Online Betting on Greyhounds Tips, Odds & Best Greyhounds Sites for 2024
By Scott Bowen,Editor at online-gambling.com
Scott Bowen
Editor at online-gambling.com
| Rules Diffuculty | Medium |
|---|---|
| Betting Types | 10+ |
| Payout | 73%-84% |
| How to Win | Tips & Strategies |
| Where to Bet | Ladbrokes |
How to Bet on Greyhounds: Betting Guide
While you may be very familiar with horse race betting already, greyhound racing may be something that has eluded you thus far. In reality, greyhounds is a fast and furious sport definitely worth betting on and we are going to teach you how to play your hand right here, in this greyhound betting guide.
Greyhound races are extremely entertaining and animal lovers and punters alike flock to the tracks to watch these magnificent beasts compete. Today, you are going to learn all there is to know about greyhound betting, such as the main betting types, popular strategies, and some great tips to apply to your bets.
Best Online Greyhound Betting Site to Bet for Real Money:
Top Offer
Before you can start making bets, it is important to understand the basic rules of greyhound betting. The following segment explains those rules and the very basics of what you need to understand to make your bets at all. Start here before you move to the more complex strategies.
Greyhound Betting Rules
Greyhounds races are extremely popular in the UK and Ireland, although there are some events happening in other parts of the world as well. The greyhounds rules are fairly simple, as we are talking races on a racing track, nothing too fancy. The hounds run in a circle, and the fastest one is the winner.
Yet, before you move to the greyhound betting sites and start making actual wagers, you will need to understand how the betting markets work. Like any sport, greyhound races have clear favorites and underdogs in each race, and there are many rules to keep in mind. A few of these are presented in the table below:
| Rule | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Ease Into It | If you are new to greyhounds, there is no reason to be too fancy. Ease into the sport and learn about different dogs, their owners, the tracks and more. Make some simple and small bets and dip your toe into the water. |
| Try Each Way for Underdogs | Each Way betting is a very good betting type when looking to capitalize on dogs with long prices. You will need your hound to come into top two, and while your odds will be diminished, your winning chances will be greatly increased. |
| Know the Tracks | The tracks on which hounds run are all different and this difference is not to be neglected. If you learn more about particular dogs, you will notice that they all prefer certain tracks. This is some of the key knowledge any greyhounds bettor must possess. |
| Understand the Tattersalls Rule | In greyhounds, it is common for a hound to be registered for a race and then drop out. When this happens, the odds on already placed bets change according to the Tattersalls Rule. Learn about this rule and find tables that show you exactly how a dog dropping out will impact your odds. |
| Use Best Odds Guarantee | Many betting sites these days offer the best odds guarantee promotion. This means you can bet early on the race. If the odds on your hound go down, you get to keep your price. If they go up, you will benefit from the increase. |
These basic rules of greyhound betting are just the start of your journey into the world of one of the most exciting sports on the planet. As you learn more, you will understand just how entertaining, unpredictable, and fun to bet on greyhounds can actually be.
Betting Types
As we explained earlier, there are multiple betting types that players can take advantage of in greyhound betting. The races are very straightforward, which means that fancy bets you may find in some other sports won’t be available. However, there are many ways you can bet on the final outcome of the race.
Signing up with the best greyhound betting websites will give you a chance to experience all the thrills of the sport. The table below depicts some of the most popular types of bets you can make at these sites when it comes to greyhound betting.
| Betting Type | Explanation |
|---|---|
| To Win | The simplest of all greyhounds bets, to win market is your straight up win market. If you bet on this, your hound will need to come in first, and you will be awarded the exact price you bet at. |
| Each Way | An each way bet allows you to win if your runner comes first or second, or even third. If you bet each way and there are 5-7 runners, you are awarded ¼ of the price if they come in first or second. If there are 8 runners in the race, you will win 1/5 of the money if they come in first, second, or even third. |
| Forecast | Forecast bet includes two names and they have to come in first and second, in that exact order, for your bet to be a winner. Forecast bets can be hard to predict, but they also pay out significantly higher as the odds of the hounds are multiplied. |
| Tricast | Do you think you can do even better and predict the three top finishers in a race? This is notoriously hard to get right, but if you do, you may end up with a massive payout. |
| Exacta | This bet is very similar to forecast, as you need to guess the first two hounds in the race. However, the final return will be different depending on the particular race, as the Tote pool is divided among the winners. |
| Trifecta | Just like exacta, this is a bet that splits the Tote pool among the lucky winners. However, this time around you must name the first, second, and third place finisher in the race to win potentially massive returns. |
| Reverse Forecast/Tricast | Unlike forecast and tricast, these bets don’t require you to get the exact order in which the hounds will finish right. If you can simply name the final two or three winners, you will win, as all possible combinations are covered. |
| Trixie | This is a type of accumulator bet in greyhounds. Trixie is in fact a betting system as it gives you four bets in total, 3 doubles and 1 treble. You must pick three dogs in total and getting any pair of them right will show you some return. |
| Yankee | Just like Trixie, this is a combo bet with multiple opportunities. A total of 11 bets are part of this system and you must pick four dogs from the race. Any two of them finishing up top will mean you get some winnings back, and getting all four right will show a huge win. |
| Super Yankee | A five dog bet that includes 26 bets in total Super Yankee is a true Hail Marry. If you are feeling particularly lucky on the day, pick the hounds for your Super Yankee and bring home the big bucks. |
As you can see, there are many different ways you can bet on greyhounds. While you may the more complex football betting markets when betting this way, betting on the simple final outcome of a race will still be very satisfying.
Greyhound Betting Terms
We have shown you some basic ways you can bet on greyhounds, and there are even more to pick from once you are actually making the bets. However, you won’t be able to properly bet before you learn some key greyhound betting terms, so here is the explanation for some that may come up most frequently:
- Ante-post betting: Some online bookmakers offer very high prices for ante-post betting, which means betting well before a race starts. However, if you make an ante-post bet and your hound does not end up running, you are forfeiting the bet.
- Tattersalls Rule: The Tattersalls Rule of Racing is applied to correct the betting odds when a hound drops out of a race and is not replaced. Since fewer hounds are racing, the odds must change for the current bets as well, and this is where the Rule comes in to explain the exact changes.
- Each Way: One of the most common betting terms you will hear related to greyhounds, each way stands for a betting market that requires the hound to come in first or second place in a race. This betting market can make you a fortune when you bet on the underdogs.
These are only a few of the many terms you will learn while betting on greyhounds. Each new piece of the lingo you learn will make your betting more sophisticated and you should know them all before you can call yourself a serious greyhounds bettor and a serious threat to the bookies.
Odds & Payouts
Compared to betting on other sports, greyhound betting online has one massive advantage. This is the fact that you will always get the best possible price, due to the best price guarantee promotion that most bookies run. This means if your greyhound betting odds go up between betting and the race, your slip will get a bump to the new odds.
The top online greyhound betting sites offer some very lucrative betting odds, both for early betting and last-minute betting. You can check some of the most popular races you can bet on and the payout percentages you can expect in the table below.
| League/Tournament | Nation | Continent | Payout % |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Greyhound Derby | England | Europe | 83.42% |
| Irish Greyhound Derby | Ireland | Europe | 81.49% |
| East Anglican Greyhound Derby | England | Europe | 76.40% |
| Greyhound Grand National | England | Europe | 73.20% |
| Romford Dogs | England | Europe | 82.89% |
The high payout percentage rate is one of the main reasons to bet on greyhounds. While the odds may be iffy for some other sports, your greyhound betting prices will always be premium if you bet with the top bookmakers we recommend.
Leagues and Tournaments
Greyhounds are slightly different to other sports in the way races are actually organized. While there is a handful of major events happening every year, which you could compare in some ways to tennis tournaments, other races happen daily at racetracks around the world.
If you are going to bet on greyhounds, it is likely you will be making bets on races that don’t really matter too much in the grand scheme of things often. Yet, here is a list of a few major events you will not want to miss in your yearly schedule.
English Greyhound Derby
The number one racing derby in all of greyhound racing, the English Greyhound Derby was first organized back in 1927. The race is currently held at the popular Nottingham Greyhound Stadium. This race is one of the most competitive in the world and it hosts some of the top British hounds and their trainers.
Irish Greyhound Derby
Held yearly at the Shelbourne Park, the Irish Greyhound Derby has been in existence since 1928. Over the years, the event changed venues on multiple occasions, and it is one that gave birth to many greyhound legends such as Spanish Battleship, one of the most famous greyhounds in the history of greyhound betting.
East Anglican Greyhound Derby
Another popular derby race, the East Anglican Greyhound Derby has been around since 1975 and features a somewhat meek prize pool compared to the two bigger derbies. Yet, this race is considered one of the highlights of the year and if you enjoy betting on greyhounds you definitely shouldn’t miss betting on it every September.
Greyhound Grand National
The Grand National is one of the longest-standing races in the calendar, held every April since 1927. The event is much smaller in value and size than the major derbies, but it’s one of the most competitive and exciting hurdle races of the year, ideal for betting on greyhounds.
Best Greyhound Betting Sites
You now know what betting markets are popular in greyhound betting and what races to look out for, but you may still be wondering where to bet. You can check out the table below for a list of the best greyhound betting sites which you can sign up with to get the finest odds and bonuses for greyhound betting today.
Here below the Top 5 Greyhound Online bookmakers for 2024:
| Greyhound Betting Site | Welcome Bonus | Pros and Cons | Test Score | Trusted Link | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladbrokes | £20 | All the hounds races , Many bet types , Country restrictions apply | 98% | www.ladbrokes.com | 18+. New customers only. Minimum deposit £5. Deposit and bet £5 and receive £20 in free bets. 1x wagering and free bets are not cashable. Some payment methods and bet types excluded. Full Terms and Conditions apply. |
| 888Sport | $200 | Many Deposit Methods , Wide Range of Sports , No Bonus for E-wallet Depositors | 98% | www.888sport.com | Full T&Cs apply. 18+. New customers only. The bonus will be applied once the full deposit amount has been wagered at least once with cumulative odds of 1.5 or greater. Wagering must be cleared within 90 days. This offer may not be combined with any other offer. Withdrawal restrictions and full Terms and Conditions apply. |
| NetBet | Get £10 Free Bet | Major Betting Site , Other Gambling Offers , High Wagering | 97% | www.netbet.com | Min odds 3/1 (4.00), Min 3 selections. Free Bet Valid for 7 Days. T&C's Apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org |
| Mr.play | €100 | Best Odds Guaranteed , Cash Welcome Bonus , Cons | 97% | www.mrplay.com | 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: $10, max $10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 2.00 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible. |
These sites offer the absolute best sports betting experience you could expect to find. With competitive odds, lucrative bonuses, and premium betting platforms, we guarantee these bookmakers will make your life as a sports bettor smooth and easy.
Bookmaker Offers & Bonuses
A big advantage every sports bettor can expect when betting online is the availability of betting bonuses. Online bookies offer bonuses, free bets, and boosted odds to get you to use their service. You can use this to your advantage and significantly boost your bankroll with these greyhound betting offers.
The table below contains some of the most attractive greyhound betting offers you can claim. The process of getting the bonuses is easy and all you need to do is register with the bookie and make your first deposit to get the bonus released into your account.
| Greyhound Betting Site | Bonus* | Wagering Requirement | Min Odds | Min Deposit | Top Payment Method | T&C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladbrokes | Up to £20 | 1x | 1.00 | £5 | Skrill | 18+. New customers only. Minimum deposit £5. Deposit and bet £5 and receive £20 in free bets. 1x wagering and free bets are not cashable. Some payment methods and bet types excluded. Full Terms and Conditions apply. |
| 888Sport | Up to $200 | 1x | 1.50 | $10 | Visa | Full T&Cs apply. 18+. New customers only. The bonus will be applied once the full deposit amount has been wagered at least once with cumulative odds of 1.5 or greater. Wagering must be cleared within 90 days. This offer may not be combined with any other offer. Withdrawal restrictions and full Terms and Conditions apply. |
| NetBet | Get £10 Free Bet | 8x | 1.60 | €10 | Paysafe | Min odds 3/1 (4.00), Min 3 selections. Free Bet Valid for 7 Days. T&C's Apply. 18+ Begambleaware.org |
| Mr.play | Up to €100 | 9x | 2.00 | €10 | Visa | 18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: $10, max $10 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 2.00 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible. |
The great thing about these bonuses is that you can use them for online greyhound betting, but also for other sports. If you are a fan of snooker betting or betting on any other sport, the bonuses will allow you to get some extra action with limited risk and exposure. It hardly gets any better than that.
Live Greyhound Betting
One of the things that make greyhounds so fun is the fact that watching the races is extremely exciting. With the development of live greyhound betting, you can now actually make bets while the race is on, which is a completely new and exciting way to bet on this sport.
Top for Live Betting
In-play greyhound betting is offered at all top online greyhound betting sites, which let you watch a live stream of the race and bet on it while the hounds are running. The odds are constantly changing and you can bet based on your experience and understanding of the sport to try and give yourself a significant edge.
Greyhound Betting Apps
Back in the day, you had to go down to the track to place your bets. The invention of online betting meant you could bet from your home, but now you can bet just about anywhere. The greyhound betting apps let you make wagers from your mobile phone, which means your bookmaking opportunities are open anywhere and at any time.
The modern online sportsbooks all offer mobile apps, which can be either downloaded or accessed via mobile internet browsers. This means you can bet on your iPhone or Android-powered device at any time, and all you really need is an active internet connection.
If you are concerned about the apps being too slow or hard to handle don’t be. In fact, many mobile betting apps are so well optimized that they make betting easier than your computer. Aside from greyhounds, you can also bet on darts, snooker, horse races, or any other sport you enjoy, on the go.
New Betting Sites
You may prefer to bet with some of the well-known and established bookmakers for safety concerns, but there is much to be said for new bookmakers as well. These sites offer new bonuses and promotions and have to offer competitive odds in order to attract new customers, which is good for you as a player.
Of course, we would never recommend you bet with a site that’s not 100% safe, so we only promote licensed and fully regulated new sportsbooks. These bookies operate under the same licenses that your top bookmakers do, making them safe to bet with and very lucrative to sign up at.
Where to Legally Bet on Greyhounds
In most countries of the world, greyhound betting is legal and so is betting on it. However, there are some countries where the activity is completely or partially banned, while others ban sports betting as a whole. The table below lists some of the countries and your ability to bet on greyhound races.
| Country | Legal Age | Online Greyhound Betting |
|---|---|---|
| UK | 18 | Yes |
| Ireland | 18 | Yes |
| USA | 21 | Some States |
| Australia | 18 | Yes |
| Canada | 21 | No |
In most European countries, people can bet on greyhounds as part of the overall betting offer of online bookmakers. In UK and Ireland, greyhounds are a national sport and you can bet on the races both live and online with practically no restrictions in place, and many races organized regularly.
The USA and Canada have largely banned greyhound racing, as animal cruelty laws prohibit such activity in Canada and most American states. Yet, some states allow punters to bet on races happening in other countries, despite not allowing any races to be run within the state.
Tips and Strategies
We have shown you where you can make your greyhound bets and what top sites offer greyhound betting. We have introduced the main types of greyhound bets you can make as well. Now, it’s time to give you some pro greyhound betting tips which you can use to make your bets better and win more money.
- Bet Early: Making bets early on is a good idea. By using the best price guaranteed promotions, you can make sure that you always get the price and you don’t need to worry about odds going up at a later point. If they do, your odds will be boosted too.
- Try Each Way Betting: Each way betting is a way many professional pari-mutuel bettors make their profits. This bet reduces the variance of your hound coming seconds behind the winner and allows you to show a profit even if they come second. As long as your dog performs well in the race, you will be awarded.
- Learn the Tracks: Each greyhound track is different and hounds that come from different backgrounds will prefer one track over the other. Make sure you learn about various top hounds and their preferences for tracks and only bet on them when you know they are running on a track that actually works well for them.
- Understand Gender Differences: Both male and female dogs run races, but females are notoriously more unpredictable. A female dog will go into season several times a year, rendering her unable to run. This means she may also be unpredictable when she comes back to the track so make sure you understand this before you make any bets.
- Form is everything: Greyhounds are animals, and they can’t be counted on to perform well at all times, like some humans possibly can. In fact, form is a very important indicator in greyhound betting and you should make sure to track the form of various hounds at all times if you want to make bets that actually work well.
These few tips could end up being critical if applied properly. However, we have even more wisdom to share. In the table below you can find some of our favorite greyhound betting strategies, which our pundits like to use themselves when making bets. Check them out and see which one works best for you.
| Strategy | Explanation |
|---|---|
| The Value Bet | Betting on the favorite in a race will often land you a win, but not a very big one. Finding value in the long shots is really what greyhound betting is all about. Look for that hound that has a good chance in your mind, but is not prices highly by the bookies. |
| Each Way Betting | Each way bets allow you to take a lesser risk than you would if you were betting straight up. An each way betting strategy will produce more wins and will keep your bankroll more consistent, allowing you to make bigger wagers. |
| Hedging | Once you have made a bet on a long shot, you may want to hedge your bet by also betting on the race favorite. After all, this hound is most likely to win, so why not get your money back if your dog loses but this favorite takes the race as expected. |
| Exchange Betting | Instead of classic bookmakers, betting exchanges can often be a very good way to go. In exchange, you could end up getting a much better price on the race favorite if you wait long enough for the liquidity to build up. |
| Arbitrage Betting | One of the best ways to make money with sports betting is arbitrage. This means finding odds at various betting sites that favor different hounds. If you play it right, you may end up a winner regardless of which dog wins. |
These strategies are used by some of the best professionals in the industry and they work! You can sign up with various greyhound betting websites to put them to the test and give yourself the best options when it comes to finding good odds, comparing odds, and using arbitrage betting to your advantage.
History of Greyhound Betting
Greyhound betting has a long history in the UK and the rest of the world. The first major races were organized in the early 20th century and the sport keeps going strong to this date. Below, you can find the timeline of some of the major events in its history and how they helped impact the situation today.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1919 | The first commercial racetrack is founded in Emeryville, California. The track uses a mechanical lure for the hounds, is oval in shape, and is the first of dozens to open throughout the USA. |
| 1926 | The first oval greyhound racing track is founded in the UK, starting an era of British racing. To this date, races in the UK and Ireland are the most popular in the world. |
| 1936 | Greyhound racing is one of the most popular pastimes among Brits at a time of hardship. Over 90.000 people attend the 1936 Greyhound Derby and the sport continues its rise in popularity. |
| 2018 | USA removes the ban on online sports betting, prompting many states to start working on online sports betting bills. Among many sports offer, greyhound betting becomes available to Americans who don’t have access to tracks of their own. |
| 2018 | Florida becomes one of the many States to ban greyhound racing due to animal cruelty laws. In most states, the constitutional amendment was voted into power by the people along with Senatorial voting. |
| 2021 | Only a handful of States continue to allow greyhound racing, with betting opportunities declining. Online bookmakers allow betting on international races in some capacity. |
Today, greyhound racing is a somewhat dying sport, as Americans have less and less access to it and people in the UK continue finding new pastimes. Yet, the true fans of greyhound racing still have plenty of opportunities to bet on it. If you prefer other forms of gambling to watching dogs run, you can try some virtual fun with slot machines or other online casino games.
Final Thoughts
Greyhound racing is a very niche type of entertainment but those who enjoy it often consider it the most entertaining thing ever. If you fall into this category, join one of the top greyhound betting websites and enjoy the allure of this fast-paced and incredibly exciting sport today.
Top Offer
We have provided you with the best options when it comes to greyhound betting, including the best sites and bonuses you can sign up for. If you were not able to find what you were looking for in greyhound betting, we offer insights on plenty of other online gambling opportunities in our dedicated guides.
FAQ
Still have some questions about greyhound betting? We searched for the most frequently asked questions about this sport and found the answers you were looking for. You can find all the easy answers you were searching for right here.
1. What online greyhound betting site do you recommend?
While there are many good sites where you can bet on greyhounds, we found that Ladbrokes is the top bookmaker for it. An interesting welcome offer, generous odds, and a wide selection of races put Ladbrokes at the top of our greyhound betting sites list.
2. Can betting on greyhounds be profitable?
Like any form of betting, greyhound betting can be made into a profitable hobby. If you always make sure to get the best odds and use appropriate betting strategies, you may end up a winner in the end. In fact, horse racing and greyhounds racing are some of the most profitable betting sports if done right.
3. What greyhound betting tips and strategies should I apply?
If you want to make a profit from greyhound betting, you should make sure to use the right betting strategies. You can check out the tips and strategies we recommend in this guide to give you a push in the right direction. Make sure to build upon those and create a strategy that really works for you.
4. Can I make live greyhound bets?
Yes you can! The top greyhound betting sites allow you to make live bets on ongoing races. This means you can bet on a race that’s already started and predict what’s going to happen for the remainder of that race. The ever-changing odds are a big factor in live betting and they make it very exciting.
5. How to bet on greyhounds?
You can make greyhounds bets on your desktop device or your mobile phone or tablet if you register with the top bookies out there. The bookmakers we promote in this guide all offer a massive range of greyhounds races and plenty of markets for those.