Fast, furious and frenetic, greyhound racing is a sport that never fails to thrill. Finding the best greyhound betting sites isn’t easy, but we have done all the hard work for you.
After reading this page you’ll know where to find the best greyhound betting apps and thanks to our expert advice, hopefully you’ll be backing plenty of winners too.
Top 7 Greyhound Betting Sites in the UK
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Bet on Greyhounds with William Hill
The best UK bookie for betting on greyhound racing has to be William Hill. They cover an extensive range of meetings in the UK and Ireland and also from Australia and the USA. In the UK and Ireland alone you can bet on up to 14 meetings a day with 12 to 14 races at each meeting and William Hill broadcast every single race live on William Hill TV, which can be accessed once you open an account.
All of the most popular greyhound racing betting markets are available with William Hill, including forecasts/tricasts, place betting and outright ante-post betting for the biggest greyhound races like the English Derby. They have everything that greyhound betting punters need and at William Hill greyhound betting is made easy.
Greyhound Bets Explained
If you are wondering how some of the most popular greyhound betting markets work, you are about to find out. In the table below you can see some of the key markets and bet types used by greyhound racing punters and we then explain each option in detail. If you combine this information with our greyhound betting strategies you will have a far better chance of finding more winning greyhound racing bets. You can find out more abouts some of the terminology used to describe these markets in our greyhound betting terms glossary.
Bet Type | Risk | Recommended for |
Forecast Bet | 4 | Novice |
Trifecta Forecast | 5 | Beginner |
Place Bet | 2 | Advanced |
Across the Board | 1 | Expert |
Trap Challenge | 3 | Beginners/Novices |
(*risk can be managed, not volatility)
Forecast Bet
If you place a forecast bet on greyhound racing you need to pick the two dogs in the race that you think will finish 1st and 2nd. A straight forecast requires you to select the 1-2 in the correct order (1 bet), while a reverse or combination forecast is a bet on two dogs to finish 1-2 in any order (2 bets). With only 6 dogs in UK races there is a decent chance you can land regular winning forecast bets. However, in jurisdictions where 8 dogs compete it is obviously tougher.
Trifecta Forecast
The bet that gives punters the best chance of landing a big return from small stakes when betting on greyhounds is the trifecta forecast, also known as a tricast. This works on the same principles as the forecast bet, except you pick three dogs to finish 1-2-3 instead of two. A straight trifecta is a single bet, while if you place a combination trifecta (1-2-3 in any order) it consists of 6 separate bets.
Place Bet
A place bet in greyhound racing is a wager placed on a dog to finish either 1st or 2nd. Odds will obviously be much shorter than you would get backing the dog to win the race, but place bets reduce the risk and you have a much greater chance of placing winning bets consistently. A show bet is very similar, you need to pick a dog to finish in the first 3 places rather than the first two.
Across The Board
An across the board bet has three different elements. You place it on one dog and it is a bet on the win, place and show markets. If the dog you back wins, you will get paid on all three wagers. If your dog finishes 2nd you lose the win part and collect on the place and show. A third place finish will just see a return on the show part of the bet. It is a low-risk option when betting on greyhounds and an across the board bet gives you an excellent chance of getting a return on your investment.
Trap Challenge
If you are not very adept at picking out winning dogs, the trap challenge is a fun alternative. Instead of betting on the runners, you bet on the trap number that you think will have the most wins during a meeting. You can increase your chances of winning on this market by looking back at previous results when track conditions have been similar. This is a great market for punters that don’t know much about reading greyhound racing form and it gives you an interest in every race on the card.
How to Find the Best Greyhound Odds
It doesn’t matter how big your bet is, what type of bet it is or how important the race is you are betting on. You should always try to find the best Greyhound odds for every single wager you place. So how do you find the best greyhound betting odds? Well, just like we do in the table below you need to contrast and compare the odds on offer from as many betting sites as possible.
William Hill | bet365 | Betfair | |
Knockaboul Syd | 11/4 (3.75) | 7/2 (4.5) | 3/1 (4.0) |
Deerjet Sydney | 9/2 (5.5) | 9/2 (5.5) | 4/1 (5.0) |
Southwood Jet | 9/2 (5.5) | 9/2 (5.5) | 4/1 (5.0) |
Wolfe | 9/2 (5.5) | 5/1 (6.0) | 5/1 (6.0) |
Coolavanny Chick | 8/1 (9.0) | 8/1 (9.0) | 8/1 (9.0) |
Ballydoyle Valour | 12/1 (13.0) | 12/1 (13.0) | 10/1 (11.0) |
Churchill Holly | 16/1 (17.0) | 16/1 (17.0) | 14/1 (15.0) |
Smurfs Machine | 16/1 (17.0) | 16/1 (17.0) | 20/1 (21.0) |
Distant Village | 20/1 (21.0) | 20/1 (21.0) | 20/1 (21.0) |
*Table For Display Purposes Only |
The odds table* shows the latest English Greyhound Derby betting odds that are available from William Hill, bet365 and Betfair. The ante-post favourite Knockaboul Syd was 11/4 (3.75) with William Hill, and 3/1 (4.0) with Betfair. However, bet365 had the best odds by far at 7/2 (4.50) and for this race they had the best odds for 8 of the 9 dogs listed.
Failing to get the best greyhound betting odds results only hurts your own profits so make sure to take the time to visit as many bookies as you can to ensure you get the maximum returns possible when you back a winner.
Live Greyhound Betting
Due to the relative shortness of the races and the massive importance of the break, live betting on greyhound racing isn’t really feasible. The biggest issue is the time delay on the streams and in races that last seconds rather than minutes, that is a major problem.
The Sportsbetting24 guide to in-play online betting is worth having a look at if you are interested in live betting on other sports. However, for greyhound racing, you are better off sticking to the popular pre-race greyhound betting markets we talked about earlier on.
Live Streaming
One thing that greyhound betting fans will have no problems in finding are live greyhound racing streams. Almost every single bookie we looked at had live greyhound racing streaming but one thing that did differ was the requirements to qualify to watch. You need to place a minimum bet of £0.50 e/w or £1 win on a race to qualify for live streaming at bet365, for example. With William Hill, you can stream greyhound racing live for free on WHTV. Below you can see a list of the best greyhound betting sites for live streaming…
Live Greyhound Racing Streaming Bookies |
William Hill |
Paddy Power |
bet365 |
Betfred |
Betfair |
BetVictor |
Best Greyhound Betting Apps
In the UK the vast majority of web traffic is generated by smartphone users (Statista report). The amount of mobile web activity is increasing year on year and it is of the utmost importance that bookies make placing bets on your mobile a pleasurable experience on their greyhound betting apps.
Mobile betting apps should be well designed and function perfectly and greyhound bettors will want to be able to access live greyhound racing streams on their mobile devices too. In the table below we look at some of the best apps and reveal what sets them apart from their rivals.
App | Features |
William Hill App |
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bet365 App |
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Betfair App |
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Unibet App |
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Best Greyhound Races to Bet On
Our greyhound betting experts have already informed you on where to bet on greyhounds, how to bet on greyhounds and where you can find live greyhound racing streams. Now we will discuss which are the best dog racing betting events. In the British Isles there are three domestic Derbies that every trainer and owner wants to win, find out more about them below…
English Greyhound Derby
This is the most sought after prize in greyhound racing in the British Isles. First run in 1927, the 500m race has been run at several venues, including White City, Wimbledon and Towcester. The current venue for the English Greyhound Derby is Nottingham Greyhound Stadium. There is usually over 90 entries with qualifying rounds starting in early October and the final held at the end of that month. The winner collects a cool £50k and you can find all the latest entries and news on the official Nottingham Greyhound Stadium site.
Scottish Greyhound Derby
First run at Carntyne Stadium in 1928, the Scottish Greyhound Derby is the biggest race north of the border. In 1990 the race was moved to its current home, Shawfield Stadium in Glasgow. The Scottish Greyhound Derby has been run at a variety of trips over the years and the current distance is 480m. With a first prize of £20k for the winner, this race is considered a ‘Classic’ and it is a great race to have a bet on.
Irish Greyhound Derby
The first official Irish Greyhound Derby was run at Shelbourne Park in Dublin in 1932. It is the longest of the three derbies with a distance of 550 yards. It is the most lucrative of the ‘Classics’ with a total purse of €255,460 and a €110,000 first prize. Spanish Battleship won the race three times in a row between 1953-55 and he is widely regarded as Ireland’s greatest ever greyhound. The official race website is worth keeping an eye on for news about the next Irish Derby.
East Anglian Derby
It may not have the same reputation as the other races we mentioned, but the East Anglian Derby is a big event too. It is a 462 metre race that has a first prize of £15k and it is run every September. Legendary greyhound trainer Charlie Lister has won this race on no less than 12 occasions so keep a close eye on his runners. It was first run in 1975 at Yarmouth Stadium and that remains the venue to this day.
Expert Greyhounds Betting Advice
- Keep It Simple: If you are a greyhound betting beginner or novice we recommend sticking to simple single bets to start with. Look at some of the key greyhound bets we explained earlier and pick one that is relatively low risk like a place or show bet. Once you get a feel for betting on the sport then move on to more complicated exotic and combination bets.
- Don’t Rely on Lucky Numbers:Many punters who bet on greyhounds don’t bother checking form or stats. Instead, they bet on their favourite trap numbers. This is not a sustainable way to bet on greyhounds and while you will get occasional winners it will be completely down to blind luck. Learn how to read the form as looking back at previous results and times can be a big help in the quest to find winners.
- Track/Draw Bias:If you are planning on placing a greyhound bet you should try and look at some of the preceding races on the track. This will give you an idea of whether there is any track bias on the day and if certain trap numbers are favoured (high, low or middle). If the dog you want to back is drawn in the right trap, this could be the ideal time to be brave and increase your stake.
- Name Your Dog:This might seem like a simple piece of advice, but you’d be surprised at the number of punters that simply write the trap number on their betting slips. Online you can back the trap number rather than the dog too. If the dog you originally backed is a non-runner and a reserve runs instead, your bet carries over onto that reserve dog if you bet on the trap number rather than the dog’s name.
Greyhound Racing Terms Glossary
Greyhound betting term | Description |
Average early speed | This refers to the speed a greyhound shows early in a race after leaving the traps and dogs with good early speed can be worth backing. |
Box | The box or trap is where your dog starts from. Box 1 is the innermost trap while trap 6 is the widest. |
Dead Heat | A dead heat is when two or more dogs cannot be separated by the judge. If two dogs dead heat for 1st then both are declared as winners. |
Doubleheader | This is when a racetrack holds two meetings on the same day. |
Forced Out | When a greyhound suffers interference, usually on a bend, and is ‘forced out’ of a good racing position. |
Grading system | The grading system ensures that greyhounds of similar ability race against each other and ensures that the action is competitive. |
Infield | The infield describes the inside of the track and dogs that can hold a good position in this area have a big advantage during races. |
Interference | Interference is when one dog physically impedes or bumps another dog and causes them to lose their position. |
Lure | The lure, also commonly called the hare or bunny, is a mechanical device that is chased by the dogs during the race. |
Muzzle | Muzzles are worn by dogs over their mouths to prevent them from biting other dogs during the race. |
Photo Finish | When there is a very close finish and it is hard to call the winner, the judge uses the photo taken at the wire to declare the winner. |
Post Time | The post time of a race is the time that a race is officially due to start. |
Program | The program contains all the vital information on form and stats for the races on a card and these can be viewed online. |
Scratch | When a dog is withdrawn from a race and declared a non-runner it is said to be ‘scratched’. |
Sprint | In the UK a sprint race is the shortest trip that greyhounds race over and the distances range from 210m to 300m. |
Take Out | Greyhound tracks take a cut of betting turnover for themselves and this is known as the ‘Take Out’. |
Tote Board | If you are looking for the dividends for bets like forecasts and trifectas you will find that information on the Tote Board. |
Winners Circle | This is where the victorious dog is paraded by their handler post-race and receives the winning prize. |
Wire | The wire is the finishing line in a greyhound race and cameras are positioned to take photos as the dogs cross the line. |
Greyhound Betting FAQs
What’s the best greyhound betting site?
The best greyhound betting site for UK punters is William Hill. You can stream greyhound races live for free from a number of countries, odds are competitive and there is a nice range of markets available. Some of the other top greyhound betting sites mentioned on this page are worth checking out too.
Where can I find the best greyhound odds?
As we mentioned earlier on, it is vital to find the best greyhound betting odds in order to maximise returns from winning wagers. For ante-post markets especially, bet365 can be relied upon to have excellent prices but you have to shop around to ensure that you aren’t missing out.
What’s a good greyhound betting strategy?
One of the best pieces of greyhound betting advice is to watch races before you bet to see if there is any track bias. In certain weather conditions some parts of the track race faster than others and if a dog has a good draw then their prospects of running well will be increased. Using this greyhound betting system will help you find lots more winners.
Which greyhound betting sites have live streaming?
Greyhound punters are spoiled for choice when it comes to live greyhound racing streaming. You can watch races live with a large number of bookies, including but not limited to, bet365, William Hill, Betfred, Unibet and Paddy Power.