Here are some quick overviews of the top online horse racing and betting websites. You can learn a little about each site, including bonus information, and deposit and withdrawal options below.
We also have more in-depth pages about each of the betting sites.
TVG review
TVG started as a TV station showing horse races. Now that they offer a betting platform, they still offer high-quality video options for watching most races. They offer races from over 150 horse tracks around the world and have one of the easiest-to-use betting platforms online.
Popular races you can bet on using the TVG betting platform include the Belmont Stakes, Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Classic.
TVG is one of two sites reviewed on this page that accepts PayPal deposits.
Bonus: Use the promo code 200TVG when you sign up to get your first single-horse win bet back, up to $200. All you need to do is insert the promo code, make a deposit and place your first single horse win-type bet on any race. You’ll get up to $200 back as wagering credit if your horse doesn’t win.
Deposit options: PayPal, TVG BetCash (the in-house system used to transfer money quickly and safely from your bank account to your player’s account), credit cards, debit cards, money order, check, bank wire, TVG pre-paid card, and MoneyPak.
Withdrawal options: TVG BetCash, PayPal, check, and wire transfer.
BetAmerica review
BetAmerica offers betting options for horse races on over 400 tracks worldwide. The betting platform is owned by Churchill Downs, which also owns the popular site TwinSpires.
Bonus: 100 percent matching bonus on your first deposit up to $100. The bonus is released as at a rate of 10 percent of each bet you make. This means that if you bet $100, $10 of your bonus is released into your account. To release a $100 bonus, you need to make at least $1,000 worth of wagers. You have 30 days to release your entire bonus amount.
Deposit options: Visa, MasterCard, eCash Telecheck (basically like writing a check, but processed electronically), Green Dot MoneyPak, Neteller, PayNearMe, pre-paid cards, bank wire, check and PayLucky.
Withdrawal options: Check, Neteller and electronic bank transfer.
TwinSpires review
TwinSpires, located in Kentucky and well-known because of the Kentucky Derby, is one of two sites listed on this page operated and owned by Churchill Downs. You can place wagers on races from hundreds of tracks — including horse tracks in countries outside the US — watch live video of races, place all normal and most exotic bets, and place bets on the Kentucky Derby and Breeder’s Cup races.
Along with TVG, listed above, TwinSpires is one of two sites we review that accepts PayPal deposits. Some credit card issuers decline gambling transactions, so the availability of PayPal makes it easy to make deposits and withdrawals.
Bonus: $100 sign-up bonus. You don’t have to make a certain size deposit to claim this bonus. To release the bonus into your account, place $500 in total bets within the first 30 days after you open your account.
Deposit options: MasterCard, Visa, debit cards, ATM cards, PayPal, EZ Money (the system for moving money from your bank account directly to your player account, like an ACH debit), Green Dot at the register, PayNearMe, EZ Bank (works like online bill pay), MoneyGram, bank wire, check and money order.
Withdrawal options: PayPal, EZ Money, bank wire and check.
NYRA Bets review
NYRA Bets is run by the New York Racing Association. They also run local horse tracks in New York. There are more than 250 horse tracks on their platform, each offering the same wagers available to players betting at the local track.
Deposit options: NYRA Bets Play+ account (an in-house account tied to one of your credit cards), Express funding (the name they use for moving money out of and into your bank account electronically), money order, check, MasterCard, Visa, MoneyPak, PayNearMe and bank wire.
Withdrawal options: Express funding, Play + account, and check.
Is it legal to bet on horse races online?
Many people question the legality of online betting on horse races in the United States, but online horse race wagering in the US is widely legal
We’ve included a list below of the states that allow some form of online horse race wagering. Each state has its own set of laws and rules, so what one state allows might not be the same as what another state permits.
Check with a local attorney or your state law enforcement agencies to learn about the specific rules where you live.
Also understand that laws change from time to time, so just because a state may not be on the list doesn’t mean you can’t place bets online.
The sites listed on this page have to make legal arrangements with each state in order to offer online bets. This means that not every site listed above has agreements to operate in each state listed below.
- 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