While PA legalized gambling recently, Pennsylvanians could already bet on horse racing. However, some folks don’t know how to begin. This guide will show you how to navigate the world of PA horse racing betting.
PA Online Horse Racing Betting Sites
Sports betting and online casinos are now legal in PA. That said, online horse racing betting has been around for some time. The following sites are US-based and hold a license to take real money bets on both horse racing and greyhound racing.
*Note: that Pennsylvania residents located within 35 miles of Harrah’s Chester Downs, Philadelphia Park, Penn National, Pocono Downs or Presque Isle are not allowed to open Xpressbet accounts.
Pennsylvania horse racing betting offers six live racing venues that accept wagers.
Best PA Online Racebook
Sign up with PABets and enjoy all the TVG features in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Live Racing Venues
| Venue | Address |
|---|---|
| Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs | 1280 Highway 315 Wilkes-Barre PA 18702 |
| Harrah’s Philadelphia | 777 Harrah’s Blvd. Chester, PA 19013 |
| Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course | 777 Hollywood Blvd. Grantville, PA 17028 |
| Parx Racing | 2999 Street Road Bensalem, PA 19020 |
| Presque Isle Downs | 8199 Perry Highway Erie, PA 16509 |
| Meadows Racetrack Casino | 210 Racetrack Rd. Washington, PA 15301 |
PA Horse Racing Betting Apps
For on-the-go bettors, PA horse racing betting apps are essential. Many of the websites that are already open to PA horse racing betting also have apps. This way, keep track of your bets no matter where you are.
BetAmerica
The BetAmerica app is available for iOS and Android users. Moreover, the BetAmerica app is easier to use than some competitor apps. Also, it offers the same features as the desktop version of the website. Plus, place wagers on both horse racing and greyhound racing. Likewise, BetAmerica accepts wagers such as trifecta, superfectas, show, win, place, exacta, and all multi-race exotics.
There is a live video streaming option with most operators so you can watch your horse or greyhound race of choice. This includes United States races but also races from New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and more. There is a ton of information not only about the races but also about the history of horse races, including trivia where you can test your horse racing knowledge. You must be 21 or over to use this app. You must also be within the confines of a state which allows legal gambling.
PABets (TVG)
This app has the benefit of being extra safe and secure for your PA horse racing betting needs. You will be able to view track odds as you would for an in-person bet. Also, your wagers get combined with bets that are placed live at the track. Unfortunately, the TVG app is only available for iOS at this time.
To combat this problem, TVG offers a mobile-friendly site for Android users. Likewise, TVG is currently working on an Android app.
In the app, set alerts so that you never miss a race. Also, check the Results tab to see if you’ve won and how much. Likewise, access a full list of races and horses. Sort info by track, favorites, time, and featured races. Of course, you can always check your bets through the My Bets tab in the app.
Plus, watch live video of your chosen races! There are over 120 track feeds to choose from. There is the option of watching in full screen so you can put on a mini horse racing show for yourself during your commute. They also offer a $300 bonus-back bet when you sign up. Again, you must be 21 or over to use this app. You must also be within the confines of a state which allows legal gambling, so you should be fine if you are in PA for your PA horse racing betting needs.
TwinSpires
TwinSpires seeks to be the app for those players who want in on the horse racing action around the clock. This operator offers races from around the world. It has apps for both iOS and Android. The menu is easy to navigate through between different racecards and the markets they are in. You can make multi-leg wagers in one place, you will not need to move between different screens or menus. The TwinSpires TV option will allow you to look through their large race replay library if you need to bone up on your PA horse racing betting winners. It can be searched by date, racetrack, or horse.
The TwinSpires app gives you handicapping info, analysis, as well as expert picks, all free! You also have the option to set them up as notifications, so you will never miss out on any PA horse racing betting action.
Xpressbet
Remember, it is very important to note that Pennsylvania residents located within 35 miles of Harrah’s Chester Downs, Philadelphia Park, Penn National, Pocono Downs or Presque Isle are prohibited from opening Xpressbet accounts. Xpressbet has over 300 races to choose from. Unfortunately, the Xpressbet mobile app is only an option for iOS users at this time. But, there is a mobile site for Android users and an app is on the way.
The wager pad is very versatile and allows you to make bets on a large variety of races and wager types. The app offers simple one-click access to things like your account balance, tracklist, banking, race replays, and more. The live video module is integrated, which allows you to watch and stay abreast of the races and events you have placed your bets on.
There is a large mix of betting options which will allow you to customize your bets and diversify them however you wish (within reason). The 300 race tracks offered are located all over the world, so at any time, you can find a race to fulfill your PA horse racing betting needs. The app offers three different welcome bonuses when you download and sign up: either up to $20, $100, or $500 in maximum bonus credit.
As with the other apps, you must be 21 or over to use this app. And again, you must also be within the confines of a state which allows legal gambling, but remember, Pennsylvania residents located within 35 miles of Harrah’s Chester Downs, Philadelphia Park, Penn National, Pocono Downs or Presque Isle are prohibited from opening Xpressbet accounts.
PA Online Horse Betting
With PA online horse racing betting becoming a new industry in Pennsylvania, you may not know how to do it. First, you must make sure you are 21 years old or over to participate in any PA horse racing betting or PA online horse racing betting. Next, you must make sure you are located within the borders of the state of Pennsylvania when trying to do any PA online horse racing betting.
Also, keep in mind sites like Xpressbet have restrictions on who may participate in any online horse racing betting. As mentioned previously, Pennsylvania residents located within 35 miles of Harrah’s Chester Downs, Philadelphia Park, Penn National, Pocono Downs or Presque Isle are prohibited from opening Xpressbet accounts. Make sure to check on these kinds of restrictions before signing up for any PA online horse racing betting accounts.
How to Bet on Horses Online in PA
- Choose one of the above sites.
- Check any restrictions from participating.
- Look for the best promotions for new customers. Most sites offer incentives for you to sign up. Offers like 100% deposit bonuses where your first deposit will be matched up to a certain amount are quite common.
- Make an account.
- Find a website’s list of approved ways to deposit money. This will typically include sites like PayPal, credit cards, debit cards, ACH transfers/eChecks/VIP Preferred, and potentially other methods specific to the website.
- Deposit the amount of money of your choice. That is the money you will be able to use to place your bets.
- Choose the horse race that interests you. It must not have taken place already.
- Then, pick the type of bet you want to place. For beginners in PA horse racing betting, a basic bet might be your best choice. A basic bet is when you choose only one horse to win the race and if your selection wins the race, then you win. You will have options such as Win Bet, Place Bet, Show Bet, Exacta Bet, Quinella Bet, Trifecta Bet, Superfecta Bet, Super Hi-5 or Pentafecta Bet, Daily Double Bet, Pick 3 Bet, Pick 4 Bet, Pick 5 bet, Pick 6 Bet, Grand Slam Wager, and more.
- Check the results of the race to see how you fared in your venture into PA online horse racing betting.
- Collect your winnings. Each website has its own withdrawal methods listed. Typically whatever method you used to deposit will be the one you will need to use to withdraw your winnings. Again, this includes sites like PayPal, credit cards, debit cards, ACH transfers/eChecks/VIP Preferred, and potentially other methods specific to the website.
PA Horse Racing Odds
For all of you novices in the PA horse racing betting world, you may not even know how to understand the horse racing odds. In order to be the best at PA horse racing betting, you need to bone up on the basics before you do anything else.
Understanding horse racing odds is not as daunting as it looks. Odds means the return you can expect to get if the horse you bet on is successful in the race you bet on. It is a reflection of the amount of money bet on a horse. The more money that is bet on the horse, the shorter the odds.
When you see horse racing odds shown in the form of say 6-2, 4-1, or something of that nature, it is telling you the amount of profit to the amount invested. Odds of 6-2 means that for every $2 invested, the punter will get $6 profit in return. This means that when you bet $2, the total return you will get if the bet is indeed successful is $8. If a horse is at even money, meaning odds like 1-1, you will get $2 profit for every $2 invested, or a total return of $4. Conversely, if a horse is at 1-2, that means it is at $1 profit for every $2 invested, for a total return of $3.
Now, complex bets make it all more complicated. However, the easier bets are just basic math. Make sure you do your homework when joining the world of PA horse racing betting in order to maximize your returns.
