As any horse racing fan knows, nothing quite compares to sitting in the stands watching the races live. Unfortunately, some online horse betting sites can fail to capture that feeling. While there’s a lot to like about the 888 brands, is their horse racing betting site a Triple Crown winner, or does it struggle to cross the finish line?
I’ve taken a detailed look at 888sport horse racing betting, including its features, layout, potential pitfalls, and everything else you need to know.
An Overview of 888sport Horse Racing
888sport’s sheer size was initially a major concern for me. They offer so many sports to bet on that I wondered if they could dedicate the proper focus to any. Fortunately, after looking into it, I found that the 888 brand connects quite well with the sport of horse racing.
They’re regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, where horse racing is not only popular, but the sport is well-established legally. That applies to US-based racing, too, where 888 not only operates now but where they plan to expand significantly in the next few years. Bettors in both countries can trust they’re wagering on fair, legitimate races.
I always like to check out an online casino on impartial review sites and resolution centres, such as AskGamblers.com. They list a few hundred complaints about the 888 brand, which is pretty low considering the site’s size.
Also, many complaints discuss possible technical problems, and it’s hard to know if that’s the fault of the site or the individual user. Personally, the site worked great for me from a technical standpoint, and I used it all hours of the day and night.
Main Features
Broadly speaking, any bet you can place at a window you can also place here. That said, online betting does have some differences from in-person betting, including both improvements and downsides. Let’s run down the main features:
Racing Odd Types
Their largest customer markets are the UK, Ireland, and the US. To that end, they offer three types of betting odds:
- Fractional (British)
- Decimal (European)
- American-style (Moneyline)
You can use the on-page selector to switch between odds for every horse.
Odds
They offer guaranteed best odds for all UK and Ireland-based races. If you back a horse at a two-to-one price, but the starting price exceeds that, you’ll get the bigger payday if you win.
Stipulations
They adhere to the Tattersalls Rule 4 regarding withdrawn horses. It’s an industry-standard meant to protect against non-runners. If the horse you’ve bet on is removed from the race, the site will pay you a fee. The larger the odds at the time of withdrawal, the more compensation you’ll receive.
Live Streams
There’s good news here as 888sport does offer live racing streams. You can watch all the action on your home computer or mobile device. Watching live streams while placing bets does help capture some of the magic found at the track, so 888sport scores high marks here.
However, a specific process is required. You first have to stake at least one pound (or equivalent in your country’s currency). Once you’ve placed your bet, you can click on the Watch button to view coverage from all 85 UK and Republic of Ireland racecourses.
Featured Events
The site offers races from primarily the UK, Ireland, and the US, although you can also find some options from Australia, South Africa, Hong Kong, and other European countries. One nice benefit is that you’ll always find races. If it’s the middle of the night in the UK, the site will feature lots of US races and vice versa.
Most of the large events are UK and Ireland-based. The top three available on the site are the Grand National, Royal Ascot, and Cheltenham Festival.
Site Design and Functionality
I wouldn’t say 888sport’s site pops with pizzazz, but there’s elegant simplicity and clarity to it that I like.
One of the biggest design hurdles you’ll likely encounter is finding the 888 sport horse racing section from the site’s home page. They list many sports such as football, basketball, and even Fussball – but not horses. You’ll have to click on the Sports A-Z button and then click on Horse Racing.
It’s not a dealbreaker, but I was confused the first time I visited the site. However, once you’re there, the 888sport Horse Racing page itself is easy to navigate. It’s divided into three main sections:
- Betfinder
- Next Races
- Meetings
Betfinder lets you search through all the horses currently racing. You can filter by Winner Last Time, Placed Last Time, Course Winner, Distance Winner, and many other options. Sorting through all the search options is easy with both an A-Z list and a Smart Search feature.
Next Races shows you the current race plus the next four to occur. They’re usually only a few minutes apart. Each race expands to quickly show you the entire race card.
Finally, Meetings presents a grid displaying all upcoming races throughout the day. Each is identified by track name and country, with start times for each race. Completed races are listed in gray boxes, while upcoming races are in black.
Placing a Bet
I found the process of placing a bet incredibly intuitive. You simply click on the horse’s name, transferring the bet to your Betslip. It’s a column on the right-hand side of the screen that lists all of your bets. You can adjust the stake, cancel the bet, and perform a few other actions.
For every bet you place, the platform will also tell you how many people who bet on that horse also bet on other horses in the race.
Pros and Cons
While 888sport horse racing betting has a lot to like, there are also some areas that I think could use improvement. Here’s a rundown:
Pros:
- 888sport is a trusted, well-regulated online sportsbook
- Bettors have access to a variety of live streams
- Caters to UK, Irish, and American audiences
- Horse betting platform is easy to navigate
Cons:
- The site’s style could use an upgrade
- Heavy UK-focus might not appeal to your betting preferences
Final Thoughts
Betting on the horses in person isn’t always possible these days, but you can recapture some of the same excitement at home with horse race betting on 888sport. Their platform offers reliable security, intuitive operation, and a wealth of statistical info right at your fingertips. Plus, you can even watch the action live.
Overall, while some areas of the site could use slight upgrades, 888sport horse racing betting is an all-around terrific experience that I recommend to fans of the sport.
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