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Best Galway Races Betting Sites Ireland 2024 – Racing Free Bets

The Galway Races are a highlight of the Irish horseracing calendar, attracting punters from all over the world. In this article, we will discuss the Galway races, betting markets, strategies for winning plus much more including reviews of what we consider to be the best online bookmakers for betting on the Galway Races.

Best Galway Races Bookmakers in Ireland for 2024:

1
5 / 5
TOTAL SCORE

€50 in Free Bets!

BoyleSports are a well known Irish racing bookmaker and it's not surprise that we currently rank them as the #1 Galway Races bookmaker.

CLAIM BONUS
Terms & conditions apply >
IRE/NI new customers only. €/£40 in FREE Bets (FB) as €/£30 in sports bets & a €/£10 casino bonus (CB). Min Deposit €/£10. Min stake €/£10. Min odds Evs. FB applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. FB 7-day expiry. 1 FB offer per customer, household & IP address only. Account & Payment restrictions. 14 days to accept €/£10 CB, then active for 3 days. CB 5x wagering & max redeemable €/£100. Game restrictions apply. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. 30 days to qualify. 18+. T&Cs apply. T&Cs apply
Review
2
5 / 5
TOTAL SCORE

Get up to €30 in FreeBets

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

CLAIM BONUS
Terms & conditions apply >
New Customers only. Bet €10* & Get €30* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between €5* and €10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply.
Review
3
4.9 / 5
TOTAL SCORE

Get a €20 Free Bet!

Ladbrokes are a well known brand within racing and their online sportsbook offers some great odds on the Galway Races aswell as good welcome offers for new Irish customers.

CLAIM BONUS
Terms & conditions apply >
18+. T&C Apply
Review
4
4.8 / 5
TOTAL SCORE

Get a €60 100% Match Free Bet!

BetVictor offer an impressive €60 Match Free Bet for new customers in Ireland. This is a very competitive offer for the Irish market.

CLAIM BONUS
Terms & conditions apply >
18+ New customers only. Opt in, place your first bet of €10 or more on any sports market. Get up to a €60 match in Free Bets. Offer available until 23:59 IST on 31.12.2024. Free bets expire after 7 days. T&Cs apply. gamblingcare.ie | Please gamble responsibly
Review
5
4.8 / 5
TOTAL SCORE

Get a €40 welcome offer

Unibet operates throughout Europe and offer Irish customers up to €30 in Free bets, as well as offers for Casino and Poker.

CLAIM BONUS
Terms & conditions apply >
18+ begambleaware.org. New customers only. Min deposit €10. Money back as bonus if first bet loses. Wagering requirements: all sportsbook 3x at min. odds of 1.40 (2/5), casino 50x. Unless forfeited the sportsbook bonus must be wagered before using the casino bonus. Bonus expires 7 days after opt-in. Full T&C's apply.. #AD
Review
6
4.7 / 5
TOTAL SCORE

Claim a €30 Free Bet!

Kwiff is a new betting site to Ireland that currently offers new customers a bet €10 get €30 offer. The offer betting on a wide range of sports along with "surprise bets".

CLAIM BONUS
Terms & conditions apply >
New customers & 18+ only. Min. deposit of €10. Qualifying real money bet of €10. Min odds greater than or equal to 1.5 required. E/W bets excluded. Offer awarded immediately but could be issued the next working day in exceptional circumstances such as technical fault. Additional T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
Review
7
4.7 / 5
TOTAL SCORE

Get a €15 Free Bet!

As part of the Marketplay Ltd family, Mr Play has a sportsbook but the website has also expanded into slots, scratch cards, and even live dealer table games. Currently based on the Aspire Global betting platform, Mr.Play offers a huge number of sports markets (40).

CLAIM BONUS
Terms & conditions apply >
18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit: €10, max €15 bonus, valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at a min. odds of 1/1 (2.00) or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement.System bets no eligible.
Review

 

How We Rank The Best Galway Races Betting Sites

We really want to give you the best ratings we possibly can. So, how do we do it? Well, we delve into online bookmaker’s offering markets for Galway and we check everything from the range of bets available, how competitive the odds are, how easy the bookmaker’s is to use, offers they may have available and how reputable and secure the site is plus more.

By looking at all of these different parts, we can give each bookmaker a fair and thorough review based on what they can offer to punters wanting to place a bet at Galway.

 

 

Device Availability

Does the betting site work across multiple devices? We’ll check this as we want the best sites offering betting markets for Galway to be accessible to everyone.

Perform a Betting Comparison

We will compare the Galway betting markets of bookmakers against each other to find the best odds.

Betting Markets

How good are the betting markets for Galway? We’re looking for the widest range of Galway betting possible.

Availability in Ireland

We check that sites are available for Irish punters and also that they are licensed and secure.

Consult an Expert

We conduct thorough research which includes reading reviews and selecting sites recommended by experts. We also consider promotional offers that meet the diverse needs of our punters.

Ask for Recommendations from Friends

We seek insights from regular bettors who can recommend top Galway Races betting sites based on their firsthand experiences.

 

Leading up to the racing at Galway, we like to keep a close eye on all the online betting sites covering the race meets. We are committed to bringing you details of the best odds, betting markets and strategies available, from only the best bookmakers.

The Best Bookmakers for the Galway Races

Boylesports

A popular bookmakers for Irish punters are Boylesports. They offer an extensive range of horse racing betting markets, great promotional offers and an established reputation in the business, making it a great choice for those looking to lay a few bets at Galway races this year. Let’s take a closer look at what Boylesports has to offer.

Betting Markets and Offers for Galway Races

Irish punters will be looking for bookmakers that offer the best selection of betting markets for this year’s Galway races and you won’t go far wrong with Boylesports. There is a wide range of betting types as you’d expect from a bookies with such a renowned name in the industry. Betting markets include win, each-way, forecast and tricast plus even in-running betting so you can place a bet after the race has started.

As Galway races approach, expect to find special promotional offers here too. Boylesports does this for all the major horseracing meets and typical offers available will be extra place betting, money back as a free bet if your horse finishes second and best odds guaranteed.

Immersive Galway Race Betting Experience

Boylesports is fully aware of how important Galway races are to Irish punters and they’ll feature dedicated sections to the event, so you can find everything you need in one place. They will provide not only special daily offers and promotions for selected races but also provide form guides and free streaming so you can enjoy the races and hopefully watch as your horse comes in.

Boylesports’ Welcome Offer

If you’re new to Boylsesports you can take advantage of the rather generous welcome offer. Sign up and make a first qualifying bet of €10 or more and you’ll get a free €10 to use on any race. This gives you an excellent opportunity to check out the betting markets for Galway and fingers crossed, bag a win with some bonus funds. As ever with things like this, we always suggest you read up on the terms and conditions of the welcome offer before claiming.

As a whole, we think Boylesport has a lot to offer for Irish punters looking for somewhere to place a few bets on this year’s Galway races. The bookie’s platform is well thought out and navigating to the horseracing section is really simple. They have a wide selection of betting markets, promotions and offers specific to Galway and the welcome package is great for new users to take advantage of and place free bets.

bet365

One of the biggest and most trusted betting sites operating today is bet365. Over the years they have established a loyal base of users that come to their site to place bets on a multitude of markets, with horseracing being one of the most popular. So it’s no surprise that bet365 has good coverage of this year’s Galway races. Let’s see what they have to offer for Irish punters.

Bet365 Welcome Offer

The first thing you’ll notice if you are new to bet365 is the attractive welcome offer. Sign up and place a qualifying bet of €10 and you will receive €30 in free bets. This is a great way to get your Galway betting off on the right foot and hopefully, use your bonus funds to pick up a few wins. We should add that this welcome offer could change in the future as not too long ago, bet365 was offering €50 in free bets when you made a qualifying bet of €10. So keep an eye on the details and as always, read the terms and conditions attached to this offer.

You should also look out for any bonus offers available, especially in the lead-up to Galway. It’s not uncommon for bet355 to give out bonus codes ahead of major racing meets. These codes can be used to add bet credits to your account which can be used to place bets. Also, bet365 has been known to reward valued customers with loyalty promotions. These usually come into play just before the start of major racing meetings so it’s likely they could be available right before the start of the racing at Galway.

Live Streaming and Best Odds Guaranteed

Many of the best online racing bookmakers offer live streaming of racing meets and bet365 is renowned for having some of the best coverage currently available. But to view the live streaming here, you need to have an active account and to have made a bet within 24 hours or you will lose access. For Irish races, the minimum bet you need to make to view live streaming is €0.50 Also, bet365 offers a Best Odds Guaranteed feature, which for Irish races including Galway and is available on the day of the event and the evening before. This means that punters get the best odds available and once the bet is placed, it’s fixed and your potential payout won’t change as the odds move.

Mobile App

One thing about bet365 that we love is the dedicated app available for both Apple and Android devices. It’s easy to use and runs smoothly, making betting on the go simple. Plus the live streaming through the app is brilliant quality.

Betting Markets

In regards to bet365’s betting markings for Galway, it’s what you would expect. All of your favourites are here including, win, each-way betting, extra places and also the chance for in-play betting and even early cashouts, giving you the chance to end your bet and take your money before the race has finished.

So, to sum up, you can’t really go wrong when choosing bet365 for betting on this year’s Galway racing. Both the desktop and app versions are top notch and there are a wide range of betting markets and promotional offers for Irish punters to use. Also, the welcome offer for new sign-ups is a fantastic way to get your mitts on bonus betting money. The only problem we found, and it’s a tiny one, is you have to make a minimum bet of at least €0.50 within 24 hours to use the live streaming feature.

Ladbrokes

We’ve all heard of Ladbrokes. They are a household name in the betting industry and over the years, have become a go-to online bookmakers for horseracing punters. Let’s take a look at what Ladbrokes has to offer Irish punters looking to place a bet or two on this year’s Galway racing.

Welcome Offer and Bonuses

The welcome offer at Ladbrokes is pretty standard for an online bookmaker, offering €20 in free bets when you make a first qualifying bet of €5 or more. These offers are very popular and it’s a great way to get yourself some bonus betting cash for Galway and hopefully pick up a few wins.

Away from the welcome offer, Irish punters can also take advantage of other promotions including free bets and bonus codes. For example, there has recently been a bonus code ‘20FREE’, which rewards players €20 in free bonus bets when you place a €5 wager. Also, when Galway begins, keep an eye out for any daily price boosts and take advantage of those.

Betting Markings

You don’t become a leading name in the industry without offering a wide range of betting markets. Win, each-way and extra places are all here plus for Irish races like Galway, Ladbrokes offers best odds guaranteed, so if the odds change, once you’ve placed your bet, your odds won’t change. For all the big meets including Galway, you’ll find that Ladbrokes will offer special promotions closer to the time. Promotions such as free bets, money back if your horse falls, money back if your horse finishes 2nd and early cashout deals, are all likely to be available.

Insights and Analysis

One thing we love about Ladbrokes that many other bookmakers don’t provide is their racing news and tips sections. Leading up to Galway, you’ll be able to read up on all the latest news for the meetings, top tips and strategies. This kind of information is invaluable for punters and whilst it will be readily available on other horse racing sites, having it built into the Ladbrokes site, keeps everything under one roof and you don’t have to navigate away to find it.

Live Streaming

If you use either the desktop or the app version of Ladbrokes, you’ll get access to their live streaming feature. They cover all the major Irish racing meets, Galway included and the streaming quality is great. The only downside is you have to place a €1 bet to be able to use this feature. Watching the races unfold in real-time adds to the thrill and enjoyment of the Ladbrokes racing experience.

You can’t really go wrong with Ladbrokes. Both the desktop and the app versions are spot on and really easy to use. They offer extensive betting markets for Galway and we love the daily price books, best odds guaranteed and early cashout options. The welcome bonus is great and the live-streaming quality is brilliant. Our only minor gripe is that to use the live streaming feature you will have to place a €1 bet.

888sport

Another well-known online bookmaker is 888sport. Their reputation has grown significantly since they started out back in 2008 and part of that reason is the great horseracing coverage they provide. Let’s take a look at what they can offer Irish punters in regard to this year’s Galway racing.

Welcome Bonus

If you’re signing up to 888sport for the first time you can get your hands on a rather generous welcome offer of €30 in free bets when you make an initial wager of €10 or more. These €30 free bets are split up into 3 €10 bets and you have to use them within 7 days of claiming. We love this offer and it’s a great way to start your Galway experience off and hopefully bring in some wins.

Betting Markets

As you would expect from such a big name in the industry, 888sport has plenty of coverage when it comes to Irish racing meets and Galway is no exception. You find classic bets such as win and each way along with extra place betting, best odds guaranteed and early cashout options. 888sport also likes to offer daily price boosts, available for all the big racing meets so look out for those when Galway begins. You can also do in-play betting here too so if you fail to place a bet before the race begins, it doesn’t matter, you can still lay some money down and enjoy the race.

Live Streaming

888sport offers a live streaming service so you can watch your bets play out in real-time. We’ve found the streaming quality to be decent enough and we had no lagging problems using this on both the desktop and mobile versions. The only downside is that to use this feature, you have to make a bet of €1.

Betfeed

One of the features we love at 888sport is Betfeed, which lets you see bets placed by other punters in real time. This unique feature can give you valuable insight into the latest betting trends.

Overall, we think 888sport is a great option for Irish punters looking for a place to bet on Galway. The betting markets are great and the welcome offer plus ongoing promotions and deals for big meets such as Galway are great to take advantage of. We love the live streaming too even if you do have to make a bet of €1 to use the service. All in all, 888sport is a great option for Galway punters.

What Are The Galway Races

The Galway Races is a renowned and very popular annual horse racing meeting held in Galway, Ireland. The event takes place at Galway Racecourse, Ballybrit, Galway and lasts for 7 straight days. It’s a huge event and a highlight in the Irish racing calendar, attracting a large number of people from not only Ireland but all over the world.

 

 

Date

First Race

Event Details

Monday, 31st July

5:10 PM

The Opening Day 

Tuesday, 1st August

5:10 PM

Colm Quinn BMW Tuesday – Throwback Tuesdays 80's Night

Wednesday, 2nd August

5:10 PM

Tote Galway Plate Day & Country Music Extravaganza

Thursday, 3rd August

2:10 PM

Guinness Galway Hurdle Day & Ladies' Day

Friday, 4th August

5:00 PM

Friday's Most Stylish

Saturday, 5th August

1:55 PM

The Weekender 

Sunday, 6th August

1:50 PM

Mad Hatter's Family Fun Day

 

The Galway Races usually take place in late July or early August, combining horseracing with entertainment making it a perfect social event for punters. The 7-day event has a wide variety of race types, including jump racing and flat racing and maiden races for novice horses to more prestigious handicaps. Possibly the most popular race at Galway is the Glaway Plate; a steeplechase that attracts the best horses and jockeys from Ireland and the UK. Another top race is the Galway Hurdle, attracting more top jockeys, competing for a substantial prize purse.

Galway Betting Markets

Betting markets for Galway Races offer a wide range of options for Irish punters to explore. In addition to the traditional win, place, and each-way bets, there are plenty of other specific betting markets tailored to Galway.

 

Competitive Handicaps

Galway has a strong reputation for its competitive handicap races, providing plenty of opportunities for punters to place bets. In general, the odds are good in Galway handicap races, mostly due to the high standard of competitors and the larger race fields.

Maiden Races

With a good selection of Maiden races at Galway, punters have a chance to see new horses compete against each other for the first time. This type of race usually offers favourable betting opportunities as the form guide isn’t fully established and can’t always be relied upon as a good indicator of who will win or place.

Speciality Markets

Alongside the normal betting markets, you would come to expect, bookmakers will offer specials that are specific to Galway. Specials might include ‘Top Jockey’ or ‘Top Trainer’ bets, so as Galway approaches, keep an eye on the various speciality markets being offered.

Ante-Post Betting

The big races at Galway such as the Glaway Plater and the Galway Hurdle, can attract ante-post betting options, where bookmakers offer favourable odds early and you can place your bet in advance.

Live Betting and In-Play Markets

Many of the top online bookmakers will feature live streaming so you can watch Galway Races and see how your bets unfold in real time. They may also offer in-play betting, letting place a bet after the race has started.

 

Strategies for Betting on the Galway Races

If you want to increase your chances of winning at the Galway Races, then a careful strategic approach to betting is needed. Each racing meet is unique and Galway is no different so with that in mind, here are a few strategies to help you make the most out of your Galway experience.

 

Research and Form Analysis

This one seems obvious and you’ve probably heard it before but nothing beats good old fashioned research. Analysing the form of horses is a must. Pay close attention to recent races and how they performed, even looking at how they have faired at Galway in the past. Also take note of who the jockeys are and again, how they have performed recently. All of this can pay off when decided who to put your hard earned money on.

Focus on Course Specialists

Galway can be a tricky race to run, especially for horses that are new to the course. We recommend looking at horses that have ran and faired well at Galway in the past.

Evaluate Draw Bias

Check our previous race results at Galway and look for any patterns or trends, whilst also looking at things like race distance, horse starting positions and weather conditions. Understanding all of this can help you make better informed bets.

Multiple Betting Markets

Take advantage of the wide range of betting markets available for the Galway Races. Traditional bets like win and each-way will always be popular but you could increase your chances of winning by placing bets on predicting the finishing order of a race.

Market Movements

Keep a close eye on any movements in betting markets. Big changes in odds might be an indicator of insider knowledge and by monitoring any changes, you can adjust your bets accordingly.

 

FAQ on the Galway Races

What are the Galway Races?

The Galway Races is a popular racing meeting held in Galway, Ireland. The event takes place annually and lasts for 7 days. It’s a huge event, attracting a large number of people from not only Ireland but all over the world.

When does Galway Races take place?

The Galway Races usually take place at the end of July or early August every year.

What types of races are there at Galway?

The big races at Galway are the Glaway Plater and the Galway Hurdle. Plus there are also plenty of novice and competitive handicap races too.

Will there be specialist bets available for Galway Races?

Yes, they will. Top bookmakers will have dedicated offers available for the Galway Races. These could include things like free bets, extra place betting and betting on the order of the top 3 finishers.