Star Sports Review 2026

Star Sports are a long-established UK bookmaker, best known for their horse racing and greyhound betting. Rather than chasing flashy features or constant promotions, they focus on competitive odds, reliable payouts, and a straightforward betting experience.

Licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and offering PayPal withdrawals, Star Sports appeal to experienced punters, particularly those with a strong interest in UK racing. They perhaps aren’t best in class for those looking for a cutting-edge app or a deep selection of bet builders, but as a dependable, racing-led sportsbook, they more than hold their own.

Star Sports at a Glance

• Established: 2010
• Operator: Star Racing Ltd
• UKGC Licensed: ✅
• Payment Methods: PayPal, Debit Cards, Bank Transfer
• Withdrawals: Same day in many cases
• Customer Fund Segregation: Medium
• Mobile Compatible: ✅
• Customer Support: Phone, Email & Live Chat

Pros & Cons

First Impressions

Star Sports are refreshingly traditional. Horse racing is front and centre, followed by football and greyhounds, with no clutter or unnecessary distractions. The app and website are clean, markets load quickly, and navigation is intuitive across mobile and desktop.

This is a bookmaker built for people who know how they like to bet. They don’t try to be flashy or overly modern — instead, they do what they’re good at, prioritising clarity, speed, and usability, which many regular punters will enjoy.

Live Betting

Star Sports offer a solid in-play betting section. Football, tennis, cricket, basketball, snooker and a whole host of other sports are covered, with a solid range of markets and competitive prices.

They perhaps can’t compete with the very best in-play specialists in terms of depth, but the platform is very reliable and responsive, even during busy periods. 

Live Streaming

Live streaming is one of Star Sports’ key strengths, especially for racing fans.

• UK & Irish horse racing: ✅
• Greyhound racing: ✅
• Other sports: Limited

Streams are easy to access once logged in and having placed a qualifying bet. For punters who like to watch races live while betting, this adds real value.

Betting Odds

Odds at Star Sports are consistently competitive, particularly on horse racing and greyhounds. While they don’t rely too heavily on flashy price boosts, their core pricing often matches up well against larger competitors on the Oddschecker grid. 

Football odds across major leagues are solid, and regular punters will appreciate that value is often built into the odds rather than delivered through short-term promotions and price boosts.

High Stakes & Telephone Betting

Unlike so many operators these days, Star Sports aren’t afraid of a big bet. Often, you’ll find that operators restrict winners online, but Star are happy to take chunkier bets, particularly on horse racing. It’s not unlimited, but compared to most bookmakers, they are far more accommodating. This is a real benefit if you’re struggling to get on.

Telephone Betting: Beyond the website, Star Sports also offer a dedicated telephone betting service. High-stakes customers can call directly to place bets with expert traders, making it easier to manage larger stakes than many online-only operators allow. This personal touch is increasingly rare in UK betting and reinforces Star Sports’ reputation with VIP and traditional punters.

Mobile Betting – App & Site

Star Sports offer both a mobile app and a responsive mobile site. The app is simple, stable, and closely mirrors the desktop experience.

There are no flashy features or social elements, but placing bets is quick, account management is easy, and the experience does exactly what it says on the tin. For bettors who value function over flair, the mobile platform is perfectly adequate.

Football Betting

Football betting at Star Sports covers all the major domestic and international leagues, with a solid selection of markets per match. They offer a Bet Builder, although it’s perhaps more limited than at some other football-first bookmakers.

For standard match betting, accumulators, and outrights, Star Sports do the job well — but it’s perhaps fair to say that football is not the legacy offering here, and that’s reflected in the product.

Horse Racing Betting

Horse racing is where Star Sports sets itself apart.

• Outstanding UK & Irish race coverage
• Competitive fixed odds
• Clean, easy-to-read racecards
• Live streaming on all UK & Irish racing and selected International meetings

Star Sports ceased their Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG) concession in late 2025 and promotions are modest, but the underlying racing product is very strong. Pricing is sharp, particularly on lower-profile meetings, which appeals to regular racing bettors.

Greyhound Betting

Greyhound betting is another highlight. Star Sports cover UK tracks expertly, offer competitive prices, and provide access to live streaming.

Market depth is solid, and navigation between meetings is smooth. While international coverage is limited, UK-focused greyhound bettors will find plenty of opportunities.

US Sports Betting

Star Sports covers the major American sports, including NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. Markets focus on moneylines, spreads, and totals, with clear presentation and competitive pricing.

This is fairly functional rather than specialist coverage — there’s not an abundance of market variety or advanced Bet Builders — but it does the job for casual US sports bettors.

Other Sports

• Tennis: Solid coverage of ATP, WTA, and major tournaments, including in-play betting.
• Golf: Tournament and outright markets available, as well as a whole host of specials and price boosts.
• Rugby, darts, snooker & boxing: Covered to a solid standard.

Star Sports don’t overload users with niche markets but consistently cover the most popular sports.

Casino

Star Sports offer a casino, though it’s secondary to the sportsbook. Game selection is solid if not spectacular.

Account Opening & Payments

Signing up is quick and straightforward, following standard UKGC verification requirements. Deposits are instant, and withdrawals — particularly via PayPal — are often processed the same day.

The payment process is simple and transparent, with no unnecessary friction.

Customer Support

Customer support is available via phone, email, and live chat, which is increasingly rare among UK bookmakers. Support staff are knowledgeable and responsive, particularly for account and payment-related queries.

Responsible Gambling Tools

Star Sports provides a full suite of responsible gambling features, including:

• Deposit and loss limits
• Time-outs and self-exclusion
• Reality checks
• Links to external support organisations

All tools are easy to access from the account settings area.

Verdict

Star Sports is a no-frills, racing-focused bookmaker. They focus on what they’re good at, prioritising competitive odds, usability, and reliability. Their willingness to take larger bets — coupled with a dedicated telephone betting service — set them apart from most mainstream operators and make them particularly appealing to experienced racing and greyhound punters.

If you value substance over style and want a bookmaker comfortable taking a proper bet, Star Sports are well worth considering.