The five-day Royal Ascot card is also one of the most popular 2021 betting fixtures on the British horse racing calendar. Each year there are millions of pounds wagered on betting on Royal Ascot. Royal Ascot Betting Tips for the Royal Ascot Festival & latest Royal Ascot Odds from Betfair. To help personalise content, tailor your experience and help us improve our services, Betfair uses.

• Royal Ascot 2020 Tips
• Royal Ascot Betting Guide
• Royal Ascot Betting Guide

The RoyalAscot is the premier race meet in Britain.

With more than 300 years of history and five days of nonstop action annually, The Royal Ascot is well-known even to those who don’t watch horse racing. It is easily the most prestigious flat-race meeting in Europe. Big-name competitors from all over the world subsequently gather for a week to battle it out for a share of the multimillion-dollar prize pool.

Accompanying these racers are hundreds of thousands of fans and gamblers looking to get in on the action and, hopefully, make some cash.

The Royal Ascot earns its spot as the highlight of the flat races. The event features a total of 19 group races, with eight of those being in GroupOne.

Prize money of $12 million is available, and the quality of races are unsurpassed anywhere else.

Also of note is the role the royal family plays in the races. Their regular attendance at the Royal Ascot extends back to the 1700s; QueenAnne brought the AscotRacecourse into existence.

It serves as a social and fashion event, as well as a cross-class unifier for UK people. The Royal Ascot is one of the only horse racing events to receive consistentcoverage in the mainstream media.

In 2020, the event will take place from Tuesday, June 16, through Saturday, June 20. This five-day period is consistently the busiest time of the year for bookmakers and betting sites in the UK. It is even the most hectic for some international bookies, too.

Last year, more than $500 million of bets were placed, and that amount is expected to be even higher this year.

Best betting sites for the Royal Ascot

We want to make sure that you get your money’s worth no matter what sports betting site you use. And, if you are new, you’ll want to visit a bookmaker that respects its customers and makes it easy to place bets.

Below, we’ve constructed a list of some of the best horse racing betting sitesaround. You’ll be sure to get the greatest bang for your buck here and have the easiest time doing it, too.

If you live in the US, be sure to check your state’s laws on online gambling before you start placing bets. Most states are permissive, but a few states heavily restrict it or ban gambling altogether. Make sure you see what is and isn’t allowed, so you don’t fall into any potential legal trouble.

After all, you wouldn’t want to see your Royal Ascot winnings go up in smoke, would you?

How to bet on the Royal Ascot

You’ve hit the tailor, you’ve put on your finest top hat and your outfit looks absolutely sniffing.

OK, you don’t need to go that far to bet on the Royal Ascot, but it certainly helps to know your teller from your off-track site. We’re here to give you a helping hand as you prepare to bet on the most royal event of the horse racing season.

The following explains the three primary ways you can bet on the Royal Ascot race:

Online betting

You would think with horse racing’s long, established tradition around the world that more states would be amenable to allowing it. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case across the US.

Most states allow horse betting online, and a similar number allow it in-person on or off the track. However, there are a few states where it’s much more heavily restricted. Be sure to check your state’s laws on online gambling.

Plenty of websites will provide you with the quality of service you deserve. It’s all about finding the right bookie, which we can certainly help you find.

Just remember, that when it comes to betting on the Royal Ascot, betting online is the easiest way to get a slice of the action.

Betting at the teller

If you haven’t done this before, it’s easy to think that you’ll look like you’re wasting the teller’s time. Worry not; they’re happy to help you if you need assistance.

But to avoid wasting anybody’s time, here’s what you need to do:

• First, make sure to specify the racetrack you’re visiting.
• Secondly, specify the racenumber.
• Then share the amount you’re betting.
• Next, explain the kind of bet you want to place.
• Finally, give theprogram number of the horse(s).

Quinella and exoticbets work the same way in regards to ordering wagers. Just make sure to specify the correct number of horses, and everything else is the same.

Once you receive your ticket, hold onto it. Many people know stories of bettors who won big but couldn’t claim their winnings because they lost their ticket.

Off track betting

Off-track betting (OTB) facilities are great for gamblers who want to witness all the action without actually having to be physically present at a racetrack.

At an OTB, you can bet on races all over the world and watch the action as it unfolds. We know it’s not easy to get to the UK, nor is it the easiest to face that patchy weather. Therefore, if you still fancy experiencing the live buzz on the day of the races, don’t be afraid to head down to your nearest off-track betting facility.

With us by your side, you’ll never lack the information you need to make the most of your horse betting experience.

If you’re new, start by placing small bets. This way will help you get a feel for how everything works. As you become more experienced and you get in the groove of things, you can start making more ambitious wagers.

That’s where you’ll strike big and, we’ll do everything we can to help make that happen.

Is it legal to bet on the Royal Ascot?

Yes, it is. At the federal level, since 1978, which is an important distinction to make because it doesn’t prohibit states from deciding how legal to make it.

Each state regulates horse betting differently. Most states allow all forms, including on- and off-track betting. Nevertheless, nine states don’t allow you to bet online on horse races. Besides, other states have specific rules regarding off-site facilities.

Naturally, we don’t want you to get in any legal trouble. Therefore, please research your state’s laws carefully before actually placing any wagers.

Even if you live in a state that isn’t so permissive, you still have options available to you, so don’t panic.

A popular choice is to gamble at offshore sites. As long as the facility is properly licensed and regulated, it is not a crime to bet at facilities located outside the US.

However, if you live in Washington state or Connecticut, you’re out of luck because all forms of online gambling are illegal. In other words, you’ll have to go outside of the state if you want to make your bets.

When events, like the Royal Ascot, on the horizon, it’ll be well worth the journey.

Types of bets you can place at the Royal Ascot

Horse betting is typically split up into two categories of bets: standard and exotic pools.

1. Standardpools contain the core types of bets: win, place and show. These bets require your horse to place first, first or second, or first, second or third, respectively.
2. Exotic pools include exacta, trifecta, superfecta and super high five bets. These bets require wagering on all the horses that finish from second to fifth place.

The basic bet types are self-explanatory, and you probably know them already. However, exotic wagers are a different story.

Let’s start with the exacta, which requires you to select the first two finishers in the right order.

Things then ramp up from there. The trifecta needs you to pick the first three finishers; the superfecta requires four and the super high five – as you might have guessed – requires five picks.

Tough picks as they might be; nonetheless, wrapping up one of these wagers might lead you to a massive payday.

Past winners at the Royal Ascot

The Royal Ascot has been the stomping ground to some of the most famous runners and riders in history.

We’ve even seen some royal-family-backed horses romp home to victory in the past, which should tell you something about the level of horse that attends this particular event.

Below, we’ve listed some of the most famous — and arguably not-so-famous — winners of the Royal Ascots biggest races:

Royal Ascot Gold Cup Winners 2000-2019

Royal Ascot odds

Odds, odds, odds, it is pretty tough to figure out who’s offering what these days.

When the Royal Ascot rolls around, it’s not just the horses that come charging out of the blocks. We get that it’s not always easy finding the best odds, which is why we’ve taken the legwork out of the challenge.

You can subsequently be sure you’re getting the best odds on any of the horses that may have caught your eye.

The following table looks at all the runners and riders at the Royal Ascot:

Five days at the Royal Ascot

The Royal Ascot lasts an astounding five days, with the action guaranteed at every furlong.

For novices, it can be tough to digest all that’s happening. Thankfully, we’re here to guide you through each day and all that’s going on, races included, of course.

Tuesday

Once the Greencoats open the gates at precisely 10:30 a.m. GMT, thousands of fans will enter the arena to see a perfectly prepared racecourse.

Anticipation will build as the races approach. At 2 p.m., the RoyalProcession begins in accordance with tradition. Decorated landau carriages, led by four Windsor gray horses, will canter along the Straight Mile.

This procession precedes three major Group One Races: the St James’s Palace Stakes, the Queen Anne Stake and the King’s Stand Stakes. These are some of the most hotly anticipated races in flat racing anywhere in the world.

Wednesday

On the second day of the event, the mood will shift as the crowds shrink, and the atmosphere becomes a little less tense.

The premier race of the day is the Prince of Wales Stakes, which is a Group One event that takes place over a distance of 10 furlongs. This race is particularly historic, running since 1862.

This race is accompanied by Group Two’s Queen Mary Stakes and Duke of Cambridge Stakes. These are held for 2-year-old fillies and fillies and mares 4 or older, respectively.

Of course, racing isn’t the only thing to do.

The famous 1768 Grill & Tea Rooms, located in the Queen Anne enclosure, provide a relaxing evening of tea, sandwiches, scones and, if the fancy strikes you, champagne.

If you want to catch a glimpse of the celebrities, A-listers and royals, keep your eyes on the Queen Anne enclosure. Who knows who you might see?

Thursday

Thursday is when the GoldCup is run, traditionally.

It is famous for being the most significant race of the year and is only less than 2.5 miles in length. More informally, it is known as “LadiesDay” due to the colorful array of fashionable clothes worn by the audience.

The Gold Cup was first run in 1807 and is, therefore, the oldest continuously run race at the Royal Ascot festival. Winners traditionally receive a solid gold trophy made by Garrard & Co.

The day of the Gold Cup is when women wear their finest hats and millinery, with it becoming a media-frenzy of fancy hats and fast photographs.

Friday

In preparation for the weekend, two Group One races are held: the CoronationStakes and the CommonwealthCup.

The Coronation Stakes can trace ancestry into 1840; it was run to celebrate the coronation of QueenVictoria two years prior. The Commonwealth Cup was introduced in 2015 for 3-year-old horses, so it’s the latest addition to an already busy week of racing.

The Royal Ascot is a festival of races steeped in history and revelry. The most dedicated fans and gamblers will want to bring their cup. The Plymouth fruit cup, which is a gin-based drink served with a cornucopia of different fruits, will be offered at the VillageEnclosure.

Saturday

The Diamond Jubilee Stakes is the centerpiece of the day’s event. It is a Group One sprint race that routinely boasts some of the most exciting action in British sports.

The WokinghamStakes are next, which covers six furlongs and is over in a flash. This race serves as a warmup for the Queen Alexandra Stakes. At 2 miles and six furlongs, it is, by far, the longestrace of the entire Royal Ascot festival. It also serves as a suitably epic finale. Many revelers dress in their finest clothes on this day, since it’s the last until next year.

If you want to gamble in style, pop open some champagne in your Sunday finest, you’ll fit right in.

How to watch the Royal Ascot on TV on via live stream

The Royal Ascot is one of the most accessible events of the racing season. All 30 races are broadcast live on ITV and SkyRacing in the UK, along with a day’s worth of coverage and analysis.

Also, the RacingPost website contains options for live streaming the event. Furthermore, you can count on the OpeningShow to provide initial coverage at 9 a.m. The actual coverage of the racing begins at 1:30 p.m.

Those across the pond only have one option when it comes to watching the Royal Ascot, and that’s through NBCSports. Available through TV and a dedicated online streaming service, it’s the easiest way to watch the action stateside. But, if you can’t watch it, you can always catch the aftermath on YouTube.

History of the Royal Ascot

The Royal Ascot’s history begins in the early 1700s.

Back when Ascot was known as EastCote, Queen Anne recognized the potential for horse races to be held in the region. This was during one of her trips near WindsorCastle when she noted that the terrain of the region was optimal for horses galloping at full speed.

On Aug. 11, 1711, the first race was held at what is now Ascot. The event was called Her Majesty’s Plate, and it was open to any horses 6 or older.

The first Royal Ascot ran in 1711

The 1711 race was worth 100guineas, a significant sum at the time. Horses had to carry a weight of 12 stone, and the actual event itself barely resembled what the Royal Ascot has become in the years since.

Royal Ascot 2020 Tips

All the horses were EnglishHunters, which is a far cry from the groups of thoroughbreds that populate the races today.

The race consisted of three heats, each more than 4 miles. This distance means the winning horse has to possess an enormous amount of stamina to finish.

It didn’t take long for horse racing at Ascot to become popular with the middle and upper classes. A century later, in 1813, an Act of Enclosure was passed to ensure that AscotHeath would remain in use for horse racing even though it was legally the property of the crown. It is currently managed by the AscotAuthority, which was created by the Parliament in 1913.

The original positions are the chairman of the authority and clerk of the course. These positions remain but are supplemented by the chief executive and various departmental directors to manage the course better.

The Royal Stand

The RoyalStand is of particular historical significance.

It dates back to the 1790s when a stand was temporarily created during the royal meeting. This stand was intended to provide the visiting King George III with private, well-guarded quarters. Access was invitation-only.

Such enclosures were largely informal creations until May 1845, when the Royal Stand was formally established by decree.

The necessity of this private area was established in June 1832, when William IV was struck by a rock thrown by a disgruntled former sailor named Dennis Collins.

To this day, the Royal Stand serves as a refuge of privacy and security in an otherwise crowded and rowdy event. In other words, it ensures that the royal family can enjoy the festivities in relative peace.

The 25 days of racing each year

Until the end of World War II, Ascot only featured the four-day long Royal Meeting. But, thanks to increased interest from the public, the number of races and events has grown over the years. A particularly popular addition was the steeplechase and hurdlecourse, added in 1965. This meant that NationalHunt meetings could even be held during the winter.

As of today, the Ascot Racecourse stages a total of 25 days of racing. There are nine National Hunt meetings held between October and April and 16 flat meetings held between May and October.

Consequently, there are no parts of the year without races. The marquee race is undoubtedly the Royal Meeting, which is held in June each year. It is perhaps the most spectacular and extravagant meeting held at the Ascot, steeped in panache and tradition.

Revelers and gamblers can look forward to a variety of events during the Royal Ascot.

The Diamond Day features Queen Elizabeth and King George VI Diamond Stakes. The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is held during the Blue Square Shergar Cup, which also serves as the race’s only team competition. More than half a million fans attend the Royal Ascot each year, enjoying the opportunity to revel and gamble with abandon for an entire week.

Royal Ascot Betting Guide

One thing is for sure; there’s never a dull moment during the historic Royal Ascot event. Especially when you consider the pageantry and nonstop action involved.

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What Makes These Royal Ascot Betting Sites the Best?

We only recommend the best betting sites that we know will make your experience of betting at Royal Ascot even better. All our sites are legal and licenced, as well as having been tried and tested by our expert review team. They also offer a combination of great offers and the best odds.

Licensed and Legal

All our recommended Royal Ascot betting sites comply with the strictest gambling regulations in the world, which is why they hold licenses in one or more countries. That means you can sit back and relax while betting at Royal Ascot, knowing you are doing so legally.

Free Bets

One of the many reasons why we’re recommending these Royal Ascot betting sites to you is the free bets you can take advantage of when you sign up. Some also offer more free bets to existing players. This means you can use these promotions to maximize your chances of winning at Royal Ascot.

Great Odds

Picking winners at Royal Ascot is great fun, and our top Royal Ascot betting sites are where you’ll be able to get the best odds for your selections. No one bookmaker offers the best odds on every horse in every race, but you’ll get the best odds on all your horses at Royal Ascot by shopping around at a few of the different sites we recommend.

How to Bet on Royal Ascot

If you want to bet on Royal Ascot online, here is our simple step-by-step guide. Start by opening accounts with our recommended horse racing betting sites, all of which will give you access to free bets and other great benefits.

It’s then time to check out our Royal Ascot betting tips from our horse racing experts. As you’ll now have access to lots of different online bookmakers, you’ll be able to get all the best Royal Ascot betting odds. You’ll also be able to take advantage of all the special promotions and concessions our recommended Royal Ascot bookmakers are offering, such as odds boosts and enhanced each-way terms.

Types of Royal Ascot Bets

The most popular type of bet at Royal Ascot is a win-bet. This is simply a bet on a horse to win at the odds offered. For example, if you have a £10 win bet on a horse at 10/1 (11.00), you will win £100 plus your £10 stake back. Win bets are perfect for using free bets offered by many of our popular Royal Ascot betting sites.

Another popular bet at Royal Ascot is an each-way bet, as many horses are priced-up at generous odds due to the competitive nature of the races. An each-way bet is two bets, a win bet and a place bet. The win part of an each-way bet is settled in the same way as a win-bet, but the place part of the bet may vary.

The place part of an each-way bet is settled at a fraction of the odds, and this fraction may vary depending on the type of race you’ve had your bet in. Place odds are normally a fifth of the win odds. If you had bet £10 each-way on a horse at 10/1 (11.00) that finished third, your place bet would be settled a fifth of 10/1 (11.00), which is 2/1 (3.00). That means you’d get £20 and your £10 stake back.

Of course, if your each-way selection wins, you’ll collect on both the win bet and the place bet. You’ll get £110 back of you win bet and £30 on your place bet – a total of £140 and a profit of £120.

Some each-way bets at Royal Ascot, normally the ones in handicaps with 16 runners or more, are settled at a quarter of the odds for place bets. That means your bet would be settled at £10 at 5/2 (3.50). Many of our recommended Royal Ascot betting sites will also be offering enhanced each-way betting terms, so make sure you shop around.

Combo/multiple bets such as doubles, trebles, and accumulators are also popular at Royal Ascot, and many of our recommended bookmakers will let you place these bets whilst using promotions.

Free Bets and Promotions at Royal Ascot

When you sign up to any of our Royal Ascot betting sites, you’ll be able to take advantage of the new player free bets on offer. These types of offers are perfect for your Royal Ascot online betting. For example, you may have to deposit and bet £10 to get a free £10 bet.

Simply start by placing your £10 bet on any horse running at Royal Ascot. Once this bet is settled as either a winner or a loser, you’ll then be able to place your £10 free bet on another horse running at Royal Ascot. This means you’ll have two chances of winning for the cost of one bet, which is why we recommend only Royal Ascot betting sites that offer these types of promotions.

Royal Ascot Betting Guide

Many of our recommended bookmaker offers are much more generous than the example above, so make sure you check them all out before you bet at Royal Ascot. They also offer many other exciting promotions and concessions, such as more free-bets, best odds guaranteed, odds boosts, and enhanced each-way terms.

The Benefits of Using Royal Ascot Betting Sites

Royal Ascot online betting has many advantages over Royal Ascot on-course betting. For starters, you won’t be under pressure to push past massive crowds of people to get your bets on. Getting the best odds at Royal Ascot is also a nightmare, with on-course bookmakers being able to take advantage of the naiveites of inexperienced punters by offering lower odds and/or poor each-way terms.

Using our recommended Royal Ascot betting sites will make betting at Royal Ascot easy. You’ll have the pick of the best welcome offers such as generous free bets. You’ll also be able to take advantage of the best odds and each-way terms, as well as any additional concessions that our betting sites are offering. That’s why we always recommend you bet online at Royal Ascot.

Royal Ascot Betting Tips

Lots of favourites win at Royal Ascot but, as winners have been returned at odds of as high as 150/1, don’t be afraid to bet on a horse at big odds if you fancy it. Our experts will be providing Royal Ascot tips throughout the five days of the meeting but, if you like picking your horses yourself, here are a few things you should consider.

Two courses are used at Royal Ascot, the straight course and the round course, and the draw can have a massive effect on both. A high draw (being in an outside starting position) can be a big advantage on the straight course in big fields, while it’s often a disadvantage on the round course.

However, the effect of the draw can change dramatically if the weather alters the ground, so it’s always a good idea to keep reassessing it after every race. 10-year-trends can also be fantastic pointers to just how much effect the draw has on different races at Royal Ascot.

It also often pays to bet against the most popular horses, jockeys, and trainers, as these are often over-bet and underpriced. This means you can find value in the market by betting horses with less fashionable connections that have just as good a chance of winning.

Are Royal Ascot Betting Sites Legal?

All our Royal Ascot betting sites have passed the strictest gambling regulations to earn licenses from a variety of popular gambling authorities. This means they are classified as legal and accept bets in the United Kingdom, as well as many other countries.

Our bookmaker review experts have also checked them out to make sure everything is in order. That means we’ve done all the hard work for you, and all you need to do is sign up and take advantage of all the great promotions and odds on offer.

Royal Ascot Facts

A race named ‘Her Majesty’s Plate’ was run at Ascot Racecourse in 1711. It was the brainchild of Queen Anne and it set in motion a chain of events that would eventually lead to the creation of the exciting five-day Royal Ascot Meeting we now enjoy in June each year.

Tradition remains an important part of Royal Ascot, starting with the pre-race Royal procession. Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the Royal Family ride past the stands to the applause of the appreciative crowd. Many punters even start their Royal Ascot betting at this point, as odds for what colour the Queen’s hat will be are widely available with many Royal Ascot betting sites.

Royal Ascot is also famous for its fashion, with men required to wear top hats in the Royal Enclosure, while ladies must wear hats and suitable attire. The food is amazing too, with celebrity chefs brought in to entertain the palettes of the rich and famous. Of course, these fine dining experiences also need to be complemented by several bottles of the best champagne.

Despite being one of the biggest social events of the year, Royal Ascot is still most famous for its horse racing. For their Royal Ascot best bets, many punters stick with the tried and tested jockey and trainer combinations of Frankie Dettori and John Gosden or Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien. Some horses, such as Stradivarius, also establish themselves as crowd favourites by winning big races several times.

Frequently Asked Questions

No one betting site offers all the best odds for Royal Ascot. But by signing up to all our recommended Royal Ascot betting sites, you’ll have the pick of the sites which have the best odds on average.

Yes, all our recommended betting sites for Royal Ascot offer bonuses. These are normally free bets that you will be able to use to bet on races at Royal Ascot.

It’s impossible to pick which of our recommended Royal Ascot betting sites is the best, but all of them offer unique promotions and some of the best Royal Ascot odds.