Opening an Account

Enter an online bookmaker of your choice from the menu on the left. Look for the 'open account' button, possibly shown as 'register' or 'sign up' or something similar. You will then be asked to register your details including a username and password that will allow you to access your account on further visits to your bookmaker. Choose an online bookmaker offering free bets for new customers.

To place a bet you must choose your selection from the horse racing category, or, most bookmakers will have a Grand National section on their front page. Select this and choose the horse you wish to place your bet on. A 'bet slip' will then appear with your horse on. There are many bet types to place your bet on.

Decide whether you want to bet to win (meaning the horse has to finish first) or each-way (meaning the horse must finish in first four or five, in the case of the Grand National). Selected bookmakers are offering special Grand National offers and are paying out on the top five places rather than the normal top four. An each way bet is twice the cost, as the stake goes on the horse both to win, and to be placed.

The odds you get will be the official starting price, declared after the race. However, if you wish, you can choose to back the horse at the price currently offered by the bookmaker in the shop, by selecting the odds currently on offer'. Doing so guarantees you the specific odds that are on offer at the time, so even if the horse's price drops later on, you will still collect at the larger price.

If your bet is settled as a winner then the winnings are paid back into your bookmaker account. To collect your winnings you will need to access the 'account' menu after logging in with your registered username and password. From the account menu you will find a 'withdraw funds' button. Enter the amount you wish to withdraw and this amount will be credited back to your credit or debit card you used to open the account.