Given that sports betting and horse betting go hand in hand, many thought that legalizing betting on one would entail that the other one would be legalized, too. However, some states legalized online sports betting, but still prohibit betting on horse races, and vice versa. So, we can say that the US online horse betting situation is pretty unique.
- Horse betting online is a great way to find betting lines on horses. Navigating through online horse betting websites can be difficult. Especially if you are an American player. Good thing, the world is morphing into a more online, electronic interface. Making online horse betting easier to navigate. Betting Online on Horse Races.
- Horse betting online is a great way to find betting lines on horses. Navigating through online horse betting websites can be difficult. Especially if you are an American player. Good thing, the world is morphing into a more online, electronic interface. Making online horse betting easier to navigate. Betting Online on Horse Races.
- Watch and bet live horse races legally from the comfort of your home with the world’s leading network: TVG. Gain an edge on the competition with insights from our experts and an amazing WELCOME bonus! Perfect for betting tracks like Del Mar, Gulfstream, Saratoga, Monmouth Park, and Keeneland.
If you are interested in the US online horse racing scene, you have come to the right place. Not only does our article feature top horse betting sites, but you’ll also find lots of useful info on the legality of horse betting in the States, bet types, major horse racing events, etc. Read up to learn more about what you can expect in regards to horse racing betting online.
First and foremost, let’s see what some of the best US online horse betting sites in the US are. Take a look at our table below to see our top three picks when it comes to horse racing betting online.
Contents
Top US Online Horse Betting Sites
| Review | Racebook | Welcome Offer | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|---|
Visit Review | TVG | Risk-Free Bet up to $300 T & C’s Apply, 18/21+ | |
Visit Review | AmWager | $500 Sign Up Bonus T & C’s Apply, 21+ |
Now let’s get into more details about these US online horse betting websites and what they have to offer.
TVG
When we discuss US online horse betting, we have to start with TVG. TVG is one of the best and most recognizable online racebooks in the USA. It features a variety of promotions both for their new players, and existing customers, too. One of their most popular promos in addition to the Sign-up Offer is Refer A Friend.
The registration process is hassle-free and can be finished in a matter of minutes. You can place your bets on your desktop computer and mobile, too. Additionally, there is a dedicated app that facilitates betting on mobile devices. (Although, we have to stress that the website itself is fully mobile-friendly.)
The TVG online horse racing betting markets are extensive, which is why this brand deserves the highest marks in our book. You can browse current horse racing events by time or track, whichever suits you better. By clicking on Results, you can see the results of the day.
Furthermore, being a registered user has some extra benefits. You can access the past performances, and this is very handy in regards to US online horse betting. Additionally, there is a VIP program accessible to all users. You progress through four three different levels and eventually reach the Hall of Fame (by invitation only).
Make sure to give this brand a visit by clicking on the link in our article. You can see for yourself why it is at the top of our list when it comes to horse racing betting online.
4NJBets
We can’t talk about TVG and US online horse betting without mentioning its daughter company, 4NJBets. This licensed brand offers lots of betting markets to its bettors, as well as expert tips on a daily basis. Moreover, there are special programs dedicated to the Breeders Cup, one of the most popular horse racing events in the States.
Follow the link in our article to visit the 4NJbets website. There, you can learn more about the welcome offer for new customers, and other promos, too. Also, look into the variety of available betting markets, live streaming options, etc.
PABets
Similarly to 4NJBets, PABets is also a daughter company of TVG. Knowing that TVG is the official wagering partner of the Breeders Cup, you can expect lots of betting opportunities on the PABets, too. You can create an account in no longer than a few minutes, and redeem your welcome offer for new customers. Then, you can browse through the extensive horse race list, and access the Live Video feature. Make sure to meet all the T&Cs as they are essential for making the most of this online racebook. Click the link in our article to pay this brand a visit. You’ll see why we have decided to include them in our top picks when it comes to US online horse betting websites.
How We Pick Our Top Racebooks?
We aim to provide the most up-to-date data related to US online horse betting sites. This is why we have taken several factors into account while compiling our list of the top three. All of these brands are licensed and regulated in accordance with the law on gambling. This is the first prerequisite that horse betting sites need to abide by if they want to make it to our list.
Next, we have taken into account the variety of available promotions. Is the offer plentiful or slim? Specifically, do they cater to both new customers and existing ones equally? This is very important to anyone interested in US online horse betting.
Then, we looked into the availability of different betting markets. Are all the major horse races in the States covered? Do they offer various bet types?
Finally, we wanted to see whether these racebooks offered some of the most popular features players want to experience nowadays. Namely, whether live betting and live streaming were enabled. Then, does this brand have a dedicated app to facilitate betting on the go?
To conclude, all of these brands that you can find in our articles came at the very top in all these categories. As a consequence, we had to include them as our top racebook picks.
Online Horse Racing Betting in the USA: What’s Legal?
The Supreme Court struck down PASPA in 2018, declaring the national ban on sports betting unconstitutional. This opened the doors to individual states to legalize it. Given that sports betting and horse betting go hand in hand, many thought that legalizing betting on one would entail that the other one would be legalized, too. However, some states legalized online sports betting, but still prohibit betting on horse races, and vice versa. So, we can say that the US online horse betting situation is pretty unique.
Essentially, the answer to the question “What’s legal?” depends on the state in question. You can find a list of all the US states in which online horse betting is legal in our article.
How to Bet on Horses Online
If you have never placed an online bet on horse racing, there’s a thing or two that you should know. First and foremost, you need to open an account with one of the horse betting sites of your choice.
Next, you need to select the name of the racetrack and the name of the race you want to bet on. After that, you need to enter your desired bet amount and choose the bet type you want to place. Lastly, select the horse you want to bet on and confirm your bet.
Types of Horse Racing Bets
We can’t talk about US online horse betting without going into more detail about the bets you can place. Both amateur and experienced bettors can choose between a variety of bets to place if they are interested in US online horse betting.
Bet types
Here’s a list of the most popular bet types as far as horse racing is concerned.
- Win
- Place
- Show
- Daily Double
- Exacta
- Trifecta
- Quinella
- Superfecta
- Pick 3
- Pick 6
- Across the Board
US Online Horse Racing Betting Apps
All the major racebooks nowadays typically decide to invest in a dedicated app. Players appreciate having the opportunity to bet on the go when they are out and about. Not everyone is in the position to attend a racetrack, so having an app is an excellent convenience. As a rule, these apps are available both for iOS and Android devices. They mimic the websites exceptionally and make placing wagers more than easy. We particularly appreciate seeing a brand offer mobile-specific bonuses, as these are rare to come by. We surely recommend you make the most of this offer if you happen to come across one.
Major Horse Racing Events in the US
Betting on horse races has always enjoyed great popularity in the States. This comes as no surprise as the USA is the home to some of the most popular horse racing events in the world. This is why our US online horse betting article features all the essential info related to these races below.
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby, also known as “The Run for the Roses” is the first leg in the hunt for the US Triple Crown. It’s a Grade 1 race for three-year-olds running over a distance of 1 1/4 miles at the Churchill Downs racetrack. Given the legendary status that this race enjoys, it comes as no surprise that the number of both the visitors and bets places surpasses all the other stakes races combined. And knowing that it’s also dubbed “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” because of its duration, you can understand why it causes so much interest worldwide. Notable Kentucky Derby Winners include: Secretariat (1973, still the track-record holder), Northern Dancer (1963), Monarchos (2001), and Spend a Buck (1985).
Belmont StakesAnyone who is interested in US online horse betting is familiar with this race. The third leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, is probably the most anticipated race in the season. If the same horse records victories at both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, all eyes will be on this Thoroughbred during Belmont Stakes. Winning it equals obtaining the Triple Crown. And this is something that only 13 horses achieved so far. This 1 1/2 mile race takes place at Belmont Park every second Tuesday in June. Some of the most famous winners are Secretariat (1973, the track-record holder to this day), American Pharoah (2015), and Justify (2018).
Breeder’s Cup
The Breeder’s Cup is considered to be the end of the racing season in North America, as it determines champions across many divisions. This is why it’s pretty popular in the US online horse betting circles. The location changes every year at the prize pool is different from one race to the other (there are fourteen in total). It usually goes between $1 and $6 million. A maximum of 14 Thoroughbreds can start in each of these races. Initially, they need to qualify by winning in one of the Breeder’s Cup Challenge races. Here are a few horses that have given exceptional performance in this Cup: Ghostzapper (2004), Skip Away (1997), and Raven’s Pass (2008).
Preakness Stakes
“The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans,” or the Preakness Stakes, is the second and maybe the most crucial leg in the chase for the Triple Crown. If the Kentucky Derby winner records a victory here, this horse is one win away from this coveted title. Only three-year-olds run this 1 3/16 mile-race at the Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore. The most famous Preakness winner still holding the record is undoubtedly Secretariat (1973). Other well-known winners include Seattle Slew (1977), War of Will (2019), and Silver Charm (1997), to name just a few.
Best US Horse Racing Tracks
There are many horse racing tracks in the USA that are well-known around the world. This shouldn’t come as a surprise if we have in mind that all the most highly anticipated horse racing events take place here. As a consequence, all US online horse betting sites feature races happening at these tracks.
List of the Best Horse Racing Tracks in the US
If you have the opportunity, why not visit some of the top horse racing tracks in the States. Here’s where all the major US races take place.
- Santa Anita, California
- Hialeah Park, Florida
- Arlington Park, Illinois
- Churchill Downs, Kentucky
- Pimlico Racecourse, Maryland
- Monmouth Park, New Jersey
- Belmont Park, New York
Where Can You Bet on Horse Races Online in the US?
If you are interested in US online horse betting, there is something that you should know. Online horse racing betting is not legal in all US states. Here’s a list of the ones that have legalized it.
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorady
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
FAQ
We made sure to include all the relevant info related to US online horse betting in this article. Last but not least, we’ll feature the most common questions people have in this regard.
Are there any restrictions on signing up for a new account?
If you want to sign up for a new account at an online racebook, make sure to read its T&Cs first. All of them require you to be of age. Additionally, you need to be physically present in the state in which the racebook in question is licensed. These are the most important things related to signing up at US online horse betting websites.
Is online horse betting legal in my state?
You can find a list of all the states which have legalized online sports betting in our article above.
Is it possible to watch the races without traveling to the racetrack?
Of course, it is. The racebooks we have included in our article offer the option of live streaming races either on your desktop or mobile. Additionally, TVG, the television station, streams races 24 hours a day.
Future of Online Horse Racing Betting in the US
Finally, let’s conclude this review by giving a brief outline of the future of US online horse betting. First, we’ll start by saying that whether horse betting is legal in a particular state depends on whether the state in question has legalized it. You can find a list of all the states in which US online horse betting is currently legal in our article. We believe that more and more states are going to legalize it in the months and years to come. This is the scenario that many online casinos have already seen.
Whether online horse betting be legal in all the US states? We can only wait and see. However, we’ll make sure to update our article as soon as there are some new developments in this regard. For this reason, make sure to come back and regularly check with us.
In New York, there may be rigid laws pertaining to online gambling, but there are still many ways to bet in the state. NY residents have long enjoyed the thrills of live horse racing and there are some great tracks in the state that support real money wagers on races.
The Best Online Horse Racing Sites
Twinspires
TVG
AmWager
Earn 10% bonus cash back for every eligible dollar wagered for the first 30 days after signup. If a player wagers $5,000 over the 30 day period, they will receive the maximum $500 bonus cash back. Must be of legal age in the relevant jurisdiction to open a wagering account. Full T&C Apply. Full T&Cs
Horse Racing in New York
All racing activities that take place in the state are overseen by the New York State Racing and Wagering Board and this will include off-track betting, harness racing, quarter horse racing, and thoroughbred racing.
Within the state, bettors can enjoy the action of racing at four different Thoroughbred tracks and seven Standardbred tracks. While live betting at these venues has been a popular pastime for many years, there is also the opportunity to engage in off-track betting.
With this option, bettors can place wagers on races that are being run in different locations.
How did Horse Betting Become Legal in NY?
Long before online gambling could be visualized, Capitol Hill lawmakers were tackled with interstate off-track betting. Up until 1970, Nevada was the only state that allowed off-track betting. Bettors in one location were given legal room to bet on horse races that are taking place on another track. Thanks to TV’s broadcast live feeds of distant races, audiences in an off-track betting facility could bet and watch the event in real time without stepping on the racetrack.
All that changed when New York went ahead and legalized off-track betting parlors in 1970. This created huge businesses in the Empire State by connecting New Yorkers to racetracks all over the country. After some time, hundreds of off-track betting facilities started to sprout all over New York City as well as the upstate area.
By the year 2000, a powerful amendment was passed (Interstate Horse Racing Act 2000) which expanded the activity to include the pari-mutuel wagers placed via the internet. From that point forward, betting over the internet was now legal within the US. And since New York had already allowed interstate off-track betting, the law also applied to New Yorkers.
Many of the top-rated racetracks in NY offer simulcast races, so bettors have the chance to place wagers on events that are being held all over the world, increasing their chances of winnings and enhancing the betting experience.
In New York, bettors will have a wide selection of live tracks to visit and wager. These include popular venues that are known to host some of the hottest and most popular horse races being run.
The available tracks within New York include:
- Aqueduct Racetrack
- Batavia Downs
- Belmont Park
- Finger Lakes Gaming and Race Track
- Historic Track
- Monticello Raceway
- Saratoga Race Course
- Tioga Downs
- Vernon Downs
- Yonkers Raceway
Betting on Horse Races Online
Even though there are a number of top-notch racetracks in the state of NY, some bettors will want more betting options and will turn to online sites that support real money bets on horse races.
Our Top 3 Horse Racing Betting Sites
BetAmerica
BetAmerica is the US top horse racing sites and is fantastic for punters since it covers horse racing, harness racing and greyhound racing, but you can bet on these events all around the world. BetAmerica Horse Racing features over 200 horse racing tracks from around the world including Canada, Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. However, US domestic tracks get special attention.
The wagering process works exactly the same as if you were actually on a track and you receive full track odds on all winning wagers. Major horse racing events such as the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Breeders Cup are well represented. BetAmerica additionally offers a great mobile app that you can access while you are on the go.
TVG
TVG is famous for their easily available tips and handicapping. At TVG, you can find expert daily picks, past performances and races replays, and all of this for free. TVG first started as a TV network that was known for broadcasting horse races. When online wagering became legal in the US, an online site was added that now allows bettors to enjoy extensive TRVG horse race betting. The site has a number of high paying TVG bonus offers and there are always new promos being presented.
Horse Betting Gta Online
To place a wager, you just register or login, select your race from the track list dropdown menu and you can monitor your slip in real time right away.
Horse Betting For Dummies
Twinspires
TwinSpires is the official partner of the American classic that heads off the Triple Crown. It should therefore be your favourite online operator, if you annually bet on on the Kentucky Derby. Members can enjoy a variety of different rewarding TwinSpires promotions featured on the site and TwinSpires offers some best odds in the industry.
Of course, other global races and tracks are supported on TwinSpires as well. You can find special information about them in the blog section, thoroughbred news, and content about harness racing.
What are the Best Horse Racing events to Bet on in NY?
If you are a thoroughbred betting enthusiast, then you’ll be impressed by the runner competitions organized in New York. The events come in plenty all year round depending on the season. If you have time on your hands, you can watch some of the most exciting races in history live at the stables. In case you are on the lookout for some of the best horse racing events to bet on in New York, we’ve got your back. Here are a few options that will blow your mind and earn you solid payouts if you make the right predictions:
Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race which takes place on the first and second Saturday every June. You can catch the action live at Belmont Park, in Elmont New York. It is known as the “Championship Track” because nearly all American champion runners have competed in the Track. With it’s wide, long homestretch and sweeping turn it is considered to be one of the fairest tracks.
Jockey Club Gold Cup
Established in 1919, it is a thoroughbred race open to horses of three-year-old gender and above. It is the main event of the fall meeting at Belmont Park. Just like Belmont Stakes, the event is a spring meeting.
Wood Memorial Stakes
This is an American flat thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses, which takes place annually in April. The runners go head to head on a 9 furlongs dirt track at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens New York. This event was ranked as a Grade II event since 2017, but before that, the grades were switched back and forth from Grade I.
Types of Horse Racing Bets Available
When it comes time to begin placing bets on horse races in New York, one will find they have many great options that can yield impressive payouts. So first of all, you will want to make sure you know exactly how to talk about NY Horse Betting.
Most used Horse Betting Terms
Here is an explanation for the most used Horse Betting Terms:
- Blinkers: Blinkers are also known as blinders. These are devices shaped like cups that cover the horses’ eyes. This narrows their field of vision to just the track ahead of them.
- Win: This is the most basic type of bet that you can make. You just predict the winner of the specific race.
- Daily Double: This is a bet that requires wagers to pick the winners of two highlighted races. Typically, this races happen in a row.
- Handicap: This is where a weighting system is added to the better horses in order to even up the odds in the race.
- Colt: This is a young male horse.
- Filly: This is a young female horse.
- Pari-Mutuel: This is a type of bet where the bets end up pooled together and then the pay out is determined by the amount of bettors who picked the winning horse.
- Place: This is a bet where bettors decide whether they think a horse will place first or second.
- Show: This is a bet where bettors decide whether a horse will finish first, second, or third.
- Trifecta: This is a bet where bettors choose which horses will place first, second, as well as third.
- Furlong: This is a measure of distance.
- Exacta: A type of bet where you have to choose the first and second place finisher in the correct order.
- Gelding: A hard to control horse who ends up getting neutered to make him easier to control.
- Harness Racing: A type of race where jockeys ride in small carts behind the horses.
- Post Position: This is where the horses are in position in the starting stalls that is in relation to the position of the rail.
What are best bets to place?
Horse Betting Near Me
Many new bettors will begin placing straight wagers as these are the easiest to place and the simplest to understand. There are a few Straight bets that are supported at leading horse racing venues in New York.
Here, one can bet to Win, Place, or Show. All of these can provide some great payouts based on the amount of the bet.
For those that are seeking a bit more action and wish to win more from the races they bet on, exotics may be a better option.
These are a bit more complex than Straight bets but they will offer more in terms of payouts when they win. Exotic bets can include Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta and Box bets.
Bettors will also have the ability to place Multi-Race bets at some of the leading horse racing locations in New York and with these, one will be selecting the winner on consecutive races.
These bets include Daily Double, Pick Three, and Pick Four.
With so many betting options available, those visiting tracks in New York or betting at trusted online sportsbooks will find they always have great ways to wager and some outstanding opportunities to collect high paying returns.