on horse racing that are accessible to your specific location.
Horse Racing Sites by Category
Our recommendations are also based on your priorities in online gaming. If you're most concerned with whether the horse betting sites can provide a good mobile experience, we've ranked them that way. If you're more concerned with how quickly you can get paid when you win, we've put together a few options that excel in that area. Below you'll find some of our guides to the best horse racing betting sites, broken down by category.
The Future of Horse Racing
After familiarizing yourself with the basics of horse racing, the terminology, and a few systems or strategies, you can begin to look to the future. Technology is forcing most sports to change to accommodate a larger audience and a smaller world. Our experts will look into the world of horse racing and betting and predict the future. They will make educated hypotheses about where things are headed.