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Please note, all horse racing and greyhound racing is currently being hosted behind closed doors. Please see our news section for more information.
What are bookmakers?
Bookmakers are companies or individuals who calculate the odds of who will win the race, take bets, and pay out any winnings.
To learn how to pick a winner, why not download our full beginners guide?
DownloadYou will have no doubt spotted bookmakers across the courses, and in everyday life. Companies like betway, ladbrokes, coral, bet365, betfred, william hill and paddy power, as well as many others are prime examples of bookmakers you may place bets with during your day at the races.
Each ARC course has bookmakers on site in various locations. Some have permanent stations set within the racecourse venues, but you will find most in the betting ring. This is usually in the space between the grandstand and the track, and bookmakers will each have a board displaying odds, and a person who can take your bet, and pay out any winnings.
You don’t have to bet at the races, but if you choose to do so, you can choose between the Tote and the bookmakers. There is a slight difference between how the Tote and the bookmakers work, but most people will just ‘shop’ around at the racecourse, and see who is offering the best odds for the horse they wish to bet on.
