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Best Galway Races Betting Sites Ireland 2024 – Horse Racing Free Bets

The Galway Races is an annual horse racing event that begins on the last Monday of July and is held at the Ballybrit Racecourse in County Galway Ireland and includes seven days of flat and jumps races. Over 150,000 fans attend the weeklong event to enjoy the races and other social events that take place. First established in 1869, the Galway Races was first only 2 days and it has gradually gotten bigger over the years until 1999 which was the first year that it ran for all 7 days.

Best Galway Races Betting Sites for 2024:

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5 / 5
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Bet €10 Get €30 in Free Bets

- Competitive welcome offer
- Impressive VIP scheme for returning customers

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New customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of €10. Qualifying real money bet of €10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer awarded immediately but could be issued the next working day in exceptional circumstances such as technical fault. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly
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2
5 / 5
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Claim €50 in Free Bets!

- Great bonuses and promotions
- High quality live streaming of the Irish Derby
- Best odds guaranteed policy

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*New members. Min €10 bet on sportsbook, placed & settled within 14 days of sign-up. Min odds 2.0. 3 non-withdrawable €10 Free Bet Tokens: accept within 7 days, valid for 7 days from acceptance. ex E/Ws & Multiples. Stakes not returned. Click for terms.
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3
4.9 / 5
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Get a €20 Free Bet

- Generous welcome bonus
- Odds boosts guaranteed

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18+. T&C Apply
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4
4.9 / 5
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Claim a €30 New Customer Free bet

New Customers only. Bet €10* & Get €30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between €5* and €10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply.

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Terms & conditions apply >
New Customers only. Bet €10* & Get €30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between €5* and €10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply.
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5
4.8 / 5
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Claim a €60 Matched Bet

Right now they have 34 different sports covered, meaning that you’re very likely to find the sport that you’re interested in here. For example, most top sports are covered, including football, tennis, horse racing, rugby, greyhounds, and much more besides.

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T&Cs Apply T&Cs apply, 18+ Begambleaware.org
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6
4.7 / 5
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Claim a €50 Free Bet

There's plenty of less prolific sports too, so you can check out markets in athletics, chess, futsal and more. Esports have a good showing here, with over 300 markets at time of writing. If you're a fan you're going to want to check that out.

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18+. T&C Apply
Review
7
4.7 / 5
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Claim €40 in Free Bets

William Hill offer an excellent €40 in Free Bets.

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18+ Play Safe. New customers using Promo code BB40 only. Min €10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 4 x €10, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 7 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. See full terms below. gamblingtherapy.org
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8
4.6 / 5
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Claim a €40 Welcome Offer

Get a great €40 new customer bonus from Unibet

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18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit €10. Money back as bonus if first bet loses. Wagering requirements: all sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. Full T&C's apply.. #AD
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Each day at the Galway Races offers a special day out for attendees and the favourite events for many is the Galway Plate on Wednesday and the Galway Hurdle and Ladies Day on Thursday. The Galway Races provides 52 different horse races throughout the week which gives attendees and people at home plenty of opportunity to place bets on a whole range of markets for a thrilling betting experience. Here is our essential guide on everything you need to know about the Galway Races, the betting markets and strategies to ensure you choose the best betting site in Ireland.

How We Rank the Best Galway Races Betting Sites

There are many factors to consider when it comes to choosing the most suitable bookmaker in Ireland. Here are some important features to look out for to help you choose the best Galway Races betting site for your individual needs.

Licensing and SecurityIt is required that all bookmakers are fully licensed and regulated by a professional body such as the UK Gambling Commission or the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland. This ensures that all customers’ personal details and funds are safe and secure and also means they adhere to fair gaming rules.
Welcome Offers and Galway Races PromotionsMake sure you always check out the welcome offers before committing to a betting site. The best offers include free bets, matched deposits and no deposit bonuses to boost your funds. Regular promotions prior to big events should also be advertised to entice you to place bets on their site for better rewards.
Reputation and ReviewsThe best betting sites always have a good reputation due to their customer service and betting features. It is very important that you check out the reviews from previous and existing customers to help determine whether the bookmaker is suitable for you.
Galway Races Betting OddsWhen choosing the ideal betting site for all your betting needs, you must check that they offer competitive odds. Many betting sites offer the best odds guaranteed for horse racing and this ensures that you are unable to get better odds anywhere else for the Galway Races.
Galway Races Betting MarketsAt the Galway Races, there are many events and the majority of betting sites will enhance the excitement even further by providing a wide range of betting markets. These will include winner, to place, each way, handicaps, antepost and more to ensure bettors never get bored.
Galway Races Event CoverageTo ensure you never miss a second of the action, the best betting sites will provide extensive coverage of the Galway Races. This should include betting options for all 52 races as well as the ability to live stream every race and watch your chosen horses carefully.
Payment MethodsTo make customers feel more comfortable using betting sites, many now offer an array of payment methods such as PayPal, debit cards, Apple and Google Pay, bank transfers and even e-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller. This reassures bettors knowing you can use your preferred payment option.
Special FeaturesWhen looking for a good betting site to sign up for, it is advised that you check out what special features they offer. This can include live streams, stats pages, bet builders, unique offers and boosted odds to ensure you enjoy your betting experience and keep coming back for more.
Mobile AppMany bookmakers are now available online and also offer a mobile app to allow users to bet anywhere at any time. The app should be easy to navigate with a clear design and standout graphics to help people place bets with ease.
Customer SupportWhen betting online it is essential that you are provided with good customer support to deal with any issues you have. This should be available via live chat, email, telephone or social media and bettors should receive a quick and efficient resolution to problems which will minimise the disruption caused to your betting experience.

Whether you prefer a bookmaker that offers live streams of all horse racing events, strong welcome offers and promotions or a wide range of thrilling betting markets, you can definitely find the best Galway Races betting site in Ireland that caters to you.

The Best Galway Races Betting Sites in 2024

Ireland is home to many bookmakers and it can be incredibly overwhelming when trying to decide which one to use. We have collected some of the most important information you need on some of the most popular betting sites to help you choose the best Galway Races betting sites that provide a range of special features and good promotions to suit you.

BoyleSports

ProsCons
Good welcome offerSlow customer support
Range of horse racing promotions 
Impressive Galway Races coverage and betting markets 

BoyleSports is the largest independent bookmaker in Ireland and has become one of the most popular betting services. Known for its impressive horse racing section, bettors are able to browse through all the available races, checking out the helpful stats on the recent results of each horse to guide you to placing an educated bet. There are lots of betting markets available for the Galway Races including winner, each way, forecast, Tricast, antepost and an array of specials to further boost the excitement. Each race card highlights tips from the Racing Post to give you an insight into the form and you can also watch live streams of every horse race with in play betting available. BoyleSports’ welcome offer provides new customers with €30 worth of free bets when you place a €10 bet and there are plenty of horse racing promotions including extra places, best odds guaranteed and acca insurance. Bettors also love the mobile app which can be used on the go to place bets and to receive personalised notifications to keep you up to date.

Ladbrokes

ProsCons
Good horse racing promotionsWithdrawals can be slow
Good welcome offer 
Live streams and mobile app 

Ladbrokes has been around for over a 100 years and has continuously adapted to provide customers with a standout betting service both on land and online. The horse racing section can be found on the selection of most popular categories along the top and then you can browse through all the different upcoming races and their race cards. For the Galway Races, you will be able to take a look at all the horses running, check out their stats from recent results and place an educated bet. Ladbrokes always offer the best odds guaranteed on horse racing and there are also early cashout options and live streaming available so you are able to watch every race and even place some in play bets. Ladbrokes also provides customers with necessary information with the help of the Racing Post and you will discover an array of betting markets including winner, each way, to place, forecast and more to keep you interested. The welcome offer provides new customers with €20 in free bets when you place a €5 bet and popular promotions also include extra places and lucky dip.

Bet365

ProsCons
Strong welcome offerNo acca insurance
Range of Galway Races betting markets 
Live streams 

Bet365 is one of the most widely used bookmakers worldwide and it is known for its impressive betting service available on a large selection of sports. Once you click on the horse racing section you are able to see which races are coming up and take a look at all the odds along with offers, news and antepost bets. The Galway Races are available to bet on with a wide range of betting markets including winner, each way, to place, forecast and Tricast along with various specials to keep customers interested. The current welcome offer on bet365 includes a reward of €30 in free bets when customers place a €10 bet and you can also find a range of horse racing promotions including bet boosts, extra places and the best odds guaranteed. There is a compatible mobile app which keeps you up to date with personalised notifications and bet365 offers live streams of all the horse races so you never have to miss a moment of the action.

888sport

ProsCons
VIP programmeCustomer support chat needs improvement
Live streams 
Strong welcome offer 

888sport is a hugely popular bookmaker known for its exciting betting service that customers love. You can easily find the horse racing section down the left hand side which then provides you with all the upcoming races. You are able to search for the Galway Races and you will find all the race cards for the weeklong event, the advertised odds and check out the stats of each horse provided by timeform to help you place an informed bet. There is a good selection of betting markets available for the Galway Races including winner, each way, Tricast and specials to keep you entertained along with live streams available of every race. 888sport is one of the very few betting sites that offer a VIP programme to reward loyal customers with a range of bigger and better prizes and promotions unique to your betting style. New customers receive the welcome offer which includes €30 in free bets when you place a €10 bet and there are various horse racing promotions such as extra places and odds boosts.

These are just some of the popular betting sites in Ireland that offer a thrilling betting experience. Whether you are looking for a good welcome offer, regular promotions personalised to your betting play or a wide selection of classic and unique betting markets, you will certainly find the best Galway Races betting site to suit you.

Galway Races Betting Markets

Horse racing is a very popular sport to bet on and that is due to the wide array of betting markets that keep bettors entertained. Here are some of the most common markets available for the Galway Races:

  • Winner

This is one of the most straightforward bets but it isn’t always easy. You have to predict which horse will win the race. There are always favourites but sometimes it pays off to choose a riskier option with better odds.

  • Each Way

A hugely popular horse racing bet, each way effectively gives you two bets. The first is placed on the horse to win and the other is placed on if the horse doesn’t win but still places in the positions that the betting site have offered.

  • To Place

If you are unsure which horse will win the race but are feeling confident that one of the runners will definitely place, this bet is for you. Depending on the amount of runners, betting sites will offer 2, 3 or 4 places and you have to choose a horse that you think will place.

  • Forecast / Tricast

These are much more difficult options. For forecast, betting sites require you to not only choose which two horses you think will come first and second but you also have to decide the correct order. Similarly, the Tricast requires you to choose the top 3 horses and in the correct order too.

  • Handicaps

In some horse races, a handicap is applied to make the races more even. The handicap goes by weight and it means that horses of different ages and size are able to compete on the same terms to level up the playing field.

  • Antepost

A very popular horse racing bet, antepost requires you to place a bet on the winner of the race weeks in advance. This is a very risky bet as anything can happen in the time between placing the bet and the race such as injury, weather conditions and form but it offers higher odds for bigger rewards if successful. Antepost bets are also not insured by non runners and that is the risk you must consider before placing a bet.

  • Specials

For the Galway Races, there are always some special bets available that add to the excitement. This can include jockey and trainer performances and even winning distance, whether you think it will be a photo finish or a have a clear winner.

Strategies and Tips for Betting on Galway Races

The Galway Races is the longest horse racing festival in Ireland over 7 days filled with 52 races and so it is vital that you have a strong betting strategy to help you perform well. Here are some of the most important tips to consider when betting on the Galway Races.

  • Research

It is always essential that you do lots of research on each horse in the races before you place a bet. Check out the horses’ performances, recent form and results as well as their trainers and jockeys to ensure you have as much information as possible before you place a bet.

  • Course experience

Galway Races is a unique and specialist track with an undulating nature and it can be difficult for some horses that are not used to it. You should check out the past winners at Galway and discover which horses thrive in these conditions and perhaps choose a horse that is known to ride well at Galway.

  • Assess the draw

As Galway is such as tight track with sharp bends, the horses drawn wide have a much harder race as it is extremely difficult to get across the track. Avoid picking a horse that is drawn wide and instead focus on the closer horses.

  • Race day weather conditions

The weather always affects races, whether by disrupting the ground or affecting the horses’ performance. Some horses run better than others in rain and you should always keep an eye out on the weather to ensure nothing surprises you and affects your bet.

  • Choose a suitable betting market

There are so many different markets available in horse racing that it is important that you choose the right one for your knowledge. For example if you are a huge fan of horse racing and know everything about the Galway Races and are feeling very confident about a winner, you may want to risk it. However, you may not feel too confident and an each way bet or to place bet may be the better option for you with less risk. Establish a budget and place a knowledgeable bet but don’t chase your losses if it goes wrong.

Types of Betting Offers Available for Galway Races

Prior to a big sporting event including the Galway Races, many betting sites will advertise a range of offers to encourage new and existing customers to use their sites for all their betting needs. Here are some of the most popular betting offers you will see at various bookmakers.

Free BetsFree bets are the most common offer at bookmakers and it gives new and existing customers extra funds to place bets with. Many betting sites will require you to place a minimum bet to receive the rewards. For example, place a €5 bet and receive €20 worth of free bets. This gives bettor the opportunity to place a riskier bet as it’s not your own money.
Matched DepositAnother popular offer, some bookmakers offer matched deposits to effectively double your funds in the run up to a big event. For example if you deposit €20, the betting site will also give you €20 meaning that you now have €40 worth of funds to be placed on any bets on the Galway Races.
Best Odds GuaranteedMany betting sites will offer the best odds guaranteed for all horse racing. This keeps the odds competitive and ensures that you don’t choose a different as they claim to have the best odds. This is a very common offer for horse racing events including the Galway Races.
Accumulator Bets and InsuranceAn accumulator bet is a popular option for the bettors that are feeling confident with multiple bets. The odds multiply to create one big bet that has the potential for big rewards. Some sites will also offer acca insurance which will protect your stake if just one leg loses.
Non Runner No BetIn horse racing, there are lots of factors to consider and sometimes a horse will pull out last minute. If this is your chosen horse, some betting sites will offer a ‘non runner no bet’ which protects your stake and returns it to you if you end up choosing a horse that doesn’t run.
VIP SchemeSome bookmakers now offer an exclusive VIP programme which aims to provide regular, loyal customers with bigger and better rewards. This entices bettors to keep coming back over time with the offer of extra funds, free bets and more

FAQs on Galway Races Betting

When is the Galway Races?

The Galway Races is an annual horse racing event that takes place in July. The next event runs from Monday 29th July to Sunday 4th August 2024.

How do I place bets on the Galway Races?

First, you have to choose the ideal betting site for your needs and the sign up for an account using your personal details and verifying your ID. You can then navigate to the horse racing section, select Galway Races and browse through all the horses and their odds before choosing the ideal betting market for you.

Do bookmakers live stream the horse races?

Yes, many bookmakers live stream horse racing but you should always check before you commit to one betting site.