Is Horse Betting Legal?
Horse betting is legal in one form or another in all 50 states. Most states allow land-based betting at both racetracks and off-track betting locations. There are states, however, that don’t allow land-based horse betting. If you happen to live in a state that doesn’t have racetracks or off-track betting shops, it doesn’t mean that you can’t wager on these events. It just means you need to head over to an online racebook. These sites operate like a digital form of an OTB shop. There, you can participate in horse betting legally, without having to travel to another state to find a live racetrack to bet at. On this page, we’ll go over legal horse betting that all US residents can participate in, especially on big events like the Triple Crown. We’ll also go over the basics of horse racing betting.
The interstate horse racing act of 1978 is a federal law that came about because racetracks across the country were simulcasting races they didn’t have the rights to and cheating the host track out of profits. To help regulate this, congress stepped in and passed the Interstate Horse Racing Act, which states that off-track betting locations must pay a portion of their profits back to host track. It also states that host tracks can choose who gains the simulcast rights for their races.
What you, the bettor, need to know about this law is that if you bet at a land-based off-track location, part of your winnings will be deducted, as it has to go towards paying the host track. If you wager at an online racebook, however, you do not have to pay these surcharges. This is because online racebooks are located in other countries. So they can offer odds on horses all over the world, without having to subject themselves to fees. The most important takeaway from this, though, should be that horse betting is legal and there are no federal laws preventing you from betting the horses.
You can bet on the Triple Crown however you’d like, either by laying a future bet before the Kentucky Derby is even run or by betting each race individually. It doesn’t actually matter how you bet on the races; what matters is that it is safe, legal, and fun. US residents who enjoy playing the ponies in the spring will be happy to know that not only can they bet on local horse racing events, they can also bet on races that take place all over the country, including the most important races of all – those that make up the Triple Crown.
Residents can legally bet on all of the events in the Triple Crown at land-based locations if their state allows it. But before you start heading out your door to a dingy OTB shop, Why not just log on to an online racebook? You’re already on the computer, so it’s literally a click away. These sites legally allow US residents in all 50 states to bet on all of their favorite horse racing events. They even stream the big races, like the Triple Crown, so you’ll never have to miss anything ever again.
Legal horse betting is done through a pari-mutuel system of wagering. This means that everyone is paid out of a collective pool, rather than from a house-backed account. Below, we’ll go over several common forms of pari-mutuel wagers, both straight and exotic bets.
Win – When you place a win bet, you are choosing the outright winner of an event.
Place – Choosing a place bet means you’ll pick a single horse to finish either first or second.
Show – To win a show bet, you pick a single horse to finish first, second, or third.
Exacta – With an exact, you are choosing a horse to finish first and a second horse to finish second. You have to choose their exact finishing position in order to win this wager.
Trifecta – You must predict the first, second, and third place horses in order.
Superfecta – Choose the finishing order of the first, second, third, and fourth place horses.
The best legal online horse racing betting sites will have several things in common – excellent customer service representatives, a multitude of banking options, and generous bonuses. They will also have a great deal of unique features. We’ve put together a couple of reviews for the best places for legal horse betting online.
As one of the most well-known online gambling sites, Bovada has made a name for itself as the only book that caters solely to American players. Here, you’ll be able to bet on all of the major racing events in your area, like the Kentucky Derby or the Breeder’s Cup. You’ll also gain access to Bovada’s shining glory – their stats center.
Here, you’ll find information on every racetrack they cover, giving you the information you’ll need to place a smart wager in a convenient location. They’ve also got article on top of article with insight into the horses racing. What other site can put so much information together in a single place for you? Bovada makes horse racing betting easy, and gives you everything you’ll ever need all in one location.
SportsBetting racebook is a well-established online horse racing betting site located in Panama City, Panama. There, they fall under the authority and regulations of the Panamanian government. Their strict gambling laws are enforced by a gaming commission, one which constantly conducts quality control tests on SportsBetting’s software. This is one of the absolute best online horse racing betting sites, as it caters to residents in all 50 states.
SportsBetting racebook allows players to choose whichever race they want, whether it’s part of the Triple Crown or just a race held in your state. The great thing about SportsBetting is that they have it all – which means they also have horse racing events that you can bet on from all over the world. We’re talking Japan, Australia, Ireland – you name it, they’ve got odds on it. You’ll never run out of horse racing betting opportunities at SportsBetting racebook. Signing up takes only minutes, and comes with a welcome bonus of up to $2,500, so what are you waiting for? Head over there today.
- Horse Betting Fans Get 50% to $250!
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- Bonuses up to $1.000 for Racebook Deposits!
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- 8% Horse Rebate!
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- Racebook Bonuses up to 75% for Residents!
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