If you’re into online sports and racing betting — especially horse racing — William Hill is one of the UK’s most established bookmakers. This review dives into the good, the not-so-good and what you should know before placing your bets. We’ll cover their sign-up offer for new customers, ongoing promotions, product features, and then a balanced view of the strengths and weaknesses.
Welcome offer for new customers
For those opening a new account, William Hill currently offers a “Bet £10, Get £40 in Free Bets” promotion for UK customers. You’ll typically need to:
- Register a new account, enter a promo code (often G40) during sign-up.
- Make a deposit of at least £10 and place a qualifying bet on the sportsbook (at minimum odds of 1/2 or 1.50 decimal).
- After your qualifying bet settles, you’ll receive the free bets (in this case: 4 × £10 free bets).
- Free bets are subject to terms: usually exclude virtual sports, have an expiry of 7 days and may exclude certain deposit methods.
Be sure to keep a lookout for special promotions during the big horse racing festivals. For example, during the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, they offered new customers who placed a £10 horse-racing bet at odds 1/2 or greater up to £60 in free bets/bonuses.
Verdict on the welcome offer:
- 👍 It’s reasonably generous: for a £10 stake you get £40 in free bets.
- 👍 Good way for new users to test the platform without large risk.
- 🔍 But: You must read the T&Cs fully. The minimum odds, excluded markets and expiry dates mean you cannot just use a free bet however you like.
- 🔍 And: Being new only. If you already have an account (or had one long ago), you won’t qualify.
Product features & betting promotions
Given your interest may especially lie in horse racing betting, here’s how William Hill stacks up for that segment.
Markets and features
- William Hill offers a wide selection of horse-racing markets: UK & Irish meetings, major festivals, ante-post betting, each-way options, win/place, forecasts, etc.
- On major race days, they provide special markets and enhanced promotions (extra places, boosted odds). For example, their dedicated Cheltenham specials page lists unique markets for that meeting.
- The website and mobile app support fast bet placement, which is important in racing where prices move quickly. Reviews highlight the app as offering full market access and convenience.
- Some standard industry benefits like “Best Odds Guaranteed” (BOG) may be available in UK horse-racing markets, though you must check the specific market with William Hill on the day.
Promotions for existing customers
Beyond the welcome offer, William Hill runs offers and promotions (though many users say they are less generous for existing customers than new ones). Some example features:
- Enhanced odds or special market boosts around major race meetings.
- Extra places (each-way) in big handicaps.
- Free bet or cash-out type features across multiple sports (not always racing-specific).
- Occasional “reload” or “loyalty” offers for existing users (though less publicised).
Banking, app, user-experience
- Deposit and withdrawal methods are typical for UK bookies (cards, bank transfers, e-wallets depending on region).
- The mobile app is well-rated for convenience; for racing punters being able to place a bet on the go is important.
- Live streaming of some racing fixtures may be available (depending on jurisdiction).
- Racecards, form info and market depth are present; but some hardcore racing bettors may supplement with dedicated form tools outside the site.
Strengths – what William Hill does well
Here are the strongest points:
- Long-standing brand & trust
William Hill is one of the industry stalwarts in UK betting, with decades of presence. For many punters that means familiarity, reliability and regulatory oversight. - Welcome offer is solid and race-friendly
The “Bet £10, Get £40” offer (and the festival special £60 for Cheltenham) is good value for new users and can be used on racing markets. If you were looking to place horse racing bets, this gives you a good entry. - Good app and user-interface for racing
The mobile platform and website allow quick bet placements, racing market depth, and timely updates — all important for horse racing betting where seconds matter. - Festival and major-meeting coverage
For big racing events, the site offers dedicated specials, promotional markets and often better value (extra places, boosted odds) than lesser meetings. For someone focusing on the Cheltenham Festival or similar, that’s a plus. - Convenience and breadth
The bookmaker covers many sports and markets, not just racing. So if your betting extends beyond horse racing, William Hill is a one-stop shop.
Weaknesses – where William Hill falls short
No bookmaker is perfect; here are the key caveats:
- Customer service and withdrawal issues
One of the biggest recurring complaints from users concerns slow or unhelpful customer support, delays in withdrawal processing, and account-verification friction. For example, the Trustpilot rating is very low (1.2 out of 5 based on several thousand reviews) citing issues around communication and withdrawals.
Especially for racing bettors who may want to move funds quickly after a big win, delays or lack of transparency can be frustrating. - Odds value may not always be best-in-class
While William Hill’s odds are competitive and acceptable for many users, dedicated racing punters hunting for marginal value (particularly ante-post markets) may find slightly better pricing with specialist racing bookies. The broad-market bookies often sacrifice a bit of margin for volume and convenience. - Promotions for existing customers are weaker / less transparent
While the welcome offer is strong, many users report that after the initial sign-up the ongoing promos for loyal users are fewer and less generous. Some feel they get fewer free bets or less value on reloads. User feedback suggests that “existing customer” offers are not as appealing as the welcome ones. - Terms and conditions can be restrictive
As with any welcome offer or promo, the “fine print” matters. Minimum odds, excluded markets (virtuals, certain deposit methods), expiry of free bets (often within 7 days) make it important to read the T&Cs. If you ignore them you might find the free bets wasted or ineligible for the market you wanted. Example: for the sign-up promotion the deposit methods like PayPal, Skrill are excluded.
Is William Hill a good choice for horse racing bettors?
If you’re someone who enjoys horse racing betting — occasional to moderate stakes, racing meetings including major festivals, and you want a trusted UK operator with a decent sign-up deal — then William Hill is the one for you.
The welcome offer gives you good value, the racing markets are strong, and the app + user experience are above average for general use.
For the racing-specialist gambler, it may serve as one of several bookmakers, rather than your sole platform.
In summary:
- ✅ Yes, for new racing bettors, festival punters, general users who value ease, reliability and decent promotions.
- ⚠️ Maybe, for professional racing bettors who prioritise every fraction of odds value and minimal restrictions.
Quick practical tips if you use William Hill for racing
- Claim the welcome offer early, and before placing big bets: the £10 stake is small relative to the £40 free bet value.
- Always check that your qualifying bet meets the minimum odds and is placed on an eligible market (including horse racing).
- Use the free bets on racing markets where you feel you have an edge – the fact you got “free money” gives you flexibility.
- For major race days (Cheltenham, Aintree, etc) check William Hill’s “specials” page: they often publish extra places, enhanced markets and festival-specific promos.
- Maintain documentation: deposit method, withdrawal records, verification ID etc. If you win big, delays or verification issues may emerge.
- Don’t rely solely on one bookie: open multiple accounts where possible (for odds comparison, different promotions and risk mitigation).
- Read the T&Cs: free bets expire, excluded markets apply, deposit exclusions exist.
- If you bet big, be aware of potential restrictions: if you’re consistently winning, the bookmaker may impose tighter terms or even limit you.
In summary: William Hill remains a strong, credible bookmaker for horse racing betting, especially for new customers looking to get in with a solid sign-up deal and for festival bettors. It blends convenience, experience and racing features. But there are trade-offs – customer service feedback is mixed, odds may not always be the sharpest, and the loyal-user/reload offering isn’t flawless. As long as you use it with realistic expectations and perhaps alongside other specialist books, you’ll find it a worthwhile part of your betting tool-kit.