RacingBetter News
	Tuesday 16th December 2025

Why Horse Racing Betting in Europe Continues to Surprise Despite the Online Gambling Boom

Horse racing and betting on it have been an integral part of European culture for centuries, and their influence is still felt today. Many people imagine modern gambling as virtual slots and mobile apps for betting on football or esports. But are classic horse races really losing their popularity amid the technological boom? This article reveals how the horse racing betting market in Europe is changing, and why the situation here is much more complicated than it seems at first glance.

Historical foundations and traditions of horse racing betting in Europe

To understand the power of tradition, it is worth recalling that horse racing was already popular in Britain, France, and other Western European countries as early as the 18th century. It was then that the first parimutuel betting systems were organized—systems of collective bets, part of the funds from which went to the maintenance of racetracks and the development of infrastructure.

Horse racing became not only entertainment for the aristocracy but also an important part of national celebrations. For example:

• In England, the races around Epsom in May became a symbol of spring.

• In France, the Paris Longchamp Racecourse has been gathering spectators for over a century.

• In Ireland, horse racing is integrated into cultural festivals, and a victory there is seen as a source of pride.

These traditions have secured a special place for horse racing among other forms of gambling, creating sustainable economic and tax models.

Modern trends in European betting

In the last two decades, a revolution took place in the gambling market. Online bookmakers and platforms appeared, allowing bets to be placed directly from a smartphone, which changed players’ habits. Today in Europe, the main share of betting falls on:

• Football matches

• Esports (electronic sports)

• Virtual casinos and slots

As experts from the European Betting and Gaming Association note, bets on new types of sports and entertainment are growing annually by 10–15%. This has led to competition for players’ attention and budgets.

As a result, horse racing as a type of betting faced the need to adapt. Many traditional racetracks began to cooperate with online platforms to maintain audience interest.

Regions where horse racing remains a leader

The horse racing betting market in Europe is not uniform. According to the Gambling Commission and EGBA, the leaders remain:

• United Kingdom: about 40% of paid sports bets are on horse racing, with an annual turnover of about $2 billion.

• France: more than 35% of the sports betting market is occupied by this type, with the main operator remaining the company PMU (Pari Mutuel Urbain).

• Ireland: horse racing accounts for up to 30% of all sports bets, and the largest tournaments annually generate turnovers of hundreds of millions of euros.

At the same time, in Eastern European countries (Romania, Bulgaria, Poland) and Scandinavia, the share of horse racing bets does not exceed 5–10%, which is due to less historical involvement and the absence of major national competitions.

Among the factors that have influenced the decline in popularity in a number of countries:

• Limited number of racetracks and events

• Prevalence of other sports (football, hockey)

• Strict market regulation

Such diversity explains why there is no single picture across Europe.

Horse racing as a magnet for bettors and spectators

Even with the rapid development of new forms of gambling, top horse races remain the most important events. For example:

• The Cheltenham Festival in the UK annually attracts more than 250,000 spectators to the racetrack and up to £650 million in bets (according to Racing Post).

• The Grand National, another British event, generates over $500 million in bets over the weekend.

• The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France is broadcast in dozens of countries, and the number of bets on it exceeds $100 million (PMU).

Spectacle, historical prestige, and scale lead to these tournaments becoming the epicenter of attention every year not only for bettors but also for the general public.

Market mechanics and traditions meet innovation

The horse racing betting market combines:

• Classic offline bookmakers operating at racetracks and in city outlets

• Modern online platforms integrated with mobile services

• State parimutuel betting systems, for example, PMU in France or Tote in the UK

Legalization and clear regulation by national authorities make it possible to prevent fraud, ensure transparency of settlements, and protect the interests of players. At the same time, horse racing bets differ from other types of betting by a more complex system of odds and the possibility of making so-called “pools”—collective bets where winnings depend on the size of the total fund.

Reasons why horse racing still stays afloat

Despite the challenges, horse racing continues to attract players thanks to several advantages:

• Rich historical heritage and cultural associations

• The appeal and spectacle of major tournaments

• The presence of complex betting strategies that attract experienced bettors

However, the industry faces such problems as:

• Increased competition from online casinos and new types of sports

• Declining interest among young people who prefer fast games and mobile apps

• Changes in the demographic composition of the audience

However, major IGaming representatives are skeptical that horse racing will completely lose its audience. The online gambling segment provides significant support to traditional horse racing, attracting many players who want to place bets without having to go to the racetrack. Major online casinos offer users not only the chance to play traditional slots but also the opportunity to place bets, including on horse racing.

The media often mention examples of successful integration of horse racing into IGaming, where classic betting formats are seamlessly complemented by digital services and live broadcasts.

Representatives of the website www.twinspinca.com, which provides information about popular online casinos, shared the opinion that, unlike fast mechanics, horse racing relies not only on excitement but also on tradition. Thus, this category of gambling remains less vulnerable to short-term trends.

Some experts believe that without active innovation and marketing, horse racing may finally lose ground, but in a number of countries they find new formats to attract audiences.

Experts’ forecasts: what will the market look like tomorrow

According to analysts at H2 Gambling Capital, horse racing betting in the UK and France will continue to hold strong positions for a long time thanks to government guarantees and support from major brands. Expert Paul Lawrence noted in an interview for The Guardian that “the industry has learned to strike a balance between tradition and digital technology.”

At the same time, skeptics believe that in the long term, betting on horse racing is only possible if the format is reformed and targeted work with the youth audience is carried out. In certain countries, such as Germany and Italy, interest in horse racing may be revived through new marketing initiatives and integration with esports platforms.

Context and explanations for a wide audience

To understand the terminology, it is useful to know: a parimutuel betting system is a system of collective bets in which the winning amount is formed from all bets placed on a particular event. Odds are numbers that determine the size of the potential winnings depending on the risk.

Horse racing can be compared to major sports championships such as the Champions League in football, where not only the result matters, but also the atmosphere, history, and audience engagement. For example, the tradition of wearing special outfits at Ascot has become a cultural phenomenon, and discussions about favorites resemble debates about tennis or football stars.

Historical examples, such as the victory of a national stallion at the Grand National or dramatic finishes at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, continue to attract public attention, demonstrating that classics can coexist with the latest trends in the gambling industry.