You would think that given the extraordinary amount of time I spend reading and writing about horse racing and bookmakers, I would have seen it all in terms of promotions and offers by now.
Not so. Gone are the early days when a 100% cash match was the biggest marketing ploy to have ever been created. These days, people want more.
We’ve reached the point where there have never been so many online bookmakers, and they all want you to log on and spend your cash with them.
Competition for your business is huge and giving you a free fiver to sign up just won’t cut it anymore.
That’s why we’re seeing way more creative ways of getting us through the door, one of which is a daily free prediction game.
It’s relatively new to me, and I suspect to a lot of other racing enthusiasts, so just what is it, how do you play it, and what do you get in return?
What Are They?
Free-to-play horse racing prediction games typically involve predicting the outcome of selected races, with prizes awarded for correct guesses.
The concept isn’t entirely new, but its digital transformation has made it more accessible and appealing to a broader audience.
The more advanced our technology becomes, the more creative the promotions get, and these games provide more of an interactive experience and give you plenty of bragging rights if you’re correct with your guesses.
How They Work
Most free horse racing prediction games follow a similar format. You are given a series of races, and you must correctly select winners or placed horses for each of them.
Points are awarded for correct predictions, and prizes are given to top performers or those who meet specific criteria.
For example, Coral’s Racing Super Series asks players to predict horses to place in selected races for a chance to win a share of £25,000.
The game is simple to understand and play, making it accessible even to those new to horse racing.
Popular Free Prediction Games
Several UK bookmakers offer free-to-play horse racing prediction games.
The idea is that if you log on every day to play, you may also have a bet that you didn’t initially plan to, particularly if you’re confident in your selections.
ITV7
But it’s not just bookmakers getting in on the action. The most well-known version is probably the ITV7 game, one of the longest-running and most popular free-to-play horse racing prediction games in the UK.
It was first introduced in 1969 as part of ITV’s World of Sport programme. It quickly became a staple of Saturday afternoon television, challenging viewers to predict the winners of seven televised races.
Initially, the ITV7 was tied to an accumulator bet offered by bookmakers, where punters could win substantial sums if they correctly predicted all seven winners.
The original game ran until 1985 when ITV’s regular horse racing coverage moved to Channel 41.
However, the popularity of the concept never waned, and in 2017, when ITV regained the rights to broadcast horse racing, they relaunched ITV7 as a free-to-play online game.
The modern version of ITV7 is not tied to any specific bookmaker, making it accessible to all racing fans. To take part you just have to predict the winners of their seven selected races, typically featured on ITV’s racing coverage.
The game is free to enter, and players have the chance to win substantial cash prizes, with a current maximum jackpot of £50,000. However, this is often boosted for the Cheltenham Festival when over £1,000,000 can be used for grabs.
Bookmaker Offerings
If you’ve already entered the ITV7 game and think you can beat your fellow horse racing devotees, then there are more options, including the Racing Super Series at Coral, which gives players a weekly chance to compete for a share of £25,000 by predicting horses to place in selected races.
Ladbrokes offers a daily Placepot game where you can win a share of £250,000 by predicting horses to place in the first six races of a selected meeting.
Betway’s daily game requires players to predict the winners of four selected races. The jackpot is typically £1,000 on weekdays and £10,000 on Saturdays.
How Do These Games Stack Up?
Free prediction games offer a unique proposition compared to other types of free games and traditional bookmaker promotions.
Unlike traditional betting, these games are risk-free so that you can have a go, and it won’t cost you a penny.
They reward knowledge and analysis, unlike purely luck-based games like slots or scratch cards, so the more you know, the better your chances. That said, anything can happen in horse racing, and knowledge will only take you so far.
Compared to matched betting or complex accumulator offers, prediction games are simple to understand and play, and many feature leaderboards or shared jackpots, adding a competitive element.
The Future
As technology continues to advance and the online betting landscape evolves, we can expect to see more innovative and engaging free-to-play prediction games.
We already see it in all aspects of life, from immersive experiences to using VR for major streaming events.
We can anticipate an integration with live streaming services, allowing you to watch races in real time as you make their predictions.
This could be further enhanced by the introduction of virtual or augmented reality elements, transporting us all to a virtual racecourse where we can experience the excitement of the races as if we were there in person.
Social features are likely to become more sophisticated, enabling friends to compete directly against each other, share tips, and celebrate victories together.
Additionally, artificial intelligence could revolutionise the gaming experience by offering customised race selections, adaptive difficulty levels, and even AI-powered insights to help us make more informed predictions.
Is It Worth It?
Free-to-play horse racing prediction games offer an exciting way for UK punters to engage with the sport they love without the financial risks associated with traditional betting.
As bookmakers continue to innovate and compete for customer attention, we can expect these games to become even more sophisticated and rewarding.
Whether you’re a seasoned racing expert or a casual fan, these games provide an opportunity to test your knowledge, potentially win prizes, and enjoy the thrill of the race.
Remember, the true value of these games lies in the entertainment they provide and the connection they offer to the sport of horse racing. Happy predicting!
