// Ranked
Best Horse Betting Apps and Sites in the USA
The best US horse betting apps compared: AmWager (Promo Code AMWAGER50), FanDuel Racing, TwinSpires, NYRA Bets and DRF Bets on streaming, rewards and handicapping tools.
The best horse betting app in the US is the one that streams the race you bet, carries the tracks you play and pays you back for volume. On those measures our pick is AmWager: free live streaming of every race it offers, pro-style wager modifiers and a points-based rewards program. New customers get a $50 first deposit match. Enter Promo Code AMWAGER50 when you sign up.
FanDuel Racing, TwinSpires, NYRA Bets and DRF Bets round out the field. Each is a licensed advance deposit wagering (ADW) operator, and each suits a different kind of bettor.
Top horse racing betting apps compared
| App | Best for | Live video | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| AmWager | Value and serious handicappers | Free streaming of all races and replays | ABC, Dutch, Rank and PowerBox wager modifiers |
| FanDuel Racing | FanDuel Sportsbook users | FanDuel TV, 300+ tracks | Bet racing inside the sportsbook app |
| TwinSpires | Data and tournaments | Yes | Free past performances, Parlay Central |
| NYRA Bets | New York racing fans | Yes | Free picks and PPs from the NYRA circuit |
| DRF Bets | Form readers | Varies | Daily Racing Form data and Clocker Reports |
AmWager: our top horse betting site

AmWager
Horse racing ADW$50 First Deposit Match
New customers 21+ in eligible states. 100% first deposit match up to $50. Bet $50 within 30 days of sign-up; show, cancelled and refunded bets don't count. Credit added within 7 business days; unused credit expires after 30 days. One per household. Winnings from credit can be withdrawn. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
AmWager pitches itself as a tool for people who bet a lot, and it delivers on that. The AmWager marks belong to Amwest Entertainment LLC. You must be 21 or older to open an account.
Streaming and speed
Account holders can watch every race AmWager offers live, plus replays, at no extra cost. AmWager also claims its pool and odds data updates up to 60 times faster than competitors. That is AmWager’s own figure. Still, fast pool data matters in pari-mutuel betting, where late money moves prices right up to post time.
Wager modifiers
This is where AmWager earns its place. ABC wagers, Dutching, Rank and PowerBox tools let you build exotic tickets with different weights on different horses. You can also add odds-range conditions, so a bet only goes in if a horse is within a price band. On a simpler app you would build those tickets one combination at a time.
Rewards and promotions
Every dollar wagered earns points, which you can swap for wagering credit, data products or merchandise. AmWager has also run zero-takeout promotions on selected races at tracks including Belmont Park and on Breeders’ Cup days, which return far more of each pool to bettors.
How to claim the AmWager offer
- Open AmWager on your phone or desktop and choose Join.
- Enter Promo Code AMWAGER50 in the promo field.
- Verify your identity and location.
- Make your first deposit to trigger the $50 first deposit match.
The full terms are on AmWager’s sign-up bonus page. Read our AmWager review for a deeper look at the app.
FanDuel Racing: best for sportsbook users
FanDuel has moved its racing product, long known as TVG, to the FanDuel Racing name. You can bet through a standalone app or straight from the FanDuel Sportsbook, which makes it the easiest route in if you already have a FanDuel account.
The big draw is video. FanDuel Racing carries FanDuel TV coverage from more than 300 tracks worldwide, with picks and previews from FanDuel TV’s analysts. It also promotes a deposit bonus for new customers. Check the app for the current amount and terms.
TwinSpires: best for data and tournaments
Churchill Downs’ TwinSpires is built for handicappers who want everything in one place. You get free past performances, expert picks, results and replays, scratches and changes, and a carryover pools page that flags where jackpot money is sitting.
Parlay Central lets you string race bets together, and the site runs handicapping tournaments and a VIP program. TwinSpires advertises a $200 sign-up bonus. The terms sit on its offers page.
One trade-off: the app is dense. New bettors may find FanDuel Racing simpler to start with.
NYRA Bets: best for New York racing
NYRA Bets comes from the New York Racing Association, the operator of Saratoga, Belmont Park and Aqueduct. It covers tracks around the world, but its strength is the New York circuit, with free picks and past performances tied to NYRA cards.
If your racing year revolves around the Saratoga summer meet, this is the natural home. Check the app for current promotions and the list of eligible states.
DRF Bets: best for form students
Daily Racing Form has been the reference book of American racing for over a century, and DRF’s betting product sits next to its data. Expect DRF Picks, Clocker Reports, Quicksheets and DRF Plus handicapping reports, plus a beginner format called DRF Newbie.
It is best for bettors who already pay for DRF past performances and want to bet in the same place they read the form.
How online horse betting works in the US
Horse racing is the one form of online betting that is legal across much of the US without a state sports betting law. That is thanks to pari-mutuel wagering and the federal Interstate Horseracing Act, which lets licensed ADWs accept bets across state lines when tracks and regulators consent.
Pari-mutuel means you bet against other bettors, not the house. Your money goes into a pool, the track takes its cut (the takeout), and the rest is split among winning tickets. That is why the odds on the board keep moving until the race starts.
Eligibility varies by operator and state. Each app checks your location at sign-up, and the eligible-state list can change, so confirm in the app before you deposit. If you also bet sports, our New York betting guide and other state hubs cover licensed sportsbooks.
Horse racing bet types explained
Straight bets
- Win: your horse finishes first.
- Place: first or second.
- Show: first, second or third.
Exotic bets
- Exacta: first and second in exact order.
- Trifecta: first, second and third in order.
- Superfecta: the first four in order.
- Daily Double and Pick 3 to Pick 6: winners of consecutive races.
Exotics are where the big payouts live and where modifiers like AmWager’s PowerBox save time. Our odds converter turns morning-line odds into implied probability so you can spot overlays.
Takeout, rebates and why rewards matter
Every pari-mutuel pool loses a slice to takeout before winners are paid. On straight bets it’s typically in the mid-teens as a percentage, and on exotics it’s higher. That cut is why serious horseplayers obsess over rewards and rebates. Getting even a small share of your handle back changes the long-run math.
Run the numbers. If you bet $500 a week, you put $26,000 through the pools in a year. A rewards program worth a fraction of a percent of that is real money, and it keeps paying long after a one-off welcome bonus has been spent. AmWager’s points program and its zero-takeout race promotions are aimed squarely at that kind of bettor.
Casual bettors who play the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup should care more about a simple app, good video and a clean welcome offer.
Big race days to plan around
The Triple Crown
The Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes draw the biggest pools of the year. Every app on this list carries them, and most run their best promotions around them.
Saratoga and the summer meets
The summer meet at Saratoga is the centerpiece of the New York calendar, which is where NYRA Bets earns its place. Other major meets have their own followings, and a good ADW should cover them all.
Breeders’ Cup
Two days of championship races each fall, with deep international fields and big exotic pools. AmWager has run zero-takeout promotions on Breeders’ Cup races in the past, which is worth checking before you place your tickets.
Using a horse betting app well
- Fund before the day. Deposits can take time to clear, and you don’t want to miss a late race waiting on a transfer.
- Watch scratches. Late scratches change pools and can turn an exotic ticket into a refund or a different bet. Each app explains how it handles them.
- Use the replays. Free replays are the cheapest handicapping tool you have. A horse that was blocked in its last start can be a value bet next time.
- Keep records. Your account history is your best guide to which bet types actually work for you, and you’ll need it at tax time.
What to compare before you sign up
- Track coverage. Content deals mean not every ADW carries every track. If you play a specific circuit, check it is on the menu.
- Video access. Some apps need a funded account or a recent bet before they stream.
- Rewards. Points programs and rebates matter more than a one-off welcome bonus if you bet every week.
- Handicapping tools. Free past performances can save you a DRF or Equibase subscription.
- Withdrawals. Look for fast ACH or debit card payouts and no fees on standard methods.
For model-driven help with the form, see our guide to horse racing AI tools. Betting from Britain? Our UK horse racing betting sites page covers bookmakers licensed there.
Our verdict
AmWager is the best all-round horse betting app for bettors who care about value and tools, and Promo Code AMWAGER50 gets you the $50 first deposit match. FanDuel Racing is the simplest option for sportsbook users, TwinSpires suits data lovers, NYRA Bets is the pick for Saratoga regulars and DRF Bets fits form readers.
21+. New customers only; eligible states vary by operator. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Horse racing slots: a different kind of racing bet
Racing-powered games such as Horseplay use horse race pools to settle slot-style games, so you never pick a horse. They are legal online in 19 states. Our horse racing slots guide explains how they work, and our Horseplay review covers its welcome offer.
FAQ
Is online horse betting legal in the US?
Online horse betting runs through licensed advance deposit wagering (ADW) operators, which are legal in most states, including some states without legal sports betting. Each operator publishes its own list of eligible states, so check the app before you sign up. You must be 21 or older.
What is the best horse betting app?
Our top pick is AmWager for its free live streaming, wager modifiers and rewards program, with a $50 first deposit match for new customers using Promo Code AMWAGER50. FanDuel Racing is the strongest choice if you already use FanDuel Sportsbook.
Can you watch horse races live on betting apps?
Yes. AmWager streams races and replays free to account holders, and FanDuel Racing carries FanDuel TV coverage from more than 300 tracks worldwide. Most ADWs require a funded account or a recent wager to watch.
What is an ADW?
An advance deposit wagering operator is a licensed online betting account for pari-mutuel horse racing. You deposit funds first, then bet into the same pools as bettors at the track.
What happened to TVG?
FanDuel owns TVG and has moved its horse racing betting product to the FanDuel Racing brand, which you can use as a standalone app or inside FanDuel Sportsbook.