Is online horse betting legal in the US?

Before the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, many forms of online gambling were promoted. While this act stopped the operators of poker sites, casinos and sportsbooks from accepting wagers from the US, horse racing betting sites got a carve-out.

Betting online is allowed via pari-mutuel pools in any state, which provides horse race betting within its borders. There are 30 states that allow betting online.

BetAndSkill is the home to the NAP of the day. Our horse racing professional tipsters fully research every race to give you the best predictions, selecting the horses with the highest winning chances. You can also find the latest horse racing tips from every racecourse, the best horse racing betting sites and the best free bets to get you started. The popularity of sports streaming has grown exponentially over the last decade. The increasing costs of TV packages have pushed more and more viewers towards free online streaming nowadays. Furthermore, the ability to follow games on-the-go and the option of following any particular game is an added incentive when it comes to streaming online.

More recently, individual states have been regulating sports betting within their borders. Horse racing has not been part of this legislation since the federal law already allows it. When it comes to on-track betting, simulcast wagering, and off-track betting offices, this is under the jurisdiction of the individual states.

Best Horse Racing Streaming Sites

In most states, you need to be 21 or older to place a bet.

How to bet on horse races online

Betting on horse races is different than betting on sports. Instead of the betting sites offering lines, bets are pooled into a system called pari-mutuel betting. As you’ll read below, there are many ways to bet.

The total wagers on different bets (win, place, show, trifecta, and so on) are collected, and then the pool is divided between the winning tickets.

Any last-minute rush to bet on a horse will divide the prize pool between more tickets. Pari-mutuel betting sets the price of each bet, not the betting sites.

There are three main types of bets. You can bet on an individual horse, on several horses in the same race (and the order they will finish) or on the outcome of multiple races.

Here is an explanation of how each bet works.

Single horse bets:

  • Win: This is the most straightforward horse racing bet. You are wagering that your selection will win the race.
  • Place: Your horse needs to come in first or second for this wager to be successful.
  • Show: Adding an extra spot, you’ll receive winnings if your selection finishes first, second, or third.

Multiple horse bets:

  • Exacta: This bet involves picking two horses. To win, both horses need to finish first and second in the correct order. You can “box” all multi-horse bets, essentially betting twice to cover both finishing orders.
  • Trifecta: Pick three horses to finish in the correct order, and you’ll potentially have a big payout. Again, it is possible to box these bets, covering the six possible finishing combinations of three horses.
  • Superfecta: This wager involves picking four horses to finish in the correct order. While it is hard to win this bet, the potential payout can be huge.

Multiple race bets:

  • Pick 5/6: These bets involve picking the winner of several races at a specific track each day. It is harder to win than many bettors imagine, with one outsider winning a race upsetting a lot of people’s wagers. If a pick bet loses, the prize pool will roll over to the next day. If a pick’s prize pool rolls over more than once, it can create a considerable jackpot, which incentivizes many people to join the betting.
  • Futures: You can combine futures bets for the most significant race meetings. A popular example would be to pick a horse to win the Triple Crown.

How horse race betting sites work

You can access horse betting sites on your mobile phone, tablet, or via a desktop computer. While there are differences between the brands, they work in much the same way.

Apps are available, too, though they are not required. The websites will adjust automatically to fit your screen size, putting the navigation icons and links behind menu buttons to save space.

Registering for a horse race betting site requires only a minimum amount of individual information.

Firstly, the sites will detect your location to ensure you are within a legal jurisdiction. You will also need to provide the last four digits of your Social Security number to prove you are old enough to bet (21+).

Here are the main sections you’ll find at horse racing betting sites:

  • Today’s Races: The default view will show the latest races. You can scroll through this list or use the menu on the left to narrow your search by type of race or track. If you are looking for an individual horse or venue, then the search button is the fastest way. You’ll find basic information on the runners, along with the latest win, place, and show prices. Clicking on these betting lines will move a selection to your bet slip.
  • Bet Slip: After selecting runners from the day’s races, you can organize your wagers using your bet slip. Some sites have a “quick bet builder” to simplify this process. You can remove selections, bet on single horses, or organize your choices into exacta or trifecta bets.
  • Video Streaming: Once you have placed a bet, you’ll be able to enjoy the action via video stream. TVG is part of the Television Games Network, which offers additional media content.
  • Results Databases: There are two levels of research possible at the horse racing betting sites. Primary data on each horse is freely available to help you make the best selection. You will also find the pro-level past performance data, which is free (site dependent) as long as you place a wager at the meeting.
  • Account Information: This is where you will find your account info, balance, and progress toward clearing any bonuses or collecting loyalty rewards.
  • Cashier: The cashier section will include your balance and an area to deposit and withdraw your winnings. We cover how to deposit at a horse racing betting below.
  • Bonuses and Promotions: It is worthwhile to keep an eye on the promotions pages of all the major sites. You never know when a deal will appear, covering the type of bets you were about to place. We explain the types of incentives in more detail below.

How to deposit at a horse race betting site

Depositing any of the major betting sites is both straightforward and safe. While you won’t find the long list of payment methods available at the state-regulated sportsbooks, it is easy to get your money on board.

The primary method is your bank card, which can be your Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card. You can also use prepaid debit cards, including Visa gift cards.

Bank transfers are available under various names, including ExpressFunding or Expressfund.

Many sites will accept wire transfers, as well as old-fashioned paper checks. For cash deposits, you can use PayNearMe at your local 7-Eleven stores.

Finally, PayPal is available for both deposits and withdrawals. While many bettors welcome this service charge fees, the added security for online purchases.

Bonuses, promotions at horse race betting sites

You can take advantage of bonuses at the major horse racing betting sites. These range from small, completely free bets to matched welcome deals. You should also consider ongoing promotions and incentives; these can make a big difference to your bankroll over the long term than the initial welcome offers.

Here are the forms of bonuses that the significant sites have in common:

  • Matched Deposit Bonus: As an incentive to new bettors to deposit, the horse race betting apps will match your first deposit with free bets. With $100 in free bets up for grabs, the standard match is at 100%. You will need to wager your winnings, and typically complete the required betting within 30 days.
  • Risk-Free First Bet: Removing the risk from your first wager is used in place of the matched deposit method at TVG. Here, your stake gets refunded (as a new bet) if your initial wager loses.
  • Promotions: Look out for promotions where your stake gets returned for second-place finishes, enhanced odds, and other one-off deals for specific races. Promos are often themed around the most significant events, for example, the Kentucky Derby or Breeders’ Cup. Some sites have regular promotions, while others change their lists all the time.
  • Free Past Performances: You can get pro-level datasheets, and expert selections at TwinSpires via its free past performances offer.
  • PicksContests: Here, you’ll compete against others at your site to pick the winners of multiple races.
  • LoyaltyRewards: Collect points based on the bets you place, and then exchange them for extra bonuses or free bets.

Most popular horse races in the US

There are hundreds of races every day, especially during the summer. The main distinction is between thoroughbred and quarter horse (flat) racing and standardbred (harness) races. Furthermore, these races can take place on dirt, turf, of artificial surfaces. There are other formats, including endurance races.

The best horses compete in graded races. There are different levels of these with stakes races at the top. Some of these have multimillion prize pools, which attract the top equine talent from around the world.

You can also bet on international races at US horse race betting sites. Some of these, like the Epsom Derby, the Saudi Cup and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, are huge events.

Free horse racing streaming sites download

On a day-to-day basis, you’ll have access to races from the UK, South Africa, Australia, and beyond.

Most prominent horse race events

With hundreds of tracks and various types of racing, there is a lot of action when it comes to the domestic horse racing calendar. The highlights of the year will vary, with each state having its big meetings. When it comes to the biggest races of all, the three components of the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup are as big as it gets.

Here are the details:

  • Kentucky Derby: The first leg of the Triple Crown takes place on the first Saturday in May at the famous Churchill Downs racetrack. This race is known as “the Run for the Roses.” It is open to 3-year-olds and run over 1¼ miles.
  • Preakness Stakes: The second leg of the Triple Crown occurs two weeks after the Kentucky Derby and is held at the Pimlico Race Course in Maryland. Attendance is traditionally huge, only beaten by the Kentucky Derby.
  • Belmont Stakes: Three weeks later, the final leg of the Triple Crown takes place at Belmont Park, NY. If a horse has won the first two legs, expect colossal media coverage of this race. The Belmont Stakes is nicknamed “the Test of the Champion.”
  • Breeders’ Cup: This series of thoroughbred races with huge prize pools that move from track to track. It attracts the best horses from around the world each year. The biggest purse (at $6 million) is for the Breeders’ Cup Classic race.

Most popular racing events outside of the United States

In addition to the domestic calendar, there are major races from around the world available for betting. Here are some of the richest:

  • Epsom Derby: This was the original derby that inspired the Kentucky event. It takes place on the first Saturday in June each year over one mile and four furlongs at the Epsom Downs Racecourse near London. This race was first run in 1780.
  • Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: France’s most prominent race takes place at Longchamp, near Paris, on the first Sunday in October each year. It is considered Europe’s second most prestigious horse race.
  • Dubai World Cup: This race meeting is more recent, starting in 1996 in the United Arab Emirates. It is broadcast live on TVG and features the biggest prize pools of any race meeting around the world. It attracts the best global thoroughbred talent.
  • Japan Cup: On the last Sunday in November, the biggest prize horse race in Japan is run at the Tokyo Racecourse, which is more than 2,400 meters. With a significant purse, this race attracts the best talent from Europe, as well as the US.

Thanks to a carve-out in the federal laws concerning online gambling, horse race betting is available in the majority of states.

As long as you can legally bet on a race in person in your state, you are also allowed to place a bet online. These bets join with the pari-mutuel pools operated at the tracks, which gives everyone a fair payout based on the weight of wagers for each contender.

Three horse race betting sites dominate the scene: These are TVG, BetAmerica, and TwinSpires. And though FanDuel Group owns TVG, it started its own offshoot called FanDuel Racing.

Additionally, as an online sportsbook operator for horse racing bets, Xpressbet features more than 300 tracks so bettors can view odds and wager many different horse races. Derby Jackpot, powered by Xpressbet, is for a much less serious horse bettor and operates more like a social casino where players can win real money.

There are quite a few options to explore and each site gives you access to hundreds of racetracks around the globe. However, bonuses and incentives vary between these sites. You can enjoy deposit bonuses, risk-free bets, free past performance data, and plenty of promotions.

Whether you bet at the top-rated stakes meetings or regional, daily events, there is a wide range of betting options. You can bet on single horses to win, place or show, pick multiple horses in the right order or bet on several races in a row.

You can bet right now from your desktop or iPhone, iPad and Android device. Check out what online horse race betting sites have to offer soon!

Betting on horse racing is one of the most popular gambling experiences nowadays. But it’s not highly practical for everyone to go to a real horse racing event. And this is why online bookies have started taking advantage of this vast potential of the market. So, it goes without saying that you will be able to find many horse racing betting websites online. But which ones of these websites are legit? Where should you direct your attention if you wish to bet on horses? Read this article and you will find all the information you need.

TwinSpires – one of the best horseracing betting websites

Content

  • 1 TwinSpires – one of the best horseracing betting websites
  • 2 Betamerica – great deposit bonus and solid odds
  • 3 TVG – a great mobile app
  • 4 Bet365 Horse Racing – TBD

Deposit bonuses

It goes without saying that online gamblers are a bit spoiled nowadays. The reason for this is that they have come to expect to get free offers codes by making deposits and signing up. This is very much unlike what happens in brick and mortar casinos. And horseracing is not any different. So, will you be able to get a deposit bonus at TwinSpires? You bet! (no pun intended) You’ll be able to get up to 100$ upon making your first deposit. This should be just about enough to get the balls rolling and help you understand the horseracing betting experience better.

Free bets

There is a way to also get some free bets at TwinsSpires. In order to get them, you’ll need to use the promotional offer for referrals. Making referrals means that you will recommend this bookie to your friends and that they will start using it. If you make a single referral, then you and your friend will both get 10$ free bets. And the best thing about this is that you can refer this website to as many people as you like. So, theoretically, it’s possible to get a lot of free money that you can use for free bets in this way.

Markets offered

As far as we could tell, TwinSpires offers a wide variety of horseracing events from around the world. Of course, the focus is placed on the major horse events. In fact, if you visit the website, you will see that there is a “major horseracing events” link that you can check out in order to see these events. Regardless, there are also many other non-major horseracing events that you can bet on as well. In this sense, TwinSpires can give horseracing bettors a wide field for placing their bets.

Odds and limits

TwinSpires offers some of the best odds and limits in the field of online horseracing gambling. The odds are high enough for them to be profitable for the players – however, you do need to be aware that the odds will be influenced by how other gamblers bet on the event in question. The limits are set pretty high. You only need to know them if you’re a high roller and you wish to be really large amounts. In all other cases, you won’t have to worry about the limits at all.

Live Betting and live streaming options

One of the best things about TwinSpires is that it offers great live betting and live streaming options. They have dubbed this feature “TwinSpires TV” and it means that you will get immediate access to up to five simultaneous racetracks. Also, the streams will be in HD so you won’t have to worry about the visuals being terrible. And moreover, you’ll be able to do some life betting. There are many features that are embedded in TwinsSpires TV that will make the live betting experience very enjoyable.

Deposit methods

It’s very easy to learn more about all the deposit methods that are available at TwinSpires. First of all, you will be able to use credit or debit cards – MasterCard and Visa are supported, but MasterCard is recommended for use on this website. You could use MoneyGram, PayPal, EZ-Money – and a few other methods as well. They are simple and easy to use in all cases.

Look & Feel of the site

We’ve had no issues at all during the writing of this review when it comes to TwinSpires’ website. It’s very neatly organized and you can find anything you need in a matter of seconds. And this sets out some of the best online bookies from some of the worst. It’s important for a racehorse betting website to give you all the options and make them easily accessible. In this sense, you’ll have no problem with TwinSpires.

Mobile app

One of the best things about TwinSpires is the mobile application that’s available for Android and iOS devices. It’s easy to install and register it and then you’ll be able to do some horseracing betting on the go. The application makes things a lot simpler than if you were to use the web browser of your smartphone.

Betamerica – great deposit bonus and solid odds

Deposit bonuses

Betamerica is a horseracing bookie that, similarly to TwinSpires, offers a deposit bonus. And this bonus comes in the form of a 100% match of up to 100$. So, it’s pretty much the same as in the case of TwinSpires. All you need to do is signup and make your first deposit. And you will be granted the bonus.

Free bets

If you’re loyal to the use of this website, then you may get additional free bets aside from the deposit bonus. There are promotional offers that go on a daily basis. You too may be the recipient of a free bet that you can use on one of the horseracing events.

Markets offered

The official promotional flyer for Betamerica states that you will get betting access to the top 400 horseracing events of the world. This means that you will have ample opportunities to bet on some of these horseracing events. We are quite pleased with what Betamerica has to offer on the subject of betting markets.

Odds and limits

In terms of the odds that this website offers – a good thing is that it doesn’t try to swindle you in any way. The reason for this is that the odds are created by the players that bet on the events. The more bets any outcome has, the lower the odds. And vice versa. This means that the odds are highly competitive. And the limits are set pretty high as well.

Live betting and live streaming options

You can see more than 3,000 horseracing and greyhound racing events on Betamerica every week. This should be enough of a clue as to the quality of the live streaming and betting platforms on this website. It goes without saying that you will also be able to do some live betting as well. And the quality of the video streams is top-notch.

Deposit methods

You can use Visa and MasterCard as the main credit/debit card deposit methods, however, you should know that you’ll need to pay a fee for using them. The first deposit that you will make is free of charge, but the subsequent deposits will charge you 3.98% of the transaction. You could also pay money in convenience stores through PayNearMe and MoneyPak.

Look and feel of the website

BetAmerica looks good as a website. There is no argument there. The entire interface is made to the look of the American flag. And it’s neatly designed. You’ll be able to do anything you like on the website in a matter of seconds. So, the website’s design is of high quality.

Mobile apps

The BetAmerica mobile app is easy to download for iOS and Android devices alike. You can download it very quickly and start using it immediately. A rather neat thing is that you’ll get certain promotional offers if you use the app. And it will make your life easier when it comes to betting online on BetAmerica.

TVG – a great mobile app

Markets offered

There is a large number of horseracing events that are available to bet on this website. You will never find it hard to find an event that you can bet on while you’re on the TVG betting platform. There are races and events from all around the world and you will be able to capitalize on this schedule if you’re savvy enough.

Odds and limits

Much like in the case of BetAmerica, TVG sets a “free market” in terms of how high or low the odds will be. This means that the people that work in this company have no influence on the size of the betting odds. And this is almost always a good thing because it means that the odds won’t be artificially lowered at any point. What you get are real odds. Also, there are rather high limits for the bets that you will be able to place. The limit is a subject that shouldn’t concern you if you plan on betting at TVG.

Live betting and streaming options

You can’t spell TVG without TV, right? Bad joke. Okay, but the point is that you will be able to see some of the most popular racehorse events from all around the world live. There is a live stream platform that you will be able to use for this purpose. And you’ll also be armed with all the tools you need in order to do some live betting on your favorite horseracing event.

Deposit methods

Free horse racing streaming sites live

There is a list of credit and debit cards that you can use for the purpose of making deposits and withdrawals on the website. And this is the most widely used method for making deposits online. But you’ll also get to use PayPal, BetCash, and PayNearMe as valid payment methods as well. In this sense, you’ll never be at a loss when it comes to methods for funding your TVG account.

Look and feel of the website

This website is designed in a way much similar to that of TwinSpires. If you recall, the TwinSpires website was great in the sense that it gave you all the options that you need at a quick glance. Well, this is exactly the case with TVG’s website as well. You’ll need a few minutes before you’ll get used to it and after that everything will be easy.

Mobile apps

The TVG mobile application is one of the best in the field of online horseracing. In this sense, if you download this app for Android or iOS, you’ll get the chance to see some live action in terms of horseracing and do some live betting. You’ll also get a lot of useful information on the events and even free promotional bonuses. So, we suggest that you download this app as soon as possible in order to make the most of it.

Bet365 Horse Racing – TBD

Markets offered

There is a full list of horseracing tracks from all around the world to be found at Bet365. This means that you’ll have a wide list of events that you can do some betting on. And this is very much like what the other online bookies that we have reviewed before have to offer.

Odds and limits

Again, the odds are set according to the movement of the betting market. It’s up to the player to find a hole in the system and find odds that are higher than what they usually are. The limits are set to a high point and you won’t usually have to worry about them at all.

Live betting and streaming options

You could do live betting on the Bet365 US website. However, we failed to find a trace of streaming options. So, this is a big fault that this bookie has and we hope that it will set it right in the near future.

  • To use the Live Streaming service you will need to be logged in and have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours.

Deposit methods

To be fair, there is a wide variety of deposit methods that you can use for betting on Bet365. Of those, the most popular ones are through credit and debit cards. But you can use PayPal and various other methods as well. You could even place a direct call and get guided through the methods for depositing money in this way.

Look and feel of the website

We really don’t have any bad remarks about the quality of Bet365’s website. It gets the job done. You’ll be able to find your way around it very easy and this is the hallmark of great bookies that offer betting services online.

Mobile apps

Free Horse Racing Streaming Sites Download

The Bet365 mobile app is supported on three kinds of devices – Android, iOS, and Blackberry. So, if you own any of these kinds of smartphones, you’ll get access to some a great quality mobile betting application. You’ll get access to the site and the live betting platform and you will be able to place bets on the go.

Free Horse Racing Streaming Sites Free

In conclusion

Where Can I Stream Live Horse Racing For Free

There are many different horseracing bookies online. We have reviewed some of the best of them above. Every horseracing site has its own strengths and weaknesses. It’s up to you to use this review and find the best online horseracing bookie for your own personal needs and preferences.

How To Watch Horse Racing Online For Free

This list of the best horse betting sites in for the US is based on the following criteria: deposit bonuses, quality of site & apps, odds.