UK betting sites with place betting 2025

What is place betting?

Place betting on a horse race is a popular wager offered by UK betting sites, where you bet on a horse to finish in one of the top positions, typically 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. The number of "places" that qualify for a payout can vary depending on the number of horses running in the race and the bookmaker’s rules, but it usually covers the first two or three finishers. Sometimes, in larger races with many runners, the bookmaker may offer payouts for horses finishing 4th or even 5th.

Unlike a win bet, where you only get a payout if the horse wins the race, a place bet provides a greater chance of winning because your selected horse doesn’t need to finish first. However, since the risk is lower, the payout is generally smaller than a win bet.

Example of Fred a betting site customer completing a Place Bet below,

Fred is browsing a UK betting site and notices an upcoming horse race at Newmarket. He wants to place a bet on his favourite horse, Silver Blaze, but instead of risking a win-only bet, Fred decides to place a place bet, which will give him a better chance of winning, even if Silver Blaze doesn’t come first.

Fred checks the race details and sees that there are 12 horses running, so the bookmaker is paying out on the top 3 places. Fred places a £20 place bet on Silver Blaze, meaning he will win if the horse finishes in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd position.

When the race begins, Fred watches anxiously as Silver Blaze runs strongly but doesn’t quite manage to win the race, finishing 2nd instead. Because Fred placed a place bet, his bet is successful, and he wins a payout based on the place odds, which were 3/1.

Fred receives £60 (£20 stake x 3/1 odds), securing a win even though his horse didn’t come first. Place betting allowed Fred to enjoy a safer betting option with a greater chance of winning.