When it comes to battles of the bookmaker heavyweights you won’t find a more titanic matchup than William Hill versus bet365.

In one corner is William Hill, one of the oldest bookmakers in the UK and operator of a massive chain of high street betting shops along with one of the most popular betting websites on the web.

In the other corner is the upstart bet365 which has rocketed to prominence by focusing on online sports betting and providing its customers with great odds and unrivalled sports coverage.

While both these bookies are top quality, each has quirks and benefits which may make it more suitable for your specific sports betting requirements.

In this article we’ll explore the comparative strengths and weaknesses of these bookies, helping you determine which bookie best suits your requirements.

Overview

William Hill is one of the most recognizable betting brands in the United Kingdom. Approaching its 100th birthday, William Hill is also one of the oldest active bookmakers in the United Kingdom.

In contrast, bet365 is a product of the new millennium. Although the bet365 empire was built on the back of a network of underperforming betting shops, it made its name through online sports betting.

While bet365 no longer operates any betting shops, William Hill operates over 1400 betting shops. As such William Hill has bet365 beaten on brand visibility in high street.

However, bet65 has consciously chosen to focus on online sports betting and has pioneered and perfected a number of innovations in this space that has won it almost a 3rd of the UK’s market share.

Sports coverage

William Hill covers around 35 different sports on its website. This includes all sports likely to interest its audience in the UK, Ireland or Europe with all major sporting codes represented.

However, William Hill can’t compete with bet365 when it comes to the sheer number of markets offered, with bet365 covering around 45 different sporting codes.

This includes some very obscure sports, like bandy, floorball and kabaddi. 

bet365 is also ahead of William Hill when it comes to depth of coverage of each sport.

Looking at football, for example, William Hill covers around 50 different leagues, while bet365 covers over 20 in the UK alone. Internationally bet365 offers betting markets for well over 100 different football tournaments and leagues

However, it must be mentioned that William Hill is on par with bet365 when it comes to horse racing betting coverage. There is little to choose between the two in this department with both covering a similar selection of racecourses around the globe.

While bet365 takes this round with score of 10, William Hill by no means lets its customers down and gets a score of 9 for its sports coverage.

Verdict

bet365: 10 William Hill: 9

Available markets

The number of markets available from these two bookies is going to fluctuate wildly depending on the sport and event being covered.

On average you will find the most markets available for high profile events in popular sports like football and fewer in low profile events and/or fringe sports.

In the horseracing department the bookies are neck and neck, with several markets available for races in the UK and Ireland, with each bookie offering a couple of custom markets.

In football both bookies offer dozens of markets, with little to choose between the two except the types of special markets on offer.

Realistically you’re going to have a harder time finding difference in markets available from these two bookies than finding the market you’re looking for at either of them.

With this in mind, this round is a dead heat with both bookies scoring a 9.

Verdict

bet365: 9 WH: 9

Odds

If you’re serious about making a profit from sports betting it all boils down to odds. The higher the odds your bookie offers you, on average, the more you will make when your bets win.

The odds you get from your bookie will depend on the overround they charge on every betting market. This overround represents the bookies ‘cut’ of the market, and its impact is to slightly decrease the odds on offer across the market. This effectively guarantees the bookie a return from each market.

The higher the overround a bookie charges, the bigger the discrepancy between the true probability of your selection winning and the odds on offer.

To determine which of William Hill and bet365 offer the best odds, we looked at odds for a forthcoming round of Premier League matches and calculated the overround for each match, along with the average.

The overround calculated against William Hill’s matches was an average of 7.75% per match while bet365 had an overround of 5.72% per match.

This effectively means that William Hill cut its odds by an average of 7.75% per market, while bet365 cut their odds by 5.72%.

In sports betting a percent or two higher payout over the long term can make all the difference, so we need to hand this round squarely to bet365.

(Note that we do not score William Hill badly as their overround has proven to be significantly lower than some rivals, with Paddy Power amongst the competitors charging exorbitant overrounds.)

Verdict

bet365: 9 WH: 8

Betting apps

We use user reactions to judge how bookmakers perform when it comes to the quality of their betting apps.

William Hill

• Apple App Store: 4,7 stars 141,000+ ratings
• Google Play: 4.3 stars 207,000 + ratings

bet365

• Apple App Store: 4,7 stars 247,000+ ratings
• Google Play: 4.5 stars 6,400 + ratings

The results speak for themselves. William Hill and bet365 offer comparable quality apps on iOS, while bet365 has an edge when it comes to Android devices.

Verdict

bet365: 9 WH: 8

Offers & Promotions

Once upon a time Paddy Power was the leader in the betting specials race. That was before they were overtaken by their rivals and users cottoned on to the fact that Paddy appeared to be making their money back by charging higher overrounds on popular betting markets.

Both bet365 and William Hill now offer a selection of long running betting specials, which include ongoing football, racing and accumulator specials.

While both bookies chop and change their specials on a frequent basis (you can check William Hill’s latest offers here and do the same for bet365 here), there really isn’t much to choose between the two.

bet365 tends to offer slightly more value on football betting while William Hill has an edge when it comes to racing and accumulator bets.

Both offer great value overall, so we’ll award another tie for this round of the bet365 vs William Hill comparison with both bookies scoring a 9.

Verdict

bet365: 9 WH: 9

Payment methods

Payment methods is something of a dry topic, but let’s face it: you don’t want to have to struggle to deposit funds into your betting account or face unnecessary delays or fees in the process.

William Hill makes it very easy to load up your betting account. Over 20 payment options are available, including all the big vendors like Maestro, Mastercard, VISA, Skrill, PayPal and Neteller.

The majority of depositing options clear instantly with William Hill, with the exception of payments by cheque, electronic bank transfer or Western Union.

You can quickly find out what deposit options are available, and what fees apply to each, here.

bet365 offers fewer deposit options to its users, once again including all major card payment options, including VISA, Mastercard, Electron and Maestro. Google and Apple Pay are also offered. However, bet365 has fewer e-wallet payment options, with PayPal the only major provider accepted in the UK.

Verdict

bet365: 7 WH: 9

License & Security

Both William Hill and bet365 are registered with regulatory bodies.

William Hill’s UK operations are regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority while global operations are regulated by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner.

Meanwhile, bet365 is regulated by the British Gambling Commission.

There’s really not much to choose between the two bookies in this department. bet365 arguably deserves some credit for headquartering itself, and paying tax, in the UK. However, William Hill has more than enough regulatory oversight to keep their activities fair and in line with gambling legislation.

Verdict

bet365: 10 WH: 10

Live betting

William Hill and bet365 are both big on in-play betting.

However, bet365 has been a major pioneer in this area and is hard to beat. On the day of testing bet365 was offering live markets on 17 different sports, excluding virtual sports.

By comparison, William Hill was offering in-play markets on 8 events. bet365 also offered greater market depth in each sport it was covering.

Which is not to say William Hill offers a poor live betting experience. It is simply that bet365 is hard to beat when it comes to live betting and scores a perfect 10 to William Hill’s respectable 8.

Verdict

bet365: 10 WH: 8

Special Features

William Hill and bet365 both have budgets big enough to push innovation on their betting platforms.

William Hill has had some success in this department, particularly with William Hill TV – one of the most popular bookie streaming services around. Hills also offers its #yourodds custom odds service and gives its users access to new tools and features on a regular basis.

bet365 tends to focus on quality over quantity when it comes to special features. It’s biggest value-add is without a doubt the bet365 live streaming service, which allows qualifying customers to watch a large selection of sports events for free from their betting account.

Apart from this bet365 also offers some innovative live betting features, like the match tracker window available on its live betting markets which tracks progression of matches virtually, in real time, including visualizations of plays in the match being bet on.

Again, there’s is little to choose between these two bookies and we rate them both a solid 9 in the special features department.

Verdict

bet365: 9 WH: 9

Usability

William Hill has not refreshed its website in several years, and users will feel the pain when browsing the William Hill betting markets.

Finding the sports event you want to bet on at William Hill can be a real challenge. And the fact that pages sometimes fail to load and have to be refreshed to view markets doesn’t help.

However, it does do something right. As mentioned already, information on deposit methods and other topics is easily available on William Hill and it is super-easy to find information on specials and promotions.

bet365’s website layout hasn’t changed much over the years, and the site is perfectly serviceable. Finding markets is intuitive and straightforward.

However, there are some problems. Finding betting specials is much harder than it needs to be, and the website failed to load markets at all depending on what browser we were using.

It’s surprising that the thing these two betting giants both lose points on is their website usability. bet365 scores a relatively humble 8 in this department, while William Hill is a point behind on 7.

Verdict

bet365: 8 WH: 7

Customer Service

Both William Hill and Paddy Power offer live chat services, which in theory means that both are able to deliver responsive, accessible support to their customers.

So, we’ll need to use real customer feedback to dig beneath the surface and cue us in on which bookie treats their customers the best.

On TrustpPilot William Hill scores a less-than-stellar 1.5 stars out of 5 from its 5,000 + reviews with 30% of reviewers giving it a rating of 4 stars or above.

bet365 is down in the doldrums with William Hill, scoring 1.3 stars out of 5 from 3800 + reviews, with just 9% of reviewers rating bet365 4 stars or above.

Bear in mind that these ratings reflect the fact that users of sites like TrustPilot are more likely to leave negative reviews. You will be hard-pressed to find online bookmakers who score positively on review sites. It was also notable that the majority of the complaints centred around casino games.

That said, William Hill is the winner in the customer service department based on their TrustPilot score and higher percentage of positive reviews.

Verdict

bet365: 6 WH: 7

Casino

William Hill’s casino runs on Playtech software, a 3rd party casino developer that services a number of online betting operations in the United Kingdom.

Playtech is popular for a reason. The software runs smoothly, graphics are attractive, and it generates large jackpot pools by linking the player pools of major bookmakers together.

bet365 uses a combination of its own proprietary casino software with games provided by 3rd party developers, which include Playtech, IGT and others.

The net result is that bet365 also offers a slick, graphically attractive casino experience, while users still benefit from the shared jackpot pools which come with the 3rd party game providers.

This leaves both bookies scoring a 9 in the casino department.

Verdict

bet365: 9 WH: 9

Poker

bet365 and William Hill are both on the iPoker network, one of the largest poker networks in the world, operated by Playtech.

This means there is nothing to separate William Hill and Paddy Power when it comes to online poker, apart from slightly different skins for the poker experience.

Both will provide poker players with access to a large pool of poker players, a wide selection of games and bigger prizes.

bet365 and William Hill tie again with 9 points each.

Verdict

bet365: 9 WH: 9

Bingo

bet365 and William Hill both use 3rd party software providers for their bingo channels.

William Hill sticks with Playtech, the source of its other gaming channel software, providing its bingo players with all the benefits that come with tapping into Playtech’s large network of bingo websites.

bet365, meanwhile, makes use of Pragmatic Play bingo software. This software is used by a large number of dedicated bingo sites, including BOGOF bingo, Bingo Diamond, Bingostars and more.

Once again there is little to choose between the software of the bingo providers operating at this level. Both provide access to large player networks and shared prize pools and you’re unlikely to run into issues with the software on offer from either.

William Hill and bet365 finish neck and neck in the bingo stakes with a 9.

Verdict

bet365: 9 WH: 9

Vegas/Games

Vegas/Games channels are just another route bookies use to channel their users into their casino operations, with the same software on offer with a modified selection of games.

As such, the Vegas/Games scores for bet365 and William Hill will reflect the scores allocated to the two bookies in the casino section of this article.

Which means both bet365 and William Hill score a 9 for their Vegas/Games offerings.

Verdict

bet365: 9 WH: 9

Overall winner

This is a very tight contest, and as one would expect from two of the most popular bookmakers in the world. Ultimately bet365 edged it with 132 points accumulated compared to 129 for William Hill.

While 3 points is a tiny difference, bet365 emerged as the leader in the part of the comparison most likely to impact your betting in the long term, offering higher odds in the popular Premier League match betting markets we analysed.

William Hill proved itself to be strongest in the customer service and in ease of placing a deposit, which both make a significant difference to the overall user experience if you’re most focused on having a smooth ride when you place bets on sports.

As the scores suggest these are both excellent bookies with little to separate them, but if we were forced to sign up to just one of these bookies, bet365 would be our pick.

Verdict

bet365: 132 WH: 129

Rebel Betting is one of the oldest and best-known names in sports investment software, providing tools that assist users in pursuing winning value betting and arbitrage (sure betting) strategies.

While Rebel Betting is not on the only software provider in the sports investment market, it is one of the most trusted, boasting a Trustpilot rating of 4.6 based on 86 user reviews.

In this Rebel Betting software review we’ll explain what Rebel Betting offers, how it works and provide insights into some of the pros and cons of using this software.

Who are Rebel Betting?

Rebel Betting is the product of a software development team based in Sweden called Clarobet AB. It was launched in 2006 to service a gap in the market for automated arbitrage software solutions.

Over the years Rebel Betting has expanded its bookmaker coverage and now provides live updates on the odds of over 90 bookmakers around the world, including most of the big-name UK bookies.

As bookmakers have become better at identifying arbitrage, Rebel Betting has branched out its services to include value betting software, which provides larger profits and is harder for bookmakers to identify.

Rebel Betting’s strong reputation is based on two factors, it’s transparency and pricing. The company does not oversell how much users can make off its software, and also offers reasonable pricing on its services.

Rebel Betting for Arbitrage (Sure Betting)

Rebel Betting was originally set up to give punters the ability to quickly and easily identify arbitrage opportunities.

If you’ve never heard of arbitrage, this is a betting strategy that removes any risk from sports betting by placing multiple bets on a single event at odds that guarantee you’ll either get your stake back or profit.

While you can identify and place arbitrage bets without using specialized software, fast reaction time is required to identify arbitrage opportunities, calculate the correct stakes and place your bets.

Rebel Betting simplifies this as much as possible by highlighting arbitrage betting opportunities instantly across dozens of bookies and helping you to calculate appropriate stakes.

You can also filter which bookies you want Rebel Betting to scan to customize your results to match your bookmaker portfolio.

Rebel Betting for Value Betting 

Rebel Betting’s value betting software is designed to do the heavy lifting required to identify the large number of daily value bets required to make a success of this strategy.

This includes not only identifying value bets across dozens of popular bookies, but also assisting in calculating appropriate stakes and keeping track of results and profits from value betting.

This has opened up value betting to a vast new audience of punters who don’t have the sporting knowledge and/or the mathematical skills to identify value bets and maximise returns from these bets.

However, even seasoned value bettors will benefit from the user-friendly interface and the time Rebel Betting will save them from scanning odds comparison services for value bet opportunities.

Rebel betting usability and user interface

Sports investment software users are generally looking for a plug and play service that will not only do the heavy lifting when it comes to identifying great betting opportunities, but also doesn’t come with a steep learning curve.

Rebel Betting more than delivers in this department. Arbitrage and value betting are separated into two discrete services with separate user interfaces – and require separate subscriptions.

How to use Rebel betting

To get started with Rebel Betting you will need to visit the Rebel Betting website, register for a new account (this only requires an email address), and confirm your email address.

Once logged in, you’ll find an uncluttered, easy to use interface. Using the browser-based value betting software as an example, you’ll see that user interfaces just don’t come simpler than this.

Placing value bets is as easy as clicking on a value bet opportunity from the list, adjusting your stake if you would like to, clicking Bet to open the bet at the bookie in question and/or Log to record and track your bet on the Rebel Betting system.

To make things even easier, Rebel Betting will take you through a quick tutorial covering these steps the first time you sign into your account, so you’ll learn the ropes in no time at all.

About the only thing you need to keep in mind when value betting is to set your bankroll/staking preferences on Options page before you jump into placing value bets. Even here, Rebel Betting provides additional help documentation if you want to dig deeper into the options available on the platform.

One of the best things about Rebel Betting is the way it allows you to accurately track your results, so that you don’t lose perspective when placing bets across multiple bookie accounts.

You can filter your account data to track your overall profit, average ROI, median ROI and ROI per bet at the tap of button, and filter it by the week, month, quarter, year or account lifetime.

Results page sample, using cumulative data from all Rebel Betting users.

And if for any reason you need help with your account, you can access live support at the click of a button from the menu on your account.

How much can you earn with Rebel Betting?

A number of factors will influence how much you earn from arbitrage or value betting at Rebel Betting.

These include:

• The size of your bankroll and stakes.
• Your staking method used for value betting.
• How many bets you place every day and how often you turn over your bankroll.
• How many bookmaker accounts you have access to.
• Any account restrictions applied by bookmakers if your account is flagged for arbitrage or being too profitable.

According to Rebel Betting’s reports on user performance, the average ROI for value betting on the platform is 3.07% per Euro staked while top members earn over €2000 per month.

This calculator can help you get a rough idea of how much you could potentially earn based on your own betting habits:Initial investment in £Number of value bets placed per dayBetting days per monthTotal profit per month

_{Our calculator is based directly off of the calculator found on the Rebel Betting website. It assumes a per bet size of 1% of the initial investment, 3% profit per bet and the ability to place 80 bets per hour.}

How good is Rebel Betting?

So how good is Rebel Betting, in summary? The answer is pretty excellent, although it may not be easy to determine this during the free trial period.

Rebel betting advantages

The super Rebel Betting user interface and powerful software make advanced betting strategies like arbitrage and value betting instantly accessible to anyone who wants to explore them.

You can also try Rebel Betting out on a 14-day free trial, test out the system by logging real bets without placing them, and see whether or not it delivers the kind of real-world results you are looking for.

That means you’ll have the ability to see real results based on real odds before risking a cent of your money.

Rebel Betting also covers a huge number of bookmakers, with over 90 different bookie options available at present, giving you access to a massive pool of value bet and arbitrage opportunities.

Rebel betting disadvantages

There are some disadvantages to using Rebel Betting, which mostly impact the free trial period.

For a start two weeks is a relatively short period in which to try to assess the profitability of value betting or arbitrage. 

This is particularly true when Rebel Betting limits the number of eligible bets on offer for trial users, making it difficult to generate the number of bets required for successful value betting in particular.

Limitations are also set on the expected value of the bets you can access for value betting, which means you won’t be able to gauge the full impact of this strategy until you register and account.

However, even with limits on what you can do during your trial period you’ll get a solid idea of Rebel Betting’s functionality and earning potential.

Rebel Betting vs alternatives 

So, how does Rebel Betting stack up against its competitors?

For a start Rebel Betting’s UX and ease-of-use are going to be tough to beat, irrespective of what competitors are offering.

On the arbitrage front Surebet is the main competitor to Rebel Betting and while it isn’t quite as refined does come with a lower monthly subscription fee.

Meanwhile, OddsJam stands on even footing with Rebel Betting. Like Rebel Betting, OddsJam offers both value betting and arbitrage. It also carries a similar price tag – but is only available in the US market.

One company that does have an edge over Rebel Betting in one department is Bet Burger.

While Bet Burger’s overall offering doesn’t match what Rebel Betting puts on the table, it does offer in-play value bets. This can boost your ability to turn over your bankroll rapidly and secure higher expected values on your value bets.

Rebel Betting list of bookies

Rebel Betting covers odds from over 100 bookmakers. These include:

SUPPORTED BOOKMAKERS
10Bet	Gamebookers
188bet	GiocoDigitale
1xBet	GunLake
32Red	Interwetten
3et	Everygame (Intertops)
5Dimes	JenningsBet
888sport	Ladbrokes
Asianconnect	LadbrokesAU
ATG	LeoVegas
Barstool	Marathonbet
Bet365	Matchbook
Bet9ja	Merrybet
Betano	Mobilbet
Betanysports	NairaBET
BetClic	NapoleonGames
Betfair	Netbet
Bethard	NoAccountBet
BetInAsia	Nordicbet
BETISN	NorskTipping
BetMGM	Novibet
Betonline	Paf
BetRivers	PartyPoker
Bets10	Parx
Betsafe	Pinnacle
Betsson	Rivalo
Betstar	SBObet
BetVictor	Skybet
Betway	Smarkets
BetWinner	Snabbare
Bodog	SpeedyBet
Bovada	Sportingbet
Boylesports	Sportmarket
Bwin	Stoiximan
Casinostugan	Suprabets
Casumo	SvenskaSpel
Comeon	Tipbet
Coral	Tipico
Danske Spil	Titanbet
DiamondSportsBook	TLCBetUK
DraftKings	TwinSpires
DRF	Unibet
Expekt	Veikkaus
Etoto	William Hill
Fanduel	William Hill Sweden
Fun88UK	William Hill United States
FoxbetUS

Rebel Betting Forum

Rebel Betting provides its users with a value add in the form of a community forum. This allows users to view company announcements, cover general topics of interest to the community and share their results.

Once registered you can access the Rebel Betting forum here.

Rebel Betting Resources

Rebel Betting makes the following resources available to its users.

• Web manual
• Help section
• Community Forum

Rebel Betting free trial

Rebel Betting makes it quick and easy to try out value betting or arbitrage with a 14-day free trial. All you need to do is visit the website, select which service you want and provide your email address.

You’ll then receive a confirmation mail which you’ll need to activate your account. Once your account is activated, you’ll have access to the Rebel Betting software where you can test all of Rebel Betting’s tools and features.

Visit Rebel Betting now to sign up for a free trial

Rebel Betting FAQ

Steeplechase horse racing is believed to have originated in Ireland in the 18^th century. Huntsmen would race their horses between church steeples, jumping any obstacles in their path.

Over time steeplechases were incorporated into the organized sport of National Hunt racing, with rules and standard formats applied to these races.

Today steeplechases are referred to as chases, and are the most demanding format of National Hunt racing, with the largest obstacles and longest race distances.

Steeplechase racing is most popular in Ireland, England and France. It has a smaller following in other countries, such as the United States.

The modern chase

A number of standards must be met for a modern jumps race to be classified as a steeplechase.

In the United Kingdom a race must feature at least 12 fences to be classified as a steeplechase, and there must be an additional six fences per mile for any race run further than 2 miles.

A chase can feature three types of fences:

• Plain fences are formed from wooden or steel frames stuffed with real or artificial birch. These must stand at least 4’6” high.
• Open ditches feature a plain fence with a ditch on the take-off side, requiring the horse to jump further. There must be one open ditch per mile on a chase track.
• Water jumps feature a fence at least 3 feet high and must include a water-filled ditch at least 9 feet across. Even the most gruelling race may feature only one water jump.

Steeplechases range in distance from 2 miles to the 4 miles 2.5 furlongs run in the Grand National at Aintree.

Steeplechase racehorses

Typically steeplechase racehorses are older than the horses used in other race formats, due to the stamina required to compete in one of these races.

In fact, it is not unusual for chase racehorses to compete in races past the age of 10.

While many of the horses competing in chases in the UK and Ireland are thoroughbred horses, it is not unusual for half-breed horses to compete in these races (i.e. horses that are born to a  thoroughbred paired with another breed of horse).

Unlike flat racing where the majority of male competitors are colts or stallions, male chase racehorses are typically gelded (castrated).

As is the case with flat racing, chase racehorses are bred and trained to race over specific distances. These include horses aimed at races around the 2 mile mark, horses trained for middle distance races of around 3 miles, and those trained for long distance races of 3.5 miles or more.

Because of the endurance and skill required to compete in steeplechases, horses will usually spend a couple of seasons competing in the less demanding hurdles format of National Hunt racing before moving onto chases.

Steeplechase formats

Steeplechases are subject to the same grading system that is used to organize and classify races in the United Kingdom and Europe.

• Pattern races constitute the pinnacle of the sport and include Grade 1, 2 and 3 races as well as Listed events. Grade 1 and 2 races do not typically make use of handicaps, with these races used to identify the highest quality horses in the sport.
• Ranked below the pattern races are handicaps. These require horses to carry weights in their races as handicappers attempt to make the racehorses as evenly matched as possible in any given races. These make up the majority of steeplechase races contested daily.

Aside from the grading system, steeplechases are also run in formats designed to give racehorses an entry into the sport. These include novice chases and maiden chases.

Chases can be also run as selling handicaps in order to facilitate the sale of active racehorses who are auctioned or sold after the race.

Popularity

Steeplechase races are amongst some of the most popular races in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and a small selection are major global sporting events.

The Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree, for instance, is the world’s most watched race by viewership and attracts massive crowds to Aintree Racecourse every year.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup and Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival are also major sporting events, attracting interest from the general public.

In the UK and Ireland steeplechase races are run during the winter when the ground is softer, and as such are one of the two racing formats (alongside hurdles) dominant during this period.

Generally speaking steeplechase racing is more popular among the working class in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with flat racing attracting a more upper-class audience.

This is reflected in the prize funds allocated to steeplechases. While these are bigger than those allocated to other jumps racing formats, they fall short of the prize funds awarded in major flat races.

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The term furlong is used as a unit of distance in horse racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland, alongside miles and yards.

The word furlong can cause some confusion as it is no longer widely used outside of British and Irish racing, with other countries typically using meters or simply miles and fractions of miles.

How far is a furlong?

Using the Imperial British system for measuring distance a furlong is equal to 220 yards.

One furlong also equates to the following Imperial measures:

• one eighth of a mile
• 660 feet

When converting one furlong to the metric system, it comes to:

• 0.2 kilometers
• 201.1 meters

Where did the term furlong come from?

The word furlong has a history stretching back over a thousand years.

It is derived from two old English words, ‘furh’ and ‘lang’, which mean furrow and length. These refer to the length of a furrow or trench plowed in fields in the distant past.

To be specific, an English furlang was measured as the length of a trench across one acre of land.

This was equivalent to 40 rods, or 660 feet. This was the distance a team of oxen could pull a plow without needing to rest.

Unlike the majority of old English words, including its companion measurement unit, the rod, the term furlang survived into the modern era with just the ‘a’ being swapped out for an ‘o’ to arrive at the modern furlong.

What is a furlong used to measure?

In the distant past the furlang was a popular unit of measurement in agriculture, and over time the furlong was exported to many of the English colonies where it was used for land surveying.

Usage of the furlong as a unit of measurement in the UK and Ireland continued into the 20th century before being abolished under the Weights and Measures Act of 1985.

While the word furlong is not commonly used in surveying in the United States anymore, many city blocks in Salt Lake City, Chicago and Phoenix were built over an area of one square furlong.

The furlong is still an official measurement unit in Myanmar, where it is used in conjunction with miles on the highway signs of that country.

Usage of the furlong in horse racing

The furlong has been used as a unit of length in horse racing since the sports emerged in England during the 16th century.

Today the word furlong is used in the measurement of standard race distances used in both flat and National Hunt horse racing in the UK and Ireland.

Common flat race distances which use the furlong include:

1. five furlongs – the minimum length of a flat sprint
2. six furlongs – a common sprint distance in flat racing
3. seven furlongs – a popular distance for flat juveniles being groomed as milers
4. 1 mile 1 furlong – a distance used to test milers over a slightly longer distance
5. 1 mile 2 furlongs – an intermediate distance allowing milers to compete against middle distance specialists
6. 1 mile 3 furlongs – a middle distance race format commonly used to test middle distance fillies
7. 1 mile 4 furlongs – the standard middle distance in flat racing
8. 1 mile 6 furlongs – a stayers distance in flat racing, sometimes attempted by middle distance racehorses.

The furlong is not only used to describe horse race distances, but can also be used in commentary, for example a National Hunt stayer could win its race by a length of one furlong.

Furlong FAQ

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Getting paid first past the post in horseracing can make a big difference to the outcome of your racing bets, not to mention long term racing returns.

It does so by protecting your winning bets when your horse wins on the racetrack but is later disqualified by race stewards.

In this article we explain what first past the post payments are, why they are important and which bookmakers offer first past the post payments.

What does first past the post mean in horse racing?

In horse racing first past the post (abbreviated as FPTP) refers to the horse that passes the finishing post first in a race.

If you’re thinking ‘first past the post is the race winner’ you’d be wrong.

An official result is determined after the race is completed and is adjusted if race stewards disqualify the winning horse for any reason.

If the winner is disqualified, the runner-up is automatically awarded the race win.

This obviously has implications for punters who bet on horse racing. A disqualified horse could theoretically make its backers lose their bets, while rewarding the backers of the runner-up.

First past the post betting at an online bookmakers

Fortunately many online bookmakers have you covered against your winners being disqualified with a first past the post policy.

This means that if your horse is first past the post in a race, but is later disqualified in the official result, your winning bet is still paid out.

Fptp policies generally cover the majority of fixed bets placed on racing at a bookmaker, including each way bets, multiples and more.

This is quite critical if you bet on horse racing, as it is not unusual for horses to be disqualified from races following a stewards enquiry. Without fptp you could end up forfeiting your win stake on your selections much more often.

Double result

At this point you are probably wondering what happens if your horse finishes second in a race, but is promoted to first place in the official result when the winner is disqualified.

That’s where it becomes important whether or not your bookmaker has a double result policy.

If a bookie offers double result they’ll pay out your horse as winner if it is promoted to first place in the official result where the winner is disqualified AND the bookie will pay out any winning bets on the disqualified horse that was first past the post.

Therefore, if you bet on two horses in a race, with one winning but disqualified, and the other finishing second and promoted to first place in the official result, you’ll be paid out two winning bets on the same race!

FPTP betting example

Recommend bookmakers for first past the post

William Hill

William Hill is one of the biggest and best known brands in online sports betting.

Needless to say William Hill has its users covered with a first past the post policy on horse racing.

William Hill also offers other value-adds, including:

• best odds guaranteed on all UK and Irish racing
• daily racing betting specials
• access to William Hill TV and William Hill Radio for live coverage of racing
• the option to pick your places on all UK and Irish races
• lengthen your odds option on all UK options
• extra places on selected race meetings every week
• the daily William Hill bet boost to use on horses or greyhounds.

Visit William Hill now

bet365

bet365 is the world’s most popular online bookie, and with good reason.

Apart from first past the post and double result cover, you will also get:

• one of the biggest open account offers in the business
• the bet365 price promise
• best odds guaranteed
• each way extra markets
• live horseracing coverage
• the My Horses feature that allows you to set up a stable of your favourite horses and receive notifications when they run.

Visit bet365 now

Boylesports

Ireland’s biggest independent bookie offers fptp to its customers along with a selection of additional offers for racing enthusiasts.

Boylesports racing offers include:

• their free bet if 2nd offers, which pay out a free bet if your horse finishes second to the SP favourite in selected races
• daily extra place specials
• an Acca loyalty program that pays out a #5 free Acca for every five Accas placed at Boylesports
• Acca insurance that pays out a free bet if one leg of a 5+ Acca loses
• best odds guaranteed on all UK and Irish racing, with the guarantee applying the day before racing
• a generous new customer exclusive.

Visit Boylesports now

Online bookmakers offering first past the post

The majority of large bookies like William Hill, bet365 and Paddy Power offer first past the post as well as double result cover. We’ve provided a table summarizing top UK and Irish bookies offering fptp below.

Bookmaker	Do they pay first past the post
bet365	yes
William Hill	yes
Boylesports	yes
Paddy Power	yes
Ladbrokes	yes
Betfred	yes
Betfair sportsbook	yes
Betfair exchange	no
10bet	yes
Coral	yes
Betvictor	yes
Unibet	yes
Betway	yes
Skybet	yes
888 Sports	yes

First past the post rules

While fptpo can make a difference to your racing profits it is important to keep in mind that there are some exceptions to this policy that will differ from one bookie to the next.

First past the post rules typically list some exclusions where the policy will not apply to disqualified horses. This includes:

• horses disqualified because they failed to weigh in properly
• horses disqualified for taking the wrong course on the way to their win
• races which which are declared void
• races where tote dividends apply, for example jackpots and placepots.

Note that some bookmakers may not apply first past the post policies to ante post bets. Visit your bookmaker to get more information on their first past the post rules.

First past the post FAQ

We’ve covered our pick of the greatest racehorses in history – horses with such character, perseverance and brilliance that they’ll forever be remembered by the racing fraternity.

However, horses that passed through their careers undefeated are a breed of their own.

Often competing in the highest levels of racing against champion racehorses, only a few dozen horses in the history of the sport have managed to win every race they have run.

Here’s our pick of the greatest unbeaten racehorses in history.

Black Caviar

This Australian filly is easily the greatest sprint racehorse of all time, and a contender for the title of greatest racehorse of all time. Competing in highly competitive, unpredictable sprint races, she ran 25 races in the course of her career, winning all of them.

Her wins included 15 Group One victories. And her success was not limited to Australian courses. Black Caviar proved herself against international fields too, winning the Group 1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2012.

Kincsem

Hungary is not a country renowned for its racing culture, however, in Kincsem it produced the most successful racehorse in the history of thoroughbred racing.

Over the course of four seasons in the late 1800s Kincsem raced in and won 54 races across the European continent.

Her feats included winning all of the Hungarian Classics in 1877, then conquering Europe with a win in England’s Goodwood Cup as well as high class Stakes races in France and Germany.

Eclipse

Eclipsed achieved his feats in the late 1700s, setting a record that has yet to be beaten by any British or Irish racehorse.

Notorious for his poor temperament, Eclipse was a formidable opponent on the racecourses, and won all of his 18 races, including 11 King’s Plates.

His legacy includes races named in honour of him in both France and England, as well as the phrase ‘Eclipse first and the rest nowhere’, which is now adapted to apply to any dominant victory.

Ribot

Ribot lays claim to the second longest undefeated run of any British racehorse in history, unbeaten in his 16 race career.

Although he competed primarily in Italy during the 1950s, Ribot’s brilliance also secured him victories in major international races like the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Following his retirement Ribot became an important sire, with his progeny claiming a host of the most important Group 1 races in both Europe and the United States.

Colin

Colin lays claim to being the greatest unbeaten Grade 1 race winner in the history of racing in the United States.

His 15 race career took place over the years 1907 and 1908, with the majority of his wins coming during his season as a 2-year-old.

However, he was also a force to be reckoned with as a 3-year-old, and his wins during his final season included taking the last leg of that year’s Triple Crown at the 1908 Belmont Stakes.

Frankel

Arguably the greatest stallion of the modern racing era, Frankel ran and won 14 races over three seasons between 2010 and 2012, including 11 Group 1 wins.

His win in the 2,000 Guineas is regarded as the finest of his career, as he led the race from start to finish, opening a gap of 15 lengths by the halfway mark before easing home by 6 lengths.

By 2012 Frankel had received the highest racehorse rating in the history of Timeform, who assigned him a rating of 147.

Personal Ensign

Personal Ensign was an American mare who made her mark on racing in the United States during the 1980s, running 13 races without defeat.

Over the course of three seasons Personal Ensign won several Grade 1 victories, including a win against male horses in the prestigious Whitney Handicap.

Her most famous win was reserved for the 1988 Breeders Cup Distaff where she defeated Kentucky Derby winner, Winning Colors, to end her career unbeaten.

Peppers Pride

Peppers Pride is the most prolific winner among the unbeaten racehorses produced by the United States, and also holds the American record for an unbeaten streak.

Unbeaten in 19 races during her career, Peppers Pride never raced outside of her native state of New Mexico and was raced by the same jockey throughout her career.

Zarkava

Zarkava is the greatest filly produced by Ireland and the finest filly ever to compete in French thoroughbred racing.

Her pedigree was impeccable, with her lineage including a number of legendary racehorses, including Secretariat, Northern Dancer, Nijinksy and Mill Reef.

Zarkava ran just seven races from 2007 to 2008, winning all of them. Her victories included five Group 1 races, including the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Ajax

Sired by legendary British racehorse, Flying Fox, Ajax is arguably the finest stallion to have competed in French thoroughbred racing.

All of Ajax’s wins were achieved in the year 1904, and included two of France’s most prestigious races at the time – the Prix du Jockey Club and the Grand Prix de Paris.

Ajax also proved to be an influential sire after his retirement, with his progeny including French Group 1 winner Teddy and the undefeated Havresac II.

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It’s a contentious topic amongst racing enthusiasts. Which British horses rank among the true greats of the sport?

We’ve put together our list of British-bred racehorses who stand head and shoulder above their rivals based on a number of factors, ranging from their performances in the top tiers of thoroughbred racing, to their fighting character and number of races won.

Without further ado, here’s our pick from the most famous British racehorses of all time.

Frankel

Frankel is easily the greatest British racehorse of the modern era. Not only was he unbeaten over three seasons of racing, but he won 10 Group 1 races in the process. Unquestionably the finest miler ever produced by Britain, he also showed staying prowess as he matured, winning the International Stakes and the Champion Stakes over 1 mile 2 furlongs. By the end of his career the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings had assigned Frankel their highest ever rating for a racehorse.

Eclipse

Every country with a passion for racing has produced at least one racehorse that was renowned for its strength, character, size and power. In the United Kingdom, it is Eclipse who wears this mantle. Despite being raced over 200 years ago, his power and speed were so formidable that he is remembered to this day. Unbeaten in 18 starts during the late 1700s, Eclipse was reportedly never tested to his fullest and won every race with ease. He went on to become sire some of the UK’s most talented thoroughbred bloodlines.

Ribot

Ribot did not achieve renown in his native Britain during his career, spending the majority of his time competing in Italian racing. However, he is the most prolific unbeaten racehorse to emerge from the United Kingdom in the modern era, winning all 16 races he competed in. Despite doing most of his racing in Italy, Ribot was a genuine world beater, achieving victories in the UK’s King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes as well as two wins in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Desert Orchid

Desert Orchid is one of the most prolific winners in the history of National Hunt racing. During his career he won a host of the most prestigious races in the sport, and is one of the few racehorses in history to win the unlikely treble of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Irish Grand National and King George VI Chase. He is also the second most successful competitor in the history of the latter race, taking four titles in the King George VI Chase.

Brigadier Gerard

Brigadier Gerard was the undisputed star of British racing during the early 1970s, beaten just once in a career spanning 18 races and three seasons. Initially competing as a miler, Brigadier Gerard won several of the UK’s most prestigious mile events, including the 2,000 Guineas. He then took the step up to middle distance races to take a clutch of Group 1 wins over longer distances, including the Eclipse Stakes and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Badsworth Boy

As is the case with many great National Hunt racehorses, Badsworth Boy’s career was defined by his exploits in one high profile race. This was the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, which Badsworth Boy won three times from 1983 to 1985. In so doing he became the most successful racehorse in the history of that event, a feat made all the more remarkable by the fact that he suffered from navicular diseases and arthritis throughout his life.

Makybe Diva

This nomination is likely to raise a few eyebrows down under, but one of the horses credited as an all time Australian great was, in fact, foaled in the United Kingdom. Sired by, Desert King, winner of the Irish Derby and Irish 2,000 Guineas, Makybe Diva was foaled in Somerset before being shipped to Australia as a 1-year-old. Her feats on Australian turf were prodigious, and included becoming the first and only horse to win the Melbourne Cup three times between 2003 and 2005.

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Horse racing slots games can’t beat the real thing, or the betting opportunities real racing gives you, but they’re not a bad way to while away the time when there’s no live racing on the go.

So, it’s helpful that some of the UK’s top racing bookies also offer a selection of horse slots games to their customers.

Let’s take a look at some of the best.

AP McCoy Sporting Legends Jackpot

Iconic jumps jockey, Tony McCoy, lends his name to this 25 line 5 reel slots game, offering 243 ways to win.

The slot’s stand out feature is its Bonus Wheel, where every win pays out a cash prize or boosts the payouts in the subsequent Free Games rounds. Also comes with a big progressive jackpot.

You can play this slot at:

• bet365 Casino
• William Hill Casino
• Boylesports Casino

Ascot Sporting Legends

Take a virtual trip to the races with Ascot Sporting Legends, a 5 reel 25 line horse racing slot that celebrates the classiest course in England.

The game includes opportunities to land one of three sporting legends jackpots, and a bonus feature that awards unlimited free spins with wild upgrades.

You can play this slot at:

• Boylesports Casino

Frankie Dettori’s Sporting Legends Jackpot

The world famous jockey lends his name to another Playtech slot game. Frankie Dettori’s Sporting Legends Slot features 5 reels and 25 paylines.

Features include the Galloping Wild Respins which increases the multiplier up to 7x with each re-spin and the Golden Derby free game feature. The game also features a big rolling jackpot.

You can play this slot at:

• bet365 Casino
• William Hill Casino
• Boylesports Casino

Ruby Walsh Champions Gold

Guaranteed to get your heart pumping, Ruby Walsh Champions Gold is a 5 reel 20 line slots game endorsed by National Hunt racing’s most popular jockey.

The game’s features 3 bonus options, including getting 10x your stake if your bonus spin loses, multiplying wins by 10 or removing low value symbols to boost your wins.

Get the thumbs up from Mr Walsh and you’ll unlock a 1000x jackpot!

You can play this slot at:

• Paddy Power Casino

Frankie Dettori’s Magic Seven Jackpot

Frankie Dettori’s Magic Seven is a slots game dedicated to the famous jockey and his feat of winning all the races on the card at Ascot in September 1996.

Developed by Playtech, the game features 5 reels and 25 paylines. The game includes bonus rounds and free spins, but it’s main attraction is its massive rolling jackpot.

You can play this slot at:

• bet365 Casino
• William Hill Casino
• Boylesports Casino

While New Zealand’s thoroughbred racing scene is dwarfed by the scene in neighbouring Australia, this island nation has competed with its neighbour for decades in the breeding stakes.

In fact, some of the most famous racehorses in Australia were foaled in New Zealand. These include the likes of some all-time greats like Phar Lap.

Without further ado, here are the top 10 most famous New Zealand racehorses of all time.

1. Phar Lap

Phar Lap isn’t just a great New Zealand racehorse, he’s punted as being one of the greatest racehorses of all time. During his career Phar Lap won a host of Australia’s most prestigious Group 1 races, including the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate. His formidable strength and size impressed all who watched him compete. Unfortunately, his career was cut short by suspected poisoning in a race held in Mexico.

2. Tulloch

Tulloch’s list of achievements is so long and formidable it is best covered by a biographer. In short, however, he won a host of Group 1 races in Australia during his career, including major events like the Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and the Caulfield Guineas. His versatility was one of the most remarkable things about him, as he shone bright in the Australian racing scene of the late ‘50s to early ‘60s over distances ranging from 5 furlong sprints to 2 miles.

3. Sunline

Sunline’s racing career spanned the turn of the millennium, when she was regarded as one of the finest horses active in Australasia. Her feats included winning the Cox Plate twice, as well as taking repeat wins in several Group 1 races in New Zealand and Australia. Her exploits took her beyond this region, as she went on to win the Hong Kong Mile in 2000. She ended her career with two New Zealand Horse of the Year titles, and three Australian Horse of the Year titles.

4. Rising Fast

New Zealanders appreciate nothing more than a local racehorse who cleans up the biggest races in Australia and Rising Fast is one such example. A star of the 1950s racing scene in Australasia, Rising Fast pulled off wins in virtually every one of Australia’s most prestigious races, including the Caulfield Stakes, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, Melbourne Cup, Mackinnon Stakes and the CG ORR Stakes. He was subsequently inducted into both the New Zealand and Australian Racing Hall of Fame.

5. Gloaming

When it comes to prolific winners, few horses in history can match Gloaming’s record. Not only did he win a host of New Zealand’s biggest races, but he also crossed the Tasman Sea to take wins in several Group 1 Australian races, including the Melbourne Stakes. Gloaming was raced 67 times between 1918 and 1926, winning 57 races, finishing second in nine and failing to finish just one of these races. He still holds the Australian record over four furlongs – 45 seconds.

6. Desert Gold

While Desert Gold may not be well known outside of her native New Zealand, she is widely regarded as the greatest mare the country has produced. Raced 59 times between 1914 and 1919, she achieved a massive 36 wins, taking over a dozen of New Zealand’s biggest race titles. This included taking three successive wins in the Awapuni Gold Cup. By the time her career ended, Gloaming had finished outside the places just six times in her career.

7. Bonecrusher

Raced from the mid ‘80s on, Bonecrusher’s feats straddled both Australia and New Zealand. During his three-season long career he took some of New Zealand and Australia’s biggest races, including the New Zealand Derby, Caulfield Stakes and Cox Cup. His impressive stature and chestnut coat earned him the nickname Big Red, which he shares with Phar Lap. In 1987 he earned his place in the history books by becoming the first horse to win both the New Zealand Derby and Australia Derby.

8. Rough Habit

Rough Habit’s career spanned a period of five years in which he won races on both sides of the Tasman Sea. His 11 Group 1 race wins included the Queensland Derby, Doomben Cup (which he took three years in a row) and the Caulfield Stakes. The longevity of his career is what earns him a place in this list, as he took his first Group 1 win in the Queensland Stakes in 1990, and maintained his winning ways until taking the PJ O’Shea Stakes at the age of eight.

9. Tawriffic

While Tawriffic’s list of accomplishments cannot match the likes of Tulloch, the quality of his wins earns him a place on this list. Most notable among his achievements was his win in the 1989 Melbourne Cup, where he set a record for a winning time. During his career he also claimed the Cox Stakes, AJC St. Leger and the South Australian St. Leger, establishing himself as one of Australia’s pre-eminent stayers.

10. Seagram

While you could dismiss him as a one hit wonder, Seagram’s single big race win was in the toughest race on the planet. In 1991 Seagram pulled off an unlikely win in the Grand National at Aintree. Serendipitously his win was achieved while the gin maker of the same name was sponsor of the world’s biggest handicap chase event. The first, and only New Zealand horse to take a Grand National win soon faded into obscurity, living out the remainder of his life in peaceful retirement.

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Paddy Power and William Hill are two of the biggest brands in sports betting. 

William Hill is one of the oldest bookmakers in the UK and one of the most recognizable international betting brands. Meanwhile, Paddy Power is a relative newcomer to the sports betting scene. 

Both bookies deliver a good betting experience, ranging from feature packed websites, specials offers and in-depth coverage of a large number of sports.

This can make it tough to choose between the two bookies if you’re new to sports betting and haven’t dived into what both bookies have to offer.

In this article we explain why we think William Hill is the better bet if you’re new to sports betting. While Paddy Power has a clear edge in some departments, William Hill delivers a much better betting experience in some critical areas.

Keep reading to find out how William Hill and Paddy Power stack up in key areas of the online sports betting experience.

Overview

While William Hill is fast approaching its centenary, Paddy Power started its operations in 1988 when three major Irish bookies merged their operations.

Despite an aggressive growth strategy by Paddy Power, William Hill continues to dominate in the UK high street betting shops department.

It has been online that Paddy Power has challenged the dominance of William Hill and other major British bookmakers, thanks to its emphasis on special offers, strong marketing and irreverent humour.

Both bookies are licensed to offer their services in countries across the globe, and Paddy Power has been growing steadily, recently merging its operations with Betfair, the world’s most popular betting exchange.

Sports coverage

Paddy Power and William Hill both cover around 30 sporting codes on their websites.

William Hill slightly edges Paddy Power when it comes to number of sporting codes covered, with additional sports covered including handball, futsal and water polo.

When it comes to depth of sports coverage, you’ll find the two bookies vary sport by sport. However, Paddy covers more locations and tournaments than William Hill for major sports like Football.

With William Hill covering more sports than Paddy Power and the latter providing on average more depth for high profile sports; this round of the Paddy Power vs William Hill comparison ends in a tie.

Verdict

WH: 9 PP: 9

Available markets

How many markets are offered on events is always going to differ depending on both the sport covered and the bookie you’re looking at.

As a novice punter, having additional markets available for fringe sports or events isn’t going to have a big influence on your betting experience, so we’ll focus on the major sports here.

When it comes to football William Hill tends, on average, to offer more slightly more substantial market coverage than Paddy Power, particularly when it comes to handicap markets.

When it comes to horse racing there’s little to choose between the two with the same staple markets on offer, and slightly different emphasis on special markets.

All told there’s not much separating Paddy Power and William Hill in terms of available markets, and certainly not enough to score the bookies differently in this department.

Verdict

PP: 9 WH: 9

Odds

If you’re serious about sports betting you need to get the best odds as often as possible. This will ensure that you get the highest possible returns when your bets win.

All bookies charge an overround, which you can think of as their ‘cut’ of every winning bet. The overround shrinks odds so that they effectively understate the probability of the selection winning.

The higher the overround on a selection, the lower the odds on offer will be, and the lower the payout on winning bets. Differences between the overrounds of two bookies can therefore have a big impact on how much you win at a bookie over the long term.

To get an idea of the overrounds of William Hill and Paddy Power we calculated the overround for a selection of future match betting markets for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

For the first 20 matches of the tournament William Hill averaged an overround 5.92%, which is within the normal range for bookie overrounds. By contrast for 15 of these matches that Paddy Power was offering odds on the overround was a whopping 13.77%.

This means Paddy Power takes almost double the cut William Hill takes on these matches and deducts an unusually high overround by any standards. Which means William Hill wins this round easily.

Verdict

WH: 8 PP: 4

Betting apps

The best way to assess the relative merits of the Paddy Power and William Hill apps is to gauge the reactions of large numbers of users on these apps.

William Hill

• Apple App Store: 4,6 stars 100,000+ ratings
• Google Play: 4.4 stars 20,000 + ratings

Paddy Power

• Apple App Store: 4,7 stars 150,000+ ratings
• Google Play: 4.5 stars 24,000 + ratings

When it comes to user ratings for its betting app Paddy Power slightly outperforms William Hill on both Android devices and iOS devices. 

Verdict

WH: 8 PP: 9

Offers & Promotions

Paddy Power has pushed online special offers and promotions harder than any of its competitors, and the brand is now renowned for offering extra value to its customers, particularly with money-back specials.

You’ll benefit from some pretty amazing specials at Paddy Power, with these updated on virtually a daily basis. Racing specials in particular place Paddy ahead of the chasing pack.

With that said, William Hill has worked hard to provide extra value to its punters, and currently offers regular place specials on racing and other big events, and various odds or payout boosters on ACCAs.

While William Hill’s selection of special offers and promotions is more than adequate, Paddy Power is still the bookie to go to if you’re looking for betting specials on major sports events and racing in particular.

Verdict

WH:9 PP:10

Payment methods

No punter wants to run into issues when depositing funds into their bookie account. Being unable to use a specific payment option can easily be a deal-breaker when choosing bookies.

William Hill makes it very easy to deposit into your account, with over 20 payment options including Mastercard, VISA, Maestro debit cards and online payment portals including PayPal, Skrill and Neteller.

Most of these payment options will be cleared instantly by William Hill, excepting bank, cheque and Western Union payments. 

Paddy Power also covers the major payment providers, with VISA and Mastercard, PayPal, Neteller and Skrill all available, along with rapid bank transfers, cash card payments and Paysafecard payments

Importantly William Hill makes it much easier to quickly find out whether or not your payment option is accepted, and what processing times and limits apply, without having to first open an account.

This, combined with a larger selection of payment methods makes William Hill the better option if you have concerns about payment options, clearance times and deposit limits.

Verdict

WH: 9 PP: 8

License & Security

Both William Hill and Paddy Power are licensed to operate by major international regulatory bodies.

William Hill’s UK-based activities are licensed by the UK’s Gambling Commission while its international activities are licensed by the government of Gibraltar.

Paddy Power is licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority

With double the exposure to regulatory bodies, William Hill is subjected to more scrutiny of its activities, which may be reassuring for punters who want to ensure their bookmaker adheres to fair gaming practices and business ethics.

Verdict

WH: 10 PP: 8

Live Betting

Both William Hill and Paddy Power offer a variety of live betting markets to their users, as you would expect from top bookies.

William Hill tends to place more emphasis on these markets than its rival, however, with live markets prominently featured on the home page.

William Hill also offers live betting coverage of a wider selection of sports than Paddy Power, reflecting its broader general cover of different sporting codes.

With similar coverage of major sports, it’s the attention given to more fringe sports that edge this one for William Hill.

Verdict

PP: 7 WH: 8

Live streaming

Live streaming is something that tends to separate the major bookmakers from the pretenders, and both William Hill and Paddy Power deliver in this department.

William Hill’s WHTV is probably the best-known bookie live streaming channel, offering logged in customers access to live horseracing, greyhound racing, football, tennis, basketball and more.

Meanwhile, Paddy Power offers live streaming of mobile in-play events including football, tennis and golf.

Given that both bookies will give you live stream access for just signing up, and that both cover major sporting events, there’s no reason to pick one over the other when it comes to live streams.

Verdict

PP: 10 WH:10

Special Features

The comparison between William Hill and Paddy Power gets particularly interesting when it comes to special features, as both bookies are major innovators in the industry.

William Hill is not averse to trying new things, which includes its now defunct tipster community, the #your odds request service and daily bonus drop amongst others.

Paddy Power is no different, with its most recent innovation coming in the form of its Fantasy leagues where you can pick fantasy teams for NFL, football, NBA and golf at any point in the season.

Which bookie’s approach to innovation will appeal to you most will be up to your specific tastes and preferences. With both delivering in this department this round is a tie.

Verdict

PP: 9 WH: 9

Usability

If there is one department where Paddy Power beats William Hill hands down, it is the usability of its website and betting markets.

Paddy Power makes it super-simple to drill down to sports, events and markets that interest you. It is also very easy to get an overview of what is available in terms of markets for any given sport.

By contrast finding sports events, tournaments and markets on William Hill can be a headache, which means you won’t always find what you’re looking for – even if William Hill has it.

That’s not to say you won’t know what to do or where to go when you’re on William Hill. However, as a new punter you’ll probably prefer browsing a website that makes it very easy for you to find what you’re after.

Verdict

PP:9 WH: 7

Customer Service

As a new user you’re going to want your bookie to be responsive if you run into problems with account setup, deposits or withdrawals.

William Hill and Paddy Power both offer live chat to their customers, which is the gold standard for responsive, accessible customer service.

To rate the quality of customer service, we looked at Trustpilot, where customers tend to go and vent when they have problems with an online brand.

William Hill has a Trustpilot rating of 2.9. This casts a long shadow over Paddy Power’s rating of 1.3 with over 70% of Paddy Power’s respondents submitting negative reviews.

To make matters worse, Paddy Power has responded to none of its negative reviews on Trustpilot, which compounds the negative signal sent from this platform.

That makes this round a rout in favour of William Hill, which not only offers responsive customer service, but a rating that is excellent by Trustpilot standards.

Verdict

WH: 9 PP: 5

Casino

The casinos offered by online bookies are effectively outsourced to 3rd party software providers that determine the game selection, designs and more.

Both Paddy Power and William Hill run Playtech casino software. This means the game selection and gaming experience will be excellent, and largely identical, for both bookies.

The two bookies also share pooled jackpots with other betting providers on the Playtech network, which means that popular slots and games will carry the same substantial jackpots.

There’s therefore nothing to separate William Hill and Paddy Power when it comes to casino offerings, and they both score highly thanks to the quality of Playtech’s casino software.

Verdict

WH: 9 PP: 9

Poker

Major bookies do not tend to operate their own poker rooms, instead preferring to refer their players to shared networks where more players, games and bigger prizes are available.

This is the case for both Paddy Power and William Hill, who are both part of the iPoker network, one of the largest online poker networks in the world.

The iPoker network is operated by Playtech, who also supply the software used to run poker games on the network.

With both bookies outsourcing their poker department to Playtech, there’s nothing to separate the two when it comes to their online poker service.

Verdict

WH: 9 PP: 9

Bingo

As is the case with casino and poker games, major bookies rarely take on the hassle of running their own bingo communities or software.

Instead, this is outsourced to 3rd party software providers including (you guessed it) Playtech.

Both Paddy Power and William Hill are signed up to the full Playtech bundle, which means both use Playtech bingo software and both refer players to the large bingo player pool operated by Playtech.

This has significant benefits for both bookies as their bingo players can access more games more often, and benefit from the big jackpots generated by the large player pool.

So, if you’re in need of a bingo fix, both Paddy Power and William Hill will more than deliver, and you can flip a coin to decide which one to go with.

Verdict

WH: 9 PP: 9

Vegas/Games

Casino games offered outside the casino portal at William Hill and Paddy Power run off the same Playtech software used to power the main casino.

With both bookies outsourcing their casino games to Playtech, this means you’re in for a Playtech casino experience irrespective of which bookie you go with for Vegas/games betting.

Verdict

WH: 9 PP: 9

When it comes to the battle of the bookie heavyweights you don’t get a bigger rivalry than Ladbrokes and William Hill.

These are not only the two oldest and most established UK bookmakers, but they also operate thousands of high street betting shops and have millions of online users.

Both bookmakers also offer feature packed websites with loads of value-adds. All of which can make picking between the two tough for the novice punter.

After extensive testing of Ladbrokes and William Hill across a number of key focus areas, William Hill emerged as a winner in a tight contest. However, Ladbrokes did outperform William Hill in some areas.

Continue reading to find out where Ladbrokes edged William Hill, and what both these bookies have to offer in key areas of the online betting experience.

Overview

William Hill and Ladbrokes are two of the oldest bookies in the world, with Ladbrokes founded in 1886 while William Hill was established by the gentleman of the same name in 1934.

In the past century both William Hill and Ladbrokes have gone through changes of ownership, at the same time both bookies have expanded beyond brick-and-mortar betting shops, first with telephone betting, and then via online betting.

Today these bookies compete in the international sports betting space, with both operating successful betting websites with millions of users across the globe.

Ladbrokes is the bigger of the two operators based on employee numbers and net income, with nearly twice as many employees as William Hill and nearly four times the revenue from its operations.

Sports coverage

As a rule, major bookies will offer a very wide selection of sports and betting markets appealing to mainstream tastes while also covering lower profile events and sporting activities.

It’s therefore no surprise to find that William Hill and Ladbrokes cover over 30 different sporting codes. Ladbrokes has a slight edge in this department, covering a handful of additional marginal sports including badminton, chess and wrestling.

Whether this makes a big difference when picking between the two bookies depends on whether or not you’re planning to bet on more niche sports. If you’re not, there’s really nothing to separate the bookies in this department. 

LB: 10 / WH:9

Verdict

LB: 10 / WH:9

Available markets

The availability of markets is going to be a bigger factor when choosing between Ladbrokes and William Hill than the number of sports they cover.

However, the large number of sports covered does make picking a winner in the available markets department difficutl, as depth of coverage will vary by sport and tournament.

Looking at the most popular sports we find that the coverage of football matches is largely similar, with both bookies covering even the most obscure leagues and divisions from around the world, while offering comparable numbers of markets for every match.

When it comes to racing, the two are once again neck-and-neck with both offering the same staple racing markets along with a couple of special markets.

All things considered, there’s no clear winner in the available markets department. You’re going to find the most popular markets for your sport available at both bookies, and the only real difference will be the types of special markets available – which are a matter of personal preference.

Verdict

LB: 9 WH: 9

Odds

While having many sports and markets to bet on is always fun, odds are what sports betting is all about, and the bookie with better odds will ultimately improve the returns you get from your sports betting.

The easiest way to calculate which bookie offers the most value is to see which bookie charges the lowest overround on average, and therefore takes the smallest bite out of your potential winnings.

To determine this, we calculated the overround on a dozen randomly selected football matches across both bookies.

Overall, William Hill claimed the lower overround, with an average of 8.48% against Ladbrokes 9.94%.

William Hill also provided significantly better value on high profile matches, averaging 8.69% for upcoming World Cup and Premier League matches while Ladbrokes carved out an 11.43% overround.

That’s not to say that Ladbrokes didn’t offer better value than William Hill on some matches. However, based on this assessment William Hill will give you better value on your winning bets in the long term.

Verdict

WH: 8 LB:6

Betting apps

When it comes to the comparative strength of the mobile apps for William Hill and Ladbrokes the app store ratings based on thousands of reviews provide the best benchmark of app performance.

William Hill

• Apple App Store: 4,6 stars 100,000+ ratings
• Google Play: 4.4 stars 20,000 + ratings

Ladbrokes

• Apple App Store: 3,3 stars 2,000+ ratings
• Google Play: 4.2 stars 15,000 + ratings

William Hill  emerges as a clear winner on the app front, offering a massively popular app for iOS as well as a popular Google Play app.

Verdict

WH: 8 LB:7

Offers & Promotions

Gone are the days when Paddy Power dominated the special offer and promotions space. Today any big bookmaker is expected to bring extra value to the table to attract new customers and keep existing ones.

As a result, William Hill and Ladbrokes both offer the standard value-adds you’d expect at a decent bookie, including a best odds guarantee on racing, frequent place specials on daily races and a variety of price boost options which offer enhanced odds or payouts on selected ACCA and singles markets.

However, William Hill goes just that little bit extra with constantly updated promotions that explore new ways to offer value. These presently include top price guarantees on a variety of major sports events, daily scratch-cards and regular money back offers on high profile sports matches or races.

Verdict

WH:9 LB:8

Payment methods

Getting your money in and out of bookies quickly and easily is always going to be important, and both William Hill and Ladbrokes have you covered in this department.

William Hill offers 40+ payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards and payments from a wide variety of online payment portals, including PayPal, Neteller and Skrill.

Deposits from payment providers are immediate, with the exception of bank, cheque and Western Union payments. Deposit limits vary between bookies, starting at £250 for the Paysafecard and going up to £10,00 for direct bank deposits.

Ladbrokes doesn’t offer the same variety of payment methods you’ll find at William Hill. However, you are still covered for all major payment providers, including Mastercard, VISA, PayPal, Neteller and Skrill. Ladbrokes also offers Apple Pay and Google Pay, which are not available from William Hill.

While it’s unlikely you’re going to opt out of betting at Ladbrokes because it has slightly fewer payment methods, William Hill is more likely to be able to help if you’re using a relatively obscure payment method.

Verdict

WH: 9 LB: 8

License & Security

Both William Hill and Ladbrokes are licensed and regulated by major international sports regulation bodies.

William Hill is licensed by the Gambling Commission in the United Kingdom and by the government of Gibraltar for its international betting operations.

The same holds true for Ladbrokes who are regulated and licensed by the Gambling Commission in the United Kingdom and by the Government of Gibraltar for its activities in other territories.

This means both bookies are held to the same high standards of conduct and fairness by their regulating authorities.

Verdict

WH: 10 LB: 10

Live Betting

Live betting is a standard feature at all major bookies, and when it comes to the major players like William Hill and Ladbrokes you’re again going to struggle to separate their offerings.

Sports covered by both bookies include football, tennis, cricket, table tennis, volleyball, baseball and esports. Beyond this Ladbrokes typically covers a comparatively wider selection of additional sports with its live betting markets on any given day.

This gives Ladbrokes the edge in the live betting department, albeit one that most punters will not pick up on if they’re focused on mainstream spectator sports.

Verdict

LB: 9 WH: 8

Live streaming

Live streaming is something you typically only find at larger bookmakers, and both William Hill and Ladbrokes have you covered in this department.

William Hill operates William Hill TV, which streams live horse and greyhound racing daily. WH TV also covers football, tennis, basketball, volleyball and darts. 

Ladbrokes also covers horse racing and greyhounds, along with around 30 football leagues and tournaments from around the world. Other sports include rugby league, basketball and tennis.

All you need to catch this action at Ladbrokes is a funded account.

While you’ll get comparable live sports coverage at both bookies, William Hill edges this one as you can access their content as long as you’re logged in and relevant broadcasts are available in your country.

Verdict

LB: 9 WH:10

Special Features

In the competitive world of sports betting, it is difficult for any bookie to offer a feature that is truly ‘special’, as the competition is quick to snap up good ideas.

With this in mind, William Hill does tend to be a bigger driver of innovation than Ladbrokes, pioneering features like the ability to request special odds for events and an online betting community.

Ladbrokes by comparison tends to adopt ideas trialled by other bookies, and then attempt a slicker execution of the concept.

With this in mind there’s little to separate the two bookies in this area, although William Hill is good bookie to pick if you want to be the first to be exposed to new betting features.

Verdict

LB: 9 WH: 9

Usability

William Hill and Ladbrokes both offer betting websites, with Ladbrokes featuring a more modern, up to date look than a William Hill website that was last refreshed several years go.

The Ladbrokes website is also easier to navigate. The site navigation makes everything a bit easier to find, whereas William Hill required some digging around to reach many markets.

An example was finding the forecast and tricast markets for horse racing appearing as an option on the William Hill betting slip, rather than as odds markets for the race in question.

So, while William Hill may be the clear winner on the app front, Ladbrokes comes out on top in the battle of the websites.

Verdict

LB:9 WH: 7

Customer Service

If you run into trouble making deposits or withdrawals, or need assistance getting your account up and running, it’s important to have fast, efficient customer service at hand.

William Hill is a clear winner in this department, offering its users instant, direct access to the help team via its live chat service.

Ladbrokes, in comparison, leaves its users to rely on email and Twitter to bring issues to the attention of its support team.

We also looked to Trustpilot to get an idea of what the average punter thinks of its interaction with a betting brand, as platform users tend to pull no punches when evaluating brand performance.

William Hill has a Trustpilot rating of 2.9. This compares very favourably with Ladbrokes rating of 1.3.

However, Ladbrokes is far more responsive to complaints than its rival on this platform, replying to 73% of all negative reviews.

While Ladbrokes responsiveness towards consumer complaints is encouraging, instant chat support combined with a better consumer rating hand this round to William Hill.

Verdict

WH: 9 LB: 7

Casino

When it comes to online casinos operated by bookies, the type of experience on offer as well as the game selection is largely determined by the casino software provider.

Both William Hill and Ladbrokes make use of Playtech, which means the sampling of games and software performance across the two casinos is more or less the same.

Even the game jackpots are pooled across partner casinos run by various betting brands.

As a leading casino games providers Playtech more than delivers for both bookies with a wide selection of casino table games and slots, and leaves William Hill and Ladbrokes tied in the casino department.

Verdict

WH: 9 LB: 9

Poker

Online bookies rely on shared poker networks to generate player pools large enough for a bustling poker community, with poker software provided by a 3rd party provider.

Both William Hill and Ladbrokes are on the iPoker network operated by Playtech. Playtech also provides the poker software used by both bookies.

This means that both bookies benefit from a large player pool that ensures you can find a game any time of day and night and enjoy the top-quality software provided by Playtech.

It also means there’s little to separate William Hill and Ladbrokes when it comes to poker, with both bookies delivering a high quality, and largely identical product.

Verdict

WH: 9 LB: 9

Bingo

William Hill’s bingo experience is provided by Playtech, which is also partnered with William Hill for poker and casino games.

This means bingo players on William Hill benefit from a large player base shared with several other bookies on the Playtech network, as well as significant guaranteed jackpots at any given time.

Originally part of the Playtech bingo network, Ladbrokes has since abandoned Playtech and thrown its lot in with Electraworks.

This bingo operator works with a number of major bingo brands, including Foxy Bingo as well as a handful of bookies which include Coral and Ladbrokes.

The relatively small size of the Electraworks bingo network impacts the size of the jackpots on offer, and hands William Hill’s Playtech bingo portal a win in the bingo stakes.

Verdict

WH: 9 LB:7

Vegas/Games

The Vegas/Games sections of the William Hill and Ladbrokes websites are extensions of their casinos, with slight variations on the games available here compared to the main casino.

As is the case with the casino, both bookies make use of Playtech software, which means there’s effectively nothing to choose from between the two in this department.

Verdict

WH: 9 LB: 9

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It could be argued that few countries have a love of horseracing that could eclipse the passion for the sport in Ireland.

Both jumps and flat racing have major followings in the Emerald Isle, and the country has also given birth to some of the greatest racehorses in history.

Here’s our pick of the 10 greatest Irish-bred racehorses of all time.

Arkle

Foaled in County Meath, Arkle captured the adoration of the Irish public in a way no other racehorse has before or since. A steeplechase specialist, Arkle ran 35 races in his career, winning 27 of these and never finishing out of the places. His career successes included winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup three times, claiming the Irish Grand National and winning the King George V Chase at Kempton Park. His popularity was such that he received fan mail and his prowess was pinned on his rumoured consumption of two pints of Guinness a day.

Dawn Run

Dawn Run is the greatest mare ever to compete in the gelding-dominated sport of National Hunt racing. In a career which spanned 35 races, Dawn Run won 21 of her starts. Her most notable feat was achieving a rare double in the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup, winning the Champion Hurdle in 1984 before taking National Hunt’s most prestigious Grade 1 chase title in 1986. Other major races she won included the Christmas Hurdle, Irish Champion Hurdle and Ascot Hurdle. She is also the only horse in history to have won the English, Irish and French Champion Hurdles.

Sea The Stars

The only blot on Sea The Stars’ career record came in his first race as a 2-year-old, which he finished in second place. Thereafter he was unstoppable. In his 3-year-old season Sea The Stars won the 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and Eclipse Stakes. This unique treble was followed by wins in the International Stakes and Irish Champion Stakes. His final race was the 2009 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, where he beat a powerful field comprising nine other Group 1 winners.

Zarkava

While Zarkava did not enjoy legend status in her native Ireland, she is nevertheless recognized as one of the greatest horses to grace French flat racing. Unbeaten during her seven race career, she claimed a number of Group 1 wins, including the Prix de Diane, Prix Vermeille and Poule d’Essai des Pouliches in 2008. Arguably her greatest win came in the 2008 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, where she beat some of the finest stallions in the world to win France’s most prestigious Group 1 race. Plaudits included winning the European Horse of the Year and the European Champion 3-Y-O Filly in 2008.

Yeats

Yeats is not only one of the greatest Irish racehorses of all time but is also the finest stayer to have graced flat racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Trained by Aiden O’Brien, Yeats claimed 14 wins and three places over a 22 race career. His most significant career feat saw him claim four consecutive wins in the Ascot Gold Cup. He also won a number of other prestigious Group 1 races, including the Irish St. Leger and Coronation Cup. At his retirement he’d claimed the European Champion Stayer award four times in a row.

Istabraq

Bred to compete in flat races, Istabraq disappointed his handlers and owner early in his career and was sold to a national hunt stable. After an inauspicious start to his jumps career, Istabraq found his footing and began to win races, including his first Cheltenham Festival win in the Royal & Sun Alliance Novice Hurdle. From there on Istabraq was a force to be reckoned with, dominating the Cheltenham Festival, where he won the Champion Hurdle three times. He would also claim four wins in the Irish Champion Hurdle, along with a slew of other prestigious hurdles races, including four wins in the December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Galileo

Galileo has left his mark on history both as a racehorse and a sire. During his racing career he claimed an impressive double by winning both the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby, before taking the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The stallion finished his career with six wins from eight starts and was then put into stud. Since then Galileo has sired four Epsom Derby winners, including New Approach, Ruler Of The World, Australia and Anthony Van Dyck.

High Chaparral

High Chaparral was not fancied as the strongest contender in his stable until he surprised his trainer and handlers by winning the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy in his third start. This established his potential and in his 3-year-old season he was aimed at some of the biggest races in the United Kingdom and Ireland, competing in and winning the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby Stakes. He also set himself apart by travelling to the United States to compete in the Breeders’ Cup, where he won the Breeders’ Cup Turf two years in a row, establishing himself as one of the greatest turf racehorses in the world during that period.

Shergar

Shergar’s status as an Irish racing legend was forged not just by his success on the track, but by the events which followed his retirement. As a racehorse, Shergar demonstrated immense speed and power, winning both the Irish Derby and Epsom Derby. The latter he won by 10 lengths, the largest winning margin in the history of the race. He would go on to win the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes before putting in an unexpectedly poor performance in the St Leger Stakes. Shergar would later be kidnapped from his stud farm and held ransom. It is believed that he was killed by his kidnappers, speculated to be members of the IRA, shortly after his theft.

New Approach

Sired by Galileo, New Approach ran 11 races during his career, winning eight of them. Notably he demonstrated his finest form in his career as a juvenile, winning all five of his races as a 2-year-old. In 2008 he won the Epsom Derby after initially being aimed at the Irish Derby. He went on to win the Irish Champion Stakes before taking the final race of his career, winning the Champion Stakes at Newmarket by six lengths.

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