BRC (British Racecourses) rates every bookmaker it reviews with the BRC Bookmaker Score, so readers can see exactly why one bookmaker scores higher than another for horse racing.
What is the BRC Bookmaker Score?
The BRC Bookmaker Score is a 100-point bookmaker rating framework created by British Racecourses that scores UK Gambling Commission licensed bookmakers for horse racing bettors.
Which bookmakers can receive a BRC Bookmaker Score?
Only bookmakers with a current UK Gambling Commission licence can receive a BRC Bookmaker Score. The licence check is a pass or fail gate and is not scored. British Racecourses checks each licence on the UK Gambling Commission public register before every review and every re-test. An operator without a current licence is never scored and never featured on British Racecourses.
What criteria make up the BRC Bookmaker Score?
The BRC Bookmaker Score is made up of six scored criteria worth 100 points in total.
| Criterion | Points | What British Racecourses measures |
|---|---|---|
| Payout speed | 20 | Withdrawal times from the BRC Payout Clock Test |
| Odds value on UK racing | 20 | Average over-round across a sample of UK races |
| Racing features | 20 | Best Odds Guaranteed, extra each-way places, live streaming and the depth of racing markets |
| Customer support | 15 | Contact channels, opening hours and tested response times |
| Safer gambling tools | 15 | Deposit limits, reality checks, time-outs, self-exclusion and GamStop participation |
| Usability | 10 | How easy the app and website are to use for racing bets |
| Total | 100 |
How does British Racecourses test each criterion?
British Racecourses tests each criterion on a real, verified customer account, using the methods below.
- Payout speed. Scored from the bookmaker’s BRC Payout Clock Test results. Faster speed bands score more points.
- Odds value on UK racing. British Racecourses records the bookmaker’s prices on a sample of UK races and calculates the average over-round. A lower over-round means better value and scores more points.
- Racing features. British Racecourses checks whether the bookmaker offers Best Odds Guaranteed and on which races, how often it offers extra each-way places, whether it streams UK and Irish racing, and how many markets it offers on a typical race.
- Customer support. British Racecourses lists each contact channel and its hours, then sends test queries and records how long each one takes to get a useful answer.
- Safer gambling tools. British Racecourses checks that deposit limits, reality checks, time-outs and self-exclusion are available and easy to find, and that the bookmaker takes part in GamStop.
- Usability. British Racecourses places a test racing bet on the app and on the website and rates how easy it is to find a race, add a selection, choose each-way terms and check a bet.
How often are bookmakers re-tested?
British Racecourses re-tests every scored bookmaker regularly. A bookmaker is also re-tested early when any of the following happens:
- its UK Gambling Commission licence status changes
- it changes its Best Odds Guaranteed, each-way or withdrawal terms
- readers report repeated problems with payouts or support
- it launches a new app or website
How is the BRC Bookmaker Score shown on reviews?
Each British Racecourses bookmaker review will show the overall BRC Bookmaker Score out of 100, the points for each of the six criteria and the date of the last test, in this format:
BRC Bookmaker Score: overall score out of 100
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Payout speed | out of 20 |
| Odds value on UK racing | out of 20 |
| Racing features | out of 20 |
| Customer support | out of 15 |
| Safer gambling tools | out of 15 |
| Usability | out of 10 |
UK Gambling Commission licence: checked · Last tested: date of the most recent test · How BRC rates bookmakers
Does affiliate commission affect the BRC Bookmaker Score?
Affiliate commission does not affect the BRC Bookmaker Score. British Racecourses is funded by affiliate partnerships with UK Gambling Commission licensed bookmakers, and may earn a commission when a reader opens an account through a link on the site. The score is calculated from the test results above only. A bookmaker cannot pay for a higher score.
Who maintains the BRC Bookmaker Score?
James Dooley, Co-Founder of British Racecourses, leads the British Racecourses bookmaker review team and maintains the BRC Bookmaker Score. Changes to the criteria or weights are listed below with the date they took effect.
Change log
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| 10 November 2026 | BRC Bookmaker Score first published by British Racecourses |
Related: British Racecourses Methodology · BRC Payout Clock Test · Bookmaker reviews
18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. British Racecourses only features bookmakers licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. If gambling stops being fun, free and confidential help is available from BeGambleAware, GamCare and the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 802 0133.