Pennsylvania horseplayers have it good: online horse race betting is legal and fully regulated, with Parx, Penn National and Presque Isle and every major advance-deposit app a tap away.
The racebooks below are the ones our team rates highest for Pennsylvania bettors, judged on track coverage, rebates, the quality of the app and the welcome offer.
You must be 18 or older to bet the horses in Pennsylvania, with racing overseen by the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Best Pennsylvania Horse Racing Betting Sites
Our top-rated advance-deposit wagering (ADW) apps for Pennsylvania bettors. Tap to open the operator’s official sign-up page. 18+. Terms apply.
- ★ EDITOR’S PICK
AmWagerEditor’s pick★ 4.8 / 5100% First Deposit Match up to $50 · Promo Code AMWAGERDeposit $50, bet $50, get $50 in bonus wagering credits
Pennsylvania offers one of the deepest racing programs in the country, and AmWager carries all six tracks — Parx, Penn National and Presque Isle for Thoroughbreds, plus Harrah's Philadelphia, The Meadows and Pocono Downs for harness. Add hundreds of signals worldwide, live video and replays, and rewards points on every wager.
Key terms: New AmWager customers only; first deposit only; Bet the amount of your first deposit (up to $50) within 30 days of opening the account; Show bets, cancelled and refunded wagers don't count; Bonus credits land within seven business days and expire after 30 days; winnings from them are cash. Full terms apply — see our AmWager review. Please play responsibly. -
TwinSpiresBest for coverage★ 4.7 / 5$200 Sign-Up Bonus · Promo Code BET200$100 in bonus cash for every $400 you wager, up to $200
TwinSpires, the ADW of Churchill Downs, has some of the widest track coverage available to Pennsylvania bettors, with live video and a reliable app on big race days.
Key terms: Wager $800 within 30 days of opening your account to earn the full $200; Bonus paid in $100 increments for every $400 wagered; Show wagers don't count; bets count once the race is official; Credited within 10 business days; one per household. Full terms apply — see our TwinSpires review. Please play responsibly. -
FanDuel RacingBest app & streaming★ 4.6 / 5Bet $10, Get $50 in Racing Bonus · No Promo Code neededFanDuel Racing rotates its new-customer offer, so the amount can change
FanDuel Racing, the former TVG, lists Pennsylvania among its eligible states and pairs with the FanDuel Sportsbook in one account. It covers the Pennsylvania Derby at Parx and the state's harness circuit, with live streaming from more than 300 tracks and daily expert picks.
Key terms: First real-money racing wager of $10 or more; $50 in non-withdrawable Racing Bonus, credited within 72 hours; Racing Bonus expires seven days after it's issued; Not open to anyone who has wagered on FanDuel Sportsbook, Casino or DFS. Full terms apply — see our FanDuel Racing review. Please play responsibly. -
NYRA BetsBest for big meets★ 4.5 / 5$25 Free Bet + $200 Deposit Match · Promo Code CUP25A free bet on sign-up, then 100% of your first deposit matched up to $200
NYRA Bets operates in Pennsylvania in partnership with Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, under a vendor license from the State Horse Racing Commission. It is the go-to app for the New York circuit at Saratoga and Belmont Park, with free live video nationwide.
Key terms: $25 free bet credit on sign-up; unused credit is removed after 14 days; 100% match on your first deposit up to $200, made within 30 days of opening the account; Wager twice your deposit within 30 days to unlock the match; Show bets, futures, phone wagers and cancelled bets don't count. Full terms apply — see our NYRA Bets review. Please play responsibly. -
DK HorseDraftKings crossover★ 4.3 / 5100% Deposit Bonus up to $250 · No Promo Code neededFor DK Horse customers in states that haven't moved to DraftKings Racing
In Pennsylvania, DraftKings horse betting runs through the standalone DK Horse app, which uses your DraftKings login but keeps a separate racing wallet. It is set to give way to the DraftKings Racing tab inside the Sportsbook app when that reaches the state.
Key terms: Minimum $25 deposit; 100% deposit match up to $250 with a 2x play-through; All DK Horse promotions require opt-in; Only in states where the standalone DK Horse app still operates. 18+ (21+ in AZ, IN, IA, WA). Full terms apply — see our DK Horse review. Please play responsibly.
Horse Racing & Betting in Pennsylvania
Parx Racing (Bensalem), Penn National (Grantville) and Presque Isle Downs (Erie) for Thoroughbreds, plus harness racing at Harrah’s Philadelphia, The Meadows and Pocono Downs.
Online wagering is legal for bettors 18+ physically in the state; TwinSpires, TVG (as PABets) and AmWager serve Pennsylvania. Bettors must be 18 and, where required, physically within the state.
The signature races to know are the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion Stakes at Parx each September.
With a half dozen tracks across the state offering live horse racing, the sport is in a robust position in Pennsylvania. The Keystone State offers wagering on quality horse racing product throughout the year. The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, Hollywood Casino At The Meadows and Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack all offer live standardbred racing. Parx Racing At Parx Casino, Hollywood Casino At Penn National Race Course and Presque Isle Downs And Casino all offer live thoroughbred racing. There’s also plenty of fair racing in Pennsylvania.
| Track | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parx RacingBensalem · Thoroughbred · Usually year-round (Pennsylvania Derby & Cotillion Sep 19, 2026) | ||||||||||||
| Penn NationalGrantville · Thoroughbred · Usually year-round night racing (Penn Mile May 29, 2026) | ||||||||||||
| Presque Isle DownsErie · Thoroughbred · Usually May – September (Presque Isle Masters Sep 18, 2026) | ||||||||||||
| Harrah's PhiladelphiaChester · Harness · Usually March – December (Super Sunday May 24, 2026) | ||||||||||||
| The MeadowsWashington · Harness · Usually year-round (Adios Pace Jul 25, 2026) | ||||||||||||
| Pocono Downs (Mohegan Pennsylvania)Wilkes-Barre · Harness · Usually late March – November (Sun Stakes Saturday Aug 22, 2026) |
Months with live racing. Dates come from the tracks and the state racing regulator; meets can change, so check the track’s own calendar before you go. Simulcast wagering runs year-round.
More on Racing in Pennsylvania
TwinSpires, FanDuel Racing (the former TVG), NYRA Bets, AmWager and DK Horse are also available for online and mobile wagering in the state.
Choosing a Racing Site in Pennsylvania
Newcomers to NYRA Bets receive a $25 free bet with Promo Code CUP25, as well as a 100 percent matching first deposit bonus up to a maximum of $200. After a customer wagers twice the deposit ($400 on a $200 deposit) within 30 days, a $200 wagering credit is credited to the account.
Popular Online Horse Bet Types & Races
Pennsylvania offers straight bets on win, place and show. With a win wager, your horse must finish first to collect on your bet. In the case of a place wager, the horse bet must finish first or second to be a winner. In show betting, a top-three finish will result in a payday.
Exotic bets featured are exactas (horses bet must finish first and second in exact order), trifectas (horses bet must finish first, second and third in exact order) and superfecta (horses bet must finish first, second, third and forth in exact order). With the Super Hi-5, you select five horses. Your five horses must finish first, second, third, fourth & fifth in the exact order you have chosen for the race you’ve selected.
It’s possible to box these wagers so that the horses bet can finish in any order. As well, there is an option to key one horse to win and then wheel other horses below that horse to finish in any order in the other positions.
Multiple wagers featured are the daily double (picking the winners of two consecutive races) and Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 6 wagers, which extend the daily double concept to include further races.
Pennsylvania Horse Racing Betting Legal Overview
Pennsylvania was a relatively late arrival to the live horse racing scene. The state didn’t legalize harness racing until 1963. The Meadows opened its doors shortly thereafter and Pocono Downs soon followed suit. Thoroughbred racing was made legal in the state in 1968. However, it wasn’t until 1972 when Penn National launched that there was a thoroughbred-only track operating in the state.
Major US Horse Betting Events That You Can Bet On In PA
The $1 million Pennsylvania Derby for three-year-olds and the $1 million Cotillion doe three-year-old fillies are the major stakes events at Parx Racing. Other major events include the Gallant Bob, the Smarty Jones, and the Turf Monster, all with $300,00 purses, and the Alphabet Soup Handicap, Plum Pretty, Parx Dirt Mile, Greenwood Cup and Dr. James Penny Memorial, all with purses of $200,000.
The $375,000 Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids highlights the season at The Meadows. The $300,000 Earl Beal Memorial three-year-old Open Trot, the $300,000 Max Hempt Memorial three-year-old Open Pace, the $250,000 James Lynch Memorial three-year-old Filly Pace and the $250,000 Delmonica Hanover 3-year-old Filly Trot are the major races at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Pennsylvania Racetracks
The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono · 1280 Pennsylvania 315, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
Offering live standardbred racing from February-October.
Hollywood Casino At The Meadows · 210 Racetrack Rd., Washington, PA 15301
Offering live standardbred racing from January-December.
Harrahs At Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack · 777 Harrah’s Blvd., Chester, PA 19013
Offering live thoroughbred racing from May-July and September-November.
Parx Racing At Parx Casino · 3001 Street Rd. Bensalem, PA 19020
Offering live thoroughbred racing from January-December.
Hollywood Casino At Penn National Race Course · 777 Hollywood Blvd., Grantville, PA 17028
Offering live thoroughbred racing from April-December.
Presque Isle Downs And Casino · 8199 Perry Hwy., Erie, PA 16509
Offering live thoroughbred racing from July-December.
Pennsylvania Betting & Horse Racing Summary
Pennsylvania is one of the strongest betting states in the U.S., with 12 legal sportsbook apps and a deep horse racing ecosystem. Sports betting is fully legal online and retail, while horse racing runs year-round across six major racetracks.
- Live horse racing: ✅ Yes (thoroughbred & harness)
- Online horse betting (ADWs): ✅ Yes
How to Bet on Horse Racing
New to the windows? Start with the straight bets. A win bet needs your horse to finish first; place pays if it runs first or second; show pays for first, second or third. They are the cheapest way to learn the game.
From there come the exotics, where the real payouts live. The exacta asks for the first two home in order, the trifecta the first three, and the superfecta the first four. Multi-race bets — the daily double, Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 6 — string winners together across races, and the Pick 6 jackpot can roll into life-changing money. Our guide to exotic bets walks through each one, and the beginner’s guide to betting on racing covers the basics end to end.
How to Start Betting on Racing in Pennsylvania
- Pick a racebook and sign up.
Tap a “Visit” button above to open an ADW account. You must be 18+ and within state lines where required.
- Claim the welcome offer and deposit.
Fund the account by debit card, bank transfer or PayPal and activate any new-customer bonus before your first wager.
- Find a race and place your bet.
Browse the day’s cards, read the form, pick your horse and bet type, and confirm. Watch the live stream and collect if you win.
Pennsylvania Horse Racing Betting Sites and Apps (November 2026)
AmWager offers new players in Pennsylvania a 100% first-deposit match up to $50 with Promo Code AMWAGER. To gain the total value of the bonus, players must make a first deposit of $50 and then wager at least $50 through their first 30 days as an AmWager customer.
Newcomers to NYRA Bets receive a $25 free bet with Promo Code CUP25, as well as a 100 percent matching first deposit bonus up to a maximum of $200. After a customer wagers twice the deposit ($400 on a $200 deposit) within 30 days, a $200 wagering credit is credited to the account.
One of the top apps for horse race betting in Pennsylvania is FanDuel Racing; claim your welcome bonus: bet $10, get $50 in Racing Bonus.
Pennsylvania Horse Racing Betting FAQs
Where to watch online/stream horse races in Pennsylvania?
All six Pennsylvania race tracks offer simulcast racing from around North America, as well as live streaming of their own races. Pennsylvania bettors can also stream racing by signing up with any of the available ADW services.
How old must you be to bet on horses online in Pennsylvania?
18 for pari-mutuel horse wagering.
Which racetracks run in Pennsylvania?
Parx Racing (Bensalem), Penn National (Grantville) and Presque Isle Downs (Erie) for Thoroughbreds, plus harness racing at Harrah’s Philadelphia, The Meadows and Pocono Downs.
Which apps can I use in Pennsylvania?
Our top-rated picks are AmWager, TwinSpires and the other ADW apps listed above. Online wagering is legal for bettors 18+ physically in the state; TwinSpires, TVG (as PABets) and AmWager serve Pennsylvania.
What is the biggest horse race in Pennsylvania?
The $1 million Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion Stakes at Parx each September.
Can I watch Pennsylvania races live?
All six Pennsylvania race tracks offer simulcast racing from around North America, as well as live streaming of their own races. Pennsylvania bettors can also stream racing by signing up with any of the available ADW services.