Last month, we crowned the best big-box engine-building game. This month, we’re shifting gears to something a little more straightforward – but no less thrilling. We’re talking about throwing around money we don’t have, betting on horses and cars that don’t exist. That’s right, we’re diving into the world of betting board games to determine which one truly takes the crown as the ultimate.
Betting games have surged in popularity in recent years, with Long Shot: The Dice Game earning the coveted Shut Up and Sit Down recommendation, and Ready Set Bet soaring to Tom Vassal’s favourite game of 2022. But before these two newcomers made their mark, the go-to game for betting action was Downforce. And before that? Camel Up.
With such fierce competition in the betting board game genre, it’s no easy task picking a winner.
I’ve had the chance to review most of these games (except for Downforce), so you know where I stand – but I’m more interested in hearing from you. In the battle of Long Shot vs. Ready Set Bet vs. Camel Up vs. Downforce, which game deserves the title of the ultimate betting board game?
Long Shot: The Dice Game – A Thrilling Betting Experience
With just one dice roll, Long Shot: The Dice Game catapults you straight to the race track, where the action is fast, unpredictable, and full of tension. Throughout the game, you and your friends will take turns maneuvering horses, playing a bit of bingo, and of course, placing bets on which steed will come out on top.
Long Shot is a betting game that gives you the ability to nudge the race towards your favored outcome. A good thing too, because it rewards going all in on specific horses rather than playing the field.
Unlike many other games, where you just sit back and watch the race unfold, Long Shot keeps everyone in the thick of it. Thanks to its roll-and-write mechanics, every player gets a chance to act when the dice are rolled. Even in a game with eight players, you’re always in the action.
And oh, the race itself? It’s a wild ride. Horses are constantly jostling for position, bolting ahead only to be reeled back in. You’ll do everything in your power to keep your chosen horse from the dreaded “glue factory,” with plenty of twists, turns, and surprises along the way. It’s this chaotic, anything-can-happen nature that makes Long Shot a thrilling contender for the best betting board game.
Ready Set Bet – Real-Time Horse Racing Action
Ready Set Bet brings the fast-paced chaos of the racetrack right to your tabletop. One player assumes the role of race conductor, rolling dice and announcing the horses’ movements in real-time, creating a whirlwind of excitement. Meanwhile, the rest of the table become punters frantically eyeing the numerous betting opportunities, trying to pick the right moment to stake their claim.
As a punter, you can bet any time during the race, but the pressure to bet early is real. With limited spots available for each type of bet, you’ve got to act fast. Yet, the earlier you jump in, the more uncertain the outcome becomes. So, often you’re betting on a whim, caught up by the excitement of the race and the disappearing spots on the betting board.
Playing as the conductor is equally fun, watching everyone sweat as their chances of winning slowly vanish is pure, unfiltered entertainment. The laughs, the groans, the high-fives when a long-shot bet pays off – it’s a perfect storm of thrill and humor, and you get front row seats to it all.
Of all the betting games I’ve played, Ready Set Bet comes the closest to capturing the pulse-pounding intensity of real live horse racing.
It’s not just a game—it’s an experience.
Camel Up – The Wild and Whacky Camel Race
If you thought horse racing was unpredictable, Camel Up takes it to a whole new level. Forget horses—this time, you’re betting on camels. But these aren’t your average race camels. Oh no. Whenever two camels occupy the same space, one climbs on top of the other, forming a camel stack that moves as a unit. If the camel on the bottom moves, it pulls the others along for the ride!
As you can imagine, this brings a whole lot of delightful chaos to the race. What seems like a safe bet might quickly turn into a unexpected outcome. The game’s unpredictability is part of what makes it so entertaining. In fact, the most likely outcome might not be the one that actually happens – because Camel Up loves to surprise you.
Things get even more bonkers in the Second Edition which adds two crazy camels running backwards on the track. If any non-crazy camels are unlucky enough to be riding on top of them when they move, they’re immediately “camel-napped” and taken backwards a few steps. It’s this absurd, risk-heavy movement that makes Camel Up such a fantastic betting game. The game encourages you to take bold risks, with no penalty if they flop. And, trust me, they often do!
Downforce – A Pedal to the Metal Betting Game with Cars
As the outlier of the group, Downforce lets you bet on cars instead of quadrupeds. And the race itself is much more controlled compared to the chaos of the other games listed.
For one, forget dice – this game uses cards to move the cars along the track. However, not all cards affect every car, and not all cars move the same way on every card. So, you’ll need to play your hand strategically to gain an advantage.
Bets are placed during an initial auction, where you bid on a car and its unique ability for the race. But the excitement doesn’t stop there – Downforce also gives you three additional opportunities to place bets during the race, just in case you ended up with a dud in the auction.
With well-played cards and smart betting strategy, you can anticipate the twists and turns of the race and make it to the final stretch. Downforce proves that, with its dramatic finish, it definitely belongs alongside the best betting board games.
To wrap it up, each of these games brings something unique to the table, from the chaotic thrills of Camel Up to the strategic depth of Downforce. But only one can be crowned the ultimate betting game.
Have you played these betting board games? Which one do you think is the best? Cast your vote in the poll and share your thoughts in the comments – let’s see which game takes the crown in this heated debate!
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