Ladbrokes review: what racing punters should know

Ladbrokes is one of the familiar names on the British high street, and it also runs an online sportsbook and app. It belongs to Entain, the same group as Coral, so if you already know one of the two brands you may find the other similar in places. Even so, they trade as separate brands, and prices and promotions can differ between them, which is why we review them separately.

For racing punters the useful questions are practical ones. How does the bookmaker settle each-way bets? What happens if your horse is withdrawn? How easy is it to set a limit? The sections below take those in turn.

An each-way bet is two bets of equal stake: one on the horse to win and one on it to be placed. The place part pays a fraction of the odds, and the number of places depends on the size and type of race. The standard UK terms look like this.

On big races, bookmakers often go beyond these terms and pay an extra place or two. That can make a real difference in a big field such as the Grand National. Always check the current terms on the bookmaker's site for the specific race, and use our each-way calculator to see what a bet would return.

Best Odds Guaranteed means that if you take a price and the starting price is bigger, you are paid at the SP. It is usually offered on UK and Irish racing with conditions attached, so read the terms before relying on it.

Non-runner no bet returns your stake if your horse does not run. Without it, ante-post bets struck before final declarations are normally lost on a non-runner. NRNB is often offered on major festival races in the weeks before they are run.

Rule 4 is a deduction from winnings when a runner is withdrawn late, after you have struck your bet. The size depends on the price of the withdrawn horse. It is not a penalty but a correction for a smaller field.

Many UK bookmakers stream racing to customers who have a funded account or a bet on the race. If watching matters to you, look at the streaming conditions on the site and which meetings they cover. On the app, check how quickly you can reach a racecard, the result of a race and your bet history; small details like these affect day-to-day use more than any promotion.

Customer service is the other part of the experience you only notice when you need it. Before depositing, find out how to contact the bookmaker and where its complaints procedure is explained. A UK licence means there is a formal route if a dispute cannot be settled directly, which is one of the main reasons to stay with licensed firms.

UK rules require Ladbrokes, like every licensed bookmaker, to check that you are 18 or over and to verify your identity. Many checks run automatically at sign-up; if they cannot, you may be asked for photo ID and a proof of address. An unverified account cannot withdraw, so finishing the checks early avoids a wait later.

For deposits, debit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay and bank transfer are common in the UK, but options vary and can change, so check the cashier. Withdrawals generally go back to the method you deposited with. Our guide to PayPal at UK bookmakers explains the e-wallet route.

Every UK-licensed bookmaker must offer tools to keep betting in proportion. At Ladbrokes, as elsewhere, look in the account settings for:

• deposit limits by day, week or month;
• time-outs for a short break;
• reality checks that remind you how long you have been logged in;
• self-exclusion for a longer break;
• GamStop, the free scheme covering all UK-licensed online operators.

Setting a limit is easiest on the day you open the account, before any bet has been placed.

Ladbrokes suits punters who want a familiar high-street brand and who bet each-way on bigger fields, where extra places are most valuable. If you are weighing it against its sister brand, our Coral review covers the same ground.