In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Illinois online horse betting, the best websites for horse wagering in the state, and how to get your horse race betting experience underway.
Betting on horse races is one of the oldest forms of sports betting in the world, dating back to the early 1600s in Great Britain. In the 19th century, horse racing started to gain momentum in the United States, with over 300 horse racing tracks being operational by that time.
Illinois quickly became one of the biggest markets for horse race betting. With the rise of online horse race betting over the past 20 years, Illinois remains a hot spot for horse racing enthusiasts across the country.
Each legal Illinois online horse betting site offers a slightly different experience. Some sites offer very lucrative bonuses for their users to get in on, while others are better for live betting.
Knowing the ins and outs of every major horse betting site in the state is imperative when choosing which site you’d like to wager through. Here’s a look at the most popular horse betting sites in Illinois:
If you’re looking for a great welcome bonus and worthwhile rewards program, TwinSpires Racebook Illinois is the way to go.
They’re owned by Churchill Downs Inc., who’s the parent company to the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs racetrack, making TwinSpires one of the most reliable racebooks available to IL players.
Powered by FanDuel, TVG is a great place to start if you're a newbie in the horse betting field. They offer boosted odds and promotions, along with daily giveaways.
Aside from betting on all of the horse races taking place in IL, TVG also allows bettors to wager on over 150 tracks across the country. Not to mention the live streaming capabilities on the operator’s mobile app.
Live streaming in HD, efficient live chat customer support, and an easy-to-use app interface are just a few of the things offered by NYRA Bets.
They also provide users with rewards for every $1 wagered, which is great for avid horse race bettors.
From their solid promo offers to their XB Rewards program, there’s a lot to like with Xpressbet’s product.
Their app employs the latest horse race betting technology and the interface is simple to navigate through.
Caesars Racebook, a collaborative venture between Caesars Entertainment and the New York Horse Racing Association, has recently launched in Illinois, marking it as their 21st state.
This platform stands out in the Illinois horse race betting scene with its unique integration into the Caesars Rewards program. For every $3 bet, users earn rewards credits, redeemable at Caesars' physical casinos in Illinois and for various online betting options.
What's even better than a day at the races? Scoring exclusive promos and bonuses while you wager! We've curated a list of the latest Illinois online horse race betting promos.
| 🐎 TwinSpires | 🎁 $200 in bonus bets |
| 🐎 TVG | 🎁 $200 in second chance bets |
| 🐎 Nyra Bets | 🎁 $200 deposit match bonus |
| 🐎 Xpressbet | 🎁 $500 deposit match bonus |
| 🐎 Caesars Racebook | 🎁 $200 deposit match bonus |
Yes, betting on horse races is legal in Illinois.
The state also allows online horse race betting, along with the ability to wager at off-track betting (OTB) locations.
Before you run in guns blazing on a horse betting website, it’s important to be aware of the relevant rules tied to horse race betting. Here are the most common regulations horse betting sites employ.
Even if you’re a seasoned veteran in Illinois sports betting, betting on horse races can still be a steep learning curve.
First things first, you’re going to want to be aware of all the possible bets you can place during a horse race. We have the ones you’d probably expect, like betting on a winner straight up, but there are several other bet types to keep in mind.
Here’s a quick rundown of each:
In horse race betting, odds are expressed either as fractions or as decimals. For example, a horse might be listed at odds of 5/1 or 6.00, depending on the bookmaker. Both formats convey the same information: the amount of money you could win if your bet is successful relative to your initial stake.
So, how do you calculate your potential winnings based on the odds?
Let's use the example of a horse with odds of 5/1. This means that for every $1 you bet, you stand to win $5 if the horse wins. So, if you bet $10 on the horse and it wins, you'll receive $60 in total ($50 in winnings plus your original $10 stake).
Now that you understand how the odds work let's talk about implied probability. This refers to the likelihood of a horse winning a race, as represented by the odds.
You need to convert the odds into a percentage to calculate the implied probability of a horse winning.
Let's take the example of a horse with odds of 5/1, which we know can be expressed as a decimal of 6.00. Using the formula, we can calculate the implied probability as follows:
1 / (6.00 + 1) = 0.1667 or 16.67%
According to the odds, the horse has a 16.67% chance of winning the race. Of course, this is just a prediction based on the data available at the time, and many factors can influence the outcome of a horse race.
It's worth noting that bookmakers set their odds based on many factors, including the horse's past performance, the jockey, the track conditions, and the level of competition in the race.
As a result, the odds can change in the lead-up to the race as more information becomes available.
If you’re itching to start placing horse bets and you would like to do so from the comfort of your own home, you’ll need to sign-up for a racebook and get some money into your account first.
The most popular racebooks are the ones we touched on above (TVG, TwinSpires, NYRA Bets, and Xpressbet). Luckily, the registration and depositing process for all of them is pretty straightforward.
There are two major horse racing tracks in Illinois: Hawthorne Race Track and FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing Collinsville, formerly known as Fairmount Park Racetrack.
Both venues offer in-person betting for various races, and they’re both associated with various OTB locations scattered across the state.
Hawthorne Race Track is located at 3501 S. Laramie Ave. in Cicero, IL.
The FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing track (Fairmount Park), which has been around since 1925, can be found at 9301 Collinsville Rd. in Collinsville, IL.
There are 16 off-track betting locations in Illinois. FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing (Fairmount Park) have 3 OTBs, while Hawthorne Race Course has 13. Here’s a quick look at each and where you can find them:
Names like Twinspires, Xpressbet, BetAmerica, and TVG all offer bonuses in Illinois in the form of risk-free bets, free bets, and cashback bonuses. They also have VIP programs, reward programs, gifts, and other promotions.
Yes, there are plenty of horse betting apps for Illinois residents to use. TVG, NYRA Bets, and TwinSpires are among the most popular.
The Illinois Racing Board (IRB) is a legal body that regulates the Illinois horse racing industry. The IRB implements the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975. Furthermore, the board uses the act for supervision and enforcement. Additionally, it oversees horse racing bets or other transactions made for monetary gain.
The Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (ITHA) represents the owners and trainers of thoroughbred horses that race at Chicagoland tracks. The mission of ITHA is to improve the working conditions of many occupations in the industry. The association also looks out for the health and safety of the horsemen and employees that it represents.
You must be at least 18 years old to place horse racing bets in Illinois.
