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.