I just thought I would start a thread about the old enemy. I feel that we have for a few years never had it so good as a punter in contrast to when I first became interested in Horseracing. This was in the late eighties when the bookies would price up only two races per meeting before race time and odds were quite simply beyond poor on some smaller races, there was no internet meaning you could not shop around with ease like now and before competition from Betfair made them offer any sort of value. What we have now is online odds displayed for most races if not the night before at least first thing in the morning, and so many offers such as best odds guaranteed that would have been unheard of back then. Are there any bookies you can speak highly of? or any you would avoid? who are quick to close or limit accounts in your experience? For my own penneth worth I find BetVictor very good in as much as they price up early, all races best odds and a good many offers. They have been offering non runner, free bet on any cheltenham ante posts since about November and are now doing it on the National. I also use William Hill a little and Bet365 more so as they tend mark up first on most races, I have a betfair account but tend only use it on big meetings with large fields. I have a Ladbrokes shop local but hardly ever use it as of all the bookies I can never find a reason to bet with them as they are hardly ever best priced. I have never used Paddy Power of all the big ones really and so know little about how they deal.
In a nutshell: Ladbrokes- Absolutely ridiculous. Tighter than an Italians budgy smugglers. Skybet- Great website- terrible race coverage, no best odds guaranteed either which is a massive low. Bet365- Rock solid as an online bookmaker. B.O.G, good website, good support team. Betfair: Great concept, website slightly messy IMO. Best prices by a street. Betdaq: Very similar to Betfair, excellent website, FREE racing streams (you do not have to bet as it stands, although I am worried Ladbrokes takeover of the company will change that )- pretty good prices but not quite as good as Betfair. 3% commission which is a major plus compared to Betfairs 5%.
paddy power are one of the better ones i think. some of their odds compilers are useless, especially on foreign races such as meydan ect. they also are first to offer any refunds in instances such as the binocular missing cheltenham drugs scandle. and paying out on 2 winners of a race if something bizaar happens. i'm not a selective gambler, i like to bet on every race when i'm watching so have only had a few accounts closed as a result. betfair is good for ante post bets as you can lay off to get your stake back if you bet wisely and get lucky. bet365 are good as they price up early and probably got the best website imo. betfred i only use if they are top price and i'm pretty confident as i love taking money off that bald welcher. can see that account going soon actually. don't really use willhill anymore because there site is overloaded and slow and coral because i wouldn't trust leaving money in my account with them.
I have been an online bettor for many years. I only bet ante-post on about two races each year (Cheltenham Gold Cup and The Arc) however before I retired I used to bet on several races at the Festival and a few overseas races ( The Arc, Melbourne Cup and the Breeders Cup series). Through the years I have been 'removed' by Victor Chandler and Boylesports. I am only offered minimal stakes by Bet365, Betfred, Skyports, Paddy Power and Blusquare. So, the only firms I use are: William Hill - fair prices offered on the races that I bet on - maximum wager never reached. Ladbrokes - as above however some restrictions on payout. Totesport - fair prices and daily renewal of maximum bet. Stan James - excellent prices on outsiders with decent maximum payout online - increased wagers usually accepted by telephone . Coral - all bets considered online however maximum single payout seems to be about £2000. To me it seems that bettors who are more considered and limited in their enterprise are not welcome with some firms.
Normally use Paddy or William Hill for multiples and early prices and betdaq for outsiders or races where I will bet in running. William Hill has the best iPhone app by a mile. To those that have said they have been restricted on some sites, why is this and to what restriction?
