Horse Racing in Illinois – Find the Best Illinois Horse Racing Betting Sites

One of the great pastimes in American sports history, horse racing has certainly evolved over the past two centuries but one thing has remained the same; Americans everywhere love it. As online sports betting has exploded in popularity over the past decade, online horse racing wagering has kept pace. 

With everything from harness racing to traditional thoroughbreds, horse racing in Illinois is as popular as any state in the Midwest. Today, we’re going to take a look at some of the best Illinois horse racing betting websites, all of which are licensed and safe to play, as well as some general things everyone should be aware of. 

The Best Illinois Horse Racing Betting Sites

Illinois has always held a rich history with horse racing, and in 2021 alone, Illinois did $599 million in horse racing handle – a true sign that the Illini State loves getting down on the ponies.

In your search for the best Illinois horse racing betting website, we’ve done the hard work of looking over the landscape to find the best one to fit your needs. Let’s take a closer look at the top 10 we’ve found, breaking down the pros and cons of each. 

1. BetOnline – No.1 Illinois Horse Racing Site with Competitive Odds
2. BetNow – Great Loyalty Program & Racing Rebate Program
3. Everygame – Longest Running Sportsbook with Good Customer Support
4. MyBookie – Best User Interface for Illinois Racing Bettors
5. BUSR – Dedicated Racebook with a Racing Rebate of 8%
6. Bovada – Offers Virtual Horse Track Racing in Illinois
7. BetUS – Best Racebook for Free Horse Racing Picks
8. XBet – Massive Sign Up Bonus for New Horse Racing Bettors
9. Jazz – Biggest Racebook Rebate for Horse Racing Losses
10. Sportsbetting.ag – Best Illinois Horse Racing Site for High Rollers

1. BetOnline – No.1 Illinois Horse Racing Site with Competitive Odds

Originally founded in 2004, BetOnline has long been one of the mainstays when it comes to betting on sports and horses online. From its headquarters in Panama City, BetOnline offers bettors a very intuitive interface and a slick design that both novice and experienced gamblers have come to enjoy. Illinois horse racing bettors get access to not just horse tracks in their own state, but more than 50 others across the country and world. 

Featuring both standard and exotic wagers, BetOnline is also amongst the most accessible to play, with minimum bets starting at just $1. Big spenders fear not, as BetOnline has been said to accept bets with potential winnings of upwards of six figures. BetOnline is also amongst the leaders in the industry in terms of customer support, as bettors report being able to get help whenever they need it. 

Lastly, BetOnline also offer a range of promo codes to horse bettors, plus risk-free bets to get started, and even offers rebates of up to 9% on any loss incurred betting on the ponies.

Pros & Cons: 

 

2. BetNow – Great Loyalty Program & Racing Rebate Program

BetNow is known across the industry as one of the premier horse racing betting websites due to its dedication to providing customers with the most competitive odds possible. In addition to their fantastic horse racing options, you may place sports bets at BetNow and take advantage of discounted juice lines of -105; odds you just don’t find elsewhere.

BetNow makes a concerted effort to cover the most possible races and significant competitions and tracks, including extensive numbers on the Triple Crown States, the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. In addition, BetNow delivers coverage of all of the largest tracks in the United States, as well as an increasingly large presence internationally. 

There is, of course, the opportunity to place traditional wagers which horses will come in first through third, but the coverage doesn’t stop there. There is also a vast selection of exotic bets, such as exacta, trifecta, superfecta, and other pari-mutuel bets, that may be placed. 

For new customers, BetNow will match their initial deposit by a percentage of 150%, an offer that isn’t just exclusive to their horse book but their sportsbook as well.  In addition, specifically for horse racing bettors in Illinois, they provide returning clients with a very sweet 10% horse race betting refund incentive – also, keep an eye out for BetNow’s promo codes.

Pros & Cons: 

 

3. Everygame – Longest Running Sportsbook with Good Customer Support 

Everygame is the oldest online sportsbook there is in the world, coming online just as the internet came to be in the early 2000s. In 2021, it went under new ownership, rebranding as Intertops. Although there is not a racebook component specifically, you may find the Horse Racing option inside the sportsbook part of the website and it still is more than competent. 

Everygame is a good choice if all you want to do is place straight bets on the most important US races of the year, but it does lack some of the more exotic betting options found elsewhere on this list. Everygame also has some promotions that can be used on horse racing. For starters, for each of your first three deposits, Everygame will double the amount you deposit by 100%, all the way up to a maximum of $250. Remember to insert your Everygame promo codes, where applicable

Pros & Cons: 

 

4. MyBookie – Best User Interface for Illinois Racing Bettors

New bettors will find MyBookie to be an entertaining online betting platform, as well as one of the easiest to use on our list. It features a complete sportsbook that provides a large number of different types of prop bets but doesn’t fall short on its horse racing in Illinois offerings either. Whether you are looking to bet on the weekday MLB game or getting involved in the Kentucky Derby, MyBookie’s robust offerings likely have something for you. 

This is the best website for someone who has never bet before on horse racing to dip their toes into the water as well. You won’t have any trouble finding your way to a race from the sportsbook section because of how easy it is to explore the site, with the horse book located close to where you place sports bets as well

If you find yourself in a bind in navigating at any point, the customer support staff is cordial and accommodating, and in our testing of the website, some of the very best in the business. Additionally, a refund of up to 8% is offered on the losses incurred from the racebook as well, something racebooks in sportsbooks rarely offer.

Our MyBookie review page with promo codes has more details on the fantastic sportsbook and casino that Bovada offers.

Pros & Cons: 

Visit MyBookie

 

5. BUSR – Dedicated Racebook with a Racing Rebate of 8%

When it comes to racebooks operating within sportsbooks, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better option than BUSR. Similar to MyBookie, BUSR is easy to use but comes with less of the extras making it an even more straightforward experience. Unlike MyBookie, however, BUSR offers local horse races in addition to the mainstream races such as the Preakness or the Belmont. 

BUSR is also a leader in the industry in terms of having done racebook betting for a long time, and when it comes to experienced online horse racing bettors, they almost all prefer BUSR. They also offer a rebate to its player of 8% on all net losses, as well as a dedicated racebook, sign-up offer. The main BUSR promo code offer gives you a 150% deposit bonus up to $2500.

Pros & Cons: 

 

6. Bovada – Offers Virtual Horse Track Racing in Illinois

Bovada, a part of the once well-known sportsbook Bodog, has been accepting wagers on horse racing since its founding in 2011. It now hosts approximately 50 of the most prestigious horse racing tracks and betting markets in the world. Bovada offers a wide variety of betting possibilities, making it a necessity for any bettors seeking to try their hand at online horse racing in the Illini state, even though you won’t find as many foreign lineups on the board as other racebooks on our list.

Bovada is renowned for providing quick cryptocurrency payments, but it also offers a variety of convenient more traditional payment methods. The site also offer a 7% daily refund on horse racing losses, good mobile device integration, and a substantial registration bonus that can be used on numerous sports in addition to the racetracks. All very quality incentives.

While waiting for the regular tracks to release their lineups, bets may be placed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on the website’s concentrated virtual horse racing section. Lastly, Bovada is a must-try for Illinois horse racing bettors since it also features an easy-to-use mobile app for both Android and iOS devices. 

Use our Bovada welcome promo codes to grab the best deals available in Illinois.

Pros & Cons: 

 

7. BetUS – Best Racebook For Free Horse Racing Picks

Your demands for online gambling, not just Illinois horse racing betting, will be fully met by BetUS. With English-speaking representatives accessible for your wagering and support requirements as needed, BetUS takes pride in its excellent customer service and always ranks best in class in helping their bettors. The available wagering possibilities are simply amazing well beyond the ponies, as even political and entertainment events can be found on the BetUS pages.

Back to why you’re here, however, the racebook tab at BetUS actually provides free horse racing predictions along with a button to place a wager on the selections. For some, this is a fast pass way to get all your research right on their pages. It’s not just straight bets, either, as the exotics such as the Exacta, Trifecta, and Superfecta, as one would anticipate from a top horse racebook, are also offered

As one of the top sportsbooks and online casinos in the US, BetUs also offer a 200% crypto bonus, a 250% casino bonus, and a 125% sign-up bonus, as just a few of the promotions and incentives available once you sign up for an account – look out for our BetUS promo codes. Increasingly rare in the industry, BetUS also offer a  referral program as well as a VIP loyalty program.

Pros & Cons: 

 

8. XBet – Massive Sign Up Bonus For New Horse Racing Bettors

XBet is a full package sports betting service and a strong challenger for one of the best horse racing books in Illinois. It has become known for its leading marketplace and innovative betting option and has leaned into its racebook in recent years, which is how it finds itself on this exclusive list. Betting is available around the clock on more than 50 domestic and even foreign race tracks, and there are promotions for popular Triple Crown events like the Preakness or upcoming Belmont Stakes.

A variety of depositing and withdrawal options are also available at XBet, which offers a user-friendly racecard and a slick interface to help even new bettors get involved in the action. Crypto payments are processed immediately, as they have a robust variety of crypto payment methods. Horse racing enthusiasts in Illinois also have access to a fantastic range of promotions, courtesy of XBet’s promo codes, including a 100% up to $500 Sports Betting Welcome Offer, which they may utilize on certain racebook lines as well. Additionally, there is a 7% daily horse racing refund, offered in the form of a rebate on all losses. 

Pros & Cons: 

 

9. Jazz – Biggest Racebook Rebate For Horse Racing Losses

The top mobile betting site for Illinois horse racing on this list, and likely on the internet, is Jazz Sports. You may easily and safely wager on the latest developments in horse racing from all around the globe with just a couple of taps on your mobile device thanks to the intuitive user interface and rapid streaming of fresh pages and odds changes. Jazz Sports also has a stellar reputation for sign-up bonuses, and accessing the racebook through their sportsbook is as easy as it gets to use that new-found money.  

The Kentucky Derby and upcoming Belmont States, two of the greatest racetracks in the nation, are also eligible for a 10% refund for all losses incurred at those Triple Crown events. The same goes for the Preakness Stakes each year. Even when the refund drops to 5% for races, especially on international tracks, smaller venues, and foreign competitions, it is still a valued offer for anyone looking to get into Illinois horse racing wagering. 

Pros & Cons: 

 

10. Sportsbook.ag – Best Illinois Horse Racing Site for High Rollers

Well past its heyday, Sportsbetting.ag still finds itself on the top 10 list for horse racing in Illinois for a number of reasons, but most notably its high limits and customer service. Known for taking bets of enormous size, Sportsbetting.ag is owned by the same parent company as BetOnline but is less commercial and therefore more willing to take the risk (and distribute it as needed). 

What it lacks in an attractive user interface, it does make up for in reliability and customer service, as Sportsbetting.ag retains loyal followers for both of those qualities. Because of its storied reputation in the industry and willingness to allow sharks on its platforms, anyone looking to make a sizeable wager when it comes to horse racing in Illinois will certainly find a home at Sportsbetting.ag, who also offer a range of promo codes.

The horse rebate we’ve discussed at other racebooks on our list is also offered at Sportsbetting.ag, as they offer a 9% refund on all losses. 

Pros & Cons: 

 

More on gambling in Illinois…

Learn about all types of online gambling in Illinois in our expert guides below:

• Illinois Sports Betting
• Illinois Real Money Online Casinos
• Illinois Online Gambling
• Illinois Sports Betting Apps
• Illinois Sportsbook Promos
• Illinois Online Poker
• Chicago Casinos
• Biloxi Casinos

 

Illinois Horse Racing Betting Explained

When it comes to Illinois horse racing betting, you can absolutely do it all over the state. As we’ve discussed in today’s piece thus far, you can do it at legal online sportsbooks from anywhere in the state. Also, you can head to one of the many in-person brick-and-mortar sportsbooks that have popped up overall the state, also known as retail sportsbooks. Finally, you can head to one of two operating Illinois horse racing tracks in the state which are Fairmount Park and Hawthorne Race Course; both offer terrific facilities. 

Can Illinois Residents Bet Legally On Horse Racing?

For nearly 200 years, since the early 1830s, Illinois residents have been able to legally bet on horse racing. Starting in Chicago and expanding up to six throughout the Chicagoland area, horse racing in Illinois has long been a favorite for bettors and fans alike. 

In 1840, a jockey club was established, and soon after, a harness course was built right near the heart of the city and the sport took off even further from there. The Brighton Park and Garden City tracks were subsequently completed in 1854 and 1855, respectively, and then the infamous Dexter Park in 1864. Next up, the West Side Driving Track, which hosted both harness and thoroughbred racing, opened its gates in 1878. 

In the late 19th and early 20th century, the racing scene in Chicagoland did, however, experience difficulties. Political problems caused some Illinois horse racing tracks to be closed and other tracks to be opened, as a steady flow of turbulence hurt the industry of Illinois horse racing. Major events became important social occasions, like the American Derby, as the environment for racing, nevertheless, was unpredictable, with tracks closing and restarting again as a result of political and reform demands. In 1927, Illinois officially authorized and regulated pari-mutuel betting, which led to the now-defunct Arlington Racetrack. In the time since, new Illinois horse racing tracks have opened, while older ones underwent ownership and facility modifications as the racing business in Illinois continued to develop and does even to this day. 

Free Bets and Bonuses for Illinois Racing

When it comes to starting your wagering journey for Illinois horse racing, it’s important to know some of the tools at your disposal in terms of free bankroll. Let’s look at a couple of popular terms you should be aware of. 

Welcome Bonus

This is the type of money you receive when just signing up for a new sportsbook and often isn’t received until you deposit some form of money. Be aware of the rollover requirements when using that money, however. 

Free Bets

Often given in the form of bonus money, or bonus bets, free bets are a risk-free way to get your feet wet when betting on Illinois horse racing for the first time. 

Cashback/Money-Back

As the title might suggest, this comes in the form of free money back, or bonus bets back, when depositing money on the site or making a bet for the first time. 

Enhanced/Boosted Odds

Enhanced, more commonly known as boosted, odds refer to a promotion sportsbooks run when they are trying to entice bettors on a certain side of a bet. Oftentimes, they’ll offer higher than market odds, to try to get the bettor to place their money on a certain side they need it. 

Live Horse Racing Betting And Streaming

Some of the sportsbooks on our list today offer online horse racing bettors the ability to watch live horse races from locations all around the world. Residents of Illinois who desire to see a horse racing track might benefit greatly from having a live stream available through their account, and it’s important to know which ones can when signing up. 

Live streaming options are often accessible for customers of the top-rated online sports betting services, such as our go-to favorite BetOnline. In addition to live streaming, BetOnline provides its users with access to a variety of extra features, exotic bets and mobile betting (and streaming) as well. The website offers subscribers attractive odds on all races, the ability to live stream select races from anywhere in the globe, and the opportunity to wager live on horse races in the state of Illinois.

In addition to live streaming, it’s also important to find a racebook with horse-racing promotions and secure withdrawals to remove your (potential) winnings from the site when ready. 

The Top Horse Racing Betting Sites Compared 

Let’s take a closer look below at the top Illinois Horse Racing options on our list, and the different ypes of features they offer in terms of betting and streaming. 

Choosing The Best Illinois Horse Racing Betting Sites

Since the opening of the online sports betting market in Illinois, there are clearly some horse racing betting sites in Illinois that are superior to others. The most popular websites for horse racing provide value to customers in a number of different ways. Horseplayers have a better time generally at the best online bookmakers since they allow a variety of payment options, provide outstanding customer service, and offer sportsbook and even racebook incentives.

Let’s take a look at some things we’re talking about when breaking down and ranking the most reputable online betting sites for horse racebooks in Illinois.

Payment Methods

The top racebooks make it simple and quick to deposit and withdraw money from player accounts and never lack on the safety aspect of the transaction. While the majority of racebooks do offer a broad selection of safe and secure payment methods, there are a few that don’t, so it’s important to know what’s what. 

The finest sportsbooks make it easy for customers to make deposits and withdrawals via either traditional payment methods (Visa/Mastercard/etc.) by imposing low deposit minimums, charging little to no transaction fees, setting high withdrawal limits, and arguably most important, processing requests in a timely manner.

Safety & Security

The safety of the gambling website is one of the most essential components of any sportsbook and racebook you can find online. When it comes to horse racing in Illinois, the most reputable online gambling companies provide a high level of safety and complete openness regarding their licensure, in terms of where it’s located (often in Central America). 

The top horse racing betting sites in Illinois detailed on our list are completely licensed, and the licensing information can be easily found on their websites themselves. This ensures that the betting procedures and banking methods are secure, and thousands of bettors have transacted safely on their pages. 

Customer Support

The quality of the sportsbook’s client service ranks among the most important features of any bookmaker search and decision to sign up. Although it does not happen very frequently, occasionally members will run into problems with their betting accounts, and it’s important to be able to get ahold of someone when that time comes. The top horse racing betting websites in Illinois provide their customers with a wide range of customer service channels, including live chat, email communications, and traditional phone assistance.

Fixed Odds for Horse Racing Betting in Illinois

Fixed odds wagering is a common option at the majority of online and in-person sportsbooks and is similar to betting on more traditional sports like the NFL or MLB. When placing a wager on an event in Illinois, the odds are determined by a bookmaker, and the bettor is assured of receiving their winnings at those odds and price no matter what. Fixed odds provide Illinois horse racing bettors on horse races in the United States and abroad the opportunity for a payout that is unaffected by variations in the odds, which typically happens from the time a number is set. With fixed odds, the odds remain the same from posting to the event’s completion. 

Win

Placing a stake on a horse with the expectation that it will prevail in the race is the easiest type of bet in horse racing. In order for an Illinois bettor to collect their winnings, the horse they chose must come in the first place.

Place

A wager on the place covers either the first or second-place finisher of a given race. Said another way, bettors have the option of placing their wagers on a horse to finish either first or second.

Show

A show bet is the most straightforward wager to win in horse racing, as it pays out regardless of if the horse selected comes in first, second, or third. Due to the fact that the wagered-on horse has a chance of placing in the top three, the rewards are lower than say a win or place. 

Exacta

The exacta is one of the more common exotic bets that can be placed on horse races, and it requires predicting the order in which the first two finishers are going to come in. The exacta bet features bigger rewards, but in order to participate, IL bettors need to deposit a minimum stake on two horses that need to come in first and second, respectively, and in that specific order. 

Trifecta

Another level of complication is added by the fact that the trifecta wager demands picking the proper finish of the top three horses. The payoff for the trifecta is significantly larger, and the minimum bet is often about fifty cents, but depending on those horses’ odds, the payout can be enormous.

If the bettor wishes to just bet on the top three horses, but in any order, the Illinois horse racing outlets (and others) allow for “boxing” which means they can finish in any order; just all in the top three. While the payouts are lower, it does allow for a more realistic chance of winning a given bet. 

Superfecta

Bettors on horses involved in a superfecta need to correctly pick the top four finishers in the correct sequence. Even though it’s more difficult to win the superfecta, than the Exacta or Trifecta, the minimum bet at most tracks is merely ten cents, and the payouts are huge. 

Is There Pool Betting in Illinois?

A concept all horse racing bettors should be aware of is the concept of pool betting, which is prevalent in Illinois. In pool betting, the total size of the amount wagered (pool money) determines the amount won by bettors. This is in contrast to fixed odds betting, where the payouts are determined by the odds set by the bookmaker.

Another type of pool betting is referred to the pari-mutuel which is popular internationally in countries like France. With this, payouts are determined by the volume of winning bets, in addition, the size of the betting pool.

Horse Racing Betting Terms In Illinois

Betting horse racing doesn’t just mean betting on a horse to win, or even come in the top two or three. There are what is known as exotic bets that offer bigger payouts, but do come with more risk. Here are a few of the most popular ones that crop up in Illinois.

Exacta

An exacta is choosing the first and second-place horses to finish in a given race. With an exacta, you don’t have to pick them in order, they just need to finish in the top two. 

Trifecta

Unlike an exacta, a trifecta is picking the top three horses in the exact order. It also takes into account the odds of those horses to win. 

Superfecta

A superfecta takes a trifecta one step further, expanding the placement of the top four horses in a race. Like a trifecta, you do have to select them in the exact order.

Calculating Horse Racing Betting Odds

Horse racing betting odds can be difficult to calculate, especially for any IL racing bettors new to the subject. Because of that, there are plenty of tools online to help bettors learn their way around.

For starters, there are online odds calculators to help gamblers calculate their winnings based on the odds posted and the amount they are willing to risk. The betting odds calculators out there just require you to enter a bet amount, bet type, and then the type of odds (American/Decimal/Fractional) that you are using. From there, it outputs a payout and “To Win” amount.

Pool betting, also known as tote betting, is another kind of horse racing bet you should be aware of. In this betting method, you get paid out a Tote dividend based on the size of the overall betting pool, or total money wagered. The payouts, however, aren’t determined until the betting window is closed and the total pot (pool) is counted.

Finding A Horse Racing Strategy For Illinois Betting

It is essential to have an effective system in place before making wagers at the leading online Illinois horse racing betting sites. The primary objective is to have fun, but if you take advantage of one of the most effective horse racing betting methods, you may also end up with some profits along the way. Let’s take a more in-depth look at two of the most popular betting approaches associated with Illinois horse racing, and show you how you can cash in.

Value-Betting

A general knowledge of how odds work, either in sports or horse racing, will help a lot with this method. The odds published for horse races can, sometimes, be straight-up wrong. Those who are capable of locating marketplaces in which prices are artificially inflated will be in an excellent position to profit from the situation, and by looking at multiple racebooks every day, you will find the ones that post stale numbers.

As an illustration, the odds of a prospective choice are written as +200. On the other hand, you think that, given your expertise and investigation, they ought to have been sold for an additional +400. If you can find a racebook offering +400 or higher, there’s value in that bet. 

Dutching Strategy

The best way to truly comprehend this method is to give yourself some time to think it out. Therefore, people who do not take pleasure in mathematics probably should not try their hand at Dutching to be perfectly honest. 

Before working out how to use the money you have in order to maximize your returns, you need to initially decide on the total amount that you are willing to invest in a given race or set of races. For instance, to simplify things, if you have a budget of $20 and you want to bet on two horses, the easiest thing to do would be to bet on each of them at $10. On the other hand, dutching requires a certain math skillset, and is most easily done in an Excel spreadsheet with the odds for each calculating the money you are putting in. 

Illinois Horse Racetracks

Though it’s often thought of for its other, more traditional sports, Illinois boasts some of the best race tracks in the Midwest. With its extensive horse racing past, let’s check out some of the very best Illinois horse racetracks still in operation today.

Balmoral Park – Open from 1926 to 2015, Balmoral shut down for nearly two years due to financial issues before making it’s triumphant return in 2017. With a seating capacity of over 70,000, it’s one of the biggest tracks in the country

Fairmount Park Racetrack – Opened in 1925, Fairmount Park had harness racing up until 1999, and still operatres as a Thoroughbred only racetrack

What Are The Biggest Races And Meetings In Illinois?

Three popular races brighten Illinois’ thoroughbred racing calendar each year, namely the Illinois Derby and the Hawthorne Gold Cup.

Illinois Derby – A great test for some of the best middle-distance three-year-olds, and a race that has thrown up some juicy winners at big odds down the years.

Hawthorne Gold Cup – This Grade 2 event attracts top-notch thoroughbreds that took part in the Breeders’ Cup, as it is staged several weeks after, and remains a huge day on the calendar for Hawthorne racecourse.

While these meetings represent some of the notable events in Illinois horse racing, it’s essential to note that race dates can and do vary. Stay up to date by checking the official racing calendar and local tracks for the latest information on upcoming races and events.

Comparing Betting At The Track With Online Betting

Although betting at an actual track in Illinois can be a lot of fun and an excellent way to spend the day with friends (new or old), it is typically not nearly as rewarding as betting online, especially for those that want to earn real money. When you go to a physical and in-person track, you’ll be given the odds therefore, which will fluctuate all day and be dependent on when you show up, versus having them at your fingertips online.

Let’s look at a few other pros and cons.

Horse Racing Betting Apps For Illinois

Betting on-the-go has never been simpler for Illinois bettors, with horse racing betting apps allowing you to place bets, access the latest racing information, and enjoy the excitement of live-streaming races directly from your iOS or Android device.

With live streaming, you can also watch odds, markets and race days in real-time, follow the actiony, make informed decisions, and enjoy watching the big races in real time. 

Whether you prefer iOS or Android devices, there are horse racing betting apps for both platforms. Simply visit the App Store or Google Play Store, search for your preferred betting app, and download it to your device.  

How to Start Betting on Horse Racing Sites in Illinois?

Now you know all the ins and outs of betting on horses in Illinois, let’s take a look at the step-by-step process of actually getting in on the action. Time to dive into how to start betting on horse racing sites in Illinois. 

Step 1: Open an account

From our research, BetOnline is the best horse racing site in Illinois, so we’ll open our account there. Navigate to the upper right, select “Join”, and enter all the information need to get started.

Step 2: Select the Racebook section

Once you are signed up for your account and have money deposited, head to the racebook section to start looking for a race. 

Step 3: Find a Race

With the racebook now open, look at the plethora of races at your disposal, picking the right one you want to get in on. 

Step 4: Choose and place your first bet

Now that you found your race, click on your bet, put in an amount, and hit submit. 

Step 5: Submit and wait for the result

The hard part is over, time to wait for the results and (hopefully) collect your winnings. 

Experience the excitement of responsible betting. Explore the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) for invaluable information and tools that will empower you to make well-informed decisions and enjoy gambling responsibly.

Other Gambling in Illinois?

In terms of other gambling in Illinois outside of horse racing betting, the state of Illinois offers no shortage of options. Notably, in the summertime, baseball is king, as the team boasts two teams with great fan bases of the Cubs and White Sox.

Online casino betting in Illinois has also taken hold lately, as gamblers across the state are logging on to play their favorite table games and slots online. The bottom line is, whether sports or casinos are your thing, gambling in Illinois offers plenty of options.

Best Site For Horse Racing Betting In Illinois?

When it comes to horse racing betting in Illinois, for our money, there’s no better sportsbook in the state than BetOnline. From the plethora of races available to the competitive odds, customer service, and more, it doesn’t get better than the options and safety BetOnline provides. 

FAQs

Can I bet on horse racing in Illinois?

Yes, you can bet on horse racing in Illinois at a variety of outlets with BetOnline, BetNow, Everygame, and MyBookie being amongst the best options.

How to bet on horse racing in Illinois?

Using our guide above, you’ll find it simple to bet on horse racing in Illinois with a few simple steps from signing up to placing the bet.

Is horse racing a big sport in Illinois?

Yes, horse racing has been around in Illinois for centuries, and remains a major source of income for the state.

Does Illinois have a horse racing track?

Yes, Illinois has two major racing tracks in the state – Fairmount Park & Hawthorne Race Course.

Do I need to visit Illinois tracks to bet on horses?

While visiting Illinois tracks to bet on horses is one option, you can also bet on horses online at a variety of racebooks.