football page background

Best PA Horse Betting Sites and Apps

Pennsylvania is the place to be if you’re a fan of horse racing, with plenty of racebooks and events to bet on

Watching and wagering on horse racing is extremely popular across the US, especially in Pennsylvania.

PA Horse Racing betting is legal across the state and is available in person at several racetracks in the state, as well as online and mobile wagering. Online horse race betting has really taken off both in the state and the country as a whole.

For anyone who is new to betting on horse racing in PA, it can be complicated to place a bet or know where to look for Pennsylvania horse racing news. This article provides some information on Pennsylvania horse racing, including how to bet online, how to read the horse racing odds, the reviews of the best horse betting sites in PA and PA horse betting promotions, as well as an overview of the major raceways in PA.

Gamble USA strives to improve your online gambling experience. We aim to help you play safely, make informed decisions when gambling, and increase your betting knowledge through our guides.

We adhere to strict editorial integrity; our content may contain links to products from our licensed & legal US partners.

Best Pennsylvania Online Horse Betting Sites – September 2023

If you want to legally bet on the horses in PA, there are several online and mobile operators you can wager with. The best PA horse betting sites are

  1. TVG Racebook/PA Bets🥇
  2. TwinSpires🥈
  3. BetAmerica🥉
  4. FanDuel Racing
  5. AmWager

The gambling industry in Pennsylvania is booming, thanks to the legalization of PA online sports betting and PA online casinos. PA residents and visitors to the state have numerous options to watch and bet on live events, including horse racing. There are six horse racing facilities in the Keystone State, which are a mix of three horse tracks that host thoroughbred racing and three tracks that focus on harness racing.

In recent years, horse racing in Pennsylvania has grown in popularity thanks to the Pennsylvania Derby and Cotillion Stakes, both held at Parx Racing and Casino. These events are held in mid-September and have become essential preparation races for the horses as they gear up for the Breeder’s Cup in November. The Pennsylvania horse racing commission was created to grow the industry, and it has been successful so far, with the racing industry continuing to grow in the state.

Off-track betting facilities (OTB) and online horse betting apps are also available to bettors in PA. Dedicated horse betting sites such as PABets (TVG) offer customers the opportunity to watch and bet on the horse races from the comfort of their own homes. Online racetrack betting is also possible thanks to the several racebooks that are now available in PA.

TVG/PABets

TVG is one of the most well-known online horse betting brands in the United States. The FanDuel Group owns TVG, which has had massive success in the sports betting market. TVG launched in 1999, and after initially focusing on racing in America, it has expanded to other countries. It provides detailed coverage of harness racing thanks to its partnership with the American Quarter Horse Association.

Players who sign up with TVG can also download the TVG app, which provides HD quality streaming and video replays and allows you to wager on the go. TVG operates under the PABets brand in Pennsylvania and 4NJBets in New Jersey. Horse betting online is growing in popularity, thanks mainly to reputable providers like TVG offering up a world-class racebook.

TVG online betting platform is one of the easiest and most accessible racebooks in the US. Available in loads of states, they are well known for offering up some of the best odds and coverage of meets across the US.

TwinSpires

TwinSpires is owned by Churchill Downs, a big name in horse racing. When the Kentucky Derby rolls around, bettors can access nearly every thoroughbred, standardbred, and quarter horse globally. The TwinSpires platform features fantastic HD streaming options and multi-screen technology, allowing users to view five races at the same.

Additionally, TwinSpires has a rewards club where customers receive points for their bets. One of the TwinSpires site’s best features is that bettors can access free past performance data, which can help them make a more informed choice when betting on a race. It is one of the most popular horse racing sites in PA.

BetAmerica

Like TwinSpires, BetAmerica is operated by Churchill Downs. Users can download the BetAmerica app for iOS and Android devices, with the primary desktop site offering betting on horse racing, greyhound racing, and fantasy sports. There are over 400 race tracks available on BetAmerica from around the world, including comprehensive information on the Kentucky Derby. You will also find betting tips on this site.

Where Can I Bet on Horse Races in PA?

If you are a PA bettor and wonder if there is horse racing near me, below is a list of the six-race tracks in Pennsylvania where people can bet on Penn races. The race tracks are:

Harness Races:

  • Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino & Racetrack
  • The Meadows Racetrack and Casino
  • The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono

Meadows Racetrack and Casino

Thoroughbred races:

  • Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course
  • Park Casino and Racing
  • Presque Isle Downs & Casino

There are also four off-track betting facilities at the above locations. The Parx casino and racing facility is possibly the most famous of the Philadelphia race tracks, home to live thoroughbred racing action. Parx racing live events are among the hottest tickets in town. Philadelphia horse racing attracts some of the biggest crowds in the state.

Want to wager online? Why not check out this guide to virtual horse racing which is available with several online casinos.

OTB Facilities in Pennsylvania

There are three off-track betting (OTB) facilities operating at Parx Casino and Racing, as two parlors are currently closed. These locations are referred to as turf clubs and include:

  • South Philadelphia Race & Sportsbook: This is located right next to Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. It is in a prime spot next to the city’s major sports arenas.
  • The Oaks Race & Sportsbook: This is on Philadelphia’s borders and acts as a sportsbook and OTB facility.
  • Penn National Race Course has two OTB’s in the state: Penn National York and Penn National Off-Track-Wagering.

Penn National Race Course

  • The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono operates three OTB’s including The Downs at Lehigh Valley, The Downs at East Stroudsburg, and The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
  • The Meadows Racetrack & Casino used to have three OTB facilities but now only operates one, which is The Meadows Harmar.

How To Bet on Horses

People may be hesitant to start wagering on horse races as it can seem complicated if you don’t follow the sport regularly. However, the process is straightforward and can be done via a standalone machine, a live teller, online, or over the phone. Additionally, there are resources such as the Pennsylvania horse racing association, where players can discover the latest Pennsylvania horse racing news and stats.

There are some clear instructions you can follow regarding betting on horses:

  1. Choose your track.
  2. Choose your race.
  3. Put aside the amount of money you want to wager.
  4. Select the type of wager you want to place.
  5. Choose the horse or horses you want to back by their program number.

For example, if betting at Penn National Race Course, you could select Penn National, Race 3, $20 to win on number 4.

If the bets win, you can collect your money from standalone machines, a teller, or directly from online platforms. Cash or a bank account is not required. Bettors can instead use vouchers, which are easy to use and can be cashed in at any time.

Is Horse Race Betting Legal in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania permits both on-track and online horse race betting in the state. Horse race betting is regulated by the Pennsylvania State Horse and State Harness Racing Commissions , both of which are part of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

Types of Horse Racing Bets

Before you download a betting app and create an online sportsbook account to wager on horses, it is worthwhile knowing the different type of bets you can place. The PA sports betting scene is thriving, with betting sites such as Caesars sportsbook, FanDuel sportsbook, DraftKings sportsbook, Fox Bet and Barstool sportsbook all offering numerous Pennsylvania sports betting options. However, as you can see from our list above, you can find a dedicated horse racing betting site in PA.

With that said, let’s see the types of bets you can place on a horse race on a sports betting site:

Win: If you are new to horse betting or the PA sports betting scene in general, this may be the wager for you. This type of bet means your horse must come in first place. All Pennsylvania sports betting sites will offer this option.

Place: Your horse must finish in the top two.

Show: Your horse must finish in the top three.

Exacta: You bet on two horses that will take the top two places, while also predicting the exact order they’ll come in.

Trifecta: You bet on three horses and the must finish in the top three in the exact order you predicted.

Quinella: A bet where you predict which two horses will come in first, without the need to guess their exact finishing order.

Whether you are betting on the Breeders Cup, the Preakness Stake, Belmont Stakes or the Triple Crown, you will find these wagers on all PA sportsbook sites.

Biggest Horse Races in Pennsylvania

  • Pennsylvania Derby
  • Cotillion Stakes
  • Penn Mile
  • Presque Isle Downs Mile

The Keystone State is home to some significant racing events such as the Pennsylvania Derby. This is a $1million meeting and runs 3-year-old colts and geldings on their way to claim year-end division honors. The race began life in 1979 and was granted graded-stakes status in 1981. It is held at the Parx Casino and Racing facility, which used to be known as Philadelphia Park.

The female counterpart of the Pennsylvania Derby, the Cotillion Stake, has also become a key race. It is also a Grade 1, $1million event.