Betting on horse racing is legal in about 30+ states in the U.S. It has been one of America’s favorite pastimes for centuries. Today, horse racing is the third most popular sport for betting. In the age of the internet and mobile devices, you can even place online wagers.
However, a search online for horse betting sites brings up tons of results. So how do you choose which one to trust? This article highlights some of the best horse betting sites. These sites allow you to place the best horse racing bet and give you a chance to win big.
Top Horse Race Betting Sites
- BetOnline – Best horse racing site for placing bets overall
- SportsBetting – Best for a wide selection of horse racing bets
- MyBookie – Best mobile horse racing betting site
BetOnline
If you’re looking for one of the best online horse racing sites, BetOnline is a perfect choice. It is a veteran of the online gambling industry. This site has an outstanding reputation for being fair and honest with its customers. Bettors can find a variety of horse racing betting options on BetOnline. Let’s dive into all that it has to offer.
Handicapping Tools
Handicapping tools help when assessing a race. BetOnline provides a few of these. They provide:
- Information on what winning bets will pay depending on the odds
- Details on how to bet on horses
- Tips for managing your betting bankroll
- Free picks
- Handicapping strategy
These are all provided by their expert race analysts to help you make more winning bets.
Live Streaming
BetOnline offers live streaming of some of the most popular horse races. These include the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes, and others. You get free access to watch the exciting action as it unfolds in real-time.
Horse Racing Promos
When it comes to promos, BetOnline does not disappoint. They have a:
- Daily 9% Track Rebate – Internet wagers get up to a 9% daily rebate. Phone wagers get a 5% daily rebate.
- $25 Risk-Free Bet – If you make your first wager and lose, you get free-play up to $25.
- Sign-Up Bonus – BetOnline offers a few welcome bonuses as well.
- 50% Sports Welcome Bonus – This gives you a 50% welcome bonus of up to $1,000 on your first deposit at BetOnline. You need to use promo code “BOL1000” and the 50% bonus is added to your sports betting bankroll right away. A minimum deposit of $55 is required to qualify for this bonus
- 100% 1st-time Crypto Bonus– Enter promo code “CRYPTO100” on your first crypto deposit and get a 100% bonus. You’ll need to make a minimum deposit of $20 to get this bonus.
Betting Choices
Everybody likes options and BetOnline gives you several betting options. The most common bets you can place on BetOnline are:
- Win
- Place
- Show
- Across the Board
These are the most straightforward bets. They involve one horse and where he/she finishes in the race.
If you’re after a huge payout betting on horse races, then exotic horse race betting is for you. Exotic bets on BetOnline include:
- Exacta
- Quinella
- Trifecta
- Superfecta
Other bet options on BetOnline include:
- Daily Double
- Pick three
- Pick four
- Pick six
Banking Options
BetOnline offers safe and highly secure banking methods. This means that you have choices when it comes to making a deposit or withdrawal from BetOnline.
You can make deposits using:
- Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ripple): $20 – $100,000
- Credit card – $50-$2,500
- Person to person: $100-$600
- Money orders: $300-$9,000
- Bank wire transfer: $1,000 – no limit
- Cashiers check: $1500-$15,000
Most people want their winnings right away. BetOnline caters to such persons. Payout options include:
- Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ripple): one hour – 48 hours
- Person to person: five business days
- Bank wire transfer: five -15 business days
App Availability
If you’re someone who is constantly on the go, no worries. BetOnline has an app available for iOS and Android. This way you can take the racing action with you no matter where you go.
>> Try BetOnline
Customer Service
BetOnline sets the industry standard for quality customer service. They deliver excellent customer care to their customers. Their team is always ready to help you answer any question you may have. You can reach them instantly using the live chat feature or by calling them on the phone. You can also try emailing them for more complex issues.
SportsBetting
SportsBetting is one of the best online horse race betting sites. They provide an inclusive and friendly interface for all to wager on horses. It is the perfect place to follow every horse race including those from the local track to the Triple Crown.
Handicapping Tools
Sportsbetting provides various tools to make the best wagers. These include sections include:
- How to bet on horses
- Horse race betting tips
- Wagering types
- Payoff odds
- Track limits
- Handicap strategy
Live Streaming
SportsBetting live streams some of the biggest horse racing events. They cover more than 70 tracks in the U.S. and around the world. Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Preakness Stakes, and Emerald Downs are just a few you can bet on.
They also give you a chance to wager on popular events like the Triple Crown, Big Summer Stakes, and Breeder’s Cup.
Horse Racing Promos
SportsBetting offers special racebook promotions and bonuses to players. These include:
- A Daily Limitless Rebate Bonus – 7% for online bets and 4% for phone bets
- $25 free-play sign-up bonus – If you place your first bet and it loses, you get up to $25 of free play.
Sign-Up Bonus
Aside from the racebook bonuses, you get a few welcome and sign-up bonuses. You have a:
- 50% sign-up bonus
- 50% crypto deposit bonus
Betting Choices
Bettors have a wide selection of bets to choose from. This horse racing betting site’s list of bets includes:
- Straight bets (Win, Place, Show, Across the Board, and others)
- Exotic wagers (Exacta, Trifecta, Quinella, and more)
- Coupled horses
- Future bets
- Muti-race bets
Banking Options
SportsBetting offers several banking methods for deposits and withdrawals. Users can rest assured that their funds are transferred safely.
Deposits can be made using:
- Cryptocurrency- $20-$50,000
- Credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover Card, American Express): $50-$2,500
- Bank wire: $1,000-no limit
- Money orders: $500-$9,000
- Check: $1,500-$15,000
- ecoPayz: $10-$10,000
- Person-to-person: $100-$600
- Skrill: $10-no limit
As for withdrawals, the methods and time frames are:
- Crypto (Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, Stellar, USD stablecoin): 24 hours
- Skrill: 36 hours
- Bank Wire: One to three business days
- E-Check: Five to seven business days
- Person-to-person – within 15 business days
App Availability
Instead of an app, SportBetting has an integrated mobile interface. This allows it to be compatible and operational with mobile browsers. This allows players to place bets even when they don’t have access to a computer.
>> Try SportsBetting
Customer Service
Customer service on SportsBetting is excellent. You can reach the support team via three contact methods. You can try the live chat option, call them on the phone or email them. They are always ready to address your queries, problems, or concerns.
MyBookie
MyBookie was launched in 2014 and has grown into one of the best online horse betting sites. It provides access to many tracks in the U.S. and all over the world. This horse betting site allows you to make wagers on races at Happy Valley Race course in Hong Kong. These races usually have large betting pools. MyBookie is one of the very few sites that accept wagers on Hong Kong horse racing.
Handicapping Tools
MyBookie offers various tools to help even novice bettors. You’ll find:
- Daily track odds
- Horse racing futures
- Odds for various meets
- How to bet on horses
- Handicap strategy and others
Live Streaming
Never miss any of the action on the track as MyBookie live streams some of the major races. You can bet and watch the Triple Crown Races, the Kentucky Derby, Breeder’s Cup, and much more. Best of all, you can bet and watch all the action without leaving your home.
Horse Racing Promos
Currently, MyBookie has a few horse racing promos. You can take advantage of the:
8% rebate bonus – receive up to 8% of your losing wager each month
Free bonuses and perks – get free bets and other perks when you play often.
Sign-up Bonus
MyBookie offers two welcome bonuses:
- 10% cash bonus up to $200 on initial deposit only
- 150% casino bonus up to $750 on initial deposit only
Betting Choices
Bets you can place on MyBookie include those found on other horse betting sites. You have options to place bets like:
- Win
- Place
- Show
- Exacta
- Trifecta
- Superfecta
Banking options
MyBookie offers a decent selection of banking methods.
For deposits, MyBookie accepts:
- Bitcoin: $25-$10,000
- Credit card: $45-$2,500
- ACH: $100-$5,000
- Bank wire: $2,000- no limit
- Person-to-person: $100-$630
- e-Check: $100-$2,500
MyBookie can get you your winnings quickly. You get one free payout but after that, you will have to pay a fee. You can cash out using:
- Bitcoin: 24 hours
- ACH: Three to five business days
- Bank wire: Five to 10 business days
- e-Check: five to 10 business days
App Available
MyBookie does not have a mobile app. However, they have a mobile site that works as well as horse race betting apps. You can be wagering on your favorite horse within seconds on your mobile device.
>> Try MyBookie
Customer Service
MyBookie understands that customer service plays an important role in its overall success. This is why they’ve made it super easy to get in touch with them. You can get them on the phone, via live chat, or by email. The support team is friendly and quick to offer up their help in any way they can.
How To Pick The Best Horse Race Betting Sites
There is stiff competition in the online gambling industry. This can make it difficult for you to choose the best horse racing site for you. This is why we have identified 3 of the best for you in this article. They all offer incredible handicapping tools, generous bonuses, free bets, and other perks.
Here are the criteria we looked at when selecting the best sites to bet on horse racing online.
Reputation
Horse racing bets deal with real money. For this reason, you need to be sure that the site you’re placing bets on is trustworthy. A site that has been around for a while is usually a good sign. However, it is not the only thing that you should keep in mind. Past reviews from players should be taken into consideration as well. These people deposited money, placed bets, and withdrew their winnings from the site. They have a clear idea of how everything on the site works which is why their review is so important. Other things to look for are safety and security features. This way you’ll know if you can trust the site with your financial and personal information.
The sites in this article are all trustworthy. They treat players fairly and have the best security measures in place.
Sign-up offers and welcome bonus
Most websites for betting on horse races online offer a sign-up offer or welcome bonuses. This is for new customers only. You only get this bonus when you first sign up for the betting site. Oftentimes, these bonuses are generous. Some sites may match your initial deposit and double your money. However, the most common welcome bonus you’ll find is a free bet or moneyback offer with a qualifying bet.
Bonuses and offers are great incentives for new players. This is why we made sure the sites we choose offer you awesome sign-up offers and bonuses.
Loyalty schemes and ongoing deals
While sign-up offers and welcome bonuses are great, they are usually a one-time thing. You only get them when you sign up and make your first deposit on the gambling site. Sites that offer loyalty programs and ongoing deals are a plus in our books. This is because we are rewarded for continuing to use the site to place our bets.
Some of these loyalty programs and ongoing deals can get awesome perks. These include money-back offers, reduced risk bets, free bets, and boosted odds. In some cases, you can use these rewards on other betting options like football, rugby, or other sports.
Live streaming
Live streaming is important when betting on horse racing. In some instances, you may have to subscribe to a sports channel to watch the race. This will incur another cost to you.
Thankfully, most horse betting sites online have live streams as standard. This way you can watch the action as it unfolds for free.
Mobile betting or mobile apps
Mobile betting websites and apps make it easy to place bets on the go. There may be instances where you don’t have access to a computer and you want to make a bet. The app or mobile site should allow you to do everything that you can do on the desktop version. This includes live streaming of the races.
All the sites we choose either have an app or an awesome mobile website. They include all the information you need and allow you to watch and place bets no matter where you are.
Range of races
You’ll find that the best horse racing betting sites cover a broad range of races. This gives you a chance to bet on various horse races from all around the globe. Not only that but it also gives you loads of different betting options.
When checking out any of the horse race websites on our list, you’ll see that they cover a wide selection of races. You’ll find the most popular ones but you’ll also find that they cover some of the rare ones that others sites do not.
Handicapping tools
Sites for the best horse race bets consist of handicapping tools. These can help you to assess a race. This is especially helpful if you’re a novice in horse race betting. These tips on horse race betting can help you make an informed decision on the race. This way you should be able to place more winning bets.
Banking methods
The best sites for horse race betting will offer several different banking methods. Moreover, the banking methods will be simple. You’ll be able to deposit money and withdraw winnings easily. You can do this using various cryptocurrencies, credit cards, E-wallets, and others.
Do note that banking methods will vary from site to site. Some will have minimum and maximum deposits based on the payment method. They’ll also have minimum and maximum withdrawals as well as processing time. In some instances, a horse betting site may charge a processing fee for withdrawals. This also depends on the payment method you choose.
Customer support
Customer support may seem like a small thing when you are just interested in betting. However, when you run into a problem, that is when you realize how important it really is.
The best betting sites for horse racing have excellent customer support. You can get them around the clock and have options when trying to reach them. You can try the live chat feature to connect with someone immediately. There’s also the option to get them on the phone or via email.
How to Get Started at Horse Race Websites
Here is a basic step-by-step guide to getting started at horse racing sites. The steps may vary from site to site but here are the most common steps:
Register/Join
Select one of the sites recommended in this article. Look for the “Register” or “Join” button and click on it.
Enter personal information & email
The next thing you need to do is fill out the registration form. you’ll need to enter some personal information. This includes your:
- Date of birth
- Email address
- Phone number
- Full name
- Social security number
You’ll also need to choose a username and password
Activate sign-in offer
Most horse racing sites have a welcome or sign-up bonus. Some sites will require you to opt-in to redeem the offer. Others may ask you to enter a promo code. Be sure to follow the instructions the particular site has to get your welcome or sign-up offer.
Log in
Next, you’ll need to log in to your account. All you do is use the username and password you choose during the registration process.
Verify via email
After logging in for the first time, you’ll be asked to verify your account. This is usually done via email. They’ll send an email to your inbox and all you do is click on the link to verify your account.
Deposit with your preferred method
The next step is to top up your newly created account with real money. Betting sites will offer several different methods to make a deposit. Deposits may be made using cryptocurrencies, credit cards, and others. Choose the method most suitable for you when topping up your horse race betting account.
Get into the race
Head to the horse racing section on the site and find the race you want to wager on. Add the stake to your bet slip, enter your stake, and place your bet. If your bet is successful, your winnings will show up in your account balance.
Tips On Horse Race Betting
Horse race betting can be tricky. Here are some tips to follow when betting on horses.
Do your research
Many people bet on horses each year but very few do any research before choosing which horse to bet on.
The first thing you should do is do some research on the race itself. Then look at the location or where the race is taking place. This will give you an idea of the type of track the horse is running on. The other thing you want to pay special attention to is the form guide. This guide gives you all the information you need to know about a race and the horses competing.
Make different kinds Of bets
Most people stick to only one type of bet. The most common is the “Win” bet where you choose which horse you think would win and hope that they do. However, there are so many other types of bets that you can do. These vary from race to race, country to country, and track to track. However the most common include:
Place, show and across-the-board bets
Place bets are standard in every country. However, they are organized a bit differently in some countries. In the U.S., you choose a horse and if it comes in first or second in the race, you win. You can bet up to third place, but that’s usually regarded as a show bet instead of a place bet. Across the board bets combine win, place, and show stakes into one bet. You bet an equal dollar amount on each wager. If the horse gets first place, you get a payout on the total amount. If your horse comes second, you get two-thirds of the payout. If your horse places third, you get one-third of the payout.
Multiple horse bets
To kick things up a notch, you can bet on multiple horses in the same race. This may make it harder to win but the payouts are generally higher.
Multiple race bets
If betting on multiple horses isn’t your thing, then maybe betting on multiple races is. These bets appeal to most gamblers because they don’t cost much and have huge payouts. However, the higher the payouts, the higher the risks.
Exacta bet
This type of bet involves picking the first two finishers in a race in the right order.
Trifecta bets
This bet type requires you to pick the first, second, and third-place horse in the correct order.
Bet on the recent winners
In some cases, it is wise to bet on the most recent winners. This goes to show that the horse is in form and performing well.
Shop some odds
Shopping the odds is an easy way to increase your payout. Choose your horse or horses to bet on and select the type of bet you want to place. After that, you can start shopping the odds. Check different online horse race betting sites to find out the odds for a specific bet. Based on what you find, go with the option that gives you the best chance of winning the most.
Bet on more than one race
The more bets you place, the more chances you have to win. There are so many different horse races taking place throughout the year.
The Kentucky Derby is the most popular in the U.S. It is the first race of the Triple Crown series. However, there are other big races to bet on and other types of horse races.
The different kinds of horse races include:
Flat racing
This is where thoroughbred horses run on a flat track for one to three miles.
Jump racing or steeplechasing
Horses have to jump over obstacles on their way to the finish lines. Obstacles may include hurdles or a combination of fences, trenches, and water.
Quarter horse racing
Horses in this race run a quarter mile or less. This is the shortest type of horse racing.
Track your budget
It is easy to get caught up and carried away when betting on horses. Things can quickly get out of hand if you’re betting on consecutive races.
Before placing a bet, check your financial situation. Make sure you have money to take care of all your life’s necessities before you place a bet. Once all your necessities are taken care of and you have some money left over to risk then you can place bets.
It is always best to work with a budget when betting on horses. This way you won’t overspend and waste your hard-earned cash.
FAQ: Horse Race Websites
Is horse race betting legit in the US?
Betting on horse races is legal in most states in the U.S. However, some states have their own regulations. Some states also prohibit online betting. It is best to check your state’s regulations before placing online horse racing bets.
In what states is horse betting legal?
The states where horse race betting is legal are:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- California
- 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
Where and how you can bet will vary by state. Be sure you do your research and abide by the law in your state when betting on online horse racing sites.
Does horse racing differ from sports betting?
Yes, it does. The biggest difference is the way betting odds are calculated. The pregame odds are fixed in sports betting. This is regardless of the number of people that bet on a particular team. However, horse racing uses a pari-mutuel betting system. This means the public wagers against each other and not against the house.
How often do favorites win in horse racing?
Favorites win about 35% of horse races on average. However, that percentage can fluctuate depending on several factors. These include distance, surface, class, and others. For example, favorites are more likely to win dirt races than turf races.
Is it safe to bet on a legal online horse betting site?
It is generally safe to bet on legal horse betting sites as long as the site is licensed and regulated. BetOnline, SportsBetting, and MyBookie are all safe to place the best bets on horse racing.
What types of bonuses do horse race betting sites have?
To entice bettors, these sites offer several bonuses. These include welcome bonuses, deposit matches, risk-free bets, and free bets.
What are the most popular horse races?
The most popular horse racing events are the Triple Crown Races. These include the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.
Related Posts
- Blackjack Online Real Money USA: Top 6 Blackjack Sites
- Best Casino Bonuses and Promotions Available
- Play Slots for Real Money: Best Slot Games
Disclaimer: Keep in mind that betting and gambling involve financial risks. It can also become highly addictive. Check if online gambling is legal in your state before placing horse racing bets on these sites. You should also check at what age you can bet on horses in your state. Some states allow persons 18 years and older while others require you to be 21 or older.