Greyhound betting in the UK is on the uptick. Races take place at the premier greyhound race tracks including Sheffield, Nottingham, Central Park, Kinsley, Poole, Monmore, Sunderland, Hove, and Henlow. Sports bettors have traditionally taken to the tracks for greyhound racing activity, but are now turning to online sports books for betting. Smartphones, tablets, and phablets are the go-to devices for new-age bettors. UK enthusiasts have access to an impressive selection of greyhound betting sites, notably William Hill, Ladbrokes, PaddyPower, Coral, BetFred, Sky Bet, betfair, and Bet Victor. These bookmakers typically offer bettors generous welcome packages, including free bets. The hallmark of a reputable greyhound betting site is regulatory approval.
In recent years, the UK has pulled ahead of the pack in terms of the liberalization of online gambling facilities. The top sports books like William Hill typically offer about 200 races for bettors, while others offer about 110 races. The leading authority for regulating online sports betting in the UK is the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC). Throughout Britain, greyhound betting has been a staple of the cultural zeitgeist. Initially, it was deemed a social activity where the lords and ladies would attend the racetrack watching the greyhounds whip across the turf. The local greyhound stadium served as a central hub for the Who’s Who, and the common folk. Fish and chips, meat pies, and pints of ale offered the necessary sustenance for race days.
Now, with the Internet, it’s much easier to simply power up your PC, Mac, tablet or smartphone and enjoy the action from the comforts of wherever you are, by simply visiting websites such as www.greyhoundbetting.co.uk and exploring your options. It’s important to pick compliant, regulated and reputable sports betting sites, failing which bettors run the risk of non-payment, or identity theft. Given that the UK is home to one of the largest online gambling markets in the world and one of the most developed, many unlicensed operators routinely attempt to ply their trade in the UK. For these reasons, caution is the order of the day. Not every generous welcome bonus package is worth accepting. Sometimes, these promotional packages are so laden with terms and conditions, playthrough requirements, and impossible-to-satisfy demands. Several features need to be evaluated before a greyhound betting site gets the nod of approval. These include the following:
• A minimum 70% odds level is required, preferably higher
• Coverage should include evening races, British & Irish BAGS
• Extra features are a nice touch and should certainly factor into the equation
• Bonuses, promotions, and special offers can add value, provided the T&C are favorable
• Virtual greyhound racing is all the rage and UK bettors routinely seek them out
• Mobile betting functionality is sacrosanct with the leading greyhound sports books
• Live streaming betting of greyhound races is immensely popular, and bookmakers offering this service boast the highest number of bettors.
• The quality, availability and responsiveness of customer support is paramount at greyhound betting sites.
The social element of greyhound betting is undeniably attractive to UK bettors. Many of the premier greyground stadiums across the United Kingdom feature several races daily. The average cost of a ticket is approximately £5, and this provides entry to bettors with upwards of 10-15 races on the card. It also offers an opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere at the track, a pint of beer, and some good food. Fortunately, there is room in the UK for traditional greyhound betting and online betting too. Online betting presents punters with the added convenience of not having to attend a stadium, fight the traffic, and get all dressed to the nines. Plus, there are many value-added extras such as convenience, bonuses, and virtual racing.
UK Punters Seek Extra Benefits from Online Sports Betting Platforms
One of the main concerns for bettors at online betting sites is security. Truth be told, too much fraudulent activity takes place at unregulated bookmakers. Identities may become compromised, payouts may be withheld and the necessary oversight may not exist. The United Kingdom Gambling Commission is responsible for overseeing all gambling activity at regulated bookmakers. Additional issues to consider include encrypted information, firewall protection and integrity of player accounts. The range of bets available to punters is equally important in greyhound racing. There are also different types of races available, and different sets of resource material that sports bettors can consult to help them make informed greyhound betting decisions. While a great many regulated greyhound betting sites exist in the UK, only a handful are worthy of consideration. It behooves players to conduct the necessary research to ensure they are betting with a winner.
