2020-09-24
n the entire country by storm and, in 2020, not only is horse racing the most popular sport to bet on in the UK, but punters have more ways than ever to place bets, thanks to the rising popularity of websites and mobile applications that offer the ability to place bets on races across the country from the comfort of home.

Types of Bets


While horse race betting is an immensely popular pastime, many newcomers are put off by the huge range of options they have when it comes to betting. Luckily, there isn't that much that you need to know in order to place your first set of wages.

Bets can be broken up into two main types of bets: straight wagers and exotic wagers.

Bets for Beginners


For beginners, the most popular and simplest kind of bets are straight wagers, and these can be further broken down into win, place, and show bets. A win bet is pretty self-explanatory. A bettor will place a bet on which horse will win a given race. A place bet is a bet that a certain horse will finish in either first or second position. A show bet is similar to a place bet, but it extends to include the third position.

When it comes to payouts, wins take the top spot as they are the most specific type of bet and thus more difficult to predict accurately. Payouts on place bets are lower than win payouts, as there is a greater chance of success a payout will occur if the horse that was bet on places either first or second. Show bets pay out the least; however, they also feature the highest chance of winning and are thus one of the more popular bets for beginners.

If a bettor is feeling confident, placing an across the board bet or combo straight wager is a bet that encompasses all three of the above bets. In this bet, a bettor will choose one horse and place all three bets on that one horse. If the horse wins the race, then the bettor will be paid out for all three bets. If the horse places first, the bettor will receive a payout for the place and show bets. If the horse places second, then the bettor will only be paid out for the show bet. These types of bets are usually reserved for experienced bettors as they are expensive and have less profit potential than singular bets.

A Taste of the Exotic


Aside from win, place, and show bets, bettors can also place exotic wagers where a punter can bet on more than one horse at the same time. Some types of exotic bets are similar to the abovementioned types of bets. Quinella is similar to a win bet but is placed on two horses. Exacta is similar to a place bet, however, a bettor must specify the order in which the top two horses must place in order to win. Trifecta is similar to exacta however it also includes which horse will place third. Finally, for those who are confident in their ability to pick winning horses, there is a superfecta bet where betters must choose the horses that will place from first to fourth position. Horses must place in these exact positions in order for a bet to payout.

Other types of exotic bets extend to multiple races rather than single races. These types of bets include daily doubles, pick threes and wheel betting.

Ways to Bet on Horses


Unlike in the past when you could only place wagers at a brick-and-mortar establishment, bettors now have a range of ways to partake in the pastime. With on-course betting no longer being required, remote betting has exploded in popularity with bettors able to watch the races on TV or stream them live from a digital sportsbook while they place bets online via websites or mobile apps that offer the service.

To get started with horse race betting from the comfort of your home be sure to check out websites such as Roger.com, which offer a range of options so you can bet on horse racing with some of the best odds for horse racing betting. Roger is one of the best-rated online gaming providers and their affiliations with a number of chosen providers allows them to offer players many ways to win. Not only do they feature some of the best odds for horse racing, but they also offer a host of other games such as online bingo, online slot machines, and more.

Betting on horse racing is a multi-billion pound industry that saw an annual turnover of GBP 4.2 billion in 2019. Whether you choose to place your bets at the racecourse or online, be sure to do your research and bet wisely to avoid disappointment at the finish line.