The 2024 Kentucky Derby is today in Louisville and bettors everywhere love to place some horse racing wagers for the event.
Online horse racing betting is available in most states — more than 40, including states like California and Florida that don’t have sports betting — but it comes in different forms. In some states, you’ll have access to a bunch of platforms. In others, like New Jersey, you’ll have more limited options.
Is online horse racing betting legal in my state?
Here’s a chart outlining the legality of horse racing betting in different U.S. states. It’s important to remember that some states only allow in-person horse racing betting, while others allow online and in-person betting.
| Legal States | Yes/No |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Yes ✅ |
| Alaska | No ❌ |
| Arkansas | Yes ✅ |
| Arizona | Yes ✅ |
| California | Yes ✅ |
| Colorado | Yes ✅ |
| Connecticut | Yes ✅ |
| Delaware | Yes ✅ |
| Florida | Yes ✅ |
| Georgia | No ❌ |
| Hawaii | No ❌ |
| Idaho | Yes ✅ |
| Illinois | Yes ✅ |
| Indiana | Yes ✅ |
| Iowa | Yes ✅ |
| Kansas | Yes ✅ |
| Kentucky | Yes ✅ |
| Louisiana | Yes ✅ |
| Maine | No ❌ |
| Maryland | Yes ✅ |
| Massachusetts | Yes ✅ |
| Michigan | Yes ✅ |
| Minnesota | Yes ✅ |
| Mississippi | No ❌ |
| Missouri | Yes ✅ |
| Montana | Yes ✅ |
| Nebraska | Yes ✅ |
| Nevada | No ❌ |
| New Hampshire | Yes ✅ |
| New Jersey | Yes ✅ |
| New Mexico | Yes ✅ |
| New York | Yes ✅ |
| North Carolina | No ❌ |
| North Dakota | Yes ✅ |
| Ohio | Yes ✅ |
| Oklahoma | Yes ✅ |
| Oregon | Yes ✅ |
| Pennsylvania | Yes ✅ |
| Rhode Island | Yes ✅ |
| South Carolina | No ❌ |
| South Dakota | Yes ✅ |
| Tennessee | Yes ✅ |
| Texas | No ❌ |
| Utah | No ❌ |
| Vermont | Yes ✅ |
| Virginia | Yes ✅ |
| Washington | Yes ✅ |
| West Virginia | Yes ✅ |
| Wisconsin | Yes ✅ |
| Wyoming | Yes ✅ |
Best Horse Racing Apps
There are many horse racing betting platforms out there, but the top two are easily FanDuel Racing and TwinSpires. Both racing sportsbooks have great sign-up offers that award nice welcome bonuses for new bettors.
FanDuel Racing
FanDuel Sportsbook is showcasing two great welcome offers for the Kentucky Derby! The offers differ for bettors in different states.
Residents of AZ, CO, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV, and WY can get a $20 no sweat first bet only for the Kentucky Derby. This offer works for new and existing customers and if your initial bet loses, you’ll get refunded the amount wagered as a racing credit. The racing credit expires on June 10, so you’ll be able to use it on the Preakness or Belmont Stakes.
Horse racing fans in AR, CA, DE, ID, FL, MN, MT, NH, NM, ND, OR, RI, SD, and WA can claim a $500 no sweat first bet. If your bet loses, you get back the amount wagered as a racing credit. The racing credit expires in seven days. Even though this offer is technically available in all FanDuel states, you can only access it if you have never wagered on any FanDuel property.
You must be 21 to use either of these offers in Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, North Dakota, and Washington.
Age and residency restrictions apply. See terms at racing.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
TwinSpires
TwinSpires, which is based off the famous spires at Churchill Downs, is also promoting a sweet welcome offer.
TwinSpires is offering new customers a $400 sign-up bonus with 4x rollover. This means that you’ll get $100 of your bonus bets for every $400 you wager, so you have to bet a total of $1,600 in your first 30 days to get the complete $400.
Bettors in AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, ID, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MT, NH, NY, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY can take advantage of this deal.
Create your new wagering account with TwinSpires.com and earn a $400 sign up bonus! Must use promo code on registration to be eligible. Valid for one use per household. $400 bonus cash will be credited in increments of $100 for every $400 wagered. To earn the full $400 bonus players must wager $1600 within 30 days of creating a TwinSpires account. Completed wagers mean that the race has run and the results are official. This sign up offer cannot be combined with any other registration bonus offer. Certain exclusions apply. All management decisions final.
Kentucky Derby 2024 Wagers
This is the win market for the 2024 Kentucky Derby. Fierceness is the favorite of the 20 horses running in the Kentucky Derby while, West Saratoga, Society Man, and Grand Mo The First have the worse odds of the competition.
| POST POSITION | HORSE | ODDS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dornoch | 20-1 |
| 2 | Sierra Leone | 3-1 |
| 3 | Mystik Dan | 20-1 |
| 4 | Catching Freedom | 8-1 |
| 5 | Catalytic | 30-1 |
| 6 | Just Steel | 20-1 |
| 7 | Honor Marie | 20-1 |
| 8 | Just a Touch | 10-1 |
| 10 | T O Password | 30-1 |
| 11 | Forever Young | 10-1 |
| 12 | Track Phantom | 20-1 |
| 13 | West Saratoga | 50-1 |
| 14 | Endlessly | 30-1 |
| 15 | Domestic Product | 30-1 |
| 16 | Grand Mo The First | 50-1 |
| 17 | Fierceness | 5-2 |
| 18 | Stronghold | 20-1 |
| 19 | Resilience | 20-1 |
| 20 | Society Man | 50-1 |