What is the legal situation around horse race betting?
Although legal sports betting is a relatively new addition to American social life — which was made possible following a landmark 2018 ruling by the US Supreme Court, horse race betting has long had a special status in many states across America.
While federal prohibitions on sports betting had for years restricted the ability of Americans to bet on sporting events of their choice, horse race betting was popularly enjoyed across the US.
Horse race betting had been enjoyed for many decades and centuries across the US in a more informal manner. However, around the turn of the 20th century, many states started to create laws to regulate this popular pastime.
For example, in 1906, the state of Kentucky formally legalized the pari-mutuel horse race betting system, which was followed shortly after by New York state and Maryland. In the decades after, many more US states followed suit. The result of this was that America developed a patchwork of laws regulating horse race betting.
This also allowed the horse racing industry to experience significant growth. According to a 2021 article, the horse racing industry was worth a staggering $15bn dollars, while also directly supporting thousands of jobs.
This has also given rise to a growing industry of online betting platforms. Here, horse racing fans can create an account, log in and place wagers on their horse race of choice. Platforms such as TVG and Twinspires betting have proved particularly popular, although there are many more out there!
In 1978, Congress passed the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 to make interstate wagering on horse racing legal provided the bet is legal both in the state where it is placed and received. This federal law required an update with the rise of electronic and online betting, which was done via an amendment to the 1978 Act in 2000.
However, the rise of online betting created numerous issues and grey areas for this now decades-old legislative framework. Fortunately, when Congress tried to address these issues with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, they created specific carveouts for horse racing which meant that it was lawful in states provided a proper legal framework existed.
Today, betting on horse races is legal in the vast majority of states, although it should be noted that each state has its own specific regulations in place. For example, while online betting might be subject to certain restrictions in some states, in others it is accessible with few restrictions. States such as New Jersey, New York, Las Vegas and California are particularly pro-gambling friendly.
With the rise of online betting now very much underway, who are some of the major players in the burgeoning online horse racing betting scene?
TVG bets, tracks, features
One of the major players that has been making waves in the online betting industry in America is the TVG Network, which is an online horse and greyhound racing betting business and media company.
TVG was founded back in 1999 as a cable TV network dedicated to horse racing. It also had a facility where viewers could call in and place their wagers live over the phone, before watching the races play out in real-time on the TV.
With the rise of the internet and online betting, TVG gradually expanded their online operations. Thanks to a series of investments and strategic partnerships, they were able to considerably expand their services and product offerings.
Today, the TVG website or app can be used to bet on over 150 different tracks across the US, as well as a selection of international tracks. It supports the live streaming of races, live chat support and has recently added both casino games and other forms of sports betting.
TVG bonuses
To entice you into signing up for an account, TVG has put together a bonus package to give your new account a head-start. This includes the option to get your first single horse wager back, up to $200, subject to certain terms and conditions.
This is in addition to a welcome deposit match bonus worth up to $250 on your first deposit. To get this amount, you would need to deposit a total amount of $500. This is in addition to various other bonus and promotional offers they have available.
FAQs
Is horse racing betting legal in the US?
Yes, horse racing betting is fully legal in the US although this varies between states. While some states have few restrictions in place, others have banned it entirely.
How many horse racetracks are there in the US?
There are an estimated 300 horse racetracks in the US, which are spread across the country!
Is horse racing betting popular?
Horse racing is an incredibly popular pastime in the US with a history stretching back to the very foundation of the country. Millions of Americans attend live horse races each year, with many more betting on them across the country.
