There is a wide selection of betting apps, locations, and online horse racing betting sites in Pennsylvania; Through highly respected racebooks that offer coverage of the commonwealth, online gambling in PA is both legal and secure. Our article will provide beneficial information about the subject, so explore your options with us.
Since when is it legal to bet on horse racing in PA? | It first became legal in 1963. |
Since when is online horse racing legal to bet on in PA? | Online betting became legal in this state in 2018 |
What is the minimum age to bet? | 18 years (21 is required for online bookies or racinos) |
How many local race tracks exist in the state? | 5 in total (3 thoroughbreds) |
Most popular main event | Pennsylvania Derby |
Do you need residency to play in the state? | No |
Do you have to be present in the state to wager? | Yes |
The online betting market is packed with bookies where you can bet on this sport. Since the selection is vast, you should carefully pick the site before you register. If you don’t know what to look for, check our top three picks and why we choose them.
The TVG racebook is one of the best-rated horse racing sites in the US. It is available not only in Pennsylvania but in 30 other states. The site is easy to navigate and offers three main menus, including Racing, where you can find results, schedule, and track information list.
Then, Handicapping, where you can enter menus like TVG picks, replays, a guide, and others, and Promotions.
The best thing about TVG is the live-stream feature (Click the Watch FDTV menu in the upper part of the lobby to access it).
The site offers Today’s Popular Races, where you can take your pick. There is a rich informational segment for every ongoing event too. The site’s odds are favorable and offer a good range.
Key points:
Main Bonus | Up to $200 cashback |
Apps | Android and iOS |
Best event | The Kentucky Derby |
Main highlight | Great live-streaming feature |
Although BetAmerica offers sports and online casino segments, it takes pride in the separate menu for this sport. The site is available in Pennsylvania and 40 other states. You can access Results & Replays, Calendar, Tips, Handicapping Store, and Carryovers, among other features. The highlight of the site is the navigational features and easy-to-display specific information.
The existing filters can help you find the best bet for you, such as tournament types, including Greyhound, Harness, and Thoroughbred. The operator ensured the sportsbook was convenient enough even for newly registered bettors.
Key Points:
Main Bonus | After Registration |
Apps | Android and iOS |
Best event | Tri-State Eve |
Main highlight | Easy navigation and rich banking section |
TwinSpires puts the focus on equine racing exclusively and is available to PA bettors. The site is pretty straightforward and offers five main menus in the lobby including Bet Now, Offers, New & Picks, Handicapping, and Support; Unlike the other two, TwinSpires takes the spotlight in terms of unique features as it offers a VIP program. Here you get to climb up 4 tiers and thus earn various multipliers for your bets and other lucrative prizes.
Key Points:
|
Main Bonus |
$200 sign-up offer |
|
Apps |
Android and iOS |
|
Best event |
Breeders’ Cup |
|
Main highlight |
Lucrative VIP Program |
Search through at least several genuine betting sites in Pennsylvania before you pick your favorite. No matter your play preferences, make sure it has a State Horse Racing Commission license.
Horse race betting on pari-mutuel and Live off-track is legal in the state, and it is governed by the Pennsylvania State Horse and State Harness Racing Commissions. Ever since May 2018, offline and online sports betting in PA is legal within the state’s borders if you’re of legal age. This is true under the bill that was later signed into law as 2017 Act 42.
Features | Online betting | Land-based betting |
Convenience | ✅ | ❌ |
Bonus deals | ✅ | ❌ |
Odds coverage | ✅ | ❌ |
Safety & Security | ✅ | ✅ |
Socialization | ❌ | ✅ |
On-the-spot payouts | ❌ | ✅ |
Each PA bookie has rules and T&C that you should respect. If you fail to do so, you may get banned from using the services of the site.
Before you create an account, it’s wise to check what you can expect from the operator. One of the most important aspects is the types of bets you’ll find in the racinos or bookies. Below are the main types explained.
Type of Bet | Explanation |
Straight Bet – Win | Win is the most straightforward type of bet as you bet on which thoroughbred will win the relay. |
Straight Bet – Place | Place bets allow you to pick a mount that will either finish in first or second place, which increases your chances of winning. |
Straight Bet – Show | Show bets are similar as bettors have even more chances of winning as the thoroughbred they pick can finish in first, second, and even third place. |
Exotic Bets – Single-race Exotics | To win a single-race bet, you should guess the order in which the thoroughbreds will finish the relay. You don’t have to bet on the entire order but as many potential winners as you like. The more you pick, the lesser your chances of winning the bet are, but the payout can be very lucrative. |
Exotic Bets – Multi-race Exotics | Multi-race bets require players to pick the winning thoroughbreds of several events. The number of races you want to bet on is up to you. But the more relays you pick, the more difficult it will be for you to win the wager. Naturally, the prize will drastically increase too. |
Exacta | Exacta bets require bettors to pick the two potential winners that will finish in first and second place. You have to guess the correct order, so you win your bet. However, there is a feature within this bet called ‘box’ which allows you to win even though you don’t guess the order of the two winners. |
Quinella | Some call this type of bet “a simpler exacta,” and for a good reason. Bettors are required to guess the two potential winners that finish first and second, but the order doesn’t matter whatsoever. Remember, Quinella is not allowed on all tracks, so pay attention before placing a bet. |
Trifecta | Trifecta is a bit more difficult to win as you have to pick the top three finishing equines in the relay, and you have to guess the order they finish in. If you don’t feel comfortable guessing the order, yet you want to bet on Trifecta, you can ‘box’ your wager. This will allow you to put the order aside and bet on the three finishers that will come in first, second, and third place in any order. |
Superfecta | Superfecta is for those who want a challenge, as this type of bet goes up a notch. Mainly, you have to guess the order of the equines that will finish in first, second, third, and fourth place. Although it is difficult to win this bet, it pays off really well. |
Super Hi-Five | This is the master type of bet of such events as you have to guess the top five finishers in order. If you think this is nearly impossible to guess, then keep in mind that the wagering pool grows with each race if no one wins the Super Hi-Five. |
Multi-race Double/Picks 3/4/5/6 | In Doubles, players are required to guess the winners of two back-to-back relays. This type of bet continues to grow to Picks 3/4/5/6 depending on how many races bettors will indulge in. The more relays they bet on, the tougher it will become to win, but the prize will significantly grow as well. |
When you bet online, make sure not to spend more money than you can afford to lose. This should be one of your top priorities. Moreover, keep in mind that not all types of wagers are available throughout the markets.
In most cases, you’ll have two options – parimutuel and fixed odds.
Fixed odds, for example, stay the same from the moment you place your wager until the end of the event. The bookmaker will payout the full amount if you win, regardless of the circumstances.
Parimutuel odds, on the other hand, can drastically vary. This is because they represent a betting system rather than a simple bet. In fact, all wagers contribute to a winning pool, and once the taxes are deducted, the rest is shared between the winners. In other words, you won’t be able to calculate how much you’ll win by only knowing your stake.
Odds let players know the cash return if they win the wager. If you see odds in the form of 8-3, 5-2, it means you are looking at the amount of profit to the cash you invested. The 8-3 odds mean that for every $3 you wager, you will get $8 in return for pure profit. The total return amount for this example is $11.
Considering Pennsylvania allows online gambling and betting, the state levies tax on any kind of gambling income. This is in addition to the already existing federal tax that applies throughout the USA.
Tax | Rate | Note |
Pennsylvania Tax | 3.07% | Applies for winnings of $600 or more |
Federal tax | 14% | Applies for winnings of $600 or more |
Pennsylvania offers several places where bettors can go and have a good time. Some of those racetracks are relatively new compared to the ones existing since more than half a century ago. Some of the best places to visit and bet on a real such event in Pennsylvania are:
There are other racetracks you can visit if you live in Pennsylvania. Some of those include Parx Racing at Parx Casino (since 1974), Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course (since 1972), and Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack (since 2007).
No matter which of these tracks you visit, the betting procedure is the same. In case you are not familiar with it, read the following step-to-step guide that is adjusted to newbies:
Even though you’ll find a variety of events, these are the four most popular among bettors:
Some of the most interesting upcoming Pennsylvania events include:
Upcoming Race Events | Dates |
Page McKenney Handicap race on the Parx Racing track | April 25th, 2023 |
Unique Bella Stakes race on the Parx Racing track | April 25th, 2023 |
Kentucky Oaks race on the Churchill Downs track | May 6th, 2023 |
The Kentucky Derby on Churchill Downs track | May 7th, 2023 |
The Preakness Stakes on the Pimlico track | May 21st, 2023 |
The Crowd Pleaser Stakes on the Parx Racing track | May 27th, 2023 |
Power By Far Stakes on Parx Racing track | May 27th, 2023 |
Betsy Ross Invitational Mares Pace on Harrah’s Philadelphia track | May 29th, 2023 |
Even though most bookies offer welcome bonuses, you shouldn’t expect special treatment as a PA player. In fact, the most popular bookies offer the same promotions across the US. For instance, signing up with TVG will result in the same promo offer, regardless if you’re in PA or NJ.
According to Pennsylvania law, regulated gambling apps must provide simple means for clients to self-exclude and set responsible gaming restrictions. Furthermore, the law compels licensed operators to give their personnel responsible gambling education.
The first thing you should do is check whether the operator owns a license from the State Horse Racing Commission. You can also look into whether the bookie has been audited by third parties and check for an active SSL certificate.
Instead of playing carelessly, you should always set responsible limits. You can do this by either contacting the support agents and asking them to set your daily depositing and wagering limits or checking the policy and doing it on your own.
Horse racing is gaining more and more popularity in Pennsylvania and throughout the states. Genuine lovers of this sport visit numerous events but others love a good online betting session too.
Experienced and professional bettors know the basics and some tricks when it comes to placing a wager. Those who are new to online horse betting in PA should learn the core basics or it and the general rules before stat placing bets.
Yes, both online and real-life betting has been legal in the state of Pennsylvania. After the passage of that act in 1963, the first track to officially open was Meadows Racetrack.
Check the background of the operators. If the betting sites in Pennsylvania you look into are managed and operated by a legitimate parent company that works under a license issued by the state’s Commission, then feel free to register and place your bets.
The most complex bet type is the Super Hi-Five. Players have to guess the outcome of the race for the first five equine’s places in consecutive order. Although complex, this bet type has an excellent payout.
The Straight Bets (Win, Place, Show) are three of the most simple betting types, with Win being the easiest of them all. Players who place a Win Bet should guess which will be the winning horse in the event.
Yes, some bet types allow you to place a wager on several competitions at once. The bet in question is Multi-race Double/Picks 3/4/5/6. Those who place such wagers should guess the winning equines of two and/or up to 6 relays.
Questions? Email us:
[email protected]
Copyright © Profit Squad 2022.
All Rights Reserved. | Void where prohibited.
Applicable to users over the age of 21.
If you are concerned about gambling visit:
ProfitSquad is owned and operated by Parallel Value Ltd, Reg: C101034, Malta
