US Best Online Horse Betting Apps and Promos

Online horse betting is legal and thriving in the USA (in 40+ states). The TVG, DRF Bets, Nyra Bets, AmWager, and DRF Bets are among the best horse racing betting online sites and mobile apps in 2024. New horse bet apps are DK Horse, SBK, Draftkings, Caesars Racebook, and Fanduel Racing – all offer hundreds of races to wager on, and new customer promos, including free bets, deposit bonuses, and daily odds boosts. More horse wagering platforms are to launch in 2024.

Top Horse Racing Betting Sites/Apps USA

• Fanduel Racing (best bonus of $500) – best for 2024
• DK Horse – the newest site
• TwinSpires
• Caesars Racebook
• Amwager
• BetMGM Horse Racing App
• TVG
• NYRA Bets
• DRFBets
• Hollywood Races

AmWager and Caesar’s racing websites and apps offer new customers the biggest first deposit bonus ($300) for first bets. Register TVG and Twinspires horse racing wagering accounts and get up to $200 in welcome offer.

What is the new online horse betting app in the USA? Draftkings has launched its DK Horse app in 2024.

The top sites that accept online bets on horse races in the US are betMGM, Unibet, bet365, Caesars, SBK, and DraftKings. In New Jersey, the top-rated site/app for horse racing betting is 4NJBets.

TOP US Sportsbook Apps & Bonus Bets and Promo Codes for 2024

You can use the BetMGM sportsbook app and take advantage of its promotioms, free bet offers and bonuses in the following states where it is legally operating: Arizona, Colorado, Washington D.C., Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

There are 10+ reputable online horse betting sites in the USA, including TVG, TwinSpires, Amwager, NyraBets and PlayUP. To find the best horse wagering platform online, you should consider factors such as the site’s reputation, the types of horse races and bets offered, the bonuses and promotions available. It is also a good idea to read reviews on our Horse.bet site. Additionally, it is important to see and verify that the site is legal and licensed in your state before placing any bets.

Online Horse Betting Major Races

Online horse betting sites in the USA typically offer a wide variety of horse races to bet on. Some of the most popular races that are available for online betting include:

• The Triple Crown: The Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes are the three most prestigious horse races in the USA and together make up the Triple Crown.
• The Breeders’ Cup: This is a two-day event that features some of the best horses from around the world competing in various races.
• The Pegasus World Cup: This is the world’s richest horse race, held annually in Florida.
• The Dubai World Cup: This is the most valuable horse race in the world, held annually in Dubai.

Other popular races that are available for online betting include the Kentucky Oaks, the Belmont Stakes, the Preakness Stakes, the Santa Anita Derby, the Florida Derby, the Blue Grass Stakes, the Arkansas Derby, the Haskell Invitational, and the Travers Stakes. Additionally, many online betting sites also offer betting on international horse races such as the Melbourne Cup, the Epsom Derby, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

What are the top-rated horse racing sites for online betting in USA?

Horse Betting Promotions and Bonuses for 2024

Top horse racing betting sites like TVG and AmWager offer a variety of bonuses and promotions to attract new customers and retain existing real money bettors. Some of the most common types of bonuses offered by the best horse betting sites in the USA include:

• Welcome bonuses: These are bonuses that are given to new customers when they sign up for an account. They may come in the form of free bets, cashback, or matched deposit bonuses. Bet 100 Get 100 in free bet at TVG USA.
• Refer-a-friend bonuses: These are bonuses that are given to customers who refer their friends to the site. Get up to $150 deposit match bonus with Amwager.
• Reload bonuses: These are bonuses that are given to customers who make additional deposits into their account. They may come in the form of a percentage match on the deposit or a free bet.
• Loyalty bonuses: These are bonuses that are given to customers based on the amount of time they have spent with the site, the amount of money they have spent, or the number of races they have bet on.
• Horse racing promotions: Some sites also offer special promotions for certain horse races such as enhanced odds for a particular horse, risk-free bet, or money back if your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd

It is important to note that horse betting bonuses and promotions are subject to terms and wagering conditions, such as rollover requirements, so be sure to read the fine print before accepting any incentives such as free bets. And also make sure to check the legality of the bonus in your state before claiming it.

TOP Horse Betting Bonus Sites USA

FanDuel Racing

FanDuel Racing, the horse racing division of FanDuel Sportsbook, has quickly established itself as a premier name in mobile horse racing betting. It offers a no-sweat bet of up to $500 for new users, which means if your first bet loses, you get the amount back as a bonus bet, up to $500. This bonus is exclusive to FanDuel Racing and non-withdrawable. FanDuel Racing is operational in numerous states, including CO, IL, IN, KY, and many more. For states like AR, CA, CO, etc., a separate app download is required. Additional betting options are available through TVG and 4NJBets in states like AZ, CT, IA, and NJ.

DK Horse

DraftKings continues its expansion in mobile sports betting with its own racing app, DK Horse. This app offers comprehensive coverage of all major races and daily races, complemented by a live streaming service. New users can benefit from a 100% deposit match up to $250 with a 2x playthrough requirement. DK Horse is accessible in states such as CA, CO, FL, IL, IN, and more, running a promotion from April 4, 2024, to May 26, 2024.

Caesars Racebook

Operated by Caesars Sportsbook, Caesars Racebook provides a wide range of betting markets on over 300 race tracks worldwide, including notable locations in China, France, and Australia. New users receive a 100% deposit match up to $150, using the promo code CRB150. This bonus becomes withdrawable only after it has been wagered. Caesars Racebook is available in numerous states including CA, CO, CT, FL, and others, with the promotion running until December 31, 2024.

BetMGM Horse Racing

BetMGM Horse Racing lives up to its moniker “The King of Racebooks” with its advanced interface and live tracking features. Although it currently lacks a welcome offer, its robust platform is available in states like OH, FL, and LA, offering a premium betting experience.

TwinSpires

As the official betting partner of the Kentucky Derby, TwinSpires offers a historical and reliable betting platform. New users can earn up to $200 in bonus credits by wagering $800 within 30 days of registration. The promo code BET200 is required at sign-up. TwinSpires is available in a wide array of states, ensuring broad accessibility for horse racing enthusiasts.

These racebooks represent the best in U.S. horse racing betting, offering a range of promotions, user-friendly features, and extensive race coverage. Whether you’re a casual bettor or a seasoned enthusiast, these platforms provide everything needed for a top-tier betting experience.

Online Horse Wagering Legal States

The legality of online horse racing betting varies by state in the USA. Currently, online horse racing betting is legal and regulated in the following states:

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

In some of these states, you will be able to find and use legally licensed and regulated online racebooks, while in other states, you may be able to use advanced deposit wagering (ADW) platforms, which allow you to fund an account and place bets on horse races via an account with a licensed and regulated betting operator.

It’s important to note that laws and regulations regarding online horse racing betting can change quickly, so it’s always best to check with your state’s gaming commission or attorney general’s office to confirm the current laws and regulations.

Gambling in the U.S., including betting on horse racing, is primarily governed by the states. As of early 2019, 44 states had laws in place authorizing pari-mutuel wagering on horse races. There’s a lot of variation, though, in how residents of those states can bet. Some states allow betting only at the track. Others have off-track betting facilities at numerous locations. Still, others allow wagering on horse racing but have no tracks.

The same goes for wagering by phone or online: Some states allow it; others don’t.

Companies called advance deposit wagering (ADW) providers are licensed – usually in Oregon or North Dakota – to provide online betting on horse races in states where local law permits it. Some of those providers do business in states where pari-mutuel betting is allowed but no law explicitly allows online betting, but they do so at their own legal peril.

If you are in a state where the law doesn’t allow pari-mutuel betting, none of the legal ADW providers will risk their licenses by accepting you as a customer. In that case, offshore racebooks are your only option.

Online Horse Betting: How to Start, What Bets to Place

If you’re betting on a single race, the most straightforward bet to place online is the win bet – you pick your horse, and you’re asked for your stake. If it wins, you get the stake times the odds of the horse, plus your stake back. A simple example is if you put $5 on a 2/1 horse, you’ll get $15 back if it wins (/$5 times two, plus your returned stake).

Also popular is the each-way bet, where you bet on a horse to win or finish in the places. You get a percentage of the odds for the place part of the each-way bet – typically a quarter or fifth. A /$5 each-way bet on a 10/1 horse that wins would return $70 on a race offering 1/5 odds on the place; $50 for the win, $10 for the place, and your returned stake. If your horse only places then you’d get $15 back with $10 for the place and $5 part of your stake returned.

In the US, the betting system is similar to the most popular bets: the win, place (horse finishes first or second), and the show (horse finishes first, second or third).

You can also try a forecast or exacta where you pick the horses to finish first and second, a reverse forecast or simple quinella where you pick horses to finish first or second in either order – stake is double the cost of a straight forecast – or a trifecta where you pick the horses you think will finish first, second and third. You can also try a superfecta bet, more common in North America, where you pick the first four horses to finish in the correct sequence.

There are also a number of combination bets where you try to pick winners or horses that place in a number of different races. The Yankee is a popular one in the UK – four selections consisting of 11 bets: six doubles, four trebles, and a fourfold accumulator – where two must win, or place if it’s an each-way Yankee, to get a return. A $1 win Yankee costs $11, based on the 11 bets, and it is believed to have been named after a World War Two American soldier that placed a small bet in the UK while on service and, due to the multiple roll-overs won back hundreds of thousands of pounds. 

How to engage in online horse betting if you are new to this:

• Firstly, find the relevant bookmaker (the licensed, of course) that offers horse racing odds. You may also download one of the best apps to place horse bets directly from your mobile device.
• Then register with your personal details like name, address, social security number, or ID. You must be a verified punter (21+ in the US) before you can sign up, bet on horses online, and deposit and withdraw money. 
• Take advantage of the offers by the horse race betting sites and apps. Deposit funds and carefully read the terms and conditions before claiming any bonuses and using promo codes.
• If you made the right predictions and won the bet, your winnings are credited to your betting account after the event ends.

Picking Your Horse Racing Bets

When you make your selection, always remember the term horses for courses – check your selection’s form on the track, form at a distance being run, and don’t forget the jockey’s form. The more you know, the better your chances of winning the bet on horse races online, and while there’ll always be a shock in the sport, the more research you do, the less chance you’ll have of picking the wrong horse.

Many big races, such as the Derby and the Kentucky Derby are competed for by horses of the same age and carrying the same weight, but those are the exception. Most racing involves competitors of varying ages and abilities with a handicap system in operation in a bid to equalize the competition, so always take that into account when betting horses online.

Information is your key to gambling success, so use horse betting websites such as Racing Post and Sporting Life in the UK and Ireland for in-depth analysis of the form and to get the views of the tipsters, with BloodHorse and drf.com offering a similar horse wagering service in the US. When you’ve picked your horse, oddschecker will save you the time of going through all the gambling websites to find the best odds for your selection, and they’ll direct you to the sites you need. Learn how to find the best and free horse betting picks and predictions provided by top racing handicappers.

Horse Competitions & Racing Events

There are four primary horse race types – flat racing, steeplechasing, harness racing, and endurance. Horse races are divided into categories in a bid to make them more competitive, ranging from a maiden for horses who haven’t won a race right up to pattern races like the Derby and other Group One events – also known as stakes races in the US.

The vast majority of the horses competing are thoroughbreds – bred from a pure breed sire (father) and dam (mother) – and they can be traced back to a handful of horses such as Godolphin, an Arabian breed from the 18th century.

Flat races are where runners race over a set distance on either turf, dirt or synthetic track. They are run most days in both the UK and Ireland, and in the US. The pinnacle of flat racing are the classics, open to three-year-olds, with three in the US making up the Triple Crown – the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Breeders Cup – and the dream of all trainers is a thoroughbred that can win all three. The last horse to do this was Justify in 2018.

Another type of racing popular for betting on in North America is harness racing, where the horse pulls a driver in a two-wheeled cart called a sulky. 

There are two main types, trotting, and pacing, with the difference based on the horses’ leg movements. Important annual races in the US include the Hambletonian, part of a Triple Crown for Trotters, and the Little Brown, part of the Triple Crown for Pacers; in Canada, an important event is the Gold Cup and Saucer, run at the Charlottetown Driving Park.

Big Online Betting Horse Races

The biggest betting horse race in the world is the Grand National at Aintree, a four-mile test of the jumping and stamina of some of the top horses in the UK and Ireland. Around $210million is bet on the outcome, with many people placing their only bets of the year on the race, with selections based on horses’ names, jockeys’ silks, and even the color of the animals, rather than any attempt to analyze the form of each horse. Approximately 65-70% of all horse bets are placed online. 

The Epsom Derby and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, part of the four-day Cheltenham Festival, are also popular betting races, with the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Classic the top two in the US. 

Other big betting events include Royal Ascot – a four-day festival of Flat racing in June at the famous track in Surrey, with the Queen usually attending – and several events in Ireland, including the Punchestown Festival. The big international races that attract more than their fair share of gambling interests include the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the Melbourne Cup in Australia, and the Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Horse Betting Offers

If you’re considering opening an account at a horse gambling website, don’t pick the first one you see. There’s plenty to choose from, and they all offer generous promotions for new customers, with a range of free bets and various bonus offers when you open an online account. In the USA, some of the best legal horse wagering apps are Pointsbet, TVG, Amwager, DRF Bet, and NyraBets. So, look through who’s offering sign-up bonuses, free bets, and deposit bonuses, and pick the one offering a deal that suits you best.

Quick History Of Betting On Horses

Horse racing dates back to ancient times, with chariot racing one of the most popular ancient Greek, Roman, and Byzantine sports. With racing comes betting, and both came to prominence in Britain in the 17th century with the establishment of the Newmarket racecourse in 1636 in Suffolk, England, with King Charles II a notable competitor who became the only reigning monarch to ride a winner. 

Soon after, Salisbury in New York established the United States’ own ‘Newmarket’ track, with a professional organization of racing controlled by the Jockey Club in the UK, established in 1750, before the American version was formed in 1894.

Flat racing dominates the US sport, predominantly on dirt tracks, while in the UK and Ireland, turf racing is king, with the flat seen as the summer version of the sport and jump racing prominent in the winter – the first recorded example of a jumps race was in County Cork, Ireland, in 1752. 

Originally confined to race tracks, gambling on racing has come a long way since the first bookmaker, Ogden, stood at the Newmarket track in 1795, with betting websites effectively allowing people to place a bet on any horse racing event around the world from their own home – dependent on any local restrictions.

US Horse Betting Sites and Apps 2024 Comparison

Site/App	Best Features	Bonus Offer
BetMGM	Welcome Offer, Live Betting Odds, Horse Racing Bets	up to $1500 Back in Bonus Bets
bet365	Legal Sportsbook App, Sign up Offers, Live Betting Odds, Horse Racing Promos	Deposit, Bet $5, Get $150 in Free Bets. Code: USB365
BetRivers	New Player Bonus, Live Betting Odds	BetRivers Free Bet up to $500. Code: USBTRV
TwinSpires	Best-rated Horse Betting Operator,  Daily Odds Boosters, Legal in USA	$200 Sign up Bonus
AmWager	HD Live Streaming, 700+ Races, 498 Tracks, Odds Boosts, Results	$150 Deposit Match
BetMGM Horse Racing	700+ Races, Replays, Best-rated Mobile App, Daily Odds Boosts	Get BetMGM Horse Racing App
NYRA Bets	US-licensed Betting App, HD Live Streaming, Bet & Get	$200 Deposit Bonus
PlayUp Racebook	Expert Analysis, Live Streaming, Free Contests, Weekly Wager Rewards	50% Deposit Bonus up to $250
TVG	Popular Horse Online Wagering Platform, Handicapping Contests, Live Horse Betting	Bet insurance of up to $200

Online Horse Betting FAQs

Best Horse Races to Bet On

Date	Event	Betting Provider	Bonus
4-05	2024 Kentucky Derby Betting Offers & Best Bets	TVG Read TVG	TVG Promo: Claim up to $250 in bonus	About Race Get Bonus
18-05	2024 Preakness Stakes Betting Promos & Offers	AmWager Read AmWager	AmWager New Customer Offer: $150 Deposit Match	About Race Get Bonus
7-06	The Best 2024 Belmont Stakes Betting Offers & Promotions	AmWager Read AmWager	AmWager New Customer Offer: $150 Deposit Match	About Race Get Bonus

Key Horse Betting Guides & FAQs

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What is an exacta bet in horse racing?

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What is a quinella bet in horse racing?

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What is a Daily Double bet in horse racing?

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What is a trifecta bet in horse racing and how it works?

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A superfecta bet in horse racing explained with examples

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Super High-5 bet in horse racing: how does it work?

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If you are visiting us from Great Britain, we recommend you view our top horse betting sites list for the UK here.