Sky Bet latest bookmakers to offer minimum bet to win guarantee

Sky Bet have become the latest bookmaker to offer a minimum bet to win guarantee to customers, although the offer is limited only to races at the top levels of the sport.

Punters, restricted or not, will be able to back their selections to win £500 on Class 1 and Class 2 races, with the offer applying for the first time at Goodwood on Tuesday.

Last month BetVictor introduced a lay-to-lose guarantee on every race in Britain and Ireland for up to £500 after discussions with the Horseracing Bettors Forum.

Sky Bet's guarantee will be in place from 10am on the day of the race and applies to win only singles on the main standard win market of each relevant race.

The firm's racing PR manager Michael Shinners said: "We already offer a very competitive racing package with extra places and price boosts and the guaranteed minimum bet will hopefully prove popular with existing and potential customers."

The Horseracing Bettors Forum welcomed Sky Bet's announcement. They said in a tweet: "While not as comprehensive a provision as some, it is a further step in the right direction, and another operator prepared to allow previously restricted customers to have a reasonable bet on some races."

Coral and Ladbrokes have a range of pledges in place to lay bets of up to £500 below Class 4 level rising to £5,000 for races shown on ITV but these are available only to betting shop customers.

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