Best Online Horse Betting Sites 2023

Do you like fast action and the thrill of sports betting? Then you will love betting on the horses. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to get out to the track – mainly due to silly things like work or responsibilities. It’s not fair, we know.
Thankfully, your favorite tracks can now come to you. Racing betting sites are now offering horse racing action directly from your computer, phone, tablet, or smart device.
Every race and wager type – including exotic bets — are available, from the most prestigious races of the year to the standard trots taking place at hundreds of tracks around the world daily. As long as you have wifi or a smartphone, you’re set to bet right now.

On this page, we’re going to talk you through everything you need to know to get started betting on horses online. As we know you like fast action, we won’t wait any longer and will jump right into the information you came to see.

#1 Site For Betting on Horse Races Online – BetUS

The best horse racing betting sites offer an immense number of perks, flexibility, and convenience that you simply can’t pass up.

When it comes to picking out the best of the best, the answer is thankfully easy. We’re talking about BetUS. Here are a few reasons we’re such big fans of this site for real money horse race bettors:

More Top Online Racebooks and Bonus Offers

When you’re looking to bet on horse races online an important factor to consider is what bonuses are offered to racebook bettors. Looking at this will give you a good idea of whether the online racebook is a priority or an afterthought at any real money betting site.

Here are some of the best bonus offers at any horse race betting site in 2023:

• MyBookie – 8% Horse Betting Rebate
• BetOnline – 7% Daily Track Rebate on Online Wagers
• SportsBetting.ag – $25 Risk Free Racebook Bet

To learn more about the top online sportsbook bonuses that any specific site offers check the links below:

Why We Love These Real Money Horse Betting Sites

Lucrative Horse Racing Site Bonuses

Here’s something you may not know about us—we like free stuff. And if you’re getting into betting on horses online, you should too! The best horse racing betting sites offer lucrative bonuses, cashback offers, and VIP perks to attract new business and maintain loyal patrons.

Coverage of Numerous Tracks and Races

The idea of betting on horses online for real money is to get access to tracks close to home but also around the globe. The best horse betting apps offer action on lots of tracks and lots of races. The idea is that you should be able to get in on the action every day of the week and at all hours.

Flexibility with Bet Types

Some sportsbooks that just dabble in horse race betting only offer options on betting race winners. However, whether you’re serious about making a lot of money betting on the ponies or just betting for fun, you want (or need) more options than that. The best online racebooks offer tons of bet types including things like:

• Straight Bets (Win, Place, Show)
• Combination Straight Bets
• Exotic Single Bets (Exacta, Trifecta, Superfecta)
• Exotic Multiple Bets (Pick 3, 4, 5, 6, All)

Exceptional Customer Support

Horse racing betting action happens fast. Often, there are only a few minutes between races. If you have some sort of an issue you need help with, you want to get that squared away as quickly as possible. Otherwise, it can not only be annoying, but it can cost you money.

All of the best horse race betting sites have exceptional customer service teams. Some of the things we look for include:

• 24/7 support (especially important if you bet international races)
• Several methods of contact (including live contact options)
• Fluency in English
• Efficiency in solving issues
• Extensive FAQ options for common issues

Best Horse Racing Events to Bet

Horse racing enthusiasts looking to place bets have numerous prestigious events that provide excellent opportunities for wagering. While attending one of these events is a dream for many, technological advancements have made it possible to bet on them from afar.

With a plethora of exciting horse racing events taking place throughout the year, there are plenty of opportunities to either bet on the races or simply enjoy the thrill of watching these magnificent animals compete.

Is Horse Racing Growing in the US?

Ever wonder if the horse racing market in the United States is on the rise, falling off, or staying constant? Our data team was curious and sought to get to the bottom of it. Below, you’ll find the market size of the horse racing track industry in the US from 2011 to 2021:

Here are a few takeaways, as well as things to keep in mind.

Is Horse Racing Betting Growing in Great Britain?

Much like we did in the US, we wanted to see how the horse racing industry was holding up across the pond. More specifically this time, though, we wanted to look at the growth, decline, or stability of the horse racing betting marking in GB.

Here are the major takeaways to keep in mind from the data above:

Advantages of Horse Betting Apps

Online gambling gained popularity in the ’90s with the rise of the internet, and with the advent of modern smartphones, mobile gambling apps became highly sought after. In recent times, new legislation has eased many of the restrictions on online and mobile betting operations, leading to further expansion of the industry. Horse betting apps now have an edge over their brick-and-mortar and computer-based counterparts, offering users the chance to win real money anywhere, access to more races, and exclusive bonus offers. These advantages have made mobile gambling a preferred choice for many gamblers.

Ability to Win Real Money

One of the biggest questions that surround mobile horse betting is whether or not someone can make real money from it. If you are using one of our recommended horse race betting apps then the answer is a resounding yes. The laws and regulations regarding operators of mobile horse racing sportsbooks make it so that using horse betting apps gives you the same, if not better, odds of winning real money as you have when betting at the track.

Not only do you receive the same odds using mobile sportsbooks, but using online and mobile betting options gives players the advantage of having access to more bonuses than they typically would receive betting at the actual racetrack. And, since you can use your horse betting app anywhere, you will have more opportunities to use your bonuses and turn them into real money winnings.

Access to More Races

The ability to access your horse racing sportsbook from anywhere is another advantage of mobile horse race betting that computer-based and in-person betting cannot compete with. Many apps offer streaming options for events, meaning that not only can you bet on more races, but you can also watch more races.

Mobile Exclusive Offers

The third advantage of horse betting apps is the exclusive offers that only mobile users have access to. We discussed this at length above, but we felt it needed to be repeated here. With many horse racing betting sites, players can access these bonuses using their Android or iOS devices on top of the bonuses offered by the sportsbook’s regular website.

Disadvantages of Horse Betting Apps

Unfortunately, no system is perfect and there are a few disadvantages to using horse race betting apps. These drawbacks include differences in legality between countries, limitations of the mobile device, and a lack of horse betting apps in the app store.

Legality Varies by Location

One of the biggest disadvantages of using any horse betting app is that the legality of the app itself is dependent on the location of the user. In the US, this often comes down to what state you are in as each state is allowed to set its own laws regarding gambling.

Fortunately, many legislatures have started clearing the way for online and mobile gambling operations. This means that even if you do not live somewhere that currently allows the use of betting apps, that does not mean you will not be allowed to use them in the future.

Apps May Not Be Available in the App Store

Apple and Google have had differing views on the mobile betting industry over the years. As a result, Apple has allowed horse betting apps in their app store much longer than Google. This means that Android users can be at a disadvantage when it comes to finding their favorite horse racing sportsbook in the app store.

There are some workarounds for this issue, such as downloading the app from the horse racing sportsbook’s website instead of the app store. Also, since Google has started allowing gambling apps in their app store, this issue is quickly becoming a thing of the past.

Smaller Screen

Another disadvantage of using horse race betting apps is the limitations of the mobile device you are using. The biggest example of this would be the screen size. Let’s face it, there is simply no way for phones to compete with computers when it comes to screen size. This can affect your horse racing betting experience because the smaller screen can limit the number of betting lines you can see at one time.

How to Pick Out the Best Horse Racing Betting App For You

• Know the races or tracks you want to bet on – Unless you just want to bet on random races, you probably have an idea of the tracks you like to bet on. Start your search by making a list of these tracks and races, so you can check to see if the real money horse racing betting app you’re interested in can cover your action.
• Test drive the betting slips – Even if you’re an experienced horse bettor, things can get confusing. Take a minute or two to test out putting together a betting slip.
  • Are the odds in a format you like (or can be changed easily)?
  • Can you find the bet types you like? Do they have the bet types you like?
  • Does the betting process work well from your mobile phone?
  • Is it easy to see how much you’re betting and how much you stand to win?
• Test drive the organizational layout – A key characteristic of the top USA horse racing betting sites is action on races from all over the globe. But with action on so many different events, it’s important that the sportsbook lays the tracks, races, and bets out in a way that’s easy for you to navigate. If it takes you forever to find the events you want to bet on, it’s not going to be a good fit.
• Look for bonus promotions – The best horse racing betting sites offer lucrative opportunities for new and seasoned bettors to earn some extra cash. Understand the different types of horse racing bonuses available, see who has each, and pick the best fit for you.

• Range of banking options – If you are planning on making real money, then it is important that you find an app that has banking options that fit your needs. When you are making your betting strategy, one of the key ingredients should define how you deposit and withdraw.
  • Cryptocurrency, including Bitcoin
  • Digital wallets such as Neteller and Paypal
  • Major credit cards like Mastercard and Visa

• Payout Speeds – Along with finding a horse racing app with the best banking options, the payout speeds of the mobile sportsbook should also weigh heavily in your decision. The best horse betting apps are going to offer consistently high payout speeds to players

• Safety and Security – One of the highest priority items we look for when considering a site is the safety and security it offers to players. There are a lot of risks involved in gambling already. But you should feel confident that if you do lose your bankroll, it is because you bet on the wrong horse and not because an app took it from you unjustly.
• Accessibility – Horse race betting apps offer players the ability to access their sportsbooks from anywhere and can be a major advantage over other betting options. An app can offer the best odds and bonuses in the world. But if it’s always down for maintenance, then you will never be able to use it to make real money.
• Member-exclusive perks – Most online horse racing sportsbooks offer players access to special bonuses, such as risk-free bets while using their sites. Mobile users can also find other exclusive perks using their horse racing betting app. For instance, some apps offer players in-app betting advice on upcoming races, commentary about ongoing events, and the ability to watch races live on their mobile devices.

Important Things to Know About Betting on Horses

In-Person vs. Mobile vs. Virtual Betting

One of the first decisions you have to make if you are interested in horse racing betting is whether you are going to be placing wagers in person, using an online or mobile sportsbook, or if you are betting on virtual races.

While in-person races may offer a more engaging experience for some bettors, it can be hard for many people to participate if they do not live near a racetrack and only offers a limited number of races to bet on.

Virtual races on the other hand differ greatly from both in-person and mobile horse racing betting in many ways. The biggest differences are that virtual horse racing betting involves placing wagers on a simulated race, meaning that you are betting on a computer program rather than actual horses. Also, there are drastically different legal restrictions for virtual races, so if you decide to use them make sure they are legal in your area to use.

Payout Structure

After you decide the type of horse racing betting you want to use, it is important to make sure that you understand the payout structure.

• For straight bets, the payout structure is going to look like other types of betting you may have done in the past. If you place $50 on a horse that is 5-1 and you win, then you get $250 plus your original bet of $50, totaling $300.
• Where payouts typically get complicated with horse racing betting is when you start placing exotic wagers. These wagers require you to bet on multiple horses and can even mean placing bets across multiple races. While these bets can be more complicated, they also offer higher payouts and a better chance to win real money on a single wager.

Commonly Used Terms

If you are new to horse racing betting, then you are going to want to familiarize yourself with some of the jargon you may hear thrown around. It would take all day to go over all the lingo you might run across, but some common terms are:

• Purse: This is the total prize money that is awarded to the winner of the race
• Lock: A term used to describe a horse that is considered a heavy favorite to win
• Handicap: Horses may have extra weight added to them in an attempt to level the field

These are just some of the terms you will want to know before betting real money wagers on your horse races. For more terms you will want to know, check out this helpful guide.

Types of Horse Race Bets- Straight Bets vs. Exotic Bets

If you are new to the world of horse racing betting, then it is important that you take some time to familiarize yourself with the different types of bets you can make. In general, the two main types of bets you will see will fall into one of two categories: straight bets and exotic bets. However, there are multiple types of bets that fall into those two categories.

In addition to straight bets and exotic bets, some horse betting apps will also offer players the option of placing prop bets.

Straight Bets

If you are a rookie in the horse racing betting world then we encourage you to start by placing straight bets. As we stated above, straight bets involve only betting on one horse in a race. This makes straight bets significantly less complicated than their exotic bet counterparts. When looking at placing straight bets in your mobile horse racing sportsbook, you will likely see bets that fall into two sub-categories: win, place, show, or across the board.

Win, Place, Show

As the name implies, with a win. place, or show bet you are betting that the horse you selected will either win, place, or show, respectfully. The difference between these three types of bets are simple:

• Win: You are betting that the horse you have picked will win the race outright. Because of the small margin of error, these bets are the hardest straight bets to win. However, with more risk comes better real money rewards.
• Place: You will win a “place” bet if the horse you bet on comes in either first or second place. Place bets are a middle ground between “win” and “show” style bets.
• Show: Show bets can be won if the horse you picked finishes the race in either first, second, or third place. These types of bets can be ideal for bettors new to betting on horses because they carry the least amount of risk.

Across the Board

If you are looking into placing “across the board” bets then it is important to understand that you will essentially be placing three bets, meaning that you will need to pay triple the normal wager. With these combination bets, players have the chance to win real money by betting three times on one horse.

• If the horse you bet on wins the race, you will get paid for all three bets (the win, place, and show.)
• If your chosen steed only comes in second, then you still will win money for your place and shows bets.

The downside of across-the-board bets is the amount of money you have riding on one horse. If the horse you bet on only comes in third place or worse, then you lose three times as much of your bankroll as you would normally by just placing one straight bet at a time.

Exotic Bets

If you are looking for more of a challenge then you may be interested in placing exotic bets. These bets involve betting on more than one horse in the same race. It is important to keep in mind that the more horses you bet on, the harder it becomes to win. However, if you get your exotic bet right then you can walk with a lot more real money than your standard straight bet. Some common exotic bets include:

Quinella Bets

The simplest type of exotic bet to win is the quinella. To place a quinella bet, you need to pick two horses you want to bet on. Once you make your quinella bet, in order to win you need the two horses you picked to finish in first and second place.

Exacta Bets

Exactas are a step up from quinellas in the sense that they are harder to win. As with quinellas, you are betting on two horses in the same race. However, if you are using your mobile horse racing sportsbook to place exacta bets then you need your chosen horses to finish in the exact order that you bet.

Trifecta Bets

As the name would suggest, the trifecta involves betting on three horses in the same race. As with exacta bets, a trifecta bet also requires the player to pick the exact order the top horses will finish in.

Make no mistake about it, picking the top three horses in a race and getting the order exactly right is no easy feat, and that is why the trifecta offers some of the biggest real money payouts you will find on your horse betting app. While the allure of a big real money win may be enticing to many betters, we recommend that novice bettors work their way up to these more difficult wagers.

Superfecta Bets

If you find yourself looking for even more of a challenge while betting on horses, you can try to hit the superfecta. Superfectas require that you pick the exact order the top four horses in the race will finish in. Superfectas are extremely difficult to hit on and should only be attempted by experienced horse racing bettors.

Daily Double Bets

Another type of exotic bet is the daily double. These bets, similar to quinellas and exactas, involve picking two horses. However, daily doubles spread the picks over two races. Essentially, you are trying to pick the winner of back-to-back races.

Pick 3s, Pick 4s, etc. Bets

Building off the daily double model, many sites will offer players the option of placing pick 3s and pick 4s style bets. These bets involve picking the winner of 3 or more races in succession. Depending on the horse race betting app that you are using, you may even be able to make one bet that covers all of the races at a particular track that day.

Prop Bets

Depending on the horse race betting app you are using, you may also be able to place prop bets. These bets can vary greatly from one mobile horse racing sportsbook to another and can range from concrete to abstract. Some examples of prop bets include:

• Time of the first half mile
• If the winner will lead wire-to-wire
• If the last place horse will have an even or odd saddlecloth number
• How many spectators the event will have
• Who the winning jockey will thank first

Horse Race Betting Sites FAQ