The advent of the internet has made horse racing a much easier and faster task for beginners and professionals. You can now bet from the comfort of your own home.
There have certainly been many new developments in recent years that everyone who is serious about horse racing should take note of.
Of course, it’s probably the most comfortable way to go to your local racetrack to enjoy a race day while pitting your mind against one of the many bookmakers on the pitch. But the new millennium has brought a multitude of outlets where you can bet on horses, and in this article we’ll explore some of these new betting methods.
Some of these betting techniques are a bit more complicated than others and are therefore usually only used by professionals, but there is something for everyone who likes to bet on horse racing.
Betting on horse racing with the net
Perhaps the most profound change in horse betting in the past decade has been the advent of the Internet. With access to the World Wide Web, players are now able to place bets on any race anywhere in the world at virtually any time.
All of this can be done quickly and easily and comfortably from home. The internet also allows you to monitor the best available prices on horses and of course with the introduction of betting exchanges, you now have the option to bet against other players.
This development has also led to a rapid increase in the number of horse racing tips services that are now available. In the past, players would have had to call their bets and rely on horse racing tipsters to place ads in newspapers.
These days the internet is full of options and so if you do your research properly you should be able to find a racing tip service that is right for your needs.
Betting on horses for the pros
The Internet has also brought a new era of horse betting opportunities as well as other sporting events.
In addition to the traditional standard bets and dead bets, you can now distribute horse racing bets (which I covered in a previous article) and also participate in what is known as matched betting.
Matched betting on horse racing is essentially the same as standard betting in as much as you can bet on a horse to win, but the difference is that you can “create” your own odds rather than betting with the odds that are set by be offered to a bookmark.
To participate in matched betting, all you have to do is check the odds on a particular horse that other people have offered. Once you have found one that is suitable, you can match your bet. Alternatively, you can set your own odds and see if someone is willing to match your bet and price.
This is a method of betting that is growing in popularity, but I would recommend that if you are well versed in horse betting, you should stay away from it for now.
Fun bets are now more accessible
The internet has also helped introduce more people to some of the more exotic or fun bets like the Dead Scoop Six. The Dead Scoop Six guarantees a big win if you choose six winners from six races correctly, with the option to also get a smaller amount of wins if your horses place well.
The Scoop Six allows you to bet on all six races from any racetrack across the country on a Saturday afternoon, so your note is limited to only one racetrack. This in theory gives you a wider opportunity to choose your winners, and while this is a popular bet for many players, I don’t recommend it as an integral part of your betting activities.
Beginners betting on horse racing should be aware
As you can see, while there are many new ways for you to start betting on horse racing, as a beginner I always recommend that you start with the basics rather than trying to be too adventurous too soon. Especially when betting on the Internet, because you can lose a lot of money very quickly without realizing it.
Starting with the basics, for example by just betting on horses to win with an online bookie, it will allow you to get used to betting on horses in a structured way. Once you are used to this process, you can start bettingstock exchanges where you can potentially get more value from your bets.
And although you will see bets like the Scoop Six, Yankees, Doubles and Trebles advertised, my advice is to avoid them at your own risk, as I think they are only designed to take a punters money.