Online horse betting is legal in the United States at the federal level. Individual states have the power to determine if online race betting is legal, but most states have opted to allow real money wagers in the US.
So the short answer is that online horse betting is probably legal where you live in the US. However, you should check your local laws to make sure. Also, take a look at this page to see a list of states that allow online horse betting.
The legality of horse betting in the US is obviously good news for horse racing fans. Instead of having to bet at offshore, quasi-legal betting sites, you can place wagers at sites that are licensed and based in the US. You can deposit with ease, get paid quickly and not have to worry about the feds stepping in one day and shutting down your favorite betting site.
If you would like to give online horse betting a shot, I recommend BetAmerica or TwinSpires. Those are two of the biggest horse betting sites in the US. For readers outside the US, Bet365 is another great option.
Summary:
- Online horse betting is legal in most US states
- You can visit BetAmerica or TwinSpires to sign up and play
- You must be 21 years of age or older
Note: if you’re not sure if online horse betting is legal in your state, just visit BetAmerica or TwinSpires and try to sign up for an account. They won’t let you make a deposit if your state doesn’t allow them to take your business. If you’re able to sign up, deposit and wager, you are good to go.
What about Greyhound Racing?
Everything that I’ve said above also goes for greyhound racing. The same rules for horse betting also apply to greyhound betting. If it’s an animal and it runs in circles, you can probably bet on it in the US.
Both BetAmerica and TwinSpires offer legal greyhound betting in addition to horse betting. There aren’t as many dog racing tracks in the US as there are horse racing tracks, but they do exist. The main thing is to check with your state laws and make sure greyhound betting is allowed. You can also visit any of the racing betting sites mentioned above and they’ll let you know if you’re able to place wagers.