Horse racing betting has long been a favorite pastime for Americans, and online platforms now make it possible to wager on races across the country and around the world. Whether you’re following the Kentucky Derby or smaller racing events, platforms such as FanDuel Racing, TwinSpires, NYRA Bets, and AmWager offer live odds, betting tools, and mobile apps.
At USA.bet, we compare established horse racing betting sites, their features, bonuses, and state availability. We also look at a newer category worth understanding: racing-powered games, which combine pari-mutuel horse racing wagers with casino-style games.
Legal States for Horse Racing Betting
Online horse racing betting is legal in many U.S. states, including:
- California
- New York
- Florida
- Kentucky
- Pennsylvania
Horse racing operates under different laws from conventional sports betting. Some states permit online advance-deposit wagering (ADW), even where mobile sportsbooks are prohibited.
However, not every racebook accepts customers from every state. Texas, for example, permits certain in-person pari-mutuel wagers but prohibits online horse racing betting.
The minimum age is generally 18 or 21, depending on the state and operator. Some companies have stricter requirements. AmWager, for example, requires all customers to be at least 21.
Biggest and Best Horse Racing Brands in the Market
The leading online racebooks provide access to betting pools, live racing, statistics, and mobile wagering. Their main differences include racing coverage, handicapping tools, app functionality, and state availability.
| Horse Racing Site | Main Features | What Stands Out |
|---|---|---|
| FanDuel Racing / TVG | Live racing, betting apps, video coverage | Established U.S. horse racing brand |
| AmWager | Advanced wagering tools, live pools, exotic bets | Dedicated horse racing platform |
| TwinSpires | Racing coverage, handicapping, mobile app | Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby connection |
| NYRA Bets | Replays, statistics, live racing | Strong New York racing coverage |
| 1/ST BET PRO | Past performances, data, wagering tools | Formerly DRF Bets |
| Xpressbet | Racing pools, mobile betting, rewards | Established ADW operator |
| DraftKings Racing | Pari-mutuel wagering within DraftKings | Integration with DraftKings Sportsbook in eligible states |
These are established platforms rather than a ranking based purely on promotions. We recommend comparing the available races, fees, withdrawal conditions, and betting tools before choosing a service.
Horse Racing Bonuses and Promotions
Horse racing sites offer several promotion types, including deposit matches, bet-and-get offers, first-bet refunds, and loyalty rewards.
A welcome bonus worth $200, for example, may sound attractive, but that amount could be awarded as wagering credits instead of withdrawable cash.
The main bonus types include:
- Deposit matches: The operator matches some or all of a qualifying deposit, subject to promotional limits and conditions.
- Bet-and-get offers: Place qualifying wagers to receive additional credits or rewards.
- First-bet refunds: Receive an eligible refund or promotional credit if your first qualifying wager loses, subject to a maximum amount.
- Loyalty rewards: Earn benefits based on qualifying wagering activity.
Always check wagering requirements, expiry dates, qualifying bet types, and withdrawal restrictions.
We do not list fixed bonus amounts or exclusive promo codes without confirming that the offers remain available.
Top Horse Racing Betting Platforms
FanDuel Racing (Formerly TVG)
FanDuel Racing builds on the legacy of TVG, one of the best-known names in U.S. horse racing.
The platform provides live race coverage, betting information, and mobile wagering. In eligible states, customers can also access horse racing through FanDuel Sportsbook.
One key distinction is that FanDuel Racing and FanDuel Sportsbook do not have the same state availability. New Jersey customers, for example, have traditionally accessed FanDuel-related horse racing through the separate 4NJBets service.
FanDuel Racing is especially relevant for existing FanDuel customers who want to add horse racing to their betting.
AmWager
AmWager is a dedicated online horse racing platform operated by AmWest Entertainment, a licensed advance-deposit wagering provider.
Its main appeal is its focus on horse racing rather than conventional sports betting or casino games.
The platform provides live odds, race information, and tools for straight bets and exotic wagers, including exactas and trifectas.
It is particularly relevant for bettors who study racing form or regularly place more complicated wagers.
AmWager requires customers to be at least 21 and is restricted in several states, including New Jersey and Texas.
TwinSpires
TwinSpires is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated and has a particularly strong connection to the Kentucky Derby.
The platform covers Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, and harness racing, including domestic and international events.
Its betting tools include past performances, handicapping information, race coverage, and mobile wagering.
While its Kentucky Derby connection is a major draw, TwinSpires offers racing year-round.
NYRA Bets
NYRA Bets is operated by the New York Racing Association, which oversees major New York racetracks, including Saratoga and Belmont Park.
The platform provides live racing, replays, statistics, handicapping information, and mobile wagering.
A key development was its July 2026 launch in New Jersey, giving eligible Garden State customers another regulated horse-racing betting option.
NYRA Bets is particularly relevant for customers following New York Thoroughbred racing.
1/ST BET PRO (Formerly DRF Bets)
DRF Bets is no longer a standalone horse racing betting brand.
On June 10, 2025, its owner, Affinity Interactive, sold the wagering platform to 1/ST TECHNOLOGY. The service was rebranded as 1/ST BET PRO, with Xpressbet assuming operational control.
DRF Bets transferred existing customers to the new platform, retaining their account credentials and access to wagering services.
1/ST BET PRO combines pari-mutuel betting with racing data, past performances, and handicapping tools.
Daily Racing Form continues operating separately as a provider of horse racing journalism, statistics, and analysis.
This distinction matters because DRF remains a major name in racing information, even though DRF Bets has been replaced as a wagering brand.
Xpressbet
Xpressbet is one of the established U.S. advance-deposit wagering operators and forms part of the broader 1/ST racing business.
The platform provides access to racing pools, live video, betting information, and customer rewards.
Customers can place straight wagers and exotic bets, including multi-race combinations.
Xpressbet is closely related to 1/ST BET and 1/ST BET PRO, although their interfaces and features differ.
DraftKings Racing
DraftKings Racing is another option for customers interested in horse racing through a familiar sportsbook brand.
In March 2026, DraftKings announced the transition from its standalone DK Horse product to DraftKings Racing, with horse racing integrated into DraftKings Sportsbook in supported states.
The company also expanded its racing product into Delaware, New Mexico, and Rhode Island, bringing its reported coverage to 26 states at that time.
Because horse racing follows different regulatory rules from other sports, availability within the DraftKings app depends on the user’s state.
Where Is Horse Betting Legal in the US?
Horse racing betting is regulated through several different models.
On-track wagering takes place at licensed racetracks. Off-track betting (OTB) allows customers to wager at approved facilities away from the track, while advance-deposit wagering (ADW) enables eligible customers to fund an account and place wagers remotely.
Not every state permits all three forms.
Some states that prohibit conventional mobile sports betting permit online horse racing. California is an important example.
However, the licensing of an ADW provider in Oregon does not automatically establish that every customer in every state can use its platform.
Before registering, check the operator’s state restrictions, minimum age, and available products.
How Big Is Horse Racing Betting in the USA?
Horse racing remains a substantial U.S. wagering market, although traditional Thoroughbred racing has experienced declining betting volume.
According to Equibase’s 2025 economic indicators:
| Market Indicator | 2025 | Change vs. 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Wagering on U.S. Thoroughbred races | $11.03 billion | -2.1% |
| Number of U.S. races | 29,401 | -4.7% |
| U.S. race days | 3,590 | -5.2% |
The handle includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. Thoroughbred races, not just wagers placed by American customers.
These figures show that traditional racing remains a multibillion-dollar industry, but fewer races and race days have affected overall wagering activity.
Meanwhile, newer racing-powered gaming products are introducing a different audience to horse racing-based wagering. Source: Equibase — 2025 Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators.
Types of Horse Race Bets
U.S. racebooks offer several wager types, ranging from straightforward selections to combinations involving multiple horses or races.
- Win: Your horse must finish first.
- Place: Your horse must finish first or second.
- Show: Your horse must finish in the top three.
- Exacta: Select the first two finishers in the correct order.
- Quinella: Select the first two finishers in either order.
- Trifecta: Select the first three finishers in the correct order.
- Superfecta: Select the first four finishers in the correct order.
- Daily Double: Select the winners of two consecutive races.
More complicated bets involve additional combinations and can become expensive.
For example, a $1 trifecta box covering three horses includes six possible finishing orders, making the ticket cost $6.
What Does Pari-Mutuel Betting Mean?
Pari-mutuel betting, also known as pool betting, is the standard system used for most U.S. horse racing wagers.
Instead of accepting fixed odds from a bookmaker, customers place wagers into a shared betting pool. The operator deducts a percentage, known as the takeout, and the remaining money is distributed according to the winning wagers and pool rules.
Unlike fixed-odds betting, the displayed odds can change until wagering closes.
Why Takeout Matters
Takeout is an important factor when comparing horse racing bets.
For example, the New York Racing Association publishes these rates:
| Bet Type | Takeout |
|---|---|
| Win, Place, Show | 16% |
| Exacta, Quinella, Daily Double | 18.5% |
| Trifecta, Superfecta | 24% |
| Pick 5 and regular Pick 6 | 15% |
If a pool has a 16% takeout, $16 of every $100 wagered is deducted before the remainder is distributed under the pool rules.
This does not mean an individual bettor automatically loses 16% on every wager. It represents the deduction from the overall pool.
Takeout rates vary by track and betting market.
Source: New York Racing Association.
What Is Fixed-Odds Horse Racing Betting?
Fixed-odds horse racing works differently from traditional pari-mutuel betting.
A bookmaker offers odds that are generally locked in when your wager is accepted.
For example, a winning $10 bet at 5/1 produces a $50 profit, plus the return of the original $10 stake.
In pari-mutuel betting, the final payout depends on the total betting pool and may differ from the odds shown when the wager was placed.
Racing-Powered Games: A New Type of Horse Racing Betting
One of the more interesting developments in American horse racing is the emergence of racing-powered games, also known as pari-mutuel-powered games (PPGs).
These products look similar to online casino games, including slots, scratch cards, and arcade-style titles. However, their underlying returns come from wagers on real horse races rather than the random-number generators used by conventional online slot machines.
The games provide a different way to participate in horse racing wagering, particularly for customers who are more interested in casino-style entertainment than studying horses, jockeys, and racecards.
How Do Racing-Powered Games Work?
The underlying mechanism is different from a conventional slot machine:
- A customer purchases credits or wagers linked to horse racing.
- The wagering provider processes bets through its pari-mutuel system.
- Racing results establish the financial returns.
- A casino-style game reveals those returns through reels, scratch cards, or other graphics.
The process and timing differ between platforms. Some games reveal returns from wagers that have already settled, while others require customers to wait for the underlying races to finish.
The important distinction is that the game animation does not independently determine the result of the racing wagers.
Racing-Powered Games vs. Traditional Horse Betting
| Feature | Traditional Racebook | Racing-Powered Games |
|---|---|---|
| Experience | Choose horses and bets | Casino-style games |
| Underlying wagers | Horse racing pools | Horse racing pools |
| Need to study racing form? | Helpful but optional | Generally not required |
| How returns are shown | Race results and dividends | Interactive game reveals |
| Examples | AmWager, TwinSpires | HorsePlay, LoneStar Bet, GiddyUp |
Racing-Powered Gaming Platforms
Several U.S. platforms use this model:
HorsePlay: Operated by Game Play Network (GPN), HorsePlay uses proprietary Reveal Technology to connect real-money casino-style games with pari-mutuel horse racing wagers.
LoneStar Bet: Another gaming platform using GPN’s underlying wagering and reveal technology.
GiddyUp and Jokio: Casino-style gaming platforms associated with AmWest Entertainment’s horse racing wagering infrastructure, although their consumer-facing products and regulatory approvals must be assessed individually.
RaceBetWin: A platform associated with Lien Games Racing that combines racing wagering infrastructure with casual and casino-style games.
These products have different state restrictions, credit arrangements, and withdrawal rules. They should not automatically be treated as interchangeable.
How Popular Are Racing-Powered Games?
The wagering figures suggest that this is becoming a meaningful niche.
According to the Oregon Racing Commission, Game Play Network processed $475.7 million in horse racing wagers in 2025.
For comparison, AmWest Entertainment, which operates the traditional racebook AmWager and provides wagering infrastructure for other products, reported approximately $72.0 million through the Oregon reporting system.
These figures reflect wagering handle reported by the respective licensed providers, not their profits or an apples-to-apples comparison of individual gaming brands.
The growth of racing-powered products may introduce new customers to horse racing wagering, although it does not necessarily translate into increased attendance at racetracks or greater interest in traditional handicapping. Source: Oregon Racing Commission.
Major Horse Racing Betting Events
Several major U.S. horse racing events attract significant betting activity every year.
- Pegasus World Cup: Held at Gulfstream Park in Florida, generally in January.
- Kentucky Derby: Held at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
- Preakness Stakes: The second leg of the Triple Crown, traditionally held in Maryland.
- Belmont Stakes: The final Triple Crown race. Following the redevelopment of Belmont Park, the 2027 running is scheduled to return to its traditional venue.
- Breeders’ Cup World Championships: A major two-day racing event held at rotating venues. The 2026 edition takes place at Keeneland on October 30–31.
Besides these major events, online racebooks offer wagering on smaller U.S. meetings and international racing throughout the year.
Horse Racing Betting Apps and Payment Methods
Most established U.S. racebooks support mobile wagering through dedicated applications or mobile-friendly websites.
Common payment options include debit cards, bank transfers, and selected electronic wallets, depending on the operator and state.
Not every payment method is available everywhere, and some jurisdictions restrict credit card deposits.
Before choosing an app, consider its minimum deposit, withdrawal processing times, available racing coverage, and whether the mobile platform includes the same tools as the desktop version.
Horse Racing Betting FAQs
What Is the Minimum Age for Horse Racing Betting?
The legal minimum age varies by state, commonly 18 or 21. Individual operators can impose stricter requirements. AmWager, for example, requires customers to be 21 or older.
Are Horse Racing Odds Fixed When I Place a Bet?
Not usually with standard pari-mutuel bets. The odds may change until the betting pool closes, and payouts are based on the final pool calculations.
Do I Have to Pay Tax on Horse Racing Winnings?
Gambling winnings are generally taxable under U.S. federal law.
Certain large pari-mutuel horse racing payouts are subject to 24% federal withholding when the winnings minus the wager exceed $5,000 and the payout meets the IRS’s 300-times-the-wager condition.
Other reporting rules and state taxes may apply. The withholding rate is not necessarily the bettor’s final tax rate.
Where Can I Find Horse Racing Statistics and Free Picks?
Equibase, Daily Racing Form, Brisnet, and the New York Racing Association publish racing data, past performances, and handicapping information.
Some resources are available for free, while more detailed analysis may require a subscription or payment.
No selection system guarantees winning wagers.
What Happened to DRF Bets?
DRF Bets was acquired by 1/ST TECHNOLOGY in June 2025 and rebranded as 1/ST BET PRO. Daily Racing Form continues operating as a racing news and data provider.
Are Racing-Powered Games the Same as Online Slots?
No. Conventional online slots use game rules and random-number generators to determine outcomes.
Racing-powered games derive their financial returns from underlying pari-mutuel horse racing wagers and reveal those results through casino-style interfaces.
They also follow different regulatory arrangements and should not be confused with sweepstakes casinos.
Are Racing-Powered Games Legal in States Without Online Casinos?
Some racing-powered platforms operate in states that do not permit conventional real-money online casinos. This is possible because their underlying wagering is conducted through horse racing arrangements.
However, eligibility depends on the operator, jurisdiction, and applicable approvals. Not every state allowing online horse racing also permits every racing-powered gaming platform.
How Does USA.bet Compare Horse Racing Sites?
USA.bet evaluates horse racing platforms based on their regulatory status, available jurisdictions, race coverage, handicapping tools, wagering costs, payment options, and promotional conditions.
We also cover new developments in racing technology and provide links to official regulatory information where available.
Our comparisons include commercial partners and other relevant platforms. Promotional compensation does not guarantee favorable editorial treatment.
USA.bet may receive affiliate commissions from selected operators. Betting availability, promotions, and regulations can change. Always check operator terms before registering. Gambling involves financial risk and should only be undertaken by legally eligible adults.