Best Greyhound Betting Sites
Introduction
Greyhound racing was first attempted in Britain in 1876, somewhat unsuccessfully. It was then introduced in the US in 1912, using a mechanical hare, and reintroduced in Britain in1926, and has remained popular on both sides of the pond ever since.
Naturally, betting on greyhound racing developed with the sport itself and is a huge industry today. We take a look at some aspects of this field of betting.
Top Online Bookmakers for Betting on Greyhounds
Due to its immense popularity, greyhound race betting is catered for by all the best bookies. We look here at some of the top bookmakers offering odds on the sport.
Currently, the number of bookies offering greyhounds betting services is significant. But if you wish to access events from all top greyhound racing tournaments, opt for these bookies.
BoyleSports
You should consider BoyleSports sportsbook if you want to enjoy ultimate greyhounds betting. The bookie is amazing, especially if you are looking for an authentic greyhound experience.
- Pros
- Offers gamblers competitive greyhounds odds.
- Provides amazing greyhounds animations.
- Guarantees the best greyhounds live statistics.
- Provides punters with a wide range of greyhounds markets.
- Cons
- Lacks fantastic greyhounds promotions.
Betway
Greyhounds betting feels much better on the Betway betting site. That is because the bookie always has competitive odds and multiple greyhounds races to bet on.
- Pros
- Simple interface that eases greyhound betting.
- A broad variety of greyhounds markets.
- Bet builder for greyhounds accumulator betting.
- Offers live greyhounds racing results.
- Cons
- Lacks greyhounds-specific promotions.
Bet365
The brand Bet365 is a feature-rich platform with multiple greyhounds markets. Furthermore, the bookie has a bet builder to ease accumulator betting.
- Pros
- Offers live greyhounds race results.
- Competitive greyhounds fixed odds.
- Provided punters with real-time greyhounds statistics.
- Offers greyhounds accumulator insurance occasionally.
- Cons
- Mostly dwells on international greyhounds tournaments.
William Hill
With the amazing greyhounds specials, it is quite hard to assume William Hill when it comes to greyhounds betting. The site is also simple to operate, which means you can easily place greyhounds bets.
- Pros
- Amazing coverage of international tournaments.
- Fantastic fixed greyhounds odds.
- Extensive greyhounds markets.
- Live streaming of the main greyhounds games.
- Cons
- Few betting options on greyhounds events.
Ladbrokes
Ladbrokes has been offering punters special greyhound events for a while now. The bookie has stunning features that you can use to punt on greyhound events.
- Pros
- Offers extensive greyhounds markets.
- Allows greyhounds accumulator betting.
- Offers greyhounds live scores.
- Covers all international greyhounds races.
- Cons
- Does not offer suitable greyhounds enhanced odds.
Most Popular Betting Markets
While some of these markets may seem confusing to new bettors, they’re actually quite simple, and you should get used to them in no time at all. We cover the most popular markets here.
- Outrights
This is betting on a single dog to win the entire racing event, i.e. appear in, and win the final race. Usually, the bet is placed before the derby starts, although some bookmakers may offer bets during the tournament. - Betting on place only
The simplest form of bet. Choose the dog to bet on and what its place will be at the end of that race. Some people place bets allow you the win whether your dog wins or comes in second. - Forecast
Similar to the place bet, except that you must bet on the exact place your two dogs finish, in first and second place. Both dogs must finish in the places you wagered on, or the bet is lost. - Tricast
Pick three dogs to finish in the top 3 places in this bet. The actual finishing order is irrelevant; as long as all 3 dogs finish 1st to 3rd, you win the bet. - Exacta
Exactly the same as the forecast. Pick the first two dogs home, in that order. - Trifecta
This is where it gets tricky, and your knowledge of the particular dogs comes into play. In a trifecta bet, you must pick the first three dogs home – in the correct order. A difficult bet to win, but the odds are usually big, so you should be richly rewarded when you do. - Combinations
This bet can cover up to four greyhounds. Effectively this is combining a set of different bets into one. If two of the total hounds picked to finish first and second, you win.
Why Bet on Greyhounds?
Greyhound racing still has an appeal to bettors, despite animal rights groups having been lobbying against it for many years. It’s a lucrative business, but not without controversy.
- Pros
- Winnings can be substantial
- Regular events worldwide
- Relatively easy to understand the simpler bets.
- Cons
- Has become a sensitive issue
- Some bet types are complex
Important Factors to Consider
There are many factors to consider when betting on sports, and greyhound racing is no different. These are some variables that you should consider.
What are the weather predictions for race day? If rain is forecast, this could seriously affect the outcome of the races, as some dogs may run better in wet conditions than others. If weather conditions are too adverse, the events may be called off altogether.
Some studies show that the male dog is marginally faster than the female. For neutered male dogs, the speed is reportedly the same as that of the female. Bitches in heat, for obvious reasons, must be withdrawn from events for at least 21 days, although this lay-off is usually longer. This may affect that dog’s performance on its return to the track.
Greyhounds begin racing at around 14 months on average. Less successful dogs, or those that show little interest in racing, could be retired as young as two years. More successful dogs may go on until around six years of age. Generally, as they get past their peak, around four to five years, they may become fatigued, or prone to injury. It’s always a good idea to investigate the dogs’ ages before betting.
As with horse racing, you should easily be able to check on the dog’s recent form, usually reported over its previous three events. This can be a good indication of whether the animal is on or off form, declining or improving.
Much like a cheetah, the greyhound is fastest when deploying what is known as a “double suspension gallop”. To achieve this, the hind legs follow the forelegs, and the dog springs forward on each movement, contracting and extending its entire body, with all four feet off the ground for most of each stroke. The dog can spend as much as 70% of the race in the air! Watch how each individual dog performs this to its best advantage.
Catch up on the latest developments prior to the race. Are there any likely scratchings? Are there any new, unknown dogs that have been entered?
You may find some hidden tips in the news, so look at the writer’s predictions.
While not common, some greyhound racing betting sites do allow live, in-play betting once a race has started. You have to be watching live, obviously, but you have the advantage of having a clearer idea of the eventual outcome than you would while the dogs are still in the gates.
Our Thoughts
The fact that there are so many greyhound betting sites attests to its popularity among the gambling fraternity, and the sport is attracting more bets all the time. There are many new greyhound betting sites coming online, and together with the more established sites, this means much more on offer to those keen on greyhound racing betting.
FAQ
What is the best way to bet on dog races?
The place bets and tricast are probably your safest bets, as there is some leeway with where a particular dog finishes. The odds may be less for those wagers, but your chance of a return is improved. For pundits more familiar with greyhound racing, combinations make for an exciting and rewarding bet.
How to find a reputable greyhound betting site?
See our review of some of the top greyhound betting sites earlier in this article. You can also search online for sites that may be in your region, read reviews, and, importantly, check each site’s security protocols.
Can I deposit using my credit card?
Yes, you can. Only UK residents are banned from betting online by credit card. Look at the alternative of using e-wallets, such as Paypal, Neteller, and the like, should the site you want to bet with not allow credit cards.
Can I bet from a mobile device?
Yes, you can. Most online greyhound betting sites have downloadable apps for either the Android or Apple platforms, so you can bet wherever you are.
Where are most greyhound betting sites based?
The majority of bookmakers that offer betting on greyhounds are based in the UK, but they make welcome bets from most countries.. There are several others worldwide, however, and you should be able to find these using an online search.
Certified Betting Expert