We are just hours away from the 2023 Kentucky Derby, and there is still time to place your bets.
However, before doing so, see which ways you can legally place your bets.
Types of horse race betting
First and foremost, it is important to understand that horse race betting is legal in most states in the United States.
However, the types of bets that are allowed and the regulations surrounding them can vary significantly from state to state.
In general, there are three types of laws that regulate horse race betting: prohibition, permissive, and parimutuel.
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Prohibition laws are those that prohibit all forms of gambling, including horse race betting.
There are only a handful of states that have such laws, including Hawaii and Utah.
In these states, it is illegal to place bets on horse races, whether online or in person.
Permissive laws, on the other hand, allow horse race betting in some form or another.
These laws vary widely from state to state, but in general, they allow for some form of pari-mutuel betting, which is a system in which all bets are pooled together, and the winners share the total amount bet, minus a commission taken by the track.
Some states also allow for off-track betting, in which bets can be placed at locations away from the track, such as at an off-track betting facility or online.
Finally, there are parimutuel laws, which are the most common type of laws governing horse race betting.
These laws allow for pari-mutuel betting and often provide detailed regulations on how it should be conducted.
In some states, these laws also allow for online horse race betting, as long as the online platform is licensed and regulated by the state.
So, is online horse race betting legal in your state?
The answer depends on where you live and the specific laws that govern gambling in your state.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the states that have specific regulations regarding online horse race betting.
New Jersey is one of the most permissive states when it comes to online gambling.
In 2013, the state passed a law that legalized online gambling, which included online horse race betting and expanded the Off-track and Account Wagering Act in 2001.
The law allows for licensed and regulated online platforms to offer horse race betting to residents of the state.
Today, several online platforms offer horse race betting in New Jersey, including TVG, which has a great sign-up offer, that you can take advantage of by following the link below.
Pennsylvania is another state that has recently legalized online gambling, including online horse race betting.
In 2017, the state passed a law that allows for licensed and regulated online platforms to offer horse race betting to residents of the state.
Today, multiple online platforms offer horse race betting in Pennsylvania, such as FanDuel Racing which is giving new customers a great offer for the Kentucky Derby.
California is one of the largest horse racing markets in the United States, and the state has long been at the forefront of the horse racing industry.
In California, horse race betting is legal and regulated.
However, online horse race betting in California is only allowed through licensed and regulated platforms, but features a prominent race book in TwinSpires who has an incredible welcome offer.
Similarly, Florida only allows online horse race betting through a few select platforms, and those platforms must be licensed and regulated by the state.
In contrast, some states have more restrictive laws when it comes to online horse race betting.
For example, Texas does not allow online horse race betting, even though it does allow for in-person betting at licensed tracks and off-track betting facilities.
States Where Online Horse Race Betting is Legal
| Alabama | Florida | Maryland | New York | South Dakota |
| Arizona | Idaho | Massachusetts | North Dakota | Tennessee |
| Arkansas | Indiana | Michigan | Ohio | * Vermont |
| California | Iowa | Montana | Oklahoma | Virginia |
| Colorado | * Kansas | Nebraska | Oregon | Washington |
| Connecticut | Kentucky | New Hampshire | Pennsylvania | West Virginia |
| Delaware | Louisiana | New Mexico | Rhode Island | * Wisconsin & Wyoming |
* These states have no horse tracks, but interstate horse racing is legal online.