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Is Kentucky Derby online betting legal? A state-by-state guide

Originally posted on Action Network | By Daniel Preciado | Last updated 5/4/24

Horse racing is one of the most historic forms of entertainment in the U.S. and one of the earliest forms of American betting. The 2024 Kentucky Derby is on the horizon.

We'll provide a state-by-state guide to online horse racing betting. Many states that do not have legal online sports betting have legal horse race betting as a formidable market.

Is horse racing betting legal in my state?

Below is a chart denoting all legal online horse racing betting states. Some states have different laws regarding horse racing, with some only allowing for in-person betting and others permitting it in all forms.

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 ✅

Where can I bet on horse racing?

We recommend placing bets on the Kentucky Derby or any other prominent horse racing event at FanDuel Racing or TwinSpires. These are two of the industry's leading horse racing betting apps today. You can sign up at either of these sites today and claim a welcome offer. Let's discuss how to register at one or both sites and get started with a bonus.

FanDuel Racing

FanDuel is one of the top horse racing betting apps; when you sign up, you can claim a $500 or $20 No Sweat First Bet, depending on your location. These offers allow you to place your first bet; if it loses, it will be "covered" by the app. This means you will receive bonus bets back equal to whatever you lose. If your first bet wins with either promo, you accept the profit.

$500 No Sweat First Bet: AR, CA, DE, ID, FL, MN, MT, NH, NM, ND, OR, RI, SD, WA
$20 No Sweat First Bet: AZ, CO, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV, WY

TwinSpires

TwinSpires is available in 34 states, covering most states with legal online horse racing betting. When you register today using the TwinSpires promo code ACTIONRACING, you can earn up to a $400 sign-up bonus. This offer carries a 4x rollover requirement. For every $400 in bets you place, you'll unlock $100 in bonus funds to use on any race.

$400 Sign-Up Bonus: 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, WY

What states don't have legal online horse racing betting?

As the chart above indicates, only nine states do not have legal betting online for horse racing: Alaska, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah.

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