Greyhounds Betting Sites for 2023

If you’re a fan of greyhound racing or simply fancy placing a bet on the Greyhound Derby or the Steel City Cup, then you’ve come to the right place. Greyhound racing in the UK takes place on a daily basis and remains one of the most popular sports in the country. We’ve picked out the best greyhound betting sites and focused on some of the key markets and terms to look out for.

We’ve taken a comprehensive look at all of the top UK bookmakers who offer odds on greyhound racing and have put together a definitive list of the best operators.  

In order to qualify for our list of top UK greyhound betting sites, each bookmaker must meet our criteria. As well as having ample coverage of UK greyhound racing, our selected greyhound betting sites must also showcase a variety of features. We’ve picked out some of the key features which undoubtedly help to enhance the overall betting experience.  
 
⤿ Greyhound Specials – We were particularly keen on those betting sites who had special enhancements, boosts and markets ahead of key events on the greyhound racing calendar. We also looked favourably on those who priced up markets on each individual trap to win the most races at each meeting.  
 
⤿ Live Streaming – Although we often talk about live streaming allowing punters to watch live football and tennis, there are a number of bookmakers who also stream every single UK greyhound race. This undoubtedly has a positive impact and allows you to follow the progress of your bets. We favoured those bookmakers who stream every single UK greyhound event completely free and do not require a qualifying bet.  
 
⤿ Additional Greyhound Coverage – Although the majority of our focus is on the UK action, we preferred to see a wider coverage of the sport and picked out several bookmakers who offered odds on Irish and Australian greyhound racing. This came in particularly handy during significant events such as the Irish Greyhound Derby.  
 
⤿ Accumulator Boosts – Many punters enjoy backing multiple runners across the various UK meetings and we have included several bookmakers who offer daily enhancements and boosts on accumulator bets. This is a great way of ensuring that you have a chance of receiving far greater returns if you’re lucky enough to strike it lucky with a greyhound accumulator.  
 
⤿ Rewards Club/Accumulator Club – Many greyhound betting sites now offer punters the chance to earn rewards simply for placing regular bets. If you’re going to be betting regularly, then it’s advised to sign up for a bookmaker who can offer a free bet or free spins each week. These free bets can be used on any sport, so this could easily be reinvested into the follow day’s greyhound racing.  
 
⤿ Competitive Odds – Fundamentally, every UK punter wants to be given the best possible odds when it comes to betting on their favourite sport, so we’ve picked out greyhound betting sites who continuously offer competitive odds on all upcoming events.  

With a huge array of online bookmakers to choose from, it can often be difficult to know which operator to choose. Luckily, we’ve picked out five of the best UK greyhound betting sites each of whom are highly recommended for those who are looking to place bets on this high-octane sport.  

If you’re planning on placing a greyhound bet, the good news is that you’re never far away from the next race. On an average day in the UK, there are approximately 11 meetings taking place and it’s also possible to wager on Irish and Australian tracks with many UK bookmakers. Thankfully, betting on greyhound racing is extremely straightforward and our guide will give you all of the information that you require to begin betting on this popular and competitive sport.  

• Choose your preferred bookmaker from our extensive list of online operators
• Click the link and sign up for an account. In order to take advantage of their welcome bonus, you’ll need to make a deposit. This is an extremely straightforward process and can be completed in a matter of minutes.  
• Click on the ‘greyhound’ section. This can often be found in the A-Z list of sports (often on the left-hand side of the home page).  
• Browse the list of upcoming racing. If you fancy an ante-post bet, click on ‘future races’.  
• Once you have located you chosen race, click on your preferred runner and this will be immediately added to your betting slip.  
• If you’re creating an accumulator, continue to browse the list of upcoming races and add each selection to your betting slip.  
• Once you are satisfied with your selection(s), locate your betting slip (usually found on the right hand side of the home page) and add your chosen stake and click ‘confirm bet’.  
• If your chosen bookmaker offers live streaming, then you can follow the progress of your bet using this service.  
• Your bet will be settled once the race has concluded.  

If you’re new to greyhound betting, the sheer amount of betting markets can be a little confusing at first. However, our comprehensive guide will help you understand each of these options and hopefully enable you to find some winners!  

➢ Win  

This is the most simplistic way of betting on a greyhound race and requires you to pick the winner of a race. In the UK, the majority of races will feature six runners so there is always a chance of an upset. If your chosen dog crosses the line first, you will be paid out.  

➢ Place (each-way) 

If your chosen dog finishes first or second in a race, you will be paid out at ¼ odds. This is the ideal way to bet on a greyhound who is likely to start the race at generous odds. Greyhound racing can be hugely unpredictable and shocks regularly occur, so betting on a dog to finish in the top two is a much safer way of approaching it.  

➢ Straight Forecast  

In order to receive a payout, you must correctly predict the first two greyhounds to cross the line in the right order. This is a good way of betting on a race which features a very short odds-on favourite.  

➢ Reverse Forecast 

As above, however, your chosen two greyhounds can cross the line in any order. As long as your two dogs finish first and second, you will paid out.  

There are numerous ways to bet on any UK greyhound race and we’ve put together a list of the most popular ways to wager on upcoming events.  

⤏ Single  

A single bet is the most popular way of betting on a greyhound race. As the name would suggest, this is one single bet and you will be paid out as soon as the race has concluded.  

⤏ Double / Treble  

Doubles and Trebles are an extremely popular way of betting on greyhound racing and they help to keep an interest across the day. In order to receive a payout, each of your two/three greyhounds must cross the line in first place. It is also possible to place an each-way double and each-way treble. If either of your selections is defeated, you will not be paid out.  

⤏ Accumulator 

Accumulator betting is extremely popular with UK punters and this type of bet has the possibility of providing significant returns for a small outlay. In order to be paid out, each leg of your accumulator (4+ selections) must be a winner.  

⤏ Lucky 15 

A Lucky 15 is a popular combination bet which can also provide significant returns for a small stake. A Lucky 15 contains 15 different selections (15 x your stake) and you will still receive some sort of payout even if one of your selections is defeated. Many betting sites offer a bonus (usually 5%) if you manage to successfully land a Lucky 15 bet.  

⤏ Yankee  

A Yankee is similar to a Lucky 15, albeit with 11 different bets (11 x your stake). This includes a four-fold accumulator and several doubles and trebles, so you will also be paid out if one of your chosen greyhounds fails to win.  

Similar to most sports, greyhound racing has plenty of unique terminology, some of which can be a little confusing. Although you are unlikely to use many of these terms in casual conversation, it is always handy to understand the meaning behind many of these words.  
 
🔸 Puppy – There are a number of events on the greyhound racing calendar such as the ‘Puppy Derby’ and ‘Puppy Cup’. Any dog under the age of two is eligible to compete in these competitive and hugely enjoyable races.  
 
🔸 Trap – This is the name for the box which houses each of the six greyhounds ahead of the race getting underway.  
 
🔸 Jolly – The favourite (shortest odds) in any race is often referred to as ‘the jolly’.  
 
🔸 Grade – There are a number of different grades and these determine the level of race in which each greyhound is competing. Dogs who win a race often go in grade whereas those who underperform are likely to go down in grade. Examples of grades races in the UK include A4, D2 and S5.  
 
🔸 Open Race (OR) – This is the highest level racing and greyhounds will often travel far and wide and compete in these valuable races. Open races tend to have far better prize money and therefore attract a higher calibre of competitor.  
 
🔸 Sprints – These are short races which are often competed over distances such as 264m and 305m. Greyhounds often run around just two bends in these type of contests.  
 
🔸 Handicap Race – Each of the six competitors will be given a staggered start in a handicap race. This will be decided by the grader and is based on their previous performances and the level of race in which they have been competing. This is done to try and ensure that the race will be competitive and that every greyhound is given a fair chance of victory.  
 
🔸 Trial – A trial race is a non-competitive event which is not available to punters. However, these are often competed between greyhounds ahead of their debut or those who are returning from injury. Punters can often use the times of these trials to assess the fitness and speed of unfamiliar runners.  
 
🔸 Going – This is the term used to assess the speed of the track and tends to be affected by the weather.  
 
🔸 Ante-Post – An ante-post bet is a wager on an upcoming race which may not be taking place for several days/weeks/months.  

Although the number of greyhound tracks has diminished in recent years, there are still a number of venues who host high-quality greyhound racing several times a week. We’ve picked out some of the most popular racetracks in the UK.  
 
✳ Towcester is one of the most popular greyhound venues in the UK, despite its relative infancy. It was opened in 2014 and hosted the English Greyhound Derby in 2017, 2018, and 2022 and is set to host this prestigious event once again in 2023. It is set in picturesque surroundings and hosts several high-quality open races throughout the course of the season.  
 
✳ Sheffield. The Owlerton Stadium has been hosting high-quality racing since 1929 and its proximity to Sheffield’s city centre makes it one of the most popular UK greyhounds for punters to visit. As well as hosting graded racing three times a week, it is also the home of the Steel City Cup and the Racing Post Trophy.  
  
✳ Nottingham hosts several iconic races throughout the course of the season and there is always a decent selection of races on a Monday night. The White City Stadium hosted the Greyhound Derby between 2019 and 2021 and is also the home of the Eclipse, The Puppy Classic and The Select Stakes.  

✳ Romford is one of the most popular destinations for greyhound punters and with regular Friday and Saturday evening fixtures, there is always a terrific atmosphere at this Essex venue. It also hosts quality racing throughout the season including the Champion Stakes, Essex Vase, Golden Sprint and the Coronation Cup.  
   
✳ Newcastle is one of the premier northern venues on the circuit and there is always a decent crowd at the Tyneside venue. It has been operating for 90 years and hosts several prestigious events including the All England Cup and the Northern Puppy Derby.  

Greyhound racing is a hugely competitive and unpredictable sport and there is no surefire way of finding winners. However, there are a number of strategies which can be deployed and these can help improve your chances of making a profit on this fascinating high-octane pastime. We’ve highlighted some of the best methods and strategies which should always be considered before placing a bet on the dogs.

Keep an Eye on Runners who a Returning from a Layoff 

When a greyhound has been absent for several months, they will often take part in several trials ahead of their return. Once they are ready to return, they will often be dropped in grade by the handicapper and this can often be very helpful. If a dog has been competing in A4 events in November, yet is now involved in an A5 or A6 contest in April, it will often put in a strong performance against much-easier rivals.  

Fast Starts are Beneficial  

If you cannot pick between two greyhounds, it’s often best to opt for the dog who tends to make a faster start. Times and comments can be found on the Racing Post Greyhound site and comments such as ‘slowly away’ are more likely to result in traffic problems and your chosen runner potentially becoming embroiled in a tangle. If you can find a greyhound who hits the front early and avoids trouble, you’ve given yourself a much better chance of success!  

Check the Weather Conditions  

It’s always advised to check the forecast before placing your bets and also to take note of the official track conditions. Some dogs excel in wet conditions and prefer to race on a moistened surface whereas others struggle if the track is waterlogged. As a result, it’s always best to make sure that the weather conditions are unlikely to scupper your chosen bet.

Consider the Market  

Greyhound odds can be lively, particularly in the final five minutes. It’s important to consider these market movements, especially if there are several runners who are making their first start or returning from a layoff. It’s important to note that the odds won’t always reflect the outcome of a race, however, they often give us an idea of how a race may play out.  

Betting on greyhound racing is a hugely enjoyable experience and it is now possible to wager both online and at the venue itself. We’ve compared the two and looked at the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods.  

Advantages of Online Greyhound Betting  

• Bets can be placed from the comfort of your own home. Greyhound bets can be placed on a mobile app from any destination.
• You can browse the form and watch any UK greyhound race using a mobile device.
• You can place greyhound bets across multiple different venues within the space of a few minutes.
• You can benefit from promotions such as Best Odds Guaranteed and 3x Daily Boosts by using online bookmakers such as Betfred and Betfair.

Advantages of Offline Greyhound Betting  

• You can enjoy a lively atmosphere, particularly on a Friday and Saturday night and hear the roars from the crowd as the race concludes
• You can look at each of the greyhounds in the flesh ahead of each race.  
• It is possible to speak to other like-minded punters and share tips and information.

It is hard to beat the thrill of being trackside as the greyhounds fly past the grandstand towards the finishing line. However, online betting is far easier and more convenient and does not involve any travelling. The generosity of online bookmakers also enables greyhound racing punters to boost their returns and the addition of live streaming means that you won’t miss a single race throughout the course of the day.