Betting on horse racing is as a game of skill in India and it is hugely popular in the country. The Supreme Court of India sees a distinction between games of skill and games of chance. So, in 1996, the Court ruled that there is a skill element to betting on horse racing and made it legal in India. It is not illegal gambling so residents of India have access to horse racing betting online sites. The interest in the sport has created a demand for horse racing betting tips. Hence, offshore sportsbooks provide a racing betting service, covering meetings in India and other racing nations, including Britain and Ireland. Here are the best online horse racing betting sites that accept players from India:
Introduction to Horse Racing Betting
Here are the answers to two of the most common questions related to horse racing online betting in India. But you’ll find more FAQs at the end of this guide.
How does horse racing betting work?
Horse racing online betting in India is done through betting sites who have a license and offer odds and the totalisator. Fixed odds bookmakers issue betting odds in a market and bettors place bets at those odds. The bookmaker makes money from the difference between the stakes and payout. The odds have a built in profit margin for the bookmaker. Hence, the objective is to create a book that attracts bets on all outcomes so the bookmaker wins regardless of the outcome.
The totalisator is a pari-mutual operation that offers pool betting on race online betting in India. The organisation pays a dividend for winning bets depending on the amount of money bet into the pool on each horse. But the take-out is relatively high and this is a disincentive to bet with the totalisator. However, there are exotic horse racing betting games options which provide the potential for a big win for a small stake.
How to win in horse racing betting?
The question of how to win in horse racing betting is difficult to answer. The odds are created in favour of the bookmaker and there are many factors to take into account. So, the winner of a horse race depends on the form, track conditions, distance and the jockey. Analysing a race can be time consuming, so horse racing betting tips are popular. However, there are also plenty of sources for a horse racing guide and horse racing betting strategy which can be useful in identifying potential winners of a race.
Another important element of online horse betting in India is speed figures. So, this information reveals how fast a horse ran over the full distance and at various stages of a race. However, when comparing speed figures, you must take into account the going. Hence, official ratings quantify a horse’s form and it is worthwhile to compare ratings when assessing a race. In addition, you must also consider horse racing betting rules when placing bets and deciding on the stake.
Horse Racing Betting Explained
Any horse racing betting strategy must consider the betting options. Online betting for horse racing in India provides bettors with the following types of bets:
Win: Bet to finish first.
Place: Bet to finish in the first three or first two if there are seven runners of fewer.
Win Accumulator: Multiple bet in which winnings from one horse run on to the next.
Place Accumulator: Multiple bet in which selections are bet on to finish in the place positions.
Kenchi: Permutation accumulator bet across 3 to 5 races.
Forecast: Bet on horses to finish first and second.
Quinella: Bet on horses to finish first and second in any order.
Second Horse: Bet on the horse to finish second.
Tanala: Bet on the horses to finish first, second and third with a consolation if the second and third finish in the reverse order.





Bet Features
These bets are available with bookmakers who offer an online betting horse racing in India service. The bets are available with fixed odds bookmakers and the totalisator. The multiple and forecast bets are on offer with the pari-mutual operation. Fixed odds bookmakers offer better value in the single line bets. The exotic forecast bets can give small bettors the opportunity for a life-changing win and that is why they are popular. However, the take-out means the odds are low in value.
It is probably more difficult to win in online horse betting with the totalisator than the fixed odds bookmakers. This is because the pari-mutual operator applies a bigger take-out than the licensed bookmakers. Therefore, the bets are more speculative and the big wins are rare. And win and place bets are single line bets so there are no multiple odds. Accumulators can be lucrative but all the horses must win or finish in the places for a winning bet and permutations are only valuable when most selections win.
Horse Race Betting India
Indian horse racing online betting is very popular. Bettors located in India can bet at offshore operators such as Betway sports. The betting site provides a comprehensive service for meetings in India and overseas. Six authorities govern horse racing in India and there are nine tracks. The most prestigious Flat races mainly take place at Mumbai Racecourse. There are five Classics with the original British names. So, the 1,000 Guineas, 2,000 Guineas, Derby and Oaks are run at Mumbai and Pune Racecourse stages the St Leger. Only home-bred horse can run in the Classics.
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There are 23 Group 1 Flat races in total in India. The major races create online betting on horse racing in India interest and betting turnover. Bettors stake a huge amount on these races with fixed odds bookies, online and with the totalisator. The exotic forecast bets have massive pools and bettors can win a jackpot prize for a modest bet. Each of the nine tracks stages at least one Group 1 race. Four Group 1 races in the calendar rotate around a number of tracks. Indian horse racing online betting generates most bets and turnover for the Group 1 races.
Overseas Horse Races
Horse racing online betting attracts many bettors in India where it is seen as a game of skill so legal. The major races in India are popular for online betting but some overseas races and fixtures generate a huge amount of online betting turnover. So, one of the most popular racing nations for online betting in India is the UK. The major races on the Flat and over jumps in Britain are important attractions for betting on horse racing in India. Hera are the major races and fixtures in the UK that generate the most horse racing betting turnover:
Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Festival is the biggest betting meeting of the season in the UK. It brings together the best horses trained in Britain and Ireland in championship races over hurdles and fences. Horse racing betting online in India includes many bets on the biggest races at Cheltenham. However, the Gold Cup is the most important race of the meeting and attracts plenty of online horse racing betting in India.
Royal Ascot
Royal Ascot is the equivalent of the Cheltenham festival for Flat racing. It is a major summer social occasion and the Queen attends on each day. There are Group races over a range of distances and age groups. The most prestigious race at Royal Ascot is the Gold Cup. It is a race for staying horse over two miles and four furlongs. The race is popular for Indian horse racing online betting.
Grand National
The Grand National is the most famous steeplechase in the world. It takes place at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool in April every year. The race attracts bets from people who only bet once a year. The course and fences are unique and it is the longest horse race in the UK. The Grand National has a maximum field of 40 runners and is huge for Indian online horse racing betting.
The Derby
The Derby is the most prestigious Flat race in the world. It is run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in the south-east of England over one mile and four furlongs. The Derby is one of the five British Classics for which only three-year-olds are eligible. It is the biggest Flat betting race of the season and popular with horse racing betting India bettors.
Horse Racing Betting Tips
There are many online sources for horse racing betting tips. Some of the services are free and others carry a subscription size. Customers sometimes receive a horse racing betting guide as part of the service. Indian horse racing online betting is popular in the country and that means there is a need for profitable horse racing betting tips. Hence, these services are a part of online betting for horse racing in India. Tips are part of the horse racing betting strategy for bettors in India.