Emerald Downs in Auburn, the state’s one operating Thoroughbred track, running a May-to-September meet.
Online wagering is legal — ADW is treated as pari-mutuel wagering under state law, with TwinSpires, TVG, Xpressbet, NYRA Bets and Caesars Racebook among the licensed apps. The racebooks below are the ones our team rates highest for Washington bettors, judged on track coverage, rebates and the welcome offer.
You must be 18+ to bet the horses in Washington, with racing overseen by the Washington Horse Racing Commission. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Best Washington Horse Racing Betting Sites
Our top-rated advance-deposit wagering (ADW) apps for Washington bettors. Tap to open the operator’s official sign-up page. 18+. Terms apply.
- ★ EDITOR’S PICK
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, Churchill Downs Inc.'s racebook, accepts Washington players aged 21 and over and streams live races and replays on its website and app, Emerald Downs included. It is the official wagering home of the Kentucky Derby, with Rewards points on every wager.
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 platform formerly known as TVG, is the simplest mainstream pick for Washington players, with daily expert picks, free past performances and free streaming from more than 300 tracks. One FanDuel login and wallet covers racing and the company's other products.
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 accepts Washington players aged 21 and over, with free live video, HD coverage of Saratoga and Belmont Park and up to three streams at once. Box, key and position-swap tools make exotics quick to build.
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
DK Horse, DraftKings' standalone racing app, is still live in Washington for players 21 and over, on the same login as DraftKings but with a separate racing balance, live streams and replays.
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. -
OffTrackBetting.comDeposit match★ 4.2 / 5See the current welcome offer on the site
OffTrackBetting.com lists Washington as a state it currently serves, for players 21 and over, paying OTB Cash Rewards on wagers win or lose and streaming live video to funded accounts. Its sign-up offer excludes Washington.
18+. New customers only. Terms apply. Please play responsibly. -
Iron BetsRebates★ 4.1 / 550% Deposit Bonus up to $300 · No Promo Code neededHalf your first deposit added to your bonus account
Iron Bets Racing names Washington among its 30 states, for players 21 and over, with free race video and replays, Iron Rewards cash back on wagers and lower-takeout bets under its Iron Values banner.
Key terms: 50% of your first deposit, up to a $300 bonus ($600 deposit for the maximum); 10% of each wager is released from the bonus account once the race is official; One bonus per email or mailing address; 18+ (21+ in AL, ND, WA). Full terms apply — see our Iron Bets review. Please play responsibly.
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 their deposit within 30 days, the matching wagering credit is credited to the account.
Horse Racing & Betting in Washington
Emerald Downs in Auburn, the state’s one operating Thoroughbred track, running a May-to-September meet.
Online wagering is legal — ADW is treated as pari-mutuel wagering under state law, with TwinSpires, TVG, Xpressbet, NYRA Bets and Caesars Racebook among the licensed apps.
The Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs, the state’s signature race.
For online wagering, Washington bettors can use licensed ADW apps like TwinSpires, TVG, NYRA Bets, 123Bet, Watch and Wager, and 1/ST BET—with common welcome deals including TwinSpires’ $200 bonus after wagering and 1/ST BET’s tiered signup options. If you want a simple, mainstream pick, FanDuel Racing is a strong go-to for Washington players.
| Track | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald DownsAuburn · Thoroughbred · Thoroughbreds May 2 – Sep 7, 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 Washington
Washington offers live horse racing at two different tracks in the state. Emerald Downs features 52 dates of live thoroughbred racing action from May-September. Sun Downs opened its doors back in 1981 at the Benton County Fairgrounds. It offers live thoroughbred racing in the spring.
Popular Online Horse Bet Types & Races
The easiest types of wagering in Washington on horse racing are the straight bets of win, place and show. A win bet is self-explanatory. The horse must come in first for the wager to be a winner. Place betting is wagering on a horse to come in first or second place. The wager cashes if the horse comes in the top two. Show betting is wagering on a horse to finish in one of the top three spots. This is a winning wager if the horse comes in the top three.
Exotic wagers are more complex but also deliver the possibility of a bigger payday. For e.g. an exacta is wagering on two horses to come in first and second. To win, the horses must come in that exact order of the bet. A quinella is placing a wager on two horses to come in first and second in any order. A trifecta is selecting three horses to finish in first, second, and third. To win, they must finish in that exact order.
Bettors can also box exacta, trifecta and quinella wagers. By boxing the horses included in the bet, the bet will win no matter the order in which they finish among the required placing.
Washington Horse Racing Betting Legal Overview
The Washington Horse Racing Commission oversees, licenses and regulates the sport in the state. The Washington Horse Racing Hall of Fame is located on track level at Emerald Downs. Among those enshrined are Gary Stevens, Russell Baze and Charlie Whittingham.
Playfair Race Track was the first horse racing facility to open in the state back in 1901. However, pari-mutuel wagering wasn’t legalized in Washington until 1933. Longacres Park opened in Seattle not long after that.
Emerald Downs was built to replace Longacres Park when the site of that track was sold to enable an expansion of Boeing’s office complex in Seattle.
Major Horse Betting Events In The USA That You Can Bet On In Washington
For nearly nine decades, the $100,000 Longacres Mile, a Grade III stakes event for three-year-olds and up raced at 1 mile, has been the highlight of the live racing season in Washington. It’s been contested at Emerald Downs since the track opened its doors in 1996.
Washington Racetracks
Emerald Downs · 2300 Ron Crockett Dr, Auburn, WA 98001
Offering live thoroughbred racing from May-September.
Sun Downs · 1500 South Oak, Kennewick, WA 99336
Offering live thoroughbred racing from April–May at the Benton County Fairgrounds, though the meet has not run since 2019.
Choosing a Racing Site in Washington
Washington still offers live thoroughbred racing at two tracks: Emerald Downs (Auburn) runs a full summer meet from May–September, while Sun Downs (Kennewick) hosts a shorter spring season, typically April–May.
Watching/streaming: You can stream races through major racebook apps, and Emerald Downs’ on-site wagering (BetEmerald.com) works when you’re physically on track property.
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 Washington
- 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.
Washington Horse Racing Betting Sites and Apps (November 2026)
Washington Horse Racing Betting FAQs
Where to watch online/stream horse races in Washington?
With BetEmerald.com, bettors can open an online account with Emerald Downs and bet on their races via their smartphone or tablet as long as they are situated on the grounds of the track. Simulcast wagering is available on racing from around the world. Off-track betting is offered at 11 locations around the state, including Washington’s two tribal casinos.
How old must you be to bet on horses online in Washington?
18 for pari-mutuel horse wagering.
Which racetracks run in Washington?
Emerald Downs in Auburn, the state’s one operating Thoroughbred track, running a May-to-September meet.
Which apps can I use in Washington?
Our top-rated picks are listed above. Online wagering is legal — ADW is treated as pari-mutuel wagering under state law, with TwinSpires, TVG, Xpressbet, NYRA Bets and Caesars Racebook among the licensed apps.
What is the biggest horse race in Washington?
The Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs, the state’s signature race.