States That Do NOT Have Legal Kentucky Derby Betting
Even though wagering on horse racing is considered to be one of the most widely accepted forms of gambling there is in states from coast to coast and all around the USA, there are nevertheless a few states that do not have legal Kentucky Derby betting options. However, fear not if you reside in one of the 12 states with laws on the books that expressively forbids residents and visitors from enjoying the hobby of picking winners in the 142nd annual running of what fans, enthusiasts, industry analysts and sports writers agree is “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.”
KentuckyDerbyPreview.com's comprehensive but quick and easy to read guide to the ins and outs of how to get around those pesky restrictions placed on the horse racing betting hobby by states that do not have legal Kentucky Derby betting option. Fortunately, it is not exactly a difficult fix, considering the wide variety of quality online racebooks based in foreign countries where the few legal prohibitions against betting on horse races that do actually exist. Over the course of this guide we aim to give our readers a quick look at the 12 states (plus the District of Columbia) that prohibit pari-mutuel horse racing wagers from being placed inside their border as well as diving into greater depth regarding our most highly recommend online offerings afforded by the legal offshore racebook market.
Like we mentioned before, there are only 12 states that prohibit betting on horse racing, and – truth be told – we are not exactly sure why these states and not any of the other 38 disallow the practice. There are plenty of ways that federal laws make it possible to enjoy legally betting on the Kentucky Derby, other Triple Crown races like the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes and other elite tier horse racing events, but nevertheless these 12 states oppose it altogether.
It is worth pointing out that the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978, and, more crucially, the law’s year 2000 Amendment, explicitly make pari-mutuel betting on horses and races legal at off-track kiosks, terminals and desks. That includes placing wagers at the races by phone or even over the internet. Even laws like the widely vilified Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (which we will shorten to UIGEA from here out) has a special cut out protecting the hobby of wagering on horse races from the law’s prohibitions against US based financial intuitions, which are disallowed from processing gambling related credit card transactions.
So how exactly is it that the 12 states listed can restrict horse racing if it is conducted at off-track terminals or kiosks or over the internet? It all comes down to one of the provisions of the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 and its subsequent revision in the year 2000. According to the federal law, off-track betting can only legally take place in a state if wagering on horse racing is also legal in both the state whether the race is actually being run and the state from which the wager originates. That enables the 12 state listed above to avoid having to legally offer horse racing wagering.
One final note: just because the 12 states that do not have legal Kentucky Derby betting options prohibit their residents or visitors there from engaging in pari-mutuel, that does not by any means indicate that there are no horse racing tracks inside their state lines. On the contrary, states like Arizona that have some of the most highly developed gray market online sports gambling participation also have some of the nation’s nicest horse racing venues. Similarly, states like Texas, which has an almost unparalleled equestrian history, ban betting on horse races but also have fantastically well attended and much beloved tracks like the Sam Houston Race Park just outside downtown Houston.
We have already spent a good deal of time discussing the various federal laws and how they prohibit certain forms of sports betting but also protect horse racing wagering over the internet, and we have also taken a brief look at the states where wagering on horse racing is not allowed. However, one area we should touch on is how it is entirely possible to enjoy legally betting on the Kentucky Derby at offshore racebook sites based in foreign countries. If you live in one of the 12 states where it is illegal to wager on the Kentucky Derby and other premier horse racing events, then this method will be your best and only means of doing so.
Short of making a drive to a nearby state that does allow pari-mutuel wagering or hopping a flight up to Louisville in time for the Race for the Roses, best legal offshore racebooks that accept US users from most states are Bovada, BetOnline, SportsBetting, BetDSI and 5Dimes. These sites are based in countries in the European Union and the Caribbean where federal laws related to sports betting do not apply and neither do state laws against wagering on the ponies at the races. Racebook sites like the ones listed above are not only the sole online platforms for waging on horse racing results at the Kentucky Derby, but they also have some of the best odds on the jockeys and horses lining up at Churchill downs every May.
These sites, being legal business operations subject to the gaming regulatory in their home nations, have excellent customer service and consumer protections in place to make sure that your horse racing betting experience is as good as it could possibly be. They all have their own unique sign up bonuses and prop bets in case you are interested in maxing out your potential earnings, so it is worth check each one out to see which best meets your needs. Whatever offshore racebook site you decide to use, don’t worry about running afoul of the law, as you’ll be legally betting on the Kentucky Derby in no time flat.