Is Royal Ascot the Second Biggest Betting Event for UK Punters in 2026?

The festival is also one of the richest in racing, with a total prize money pool of more than £10million, as well as a Royal favourite, with ‘fun’ betting markets including the colour of the Queen’s hat. All of this is to say that Ascot is a major racing event, but is it the second biggest betting event in the UK? I’m not yet convinced.

The Grand National Sits in A League Of Its Own

The Grand National remains not just the biggest horse racing betting event, but arguably the largest single betting event in the UK calendar. Estimates vary, but most sources put the total betting turnover at between £250 and £350 million pounds^[1] - on the single race alone.

The Grand National manages to attract once-a-year punters, office sweepstakes, casual sports fans, and even keen, knowledgeable racing bettors all at once in a way almost no other British sporting event can replicate.

The Horserace Betting Levy Board’s Top 10 Races 2025 turnover data^[2] only reinforces this dominance. The Randox Grand National comfortably topped the annual turnover rankings across all British races, for all available years.

What is perhaps more revealing, though, are the next nine races. The remaining overall top ten races by betting turnover in 2025 were entirely dominated by Cheltenham Festival contests. Not a single Flat race appeared.

National Hunt is the True Benchmark

While the Grand National dominates as a one-off spectacle, Cheltenham festival, alongside other major National Hunt races and festivals do seem to command the largest betting spend.

The Betting and Gaming Council claim that up to £1bn is wagered across the entire Cheltenham Festival week^[3]. It’s an absolutely enormous amount of money, but not hugely surprising, given Cheltenham’s prevalence in the HBLB’s figures.

National Hunt continues to attract keen horse racing punters in a way that flat racing doesn’t seem to, in the UK at least. While Royal Ascot can’t keep up with the jumps festival heavyweights, it is far from small in terms of spend.

Royal Ascot’s Cultural Dominance

Royal Ascot may not dominate turnover rankings in quite the same way as the big National Hunt festivals, but its appeal extends far beyond pure betting volume.

For me, Ascot occupies a completely unique position in British sport. It is simultaneously a flat racing showcase, a fashion and hospitality event in its own right, linked strongly to the Royal family, a mainstream television event - and additionally a huge week for bookies too.

That broad crossover is really important. Few racing events command the same level of ‘noise’^[4]. Few racing events too command the same level of bookmaker promotion. Personally, I find that’s one of the most attractive things about betting at Royal Ascot - there’s usually a decent offer to be had.

Ascot Undoubtedly Dominates the Flat Calendar

The HBLB figures also show Royal Ascot’s remarkable dominance within Flat racing itself. While no Flat races cracked the overall annual top ten, Ascot races heavily populated the Flat-only rankings. The Commonwealth Cup, St James’s Palace Stakes, Wokingham Stakes, Gold Cup, Royal Hunt Cup, and Coronation Stakes all featured prominently.

However, it was the Derby at Epsom that remained Britain’s highest-turnover Flat race in 2025. So, as a week-long event, Ascot probably has it, as a single race, even within flat racing, that belongs to the Derby.

International Attention

One thing that cannot be understated is the enthusiasm for Ascot outside of the UK. Many international bettors place money on the event, in part thanks to the partnership with the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Together, Ascot and the HKJC operate the World Pool, a huge commingled betting project that netted the 2025 festival more than £150 million in turnover alone.

Even outside of the World Pool, it makes sense that Ascot has such international appeal. Top horses regularly travel from France, America, Australia, and Japan, while races like the Gold Cup and Queen Anne Stakes carry global recognition well beyond Britain. The royal association also helps elevate the meeting beyond racing’s core audience.