When it comes to choosing which sportsbook or racebook to sign up with for betting on the Kentucky Derby, you only have a few top-notch, trustworthy options. Bovada and SportsBetting are the most popular Internet betting sites in America, and BetOnline, BetDSI, 5Dimes, and BookMaker are also among the best Kentucky Derby racebooks. There are certainly lots of other sites out there, but these are by far the most established, longest-tenured Internet betting shops in the world, and they have over a century of combined experience between them.
Signing up at all these books is always free, deposits are simple, payouts are prompt and guaranteed, and each service has Kentucky Derby odds that meet or exceed anything you’ll find at an off-track betting (OTB) site or simulcast facility. Basically, if you can’t make it to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May, putting money on the ponies through one of these services is the next best thing. As an added bonus, all of these sportsbooks and racebooks feature both mobile betting and live betting options on all your favorite gambling events.
The Bovada sportsbook is the most trusted offshore Internet betting shop in America. With roots that go back to Calvin Eyre, the grandsire of Internet sports betting himself, Bovada has the best pedigree and presentation of all the major sportsbooks. Additionally, Bovada’s award-winning desktop and mobile websites are the best in the business, and their racebook is the busiest, most robust on the Internet. To that end, Kentucky Derby betting at Bovada is the closest thing to an on-track experience you’re likely to have for the Run for the Roses.
Signing Up At Bovada
Signing up at Bovada is free and fast – it only takes about 10 minutes. All you have to do is register your real name, your birthday, your mother’s maiden name, your phone number, a valid email address, and your zip code. Then, just choose a password and you’re all set. Once you’ve created the account and verified it through your email, you can then add your banking methods and start browsing the Kentucky Derby betting boards.
Bovada Banking Options
Despite being the number-one sportsbook and racebook in the US, the Bovada banking options are actually the most limited of all the major online bookmakers. This is due to the site’s focus on streamlining and simplifying all aspects of its betting operations. As such, you can only use credit/debit (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) and cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash) to deposit funds into your account.
For withdrawals, your choices are similarly limited, as you can choose only between receiving a courier check or a cryptocurrency transfer. Note that if you select to be paid out via courier check, it will take approximately two weeks to receive your winnings. That said, Bovada has famously never missed a single Kentucky Derby payout in all its years of operation.
Bovada Bonuses
Bovada has a selection of bonuses for its new members, including sports betting perks, casino gaming bonuses, and friend referral benefits. However, there are really only two Bovada bonuses that apply to Kentucky Derby betting (and other racebook action). The first is a 50% Sports Welcome Bonus worth up to $250. The second is a 50% Bitcoin Welcome Bonus worth up to $500. While generous, please be aware that both of these offers come with a 5X rollover requirement, which you can read about here.
Bovada Terms And Conditions
While there’s a lot of fine print at Bovada (and every other online sportsbook), the basic Bovada terms and conditions are easy enough to understand. First, you must be 18 years of age or older to sign up, you must have a current credit, debit, or crypto account to deposit funds, and you will have to prove your identity with one or more official government documents before you take out any of your winnings. Winnings attached to any bonuses must meet their rollover thresholds before any associated withdrawal can be authorized.
And remember, you can only have one account at Bovada, as those who attempt to make duplicate accounts will have their memberships revoked and balances forfeited. Currently, Bovada does not accept members from DE, MD, NV, NJ, or NY.
SportsBetting has millions of US members and has been in operation for almost two decades. With a reputation for up-to-date odds boards, alternate lines, and the most funding options in the industry, Kentucky Derby betting at SportsBetting is guaranteed to be a first-class experience. Even better, SportsBetting boasts the highest limits of all online sportsbooks and racebooks, making it the de facto destination for casual bettors and high-rollers alike and putting it high on the list of the best Kentucky Derby racebooks anywhere.
Signing Up At SportsBetting
With the Kentucky Derby right around the corner, it’s a good thing that signing up at SportsBetting only takes a few minutes. All you need to provide to make an account is your first and last name, an email address, your street address, a phone number, your birthdate, and your mother’s maiden name. After that, just choose a password and click or tap “Create Account.” Then, simply verify your email, add a payment method, and start picking your ponies.
SportsBetting Banking Options
SportsBetting has the widest banking options in the industry, hands down. No matter your financial situation, SportsBetting is sure to have a method of payment that suits your personal Kentucky Derby wagering needs. You can make deposits via Visa, Mastercard, American Express, cashier’s check, bank wire transfer, money orders, person-to-person services, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. (International customers can also use Skrill.) Each of these payment avenues carries different processing fees and transfer times, with the fastest deposit types being credit, debit, and cryptocurrency.
Withdrawals are slightly more limited but still robust, as SportsBetting lets its members cash out via courier check, bank wire, person-to-person, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Skrill (international users only). Be reminded that any of the old-school “snail mail” withdrawal methods will take between one and two weeks to show up in your bank account stateside.
SportsBetting Bonuses
Though SportsBetting has a number of bonuses available to users of its sportsbook service, casino games, and poker tables, none of these are valid for use on the Kentucky Derby. However, new members who sign up now can get a $25 Horse Free Play and take advantage of SportsBetting’s 7% rebate program on all horse bets placed over the Internet. There are no added stipulations for the rebate program, but the Free Play comes with a 6X rollover requirement (which you can learn more about here).
SportsBetting Terms And Conditions
The SportsBetting terms and conditions are akin to all the other best Kentucky Derby racebooks. You must be 18 years of age or older to be a member, and you can only have one account on the site. Duplicate accounts will be banned, and their balances will be forfeited. In order to wager, you must have a valid form of payment as described above, and you must prove your identity via one or more government documents before you’ll be allowed to make your first withdrawal.
Please note that all bonuses must have their rollover requirements fulfilled before you can cash out any associated winnings. SportsBetting is available to residents of all 50 US states.
BetOnline is, in many ways, the sister site to SportsBetting, albeit there are some differences. Usually, BetOnline’s odds on the Kentucky Derby and other sporting events mirror those of SportsBetting, but the site differentiates itself with a slew of alternate bonus options. However, when it comes to the BetOnline Kentucky Derby Racebook, members are limited to a $25 Horse Free Play and a 7% daily racebook rebate for online wagers.
Unlike SportsBetting, BetOnline does not currently accept American Express. However, international BetOnline customers have access to Neteller, which has no maximum deposit rate. For first-timers and big-spenders alike, BetOnline is a good choice for all your Kentucky Derby wagering needs. BetOnline is available to members of all 50 US states.
As the black sheep (dark horse?) of the legal online sportsbook scene, BookMaker is over 20 years old, making it the senior member of the top Internet betting shops. However, the site definitely does things a little differently, especially when it comes to the BookMaker Kentucky Derby racebook. Case in point, BookMaker is the only top racebook that doesn’t offer horse racing betting odds in the pari-mutuel format. As such, you’ll know exactly how much you stand to win any time you place a wager.
However, BookMaker’s track support is also more limited than other sites, as they only cover North American horse tracks, so – aside from big events like the Kentucky Derby and the other Triple Crown races – you’ll have a lot of time to spend in BookMaker’s virtual casino, poker rooms, bingo parlors, and more.
Banking Options For Kentucky Derby Betting
Regardless of which sportsbook or racebook you join, you will have numerous banking options for Kentucky Derby betting at your disposal. While each book accepts various different modes of payment compared to their competition, all of them universally accept credit card deposits and Bitcoin transfers. Most of these providers will only take Visa and Mastercard, though Bovada and SportsBetting are the exceptions, as they also accept American Express. Further, Bovada is the only racebook to accept Bitcoin Cash, while SportsBetting and BetOnline take altcoins like Ethereum and Litecoin in addition to Bitcoin.
Most racebooks will also accept more traditional buy-in methods, like cashier’s checks, money orders, and bank wire transfers, though it is important to note that, unlike credit cards and cryptocurrencies, money sent via these means will usually take up to two weeks to show up in your account. So if you’re going to betting on the Kentucky Derby and wish to use a “paper” method to deposit your funds, you’ll have to plan ahead.
When it comes to payout methods, these vary from racebook to racebook, and some services are more limited than others. For example, Bovada will only offer withdrawals in the form of courier check, Bitcoin, or Bitcoin Cash. However, SportsBetting and various other sites have several more options, including bank wires, peer-to-peer transfers, money orders, Ethereum transfers, Litecoin transfers, and more. Different cash-out methods come with different processing fees as well, with crypto generally being the cheapest route (with the highest limits to boot...er, horseshoe).
2020 Kentucky Derby Odds
Just browsing the disparity in the numbers across these two bookmakers shows another distinct benefit of betting on the Kentucky Derby using online racebooks, as you will get wildly different odds depending on which book you use. This is called shopping lines, and it’s one of the biggest edges you can get in horse racing betting, whether on the Kentucky Derby or any other contest. Since you can sign up at multiple different sportsbooks and racebooks, this opportunity to shop around for the best wagering value on any given horse is unmatched by any racetrack or OTB location.
Take the top horse, for example: If you think Game Winner will win the Kentucky Derby, you should definitely place your wager with SportsBetting, where his payout is 1000 points higher than what Bovada is offering. Conversely, if you want to wager on Code of Honor, you should bet at Bovada, where his odds are almost double that of what they are at SportsBetting. Seriously, a $100 bet on Code of Honor at SportsBetting pays out a healthy $800, but that same wager at Bovada would win you $1500!
Kentucky Derby FAQs
With a history nearly 150 years long, there’s an awful lot to know about the Kentucky Derby. From past winners and the most successful farms and owners to the winningest jockeys, the longest shots, and the most overwhelming favorites, fans and bettors alike have many questions about the world’s foremost horse race.
And as with any sport, betting on the Kentucky Derby is best when you have not just an understanding of the wagering aspect but a working knowledge and appreciation of the sport itself. For a comprehensive list of Kentucky Derby FAQs, check out the following primer on everything going down at Churchill Downs.
