Even though the Kentucky Derby is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY, you can actually wager on the world’s biggest and most popular horse race in most states throughout America. Altogether, there are 40 states that offer some form of land-based horse racing betting.
Not all of these states have their own horse tracks, however, and a few of them only allow on-site betting during their county fairs (which may or may not coincide with the Kentucky Derby in any given year).
Whether they have racetracks or not, the following states currently allow residents at least one option to bet on the ponies locally. Also listed beside each state is a notation on whether or not they offer simulcast betting and have off-track betting (OTB) sites in current operation.
- Arizona – Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Arkansas – Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- California – Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, no OTB options available
- Colorado - Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Delaware – Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Florida - Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Idaho – Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Illinois - Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Indiana - Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Iowa – Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Kentucky – Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, no OTB options available
- Louisiana – Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Maine – Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Maryland – Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Massachusetts – Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Michigan – Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Minnesota – Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Montana – Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Nebraska – Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Nevada – Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- New Hampshire - Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- New Jersey - Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- New Mexico - Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- New York - Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- North Dakota - Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Ohio - Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Oklahoma - Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Oregon - Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Pennsylvania - Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Tennessee - Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Texas - Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, no OTB options available
- Virginia - Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Washington - Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- West Virginia - Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
- Wyoming - Has horse racing tracks, simulcast options available, OTB options available
States Without Legal Kentucky Derby Betting
Currently, there are 10 states (plus Washington D.C.) that do not have horse tracks in operation and that offer no horse racing betting (with the exception of Mississippi, which does allow simulcast/OTB services exclusively on registered cruise ship casinos). Three of these states – Kansas, Vermont, and Wisconsin – have statutes on the books legalizing horse tracks but currently have none in service.
- Alaska – No horse racing tracks, horse racing betting is illegal
- Georgia - No horse racing tracks, horse racing betting is illegal
- North Carolina - No horse racing tracks, horse racing betting is illegal
- Hawaii - No horse racing tracks, horse racing betting is illegal
- Kansas - No horse tracks, no simulcast, no OTB, horse racing betting legal
- Mississippi - No horse tracks, no simulcast, no OTB (except on registered cruise ship casinos)
- North Carolina - No horse tracks, horse racing betting illegal
- South Carolina – Has horse racing tracks, horse racing betting is illegal
- Utah - No horse racing tracks, horse racing betting is illegal
- Vermont - No horse tracks, no simulcast, no OTB, horse racing betting legal
- Washington D.C. - No horse racing tracks, horse racing betting illegal
- Wisconsin - No horse tracks, no simulcast, no OTB, horse racing betting legal
If you’re looking to bet on the Kentucky Derby and live in the above 10 states (or the District of Columbia), you still have options to put money on the big race: You can travel to a state that does offer horse racing betting, or you can simply use an online racebook at various top Internet betting shops.
Even those residing in states with legal Kentucky Derby betting at local tracks and OTBs may actually prefer to go the online route, as using an Internet-based Kentucky Derby betting site is often far more convenient than visiting an in-state horse racing betting location.
However, regardless of where you place your legal Kentucky Derby bets, you can rest assured that come the first weekend in May, you’re in for a show – and a potentially huge payday if you hit on one of the many exotic wagers being offered. Here’s hoping your perfecta is perfecto!
